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UAE Appeals to FG for Restoration of Emirates’ Operations Accuses Air Peace of abandoning Sharjah airport We left due to COVID-19 lockdown, says Onyema Chinedu Eze The United Arab Emirates (UAE) General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has written the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, begging

the Nigerian government to restore Emirates Airline’s 21 weekly flights to Nigeria.

UAE also described the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) action to limit Emirates flights to once

weekly as unjustifiable.

It also accused Air Peace of abandoning Sharjah Airport, but the Nigerian carrier insisted that it was the COVID-19 lockdown that forced it and other international airlines to

leave Sharjah airport.

In a letter dated December 10, 2021, and signed by Minister of Economy who also doubles as the Chairman of GCAA Board, Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, the GCAA requested that the

federal government restore Emirates’ Winter Schedule.

The letter expressed sadness that the federal government withdrew the Winter Schedule because UAE refused to allow Air Peace’s request for three

flights a week slot at Sharjah Airport.

UAE argued that Air Peace abandoned its operations at Sharjah and later decided to Continued on page 6

2023: Don’t Direct Yoruba to Support Any Aspirant, Obasanjo Tells Ooni... Page 10 Sunday 12 December, 2021 Vol 26. No 9743

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PDP Govs Hold Meetings in UK, Spain on Consensus Presidential Candidate To meet in Makurdi today after Ayu’s reception APC: PDP’s sole intent is to grab power in 2023 Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja In a bid to ensure that the

presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerges through a consensus arrangement, the

governors elected on the platform of the party have undertaken two European tours in quick succession, THISDAY’s

investigation has revealed.

THISDAY gathered that the governors held strategic meetings in those tours as

part of their ongoing efforts members along regional lines. to ensure that the issue of the The investigation has also presidential candidate of the Continued on page 5 party does not polarise its

In Retaliatory Move, FG to Impose Travel Restrictions on UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia 13 countries add UK to their red list over Omicron cases Festus Akanbi in Lagos and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja with agency reports The federal government is planning to add the United Kingdom, Argentina, Canada, and Saudi Arabia to red list countries, following their decision to impose travel restrictions on Nigeria.

Also, as the United Kingdom imposed restrictive measures against Nigeria and other countries over the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID19, about 13 countries have also barred travellers from UK from entering their territories.

The UK had imposed travel restrictions on Nigeria, claiming that 21 cases of Omicron recorded in England were linked to travellers from Nigeria.

But the travel ban was trailed by global outrage with some national and international stakeholders describing it as racist and discriminatory.

The federal government had also condemned the decision Continued on page 10

CONDOLENCE VISIT… L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN); Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN); and his Osun State counterpart, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, during a condolence visit to Babalakin on the death of his father, Justice Bolarinwa Babalakin in Gbongan, Osun State…yesterday

To Avert Strike, FG Pays ASUU N52.5bn Revitalisation Fund, Earned Allowance... Page 6

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TIPS ON EFFECTIVE PUBLIC OFFICE… L-R: Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Alhaji. Aminu Danguba; wife of the author of the book, Mrs. Sandra Adio; Author of the book, The Arc of The Possible, Mr. Waziri Adio; representative of the Kaduna State Governor/Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe; Minister of State for Environment, Ms. Sharon Ikeazor; and Chief Host, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim, during the public presentation of The Arc of The Possible, in Abuja...yesterday

Akande Recounts How Atiku Rejected Tinubu as Running Mate Former VP faults Buhari’s development policies, seeks power devolution Chuks Okocha and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision not to accept the National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, as his running mate in 2015 was not the first time Tinubu would confront serious opposition to his vice-presidential ambition.

The former Osun State governor revealed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had also rejected the former Lagos State governor as running mate.

Akande revealed this in his recently released autobiography, titled: ‘My Participations,’ published by Gaskia Media Limited.

This is coming as Atiku at the weekend faulted Buhari’s development policies.

Akande narrated how Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress (AC) in 2007, was non-committal to the party elders' decision despite all the pressure from the then Alliance for Democracy (AD) to make Tinubu his running mate.

In 2007, AC fielded the then Vice President Atiku, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its presidential candidate after his fallout with his boss at the time, President Olusegun Obasanjo, who did not want Atiku to succeed him.

According to Akande, despite the pressure mounted by the leaders of the party, including former Ogun State Governor, Mr. Segun Osoba; ex-Ekiti Governor, Mr. Niyi Adebayo and a one-time governor of Oyo State, the late Lam Adesina, Atiku never gave them his word on the matter until he picked Senator Ben O bi.

“It was the second time Tinubu was tantalisingly close to the VP slot. In 2007, we formed a party, the AC, with Abubakar Atiku.

We agreed that Atiku should be our presidential candidate and we had the understanding that he would run with Bola Tinubu.

“I was the chairman of the AC. One day, after we had nominated Atiku as our presidential candidate, one young man came and gave me a form from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“I told him I could not sign a blank form and that I, as the chairman, must know the name that would be filled in it.

“The young man, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, must have been the organising right-hand man of Atiku. He was an active person from Kano. The following morning, he came again with Lawan Kaita.

“Kaita begged me and said it was Ben Obi whom Atiku had chosen as his running mate behind our back. So, I signed the form because I believed as the candidate, Atiku had the right to choose his running mate. If I refused to sign, that would create a crisis.”

However, Akande expressed the belief that Atiku should have

chosen his running mate from the AD even if he was no longer favourably disposed to Tinubu at the time.

He stressed that with Atiku, the belief was that the party would be strong in the north, but because of the preponderance of PDP in the South-east and the South-south, it would face more resistance in that area.

He added: “Obasanjo was stepping down from the presidency. Therefore, the Yoruba, even the few that benefitted from his arrogant rule, would no longer be obliged to vote for the PDP. “Segun Osoba, Niyi Adebayo, and Lam Adesina had earlier met Atiku and we proposed to him our choice of Tinubu, and he promised to come back to

us. He gave us a date. On that date, we all assembled. Atiku came with Audu Ogbe, Tom Ikimi and Usman Bugaje.

“We proposed that Tinubu should be the running mate, though Tinubu was not at the meeting. Atiku would not give us an immediate answer. He said he wanted to have more consultations.”

PDP GOVS HOLD MEETINGS IN UK, SPAIN ON CONSENSUS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE revealed that the governors were also billed to meet tonight in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, after a reception to be held in honour of the new Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that Ayu’s utterances during his inauguration have shown that the sole intent of the opposition party is to grab power by any means in 2023.

The first European tour by the PDP governors, it was learnt, was a visit to London moments after the October 30 and 31 national conventions while the second visit was a visit to Spain last week.

The first visit to London was said to have been undertaken by the governors of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike; Mr. Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Mr. Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom).

Among the governors on the second trip to Spain were: Wike; Makinde; Ikpeazu; Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa); and Dr. Samuel Ortom (Benue).

It was also gathered that the governors of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, and Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambawul did not attend the meetings due to their ongoing consultations on their presidential aspirations.

A source privy to the strategic meetings told THISDAY last night that Governor Ortom is the architect of a consensus presidential candidate for the PDP and would host the meeting in Makurdi tonight.

According to the source, the PDP governors while in London met a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

He further disclosed that it was from London that Saraki

arrived in Lagos last week to receive the Lagos APC members, who defected to the opposition party “PDP governors from the South agreed at the London meeting that they must play a significant role in the choice of who will fly the party’s presidential ticket,” he said.

He further disclosed that because of Wike’s relationship with Real Madrid Football Club, he travelled, in addition with other governors, with the Adamawa State governor, Fintiri who did not make the earlier London trip.

Real Madrid has a football academy in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The governors posed for photographs at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, which went viral.

“At their Real Madrid meeting, the governors reiterated the need for a consensus presidential candidate to avoid the rancour that could emanate as a fall-out to an elective convention.

“But the PDP governors have not agreed on any choice of a consensus candidate, whether from South or North,” the source added.

It was gathered that the Governor of Sokoto State, Tambuwal, and his Bauchi State counterpart, Mohammed was yet to buy into the idea of a consensus candidate.

The source, who was at the London and Real Madrid meetings, told THISDAY that Oyo State governor, Makinde, has also not bought into the idea of a consensus candidate.

Tambawul, it was gathered, said that he was still consulting on his presidential ambition and would soon come up with his decision.

At the swearing-in ceremony

of the new members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP on Friday in Abuja, the campaign posters of both Tambuwal and Mohammed were struggling for the limited space at the International Conference Centre, the venue of the inauguration ceremony.

As part of the efforts to smoothen some rough edges on the consensus presidential candidate, the PDP governors will again meet in Makurdi after the reception for the new national chairman, Ayu. Meanwhile, a former Director-General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Osaro Onaiwu, has called on all PDP 2023 presidential aspirants to rein in on their aides and their supporters ahead of the 2023 presidential primary election of the party.

The founding DG of the PDP Governors’ Forum harped on the need for a common front from across the various presidential camps of the party.

"Forming a common front as we approach the 2023 presidential poll, even though from the various camps is essential in ensuring we go into the presidential election which is the ultimate for the party, as one house.

"To this extent, I call on presidential aspirants of our great party, Peoples Democratic Party, to please ensure they show leadership by calling their followers and their aides to order, ahead of their campaigns.

As consultations and campaigns commence in earnest, I urge the presidential aspirants to do so with the spirit of sportsmanship, which is the hallmark of every democracy.

"As a party seeking to take power at the centre and across all of the country, we can begin to show leadership now ahead of 2023, with the way we

conduct ourselves ahead of the primaries. Every presidential aspirant of PDP is a leader and a potential president, only that we can have only one presidential candidate for the 2023 polls,” Onaiwu said.

National officers who served as deputies in the immediate past National Working Committee of the PDP had warned the Ayu, to be wary of powerful forces in the party.

They warned that the strong party leaders who saw to his emergence could also remove him from office.

APC: PDP Only Desperate to Grab Power in 2023 In a related development, the APC has said that Ayu’s utterances have shown that the sole intent of the opposition party is to grab power by any means in 2023.

The Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John Akpanudoedehe, in a statement issued yesterday, said the new PDP leadership must prove to Nigerians that it is willing and ready to discard its penchant for impunity and not empty rhetoric of 2023 hand-over notes.

He said: "Going by the utterances and direction of the new PDP leadership, any hope of a re-focused opposition party expected to atone for misdeeds in the country when it was in government for 16 years and as a failed opposition party following PDP's sack in 2015 have now been quickly dashed.

"The PDP's sole intent is power grabbing by any means, ignoring the need for genuine restitution, return of stolen public funds and assets still in possession of politically

exposed persons during its 16-year administration and ultimately providing a truly viable and credible opposition our democracy needs to thrive."

Akpanudoedehe noted that the Ayu-led PDP has shown early signs that it was not different from the immediate past leadership of the opposition party.

He added that the sit-tight syndrome headlined by the PDP's ill-fated third-term agenda has been discarded as an undemocratic template.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had assured Nigerians and the international community of free and fair elections in 2023, even as he pledged a peaceful transfer of power, saying, "that is the stuff of true progressives and statesmanship."

Akpanudoedehe stressed that the priority of this administration has been clearing the national rot left behind by the PDP's shambolic handling of insecurity in its early days, its financial heist under the guise of procuring military weapons, fuel subsidy rackets, diverted loans, voodoo economics, abuse of public institutions and electoral fraud.

He added that despite obvious challenges on the path, the Buhari’s government is successfully clearing the rot and returning the country to its deserved place.

Akpanudoedehe listed Buhari’s efforts to include what he described as continuous electoral reforms and noninterference in the functions of INEC; institutional reforms which have ensured financial autonomy for local government councils; financial autonomy of state legislatures and judiciaries; assenting the long-delayed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), among others.

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10 YEARS OF SERVICE… L-R: Former Governor Delta State, Chief James Ibori; Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; Okobaro of Ughievwen Kingdom, Dr. Matthew Ediri Egbi; and his wife, Queen Felicia, at the 10th year coronation anniversary of the monarch at Otu- Jeremi, Ughelli South Local Government Area…yesterday

To Avert Strike, FG Pays ASUU N52.5bn Revitalisation Fund, Earned Allowance Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The federal government has stated that it has paid lecturers N30 billion Revitalisation Fund and N22.5 billion Earned Academic Allowance, stressing that it has made lot of progress in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding reached with the university workers.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who spoke to THISDAY at the weekend on the update of government's engagement with ASUU, said that he had received confirmation from the Federal Ministry of Finance that funds had been released to the universities for the revitalisation of infrastructure and payment of earned allowances.

"By yesterday, (Friday) the Accountant General's Office and the Funds Office of the Federal Ministry of Finance told me that they paid the Earned Allowances to the 38 federal universities and by today (Saturday) all the affected universities would have gotten their monies for workers.

"I have forwarded the position to the ASUU leadership," he said.

Ngige also said that the contentious issue of the salary payment platform, University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) was being addressed, revealing that the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has submitted its report to government.

He said: "Just today again, NITDA submitted its report on the assessment conducted on UTAS and it has been forwarded to the Ministry of Finance, Accountant General's Office and IPPIS Office so that they will look at it and sort out other details. Copies of the report have also been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Education and National Universities Commission (NUC)".

On whether the report on UTAS was a positive one, the minister said it scored over 50 per cent of the points used in the evaluation, adding that it

is work- in-progress.

"Out of the 500 test points that were used in rating it, we are talking about 50 per cent success rate. So, it's work-in-progress.

The Ministry of Finance and Accountant General's Office are to study the report and areas that they are not satisfied they

will let us know and we'll get back to NITDA because we have a combined team with the NUC and IPPIS Office,” Ngige added.

Reacting to the congresses being planned by ASUU to mobilise its various branches, Ngige said that the leadership

of the union would be expected to inform its organs of the latest progress made both in release of payment for Earned Allowances and Revitalisation Fund.

"They will tell them what happened. The important thing is that we have kept our promise that the N30 billion revitalisation

fund has been paid and that N22.5 billion Earned Allowances have also been paid. So, we look forward to tackling other remaining areas like errors in computation of salaries of some of the staff and of course the question of renegotiation of agreements, which is being

handled with the Federal Ministry of Education.”

Ngige said that the issue of renegotiation of past agreements was still an internal discussion between the Ministry of Education and ASUU as well as other unions in the tertiary institutions.

UAE APPEALS TO FG FOR RESTORATION OF EMIRATES’ OPERATIONS go back, at a time the slots at the airport had 140 per cent capacity.

According to the letter, GCAA said the action taken by the NCAA regarding the Air Peace’s approval at Sharjah is “not in line with the spirit of the agreed air services arrangements between our two nations.”

Emirates Airline had in a travel notice on its website on Friday announced the suspension of operations between Nigeria and Dubai until both countries resolved the fresh diplomatic row.

The UAE flag carrier said the suspension would start tomorrow (Monday) until when Nigeria and the Arab nation “solve the ongoing issue”.

Al-Marri said Air Peace, which initially operated at Sharjah Airport, had shifted to Dubai Airport and then returned to Sharjah Airport, saying the airport authority cannot keep their slots after the airline had left.

“It would be unreasonable for an airline to expect any airport to maintain their slots when they ceased operating at that airport,” the GCAA chairman said.

“The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) presents its compliments to the Federal Ministry of Aviation of Nigeria and has the honour to refer to the letter Ref. No. NCAA/ DG/AIR/11/16/329 dated 9th December of 20921, whereby Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) notified the country manager, Emirates Airline (EK) in Nigeria, regarding the withdrawal of the ministerial approval granted to that airline concerning their Winter Schedule.

“The NCAA further advised

EK that his withdrawal become effective on Sunday 12, 2021, and hence EK is granted approval to operate only one weekly passenger frequency to Abuja on Thursdays.

“The GCAA has the honour to highlight that such a decision by the NCAA is totally unjustified especially, at it has come to our attention that their action is being taken against the background of Air Peace not securing all 3 slots at Sharjah Airport which they desire.

“Air Peace initially operated at Sharjah Airport, shifted to Dubai Airport, and then returned to Sharjah Airport. It would be unreasonable for an airline to expect any airport to maintain their slots when they ceased operating at that airport.”

The UAE aviation authority further said Sharjah Airport is currently operating at 140 per cent slot capacity — and that the country had made goodwill by accommodating Air Peace with one slot of the three requested.

It, however, urged NCAA to review the decision and restore the approval of the Emirates Airline Winter Scheule, as filed.

“We wish to kindly advise you that Sharjah Airport is currently operating at 140 per cent slot capacity, but with goodwill and tremendous efforts on their side, this Airport was able to accommodate Air Peace with one of the three slots that this airline requested,” the letter adds.

“The GCAA wishes to stress that the action being taken by the NCAA is not in line with the spirit of the agreed air services arrangements between our two nations.

“As we are both aware, the relations between our two brotherly countries are

vintage, one hallmark being the recent visit of the President of Nigeria to the UAE, which certainly mirrored the status of the positive relations.

“Finally, we suggest that Air Peace should consider flying their two flights to any UAE airport at which there are available slots. As expected, the GCAA will support Air Peace in this activity, where required.

“Your Excellency, your kind support is anticipated so that the NCAA reviews their decision and restores the approval of the Emirates Airline Winter Schedule, as filed. In this regard, we wish to reiterate that this is purely an operational matter between Air Peace and Sharjah Airport, and in any case, it should have absolutely no implication for Emirates Airline.

But reacting to the allegation that Air Peace requested to operate from another airport and later went back to Sharjah, the Chairman of the Nigerian carrier, Mr. Allen Onyema told THISDAY that the airline never left Sharjah until international airlines operating to UAE shut down operations for COVID-19 lockdown.

According to him, the airline had never made any request to leave Sharjah at any other time.

“When we requested to operate from Dubai airport in 2019, our request was turned down. So, we decided to operate from Sharjah. We continued to operate from Sharjah until the lockdown. We never applied to go to any other airport,” Onyema said.

Also, in a letter addressed to Sirika and signed by Air Peace’s Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide, dated December 11, 2021, the airline

said it had never been given slots at the Dubai International Airport.

“Slot availability was used to deny us operating from that popular airport as it was our first choice. It was the politics of slot unavailability that did not allow us to operate into Dubai Airport directly. The lack of flight slot angle forced us to approach the Sharjah Airport as a last resort. We were welcomed by the government and people of Sharjah. While we were denied slots in their most important airport, the Dubai Airport, Emirates has always enjoyed red carpet treatment in Nigeria where they were given our most important airports- Lagos and Abuja where they operate a total of 21 flights weekly. We only asked for three flights weekly at the Sharjah Airport and we got the same and started operations on the 5th of July, 2019 until COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020,” the airline explained.

The Director-General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, had earlier explained that the reason why the government withdrew 20 flights from Emirates, leaving the Middle East carrier with one flight to Abuja, was because that was the same way UAE treated Air Peace.

Air Peace had requested three flights a week but UAE authorities approved only one flight a week for the airline.

In line with the principle of reciprocity, the Nigerian government had to do the same for Emirates.

Also, Emirates Airline on Friday suspended its flights to Nigeria with effect from December 13, citing the decision

for the federal government to withdraw its flights to Nigeria, except one.

Emirates Airline had approval from the Minister of Aviation to operate 14 flights a week to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and seven flights a week to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, making it 21 flights.

Before the lockdown, Air Peace was operating three weekly flights from Sharjah Airport.

Meanwhile, a pressure group in Nigeria’s aviation sector, Aviation Round Table (ART), has commended the federal government for reciprocating the UAE flight frequency into that country by Nigeria’s flag carrier.

President of the group, Dr. Gabriel Olowo, also commended the Nigerian government in a statement issued yesterday for reciprocating UAE’s choice of entry points into Nigeria.

Olowo said in the group’s statement that the federal government was on the right course on the reciprocity order against Emirate Airlines routes and entry points.

Emirates Airline had before now operated 21 weekly flights into Lagos and Abuja airports whereas the UAE granted Nigeria’s flag carrier, Air Peace, only one weekly flight to its Sharjah Airport.

This is even though Nigeria’s flag carrier applied for only three weekly flights into the UAE.’ “I am indeed very elated to read the current decision by the government that our long-time agitation on schedule reciprocity to Nigeria is finally being addressed,” he said.

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Tambuwal: Defective Military Operations in Zamfara Made Sokoto Vulnerable to Attacks Bandits kill Kaduna pastor after 30 days in captivity John Shiklam in Kaduna and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal has accused the military of making the state “very vulnerable” to the activities of bandits flushed out from Zamfara State.

No fewer than 23 travellers were burnt to death last Monday when some bandits opened fire on a bus in the state.

This is coming as the pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Nariya, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Rev. Dauda Bature has been killed by his abductors after 30 days in captivity.

Following the killing of the passengers by gunmen in Sokoto, President Muhammadu Buhari dispatched a delegation comprising heads of security agencies to the state.

The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Samuel Adebayo, are part of the delegation.

Speaking when he received the delegation, Tambuwal blamed the situation on the influx of bandits displaced by clearance exercises carried out

by Operation Hadarin Daji in Zamfara State.

The governor alleged that the resultant effect of the exercises had led to attacks and kidnappings “in broad daylight” in some parts of the state.

“Operation Hadarin Daji, the precursor of the escalation of tension and crisis in Sokoto State was carried out without any blocking force around the neighbouring states, particularly Sokoto State,” he said.

“Also, the timing of the operation, whereby, unfortunately, our security agents do not have enough equipment to move and curtail and contain those that would pander towards Sokoto State didn’t help the timing as well.

So, the timing and the way the operation was carried out left Sokoto very vulnerable.

“It does appear as if those bandits pursued from Zamfara State have relocated to Sokoto State. This is a very serious call for concern.

“There is a need for more boots on the ground. I am familiar with the situation at the centre, but I believe that something can be done, and, that should be done urgently and expeditiously because our situation is getting out of hand.”

Tambuwal added that the state is also trying its best to curtail security challenges.

“Here in Sokoto State, you can verify this from the heads of security agencies, there is nothing they have asked of us that we have not done.

Nothing,” he said.

“Since the commencement of this administration, we have given security personnel in Sokoto State not less than 500 vehicles. We are also doing whatever it takes in terms of funding from our end despite the lean resources that we have as a state.”

In his response, Monguno, who led the delegation, restated

the federal government’s commitment to flushing out banditry and protecting citizens from all forms of criminal activities in the country.

“We are in Sokoto on a specific mission instructed by President Buhari, to condole you and the very good people of Sokoto State as well as the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, over the unfortunate incidents that have been occurring over the last couple of weeks,” Monguno said.

“Mr. President is conveying his profound condolence over the loss of all the citizens who have departed.

“He also wants us to express his deep sympathy as well as his determination that the perpetrators of this gruesome, wicked activities are apprehended and brought to book.

“He has charged to make sure

that all the relevant agencies do not rest until we can flush out the perpetrators of not just these last two incidents that occurred, but also previous incidents.”

Meanwhile, the pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Nariya, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Rev. Dauda Bature, has been killed by his abductors after 30 days in captivity.

Dare-devil bandits have also invaded parts of Sabon Tasha GRA, Oil Village, and Anguwan Bulus areas of Kaduna metropolis, abducting eight residents including a policeman and his family.

Bature was abducted from his farm on November 8, 2021.

His abductors were said to have demanded N5 million ransom.

It was gathered that after negotiations, his wife went

to deliver an undisclosed amount of money to the criminals in the bush.

It was further learnt that after collecting the money, she too, was kidnapped by her husband’s captors.

The bandits released her on December 6, 2021, to go and look for more money for her husband’s release.

Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Joseph Hayab, confirmed the killing of the clergyman.

“It was yesterday (Friday) that the information came when our pastors were at a conference and the leaders of the church went to officially tell the wife that her husband is no more so that they don’t continue negotiations with the bandits,” Hayab said.

Meanwhile, residents of Sabon Tasha, Oil Village, and Anguwan Bulus, areas of Kaduna metropolis had

sleepless nights as bandits visited them with terror on Thursday and the early hours of Saturday, abducting eight people.

The hoodlums were said to have invaded Sabon Tasha GRA and Anguwan Bulus simultaneously in the early hours of Saturday.

Residents said the bandits who came at about 1 a.m. were repelled by soldiers who responded to distressed calls.

The hoodlums were said to have burnt a house located at Tanko Kokwain Street after they forced their way to the house only to discover that there was nobody around.

Confirming the GRA attack in a statement on, Mohammad Jalige, spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, said the bandits, invaded GRA and Oil Village at about 1 a.m. yesterday.

He said: “The Kaduna Police

Command through Divisional Police Officer Sabon Tasha Division Kaduna acted on a distress call received from a good Samaritan to the fact that some suspected armed bandits numbering about 30 with some in military gears and bearing dangerous weapons, were making ferocious effort to break into a residential area at Sabo GRA in Chikun LGA of the State in an attempt to commit the heinous crime.

“Unfortunately, it was discovered that the bandits operated simultaneously with one at oil village in the same Sabo location where they kidnapped a woman and her four children to an unknown destination.”

He said further that investigation into the two incidences had since commenced while efforts were being made to rescue the victims.

HONOURING CARRINGTON… L-R: Member, Board of Trustees, Carrington Fellowship Network, Dr. Arese Carrington; Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Philip Shaibu; Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III; his wife, Ivie; and Lagos State Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle, at the inaugural Ambassador Walter Carrington’s annual symposium in Lagos…weekend

Yoruba Monarchs Mull Unconventional Ways to Tackle Insecurity in South-west Gboyega Akinsanmi Traditional rulers in the Southwest may soon converge to fashion out means to tackle insecurity unconventionally in the region.

The Owa of Idanre Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Aroloye, who gave the hint at the weekend, charged the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi on the need to arrest the spate of insecurity in the region through unconventional means.

He made the charge when the Ooni of Ife visited him while celebrating his 45th coronation anniversary.

Addressing Ooni, Oba Aroloye said: "It's documented

that you, Ooni of Ife, are the Arole of Oduduwa. I have many documents here with me to prove that.

"You have many vital roles to play now at this point. There's insecurity in Yorubaland. We need to tackle this unconventional way.

"Before the coming of the colonial masters, our fathers had their way of tackling insecurity. We still have these things with and us.

We haven't thrown everything away.

"We, all Yoruba Obas, should begin to have meetings to see how we can protect our land and brainstorm on different salient issues bordering our people.

"It is high time you began to organise meetings of Obas in Yorubaland. We all sons of Oduduwa must begin to have meetings from time to time."

Oba Aroloye disclosed that Oba Ogunwusi would be the third Ooni that had visited Idanre because of the relationship between the two towns.

Idanre was initially known as Ife Oke before the name was changed to Idanre, which was derived from the magical prowess of the people.

In his address, the Ooni of Ife agreed with Oba Aroloye on the issues raised, promising to address them all.

He promised to return

to the Rock town soon to climb the popular Idanre Hill, which harbours several tourist centres.

Though 95-year-old Oba Aroloye, said he went to the hill last over 20 years ago, he implored the Ooni of Ife to visit the hill so that he could be acquainted with several traditional heritages conserved on the hill.

Some sons and daughters of the town were honoured by Oba Aroloye as he installed them as chiefs of Idanre kingdom.

Among many dignitaries that graced the occasion is the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alexander Ogomudia (rtd).

In another development, at the grand finale of the coronation anniversary held yesterday at Olofin Grammar School, Idanre, monarchs from different parts of the state came to celebrate with Owa of Idanre. Among them are Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo; Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo; Olubaka of Oka-Akoko, Oba Adebori Adeleye and Aroloye of Atosin, Oba Gilbert Ogunlowo.

Chief Pius Akinyelure, General Alexander Ogomudia, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, and several others made donations to the N500 million development fund of the town.

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NEWS

RESOURCE PERSONS… L-R: CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Khaled El Dokani; Vice-President, EuroCham Nigeria, Mr. Simon Melchior; President, EuroCham Nigeria, Ms. Mary Ojulari, and Executive Director, Total Energies Marketing Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Lesley Baxter, at the EuroCham Nigeria maiden stakeholders' conference in Lagos …recently

Ikeazor, Sadiku, Daggash, Others Seek Framework to Sanitise Public Service Advocate consequences for actions

James Emejo in Abuja The Minister of State for Environment, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, yesterday said though the civil service had what it takes to contribute to the national development, the lack of laid-down consequences for actions or inactions remained a great challenge.

This is as former Executive Secretary, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC),

Ms. Yewande Sadiku, has also expressed dismay that labour unions in the civil service could choose to hold government agencies to ransom with almost zero consequence.

It came as a former Minister of National Planning Commission (NPC) during the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration, Hon. Mohammed Sanusi Daggash, also disclosed how he had attempted to initiate a needs

Waziri Adio is a shining light, says el-Rufai

assessment on the civil service to correct inherent gaps, adding that his effort was defeated by some members of the then cabinet.

They spoke at the public book presentation of "The Arc of the Possible" as well as a conversation on "The Promise and Peril of Public Service" in Abuja.

The book was written by the erstwhile Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries

Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr. Waziri Adio.

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, at the ceremony, also attended by the Managing Director of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Eniola Bello, congratulated the author on the successful completion of his tenure at NEITI and “for so swiftly enriching our national discourse with an account of his public service”.

The governor, who launched

the book, further described Waziri as a shining light who made his mark as a journalist and public commentator before venturing into the public sector.

Represented by the Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Hadiza Balarabe, El-Rufai said the author has through his public service, demonstrated capacity and a desire to help make things better, adding that Waziri's account would be useful for those who are still in

2023: Don’t Direct Yoruba to Support Any Aspirant, Obasanjo Tells Ooni Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday urged the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, not to direct the Yoruba people to support any aspirant in the 2023 general election.

The former president asked the monarch not to allow Yoruba politicians to “add to your burden”.

“Don’t direct Yoruba people to support any aspirant, as we don’t all go in the same direction, which is part of our strength in Yoruba land,” he said.

Obasanjo spoke during the chieftaincy conferment on the Director-General of International

Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, and his wife, Mrs. Charlotte Sanginga, by the Ooni at his palace in Ile-Ife. He advised the monarch to strike a balance between his role as a royal father and politics in Yoruba land.

“All the sons and daughters of Yoruba land, no matter where they are or their standpoint, will come to meet you. This is expected because you are the father of all.

“Any one of them who says that he is interested in politics - just pray for him and let them go. Anyone who approaches you and says that he wants to be president or governor, just pray for such a person

and let him go.

“Don’t direct Yoruba people to support any aspirant, as we don’t all go in the same direction, which is part of our strength in Yoruba land,” Obasanjo said.

The former president reminded the monarch that as far as politics was concerned, even in the pre-independence era, the Yoruba usually had two strong sides, adding: “Please, don’t let politicians add to your burden”.

The former president commended Sanginga for his dedication to agriculture, food, and nutrition security in Africa.

Sanginga, a Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

national, and his wife, were honoured with Aare and Yeye Aare Afurugbin-Ola of the Source respectively.

The former president, who said that the chieftaincy conferment was in recognition of the director-general’s passion for the development of agriculture in Africa, urged Sanginga to see the honour as a challenge to do more for the continent.

Obasanjo, who is IITA Ambassador, commended Oba Ogunwusi for the choice of Sanginga and his wife for the chieftaincy titles, saying that they were both worthy of the honour.

“I commend Your Imperial Majesty for the bold step taken

to honour this distinguished African who has dedicated his life to agriculture, food security, and nutrition in Africa.

“I want to assure you these new chiefs will not disappoint you; that they will not disappoint Ife indigenes and the entire Yoruba race.

“I know and I am sure that they will live up to the honour that you have bestowed on them,” he said.

On his part, Oba Ogunwusi appreciated the IITA directorgeneral’s passion for agricultural development in Africa.

According to him, despite the balkanisation of Africa by the Europeans, Africans will continue to remain one and indivisible.

IN RETALIATORY MOVE, FG TO IMPOSE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON UK, CANADA, SAUDI ARABIA of the UK, with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, describing it as discriminatory, unfair, punitive, indefensible, and unjust.

In a leaked voice note obtained by THISDAY yesterday, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, stated that the decision to ban these countries in retaliation would be made by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 latest by Tuesday.

“Also, there is a case of Saudi Arabia, which put Nigeria on the banned list - no visa, no travel, et Cetra. So also Canada.

So, today, there was a meeting, I participated in a zoom meeting, COVID-19 task force, just for your information also.

"We have given our input in aviation, it is not acceptable

by us and we recommend that those countries - Canada, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina be also put on Red List, as they did similarly to us.

"If they don’t allow our citizens to go into their countries who are their airlines coming to pick from our country?

"So, I am very sure that in the next few days, between now and Monday, or perhaps Tuesday, at maximum, all those countries will be put on the red list from the PSC (Presidential Steering Committee) from the task force of COVID-19. Once they are put on the red list, which means they are banned, of course, their airlines will be banned.

“I’m so sorry, we are going through a difficult moment, but we have to do it in the interest of our country,” Sirika

explained.

Following the 21 cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19 reported in England, which were allegedly linked to travel from Nigeria, the United Kingdom had imposed travel restrictions on Nigeria.

Under this measure, the UK added Nigeria to the red list of countries from where people arriving must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days, to limit the spread of the Omicron strain of COVID-19.

This implies that the UK and Irish citizens arriving from Nigeria must isolate in a government-approved managed quarantine facility for 10 days, and receive two negative PCR tests, as further precautionary action is taken against the Omicron variant.

A temporary travel ban

was also introduced for all non-UK and non-Irish citizens and residents who have been in Nigeria in the last 10 days, meaning they were banned from entry into the UK. Canada and Saudi Arabia had also banned travellers from Egypt, Nigeria, and Malawi over fears of the spread of the new Omicron variant.

Meanwhile, about 13 countries have also barred travellers from Britain from entering their territories.

The measures by the countries came in response to surging cases of Omicron variant in the UK. Agency reports monitored by THISDAY yesterday indicated that with reports of cases of new Omicron variant rising in the UK, some governments have taken measures to ban

UK citizens from entering their countries.

According to the latest information from the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office in London, countries like Australia, Falkland Islands, Indonesia Buhutan, China, Israel, Japan, Laos, New Zealand, and Suriname have imposed travel restrictions on the UK. In addition, Malaysia and Taiwan have banned the entry of British travellers and foreign nationals from entry.

Chinese authorities have also suspended all direct flights from the UK. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had announced that the country had recorded only six confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

the public service as they reflect on their roles and challenges as well as prepare those coming into public service.

The governor noted that: “Public service is tough and often thankless but it is a necessary activity for building a better society.”

He commended Waziri for leaving behind a legacy of professionalism and integrity and hoped other people coming behind would learn from his account.

Ikeazor said the entrenchment of the consequence regime in the public service would improve governance for the better in the country.

While calling for greater involvement of the private sector in governance, the minister explained that she ventured into politics following the infamous Sosoliso plane crash which traumatised the nation and resulted in civil protests by largely women groups which she was part of.

Ikeazor said she got into politics to influence policies and better the lives of the people.

However, Sadiku, while calling for punitive measures, recounted how the NIPC staff union which was resistant to reforms, had disrupted business activity in the commission on different occasions without consequences adding that this was bad for the service.

“The labour union locked the gate of the agency; the first time in July 2020, they locked it for 11 days - padlock out the gate of the agency. And there were zero consequences.

“They did it again in February 2021 for six days with zero consequences. I still find it incredibly painful that somebody can take a government agency and hold it to ransom like that.

I was upset by the fact that the system allowed it to happen.”

Also, speaking at the launch, World Bank Country Director, Dr. Shubham Chaudhuri, said the single most important ingredient in which nations made progress on the basic aspirations of making lives better for all citizens was the quality and number of individuals who had dedicated themselves to that mission and public service.

Among other things, he said the deep commitment to the notion of public

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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 12, 2021

EDITORIAL

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

ISWAP AND NIGERIA'S FINANCIAL SYSTEM The GIABA report is another wake-up call to strengthen the country's financial system

I

n November 2020, six Nigerians were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms, ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Their crime? Facilitating the funnelling of funds worth $782,000 to terror groups in Nigeria in contravention of UAE’s Federal Law. Again, in September this year, the UAE listed another six Nigerians as financiers of Boko Haram and terror affiliates. All these happened while the Nigerian authorities totter on how to handle scores of alleged terrorism sponsors back home. Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had in May revealed that high-profile Nigerians suspected to be financing terrorism were being profiled for prosecution.

While the federal government continues to dither on how to bring these suspects to book, the recent report by the InterGovernmental Action Group against money laundering in West Africa (GIABA), set up by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has If there is any made a shocking revelation: The take-away terror group, IsState West from the GIABA lamic Africa Province (ISWAP) moved report, it is a whopping N18 that an urgent billion annual revenue through the overhaul of the Nigerian financial to fund its financial system system activities. This expose is not only is required to a serious threat to check terrorism the country but also a clear indictment sponsorship in on the intelligence and anti-graft agenNigeria cies, notably, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

The overarching objective of the GIABA report is to help policymakers, regulatory and enforcement authorities, as well as reporting entities, to better understand the nature and dynamics of terrorist financing in the sub-region. The project aims to collect information from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and other institutions, identify current terrorists financing (TF) trends, methods, and the techniques they use to source illicit money from their supporters in West and Central Africa.

It also provides specialised analysis and informa-

Letters to the Editor

tion on how they funnel these funds to their terror activities within the region and more especially in Nigeria.

It is important for the ministries and agencies (MDAs) to study the GIABA report and heed its recommendations. From 2019 to date, the Nigerian government has taken some steps that were recommended by the report, such as a closer look at the financing of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and of Bureau de Change operators. However, major challenges include the implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism measures. That terrorists use different methods to finance their activities and conceal the sources of their funds is common knowledge. The funds may come from legal sources, such as legitimate businesses, government, and religious or cultural organisations, or from illegal sources, such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, and government corruption. But with the obsession for regime protection, Nigerian authorities seem to be more interested in the NGOs that challenge its human rights and governance records than those that threaten national security. hen law enforcement can detect and prevent money laundering activities, it may also be preventing those funds from being used to finance acts of terror. Understanding these financial management strategies is essential in developing effective measures to counter terrorist financing. The fact that money laundering and terrorism financing are often linked has made it imperative for financial regulators and law enforcement authorities to use a variety of techniques to checkmate these criminals.

The GIABA report is therefore another wake-up call to strengthen the financial system in Nigeria, and by extension curb terrorism financing. Some of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements in Nigeria mandate certain financial institutions and businesses to have compliance programmes under the Money Laundering Act. These include the appointment of an AML chief compliance officer at the executive level, identification of AML legislation and offences, and identifying the nature of money laundering as well as reporting money laundering ‘red flags’ and suspicious transactions.

It is impossible to move a whopping N18 billion without the financial system, underscoring the fact that terrorism cannot thrive in a transparent environment. So, if there is any take-away from the GIABA repor t, it is that an urgent overhaul of the financial system is required to check terrorism sponsorship in Nigeria.

W

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

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

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

NIGERIAN HEROES OF NOTE

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s Nigeria continues to battle the extreme evil of terrorism, Nigerians have been spared the worst by those who defend the country.

In North-east Nigeria, soldiers, some scarcely in their twenties, leave family and friends behind to confront terrorists, recover sacked communities and reassure terrorized populations.

Many of them have paid the supreme price in defense of their country.

It would be lazy to cite the military`s rigorous discipline which most times jars civilian sensibilities to advocate that no sympathy should be felt for the soldiers at the battlefront; it would even be lazier to simply say that whatever befalls them is their lot as they signed up for the work in the first place. However,

the path of reason would be to recognize that someone has to do it as a step to recognizing the impossible conditions under which they battle formidable enemies.

The Nigerian police has so many shortcomings. Perhaps, more than any other institution in Nigeria, it is the Police that best captures every angle of Nigeria`s struggle with impunity, corruption and bad leadership like a master photographer. The events of October 2020 which culminated in the Lekki toll gate incident continue to haunt a battered country and hound the police.

However, away from their incompetence, there is no doubt that whenever the Police are able to put themselves together, Nigerian criminals feel a juddering disruption of their

activities.

It is against this background that Nigerians must be collectively horrified at the gruesome murder of two policemen in the Southeast Nigeria by men suspected to belong to the Eastern Security Network ESN), the militant wing of the proscribed group, the Indigenous People of Biafra. Those who carried out the dastardly act even had the stomach to make a video of it which has since circulated online.

It is now beyond argument that perfection cannot be painted into Nigeria`s wrinkled canvas of national life. Thus, when different institutions and players comingle in Nigeria`s public space, it is usually a feast of faults and fraud with many coated with the thick tar of

corruption.

So, like many other institutions, the police are like a hen sitting on many eggs. Some are utterly rotten, but many are not. Together with other security personnel in the country, they form Nigeria`s last line of defense against the malevolent force that terrorism is.

It is why there can be no justification whatsoever for killing any of them. It is in the interest of the most v ulnerable Nigerians that those who protect them are safe themselves. At each death which befalls a securit y personnel at the hands of terrorists, national outrage must swirl like dust in a cyclone.

With every officer killed in any of Nigeria`s security agencies, death at the hands of terrorists takes a step closer to an innocent Nigerian; a community draws closer to its day of sack, and many hearts close

upon irreparable heartbreak.

But lest those who do these things labour under any misapprehension or illusion whatsoever: they are neither freedom fighters nor heroes.

They know nothing about piety. They are savage criminals - bloodthirsty wolves who derive the greatest pleasure from rendering women widows and their children fatherless.

Those who do these things mock the pain and sensibilities of Nigerians who have borne painful witness as a once peaceful and prosperous country has been reduced to a killing field.

They do not speak for and to any right-thinking Nigerian; Nigerians know who their real enemies are; and never again in Nigeria will foe be described as friend no matter the fraud or duress.

– Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@ gmail.com

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OPINION

202 2 , Y EA R OF MEN DING A N D HOPES

Rajendra Aneja outlines the key challenges that the world will confront and have to resolve next year

T

he United Nations has declared 2022, as the year of “Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture.” More appropriately, 2022 should be celebrated as the “Year of Hope” after the Covid-19 holocaust of 202o-2021.

The key priority for all nations in 2022, will be to continue the unrelenting fight against Covid-19 and its variants. Only 46 percent of the world has received both doses of the vaccine. Again, only 56 percent of the global population has received one dose. Till about 80 percent of the world is fully inoculated, we will not be safe.

Vaccination priority should be given to nations in Africa and other developing countries. They have inoculated just three to four percent of their populations. Low-income countries like Burkina Faso, Benin, etc., have vaccinated less than two percent of their populations. Distressing.

A key challenge in vaccinating the entire world by end-2022, will be to convince non-believers to inoculate. There would be about 20 to 25 percent of the people, who do not believe in the vaccines.

President Biden will continue to be the pivotal global leader.

Despite the temporary hiccups that the Democratic Party is facing, he will stand tall. He will have to accelerate the fight against Covid-19 and galvanise the economy.

President Putin will continue ploughing a lonely furrow, elbowing Ukraine needlessly. Putin has managed to remain in power and popular with his people. Putin’s people love him; Putin dolls sell on Moscow’s streets.

The real conflict in the world will be via the translucent “bamboo curtain” between the USA and China. China will continue its political and economic aggrandisements, especially in Asia and Africa by funding infrastructural projects.

America will be peeved with Chinese expansionism. The Chinese have fat wallets. They will spend.

Boris Johnson will continue to amuse and obfuscate his people, but will thrive. The new German leadership may struggle, without Mama Merkel. Afghanistan will struggle to find money to run the country. Africans across the continent, will scuffle to improve their lives.

Hopefully, there will be no wars. We should focus on fighting hunger and poverty, which have augmented voraciously, in 2020 and 2021. The world should not return to old squabbles. Covid-19 should have taught us humility and the value of global cooperation.

The IMF has predicted a growth rate of 4.9 percent in 2022.

With Covid-19 variants teasing the world, expect the global economy to be tantalising. Whilst the USA economy could grow around three percent next year, China with its Zero-Covid policy could grow around five percent. Overall the global economy could stutter around three percent growth. Developing countries in Asia and Africa will lag.

Economic disparities will widen. According to Oxfam, the richest one percent of the world’s population has more than twice the wealth as 6.9 billion people. Around 811 million people sleep hungry every night. Two billion people suffer from malnutrition globally.

The world will need at least three years, to vanquish the ghosts of Covid-19. Real estate prices will be dejected. Stock markets will oscillate anxiously, depending on new mutants of Covid-19.

Gold prices will hover around USD 1,875 to 1,900 per ounce, though its future is uncertain. Oil prices will dance, but steady around USD 60 to 70 per barrel, despite the tango in the last quarter of 2021. There are no get-rich-quick investment avenues for the rich.

Inflation will keep the world sleepless. It will plague developing countries too. Fractured supply chains will accentuate price hikes. Expect to pay more for food in 2022.

Climate change will dominate seminars and conclaves. Action will be scarce. Greta Thunberg will fume.

International travel may lubricate the global economy.

However, expect a cautious opening, with quarantines and Covid-passes.

Statistics however, do not reveal the true economic pains in every country. The agony and poverty suffered by citizens, cannot be gleaned through digits. People have lost faith, family members, homes, livelihoods, savings, during the last two years.

Migratory labour, which fled to their countries, have yet to return.

Government across the world, especially in the developing

So, hope in 2022 depends on conquering Covid-19, mending fences between America and China, managing climate change, spurring economic growth and reducing disparities. Hopefully, leaders will listen

countries in Asia, Africa, etc., should spend copiously on social benefits like subsidised food and medicines for the poor.

Governments in Asia and Africa should suspend income taxes for the middle and lower incomed, for two years. Taxes on basic foods like flour, sugar, lentils, edible oils, etc., should be suspended to help the underprivileged.

Nations should undertake rigorous reviews of their health spends and resources. People across the world have died waiting for hospital beds, medicines, vaccines, oxygen, etc.

Priority should be given to establishing hospitals, beds, ICUs’, medical colleges, nursing institutes, etc. Global growth is meaningless to the 124 million people punched below the poverty line of USD two per day, during the pandemic.

About 698 million people, nine percent of the world, lives below the poverty line now. 2022 should be a year for “Humane Economics”, where the poor come before polemics.

The world will relish the FIFA football matches in Qatar. However, Latino fans will have to forego their beers, shorts, tank-tops and spaghetti strap dresses during these matches. Qatar frowns on alcohol and revealing apparel. The new hunger for medals in developing countries, will find satiation at the Commonwealth Games. Novak Djokovic will shine, breaking new records.

The world will be hunting for a new James Bond, since Daniel Craig has bowed out. A cinema famished world, will troop into theatres.

So, hope in 2022 depends on conquering Covid-19, mending fences between America and China, managing climate change, spurring economic growth and reducing disparities. Hopefully, leaders will listen.

My soulmate Patricia and I just hope for a Corona free world. Then, we can go for long walks amongst the pine tree forests in the mountains. We are happy with the cold air, silences and white clouds around us. It has been a long time since Patricia and I held hands and walked endlessly, as soft, white, snowflakes waft down. It is heavenly.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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

NO AMOUNT OF MONEY BUILDS A NATION

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Nigeria must mobilise all her citizens for learning to be saved, argues Francis Ogbimi

resident Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) and his men and women in government have again proved that no amount of money builds a nation. The national dailies every day since PMB became the President of Nigeria in May 2015 have one item about how Nigeria is trying to borrow billions of dollars or how the National Assembly is approving one jumbo loan for PMB or how the public is expressing fear that Nigeria’s debt is not sustainable or how the finance minister is explaining that Nigeria needs the loans to erect critical infrastructure or how the CBN Governor is claiming that the bank has moved money swiftly to save Nigeria or about how Nigeria is somewhere begging for the forgiveness of the debts the DMO claims is sustainable or how prices of electricity and petroleum products would be highly increased as a way of removing subsidies. But the states of the nation and economy say it all – No amount of money builds a nation.

I am Emeritus Professor of Technology Management. I conducted a curiosity-driven research and taught Technology Management for over three decades with the objective of establishing the scientific basis of the present global distribution of wealth and power and how nations develop. The research has been abundantly blessed. I have summarized the highlights of the research in a seven-book series. The eighth book is in press. I am grateful to the Almighty God, the source of wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

PMB has been borrowing streams of billions of dollars claiming that he wants to build critical infrastructure with the money. What is critical infrastructure? Where are the roads, bridges, railways, dams, electricity generating and distributing plants Nigeria erected 55 years before 2015? Where are the roads, bridges, railways, etc., today? They do not exist! Why? It is because of the nature of all types of infrastructure. They experience depreciation. They are depreciating assets (DAs). They may be likened to a profusely leaking water tank. No wise individual tries to fill a profusely leaking water-tank with water. That explains why all the industrialized and rich nations of today built relevant infrastructure after they had achieved industrialization and had developed the capabilities to build, repair and restore the value of depreciated infrastructure.

History and science have demonstrated over the centuries that: No industrialisation, no reliable infrastructure. Only an unwise nation

erects structures the citizens lack the knowledge, skills and capabilities to build and maintain, with loans.

Why is Nigeria always looking for money to borrow? Do Nigerians think and reason at all? When did the government of Nigeria exit from a debt trap? It was during the Obasanjo administration 1999-2007. Nigeria and other African nations were forced to adopt the punitive African Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). The African SAP and its mandatory currency-devaluing foreign exchange market lack growthpromoting elements; they have only been promoting mass unemployment and poverty and de-industrialising Africa.

What does PMB and his government want to prove – disgrace Nigeria more?

How long does it take to build a road in Nigeria, judging from the West-East and Ibadan-Lagos roads-building experiences?

How long do Nigerian roads last? How many times has Nigeria attempted to resuscitate the colonial railway system? Why should a government that has just eight years borrow huge amounts of money that would be paid over many decades for erecting infrastructure that would last only a few years?

Borrowing is no solution to Nigeria’s problems. Nigeria borrows frivolously because of the frivolous claims associated with capital investment and Nigeria’s development endeavours. The claim that capital investment promotes growth is a frivolous fallacy. It has no historical and scientific bases. It is a very sad claim for Africa. The sad and frivolous claim is responsible for the pitiable state of Nigeria and all other African nations. Nigeria’s borrowings have never been for development.

Greece has come face to face with the disgrace of bankruptcy many times since independence in the early 19th century due to frivolous borrowing. The nation defaulted on its external debt five times in modern era (1826, 1843,1860, 1894 and 1932) before the 2008 financial crisis (see GreekReporter.com, Greece’s History of Loans since 1824). It is said that being indebted is the worse form of poverty. Mere capital investment does not promote the capability-building growth and industrialization (CBGI) that Nigeria needs urgently to address her social, economic and political problems. Unfortunately, when a people have done something bad for a long time, they are likely to think that what they have been doing is good. Being indebted on

the individual and national levels is disgraceful. It is hard to understand why the government of a nation with bad history of debts will think that it is a good thing to plunge the nation into huge indebts, claiming that there is no other choice. The results since 2015 have been stagnation and impoverishing of the citizens. Those in PMB’s government claiming that there is no alternative to borrowing are wrong.

No one solves a problem s/he does not understand. I have always insisted that the problem with Nigeria is lack of understanding of what the growth and development of a nation entails. Economists and other social scientists and their friends do not understand the science of growth and development. All the rich nations in Europe, the United States of America (USA) and Asia were poor when they were not industrialized and had agricultural/artisan economies like those of all African nations of today. Industrialisation is the solution to mass unemployment, poverty, poor infrastructure, high insecurity, etc. Mere capital investment on infrastructure does not promote sustainable economic growth and industrialisation.

Our curiosity-driven research showed that industrialization is achieved through learning (education, training, employment and research). Education alone co-exists with mass unemployment and poverty. The learning-nation is the progressive one. Progress in the learning –nation is measured from five variables. They are: 1) N – the number of people involved in productive work or employment in a nation; 2) M – the level of education/training of those involved in productive activities in the economy and of the people of the nation; 3) L – the linkages among the knowledge, skills, competences and sectors of an economy; 4) r – the learning rates or intensity in the economy and especially among the workforce; and 5) n – the experience of the workforce and the learning history of the society. All the variables are related to the learning-people.

Moreover, the higher are the values of the variables, the better is the economy.

– Prof Ogbimi, fogbimi@yahoo.com

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ DECEMBER 12, 2021

15

LETTERS

LET THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN COUNT

I

f I were Mister President I would have long declared a work-free day specifically meant for fervent and intense prayers of the citizens against the rampaging monster of insecurity. One is sore worried about premeditated evil acts that have turned several Nigerian states into killing fields. The unfolding tragic, yet preventable events that currently haunt and hound us as a people go beyond the physical to the spiritual realm.

Or, how else would one explain that concerned Nigerians wake up every day to the scary news of mindbending terror as carried out by fully armed members of Boko Haram and ISWAP, bandits, kidnappers and bank-focused armed robbers? These spell a doom for the nation because no one can tell who the next set of victims would be. Beyond sentiments, it is a painful paradox that years after the All Progressives Congressled administration openly made the campaign promise to wipe out all forms of insurgents within months of mounting the pedestal of power, here we find ourselves in the marshy pit

of ever worsening insecurity.

Since 2014/15 political campaigns hundreds of thousands of those who swallowed their fanciful promises line, hook and sinker have been sent to their early graves! The surprising aspect of the recent killings is the fact that they involved mostly our voiceless and innocent children within the space of a few weeks. If in doubt, consider the recent spate of the strange death of 12-year old Sylvester Oromoni, a student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos State who allegedly died from the beating he received from fellow students in November.

There is yet another gory tale of eight children found dead in an abandoned car at Adelayo Street, Jah-Michael area of Badagry area of Lagos the previous Sunday. It is suspected that they may have died of suffocation from excessive heat! Reports say they were declared missing on Saturday, and a search party was constituted, but they were however found in the abandoned car owned by an old woman.

And while we were still agonizing over those dastardly deaths came

the heart-rending tragedy of how the driver of the articulated truck ran into the students at Grammar School Bus stop at Grammar School, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos, killing some and maiming others.

With regard to the recurring ugly decimal of preventable deaths of the young ones in Nigeria, according to Amnesty International, (AI)’s Osai Ojigho, school children in some parts of northern Nigeria are constantly at risk of death or abduction. It is

reported that “more than 780 children have been abducted for ransom since February 2021 during mass attacks on schools or religious institutions, with some of the children killed during the attacks”.

In fact, AI listed two girls and a boy abducted from Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State on 17th June, 2021, who were found dead, days after their abduction. Also, two of the children were shot in their legs while the third was suspected to have died of

THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AWARD CEREMONY

T

he 2021 edition of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was held in Oslo, Norway, on Friday, 10th December, 2021 with the Philippines's Maria Ressa and Russia’s Dmitry Muratov jointly awarded the prestigious award at the architecturally magnificent Oslo City Hall.

Here are four takeaways from the interview session spearheaded by Qatar-based media Group, Al Jazeera.

Both awardees are standouts – As a former CNN reporter covering South – East Asia before Co - Founding the Rappler Newspaper in Philippines which has been fearlessly covering President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial brutal war on drug, Maria Ressa has been a thorn

in the flesh of the authorities and she is currently charged with 10 different cases in the country, of which three had been quashed. Muratov on the other hand has courageously defended free Press in Russia since 1993 when he founded Novaya Gazeta and publishes fiery investigations the government will never want the public to know about among which are Contract Killing of opposition activists in Russia, extrajudicial killings in Chechnya, publication of investigative report detailing the dismemberment of a Syrian detainee by a Russian-based private military contractor, and exposure of 2017 Chechnya anti - gay summary executions by authorities.

Journalism profession remains dangerous. While speaking in an emotional-

laden voice during his opening address which made part of the audience to shed tears, Muratov lists six of his Newspaper staff who have been murdered in a cold – blooded manner through sponsored killings including the Novaya’s galactico reporter, Anna Politkovskaya who exposed the Chechnya’s killings.

He was gunned down in her Moscow apartment in 2006. Tribute was also paid to Daphney Caruana, a Malta journalist who died in a highly motivated car bomb killing after publishing nvestigation reports exposing corruption of top government officials.

Authoritarian regimes continue ruthless crackdown on journalists.

Speaking during the question and answer session,

Dr. Julian Possetti, the global director of research at the International Center for Journalists mentioned China, Egypt, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Belarus as the top jailers of journalists globally.

Information warfare and social media weaponization are threats to democracy – Both Maria and Muratov and other discussants agree that information disinformation and social media weaponization are key instruments state actors deploy in manipulating the general public and attacking the reputation of journalists through tech giants who are twisting democracy with their surveillance capitalism.

Moshood Olajide, moshoododunayoolajidemoshood@gmail.com

CHRISTIANS IN SEASON OF CHRISTMAS

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his Christmas 2021 and ‘tis the season of looking inwards and asking ourselves hard and deep soul-searching questions, existential ones for that matter. I have been wondering how we Christians take on one another in the present time just to show we are “liberal and multiculturally-minded.”

Apparently, the seeds of discord Osama bin Laden couldn’t sow amongst us we readily grab handfuls of these seeds and scatter them in the midst of our brotherhood. Now, let us consider the reason Christian-majority countries like Poland, the Czech Republic,

Hungary, and a few others in the Central-East Europe belt have flatly refused to take in Muslim migrants. Apart from the knowledge that these migrants are on a deliberate weaponised migration treks from climes that chose not to develop and opt to self-destruct, there is the fear especially amongst the Czechs that reactionaries, now or later, in the ranks of these migrants will violently turn against the society that has taken them and provided them succour.

The Czechs argue that, since consumption of pork products and alcoholic beverages (the Czechs are known for pilsner beer) are a cultural thing in their society, it is

just a matter of time before a Muslim migrant or their descendants rise in protest against “decadent mores of the Czechs” and seek ways to blow things up. How are the Czechs gonna cope with the costs of clean-ups and providing round-the-clock anti-terror protection? The Czechs have pointed out that, no problem, non-Christian migrants are welcome (example cited of Vietnamese) so long their indigenous cultures do not demonise pork-eating and beer-drinking. The Czechs’ arguments cover for the Poles, the Slovaks, the Hungarians, etc.

Plus, what’s wrong in maintaining centuries-old Christianmajority population in these small countries anyway? But His Holiness, Papa Roma Francis, just recently threw a broadside at Catholic-majority Poland by his reference to “moral shipwreck”

in the Pope’s call for integration of Muslim migrants into conservative European countries.

I felt that was a mite too harsh, this Catholic-versusCatholic spar. Now, what would the Pope be if Catholicism is subsumed under Islam?

It is Catholic-majority countries like Poland and her types that make Catholicism “beats.”

Poland knows best not to get caught in self-destruct multiculturalism knowing that Muslim-majority countries are uprooting the last vestiges of their Jewish and Christian heritages this moment.

–– Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State Read the full article online - www. thisdaylive.com

ill-health.

Similarly, on 6th June, 2021, the body of a threeyear-old boy abducted at the Salihu Tanko Islamic School, Tegina, Niger State was found a few kilometres away from the town, while five other children abducted during the raid also died in captivity. At least 136 children between the ages of 3-15 were abducted during the raid and freed on the 26th of August after months in captivity.

Furthermore, on 17th February, 2021 Benjamin Doma was killed while trying to escape during an attack in his school, Government Science College Kagara, Niger State. Some 27 school children were reportedly abducted during the raid.

In addition, on 19th September, 2021 Edeh Donald, a student of Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu, Abia State died when their school bus was attacked by gunmen along Ihube road in Okigwe LGA while returning with his schoolmates from an excursion.

All the listed deaths are only part of a saddening spectrum of the scarce regards given to the sacredness of human life here in Nigeria. Painfully, it is getting worse by the day.

So, the questions remain.

Are the heartless killers of these innocent children not from some families?

Were they brought up to value only their lives and not that of other fellow citizens? Do they not attend some churches and mosques? Were they not taught that there is a Judgment Day and that someday sooner or later each of us will die and that we shall have questions to answer with regard to how

we lived our lives?

As for those in government what legacies are they going to leave behind and to be remembered for? That of overseeing killings upon killings of innocent souls and yet always reeling out blame of others but never themselves? Is it that of paying tributes or endless condolence messages and giving porous assurance that they are on top of the situation? That is, instead of taking proactive security measures and allowing for political restructuring and state police to bring security closer to the people? What manner of Nigeria are these leaders going to bequeath our youths, if there is no regard for their lives?

While it is heart-warming that more than 180,000 people have signed petitions demanding justice for Sylvester Oromoni, let the process be transparent because of the conflicting reports trailing his death. While Dowen College claimed that the boy died as a result of injuries sustained while playing football, a family member Sylvester's cousin - has given his version of events. He alleged on Twitter that five boys had accosted Sylvester, locking him in his hostel and giving him a chemical to drink - none of which has yet been corroborated by the police, who say they are still investigating.

With regard to Oromoni, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, says that three students of Dowen College in the Lekki area of the state are currently in police custody for allegedly assaulting the victim.

- Ayo Oyoze Baje, Lagos Read the full article online - www. thisdaylive.com

THE DEATH OF COMMON SENSE I must repeat religion is not a bad thing, I am a man of faith and faith is the cornerstone of my life and all I stand for in life. My journey in life has been anchored on my faith and when the dark times come, that is all I rely on but I must add there is a difference between foolishness and religion, and I must say we are drowning in the well of foolishness in the name of religion.

It is sad that everyone now leaves everything to God in Nigeria. I am sure by now, God will have become tired of the Nigerian request. It has to be stated that you cannot build a society without hard work and common sense, but in Nigeria people do not want to work and they want God to work for them. They will not go out to create opportunities and they will expect God to create it for them. In Nigeria people will do the most unthinkable evil and they expect God to save them. I wonder why they never had the commonsense to think of the consequences of our actions, but bothering God to save us. It has to be stated God has given us a brain with unlimited bandwidth to think. Why can’t we

think, we just bother God for everything.

The recent videos, of the aiteo well-head stoppage was really annoying, I saw Engineers thanking God for shutting the wellhead, after it sputtered for over a month and caused untold environmental damage because we did have the capacity. Rather than ensure development of local capacity to shut wellhead.

We praise God for shutting the well-head, rather than ensuring that we properly cap well-heads and ensure strong regulatory activity. We spend our time thanking God for solutions, to a problem we created by our lack of thinking and rigor. I must have to say the Engineers also didn’t wear appropriate face mask.

I will like to hope that they will not have to cast and bind the spirit of cancer in years to come as a result of the exposure to oil and gas.

It is time for us to embrace a national culture of critical thinking in finding solutions to our problems and I must add that doesn’t stop you from believing in God. A stitch in time saves Nine.

- Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

16

SUNDAY DECEMBER 12, 2021 • T H I S D AY

17

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 12, 2021

BUSINESS

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

As Equinix/MainOne Deal Opens 1eZ 9istas oI FDI InIloZ The acquisition of MainOne Cable Company Limited, a :est African data centre and connectivity solutions provider, by Equinix, a global digital infrastructure company may be one of the business deals needed to open the Áoodgate of more Foreign Direct Investments into Nigeria at a period of increasing appetite for FDIs, reports Festus Akanbi

A

frican markets came into reckoning last week with the announcement by Equinix, one of the world’s digital infrastructure companies, of its expansion into Africa through a deal to acquire 0ain2ne, a company that oͿers wholesale broadband services through a system of cable networks and Àbre optic infrastructures 7he deal is scheduled to conclude in the Àrst quarter of , pending the fulÀllment of customary closing conditions, including the requisite regulatory approvals Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million people, is Africa’s largest economy, and along with Ghana, has established itself as a data centre powerhouse Equinix will be able to enter the continent with this acquisition MainOne owns and operates a subsea network from Nigeria to Portugal, as well as 1,200 kilometres of reliable terrestrial Àbre networks across southern Nigeria A statement by Equinix said the transaction has an enterprise value of 20 million Rising Investors’ Appetite Financial experts said although the coverage of the investment in Africa, given the fact that MainOne infrastructure is present in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire (with the establishment of its tier 111 data centre in these countries), however, it is still being celebrated as an indication of rising investors’ appetite in Nigeria To these categories of analysts, Equinix’s acquisition of MainOne should be seen as the beginning of good things to come ´This transaction is a testament to the readiness of Africa, nay Nigeria to oͿer international investors ample opportunities to realise their dreams,” a top player in the telecoms sector, who prefers to be anonymous stated His opinion was corroborated by that of the President and CEO, Equinix, Charles Meyers, who explained that ´The acquisition of MainOne will represent a critical point of entry for Platform Equinix into the expansive and rapidly growing African market MainOne’s leading interconnection position and experienced management team represent critical assets in our aspirations to be the leading neutral provider of digital infrastructure in Africa ” He assesses that ´Growth of data consumption

in Africa is amongst the fastest in the world, and our customers are looking for a trusted partner to pursue the opportunities presented by broad mobile adoption and greater connectivity across the region MainOne’s infrastructure, customer relationships, partner ecosystem, and operating capability will extend the reach of Platform Equinix and bolster opportunities for customers in Africa and throughout the world ” The President, EMEA, Equinix, Eugene Bergen also said the expansion in Africa, ´has long been a strategic priority for us :ith MainOne, we have found a company that not only has highly complementary data center and connectivity assets but can further accelerate the expansion of our business model and growth obMectives ” Chief Analyst and Research Director, Synergy Research Group: John Dinsdale said ´Africa has been the missing piece in the Equinix jigsaw, and this acquisition of MainOne will be a great Àrst step onto the continent The demand for data center services in Africa is strong, with Nigeria at the epicenter of exponential economic growth in :est Africa Nigeria isAfrica’s largest country by both population and economy, and its growth drivers include rapid mobile adoption, increased data consumption from its young population, good subsea and terrestrial connectivity, and a strong enterprise market This is advancing the region toward a more digitalized economy and driving data center growth and expansion to provide much-needed digital infrastructure ” Speaking with THISDAY, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Financial Derivatives Nigeria /imited, Mr Bismarck Rewane said while the Equinix/MainOne business combination has Africa as a focus, the signiÀcance and timeliness of the transaction on Nigeria’s appetite for foreign direct investment should not be underestimated He believed that Nigeria’s population as well as its vast market, especially in Africa, have shown that its economy will beneÀt from the business synergy between Equinix and Mainone He stated, ´Foreign direct investment and acquisitions are okay The acquisition of MainOne

by Equinix is good but it’s more of an African issue The MainOne asset is not only in Nigeria, but it’s also a cable that goes across Africa and they are looking at Ghana and others It’s more of an endorsement of the African investment climate than that of Nigeria Even if you take Nigeria out, it’s a big market as all these other

countries will begin to use submarine cables :e should not look at it as a Nigeria-speciÀc investment initiative, but we should look at it from Africa as a continent, however, we cannot talk aboutAfrica without talking about Nigeria ” The Deal Equinix believes MainOne to be one of the most exciting technology businesses to emerge from Africa Founded by Funke Opeke in 2010, the company has enabled connectivity for the business community of Nigeria and now has digital infrastructure assets including three operational data centres, with an additional facility under construction expected to open in 41 2022 8pon closing, these facilities will add more than 64,000 gross square feet of space to Platform Equinix®, with 570,000 square feet of land for future expansions MainOne owns and operates a subsea network from Nigeria to Portugal, as well as 1,200 kilometers of reliable terrestrial Àber network across southern Nigeria These are all improving connectivity to and from Europe, :est African countries, and the major business communities in Nigeria :hen completed, this acquisition will extend Platform Equinix into :est Africa, giving organisations based inside and outside of Africa access to one of the world’s fastestgrowing markets 8nder the terms of the transaction, the management team, including CEO Funke Opeke, will continue to serve in their respective roles The transaction is expected to close in Q1 of 2022, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the requisite regulatory approvals Other parts of the deal include the plan to open three operational data centres, with an additional facility (under construction) by the Àrst quarter of next year These facilities will add more than 64,000 gross square feet of space to Platform Equinix, in addition to 570,000 square feet of land for future expansions It also includes an extensive submarine network extending 7,000 kilometres from Portugal to Lagos,Accra, and along the westAfrican coast, with landing stations in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire and a terrestrial network of more than 1,200 kilometres of reliable terrestrial Àbre in Lagos, Edo and Ogun states Other parts of the deal also include connectivity to terrestrial sites which extends across 65 PoPs (points of presence)

in cities across Portugal, Nigeria, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire; Access to key internet exchanges enabling low latency to key global networks, including Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Facebook; An estimated 800+ business-tobusiness customers, including major international technology enterprises, social media companies, global telecommunications operators, Ànancial service companies and cloud service providers and nearly 500 employees and a management team with a deep understanding of local and international markets On her part, Opeke said: ´Equinix will accelerate our long-term vision to grow digital infrastructure investments across Africa I thank our founding shareholders led by Mr Fola Adeola, MainStreet Technologies, AFC, PAIDF, FBN, Polaris, and AfDB for investing in the MainOne vision to bridge the digital divide in Africa ´:ith similar values and culture to what we have jointly built in 12 years, Equinix is the preferred partner for our growth journey The MainOne team is excited about the partnership created through the acquisition, and we look forward to building our next chapter together ” InvestPent InÁoZ The excitement over the Equinix/MainOne deal was not unconnected with the fall in FDIs inÁow, especially in the earlier part of the year The fall has been identiÀed as one of the causes of the volatility in the nation’s foreign exchange market According to the National Bureau of Statistics, FDI dropped to 77 7 million in Q2 2021, indicating a 4 6 and 47 5 decline compared to 154 76 million and 148 5 million recorded in the previous quarter and Q2 2020 respectively The last time Nigeria recorded lower FDIs, was in Q1 2010 when it managed to attract foreign direct investments valued at 7 million According to the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), FDI is an integral part of an open and eͿective international economic system and a major catalyst to a country’s development Foreign Direct investment boosts the creation of jobs in the host country as investors build new companies in the country, which in turn leads to increased income, more purchasing power, and an overall boost in the economy

18

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 12, 2021

FINANCE

AMCON: As Media War against Delinquent Debtors Gathers Steam Like it did in 2018, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria is set to publish names of some recalcitrant debtors in major national dailies when the deadline given to them to sort their debts expires on January 6, 2022. Observers, however, doubt if the naming and shaming tactic alone can compel this category of debtors to fulÀl their debt obligations, reports Festus Akanbi

O

ne story that trended for the most of last week was the January 6, 2022, deadline given some categories of bank debtors by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) for them to pay their debts or risk their identities being exposed in a syndicated advertorial in major national dailies.

The corporation, which came under the scrutiny of the National Assembly, resorted to the naming and shaming tactic against some recalcitrant debtors, as exposure to non-performing loans hit N4.4trillion.

An All-Out War against Delinquent Debtors The drive to recover the debt is coming at a period of falling revenue and increasing pressure on the federal government to balance its book. Incidentally, the debt recovery campaign was given a Àllip with the inauguration of an inter-agency committee to speedily resolve the challenges in recovering the debts.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who inaugurated the committee, charged its members to turn the tide in what has been a di΀cult process where debtors have continued to default in their payment obligations.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the vice president, Laolu Akande, explained that about 67 per cent of the outstanding N5trillion debt is being owed by just 20 individuals/entities.

He pointed out that following the challenges encountered in the debt-recovery processes and the very limited results recorded so far, the committee is expected to consider other options, including taking enforcement measures in actually recovering the debts.

Members of the committee to be chaired by the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related oͿences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, include heads and representatives of agencies such as AMCON, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), ICPC, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), and the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The panel, among other related tasks, is expected to review the status of debts owed to AMCON, deliberate on practical, legal and other strategies for the recovery of the debts, and prepare a report, which will include a debt recovery work plan with speciÀc timelines for completion.

AMCON’s Deadline to Debtors Following the directive of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and other Financial Institutions, AMCON had hinted of a 30-day grace that expires on January 5, 2022, to come with a payment proposal to oͿset their outstanding debt obligations. Failure to do that, the commission said all is now set for the publication of a new list of recalcitrant debtor individuals, and institutions, as well as their directors on its Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) portfolio in national newspapers.

The committee chairman, Senator Uba Sani (Kaduna Central), had directed AMCON to

AMCON Chairman, Ahmed Kuru

Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed

publish the names of all debtors including prominent Nigerians who are frustrating eͿorts at fulÀlling its debt recovery mandate.

Like 2018, Like 2022?

However, critics of AMCON’s naming and shaming tactics of debt recovery explained that it was disingenuous of the bad bank to adopt the roadmap handed over to it by the national assembly without oͿering any experienced-driven alternative.

They argued that given the fact that a similar tactic deployed in October 2018 had failed to compel these delinquent debtors to meet their obligations, it is astounding thatAMCON could hope to win the battle with a similar tactic this time.

On October 24, 2018, names of popular businesses, promoters, and politicians were published in major national newspapers for a debt put at N906billion.

“I wondered whyAMCON still resorted to this failed tactic three years after. What happened then was a Áurry of activities by the indicted persons and organisations and after what came like a media war, everybody returned to the status quo. It showed the corporation is either bereft of new ideas to carry out its assignments or it just decided to play to the gallery,” a commentator who spoke under the condition of anonymity said.

As all eyes are on January 6 deadline, Ànancial analysts said unless the corporation shows more determination, the campaign for the winding down of its operations by those going about with the narratives that the corporation has outlived its usefulness will continue to fester. This is because, despite two amendments to the law establishing the corporation, the issue of non-performing loans in the nation’s banking industry is still a source of concern.

Non-performing Loans in Banks AMCON was established by the Act of the National Assembly of Nigeria in July

2010 with an intended 10-year lifespan. Its core task was to stabilise and revitalise the Ànancial system by e΀ciently resolving the non-performing loan (NPL) assets of the banks, free up valuable resources and enable the banks to focus on their core activities.

The Act establishing the body permits, as part of its operation to set aside a sinking fund with an annual N50 billion contribution by the CBN and 0.3 per cent of total asset value of all commercial banks over the useful life of the corporation.

This money from the fund would be used to purchase federal government securities and the returns from the investment will be returned and then redistributed among the contributing commercial banks.

The fund is administered by a consortium of members from the participating banks which will be rotated annually to allow even participation among participating banks.

But in 2013, the management of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), through its report advised the federal government to stop the operations ofAMCON to avoid future Ànancial challenges.

AMCON’s excess debt accumulation in 2015 was queried in its submission by the National Assembly and most recently has been queried by shareholders of these banks for the same reason.

ACocktail of Debt Recovery Measures When confronted with these positions, spokesperson for AMCON, Mr. Jude Jude Nwauzor dismissed some of the submissions as misconceptions.

On why the corporation has failed to come up with other debt recovery tactics other than naming and shaming, he stated that there are a lot of measures that the Corporation has put in place to hasten the recovery of its huge outstanding debt of N4.4trillion. He stated further that AMCON after many years of supporting businesses, restructuring the debts, and negotiations changed its strategy to enforcement because of the recalcitrant

nature of the debtors.

“Upon the establishment of AMCON in 2010 by the federal government of Nigeria through the Act of Parliament, some 12,743 Eligible Bank Assets (EBAs) from 22 eligible banks for a purchase price of N1.8 trillion was acquired by AMCON; the Corporation capitalised three Eligible Financial Institutions (EFIs) and provided Ànancial accommodation to Àve others.

“AMCON also injected N2.2 trillion to 10 intervened banks - bringing their Net Book Value to Zero. AMCON has over the years supported businesses in manufacturing, real estate, oil and gas, aviation, automobile just to mention a few. The whole idea was to stabilise the Ànancial sector to keep it up and running while AMCON goes about the recovery drive.”

According to him, about 5,000 accounts, which is about 38 per cent of the total number have been fully settled, through which the Corporation has recovered over N1.4trillion. SigniÀcant recoveries were achieved at the early stage of debt recovery due to the ‘fear of AMCON’ at the initial stage.

He explained that as it is today, AMCON is dealing with recalcitrant obligors and over 90% of negotiations with these debtors have failed to materialise. AMCON, therefore, is not just using the strategy of naming and shaming to recover debts, it is exploring all the powers granted to the corporation by theAct establishing the agency.

He listed other recovery methods to include asset tracing, which is a situation where the corporation is mandated by its Act to trace uncollateralised assets of an obligor and obtain a court order to attach as collateral; Continuous engagement with regular stakeholders such as the judiciary because AMCON has over 4,000 cases in court and therefore make a lot of recoveries through that channel. As a matter of fact, because of the number of cases the corporation has in diͿerent courts in the country, the Judiciary has become very central to the recovery activities of AMCON. The corporation, he noted, also introduced a scheme, which it christened Asset Management Partners (AMPs) that were engaged to join AMCON in the recovery drive. AMPs are consortiums with specialist skills required to ensure recovery and debt resolution, with experience in banking, legal, valuation, and accounting.

Better Performance Dismissing the call for the winding down of the corporation, the spokesman said AMCON has performed better than its peers as far as debt recovery is concerned.

“It will interest Nigerians to know that AMCON has outperformed other AMCs around the globe with a 60 per cent recovery rate even with the huge outstanding debt that is yet to be recovered, saying thatAMCON will continue to Ànd ways to deliver on its mandate and provide support to the Nigerian economy by injecting funds into and stabilising businesses of national interest such as in the cases of Arik, Aero, and Skye (now Polaris Bank).”

He admitted that the corporation is not supposed to operate in perpetuity because there is a sunset, which, according to him, is why there is a need for speed in our recovery drive.

19

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 12, 2021

BUSINESS INTERVIEW SEYI OKE:

Raising Money from Equity Market will Be Tough in 2022 Managing Director/Chief Executive O΀cer, Capital Trust Investment and Asset Management Limited, Seyi Oke, in an encounter with Festus Akanbi spoke on the prevailing investment climate in Nigeria and the fear that the commencement of political activities, including campaigns may make the equity market unattractive to companies seeking to raise funds in 2022 other ones we are doing in the real estate space are around aͿordable housing for civil servants and the target has been the hardworking men and women in the immigration service and that project is already going on in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria. Our focus is aͿordable housing. That’s where opportunities are and we believe that’s where we can make money and be impactful as well.

Capital Trust Achievements in 16 years.

We started as retail investment managers with the focus on trying to create opportunities for small funds to be pooled together and invested in assets. That was our strategy when we started in 2006 and then we evolved into a full-time, wholesale investment banking business where we have been able to maintain our clients from retail investors to wholesale investors as well.

Over the years, we have expanded capacity.

SpeciÀcally, within this period, we have been able to set up an infrastructure fund. That was the Àrst private equity fund in Nigeria that is pure equity. We are also the Àrst promoter and fund manager to the Àrst naira denominated dedicated healthcare fund and interestingly, this fund was set up before Covid and we had foreseen the opportunity in healthcare and we came up with a model even before Covid struck.

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The State of the Nigerian Economy ith the devaluation of the naira and the slowing down of the economy, it’s been pretty tough.

There is less money for investment and there has been pressure from the spending of government. The private sector too has been careful. We have been watching for some risk factors. The election is by the corner and this has impacted our ability to attract foreign currency investments because let’s say you took a dollar investment in January and now even if you were able to run it proÀtably in naira, by the time you want to switch back to the dollar, you will Ànd out you are running at a loss. So, it has been a challenge as well. In the healthcare space where we play, for example, we have a lot of clients who have taken monies from banks and investors that are dollar-denominated and they have to give returns in dollars. You can understand how challenging that has been.

Part of what we oͿered is to give clients the alternative of exiting their dollar exposure and replacing it with naira exposure, eliminating foreign currency risk from their business and that’s a huge part of our value proposition and it’s part of the services we have been able to eͿectively render within the last one year. We are optimistic that government will have to spend some more, elections are around the corner, there is increased pressure for capital expenditure, the government is looking to fully deregulate the petroleum sector with the plans to remove the subsidy on petrol importation. That will also impact the purchasing power of Nigerians and the only thing that can be a relief is an increase in economic activities of the government and we are expecting that will happen especially in the election year.

Drop in Portfolio Investments You cannot take away concerns that have always been associated with foreign exchange risk. The biggest challenge for me is the follow-up eͿect on this demand, Because of the uncertainties, foreign investors are taking their money out, and then you will Ànd a lot of local investors as well, because of that, they are taking naira and switching to dollars, further putting pressure on the naira, vis-à-vis the dollar. Yes, there is that pressure, yes, that has been impactful especially in the capital market with regards to direct foreign investment by way of private equity investment and investment in the stock market and I think the biggest pressure is coming from the follow-on eͿects on Nigerian investors who are now panicking or scared because of this sudden Áight of capital.

State of Capital Trust’s portfolio management We believe private equity is an opportunity that is emerging and growing in Nigeria. The market is saturated with a lot of conventional asset classes like stocks, corporate and government bonds. But where the market is going is alternative securities investment. So being able

Oke

to come up with alternative investments that have returns that are inÁation hedges because they have much higher-level returns than even higher than inÁation is where the market is going.

We have identiÀed that as far back as 2015 and started working towards that. The Securities and Exchange Commission licensed infrastructure fund in 2015, we spent the next year and a half working with our partners for that fund, we started raising money in 2016/2017. In over three years, we have been able to deploy capital eͿectively in the infrastructure space.And again, it is the infrastructure that is generating revenue, so you will Ànd out that the value of those assets has greatly increased and also increased.

Investors who put their money in this type of portfolio will be excited by the level of return they are getting. Similarly in the healthcare sector, we have the N100billin Nigeria Health Development Fund, which is also a private equity fund, and the strategy in both cases is to go after local capital, money is with the pension fund, money is with the insurance companies, who already have a lot of exposure to government securities and the regular capital market and stock market options in terms of shares in premium companies, providing them with alternatives under putting their money in the healthcare sector. We have a lot of pension assets, PFAs which have subscribed to the infrastructure fund.

We have a lot of PFAs too that have subscribed to health care funds and the idea is to deploy this large pool into the space and in both cases, we have been able to generate returns that are higher than inÁation, so we give good returns

to our investors.

Raising Equity Capital in 2022 Listing or coming to the market to raise money in this climate, in my opinion, will be tough in 2022 given the risk associated with preparation for the 2023 elections.

Investors tend to be very conservative as elections get closer so putting money inequity is not what I will advise my client to do. Investors will prefer to identify with short to medium-term returns that they can get within this particular tenure of this administration again because of the natural uncertainties that come with the election. I foresee 2022 to be a year when there will be a lot of debt issuances, pre-Ànancing, syndications as a stop-gap rather than equities coming to the market to raise funds.

Real Estate Have the real estate potentials been fully tapped" The answer is no. The housing deÀcit is a clear indication of that eͿect. I think the issue is not whether the opportunities have been fully tapped, it’s really about oͿerings in the market. We have so many of us who are developing property and we are targeting the upper middle class and above. We have a lot of houses in Ikoyi and Lekki but how many people can aͿord them. Where the gap is in aͿordability and part of what we are trying to do as a company is to focus on that sector. If we do that, we will make money and have an impact. For our infrastructure fund, for example, we will not build houses in Ikoyi or Lekki. We have only one transaction in that axis, all the

Company’s ProÀle Capital Trust is a licensed capital market operator and this means we function in the capital market. We are licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to act primarily as fund managers and also as corporate investments advisers. It means we are licensed to manage structuredfundsandtoprovideÀnancialadvisory and investment services as well, as a corporate organisation. The company was incorporated in 2006 and we got our licence the same year. We are 16 years old now and over the years, we have three structured funds today-The N100billion The Nigeria Healthcare Development Fund; we are a co-fund manager in the Nigeria N20.5billion Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund, and we are also the promoters and managers of Capital Halal Fixed Income Fund. The Nigeria Healthcare Development Fund, a private equity fund focuses on investing in healthcare. The Africa Infrastructure Fund focuses on investing in infrastructure and the Halal Fund focuses on Shariah-compliant investment opportunities.

2021 Scorecard Capital Trust as an organisation has a DNA for innovation. We have always been very creative from the inception of the business and we have been innovative in our product delivery irrespective of what the market offers. That is not to say that we do not face the challenges that other Ànancial institutions face but we can Ànd a way to create products that keep our clients.

In the past year, this has helped us to keep our heads above water. We have been able to do very well and then this year has been a better year or shaping to be a better year than we did last year. In the last year, it has been an improved performance.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 12, 2021

INTERNATIONAL Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 73: Promoting Human Rights in the Post COVID-19 Era

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he National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) celebrated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 73 with a 3-day programme of public enlightenment activities. On Wednesday, 8th December 2021, a quiz competition for secondary school students in the Federal Capital Territory was held at the Bukhari Bello Auditorium of the NHRC. The quiz competition was on human rights education and sought to catch young people, give them a human right-driven education as a guide to their life, especially in understanding the differences between human rights violation and human rights abuse. The NHRC says‘human rights violation means the infringement on the rights guaranteed or protected by law of any person by another person, government body or official.’The NHRC also has it that ‘many people have experienced degrading treatment and denial of services caused by unfair treatment from security agencies or government agencies. These acts lead to various forms of human rights violations.’

On the contrary, human rights abuse, says the NHRC, is an ‘infringement of human rights by persons other than state officials or agencies. This may be private persons. Such violations are still human rights violations, but carry different form of accountability.’

Thus, the differentiation is based on the factors of‘’who’’and ‘’accountability’’, that is, who is committing the offence. When it is committed by government agents, it is a violation, probably because governments have participated in human rights negotiations, signed and ratified agreements emanating from such negotiations, and have also translated their international agreements into municipal laws based on the doctrines of the Monism or the Dualist schools of thought.

On Thursday, 9th December 2021, the NHRC also held an endof-year appreciation event, tagged,‘’Best Performing Staff Awards and Presentation of Gifts to Retired Staff.’’The event was chaired

by Dr. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, FIMC, the chairperson of the NHRC Governing Council. More importantly, the NHRC, on Friday, 10th December 2021, held a human rights day lecture, delivered

by Professor Bola A. Akinterinwa, former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, and held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The issues raised at the event, the good will messages, the induction of the US ambassador to Nigeria, the NHRC Chairperson, and Professor Tony Ojukwu, SAN, Executive Secretary of the NHRC, as Champions in the promotion and protection of human rights, etc generated much enthusiasm and interest in how to deal with human rights abuses and violations.

Human Rights Abuses and Violations in Nigeria In her opening speech of the chairperson of the Governing Council of the NHRC, Dr. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, FMIC, she noted that the commemoration provides opportunities for celebrating the significance of human rights day, which calls for retrospection and self-appraisal. She identified equality and non-discrimination as core principles of human rights, because they underscore the essence of human dignity. More important, she observed that‘respect for human rights and equality of all persons are key to prevention of conflicts and crises... Societies that protect and promote human rights for everyone are more resilient societies and better equipped through human rights to weather unexpected crises such as pandemics and other natural and man-made disasters.’

While the Chief Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission, Hon. Abimbola Ayo-Yusuf, noted that‘effective and accountable institutions are essential to recovery from damages caused by the pandemic and ensure environmental sustainability,’ the Osun State Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, who was represented by Mrs. Omoworare of the State’s liaison office, argued that‘the human rights of citizens are not likely to be fully assured in a society where good governance and security are not guarantee for citizens.’In his eyes, good governance is about the provision of basic services and needs, such as adequate security, roads, food, power, housing, jobs and all that make life meaningful for citizens.

He advocated good governance and security, which are critical to enforcing the rights of the citizens. He also called for regular dialogue among government, non-governmental organisations and the people.

US plenipotentiary to Nigeria, Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard, underscored US commitment to a‘world in which human rights are protected, their defenders are celebrated, and those who commit human rights abuses are held accountable.’She said that

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Ojukwu human rights cover gender-based violence, women’s economic empowerment, anti-corruption activities, combating trafficking in persons, and ending gender-base healthcare disparities. Most importantly, she submitted that countries with high levels of corruption are more likely to have populations that suffer from human rights abuses and are less likely to address those abuses.

States with endemic corruption are more vulnerable to terrorist networks, transnational organised and gang-related criminals, and human traffickers.

In addressing how to further promote and protect human rights, Ambassador Leonard called for the deepening of partnerships with allies which should be inclusive and expansive when forging the partnerships. The rationale for this, in her thinking, is that‘no country or society is perfect, and therefore we cannot protect human rights alone. We must work together to create a world where these fundamental rights are not only protected but can thrive.’

‘Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Post-COVID-19 Era: The Challenge of International Cooperation and Reactive Attitudinal Disposition’was the title of Professor Akinterinwa’s lecture. He did not agree that a post COVID-19 era is foreseeable now, based on the consideration that COVID-19 is manufactured and not natural. When would the COVID-19 pandemic be finally or permanently contained, he asked? Without first providing an answer to this question, it cannot but be difficult to determine when the post-COVID-19 era will begin, he argued. Consequently, in his eyes, a post-COVID-19 era is not foreseeable yet because COVID-19 is militaro-strategic in origin and political in manifestation. It is not naturalo-scientific in containment. And true, the COVID-19 pandemic is gradually becoming a way of life globally and requiring adaptation to mutations or variants of the virus.

Additionally, he posited that the discussion of promotion and protection of human rights in the post-COVID-19 era necessarily raises the question of‘’how’’and‘’methodology.’’Put differently, how should human rights be promoted and protected in the future? Will the modalities be distinct from the current protective approaches? Most important is how to understand international

, international cooperation must address the well-known challenges to the promotion and protection of human rights: the nexus between religion and human rights, especially human rights and Sharia in Nigeria; the impact of lack of superpower consensus on humanitarian questions, as epitomised by the conflict in Myanmar where the great and super powers hold different positions on human rights in the country; the conflict between national security and human rights interests; impact of lack of good governance on human rights protection; the challenge of political dictatorship; the provision of capital punishment in some national laws; the problems of military politicians; the current threats to and declining, democratic values in the world; the need for protection of all human rights violators panel; the implications of international politics of COVID-19 vaccines; and individual and institutional racism or hatred as shown in the case of George Floyd in June 2020 in the United States. Above all, international cooperation is necessarily a function of political will, which is difficult to achieve when national security interests are at stake. True, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Professor Anthony O. Ojukwu, and his team, have done well in seeking redress to human rights violations, but their efforts have not deterred human rights abuses and violations. This is an area that requires greater focus at the level of international cooperation in the future: deter rather than only reacting to human rights violations.

cooperation as a notion and as a concept. Several international agreements had been done in the past by most Member States of the international community on the specific question of how to promote and protect human rights. There is the UN Charter which provides for the universal respect for human rights and there is also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), done on 10 December 1948, which has been at the epicentre of various international agreements done to promote and protect human rights.

For instance, Part V of the United Nations 2000 Millennium Declaration (A/RES/55/21), which was unanimously adopted, provided for the promotion and protection of human rights.

Other treaties done to protect human rights include the 1966 International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, which entered into force in 1976; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, similarly adopted in 1966 and entered into force in 1976; the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which entered into force in 1981; the 1984 Convention against Torture and other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which entered into force in 1987; the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, which entered into force in 1990; the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, which entered into force in 2003; the 2006 International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which entered into force in 2010; the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which entered into force in 2008, etc.

Thus, in the period from 1966 through 2006, efforts were consistently made to legally promote and protect human rights multilaterally, but the outcome has not nipped in the bud human rights violations and abuses. It is not that the signatories to the international instruments have not ratified and domesticated the agreements in their municipal laws based on the principles of Monism or Dualism. For example, Chapters II and IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, specifically provide for the promotion and protection of fundamental human rights: right to life, right to dignity of human person, right to personal liberty, right to fair hearing, right to private and family life, right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, right to freedom of expression and the press, right to freedom from discrimination, right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria.

Again, the challenge to promotion and protection of human rights is not that there is lack of national and international instruments, but that official attitude is reactive to human rights violations. Interrogatively put, if Nigeria had been faithfully committed to the implementation of her international obligations on promotion and protection of human rights, how do we explain the rationales behind the organisation of peaceful #EndSARS protests and the brutalisation of human lives that occurred at the Lekki Tollgate on 20 October 2020? Can a government propaganda remove what was seen live on various television screens on that day? Does a White Paper obliterate from the minds of the public the belief that peaceful protesters, carrying the Nigerian Flag and singing Nigeria’s National Anthem, were inhumanly massacred? Can brutalisation of the right to protest be an instrument of promotion of human rights?

Considering that the promotion and protection of human rights depend on the whims and caprices of sovereign states, that the present international cooperation is multilateral in character, that it is still difficult to talk about a post-COVID-19 era, that the notion of international cooperation is quite ambiguous, and that government’s attitudinal disposition to the promotion and protection of human rights is unnecessarily reactive there is the need for a re-strategy.

Human Rights Promotion Re-strategy Importantly, the promotion and protection of human rights cannot be done outside of the environmental conditionings, implying that there cannot be an end to the promotion and protection of human rights because the more the efforts at promotion and protection of human rights, the more also political crises will emerge due to the corrupt foundation on which political governance is predicated. In fact, it is because human rights are being promoted and protected that the humanity and dignity of the human persons is undermined in the same manner that diplomatic agents are being violated because they are internationally protected by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

In this regard, what is the current situational reality of COVID-19 politics? Dr. Tasuku Honjo, a physician, scientist and immunologist, and a 2018 Nobel Prize winner, recently argued that the corona virus is not natural. As he put it, ‘if it is natural, it will not have affected the whole world like that.’In his eyes, depending on nature,‘the temperature is different in different countries. If it were natural, it would only have affected countries with the same temperature as China. Instead, it spreads to a country like Switzerland, the same way it spread to desert areas.’ Dr. Tasuku Honjo added that‘if it were natural, it would have spread in cold places, but it would have died in hot places.’And perhaps more interestingly, he swore in the name of professionalism of over forty years of research on animals and virus to have his Nobel Prize withdrawn if he is discovered to be telling lies.

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

12.12.2021

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SEGUN BALOGUN THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF AN INSURER Segun Balogun, former helmsman at LASACO Assurance Plc is an embodiment of sterling qualities and a distinguished insurance practitioner with skills and experience spanning 35 years. Balogun’s well-built firebrand image in the boardroom can be traced to his secondary school at age 15 in 1976 when he joined the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). By 1984, he had chosen a career path in insurance after his first degree at the University of Lagos. His commitment to the profession aside, Balogun’s legendary and unique ability propelled his rise to the top in the industry. Within a few years, he demonstrated exceptional grasp of leadership and administration in the private sector where he successfully headed many insurance institutions as MD/CEO for 25 consecutive years. Balogun retired recently at 60. This astute and consummate insurance guru tells Funke Olaode that he is retired but not tired as his tomorrow remains even brighter.

ith a youthful face and radiant skin that glows beneath his flowing white apparel, you could mistake him for a man in his early 50s. Alas! He is 60.

He radiates accomplishment as he danced majestically into the waiting embrace of his ex-classmates that sunny afternoon inside a prestigious hotel at GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. It was a birthday bash/ luncheon retirement organized by Ansar-Ud-Deen High School Surulere Old Boys’ Association (AHOSA) to celebrate one of their own who distinguished himself in his career and reached the top.

Segun Balogun, a recently retired MD/CEO at LASACO Assurance Plc has a date with history in the corporate world. Fresh from secondary school in 1976, Balogun joined the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) where he worked for three years, his future in the corporate world had been literarily sealed.

Born on May 29, 1961 in Lagos Island, Balogun started his primary school at St. Paul’s Breadfruit Street from 1967 to 1971. He gained admission to Ansar-Ud-Deen Secondary Commercial School now Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, along Falolu Road, Surulere, Lagos in January 1972 where he obtained the West African School Certificate in June 1976. After secondary school, Balogun joined the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) from 1976 to December 1979, thereafter proceeded to Obokun GCE School, Ijebu-Ijesa in the old Oyo State for his GCE ‘A’Level.

With his stint with ICAN, one would have thought Balogun’s career would been tilted towards accounting. But destiny played a fast one on him. Going down memory lane, Balogun recalled: “The ambition really was to study accounting and my stint at ICAN gave me an edge, at that time I interacted with a lot of intelligent people. I remembered the president of ICAN in those years, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980; the likes of Chief Mbanefo, Cecilia Oyediran, John Adepoju Balogun, Mr. Ogunde, Mr. Oguntuga, those were the people that were running ICAN at that period. I was like a utility staff within the organization and I made sure that I was very well focused.”

Recounting how he abandoned his dream of being an accountant, Balogun said he was inspired by the doyen of insurance in Nigeria, Prof. Joe Irukwu. “Actually, I was meant to be an accountant.

Unfortunately, UNILAG did not offer me accounting but insurance.

I took insurance as my first degree programme and even had the opportunity to change to accounting at the end of the year. But something happened that altered that decision for ever. This was in 1981. I observed that insurance sector was just growing then and there were not too

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 12, 2021

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COVER

How Prof. Joe Irukwu’s Words Altered My Decision to be an Accountant many graduates in the insurance profession. We were inspired by somebody who came to speak to us in year one at the University of Lagos. It was Professor Joe Irukwu, they call him ‘Prof. of insurance.’

Prof. Irukwu spoke to us about the opportunities in insurance With words of assurance and insurance from the guru himself, I was convinced and I made up my mind in my year one to stick to insurance. That decision later paid off.”

He graduated from UNILAG in June 1984 with a degree in insurance and did his mandatory one-year youth service in Akure, Ondo State. He qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London in 1987.

In January 1986, Balogun began his professional insurance career with Glanvill Enthoven Insurance Brokers. In March of the same year, he joined UNIC Insurance Plc and left for Lagos State Assurance Company Limited (which later became LASACO Assurance Limited where he was a pioneer staff in 1989 till January 1992.

Within a few years, he demonstrated exceptional grasp of leadership and administration in his field where he successfully headed many insurance institutions as MD/CEO for 25 consecutive years.

He joined Metropolitan Trust Insurance Company Limited as a pioneer staff in February 1992, and became its MD/CEO in July 1996 to August 2001.

In September 2001, Balogun took the leadership mantle as MD/CEO at WAPIC Plc where he served for 12 years, taking the company from the lower rung of the industry ladder to being one of the top five insurance companies in Nigeria. It was during his time that the company won several laurels of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and became a company to reckon with in the insurance industry. From making a huge impact at WAPIC, he joined FBN Insurance Ltd and was seconded to serve as the MD/CEO of FBN General Insurance Ltd (formerly OASIS Insurance Plc) in November 2013 to October 2015.

He moved to LASACO Assurance Plc in November 2015 as Deputy Managing Director and became MD/CEO in May 2016 a position he held until 2021 when he retired.

With a deep passion for teaching and imparting knowledge in future generation of insurance practitioners, Balogun was a parttime tutor for students writing professional examinations for several years in the 1990s. A man of many parts, Balogun is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London, Fellow Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, Member of the Institute of Directors, and a distinguished awardee of The University of Lagos. He is an active member of Ikoyi Club, Island Club, Eko Club and Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.

In all of his achievements, Balogun still exudes a sense of gratitude to God and his parents.

Though with very humble beginnings, he still had parental support through his secondary school days. Flashback to his primary school days, he spent only five years to complete that phase.

“In primary school, when my colleagues were spending about eight years, because in those days you will start from infant one, infant two, standard one, standard two up to standard six and each is

Balogun and family

one year. Instead of spending eight years in primary school, I spent five years. I did not get to primary six; I got double promotion and in five years I was out of primary school. Joined the secondary school at a very young age, I was just about 11 years old and left at 15 years. I started working almost immediately and I even got the job on a platter of gold. I left school in June 1976 and started work in July of that same year when my result was not out.”

He gained admission into the University of Lagos, purely on merit; thus laying the precedence for his career as a professional.

“No godfather anywhere apart from God himself. And no educated parents that can put you through or direct you or tell you that this is how to go. My parents also tried their best in my educational pursuits to the extent that they made sure that yes, they saw me through up to secondary school. And when I was at the university, they also tried in their own little way. But because I had worked for almost four years before I entered the university, I had already saved enough money to see me through. And again my dad in particular will say one of the things you need to do in life to make you cross the border is to face what you are doing. If it is education face it very well, if it is business face it very well.

He faced his own business and did well in his own way but at that period what you used to measure success is really not money. And what they put in me then was that you must be serious with whatever you do. If you don’t want to be serious don’t go into it,” he said.

With 45 years in the corporate world of which 35 years were spent in active service, the astute and consummate insurance guru said he may retire but not tired as his tomorrow remains even brighter. “For me, I take things as they come. I know I am in another phase of life now and I know that once your steps are ordered by God there can’t be any mountain that will be too difficult for you to surmount. I am a grandfather and I hope one day I will be great grandfather. There is no

mountain that I envisage that won’t be surmountable.”

Giving tips on how to be a successful professional, Balogun said it is not a rocket science. For him, dedication, and commitment are as important as being an outstanding professional. “To be successful in anything you do, you must do more than what the others are doing. And I tell the young people that everybody cannot get to the top. Those who get to the top, two or three things determine that. One, you must hand over what you do to God. That is the very first step. Once you handover to God and you tell him to always direct your steps, and you are very, very good at what you are doing and you are dedicated, you are determined to get to the top. When others are spending one hour doing something, you spend three hours, you will come out better than them. When others are sleeping by 9 o’clock, 8 o’clock, you must wake up in the middle of the night when it is very quiet to sit down and think of ideas that are new that you can introduce and make you better or make you ahead of others. You must be focused; you must be dedicated and more importantly which is the very first thing I said, hand it over to God.” On his view on insurance losing its allure, he said for people to embrace insurance, the economy must be healthy because many people prioritise basic needs of food, clothing and shelter above the need to get insurance plans.

“The thing about insurance is that first and foremost in any economy or in any country, it is when people are not hungry, when they are well fed that they can think of other things that they need to do. You must have shelter, you must have food, and once those two basic things are there that is when you can begin to think of other things. In Nigeria, we still have a lot of deficit in shelter, not everybody has the kind of accommodation they should have. Again, talking about

being fed, not many people can actually say yes, they eat what they like. Some cannot even afford to eat two times a day.

So, in an environment or an economy like that, you can’t actually get people thinking of insurance. And unfortunately too, the way insurance was at the beginning before the regulators became hard, we had a lot of fake insurance companies and companies that were not actually licensed. And even as we speak now we still have a lot of fake insurances in the market. And you know one bad onion will spoil the whole of the onions in the basket. Once you have one fake insurance or one insurance that does anything wrong, people say all other insurance companies are not good, that they will just take your money and run away and when it is time for them to pay they won’t be there. But with the regulators we have now, things have changed a lot.”

Balogun as a successful man is also an accomplished family man. A grandfather, he has been married for 32 years to his loving wife, Olufunmilayo, a native of Epe, Lagos State. The union is blessed with children.

With benefit of hindsight at 60, he could say thus: “Well, life has taught me that you should be humble, that two wrongs can never make a right.

So when somebody is wrong or when somebody tells you that you are wrong and you also want to tell the person that he is wrong then you won’t get anywhere. Life has also taught me that we should be fair to everybody you meet, be nice, be good to people.

And as much as possible render help to those who need it. And that is what God has asked us to do, you are not in this world for yourself alone. You are in this world to make an impact and of course there are people you will meet; they want to make life miserable for you. But you see life is, it depends on how you take things that comes to you.

If something bad comes to you and you take it bad and you are depressed, it affects everything from your brain to your toe. For me, I want to live a life and legacy where people will talk less of evil about you me,” he stated.

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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 12, 2021

GLITZ TRIBUTE

Danjuma at 84: Strong as Wind, Soft as Shadow 5PZPTJ "LFSFMF 0HVOTJKJ eulogises former Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd), who turned 84 last week, highlighting why he has remained primus inter pares in his various undertakings

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ore than four decades after retiring from active military service, Lieutenant General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd), GCON has remained one of the most valorous forces upholding the ideals of unity and honour in Nigeria, pulling weights in the business environment and investing heavily in humanitarian causes across the country.

Being born as a peasant farmer’s son, General Danjuma’s humane disposition to life makes sense in the context of the man who has received mercy, dispensing mercy unto others. Even his military background did not alter his soft interior, rather it added discipline to his roll of virtues. Extremely unassuming and prim and proper, to call him a perfect gentleman hardly does justice to the description of his mien.

General Danjuma’s sterling military career featured brave adventures. As one of Nigeria’s finest soldiers, he eventually retired in 1979 as Chief of Army Staff, shortly before Nigeria returned to civilian rule.

That marked the beginning of his expression of enterprise, and responsiveness to the plight of the less privileged citizens of the country and beyond.

In 1984, General Danjuma established Comet Shipping Agencies Nigeria Limited as an agent for Nigeria American Line (NAL). By the late nineties, the company had grown to become one of the largest independent agents operating in Nigeria handling many types of vessels and cargo.

In 2005, General Danjuma also founded the South Atlantic Petroleum Limited (SAPETRO), an indigenous exploration and production role player in the oil sector, which in December 2009, donated a new state-of-the-art medical Centre to the Nasarawa State University, to serve the university, the local and neighbouring communities.

Meeting him is to meet a father, mentor, coach and godfather. Knowing him is to know an enigmatic, conscientious and compassionate leader. To interact with him is to discover a humble, reticent and diligent man whose top notch work ethic as an octogenarian is unbelievable and astounding. It is to know an 84-year-old astute administrator whose attention to detail is unusual, whose decisions are always meticulous and informed, whose knack for entrepreneurship and business is remarkably inspiring. To know him is to know a man who embodies valuable lessons on how people can judiciously utilize their resources in ways that deliver impact that’s tremendously useful and beneficial to communities.

To work with him is to serve under a leader who listens and believes profoundly in the innate abilities of members of his team to deliver on whatever task they are saddled with. He is a leader genuinely given to consensus building, one who sincerely wants the good of everyone.

Oblivious of the popular opinion that attributes fierceness to the character of military Generals, Sir, Theophilus Danjuma has proven to be that kind of military General that runs a flat table, no high table. He is immensely respectful, warm, considerate, soft as the shadow but strong as the wind. A man of commendable standards, not many leaders have the credentials of placing public good above even the most reasonable of arguments like General Danjuma.

His unapologetic passion and dedication for uplifting the down-trodden has made

Danjuma

a man his age an enduring indispensable force in matters of nation building. When in 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan set up a Presidential Committee on Victims (of terrorism) Support Fund and appointed General Danjuma as Chairman, before other private sector leaders who convened to make donations towards the project moved muscle, General Danjuma exemplified the notion of leadership by example by making a pledge of $10,000,000 dollars to the cause.

It wasn’t an audio pledge as the millennials love to call it; General Danjuma was the first donor to redeem his pledge, doing so just a few days after making it. Till date, he remains the highest individual donor to the victims of terror and insurgency in Nigeria.

Making a commitment that huge to a cause would have been an eternal bragging right for some leaders; but for General Danjuma, his devotion to helping the underprivileged burns hot with the intensity of a furnace. He has built hospitals and kept them running at little or no cost to patients.

The best modern and specialized mother and child facility in the entirety of Northern Nigeria, the Rufkatu Danjuma Hospital in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, was built by General Danjuma as his contribution to the reduction of infant and maternal mortality in the country. As recent as December 1, 2021, General Danjuma inaugurated a paediatric hospital in Takum, Taraba State, which he named Kuru Danjuma Hospital for Children (KDHC).

This state-of-the-art specialized facility was put in place to provide services aimed at enhancing the health and wellbeing of children through the provision of world class paediatric healthcare services.

The Rufkatu Danjuma Hospital and the Kuru Danjuma Hospital for Children

(KDHC) both speak of General Danjuma’s steadfastness to ensuring healthy mothers and children across the country. That is not to obliterate his other interventions in the health sector that impact different demographic cohorts. His contribution to the fight against Onchocerciasis (River blindness), in Nigeria and in Africa for instance, has been bold and consistent.

A donation of $1,000,000 to the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) by General Danjuma, is reputed the first African philanthropic contribution to a major African health programme.

This contribution leveraged an additional subsequent grant from the Nigerian Government to the APOC Trust Fund to the tune of $5,000,000. He has remained one of the key champions of the global fight against Onchocerciasis till date.

Beyond his commitment to wrestling Onchocerciasis to a halt in Africa and in the world, General Danjuma through his TY Danjuma Foundation has continued to invest in ensuring access to quality eye care services through its signature program – “Vision for a Brighter Future”.

His love for education is palpable, and General Danjuma continues to match his interest in the sector with a heavy investment in the younger generation of leaders and social innovators, drawn not just from Nigeria, but from different parts of the African Continent. Since 2011, the TY Danjuma MBA Scholarship has impacted over 50 students – from Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe, Ghana, Morocco, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire – with financial support to undertake their MBA programmes at the top 10 leading business schools in the world only, as ranked by the Financial Times.

My 2016 testimony still strikes like a fairy-tale, when I got accepted into the Master in Public Administration Program at the Harvard University John F Kennedy School of Government. I had gone to inform him that I was going to school and would appreciate whatever support he could provide for me for my advanced academic studies. General dazed me with his reaction.

He congratulated me and asked me to return to his Office to see him the next day.

Upon my arrival, he asked his Secretary to accompany me to his Boardroom and gave me a pen and paper requesting I write a letter to him asking for a scholarship.

General Danjuma did not just give me a Financial Contribution, he committed to paying my complete Tuition and living allowances to cover my rent, buy books and travel on field trips to different countries to understudy their Public Policy Frameworks.

I owe General a debt of gratitude for the rest of my Life for giving me the best education on offer in the academic institution ranked as No.1 of the Best Global Universities in the World.

His punctilious choices in determining the scope of his philanthropy is genuine and pure joy to behold.

Through his TY Danjuma Foundation set up in December 2008, General Danjuma has successfully implemented about 336 major projects across 34 states and the FCT, with over 10 million people directly reached. Every year since its inception, the TY Danjuma Foundation calls for concept notes and applications for funds from organisations with projects focused on health and education. His discretionary grants, administered all year-round, have also provided succour to Nigerians affected by humanitarian emergencies in no small measure.

Aside expending over N3bn on various intervention projects since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic across 29 states of the federation and the FCT, through the Victim Support Fund Task Force on COVID-19, General Danjuma’s hyperoptimal generosity was evident especially across IDP Camps in managing the vulnerabilities of IDPs which had tendencies of plunging them further into extreme hunger and malnutrition. His dedication to promoting Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) through the provision of portable water especially in rural communities also birthed the donation of solar-powered boreholes in not less than 18 states of the country as at the first half of 2021. Plans are already underway for providing Food, PPE, Medical Materials and Solar Powered Boreholes with handwashing facilities in the remaining 7 states of the Country yet to be covered under the Program.

One cannot help but admire the purity of intentions with which he delivers on the mandates he sets for himself in terms of social impact as General Danjuma isn’t likely to assault your views with his face as the man behind the largesse, yet his works are splattered across the country and beyond.

My close observation of General’s family values and his heartfelt respect for his wife who herself is a bright and positive example to women and girls as a wife, mother, super administrator, efficient Business Chief, Women and Child rights advocate and excellent Public Servant is a beautiful sight.

His devotion to his children and the discipline he has instilled in many of them who are very successful in their chosen fields of endeavor yet remain measured and reserved is telling of General as a balanced father at home as much as the public see and experience him across localities around the world. Northern by birth yet detribalised and inclusive. A devout Christian of the Anglican stock yet accommodating and magnanimous to both Christians and Muslims alike.

As General Danjuma turns 84 this year, his life and contributions ring aloud his desires to see a Nigeria where poverty is absent, where all classes of citizens are treated equally, where access to quality healthcare is a standard norm and no one is left behind; a Nigeria where people that have wealth and power use their privilege to improve the lives and the livelihoods of their fellow citizens at the bottom of the pyramid.

These, General TY Danjuma (rtd) GCON, has continued to prove, are possible and attainable and he remains

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ENTERTAINMENT

Ayra Starr, Mayorkun, Teni Are Ready to Chop Life This Festive Season Stories by Vanessa Obioha

Ayra Starr

The ‘Bloody Samaritan’ crooner Ayra Starr, Teni the Entertainer and Mayorkun are among the guest playlists for Apple Music inaugural ‘Chop

Life’ campaign.

‘Chop Life’ is a dedicated space on the platform featuring a flagship playlist, bespoke artwork, and carefully curated content for a variety of moods and grooves.

The playlist celebrates the festive season with 10 exclusive guest playlists from selected artists with each artist handpicking a selection of their favourite songs to accompany the festivities.

“This is an Apple Music playlist I curated with love for people to make them feel good, to help them forget all they might be going through and to lose their worries in the thrills of good music,” said Ayra Starr.

Other African artists participating in the campaign include Bella Shmurda, Blaqbonez, KiDi, Bad Boy Timz, Ajebo Hustlers, Gyarkie and Stonebwoy.

King Sunny Ade, Simi, Teni Feature in Glo New Christmas TVC A new Christmas television commercial by the telecommunications company Glo features a powerful musical trio: Juju music legend, King Sunny Ade (KSA) alongside sensational singers and Glo ambassadors Teni and Simi.

Couched in KSA’s very popular original ‘Easy Motion’ tune, the television advert opens with the 75-year-old’s trademark coarse but unique voice doing the Easy Motion call to a kelele response by a couple of back-up voices with Simi in the obvious lead.

“Glo dey say nagode, daalu o, a dupe! Better dey o, to rule your world….Better don come, better business, for Africa, for Nigeria and the world”, the master guitarist hollers in tandem with buxom Teni and Simi doing the business they are known for. The commercial closes with a sign-off signalling heartfelt appreciation: “From all of us at Glo: We wish you Joy Unlimited.”

The performance is a perfect mix of the old and the new where the old still exhibits the characteristics of the fresh and contemporary.

The commercial has been praised for its ingenuity in killing two birds with a single stone. It promotes brand awareness in one breath and another shows appreciation to the teeming subscribers who have stood with the brand for 18 years, merging both ideas into a symphony of lyrics, dance and cool percussion.

King Sunny Ade in Glo new TVC

Jamopyper to Perform at GOtv Boxing Night 24 Flykite Productions has unveiled Zanku Records act Jamopyper to perform live at the 24th edition of GOtv Boxing Night scheduled to hold at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, on December 24.

Jamopyper is one of the fastest rising artists on the Nigerian music scene and is well placed to provide fans with optimum fun at the show, according to a statement by Flykite.

“Jamopyper is on the up and a big hit among music fans around the country. This is why he has been chosen to enrich the show with his presence and undoubted Jamopyper

musical prowess, which has seen him soar within a short time. The objective is to give fans tons of fun during the festive season and we are convinced he will make it happen,” read the statement.

Jamopyper, born Jamiu Tajudeen, an acclaimed songwriter, singer and rapper, has featured variously on songs with Olamide, Zlatan and Naira Marley among other top acts. Among his hits are ‘Better Better’ and ‘Unripe Pawpaw’.

The event, in addition to the musical performance, will stage a World Boxing Federation (WBF) title fight, two national title contests, four other bouts and will be broadcast live on SuperSport Select 2 (GOtv Channel 34) and SuperSport Variety 4 (DStv Channel 209).

Davido Gifts Self Lamborghini for Christmas Multiple award-winning artiste, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, is currently in a cheerful mood as he has gifted himself a brand new Lamborghini Aventador.

The singer, who shared pictures of his newly acquired luxury car on Friday, stated that it was an early Christmas gift.

“Christmas came early,” he wrote on his Instagram stories. The singer also added that he would not buy more cars at the moment.

He wrote, “I promise that was the last one. No more cars for a while,” (sic) The singer had hinted about his new car on Thursday when he tweeted, “Copped da Aventador feels good.”

The new luxury ride comes a few weeks after the singer received his 2021 Rolls Royce Cullinan in Lagos.

Ibom Christmas Celebration Kicks Off Residents of Akwa Ibom State are already in a festive period as the annual Ibom Christmas Celebration has officially kicked off.

Opening the ceremony recently at Ibom Christmas Village, Uyo, the Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel who was represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo expressed delight in the positive engagement of the teeming youths through the village and its impact on the economy.

After delivering the governor’s message, Ekpo rang the bell to the ‘Jingle Bell’ tune, to officially declare the 32-day event open.

In his remarks, the host and Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Orman Esin unravelled the choice of the theme this year, ‘Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All Men’, which he said was inspired by the need to spread the message of peace, to let the world know the importance of peace to development, using the Akwa Ibom template.

Speaking further, Mr Esin noted that the opening ceremony coincides with the birthday of the late Scottish missionary Mary Slessor who spent a better part of her life in Akwa Ibom and fought for the abolition of the killing of twins.

The convener of Twin Fest (an event to celebrate Twins all over the world) Mr Offiong Akpan also made a presentation, and later joined the governor, in the company of some members of the state executive council to cut a cake to mark the posthumous birthday of Slessor. The opening ceremony, which had performances by pop artists, set the tone for a fun-filled month with entertaining contents and various delicacies served daily by the over 250 stalls in the Ibom Christmas Village.

Ibom Christmas Celebration which is marked annually from December 1 to January 1 of the following year, offers 32 days of entertainment extravaganza to fun lovers who are residents or visitors to the state, not just for leisure but also for socio-commercial activities, in line with the vision of the governor for industrialisation.

PMAN Mourns Late Former President Bolaji Rosiji Following the sad demise of the former president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) Bolaji Rosiji on December 5, 2021, the association has commiserated with the entertainment industry over the loss.

In a condolence message signed by the President Pretty Okafor, Rosiji was described as an active stakeholder in the entertainment industry.

“He contributed a lot to the development of music and other sectors across the globe. He was known for selfless services to humanity during his existence. We deeply condole with the family he left behind and pray that the good Lord grant his gentle soul rest in His bosom as he changes location to heavenly places,” reads the statement.

Rosiji’s death was announced by the Public Relations Officer of his company, Gaurapad Charities, Olayemi Esan on December 7.

He reportedly died after a brief illness. The deceased is the son of the late prominent art patron Chief Ayo Rosiji and famous in the music industry, particularly during his contentious tenure as the PMAN president in the mid-2000s. He is survived by his wife and children.

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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 12, 2021

HighLife

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

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

Nigeria’s ‘Father of Advertising,’ Biodun Shobanjo Celebrates 50 Years in the Industry

Okoya

Stick with whatever it is that you are doing and you will become a champion before you know it. This is the ideal behind mastery, the idea behind the argument that passion and diligence are the foremost drivers of personal success and unprecedented exploits. This ideal is true, considering the life of Dr. Biodun Shobanjo, a paragon who has spent five whole decades of his life in Africa’s advertising walkway. He cofounded Insight Communications (now Insight Grey) in 1979 and has today grown the company from the initial 18-strong team into an advertising behemoth.

He is the brain behind The Troyka Group, comprising Insight, FKG2, Optimum Exposure, Media Perspective, MediaCom, Quadrant and Halogen amongst others. He is a voice worth listening to; a person worth celebrating.

A few days ago, informed Nigerians and Africans all over the world took to their social media handles to celebrate the industry legend, Shobanjo. This was in commemoration of the man’s 50th year in the advertising market, an

accomplishment that is no smaller than starting the advert and marketing civilization in Africa and following along to see what will be made of his efforts.

At 75 years, the world recognises him as a leading broadcaster, entrepreneur, marketing and advertising expert, the likes of whom have long retired into the life of seclusion or extravagance, or a combination of the two. Not so for Shobanjo whose Troyka Group remains one of the most active and influential in the advertising industry even though Shobanjo himself has taken a step away from the limelight.

The native of Jebba, Kwara State has proven himself to be worthy of his dreams.

He has remodelled the wheels of journalism and made it into an autogyro of public relations.

Some of those who were in the same industry generation as Shobanjo have long lost their zeal for such things, choosing to have the young ones decide the tone and tide of the advert industry in Nigeria. Not Shobanjo who looks to be born for it.

Shade Okoya: Now the Queen of Good to Go, Julius Rone’s UTM Set for Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Project High Society “...for though we are not now that strength which in the old days/ moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are.” These lines from Tennyson’s ‘Ulysses’ goes on to show the brightness of human perseverance against the ravaging hands of time and circumstances. It brings to mind folks like Shade Okoya, the wife of Eleganza Chairman, Alhaji Rasaq Akanni Okoya. She remains one of the most radiant, evergreen entities that are pillars of high society.

Inside the hierarchy in Nigeria’s high society rests the fact that some folks get to belong to one lineage or another because of their pedigree, personal wealth, boundless business might, or some other distinguishing characteristics. With Shade, the defining qualification is brilliance: the brilliance of her mind, the brilliance of her face and figure, and the brilliance of her husband’s galactic social network.

Shade is not a newcomer to the beats and pumps of high society.

She has been in the middle of the doings for as long as most folks can remember. Although she is half a decade less than 50 now, Shade remains a supreme beauty and brainiac, still topping many lists, and therefore still holding herself as the queen of society.

Others have hidden under the shine of their illustrious husbands. Shade has further brightened the prestige of the Aare of Lagos. Even after four children, Shade’s colorful personality beckons, earning her long-lasting glances from commoners and nobles alike.

Flowers may tire of daintily spreading their petals in the sun, and jewels might grow dull in the dark but Shade remains a jewel of inestimable value. She is still fresh, still radiant and ravishing, but her flourishing businesses forbids any rational person from calling her a flower.

Shade is now—and will be for years to come—a queen, a queen in her own right and the wife of a kingly personality.

Rone

Truly, human beings may not live forever individually, but the same cannot be said for their legacy. A person’s life force may dwindle and they may pass into death, but their legacies, if they have lived a good life and reared good children, will remain evergreen and ever glowing. The late Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola and his daughter, Oyeyimika Adeboye, are a case in point. Although folks still remember Odutola as one of the foremost entrepreneurs of his time, this remembrance happens once in a while. But every time his daughter raises her head, the picture of that great man comes to mind.

Adeboye is not only a symbolic representation of her father’s unprecedented talents and diligence. The lady has come into her own and begun to make waves large enough to swallow many of her forebears. Even though she still has some miles to go before matching her father’s corporate prowess, there is no doubt that she is on the right track.

Folks will remember that Adeboye truly rose to international eminence when she became the MD of Cadbury Nigeria Plc., the first woman to hold the position in the company. Considering

The Group MD and CEO of UTM Group of Companies, Julius Rone is having the time of his life chasing his dreams. Compared to his peers, the man has managed to stay on the track that leads up, up, and away. According to recent tidings, Rone, together with African ExportImport Bank (Afreximbank), will soon usher in the latest phase of development on the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) front in Nigeria. Indeed, all is set for take-off to the great delight of informed Nigerians home and abroad.

They say that the best things come in pairs. For Rone, we have stopped counting how many paired fortunes have piled up in the Nigerian business corridor with his name attached to them. When, some months ago, it was announced that the celebrated jewel of the Niger Delta had won the License to Establish (LTE) Nigeria’s first floating LNG project, folks thought it was the usual

Oyeyimika Adeboye: Chip Off the Old Block

Adeboye

Shobanjo

white-elephant project. But things have been dusted, cleaned, and dried. All that’s remaining is the fund required to get things running.

On this front, Rone and his team of UTM progressives have already formed a strategic alliance with Afreximbank to raise $2 billion for the development of the project.

Rone, representing his UTM Offshore has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Afreximbank (represented by Dr. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of Afreximbank), setting the ball rolling.

According to reports from credible sources, the funding event was held at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, on December 7, 2021.

This is in keeping with the promises that Rone made some time ago, where he stated that he—alongside his like-minded associates— have no time to waste and will soon have Nigerians talking about the production plant and the many advantages it will bring to us.

Indeed, Rone has stayed true to his words, and the LNG project, which is to be the pride and joy of Nigerians everywhere, is set to take off in the coming weeks. that Cadbury has a prominent corporate track that is 50 years long, Adeboye’s mark on the company’s history is likely to remain unrivaled in the years to come.

Folks that have paid close attention to her achievements since she clinched the Cadbury MD position in 2019 have nothing but glowing praises for her. They say that she is on her way to shaking her generation as her late father did. Her brilliance, diligence, and dual attention to detail and the big picture leave no room for reproach. Thus, those that thought that Cadbury raised Adeboye’s status only because they wanted to promote gender equality, diversity and inclusion can only gasp in wonder.

In a few months, Adeboye will clock two years in her position as Cadbury MD. Already, she has made enough waves to be considered worthy of her historic position as the company’s number one woman. Then again, this should come as no surprise. Knowing who her father is, there is more to come, great and marvelous things, just like her father at the peak of his career and generation.

Femi Otedola: Nigeria’s Biggest Philanthropist Loved by All When one thinks of the many philanthropic works of Femi Otedola, one can only conclude that there are-indeed- people. Otedola stands apart from the rest due to his recognition of the fact that, as Maya Angelou wrote, in minor ways we differ, but in major we are the same.

Philanthropy is the word that comes to mind when one thinks of Otedola. The man is a moving monument of thoughtfulness and consideration.

It is not his wealth that makes him different from us—he is neither the wealthiest nor the most famous. But, Otedola will give the bit he has, then the bulk he has, and everything else.

How many people have benefited from the largesse of Otedola? Too many to count. Only the most popular individuals have been named and numbered. However, there are many more.

Among those that the Nigerian media has reported as having benefited from Otedola are Christian Chukwu, the Super Eagles footballer and

coach; Victor Olaotan, the prominent Nollywood actor; Majek Fashek, a pioneer Nigerian Reggae musician; Inih Ebong, an old lecturer from the University of Uyo; and several others.

Otedola’s humanitarian commitments have earned him many awards.

There are many business people like Otedola in Nigeria. They, too, have nearly boundless basins of wealth that can go—and do go—into a variety of things. We all saw this during the COVID-19 pandemic when donation of billions of Naira for relief packages was a common trend.

Even though the human spirit was buoyed by these donations, it was the more prominent philanthropists that really lifted the hearts of the people.

Otedola stood at the head of this assembly and brought true light to life among the people.

There are few things that can touch the hearts of individuals and open them up to kindness.

Otedola

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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 12, 2021

HIGHLIFE

Woman-at-the-Top: The Strength of Character in Funke Opeke Diligence will be recognised anytime and anywhere. This is a lesson that some of us have learnt the hard way, while others have already made a way of life.

Funke Opeke, an electrical engineer of note, founder of Main Street Technologies and Chief Executive Officer of Main One Cable Company, belongs to the latter category. Even now, at a time when women are claiming the best spots for themselves, Opeke continues to stand out as one of the few in the tech industry.

The best news recently blew across Nigeria. According to the report, the prestigious digital infrastructure company, Equinix, had acquired Opeke’s company, MainOne, in a juicy deal. The report held that Equinix had secured Opeke’s company for $320 million. This enterprise value, by a long stretch, is one of the most sensational acquisitions in Nigeria’s tech industry in the whole of 2021.

Equinix’s acquisition of MainOne is part of its campaign to expand into Africa.

Opeke

One can only say that the company has made the best choice by riding on Opeke’s coattails. After all, Opeke built MainOne from the ground up in 2010 and has, in a little over a decade, established three working data centers in Nigeria,

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

Informed folks cannot help but admire Opeke’s finesse and farsightedness. With Equinix taking over the reins of the company, Opeke will be able to easily advance her goals of improving data connectivity across all of Africa. One individual or company’s resources may be limited, but what happens when another formidable company comes into the picture?

This is why Opeke is being hailed as one of the most progressive minds in Nigeria’s business industry. In an industry with daring men and women, some of whose educational qualifications, pedigree and achievements can replace the moon on the night sky, Opeke has placed herself at the very top.

When they talk of women with their own gravity, Opeke should be named and numbered. This is a woman with a grand momentum.

Stamp of Her Honour: Another Milestone for Ibukun Awosika There is a category of people that nothing can keep down. The individuals that belong to this category have something about them that distinguishes them as different, special, interesting. Ibikun Awosika is one of such individuals and her radiance is one that presents challenges and bullishness in equal measure. True to this fact, Awosika has drawn the wagon of distinction after her.

2021 is rounding up on a very positive note for a lot of folks. Awosika is one of these people. After a series of incidents that appeared as if it would bury the golden reputation that Awosika has struggled to build over the years, light is finally shining on her side of the narrative. Then again, with her optimistic attitude, maybe Awosika never felt the light of grace and favor leave her face.

According to the lady in question, the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) has recognised Awosika as one of the most prestigious individuals in the country.

The university named their newest female undergraduate hall after Awosika. The awardee reacted to the news, saying that the honour is not lost on her and she will endeavor to push young ladies that will eventually take residence in the new hall to similar heights as—and higher than—she has reached.

For those who have been following Awosika’s narrative, 2021 appeared to be a difficult year. This is the vibe the typical person will get upon hearing that Awosika had joined hands with a few other board members of First Bank to forcibly retire the MD/CEO, Sola Adeduntan. However, the apex bank, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), stood behind Adeduntan and Awosika was booted out. Even so, Awosika did not lose her fire, but continued to be herself, promoting sustainable growth and development at every level.

Now that FUTA has recognized Awosika for her achievements, there is something to be said for resilience and a determination to stay true to one’s principles and intentions.

Awosika

A Friend Indeed: Between Muyiwa Bakare and Salamatu Aderinokun

Aderinokun

The world is a dark place and we have all seen all shades of friends and foes. There are those who, claiming to be the best of friends, have sold themselves to the devil without even the shadow of a gasp. There are others who, although

adversaries, still consider themselves fellow human beings and therefore refuse to go too far in their rivalry. The relationship between Muyiwa Bakare and the widow of Tayo Aderinokun, Salamatu is the very best of friendships, and this has remained true over the years.

It has been some time since Aderinokun passed away, precisely 10 years. Since then, his second wife and widow, Salamatu has had to endure the passing currents of time, knowing that it was nobody’s fault that her husband had to leave her for the other world. Even so, this world, dark and dull as it may seem, still holds something colorful for those willing to see. And this is exactly what has happened with Salamatu: her vigilance and determination to keep her heart alive have yielded good fruits in the person of Bakare.

Few friendships manage to traverse the filter of marriage. Even fewer manage to retain their original intent upon the death of a loved one. But,

Abiodun, Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat and Others Set to Honour Chairman Retro Group of Companies, Lekan Osifeso as He Gets Two Chieftancy Titles in Ijebuland What is it about some people that stands them out among their peers? It cannot be education because schools are everywhere.

It may not even be lineage and pedigree. So, what could it be that continues to press Otunba Lekan Osifeso forward, pushing him ahead of his contemporaries and guiding him into becoming an unrivaled paragon of his generation at home and abroad? Well, we don’t know. All we can say is that the man’s kismet is clearly tied to the strings of time.

Thus, fortune smiles on Osifeso as the days progress, happier and happier as it showers its graces on him.

In a few days, December 15, 2021, to be precise, Osifeso will be climbing into new shoes in the form of two mighty chieftaincy titles. As some folks have explained, all of Osifeso’s solid contributions to the people of Ijebu, Ogun State has culminated in this great honor, setting him above and beyond the reach of his peers.

The narrative of Osifeso’s promotion has

Osifeso

the friendship between Bakare and Salamatu has endured and continues to. Those who are close to the duo say that theirs is a relationship that should be envied. Bakare is always there for Salamatu, and Salamatu does not hide behind the curtains but returns Bakare’s kindness with renewed joy.

For the ignorant who might think Bakare and Salamatu are only passing the time and have nothing else to do but check in on each other, think again. Salamatu is an accomplished businesswoman who, though not as highflying as her late husband, has managed to hold her own after all this time. She is a Director at the Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank and is one of the pillars of the establishment.

Similarly, Bakare is renowned for his brilliance and empathetic approach to things.

Even now, the man is still remembered as one of the brightest MDs to ever come out of Nigeria. to start with Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the monarch of Ijebuland. It is His Majesty who has the best eyes for heartfelt commitment to the land and community. Thus, Oba Adetona is the one who will be conferring on Osifeso the titles of Olotu Olowa and Madasa of Ijebuland.

As expected, Osifeso’s recognition as a true and honored son of the Ijebu soil will be further validated by the presence of mighty government officials and industry leaders with close ties to Oba Adetona’s kingdom.

At the top of the list of these prestigious individuals are the governors of Lagos and Ogun States, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dapo Abiodun, respectively. Other highranking members of the society will follow them to Ijebuland to pay their respects to Oba Adetona and honor Otunba Osifeso.

Indeed, the soon-to-be doublytitled Ijebuman has done well for himself. Besides establishing a giant of a construction company, Retro Group, Osifeso has never forgotten his roots. Thus, it is no wonder that his king and people continue to recognize him as a true son of the soil. Truly, 2021 is ending on the rosiest note for the popular businessman.

Bukola and Toyin Saraki

Three Decades of Marital Bliss for Bukola and Toyin Saraki Frank Sinatra sang that love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage. You cannot have one without the other, he said. With couples like Bukola and Toyin Saraki, one is refreshed knowing that the decaying trend of separation and divorce is not a ship that everybody must climb into.

A few days ago, the former President of the Senate and his wife dazzled Nigerians on social media as they exchanged what could be described as wedding vows. The entire thing caught the attention of folks who have grown more depressed due to recent political and economic happenings in the country and brightened their moods immeasurably.

Saraki and his wife, Toyin, were the centre of attention because they have been married for 30 years. With a happy union and four brilliant children, the couple had reasons to stir envy in the hearts of all and sundry. With Saraki practically venerating his wife with words that only loyal partners will cherish, folks could not but turn a gentler gaze upon the Kwara man.

Regardless of the many controversies that have trailed Saraki since his time as Kwara State governor between 2003 and 2011, or during his time as Senate President from 2015 to 2019, one has to admit that Saraki is still a romantic. Folks of his calibre, with political ambitions as deep as black holes, tend to have an awful grasp of matrimony and tender relations.

Saraki stands out, which is why Toyin continues to stand by his side 30 years after becoming his wife.

In other news, Saraki is one of the leading options for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidates.

Since declaring his intention to inherit the mantle of President Muhammadu Buhari, ending the reign of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his marriage is the only sacred ground that has not been touched by the ravaging fingers of bad press. Now, we all know why.

No marriage may be perfect, but some come really close. A 30-year marriage between two political and business figures is really something worth celebrating.

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

You know we like to brag. They have put us on the red list and some people are shouting we should take revenge. Revenge how? Mbok, our best bet is to go and beg o. Do you think those ones have not checked everything well?

What exactly do we have to offer them again in this world? I hear 25 per cent of our people living there are on benefits. What is the total size of our economy relative to theirs and what can they benefit from us? Didn’t they call us ‘fantastically corrupt’?

Me, I am not emotional when it comes to things like this. We are currently in the third position on the COVID-19 positive list after Italy

and South Africa upon arrival at Heathrow according to a recent graph k stumbled upon.

People are taking off testing negative here and landing there positive. We all know why, so my people it is not to be doing gra gra, we are a risk to the world.

Our Oga at the top knows exactly where it pinches. If this ban persists, it will bite o; real hard and personal. Remember that is where he used to go and get enema periodically and to also check if ‘downstairs’ is still alert.

So, I think Uncle Lai should be drafted with those Benin women, those ones that know how to cry at other people’s funeral, and

some Fuji musicians to shoot video - since they will not let them enter UK - begging and hailing Boris Johnson with the hope that he will listen and rescind the ban.

Seriously, I think we should stop our unseriousness. Even though I am also tired of this virus drama, our approach to the whole thing is a national joke. People are flying without being tested, not quarantined, just jumping into the country and doing their thing and we expect that other serious countries will keep their borders open because we have a lanky President with a strange love for toothpicks?

We never start.

MTN: A POWERFUL ENDORSEMENT Let me go back to my stockbroker background. This giant is selling 14% of its shares to the public through a huge public offer and with just a little over N3,000, Nigerians can get a share.

I have received a lot of calls from both former clients and new friends on my thoughts. I have told all of them that this is a BUY. The fundamentals are huge – strong growth potential in the industry, strong growth for the industry, strong corporate governance, good asset quality, strong revenue streams, provides a powerful ‘retail’ vehicle to enter a cash rich sector and, much more importantly giving Nigerians an opportunity to be part of this journey.

So, it is a buy for me.

From my observations, there seems to be a feeding frenzy and the last time I saw something like this in the markets was when Dangote did its Initial Public Offering (IPO). I made money like a fish. I sold o.

I even convinced one big client who claims to have grown up with Dangote to buy through me. That is how sweet my mouth is. The old Indian man sef tire. He called his wife in and said, “Darling, I cannot believe that this boy is making me give him the cheque instead of Alhaji.”

Anyways, this is the kind of opportunity your grandchildren will ask in the future, “Dad, what exactly were you thinking of?’. Buy.

In getting him to invest in our firm, Hamilton and George, we had to take a trip to his country.

We spent five days in Banjul, running around the beaches, savouring the sights and trying to compete with the young lads for the attention of the wrinkled old European ladies who flocked that part of the world for moments of illicit sex.

Gambia is a beautiful country. Very communal and they all eat rice from the same plate with plenty of meat in a circle.

So, it is no wonder that I had a small candidate in the race. My Oga Njei sent a video of a young candidate to me.

He was dreadlocked and spoke very eloquently. I liked him. His arguments were sound and logic-driven although he lost me when the issue of a ban on cannabis came up. His approach to the economy, to humanism, to the relationships within and between societies, to international relations was on point.

He was an outlier and I connected.

He campaigned in t-shirt and slippers and had the common approach which endeared him to the people.

People like this never win traditional elections in Africa. Too idealistic and will never get the support of entrenched interest. I knew he would fail but still supported him.

Njei got me talking to him on a video call and we really had very fruitful discussions. I told him about my dreadlocks and mentioned that even if he didn’t win, he still had youth to come back again and that me too will soon come out in Nigeria so that we can build a colony of cannabis that will stretch from the Gambia down to Akwa Ibom.

We bonded and his idealism really impressed me. Well, elections have been won by the incumbent as expected. Njei has recorded a broadcast complete with

National Anthem exhorting Gambians to heed the call for national unity and I am here inviting my dreadlocked candidate to Akwa Ibom to my Ufok Ibaan so that we can strategise on how to take over West Africa with our brand of leadership.

I congratulate Gambia my second home and do really wish them well as they embark on this very enviable new journey. Well-done guys.

Saraki

Udofia

THE GAMBIA: MY CANDIDATE LOST I have ties with the Gambia. One of my ogas there, Mustapha Njei is a very influential and powerful player in that country. He is Gambian but also a very huge player in the Nigerian real estate space.

Isa

BUKOLA SARAKI: LOOKING FOR TROUBLE That is how daddy flew into Lagos and gathered all the rebels and pushed them into PDP. They call themselves ‘Lagos4Lagos’ as if they don’t really know who owns Lagos. Me I have disowned them and will not have anything to do with them.

They are rushing to go and join this same Saraki as if they don’t know his antecedence. What exactly is he going to do for them? Please the real owners of Lagos are where they are o. They have gone to service their bullion vans, positioned their daughters in the markets and have rented a house in Kano to make sure that the 15 million votes they gave ‘lanky’ in 2015, they give him.

So Lagos4Lagos or ‘Idumagbo4Ketu’ or ‘worefer’ they want to call it will not take Lagos from those whose forefathers collected it from the British at the Tinubu Square.

This Saraki can sha look for trouble. That was how he was doing Senate President and was shaking tables. Now that they have thrown him out, he is now coming to Lagos to disturb us. Did we say we are not happy with our Emperor?

Mbok, he should leave us o. We are content and happy. We love our King and he will rule us for eternity. Na wa o.

Ehanire

and unfortunate killing of the young lad Sylvester, I will like to point out the fact that bullying is a subculture in all of our schools. To stamp it out, we will need just more than all these social media rants and our mothers wearing black and going to sit at the gates of Dowen with wide open legs and singing protest songs.

Bullying is a rite of passage gone wrong. I was massively bullied in secondary school and I dare say that most people who attended boarding schools were bullied and still continue to date.

Me, they beat the ‘pangolo’ out of my head but was taught like Sylvester never to talk. You will rather die than point out who was ‘fagging’ you. You were a folk hero for taking the beatings and when you became a senior, you likewise mete out similar act to others.

They beat me o. I was nine years old in a quassia military school where it was obey before complain. They beat me o. Kai, they beat me o. I took all the beating and became a strong man.

Even the principal will call us and beat us with koboko most times for nothing, just because he can.

So my people today, we have lost Sly, we have lost thousands of children and will continue to lose if a delicate and strategic offensive is not launched now.

We have to approach this thing in a robust fashion. Allow the police to do their work on this particular matter but then convene a serious session involving all stakeholders – parents, government, religious institutions, social organisations like – Man o War, Boys Brigade and the rest to fashion out very direct and implementable

DOWEN SAGA: I WAS BULLIED TOO Not to rehash the gory story of the sad

Umahi

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LOUD WHISPERS policies that can be monitored and enforced.

At least, this is not banditry where the bandits are ghosts that we cannot see.

These are our children, our wards, our students and young people still under our influence.

This is our collective shame. But they beat me for Command o. Kai. DAVE UMAHI: WHAT’S GOING ON As expected, Nigerians remained shocked when it was announced that the abducted engineers on a construction site in Ebonyi State have all been murdered.

I was still reeling with numbness — you never get used to these things — when I stumbled on a letter written by the consultants on the project, Nelan Consultants to the African Development Bank where they averred that a day after the abduction of the engineers, they received a letter from the state government complaining about their absence on site.

God, what kind of insensitivity is this. If this allegation is true, then we begin to see the type of leaders we are serving in this country. No empathy, nothing.

It gets worse. The families and employers of the abducted engineers according to this letter only got to hear about their death in the media. No official notice from the government or any of its security agencies. They were buried without the knowledge of their families according to this letter that I am reading right now.

If all these and more which I am so ashamed to mention are true by any chance then this Ebonyi Government and its governor no try at all. Let me just keep quiet because it will not be wise to go off on the information I am getting from one side.

This is very very sad and unfortunate.

Even if the government cannot protect our lives anymore, they can at least show empathy na. At least they don’t need a security vote or any budget to do that one. Wicked. portunity.

AKAN UDOFIA: THE RENAISSANCE MAN If you know him or have heard of him you will understand why I call him the renaissance man. His ideas and vision for this country and indeed Akwa Ibom State so align with me that you will think we sucked the same breast.

I hear he is in contention for the governorship of Akwa Ibom and still has the party primaries to cross and as such they have said, “Duke do not be seen as to be taking sides. At least, not just yet.”

My people I have not taken sides and will not take sides especially in an election that I may not even vote.

The point here is that the man sings my song. He talks about lesser government, private sector driven growth, attracting FDIs and basic market economic initiatives.

Akwa Ibom has all the ingredients for development. It has strong human capital, a lush array of land, above average infrastructure and a readiness to engage. The time for the grassroots leader is over, we must foster a leadership that will deepen the gains of Governor Udom especially in the areas of pulling in foreign capital as the basis for enduring economic development.

Sadly, we still long for the ‘bread in hand back for ground’ style of leadership. No, we should be tired of being violated by spurious leadership who will not push for sustainable development and the best way to go is less government.

Push back the government and let

private business arrowhead the growth. That way more lives can be touched through jobs and increased economic activities.

This is my position and Udofia is saying things close to these and this is why I call him the renaissance man.

Simple.

ISKILU YEKINI OJO: OBASANJO ON HIS MIND Iskilu is a passionate young man.

He entered the competition I was organising to give out one complimentary pass to a young visionary for my weekend retreat with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Oh I did not mention, I am taking 50 emerging leaders to the Presidential Library in Abeokuta to spend three gleeful days with our Statesman discussing the nation and other pressing issues including foreign affairs, humanity and the rest.

It is a paid for session that will involve a beautiful train ride, tour of the library and a visit to the Olumo Rock with the highlight being four uninterrupted hours with Baba himself.

So, a lot of people have been registering to be part of it and I decided to go philanthropic. I asked for essays on the role of Chief Obasanjo in national development with the winning writer getting a free pass for the weekend.

Iskilu won with a beautifully written essay and since then he has been over the moon threatening to marry a new wife in celebration.

I write to congratulate him and to also send a very strong signal to Chief Obasanjo that from the profile of prospective attendees so far, this will not be a walk in the park. Baba start to read and prepare o.

HADI SIRIKA: LET THEM PAY I was once in one big man’s office

BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU: A WELCOMING VISIT I have been wanting to pay a courtesy call on His Excellency Babajide SanwoOlu to thank him for the massive support he gave us during our play ‘Awo:. He has already sent in his support for the next play, ‘Baba Kekere’ which is a depiction of the life and times of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, former Governor of Lagos State.

Anyways, that was how the hardworking Special Adviser to His Excellency on Tourism Arts and Culture, Bonu Solomon called in and said, “Edgar be on standby for 2p.m. on Monday.”

We appeared at the Governor’s office in Alausa and they moved us into one dining room to wait to be called in. Two matrons were just looking at us. You know that kind big madam that will be like the Director in the ministry and will be doing wickedness to their staff.

These women were just so funny and the fact that they were helpless towards us did not stop them from showing their wickedness. One of them after trying to kill us with stares, now called on Duchess in that heavy Yoruba accented English and with a smirk, “Jo carry all these papers to that dustbin abeg’.

You know Duchess sef get her own.

I begged with eyes. “This is the devil o, ignore and carry the paper.” Thankfully, Duchess listened and carried the paper.

Sanwo-Olu

So, when they called us, I looked at the women and smiled at them and said, “Do have a good day waiting for a call that will never come,” and they replied me with such a loud hiss that Tinubu would have heard it from his toilet in Bourdillon.

Anyways, we entered the Chambers with the full Exco in session and they all stood up. I don’t know if that was their protocol or that they were standing up because a Duke had entered. I don’t know o. But whatever the case was, they sha stood up.

Sanwo-Olu came to me, gave me knuckle.

He was wearing a very beautiful suit and looked well shaven and neat. He said: “Duke well-done and congratulations. Tell me about this collage.”

I replied “Baba…”

As I spoke, I saw my brother Tunji Bello looking quite confused, not really understanding what was going on. He was the only person I recognised in the hall apart from Bonu and his Excellency.

I thanked them all and used the opportunity to invite them to ‘Baba Kekere’ and took my leave without going to check to see if the ‘pointer sisters’ who had first harassed us were still waiting.

It was a lovely experience and I thank God for the op

when he got a call. It was from one high profile Nigerian asking if the government will really carry out its threat on seizing their private jets.

After the call, I asked the Oga what was all that and he explained that a lot of our billionaires did not pay import duties on their private jets and that the government had taken a decision to seize them if they did not pay.

N30 billion is at stake here. Now the customs have moved in and we are hearing from reports that the aviation people are trying to frustrate this effort.

My brother Sirika abeg, shift. Let the ‘happen happen’ as our great Kingsley Mbadiwe will say. N30 billion is a lot of money right now for the government and anybody who cannot pay should have the jets seized. Mbok, don’t come and be doing big boy at our expense. This na why people like me are not doing private jets, it’s because of this import duty. So, if you want to stand, stand.

Sirika, stand aside and let the customs do what they have to do. I am in firm support of this one. Thank you INI EDO’S BOLD STEP I just heard of the good news. I have just been told that my sister has had a beautiful baby girl by surrogacy and they are taking her out on social media.

Please my sister, ignore the Pharisees and Sadducees. What do they know? This your bold step will empower millions of women who cry for the fruit of the womb but are afraid of stigmatisation hence their refusal to go this route.

I have had like three women; this year alone ask me to donate sperm for them to do this. Although I would have preferred to give them the sperm through natural means – missionary - they all have asked me to use my hand and bring the thing in a bottle to them. You see my life.

Seriously, when people like you come out openly to proudly announce this, it will really push a lot of women into finding a solution to this problem.

Congrats my sister and let me also give our daughter a name – Mayen is my own pet name for her. God bless you and our daughter. She is Akwa Ibom daughter. Eya. EBOSE AUSTIN OSEGHA: A WONDERFUL OUTING Anchor Insurance under my brother Austin had a wonderful year. Their figures tripled firmly, placing it within market leadership in their sector. It is for this reason that they rolled out the drums to celebrate.

The party was at the elegant Civic Centre and had the massively talented Patoranking as main act.

The place was filled to the brim and we all had fun. Austin came out like Lionel Richie and Madam was looking like Michelle Obama. I saw my other brother Osaze, the former Commissioner in Edo State who had a run-in with Italian authorities.

He gleefully told me that some Nigerians were just freed after the same harrowing experience he had with the Italian justice system which has been designed to ‘deal’ especially with Nigerians.

I saw my friend Fuyi with his very beautiful wife. She is the head of school of the Supreme Foundation in Magodo and as expected, we went into a deep discussion on this Dowen saga. She had a lot to say and what impressed me the most was her position on probable solutions instead of the usual Nigerian mentality of just complaining.

Well done Austin and the team at Anchor. Well-done guys. But food no reach me sha. No problem, I go revenge.

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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 12, 2021

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

One Year After, High Society Remembers Billionaire Harry Akande For many families around the world, the emotional and psychological torture forced on them with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 will remain indelible in their minds, as they lost several loved ones.

Among prominent personalities who lost their lives was the flamboyant billionaire, Chief Harry Ayoola Akande. When the news of his passing broke on December 5, 2020, many, including those who only knew him through the pages of newspapers, 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, having died at 77. Rather, his colourful lifestyle even beat a kingly living.

He was feared and respected at the same time and was just the type you could rightly describe as a man of timber and calibre.

He was affluent, connected, and good looking. He created his own world and literally lived it alone. He had an almost incomparable taste for the good things of life.

Legendary for his flamboyant dressing, he

never settled for anything but the best in terms of class, taste and luxury.

Akande lived a lavish and colourful lifestyle that many, including his peers in the ultrawealthy class, fantasized about. Indeed, the affable Agba-Oye of Ibadanland lived a life filled with bold achievements.

There used to be a saying that no real 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, the late Agbaoye of Ibadanland was one of the first set of Nigerians to have been described with superlatives as a billionaire.

His death has, however, created a vacuum in the social circle. He would forever be remembered for lightening up social events and adding colour to functions whenever he sauntered into them.

In his 77 years of sojourn on earth, Akande successfully built many relationships across local and international bridges and would be

Akande

remembered as one Ibadan man who had class, taste, and style and enjoyed his wealth to the fullest.

Doyen of Industry, Prince Samuel Adedoyin Glides Gracefully into 86 Bello

Retired Soldier, Sani Bello’s Special Birthday Self-styled billionaire, retired Col. Sani Bello’s wizardry and business savvy as an entrepreneur in the oil sector exposed him like a goldfish that has no hiding place, even though he loves to keep a low profile.

Since the former Kano State military governor left the Nigerian Army, he has dedicated his entire life to philanthropic activities.

The Kontagora, Niger State-born retired soldier believes in the word of Gamaliel Bailey that says ‘’Never respect men merely for their riches, but rather for their philanthropy; we do not value the sun for its height, but its use.” For wealth may fade away, but the seed of kindness sown in the heart of a fellow human being never dies; rather it germinates, matures and bears fruit in multiple-folds.’’

He understood early in life that the true essence of wealth is achieved only when it is deployed to the service of humanity. A man of proven immense wealth, who is highly regarded, respected and honoured in the society, the honour bestowed on Col. Bello does not, however, stem from the immensity of his wealth, but from the good use to which he has put this wealth for the service of humanity. Perhaps, this was the reason many admirers, fans, friends as well as business associates showered him with goodwill messages and encomiums when he clocked 79 penultimate weeks.

He was saluted for his modesty and his principled stand on the issues of equality, morality, and uprightness. And as a Nigerian hero that many hope will continue to gain from his tutelage and fatherly wisdom.

Baban Kontagora as he’s fondly called, is being described as a great man, one every Nigerian, especially young people, should emulate; whose character, charisma, and integrity can mend a broken community or nation.

As part of his birthday celebration the man who is also the founder of Mustapha Comprehensive School, Kontagora gave out N3million each to three retiring teachers who served the school for 30 years.

Bello announced the cash gift during the 40th anniversary of the school, which coincided with his 79th birthday. He also promised to present special awards to other teachers and a female cleaner, Aisha Abdullahi, for their commitment, adding that the donation was part of measures to encourage hard work and dedication.

Adedoyin

Prince Samuel Adedoyin is not called the ‘Doyen of Industry’ for nothing. An apostle of industrialisation, he started with petty trading but has now expanded into manufacturing, real estate, hospitality and energy, among others.

Providence, no doubt, has literally lavished its favour on him; he is a man of grace and great valour. He is ever driven by uncommon bravery and doggedness. Perhaps this was the reason he never allowed his humble background to dampen his entrepreneurial spirit at the outset of his business exploits.

His story is an inspiration to many who think nothing great can come out of their pitiable conditions. His triumph has also shown that no matter the situation you are in, you have to keep chasing your dream with dedication.

No doubt, he is everything anyone would wish to be in life. A philanthropist of note, he is passionate about meeting the needs of the indigent without expecting any pecuniary gains.

He has also personally sponsored various

educational programmes and defrayed the medical bills of several women and children.

If there is anything he wants to be remembered for, it is as a man who has a passion for doing good all the time.

This self-effacing businessman, last Saturday, celebrated his 86th birthday.

During the occasion, family, friends, as well as business associates, held an exclusive reception for this very large-hearted man who has done a lot to uplift so many lives in his community and the society at large.

The well planned birthday bash was a super and classy one, with very select guests in attendance at his Victoria Island, Lagos palatial mansion.

Some of the guests included Chief Razak Okoya with his wife Shade; Chief Kessington Adebutu; Chief Olu Okeowo; Otunba Funsho Lawal; Alara of Ilara Kingdom, HRM, Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo; Olugbon of Ile-Igbon, Oba Alao who is also his son-inlaw, among several others.

Grace Chizioma Okezie’s Rising Profile Driven by an indescribable passion for her profession, 24-year-old Grace Chizioma Okezie is on a mission, promoting local content with excellence in Africa’s beauty care sector.

Today, the patriotic hairstylist is beautifying, inspiring and leading women of Africa to embrace world-class local hair care content made with excellence in Africa as innovative socio-economic bricks to rebuild and restyle the social economy of Africa, an economy which for many years has remained mostly influenced and dominated by colonial and other economic superpowers from outside Africa.

Equipped with an over-10-years practical experience as a beautician and a testimonial bag that boasts of her well-reputed professional certifications, including Diploma in Makeup Artistry and Headgear Arts obtained from the prestigious CVI Institute, Okezie pioneers an uncommon expertise in transforming local hair into world-class wearable wigs in Nigeria, sells them within Nigeria and exports them to make them satisfy wig lovers across Africa and even beyond while boosting the inward flow of foreign exchange to the country.

She runs her mission from Graceeycurls Enterprise, her Lagos-based one-stop shop for all things beauty. It is fully incorporated with a staff

strength of eight experienced and constantly retrained specialists in hair and makeup artistry as well as manicure and pedicure routines.

With this team, she is consciously and cautiously cultivating her firm’s reputation for excellent service delivery, a classy discerning clientele, and a steadily teeming patronage.

In her quest to reposition the local hair wigs as widely acceptable and sustainable counterparts to the foreign artificial hair brands dominating the African marketplace now, she is openly observed and reputed for her goal-driven hard work and her premium value placed on the integrity of her services as well as her firm’s cosmetic products, exotic perfumes, prestigious designer clothing and classy female accessories.

For this and so much more, the highly revered West African Youth Council recently invested in Okezie the much-coveted Nelson Mandela Leadership Award of Excellence and Integrity, enlisting her to join the league of other leading young people in Africa who have distinguished themselves as exemplary in their respective professions.

Also received along with the certificate are a diplomatic ID card and a specialised

At almost 60, she still makes everyone stop in their tracks with her mesmerizing beauty. Her aura is so angelic given the way she lights up a room with her pulchritude. Obviously, the passage of time has not eroded her graceful gait.

Renowned businesswoman and architect, Princess Fifi Ejindu is an enchantress; an alluring personality, physically and mentally.

Little wonder, celebrity reporters run after her at events just to get a glimpse of her and generously splash her face on the cover of their magazines.

The Cross River State-born princess is well educated, polished and sophisticated. And as a businesswoman, she knows her onions, a situation that makes her continuously excel in all her endeavours.

She is an expert in the art of money-

3ULQFHVV )LÀ (MLQGX·V New Beautiful Dream

Ejindu

Okezie

automobile plate number to ease her crosscountry movements across the ECOWAS region.

The petite and pretty professional hairstylist is steadily building her vision to see women embrace more local content in their hair care and hairstyling

making and graceful in her fine grasp of business intricacies. Her contributions to the growth of the architecture and the housing industry in Nigeria, nay Africa are widely recognised.

At the moment, the likable woman is said to be working on a new dream, which our source disclosed would literally shake the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to its very foundation.

Though the source refused to disclose the details of the business, it was learnt that she is set to change the narrative in the real estate sector, particularly given her ingenuity.

For a woman whose eyes are on the future, it is not surprising that she is trying to expand her business interest. However, despite her great accomplishments, one can say that Ejindu is still a story waiting to be told.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

12.12.2021

BEYOND THE TECHNIQUES, THEIR ART SPEAKS ELOQUENTLY TO THE COLLECTIVE SENSIBILITIES From their diverse perspectives, six artists – featured in the recently-launched Jadé Online Gallery’s exhibition – are engaging their environment, using art as a tool for social commentary. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke writes

T

hrough a deft weaving of fate – often misconstrued by the uninitiated as happenstance – six artists have been, so to speak, corralled into an online gallery’s ongoing exhibition. Corralled, because the sextet – Abasiekong Udobang, Sam Ebohon, Gerry Nnubia, Tolu Mustapha, Lasisi Babatunde and Chinyere Akachukwu – should ordinarily be deemed strange bedfellows. Thus, providing a through line for their diverse perspectives attests to the organiser’s curatorial acumen.

This, indeed, is what makes her deft resolution of their generational diversity and idiosyncrasies – in the exhibition that opened on Monday, November 1 and ends on Saturday, January 15 – an art unto itself. For one undeniable pièce de résistance of group exhibitions remains their adroit oͿering of the diverse perspectives of one theme in one platform.

Hence, as the recently launched Jadé Online Gallery’s opening salvo, the exhibition hopes to stimulate discussions – and, possibly, debate – bordering not only on environmental issues but also other on their possible spin-oͿs, which impact on human emotions. For Aderonke AkinyeleBolanle, who is both the gallery’s initiator and the exhibition’s curator, this is one way to meld the celebration of creative excellence with the networking of African people beyond the conÀnes of their continent and its diaspora communities. “In [the] future, we hope to invite aspiring and emerging curators to create online contents that will abide by our mission and build an understanding of the role of arts in society,” she discloses in her curatorial statement.

The Bath Spa University, UK MA holder in arts management doubles as an art advisor, who helps private clients to collect investment art pieces, as well as a curator working with artists through curated projects.

It was indeed to this end that she had founded Jadé Art Consulting as an art-consulting Àrm in 2015. Two years later, she wormed herself into the art circles and was soon deemed signiÀcant enough to be included among the women shaping the Nigerian visual arts.

Ultimately, she owes it all to her seven-year experience in the Lagos art scene, during which she spent four years working the Victoria Island-based Terra Kulture’s art gallery and the ancillary auction house TKMG. This was shortly after the completion of an MA in media and creative enterprise at Birmingham City University, UK. Talking about her academic antecedents, she also holds a BA in visual arts from the University of Lagos, a curating contemporary art certiÀcate from the

See-you-later-Alligator-1 by Lasisi Babatunde

Street-Kings-Series-III by Ekong Udobang

Between-Man-and-Woman by Sam Ebohon

School of Curatorial Studies in Venice and a museum studies certiÀcate at the British Council.

“Having taken a career break from the art management world for a year working as a research assistant with a heritage organisation,” she narrates, “I was beginning to get itchy feet to put a structure to my curatorial practice hence the birth of Jade Online Gallery. I am intrigued by many diͿerent types and styles of artwork. I look for striking, visually stimulating works that catch my attention and speak to me. Of course, I also assess the overall technical ability and originality in these paintings. It is part of our mission statement at Jadé to show artists personal experience reÁected on created pieces – works documenting the history and current events, or contributing to their current practice in arts and cultural heritage.”

It should therefore be an intriguingly worthwhile experience to savour her curatorial tastes while engaging the featured artists in her online gallery. It is also worthwhile to see what the younger artists like Tolu Mustapha, Lasisi Babatunde and Chinyere Akachukwu have brought to the table in a scheme that involves more established names like Sam Ebohon and Gerry Nnubia. As for Abasiekong Udobang, the lone photographer among the sextet, his inclusion adds zest to the exhibition.

Already, his veriÀable track record – even while he was still an employee of the telecommunications company MTN – positions him as one of the industry’s credible voices. And his over 15 years of work in the Àeld of social development, which saw him visit several remote communities across Nigeria, greatly enriched his

photography portfolio.

Featured in the ongoing exhibition his “Street Kings” series, which is based on his prior photographic project on stray horses in Lagos, draws a parallel between these equines’ fall from grace and the human condition.

Through Udobang’s lens, the viewer is forced to empathise with these majestic animals which, once put to good use, now roam the streets of Lagos.

Likewise, once prominent people are constantly being swept aside by the constant tides of modernisation as useless jetsam and Áotsam of the society.

Then, there is Sam Ebohon, whose patented peculiar colourful thick brushstrokes conceal actual words, phrases or even sentences. Yet, underneath the tangled mesh of these letters lurk whatever Àgurative expressions that caught his fancy.

Through this technique, he urges his viewers to observe life less superÀcially and scour beneath the cyphers of the much-glossed-over objects in his material environment for deeper meanings. Life, to this 1990 graduate of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, reveals its secrets to those who trouble themselves to unearth them.

Talking about techniques, Gerry Nnubia preens himself on his restless and experimental disposition.

The 55-year-old visual arts graduate of the Enugu-based Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) is constantly seeking new ways to express his advocacy for peace while he deplores the dense, dark clouds of rancour darkening the ethereal environment.

Among the younger artists, Chinyere Akachukwu’s expressionistic style of painting bears the hallmarks of the globalist trends. Even while eliciting subjective interpretations from their viewers, her works also seek to incite them to independently and conscientiously engage their contemporary environment.

Meanwhile, Tolu Mustapha – known for her lush impastos – is a constantly evolving artist, whose works boldly engage societal issues.

Then, there is Lasisi Babatunde, who, with childlike images, documents mankind’s visual experiences in his Sojourner’s Diary series. Through the series, he shares visual anecdotes about immigrants and travellers. The works, through which seethe with his joie de vivre, urges a positive acceptance of life’s experiences.

These artists’ use of art as a tool for social commentary to address their environment’s many issues is a common thread that runs through their works. “Every artwork in this online collection launch, we will address and focus on showing the importance and value of art whilst strengthening the art ecosystem,” adds the curatorial statement.

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 12, 2021

ARTS & REVIEW\\MUSIC

OF TEMS AND CONDITIONS AND WIZKID’S UNWARRANTED O2 ARENA STAGE FAUX PAS Yinka Olatunbosun

“O

nly you À’ hold my body,” is the famous hook from the chart-topping song “Essence

by Nigeria’s Afrobeat export to the world, Wizkid featuring the Afro-soul singer, Tems. The song’s success story needs not be overstated having secured Grammy’s nominations for the artist(s) amongst other accolades.

Naturally, Wizkid pushed the track through his Made in Lagos Tour – in US and the UK, where it had its most impact. That Justin Bieber jumped in on the track further propelled the 2020 release to becoming the song of the summer in June 2021. To trim the long footage, Wizkid once again performed this song with Tems at his three-day sold-out concert venue in London, O2 Arena. And to the shock of many in the live and virtual audience, Tems pushed Wizkid away from herself and was momentarily pissed oͿ for about three uncomfortable seconds before she found her voice again.

Several videos of that moment on stage surfaced online with presumptions about what Wizkid might have tried to do to Tems. While it was widely reported that Wizkid was only trying to lift Tems, some trolls argued that he was grabbing Tems’ buttocks as well. The lemon fur jacket that Tems wore didn’t make it easy to tell if that really was the case. And subsequently, Tems had made light of it, describing her mentor as her brother who was only human.

Some even criticised Tems for not being a good sport on stage when Wizkid was only being in

Wizkid and Tems character for the story in the song. One fact that all would agree on was that it was one awkward performance. Tems seemed exhausted and detached while Wizkid was excited – perhaps, a little more than necessary – making some fans to suggest that he could be under some inÁuence.

The sight of that mammoth audience was in itself intoxicating; so Wizkid needed no alcohol or weed. With Tems’ usual lacklustre performance, Wizkid might be trying to spice up the act as he would have with Tiwa Savage or any other

BOOK

female collaborator. But anything can happen on stage. The world has not entirely forgiven Janet Jackson for her wardrobe malfunction while performing with Justin Timberlake at the 2004 Super bowl Half-time. It was called the “Nipplegate”. Timberlake was meant to take oͿ a part of her garment at the end of the performance but mistakenly bared her breast before 150million viewers. The outrage aͿected Jackson s career; she was blacklisted for some years to come.

Back to O2 Arena, it was clear that Tems was

not down with PDA on stage so that aforementioned hook does not apply. Perhaps, she is in a committed relationship and wouldn t want to build distrust. Or Wizkid s reputation with women stinks under his breath and she couldn t just help the reÁex action to push him away. Even if Wizkid was just being an artist, there was no cue for that move hence it was poorly-timed. If he had waited till the end of the track, maybe he would have scored a better chance. So far, Tems has not done justice to the lyrics of the song on stage. Just picture Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Madonna or even Janet Jackson on stage with those lyrics; no stage coach would be necessary.

That said, not all female singers love to sexualise their stage persona. Sade Adu, Jill Scott, Macy Gray, Tracy Chapman, Alicia Keys, Adele and Kelly Clarkson are only but a few of famous singers who have maintained a conservative approach to their artistry instead of joining the bandwagon of stripping to sell records or “getting jiggy” with a male collaborator on stage. Maybe Tems belongs to that class of female performers whose strength rests more on the vocals than the sensual.

To forestall any future recurrence, Wizkid may want to consider what the music fans had dubbed “Tems and Conditions”. Even in Àlm situations, actors enter legal contract on how much of their body would be revealed in the movie scenes. In Tems’ case, it must be settled with her management on how far her collaborating artist can court intimacy on stage.

Wizkid and Tems need to learn the ropes from great artists like Sean Paul and Eminem who have toured and performed with female artists on stage with some measure of maturity.

TRIBUTE

A TALE OF PLIGHT AND PREJUDICE CHIEF NIKE OKUNDAYE MOURNS ALAN DONOVAN Yinka Olatunbosun

O

n the heels of the successes of her two previous works, Nigerian writer and Commonwealth Writers Prize Ànalist, Uzoma Uponi has published a third novel titled ColorSTRUCK. At a virtual book presentation held on Saturday, November 27, Uponi spoke about her commitment to tackling social injustice in Africa with her writing. ColorSTRUCK highlights the plight of African albinos, who, due to a lack of melanin in their skin, are confronted with various health, safety, and social challenges in many African countriesies today.

In her keynote speech at the book launch, Uponi shared with her international audience of participants from Canada, Nigeria, Ghana, United Kingdom, and the United States of America that she hopes ColorSTRUCK will stimulate a discourse on the discrimination and exclusion of people with albinism from the African social fabric. “It is a Àctitious story of an albino girl who is kidnapped for her body parts,” she said, “because witch doctors have convinced a poor and gullible people that the blood and body parts of albinos have healing and magical powers.” In a world currently grappling with diverse social justice issues, Uponi’s novel will make sure the injustice inÁicted on African albinos is not forgotten.

Uponi also pledged to donate a percentage of the proceeds from the book sales to a Canadabased charity called Under the Same Sun, which is Àghting for the protection and social inclusion of albinos in Tanzania.

Although she writes about life in Africa, Uponi is targeting the international audience.

“I Ànd that there s a lot of curiosity and misunderstanding about Africa in the western world and through my writing, I try to provide a glimpse into our African worldview, values, beliefs, and contemporary lifestyles. I keep my stories honest and truthful, neither embellishing nor apologising for our culture. No culture

“I is superior to another. We can all learn a thing or two from other cultures because human beings are the same everywhere, no matter what we look like outward or where geography Ànds us. We all have the same ambitions, struggles, and fears,” the author said.

Apart from ColorSTRUCK, Uponi is the author of the Commonwealth Writers Prize Ànalist, ColourBLIND, and its sequel, Whispers from Yesteryears. Consistent with her vision, Uponi’s Àrst and second books also tackle social justice issues in the Nigerian culture. ColourBLIND deals with the stigma of adoption, while Whispers from Yesteryears showcases domestic violence. All three books are available on Amazon.com in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats.

Uponi, a Nigerian-born Canadian, lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband, their four sons, and their Portuguese water dog. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and an MBA from the University of Nigeria.

She has also taken certiÀcate courses in management, writing, and professional editing from the University of Toronto, the University of Calgary, and the Mount Royal University, all in Canada.

am who I am and what I am now because he was one of the people God used greatly to shape my life and bring me this far,” a distraught Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye said when she heard about the passing of the art collector and conservationist Alan Donovan on Sunday, December 5 in Kenya.

Donovan, according to a statement credited to the African Heritage Estate management, had passed away peacefully in his sleep that Sunday morning at African Heritage House in Athi River at the age of 83.

The statement also read: “Alan Donovan was a Yoruba Chief, Chief Babalaje of Ido-Osun, bestowed upon him in March 2019 by Fellow Yoruba Chiefs; Chief Nike Okundaye and Chief Muraina Oyelami from Oshogbo. This event was witnessed by Hon. Amina Mohammed, Cabinet Secretary for Sports and Culture of Kenya.”

Upon his arrival in Africa over 50 years ago, as an American aid worker, he had co-founded the African Heritage Gallery with Kenya’s late Àrst vicepresident Joseph Murumbi and his wife, the late Sheila Murumbi. He established the African Heritage House, which is reputed to be the continent’s Àrst panAfrican gallery in Nairobi and became pioneering craft retail and wholesale operation.

The African Heritage House, whose architecture he had modelled after pre-colonial African ediÀces like the Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali and the

Donovan

Swahili houses of Coastal East Africa, among others he encountered during his travels across the continent and contains a priceless collection of African art.

Donovan had also been known to organise and curate exhibitions all around the world showcasing Africa’s rich cultural legacy for over four decades.

His remains, which were said to have been taken to a funeral home, would be interred at a yet-to-be-announced date.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 12, 2021

CICERO

Editor: Ejiofor Alike SMS: 08066066268 email:ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com

IN THE ARENA

Omicron Variant: Outrage over UK’s Red-listing of Nigeria Discriminatory red-listing of Nigeria by the United Kingdom over claims that some travellers who arrived Britain with COVID-19’s Omicron variant were traced to Nigeria has deservedly drawn strong pushback by key stakeholders, writes Louis Achi

A

s Omicron, the latest variant of the Covid-19, apparently made landfall in the United Kingdom, the government quickly red-listed Nigeria following claims that some travellers who arrived Britain with the virus were traced to

Nigeria.

While transit travellers are allowed connecting flights to other destinations at the airside, there is a temporary travel ban for all non-UK and non-Irish citizens and residents who have been in Nigeria in the last 10 days, which means they would be refused entry into Britain.

The red list, which became effective on December 6 means that Nigerians who do not have UK citizenship or residence permit can no longer travel to the country until the advisory is revised.

The British move is seen as fundamentally discriminatory. It is noteworthy that after South Africa announced the detection of Omicron, Netherlands disclosed that the COVID-19 variant had been in their country but UK has not announced a ban of Dutch travellers.

Currently, there is no report that the new variant has recorded fatality anywhere in Africa. Not even in South Africa, which first announced the presence of the variant. But there are reports that Omicron is spreading in Europe as many of the countries prepare for the 4th wave of a stubborn pandemic.

Appreciative of the travel ban implications and moving quickly, the Nigerian government has faulted the decision by the UK government, describing it as unjust and discriminatory. The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, who spoke during a press conference early last week, called on the UK government to rescind its decision immediately.

Also, the two chambers of the National Assembly on Tuesday urged the UK authorities to reverse its decision. The Senate urged the federal government to engage British authorities to reverse Nigeria’s inclusion on the red list and charged the administration to remain firm in the enforcement of necessary protocols in the containment of every COVID-19 variant in Nigeria.

The resolutions were reached by the Senate

Mohammed sequel to the consideration of a motion on the, “Need for Government of the United Kingdom to remove Nigeria from COVID-19 Red List,” sponsored by the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West). Coming under order 42 and 52 of the Senate Rules, Ekweremadu noted with satisfaction the efforts of the Government of Nigeria in the containment and treatment of COVID-19 cases.

In a major rejection of the British move, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby, last week, condemned Nigeria’s red-listing saying it was “travel apartheid” and calling for its scrapping.

In series of tweets on his Twitter handle,@ JustinWelby, the Archbishop of Canterbury urged the UK government to abolish what he described as the “morally wrong and self-defeating” red list. “With #Omicron set to become the dominant variant in the UK, I appeal to the British government to remove Nigeria and South Africa from the red list – together with all other countries currently on it. We must find fair and effective approaches for those who are vaccinated and

tested to enter the UK. I agree with the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK – we cannot have ‘travel apartheid’”.

The United Nations Secretary General also last week described the action of the UK government as travel apartheid targeted at poor nations.

However, the UK is insisting on its course of action while pushing some clarifications. The UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, defended the travel ban on Nigeria, insisting that the move was based on science and not discriminatory.

Laing told a national television in a monitored interview last week that, “I think I can say comfortably, it is not [discriminatory]. When the UK was the epicentre of the Alpha variant, we took some very tough measures ourselves to essentially cut ourselves off and we banned all but essential travels from the UK. So, that was a very tough decision for us.

“The UK has been red-listed in earlier stages of these variants; I think when the Delta variant took off, we were red-listed by Austria and by France and Turkey. We have not just red-listed,

in the first, African countries. So, Pakistan was red-listed, Turkey was red-listed by the UK when we had our previous red-list. So, it is based on an individual deep-diving assessment of each country.”

According to her, the British Government is aware of the reactions and condemnation from across the world following the move but maintained that the development will not push them to reverse the ban. “The reactions have been loud and clear but I don’t want to suggest to anybody that that would change the basis of the decision because that health basis has to be the basis on which the decision has to be made,” she added.

Despite the travel ban, the British envoy explained that the government would work closely with the Nigerian authorities as the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. She noted that the decision will be reviewed at the threeweek review point on December 20.

Opening another front of potential diplomatic friction, a little over 48 hours ago, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia slammed its doors against Nigeria as it suspended all flight operations coming from Nigeria into the kingdom over outbreak of the Omicron variant.

An official statement issued by Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) directed to all airports and private aviation operators in the Kingdom ordered suspension of all flight coming “directly or indirectly” from Nigeria.

Incidentally, Saudi came with the restriction order barely seven days after the country recorded her index case of Omicron from a passenger returning from North Africa into the country.

The statement said: “The Kingdom is suspending all incoming flights and entry for non-nationals coming directly or indirectly from Nigeria, except those who have spent a period of not less than 14 days in another country from which they are allowed to come.

“Home quarantine will be applied for a period of five days to Saudi citizens coming from the mentioned country, provided PCR examination on the first day and the fifth day, regardless of immunisation status, turns negative.”

In all, UK’s bare-faced discriminatory footing is being appropriately engaged at the needful levels and a logical and fair resolution is imperative as the planet manages the latest virus strain.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

Bisi Akande’s Convenient Truths

Akande

A former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, onThursday, publicly presented his autobiography titled: ‘My Participations’. In the book, the former Protem National Chairman of the ruling APC, tried to capture his involvement in some political developments, especially, since 1999, when the country returned to civil rule. He also gave his account of some of the intrigues that shaped the 2015 elections.

But it would turn out these were some tales merely told to suit certain narratives, particularly, the manner he trashed certain prominentYoruba leaders like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Olu Falae, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Olaniwun Ajayi. It wasn’t just the obnoxious language deployed to describe these otherYoruba leaders, but how Akande also painted a former governor of Lagos State, Senator BolaTinubu, in very pretty light.The

contrast is suspect.

On Obasanjo, he said: “I knew him to be a faithless suitor and an unblinking philanderer on the political field.You trust him at your own peril.” And his snide remarks on the trio of Adebanjo, Ajayi and Falae, were absolutely needless, alleging that they could not find any youngerYoruba to send to the 2014 national conference to represent the interest of the ethnic group.

He described Adebanjo as a blank politicallyminded leader, who recognises readily and always that he never has what it takes to aspire for high political positions. “He constantly harbours lumps of yellow hate-bile in his heart for any co-political leader with brighter chances for any major public office within or outside his political party,” he posited.

Unfortunately, he decided to tell a particular story, for which many people obviously would have their

own versions. Importantly, Chief Akande has told this very version from the direction “his stomach faces”.

PaintingTinubu as an angel and demonising other Yoruba leaders, is in itself ‘end of discussion’. After all, would Akande have said otherwise ofTinubu?The answer is no! How about the why? Not far-fetched either.

There’s no need dwelling on his deliberate distortion of facts about how ProfessorYemi Osinbajo emerged President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate.That too would be situated someday and in apt context by other actors.You can’t but wonder how Minister Rauf Aregbesola and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, would have been shocked to their marrow and gnashed their teeth, watching a man ‘they’d gladly call father’ stand truth on its head. It’s just sad that such convenient truths came from Chief Akande.

Nonetheless, congratulations to him on his new book.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 12, 2021

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BRIEFINGNOTES All Eyes on Sanwo-Olu over Killing of Lagos Students With the death of a 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lekki, Sylvester Oromoni, as a result of injuries allegedly sustained from an attack by a group of five senior students, and the killing of some students of Bab Fafunwa Millennium School, Ojodu, formerly Ojodu Grammar School, by a trailer, Ejiofor Alike writes that the clamour for justice has presented another challenge to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, after the controversy surrounding the #EndSARS report

S

ince he assumed office in 2019, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has faced peculiar challenges that were not witnessed by his predecessors.

For no fault of the governor, his administration has been contending with unending

challenges.

First, was the COVID-19, which hit the entire world, with Lagos suffering more than other states in the country.

Though the state under former Governor Babatunde Fashola suffered the dreaded Ebola outbreak, COVID-19 had presented its own peculiar challenges.

As Lagos was recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the #EndSARS protest rocked the country with the state losing multi-billion assets and security officials more than any other state in the country.

The state government was still battling with the controversy surrounding the #EndSARS report and its attendant white paper when another sad news broke out that a student of Dowen College had died of injuries he sustained in the hands of fellow students.

This sad development came shortly after over 40 people lost their lives in the collapse of a 21-storey building in Ikoyi.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday joined prominent Nigerians and organisations that have demanded justice over the death of a 12-year-old student of Dowen College in Lekki, Sylvester Oromoni.

The president has also vowed that anyone found guilty in the death of the teenager would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Oromoni’s parents had alleged that he died after being bullied by his senior schoolmates in the school dormitory.

“This incident will be thoroughly investigated and the appropriate punishment meted out to all those who are culpable,” Buhari’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in a statement.

In its initial reaction, the school, through its Principal, Mrs. Adebisi Layiwola, had however, claimed that Oromoni sustained injuries while playing football.

However, sustained public pressure and widespread condemnations have made it impossible for the school to bury the issue under the carpet.

When it was obvious that further attempt to cover up the alleged atrocities would fail, Dowen College on Wednesday released another statement, claiming that it began an internal investigation into the case of bullying reported by Oromoni’s family.

The statement partly read, “It is true that though he went home on the 23rd of November, his family did call on the 29th to inform us that he said he was actually bullied by five senior students whose names he mentioned.

Sanwo-Olu “We confirm that we immediately started internal investigations on the 30th but he passed on that same day.

“Sadly, we had barely made any headway before the social media frenzy commenced.”

This apparent volte-face came after the school had concluded in its initial press statement that it had interviewed the five students mentioned by the deceased and that nothing like bullying happened.

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, has risen to the occasion with key suspects already in custody.

The police boss also said the command was already working with its counterpart in Delta State to conduct a post-mortem on the body of the late Oromoni.

On his part, Governor Sanwo-Olu has already taken commendable steps by ordering a comprehensive probe.

“As a parent, I share the grief Sylvester’s demise has brought upon his parents and the entire household. The incident is not only sad but disturbing and heartbreaking.

“Consequently, I have ordered a comprehen-

sive investigation into the matter. But while that is going on, I would like to give Sylvester’s parents and the entire citizenry of Lagos, the assurance of my full support at this trying time,” the governor reportedly explained.

The governor’s wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has also condemned the incident, describing it as heartbreaking.

She said: “It’s a big slap on the face of the education sector, the community, and Lagos State as a whole.

“It is a case that is being investigated and for the parents and everybody involved, honestly, we commiserate with them and send our condolences,” she reportedly said.

The state government has also closed down the school, pending the outcome of investigation.

Many Nigerians, including celebrities, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had condemned the alleged killing of Oromoni by his fellow students.

Kogi State government, through the Director-General, Kogi Public Defender and Citizens’ Rights Commission (PDCRC), Mr.

Abdullahi Zakari, had also condemned the act, saying that it could happen in any state.

Also, as part of the efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Oromoni, the Lagos State Chief Coroner, Justice MA Dada, has invited the principal partner, Falana and Falana’s chambers, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), to a preliminary meeting on December 15, following the human rights lawyer’s request for inquest into the death of Oromoni.

The Coroner, Epe District, Mikail Olukayode Kadri, stated this in a letter issued to journalists in Lagos.

The Coroner also stated that directive had been issued to act on the chambers’ request.

Falana, who is the counsel to the family of Oromoni had earlier made a formal request for inquest into the death of the teenager.

As the Lagos State government and security agencies intensify efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding Oromoni’s death, another tragedy struck last Tuesday when a trailer crushed some pupils of Bab Fafunwa Millennium School, Ojodu, formerly, Ojodu Grammar School.

Though the figures of casualty were conflicting, the incident sparked outrage among the students and inhabitants of the area.

Following the protest by the students of the school over the death of their colleagues, the Lagos State Government has shut down the school until January 2022.

The incidents at Dowen College and Ojodu Grammer School have presented another challenge to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration, after the #EndSARS protest and the report of the judicial panel.

The governor owes it as a duty to the bereaved family of the late student of Down College, parents and students of Dowen College, and indeed all parents and students in Lagos State to ensure that justice is served in these two incidents.

The governor should show interest and ensure that the powerful parents whose children were allegedly involved do not jeopardise investigations.

President Buhari’s condemnation of the incident is expected to propel the police to be professional in their investigation.

Lagos State government should bring all the culprits involved in the Ojodu incident to book.

There was an allegation that some operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) were responsible for the accident.

LASTMA had swiftly denied the allegation, claiming that it did not have a traffic management duty post around the accident scene but such denial has always been the position of security and traffic management agencies whenever their officials cause accident on the roads.

Governor Sanwo-Olu should therefore, ensure unbiased investigation into the accident.

NOTES FOR FILE

Who is Responsible for Insecurity in Imo?

Uzodimma

Despite the claim by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) that it had stopped the enforcement of sit-at-home order in the South-east, gunmen have continued to wreak havoc in Imo State, killing security agents and sacking communities in terrorists-styled attacks.

The separatist group had denied being unknown gunmen and had also promised to fish out the hoodlums behind the attacks but these incidents have remained unabated.

While IPOB had accused Governor Hope Uzodimma’s “boys” of being responsible for the insecurity in the state, the governor had also accused the separatist group of being behind the attacks.

In one of the latest incidents that occurred last Wednesday, gunmen killed two persons at Etekwuru autonomous community in the Ohaji/ Egbema Local Government Area of the state.

Gunmen had also on October 21 burnt the palace and official vehicle of the traditional ruler of the community, Eze Kenneth Okereke, when they invaded his home.

The attack on the palace came two days after some hoodlums and military men clashed in the community, leading to the killing of two soldiers and some youths Gunmen also at the early hours of Thursday, abducted the traditional ruler of Mbutu ancient kingdom in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, Eze Damian Nwaigwe.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Michael Abattam, confirmed the incident and said the command had swung into action to ensure the monarch is released unhurt.

President Muhammadu Buhari last Tuesday met behind closed doors with Governor Uzodimma in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where the governor said he updated the president on security and socio-economic developments in his state.

Imo State has become the terroristsravaged North-east of the South-east and the governor and security agencies should sit up to address this challenge.

The question is: Who is fuelling this insecurity in Imo?

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Judiciary Talking Tough with No Actions Whether it is about lawyers, judges’ conducts, financial autonomy for the judiciary or persistent harassment and embarrassment of judicial officers by security agencies, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has been talking tough lately. Alex Emumah writes that these tough talks have not been matched with actions

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hose who have been following the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, know that he has been talking tough lately.

Whether it is about judges’conducts, financial autonomy for the judiciary or persistent harassment and embarrassment of judicial officers by security agencies, or even lawyers’conducts, the CJN has taken a stern position, expressing displeasure and disapproval.

However, the CJN is yet to demonstrate that the judiciary can also bite as threatened by the Supreme Court during a recent criminal invasion of the residence of a Supreme Court judge, Justice Mary Odili.

Last week, the CJN warned individuals and agencies of the government against any form of harassment and embarrassment of judicial officers in the country, saying the judiciary would no longer tolerate their actions.

In a terse speech he delivered at the special session marking the official commencement of the Supreme Court’s 2021/2022 legal year, Jusctice Muhammad who appraised the performance of the judiciary in the just-concluded year, was very specific about the siege on the Abuja residence of Justice Mary Odili of the apex court.

Odili, a Justice of the Supreme Court and wife of former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, had her Abuja home raided by armed security operatives on October 29, on the strength of a search warrant that was said to have been fraudulently obtained.

“I must make it known to all and sundry that we have had enough dosage of such embarrassments and harassments of our judicial officers across the country and we can no longer take any of such shenanigans.

The silence of the judiciary should never be mistaken for stupidity or weakness.

“By the nature of our work, we are conservative but not conquered species and should not be pushed further than this by any individual, institution, or agency of the government. With time, those taking the judiciary as a mere weakling will soon realise that it is from the calmest seas, we often experience the fiercest storms.

“The time to oppress, suppress and intimidate judicial officers is gone. No one should test our will because the consequence of such unwarranted provocation will be too dire to bear.”

Even though the CJN did not spell out likely actions he would take against perpetrators of any future harassment of judicial officers, he stressed that the judiciary would begin to resist any clandestine attempt to silence or ridicule judicial officers to oblivion.

He added that the era of oppressing, suppressing, and intimidating judicial officers is long gone, adding that such action will no longer be condoned.

Justice Muhammad warned that no one, irrespective of his or her status or position in the country, should test the will of the judiciary, promising that the consequence of such unwarranted provocation would be too dire to bear.

He disclosed that they were making efforts to ensure that search and arrest warrants must be issued with the knowledge and approval of the Chief Judge of the respective state or federal high court going forward.

“Nigeria, to the best of my knowl-

Justice Muhammad edge, is not a lawless society. We should begin to do things that will project us favourably and rightly, too, to the international community. No law permits anyone to invade, subdue or overawe any Nigerian citizen in his or her residence with a flimsy, fraudulently obtained search warrant,” the CJN promised.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration appears to have gotten away with attacks on judges, starting with the invasion of the homes of some of them by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and many Nigerians cannot wait to see the judiciary fight back.

On October 6, 2016, Nigerians were roused by the sad news that operatives of the DSS had raided the residences of some judges in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Gombe, Kano, Enugu and Sokoto.

The judges whose residences were raided include Adeniyi Ademola, Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja, as well as Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro of the Supreme Court.

In Kano, the home of a high court judge, Justice Kabiru Auta was raided while in Enugu, another residence belonging to the then Chief Judge of the state, Justice A. I. Umezulike, was raided. The residences of a Gombe State judge, Muazu Pindiga, as well as that of his counterpart from Sokoto State,

Justice Samia, were also raided in separate operations.

The raid at Justice Mohammed Liman’s residence in Port Harcourt was thwarted by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike who came to his rescue.

Some of the judges were put on trial in the aftermath of the invasion, but the cases ended up being dismissed either for lack of evidence or on technical grounds.

Three years after the judges’ homes were raided, the Buhari’s government also, in an unprecedented manner, charged the then incumbent CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in January 2019.

Under controversial circumstances, the CCT chairperson, Danladi Umar, issued an order suspending Onnoghen from office in January 2019, an order the federal government promptly complied with.

Justice Onnoghen did not return to office up till when the National Judicial Council (NJC) concluded the probe of the petition sent by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He had already been charged at the CCT and suspended from office by the tribunal.

Although the eventual report of the NJC was never made public, its findings were said to have compelled Justice Onnoghen to tender his voluntary resignation.

Days after Justice Onnoghen

reportedly submitted his resignation letter, the CCT ordered his removal from office after convicting him of the charges of non-declaration of assets and other breaches of code of conduct for public officers.

The NJC would later announce that President Buhari accepted Justice Onnoghen’s ‘voluntary’ resignation which he had tendered before his conviction by the CCT. Instead of instigating the CCT to controversially order Justice Onnoghen’s suspension from office, the constitutional procedure which this present administration jettisoned was to send allegations against him to the NJC for a disciplinary action to be taken against him.

Startled that the search warrant issued by an Abuja magistrate court was fraudulently obtained by a “fake” police officer, Joseph Ajodo, to invade Justice Odili’s Abuja home, the CJN disclosed that the “search or arrest warrant must be issued with the knowledge and approval of the Chief Judge of the respective court.”

Speaking at the recent 2021 biannual All Nigeria Judges Conference for courts of superior records in Abuja, Justice Muhammad had cried out that it would be difficult for the judiciary to be impartial and objective in a democracy when it is not autonomous.

He lamented that the third arm of government still remains financially tied to the executive.

At the conference aimed at offering judges a chance to collectively strategise and tackle the problems of court inefficiencies, poor infrastructure and condition of service, decay of intellectual capacity and corruption, the CJN stressed the need for financial autonomy upon which the impartiality of the judiciary is anchored, calling for more funding for the judiciary.

The number one judicial officer in the country used the opportunity to again sound a note of warning to judges in the country to desist from giving incessant ex-parte orders in order not to project the judiciary in a bad light. He said the judges must rise and restore the public confidence bestowed on them by desisting from giving incessant ex-parte orders that have portrayed the judiciary in a bad light.

However, despite all these tough talks, neither the CJN or the NJC has sanctioned any judicial officer involved in these most recent condemnable practices to serve as deterrent to others.

A former CJN, Onnoghen was removed through such ex-parte orders and nobody was sanctioned. No judge has also been sanctioned for the shameful conducts on the Anambra State governorship election and the removal of the suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus from office.

In its reaction to the invasion of Justice Odili’s residence, the Supreme Court had vowed to demonstrate that the judiciary can also bite.

It also promised to conduct its own investigation into the raid.

Nigerians want these tough talks to be matched with tough actions to end any form of judicial rascality and also prove to the other two arms of government that the judiciary is not inferior to any of them.

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with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

ENGAGEMENTS

Trouble in School, Death in the Dorm

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couple of years ago, I was the guest of a good friend who had been elected a civilian governor of one of our states in the southern parts of the country.

It was a weekend dovetailing into 27th of May which is normally Children’s Day. The gentleman invited me to accompany him and his entourage to a brief tour of some schools. He was fanatical about education, having risen from the depths of slum poverty to the height of his political career only by force of education. He loved to fraternise with children, to read passages from books with them and in the process get them to embrace a future shaped by ideas.

He frequently ended these school visits with a very informal question and answer session with the children at which they were free to ask him questions and also answer his. At this particular school, the governor decided to probe the career aspirations of the children who were obviously elated to see a governor in life and blood instead of just on television.

“What would you want to become when you grow up?” That was the simple question from the governor. A stream of screaming responses followed. “Governor!”, screamed one starry –eyed boy. “Militant!!” came yet another. “General !!!”, was another big boy’s ambition. “Governor’s wife!”, a shy looking girl volunteered in a meek voice.

A few others tried to voice their preferences: “Doctor!!, Lawyer!!, Engineer!!!...” But these other mundane answers and aspirations were shouted down, their preferences drowned by the howling in praise of the earlier ones who wanted to become more sensible things.

Back in the car as we made to leave this school premises to return to Government House, we were all silent for a while. My host was crest fallen. He was shocked that all his investment of state resources in education through building of model world class schools would go into raising children whose best ambitions was to become “Governors” and “Militants”, ambitions fuelled by the desire to get rich quickly and live a life of materialopulenceandluxury,aboveworkandlasting purpose. These were the kind of aspirations that he was spending all his energy to save the future of the state from. He wanted to build the state’s human capital through quality education and healthcare so that the future generations could compete with their peers in Japan, United States and Europe.

This tragic irony of a society gripped by the vicious curiosity of its own contradictions is one way of looking at the current epidemic of violence and bullying in Nigeria’s educational institutions. This for me is the effective prelude to the unfolding anarchy in the nation’s education system. It does not matter at what you level you look or in which direction of the national compass, the story is the same.

The University of Ilorin recently expelled a final year student for physically assaulting a female leccturer. The student, Saludeen Waliu Aanuoluwa of the department of Microbiology was expelled for beating up his female lecturer, Mrs. Rahmat Zakariyau. In addition to being expelled by the university authorities, the errant student was subsequently arrested by the police and is facing criminal prosecution for assault and related offences.

TheGovernorofEdoState,Mr.GodwinObaseki does not suffer fools gladly. He has reportedly shut down Idogbo Secondary School in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state. The students recently went on rampage against the authorities of the school and extensively destroyed school property worth over N30 million. They beat up the principal of the school, manhandled and stripped a policeman deployed for security at the school. The governor has insisted that the school would remain closed until the students make restitution for all that destruction and damage. No one knows how the beating suffered by the principal can be restituted or how the hapless policeman who found himself stripped to his bare buttocks would have his privacy and other details fixed.

Similarly, police in Delta State is still searching for Master Michael Ogbeise, a Senior Secondary School 3 student of a private secondary school in Abraka. He beat beat his teacher, one Ezeugo Joseph, to death in a fit of anger over the teacher’s flogging of his junior sister as a disciplinary measure. His junior sister is

Sanwo-olu still alive but the unfortunate teacher is dead. Master Ogbeise is at large, wanted by the police for murder.

In Ogun State last October, a mathematics teacher at the Itori Comprehensive Secondary School in Yewa Local Government Area simply identified as Mr. Owolabi was beaten to stupor by a male student when he tried to stop him from physically assaulting a female fellow student.

In all this gamut of school incidents and violent exertions, the one mishap that has gripped the attention of the nation is the sad story of young Sylvester Oromoni.

A 12-year-old junior secondary school student of Dowen College, a high profile private school in Lagos, Sylvester recently died of injuries ostensibly sustained in the hands of senior fellow students who, from all accounts, are mere dormitory bullies.

Sylvester’s death has been surrounded by understandable public interest and incensed social media campaigns from all overthecountryandbeyond.Therehasalso been a flurry of controversy depending on whoseversionyouarepreparedtolistento.

In a hurriedly scripted PR defense version put out by the school almost immediately after Sylvester passed on, the story is that Sylvester died of injuries he sustained playing football in school. But according to the circumstantial recollections of his parents and the series of eye witness accounts of fellow students, Sylvester died as a result of sustained physical assault in the hands of a group of school bullies. He had been subjected to bouts of extortion, beatings and other forms of abuse and bullying by a squad of insensitive seniors over time. The physical assaults led to grave injuries which eventually led to his death. By the time his parents could intervene in his medical treatment, the schoolauthoritieshadsufficientlymismanaged the situation. The matter is actively

under investigation by the police while the Lagos State government has shut down the school. Even President Buhari has weighed in on the criminal and moral dimensions of the tragedy.

Whether or not young Sylvester died of injuries inflicted by bullies or in the field of play, what this incident has revealed is a multiple crisis in our educational system. First is the reality of bullying as aconstantfeatureofourschoolsespecially the boarding schools. Second is the serial failure of school authorities to pay close attention to the welfare and wellbeing of the children entrusted to their care. There is of course the incidental matter of the less than close interest of wealthy parents to the welfare of their children once they have left them in the hands of authorities in some of these expensive schools.

In the case of private schools, it does seem that the profit motive which lies at the heart of the establishment of these schools has swarmed the moral responsibility of school authorities for the protection of the children placed in their care. Not only that, the responsibility of school authorities to ensure that schools have structures and personnel responsible for the non academic aspects of life on these school premises seems to be in decline. Responsible house masters and house matrons, professional healthcare personnel and responsible adult staffers as moral beacons on school compounds have increasingly vanished in the new educational infrastructures.

The emphasis these days has shifted to the architecture of school edifices and state of art equipment over and above the overall human capital content of the educational system. Ever busy and successful parents are often content to off load their children in these expensive schools in the hope that once the exorbitant fees have

been paid, the rest will follow. But tragically it does not work that way. This is partly why we are witnessing increasing instances of bullying, substanceabuse,homosexualityandsocialmedia trolling among school age kids mostly in these privileged schools.

Taken together, the various instances of violence and assault in our schools point to an overwhelming failure in our educational system.

It is bad enough that standards of instruction and generalattainmentespeciallyinthepublicschools are at an abysmal low. It is also lamentable that the increase in the number of private institutions has not raised the moral tone of the educational system in any substantial way. It would seem that the general moral decline in the Nigerian society is finding almost direct reflection in what is happening in our school settings.

A society in which leaders literally bully those who elected them into office to accept unpopular policies is the breeding ground for the madness in our schools and universities. The cultism on the campuses, the bully networks in school dormitories and the thugs that pass as undergraduates on our campuses all find role models in our thuggish politicians, garish priests and miracle merchants in the outer society.These outlandish role models are the very parents, uncles and aunties of the children unleashing mayhem on lur campuses.

Students that beat up their teachers, undergraduates that physically manhandle their professors, students engaged in regular free for all fights on campus are a refection of the anarchy in the outer wider society. The phenomenon of the strong bullying the weak and the use of powers of impunity to assert authority are all infiltrations of values from the wider society into campuses and school premises. The insensitivity to the feelings of others and the casual infliction of pain and injury on the weak and subordinate are mirror images of daily lived experience in real life Nigeria.

Further unexpected tales and images are tumbling out of our schools and places of learning. Older generations of Nigerians with memories of school and campus as hallowed places of learning and quiet contemplation must be finding it hard to bear the repeated drama of violence that has recently become the reality of our educational institutions. Our new national culture of impunity and violence seems to have found a comfortable lodging in school dormitories, university hostels and lecture rooms. The social media is replete with recent images and stories of violence in countless educational institutions.

The action that is called for is in the region of a national emergency. It is not enough to shut down schools where these outrages occur as the Lagos State government has done in the case of Dowen College or the Edo State government in the Ikpoba school. More is needed. The regime of regulation of schools both private and public must become national policy. Schools need to engage qualified guidance counsellors to help mould character and direct energies in schools. The old system of having accountable house masters and matrons must be reinstated.

The criteria for the registration of private schools especially must be strengthened and made more rigorous. Annual renewal of school licenses should be instituted to avoid the deterioration of standards.

Moreover, the National Assembly must wade into the crisis of disorder and lawlessness in our educational institutions. Laws that prescribe specific jail terms for acts of thuggery, bullying and cultism in educational institutions must be legislated into place without delay.

School authorities that fail in their duties must bear responsibility for what happens on their campuses and premises. For some reason, it remains curious that the federal ministry of education has maintained a studied silence on a matter that demands the declaration of a national emergency while politicians and social media influencers have a field day in no particular direction. In the end, national policy on so critical an area cannot be left in the hands of vote seeking politicians or attention hungry social media hounds. The educational system is perhaps the last remaining frontier of national salvation when everything else fails. We cannot abandon that frontier to the forces that have besieged our larger society.

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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 12, 2021

NEWS

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

Soyinka: Why Religion is Number One Problem for Nigerians Nigerian author and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has revealed why he believes religion is the number one problem of Nigerians.

According to him while speaking with a professor of African Literature, Dr. Louisa Egbunike, religion has become an excuse for citizens to flout the laws and behave irrationally.

Soyinka further stated that in Nigeria, religion is used to subvert the rights of others, to the extent of primordial rights, to kill, not just singling, but collectively, to burn down the places of worship of others.

He expressed that it is about time religion is being treated as a crime against humanity because it has reached that level in societies like Nigeria.

He said, “All over the place, I find that religion has been

cosseted too much. And liberty has been taken by religionists, which would not be considered to other movements which are considered secularists.

“If you put on a garb of a religious leader, you can close up the expressway between Lagos and the rest of the nation, simply because you are having a religious celebration.

You are just a fraction of the rest of the nation. And you should be accorded no special privileges. So, until that is done, people will always find something extra by belonging and manifesting, even to an extreme extent, your religious adhesions.

“Religion has become the number one problem for Nigerians. Hope is all very well; but hope itself can become putrid. Especially if it is hope for unearned advantages in

society. If religion becomes an excuse for flouting the law, then that religion has got to be tackled head-on.

“If for instance a legislator, later a governor, can claim the right to be a pedophile and indulge in cross-border child trafficking, celebrating child marriage, consummating that event, which is against the law of a nation, and he says he has a right to do it because his religion permits it; then both he and that religion should just be shown the way to the law courts and treated like other phenomena of society.

“If you can use religion to excuse building a church which collapses on the head of humanity, many of them not from Nigeria, several from South Africa. And then you say it was caused by supernatural forces when you know very

well that you flouted the conditions for increasing the floors of your building.

“So this is what has become the daily reality of Nigerians.

So religion has got to be put in its place in order for people to be liberated as rational beings, beings of volition, who can tackle the problems of existence

in a rational, collective way, rather than by insisting that it is only along one route that society can be transformed.

“Take a religion, practice it at home, collect around you anybody you want for collective celebration or religious seasons, nobody quarrels with that. But when

you use religion to subvert the rights of others, to the extent of primordial rights, to kill, not just singling, but collectively, to burn down the places of worship of others; then it is about time we treated religion as a crime against humanity; it’s reached that level in societies like Nigeria.”

Ugwuanyi Has Done Well in Office, Says Minister The Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, has expressed delight at the giant strides the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has made in various sectors of development in the state in spite of the nation’s economic, security and public health challenges, stressing that “His Excellency has done well”.

Dr. Mamora who spoke when he paid a courtesy call on Gov. Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, described the

governor as “a calm gentleman” who has brought his attribute of calmness to governance in Enugu State.

This came as the Africa Housing Awards, yesterday in Abuja, conferred Gov. Ugwuanyi with the “Housing Friendly Governor of the Year” award in recognition of his administration’s unprecedented achievements in delivering quality and affordable housing schemes for the high, medium and low income earners in the state.

The African Housing Awards

Igbos Have not Got Fair Deal from Nigeria, Uzodimma Laments Nseobong Okon-Ekong Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma yesterday lamented the marginalisation of the Igbos in Nigeria, saying they had not got fair deal from Nigeria since civil war ended in 1970 Despite their marginalisation, Uzodimma urged all Igbos to must coexist with other ethnic nationalities as equal partners and enforce their inalienable birthright as the citizens of Nigeria.

He made this remark at the public presentation of his book, Reflections on the Igbo Question in Owerri, the Imo State capital yesterday, challenging them on the urgent need for self-rediscovery.

The presentation was attended a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, who

chaired the occasion, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof.

Placid Njoku; President of Ohaneze Ndigbo World Wide, Professor George Obiozor; a former President of the Senate, Dr. Ken Nnamani, among others.

At the book presentation, Uzodimma explained that the book, a collection of his speeches in the last eight years, was his “modest contribution on how the Igbos can overcome the existential challenges facing them today in project Nigeria.”

He said: “Igbos are citizens of Nigeria by birth. They should never allow themselves to be cajoled out of their father’s land and inheritance. This is our country. We must stay here and collectively enforce our rights as bona fide citizens of Nigeria.”

Buhari Reappoints Chiroma as Law School DG President Muhammadu Buhari has reappointed Prof. Isa Chiroma (SAN) as the DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Law School for another term of four years effective January 10, 2021.

It gathered that news of Chiroma’s reappointment was broken to members of the Council of Legal Education (CLE) by its Chairman, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) at the council’s extraordinary quarterly virtual meeting last Tuesday.

A source at the meeting told THISDAY that Ngige congratulated the renowned scholar on his reappointment, urging him to use his second tenure to consolidate

on his achievements and take the Nigerian Law School to the next level of development.

Members of the council then took turns to congratulate Chiroma while praying for his success.

It is recalled that Chiroma was in 2017 appointed by Buhari for an initial four-year term, replacing former DirectorGeneral, Mr. Olanrewaju Onadeko (SAN) following his retirement.

He is a Professor of Law and was until his initial appointment the Deputy Director in-charge of the Yola Campus of the Nigerian Law School.

which also honoured the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, Hon. Chukwuemelie Agu as the “CEO of Housing Corporation of the Year”, is a subsidiary of Abuja International Housing Show - the largest housing and construction show in Africa with over 35,000 participants all over the world, over 15 participating countries and more than 400 exhibitors.

CHAMPION OF NIGERIAN CONTENT… President of Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Mansur Ahmed (left), presenting a recognition award to Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Gas, Mr. Ed Ubong, at the just-concluded Practical Nigeria Content Forum held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State…recently

Akeredolu: States Dependent on Hand-outs from FG to Survive Gboyega Akinsanmi Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu yesterday lamented the prostrate conditions of states, observing that states “are almost entirely dependent on hand-outs from the federal government.”

Akeredolu, also Chairman of the Southwest Governors Forum, challenged the federal government “to divest itself off many burdens and allow the component units to flower.”

He canvassed these positions at the 45th convocation lecture of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State under a theme,

“When is a Nation? Exploring the Socio-Political Crisis in Post Independence Nigeria.”

In the text of the lecture, Akeredolu canvassed urgent structural solutions to douse ethnic agitations in the country, lamenting that no state “is empowered to take independent decisions for the benefit of its people.”

Akeredolu said most of the items on the Exclusive Legislative List, as reinforced by Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution, must be amended and moved to the Residual and Concurrent list for equity and justice in the country.

Akeredolu said all the diverse ethnic nationalities in the nation should be allowed to thrive on their own, noting that items such as education, health care, judiciary, police, prison services and resource control should be on the Concurrent list.

He asked the federal government “to divest itself off many burdens and allow the component units to flower.

States should control their resources and maintain their internal security while the federal government coordinate and not take over.

“States are almost entirely

dependent on hand-outs from the federal government, saying no state is empowered to take independent decisions for the benefit of its people.

“Approvals must come from the centre on virtually everything. This constitution vests all the lands in a state in the state governor who holds same in trust for the people.

“The incessant attacks on farmers by criminal herders, who destroy the crops of these long suffering downtrodden members of the society, expose the impotence of state governors.

Slain Vanguard Correspondent Buried in Benue George Okoh in Makurdi The body of slain Vanguard Correspondent at the National Assembly, Tordue Salem, has been buried at Gaado, a community in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

A lawmaker representing Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Dr John Dyegh represented the

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila at the burial.

He described the death of Salem as sad and unfortunate.

He said the National Assembly would stop at nothing to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death and consoled the family to bear the fortitude.

In a funeral oration, the President, Conference of Benue

Journalists, Abuja, Dr. Emmanuel Anule, said the group has lost a committed member whose contribution would be difficult to fill in the nearest future.

Earlier in a requiem mass, a visiting priest from Catholic Diocese of Kastina-Ala charged Christians to prepare to meet the Lord when called upon.

Other dignitaries at the burial included the Vice President of

Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone D, Kris Atsaka, Caretaker Chairman of NUJ Benue State Council, Comrade Stephen Ijoh, immediate past Benue NUJ, Acting chairman, Kajo Martins, General Manager of Benue Printing Corporation.

Ben Agande, Editor of The Voice Newspaper, Solomon Ayado and members of National Assembly Press Corps, Abuja

Davido’s N250m Orphanage Fund Receives 1,234 Applications Award-winning singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, yesterday revealed that his N250m orphanage fund received over 1,234 applications.

The singer took to his Instagram stories to give update on the selection and disbursement processes of the N250million fund.

The application, which was open to only registered orphanages in Nigeria, lasted for three days. He wrote: “Verification is ongoing, and the report will be out by 15th December. Selection and disbursement 18th/19th and the press release should by 20th December.

“1234 responded; 852 without orphanage names; 382 with orphanage names.

“The national association of orphanages in Nigeria sent the list of orphanage homes within their coverage, which to some extent, is helping us in the verification process. God bless. We rise by

lifting others.” (sic) As part of his birthday celebration last month, the singer decided to give back to society by donating N250million to orphanages across Nigeria.

He also set up a five-man committee to monitor the progress of the disbursement of the fund.

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NEWSXTRA Nigeria Needs Gas for Accelerated Industrial Development, Says Shell Boss Ejiofor Alike The Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Gas and President of Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), Mr. Ed Ubong has called for urgent strategy to grow Nigeria’s capacity in the gas sub-sector.

This, according to him, would ensure that gas is used to spur industrial development across all parts of the country.

Ubong made these remarks at the just-concluded Practical Nigeria Content Forum held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

He said: “We need to begin

the process of retooling seasoned oil professionals to work in the growing gas sector, provide foundational training for young professionals and engineering graduates and actively supporting indigenous companies to build capacity that will allow them deliver world class services in the gas value chain.”

He noted that the country’s potential for economic growth and self-sufficiency in energy lay in gas, which he said, was in abundance to meet local demand and export.

“I see Nigeria taking advantage

50 MSMEs Benefit from Bukka Hut Bukka Hut, one of the fastestgrowing quick-service restaurants operating in Lagos, has concluded the sophomore edition of the trade fair tagged “Bukka Hut Yard Sale 2.0.”

The fair, which kicked off on December 1, was held for five days at its Lekki, Ogudu and Yaba outlets simultaneously to help small business owners and entrepreneurs exhibit their products for sale.

In a statement by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Rasheed Jaiyeola, the company said the fair was

a corporate social responsibility initiative of the company and it was free for all the beneficiaries.

He added that the platform was open “to all small business owners and they were given the platform on merit.”

“We are thrilled that we could give small business owners this opportunity for the second year.

The Yard Sale is important to us because we understand that most small business owners have limited or no access to physical markets as they mostly rely on online sales which also have its constraints.

of this resource to usher it into prosperity in the next 10 years of the decade of gas.”

He described the Nigerian content policy of Shell as a model worthy of replication by key players in the industry.

“Shell’s Nigerian content initiatives predates the local content legislation and we have continued to grow in-country value addition in human capital development and support to vendors, contractors, suppliers and Nigerian service companies to position them for local and international market.”

Ubong added that over the past three years, Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) has always awarded all its contracts to indigenous companies.

SNG is wholly owned by Shell and is the only gas distribution company owned by a supermajor in Nigeria. The company was recently recognised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria for its excellent service delivery and support to the manufacturing industry.

Shell Nigeria Gas currently operates a growing world class gas transmission and distribution network of over 150km in Nigeria with commercial agreements to supply gas to over 150 industrial customers in Bayelsa, Abia, Lagos, Rivers, Ogun and Oyo State.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 12, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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Is a New Nigeria Really Possible?

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his little story says a lot about Nigeria. I was driving along Opebi Road, Lagos, when the traffic lights turned red at Salvation junction.

The vehicles ahead of me kept moving nonetheless. I thought the lights were faulty but still decided to stop and watch. Then the drivers behind me started hooting as if I had committed a heinous crime. The guy directly behind me was screaming what I strongly suspected were obscenities.

Then a commercial motorcyclist levelled up with me and started lecturing me on why I should ignore the lights, insinuating that I was wasting everybody’s time. He was still making his presentation when the lights turned green. They were working fine, after all.

What was my offence? I understand that it was early, around 7am, and people were maybe hurrying to the office or wherever. What they didn’t know was that I was in a hurry too. I wouldn’t leave my house at 6.30am and head for a joint to eat catfish pepper soup. I was going for a workshop and needed to be there on time. But traffic lights are not Christmas lights and are, therefore, not decorations.

In Nigeria, we engage all kinds of excuses to avoid doing the right thing and then turn around to say our country is not working. The same people who ignore traffic lights in Nigeria would obey them in Rwanda — only to return and start lamenting that Rwanda is a better country.

Yesterday, when Waziri Adio, former executive secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), presented his memoir, ‘The Arc of The Possible’, in Abuja, the Salvation traffic lights incident kept coming to mind. I have read Waziri’s book from page to page a number of times. Each time, I see the resolve of a public officer to go against the grain and do what is right. He should ordinarily be celebrated. But each time, I see how the system and its operators can frustrate and demonise you and even try to make you feel exceptionally stupid. Still, I remain optimistic about what is possible in Nigeria.

Our country is redeemable. We have the ingredients.

In yesterday’s conversation moderated by Mr Samson Itodo, the panellists — Amb Yusuf Tuggar, Ms Yewande Sadiku and Dr Joe Abah — agreed that despite the challenges, there are Nigerians in the public space who desire to effect positive change.

Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, chairman of the event, had set the tone with his opening remarks, echoed by Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, the chief host. World Bank country director, Mr Shubham Chaudhuri, Ms Sharon Ikeazor and Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi gave goodwill messages. After Dr Okey Ikechukwu’s book review, Kaduna state deputy governor, Mrs Hadiza Balarabe, did the presentation. The event anchored

by Mr Kingsley Osadolor.

In the ‘The Arc of The Possible’, I see, on every page, the same Waziri I have known as a friend and mentor since we met in December 1989 as undergraduates at the University of Lagos: principled and resolute. His attempts at instilling prudency at NEITI — spending public funds shrewdly as if he were spending his personal resources — and his uncompromising attitude to work ethics are exactly what we need to transform our public service and, invariably, the country. Nigeria will never make progress if the engine room of government — the civil service — continues to run as it currently does. If we can reform the civil service at local, state and federal levels, Nigeria will be transformed.

In the memoir, I saw at least five things that should count as Waziri’s achievements (he consistently commends his NEITI colleagues for making them happen). One, apart from clearing backlogs of the annual audit reports, NEITI did the unthinkable by releasing the 2020 report nine months ahead of the deadline set by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the global body. You wouldn’t appreciate it.

In the past, we were always two years late. Nigeria had become an embarrassment to itself. This is to say nothing about the absurdities of the late releases — such as making the media report issues that might have already been addressed along the line.

Adio Two, Waziri helped reduce the cost of producing audits by almost half. For a government that promised to be the epitome of prudence, Waziri should have been its poster boy under normal circumstances. Nigeria has been suffering severe revenue crisis since 2014.

But rather than government expenditure, especially overheads, coming down to reflect the times, they have been rising every year and we continue to stockpile debts and deficits. I imagine that if the MDAs watched their costs the way NEITI did under Waziri’s stewardship, things would be much different today.

But, well, government money is nobody’s money and we keep wasting it like drunkards. Who cares?

Three, I read, in anger and pains, how Waziri struggled to leverage on personal goodwill to get donor support of over $1.5m for NEITI’s operations.

You would think NEITI, as the extractive industry auditor, would be priority for a government that wants to fight corruption in a country where the operations of the sector are globally graded as shady.

Not only was NEITI unable to pay its rent for some years, it was always short of cash, partly because the agency would not do what many other MDAs do to get fat allocations passed as budgets and then oil the system to get the votes released on time. NEITI was practically kicked out by its landlord and had to rent a much smaller space.

Four, the beneficial ownership register was delivered on Waziri’s watch. Typically, the real owners of the extractive companies are hardly made public. The register now reveals the real owners. It has been a major international requirement to combat opaqueness in the sector. When NEITI unveiled the register in January 2020, Nigeria became the only country with any form of open register of beneficial owners in the whole of Africa, Asia and the Americas. Also, Nigeria became the first country in the world with a beneficial ownership register specifically for the extractive sector. This will someday become a powerful weapon in combating the sector’s legendary lack of transparency.

Five — and this was my favourite as a researcher — NEITI introduced policy work to its portfolio, regularly producing analytical publications. In particular, I gained remarkable knowledge and insight into the Nigerian natural resources sector by reading the NEITI Policy Brief, the NEITI Quarterly Review, and the NEITI Occasional Paper Series. NEITI went beyond telling us “revenue is missing” or “revenue is unremitted”. It started providing educative insight into the workings of the extractive sector, even making policy proposals that would later play a critical role in sectoral reforms, notably the amendment of the law on deep offshore law and inland basin production sharing contract.

Remarkably, Waziri is man enough to own up to

what he says were his failings in office, admitting he could have been “less impatient with people, and less judgemental, less irascible”. He says he could have paced his actions differently “especially those that required changes in other people or came with a measure of discomfort”. He writes: “I could also have invested more time and energy into reading the room, paying more attention to the changing power configuration in the operating environment, and in creating more time for political management which is deemed the primary responsibility of a public official”. It was more about style not substance, he writes, but both matter.

He admits that focusing intently on goals and outcomes, being driven by righteous anger, and living by example are good and necessary, “but they may not always be enough especially when dealing with deeply rooted norms in settled and complex environments”.

I hardly find this level of introspection in Nigerian memoirs and autobiographies. The regular lines are “I don’t have any regrets”. Former public officers often paint a blameless picture of themselves, even when we have facts to the contrary. But whatever Waziri did not do well enough in office, I can say this even at gunpoint: he never soiled his hands. Rather, he gave up personal comfort to serve his fatherland.

And herein lies what makes me hopeful for Nigeria: there are thousands of Waziri Adios out there waiting to be tapped — competent people who have prepared themselves for public service, who have the vision and the values. They want to transform the society.

But herein lies what makes me despair at the same time: these people hardly get the opportunity to deliver, either because the system cannot withstand or accommodate their ideals or they do not have “any man” to lift them up in the first place. The saddest part, though, is that decent people have also joined government and lost their way on sighting the ogbono soup on the tables of power. Behold, many have gone rogue!

Back to the traffic lights story. Many people do the wrong thing and seek to justify them by saying everyone else is doing it. The drivers in front of you are running a red light, so why not do same? That is one of the things hampering good governance in Nigeria. People get elected or appointed into public office and start doing unlawful and unethical things because that is what others are doing or did. Also, many public officers are pressured to do the wrong thing because of the circumstances around them: the need to meet a commitment, to be comfortable, to make hay while the sun shines. This compares well with the other road users putting pressure on me to run a red light.

Moreover, Nigeria has gone so bad that what is wrong is now treated as right and what is right is seen as wrong. How can you insult me for obeying traffic lights? Within the 30-second wait, I started feeling like an idiot. Now, imagine somebody going into public office and helping government to save money — as well as not having his hand in the till.

People will question his sanity. At a point, he too will begin to question his own sanity. Waziri was flying economy class before the federal government made it mandatory for agency heads “to cut costs”. At the end of his tenure, he chose not to buy his official vehicle (often sold as scrap). He even returned the official laptop. Is he normal?

I could feel Waziri’s frustrations when he was in office but he never gave up. He believes Nigeria can be changed. I believe so too. But we do not have similar attitudes to public service. His own approach is to try to change things from the inside by being part of government. My own approach is to influence change from the outside without ever being part of government. We need both approaches, but Nigeria needs more Waziris who will roll up their sleeves, get into the kitchen and work their heads off to prepare the recipe that will change Nigeria. There are thousands of Waziris out there. Imagine how great Nigeria can become with the right people at the helms. It is possible!

And Four Other Things…

BADAGRY EIGHT A week ago, while we were all talking about the heart-breaking death of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni, a student of the elitist Dowen College, Lagos, something not less tragic happened at Jah-Michael village along Badagry expressway: eight children were found dead in an abandoned car. They were aged between four and 12. Their apparently poor parents said they were asked to pay N100,000 for each body to undergo autopsy, so they decided to bury their wards like that and lick their wounds. Knowing what killed them will not bring them back to life but they can at least come to closure. Lagos state government must step in. The poor are human beings too. Justice.

KILLING FIELDS On Tuesday, bandits set a bus ablaze in Sokoto state, burning dozens of passengers to death. Poor and lowly Nigerians reduced to ashes because their country could not protect them! On Wednesday, nine worshippers (some said 16) were killed when gunmen invaded their mosque at Mazukaka village in Niger state. Poor and lowly Nigerians mauled in a hail of bullets because Nigeria failed to protect them!

These savage acts did not trend in the media because, as we know, they did not fit into the template and do not confirm to the conspiracy theories. However, these are fellow human beings. We must all rise and fight for a safer and more secure country.

We are all at risk. Fact.

APARTHEID OR APATHY? There has been a number of complaints about “vaccine apartheid” — the notion that rich countries are cornering the COVID vaccines while poor countries are lagging behind. The way to go, it is said, is vaccine equity. Rich countries are expected to help the poor ones.

It makes sense because COVID infection in any country is a threat to every other country.

But the biggest problem in poor countries, if I’m not mistaken, is the vaccine hesitancy.

Because of the outstanding success of the anti-vax movement, propelled largely by religious leaders, people are refusing to be vaccinated. Less than 3% of Nigerians are jabbed, so should we really be complaining about vaccine apartheid? Apathy.

NORTHERN BOOM Are you a northerner? Do you want to make millions ahead of the 2023 presidential poll?

I have a business idea for you: form a group.

You can even be the only member. Then join the multi-billion naira endorsement industry.

With so many southerners eyeing Aso Rock and needing to show that they have support in the north, you can start issuing press statements and organising press conferences to endorse one candidate or the other. This business is moving very fast already. “Arewa Union backs Gorimapa for 2023”. “Northern Youths Endorse Ikeregbe”.

And there are loads of naira and dollars on offer. Do not say I have not done something for you this year. Sycophancy.

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