BusinessDay 05 Aug 2018 by BusinessDay

BDSUNDAY BUSINESS DAY

‘Impeachments part of APC plot to stop further defections’

Gay mood in Rivers over PDP gains from gale of defections

Rising crude prices, subsidy ??payment propel oil & gas firms’ half-year profits to N43bn

Sunday 05 August 2018 Market & Commodities Monitor Brent Oil

5yr Bond

$73.06

-0.04 13.76%

Gold

10yr Bond

$1,223.50

0.01 14.23%

Cocoa

$2,114.00

20yr Bond

0.05 14.18%

inside Lagos: A city in need of rescue from disorderliness on roads

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Vol 1, No. 228 N300

Defection & 2019

Will history repeat itself?

Pundits say impact on elections too early to call

CHUKS OLUIGBO & INIOBONG IWOK larence Seward Darrow, the late American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union, once said, “History repeats itself, and that’s one of the things that’s wrong with history.” The events of the past few weeks in Nigeria’s political scene bear out this epigram. Reminiscent of the events preceding the 2015 general election in the country, the

ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has in a space of less than two weeks lost many key politicians elected on its platform to the major opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In 2013, the current flowed in the opposite direction. In what many political analysts called an earthquake, five aggrieved governors of the PDP, in one fell swoop, joined the then newly-formed APC after staging a walkout on the PDP national convention in Abuja.

Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara , Murtala Nyako of Adamawa , and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers States were soon joined by the current Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Abubakar Baraje, former acting national chairman of PDP, Sam Sam Jaja, former PDP deputy national chairman, among many others.

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How animation can challenge youths, create jobs, enhance Nigeria’s industry – Boye Gbenro

L-R: Kayode Falowo, chairman, GTL Trustees/ GMD Greenwich Trust Ltd; Mary Uduk, Ag. DG, Securities & Exchange commission; William Babatunde Fowler, executive chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and Omobola Makinde, managing director, GTL Trustees Ltd, at GTL Trustees Thought Leadership Roundtable series 2018, in Lagos. Fowler presented a paper at the event with the theme ‘Tax: An old wave on a new shore.’

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Okorocha vs Madumere: Love story gone sour

Farmers call for immediate release of N247m loan for maize cultivation

Further delay may derail off-taker agreement with flour millers, cause loan default NIRSAL attributes delay to verification CBN says all checks done before approval

JOSEPHINE OKOJIE

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aize farmers want the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) to quickly release the first tranche of N247 million loan to farmers to commence

farming. The farmers, under the auspices of Hope Concept Cooperative in Ifo, Ogun State, said they applied for a N342 million loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to support their maize cultivation programme for the second half of 2018.

The CBN has since 19th of July approved the loan and sent a credit note to NIRSAL for onward disbursement to farmers, but farmers under the cooperative say they are yet to get the fund after 14 working days. “We applied for the NIRSAL intervention

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Issue of the week To impeach Saraki will be a tall order – 1999 Constitution OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja

ast week, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, asked Senate President Bukola Saraki to resign following his defection to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, Oshiomhole said since Saraki had left the ruling party, he should leave behind the ‘crown’ that belonged to it. Since the defection of Saraki from the ruling APC to the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) last week, some APC senators loyal to President Buhari, including Senate MajorityLeader,AhmadLawan;hispredecessor, Ali Ndume; Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Abdullahi Adamu; his counterpart in Police Affairs, Abu Ibrahim as well as Ovie Omo-AgegehavecalledontheSenatePresident to vacate the seat or be impeached. AdamuwhochairstheParliamentarySupport Group in the upper legislative chamber, insisted that: “Saraki had stepped on banana peel and should be prepared to bear the consequences of his action.” In a statement at the weekend, Adamu, a former governor of Nasarawa State and one-time ally of Saraki, urged the nation’s Number Three Citizen to step down to avert consequences, adding that “he should honourably return the crown or be ready to bear the consequences.” Hevowedthatwiththedefection,itwouldnot be business as usual. The lawmaker said: “If Saraki knows political intricacies and the political terrain or the path where the banana peel in political landscape is, he will be more cautious. “The way he is going now, he has obviously stepped on banana peel and only God knows how far he will slip. I will not pretend. I think he made a mistake and he took a wrong decision. He will have stories to tell along the line. “It is not the best he could have done. He had a duty to his father to keep the flag of the family flying but the way he is going, I do not think he is doing that.” He explained that “the defection of Saraki and the other lawmakers is a game changer. “We expect them to do it amicably and peacefully. They should make sure they do not run away with our crown. “If they think they will go and nothing will happen and that it will be business as usual, then they need to think again. “I will not say whether we will take steps or not take steps. We hope that between now and resumption of Senate plenary, more events will unfold. We do not want to be in a hurry to speculate.” The lawmaker, however, said that if Saraki insisted on leading the Senate there would be

Saraki

repercussions. On the argument that Saraki did not do anything constitutionally wrong by defecting, and that there was a precedence where former Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, defected but remained the Speaker, Adamu said “it will not happen this time. We are more educated on the rules now.” But checks by BDSUNDAY on the Senate Standing Orders, 2015 (as amended) reveals that electing Presiding Officers is based on ranking and not on political leaning. Specifically, Order 3(2) states that: “Nomination of Senators to serve as Presiding Officers and appointments of Principal Officers and otherOfficersoftheSenateoronanyParliamentary delegations shall be in accordance with the ranking of Senators. In determining ranking, the following order shall apply: (i) Senators returning based on number of times reelected; (ii) Senators who had been members of the House of Representatives; (iii) Senators elected as Senators for the first time”. But Tambuwal, the Sokoto State governor

who cross carpeted from PDP to APC in 2014 without vacating his seat, said the constitution does not recognise the election of Presiding and Principal Officers on the basis of party affiliation. The governor, who was among the political heavyweights that returned to PDP from APC lastweek,accusedthegoverningpartyofdouble standard. Speaking at the 81st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of PDP, in Abuja on Thursday, Tambuwal also condemned alleged attemptsbysomeNationalAssemblymembers to forcefully reconvene the Senate ahead of its September 25, 2018 resumption. His words: “We cannot afford to allow our country to drift further. It is not about any interest, it is about this country. This country is on a cliff. We must retrieve it, we must exposition this country and restructure it for the benefit of Nigerians. “Whentheytalkaboutcross carpeting,Ibegin to wonder. When I cross carpeted the other time, did they complain? When I hear that some people are trying to break into the chambers of

the Senate to steal the mace and install a pseudo President of the Senate I wonder whether they actually know the rules of our democratic engagement. It’s not a Gestapo. We are in democracy. And the constitution of this country is very clear that members of the Senate and the House of Representatives can choose from among themselves their own President of the Senate or Speaker (of House of Representatives) without leaning to any political party. It is a question of confidence of members of the chambers. “So if the senators have confidence in Bukola Saraki, they should continue to sustain him as President of the Senate. And so be it with Mr Speaker, Dogara”. While urging Nigerians not to be afraid, he declared that any attempt to toy with the future of Nigerians would be resisted. But the 1999 Constitution (as amended) has the answer as to the possibility or otherwise of impeaching Saraki based on the composition of the Senate at the moment. Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) deals with the removal of Presiding Officers of both legislative chambers of the National Assembly. Unlike the impeachment of the President or hisvice,whichtakesaminimumofthreemonths, impeaching the Senate President can be carried out at any legislative sitting so long as they meet the constitutional requirement of two-thirds majority of the house. This means a minimum of 73 senators are needed to impeach the Senate President. WiththecurrentcompositionofPDPcontrollingtheSenatewith55senatorsasagainstAPC’s 50, APGA and ADC one each and two vacant seats, it is impossible for either PDP or APC senators to impeach Saraki without the support of lawmakers from both sides. Section 50 of the Constitution provides that: 50. (1) There shall be:(a) A President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves; and (b) A Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves. (2) The President or Deputy President of the Senate or the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall vacate his office: (a) If he ceases to be a member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, otherwise than by reason of a dissolution of the Senate or the House of Representatives; or (b) When the House of which he was a member first sits after any dissolution of that House; or (c) If he is removed from office by a resolution of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of the members of that House.

Senate President won’t resign, let Abu Ibrahim do his worst - Pro-Saraki senators

… Threaten to change Principal Officers upon resumption OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, ABUJA

sa Misau and Rafiu Ibrahim, senators representing Bauchi Central and Kwara South, respectively, have warned their counterpart from Katsina South, Abu Ibrahim and other ProBuhari senators not to foment any trouble when the Senate resumes on September 25, insisting that Senate President Bukola Saraki will never resign from the position. The two lawmakers were responding to a remark by the Chairman, Senate Committee on PoliceAffairs,AbuIbrahim,whoboastedthatthe Senate would not witness peace if Saraki failed to resign from his present position following his defection from APC to PDP. Since Saraki’s defection on Tuesday, some APC senators loyal to President Muhammadu BuhariincludingSenateMajorityLeader,Ahmad Lawan; his predecessor, Ali Ndume; Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Abdullahi Adamu; his counterpart in Police Affairs, Abu Ibrahim; Ovie Omo-Agege as well as APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole; human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, have called on the

SenatePresidenttovacatehispositionfollowing his defection to PDP. But in a joint statement signed by Misau and Ibrahim - two Pro-Saraki senators - they warned the APC lawmakers not to try anything illegal even with all the deployment of security forces which they might have been assured of by the executive arm of government. “It is obvious from the statements of Abu Ibrahim that he and his cohorts are not democrats. They do not believe in the rule of law, the provisionsoftheconstitution,thestandingorder oftheSenate,parliamentary procedure and the due process. “How will a supposed democrat be threatening disruption of peace in the parliament because his party lost members and lost its majority status? His statements showed why one of them led thugs to disrupt the proceeding of the Senate, steal the mace, the symbol of authority of the legislature, and yet there is no consequence. Both the mastermind and his thugs have been protected from being prosecuted. Now, Abu Ibrahim has given us an insight into what they are planning and we will be ready for them. He has also shown an

indication of how he, as the chairman of the Police Affairs Committee, has been misusing the police against other senators,” Misau and Ibrahim who also defected from APC to PDP stated. While emphasising that the PDP now has the majority of senators with the gale of defections, they threatened to change the Principal Officers to reflect the new composition upon resumption of plenary by September 25, 2018. The senators also criticised President Buhari administration for submitting 11 bills to the National Assembly in the last 38 months. “APC should note that they are now the minority party. PDP has more members. When we resume, if they push us, we will move for a head count of members and change some of our principal officers to reflect party strength. Today, by the list paraded by APC themselves, they have only 48 Senators and PDP has 54, APGA has 2 and ADC has 2. There are two vacancies. That is the distribution in the Senate. Let them continue to deceive themselves. “We will use our strength to defend the position of the present leadership of the

Senate under Dr. Saraki and Senator Ike Ekweremadu. We will defend democracy and rule of law against the pretenders. We will show that every Senator represents different constituencies in our country. “Our colleague from Katsina State has equally demonstrated that even though he has spent four terms in the legislature, he has not imbibed parliamentary ethos. Even his knowledge of the provisions of the law and the Senate rules is suspect. That is why he misrepresented the provisions of Rule 12 order 1, 2 and 3 of the Senate about the process of reconvening the Senate after it properly adjourned. By the provision, without all the leaders of the four parties initiating the reconvening of the Senate before the adjourned date, nothing can legally happen. Also without the consent of the Senate President, nothing can happen. “We urge him and his colleagues to know that if they try anything illegal and indecent, we will resist it through legal means. They saw an instance with the way our colleagues in the House of Representatives quickly gathered to foil their failed coup early this week.

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Cover Will history repeat itself? Continued from Page 1 Similarly, most of the House of Representatives members and senators from the states of the defecting governors also joined the APC. It was a deadly blow that the PDP is still struggling to recover from. Now the reverse is the case. While the APC has never really enjoyed internal cohesion since its formation in 2013, when the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), breakaway elements of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the then New PDP (the five governors and the allies), came together in what is still being referred today as a marriage of convenience, the current whirlwind has its roots in the party’s ward, local government and state congresses held in May. The congresses left a bitter taste in the mouths of many members across the state, and it was hoped that the national convention and the emergence of a new national leadership would heal the wounds. Rather, the convention of June 23 and 24 seemed to have widened the crevices. The aftermath of the national convention saw the announcement by a bloc in the party, the Reformed APC (rAPC), that its members were defecting to the PDP due to perceived marginalisation and persecution of its members in the ruling party. The bloc subsequently teamed up with a coalition of political parties in the country which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the PDP to field a common presidential candidate for the 2019 general elections. Following shortly, 15 senators and 37 members of the House of Representatives defected from the APC to the PDP and other smaller

parties. In Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, a former presidential aspirant, and his loyalists as well as those loyal to Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, one of the defecting senators and presidential aspirant, deserted the APC and took abode in the PDP. Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom equally announced his defection to the PDP with some members of the state House of Assembly loyal to him. Last week Tuesday, Senate President Bukola Saraki defected to the PDP, along with Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, joined by all the local government chairmen in the state, 23 members in the state House of Assembly, and commissioners. In Sokoto, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representative, also defected to the PDP accompanied by 18 members of the state House of Assembly and other close allies. Ahmed Ibeto, a serving ambassador to South Africa, flew into the country, renounced his membership of the APC and resigned his appointment. After initial denial, Bolaji Abdullahi, national publicity secretary of the APC until his defection, formally announced that he has joined the PDP. While the debate rages on as to what real impact these defections would have on the outcome of the 2019 elections, there is no doubt that the political equation in the country has already changed as APC’s loss has become PDP’s gain. For many Nigerians, however, it is déjà vu. The only difference is that in 2013 it was PDP’s loss and APC’s gain. When the tempest struck PDP, the then ruling party put up a bold face and underestimated the impact of such mass exit from the party. In June 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan told the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) at a meeting that

the exit of the five former PDP governors, whom he described as “inconsequential” along with their supporters, would not be felt by the then ruling party. “I am not sure they can win their ward in an election because some of those states are totally PDP states. When you think that you are this and you are that and you probably think you will leave with the whole state, by the time we arrive, you get to know that others are behind to continue with PDP,” Jonathan said. “All what I am saying is that PDP is still solid, PDP is still the dominant party, our rallies show very clearly and surely that this party will win our elections free and fair,” he added. The result of the 2015 general election, however, clearly showed that those defectors were not inconsequential. Less than two years after its formation, the number of APC governors rose from 14 to 22, the party became the majority in the two chambers of the National Assembly, and also succeeded in dislodging an incumbent to win the presidency, something unprecedented in Nigeria’s political history. Even the APC acknowledged the role of the nPDP governors in its 2015 victory. On May 19, 2015, at a valedictory dinner organised by the Progressive Governors’ Forum in honour of the then outgoing Governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, and Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha said the November 2013 defection of five governors from the PDP to the APC was a major factor that determined the APC’s victory in the 2015 general election. “Make no mistake about it, without the five governors that joined the APC in 2013, we would not be here today,” Okorocha said. By coming to the APC,

Farmers call for immediate... Continued from Page 1

fund in agriculture. Having met all the requirements and verification done by the CBN, the money was approved by the apex bank,” a farmer under the cooperative, who did not want his name mentioned, told BDSUNDAY. “But NIRSAL has not released the money to us after two weeks. Farming is timely and if we do not get to the farm on time, then the purpose of seeking for the loan is defeated. “We have entered an

agreement with Flour Mills to off-take from us. The delay would make us miss out in meeting up with our agreement with them,” the farmer said. He stated that about 1,000 maize farmers under the scheme applied for the loan but after the verification and pruning exercise done by the CBN, 872 farmers qualified for the loan. Upon approval of the loan, the cooperative has paid the required N16 million equity counterpart fund requested by the CBN, the farmer said.

According to the farmer, the cooperative has already got an initial support of N23 million from a microfinance bank in Lagos and the money has been spent on clearing and tilling the land waiting for the money from NIRSAL to purchase inputs. Maize crop takes an average of 90 and 100 days to mature from the day of planting, depending on the variety, and these should fall within the period of rains, otherwise farmers’ yield will be low. Similarly, the farmers’ inability to plant as and when

Coach Daniel Amokachi and Aregbesola Abiola, representative of the chairman of Lagos Sports Commission, presenting certificates to the participants of the Meadow Hall Summer Football Camp 2018 at Lekki, Lagos recently. he said, the defecting governors transformed “a fledgling opposition into a national political movement”. “The moment the PDP lost five governors was the moment it lost the presidency and its planned 60 years in power,” he said. In the wake of its recent losses, the APC is exhibiting the same arrogance of power that cost the PDP dearly. Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the APC, has referred to some of the defectors as “mercenaries” who have no real electoral value. Clearly, history is on playback and the APC has found itself on the same path where the PDP found itself in 2013/2014. This time around, however, political observers are not sure yet whether or not the present situation would cost the APC the presidency in 2019. “The defection may be a bad signal for the APC, but it is too early to say. The game has just begun; you know we are used to fire-brigade approach. I foresee realignments in the polity after the party primaries,” Lawal Pedro,

a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former attorney-general of Lagos State, said in an interview with BDSUNDAY. “In Nigeria , political equation can change in a month; we have seen that over the years. Can you rule out further defection to the APC? Politics in Nigeria is not for service or party ideology; it is based on who can satisfy his stomach or personal ambition. “ So, u n t i l Ni g e r i a n s change that mindset, things would not change and we would not see development to humanity. But I actually do think we should wait after the party primaries before we decide or say the way the elections would go,” he said. Emmanuel Onah, political strategist and senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos (UNILAG), agreed that though the defections would affect the APC’s chances in next year’s elections, it was too early to call. “ Ob v i o u s l y, t h i s d efection would affect the chances of the APC in the elections, but this is just

the beginning of play for 2019. Other individuals who would be aggrieved in other parties would equally join APC,” Onah said. The university don said defection, a normal occurrence in the country’s political space before any general elections, was healthy for the polity, adding that it was a way for politicians to vent their frustrations rather than brew violence within their parties. “Defection is a normal occurrence before any major election. Politicians often look at their chances, their prospects; where it is not good, they now look at where they can get more opportunity and where it is better,” Onah said. “But it is also expected that some people would defect from PDP to the APC. It is something that would happen across board before or after the conventions. It is just because the APC just had a national convention and these people now know that they would not get their party’s ticket. If the other parties do their convention, I am sure similar things would happen,” he said.

due will lead to high rate of default in the loan repayment, as interest would keep accruing. NIRSAL, when contacted by BDSUNDAY, said that it was still carrying out verification on the farmers and that was responsible for the delay. NIRSAL said it would likely conclude the process this week and then payments would be made. “The money has been approved by the CBN but we need to do a credit check on each of the farmers. Until this is done and validated before we would release the money to them. The vali-

dation is on-going now and if we are able to do this within the next five days their accounts would be credited,” Anne Ihugba, head of corporate communication for NIRSAL, said. “After approval, CBN still needs to send a credit note statement specifying the recipients of the money. The farmers are having training now, and afterwards we would verify their accounts and payments would be made,” Ihugba added. The loan is for farming of maize on 1,000 hectares of land in Ogun State. But a staff member of CBN who does not want his name

in print told BDSUNDAY that the CBN had already carried out all verification on the farmers before the loans were approved, noting that the apex bank would never approve any loan or release any money unless proper verification had been done and concluded. He noted that NIRSAL ought to have disbursed the money to the farmers within five working days after the approval. The CBN staff said that any other form of training by NIRSAL could be done after the farmers must have done the planting, which is tied to time and season.

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News

Obasanjo: God will never forgive me if I support Atiku’s presidential bid

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo said on Friday that Atiku Abubakar, who served for eight years as vice president under him, would never get his support in his presidential bid. The former president’s position is hinged on the unsavoury corruption perception of Atiku. Speaking with Premium Times on Friday shortly after his arrival from Kigali, the Rwandan capital, Obasanjo said, “How can I be on the same side with Atiku? To do what? “If I support Atiku for anything, God will not forgive me. If I do not know, yes. But once I know, Atiku can never enjoy my support.” Obasanjo rejected all notions that his remarks could be deemed too personal, coming as 2019 presidential campaign gathers steam with Atiku amongst the

ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, UYO

Obasanjo

front-runners. “I do not have personal grudges with anyone. If you do not do well for Nigeria, you do not do well for all of us,” Obasanjo said. “It is not a question of working with or not working with an individual. If you are working for the good of Nigeria, I am working with you. If you are not working for the good of Nigeria, it does not matter who you are, I am not working with you,” he said.

TellCo Europe Nigeria CEO, MD bag European American University honorary doctorate degrees

L-R: Olawale Akinwumi, executive vice chairman/CEO, TellCo Europe Nigeria; Magnus Onuoha, national president of Sustainable Energy Practitioners Association of Nigeria (SEPAN), and Victor Ayodeji Fodeke, managing director (TellCo Europe Nigeria), at the conferment of honorary doctorate degree- Doctor of Science in Solar Energy Management and Power Development- on Akinwumi and Fodeke by the European American University (EAU) at the weekend.

lawale Akinwumi, executive vice chairman/chief executive officer and Victor Fodeke, managing director/chief operating officer, both of the TellCo Europe Nigeria, were last weekend conferred with honorary doctorate degrees (Doctor of Science in Solar Energy Management and Power Development) by the European American University, in Abuja. Speaking with BDSUNDAY after the event, Akinwumi expressed gratitude to the Almighty God who, according to him,

made it possible in the first place and also the authorities of the University for the honour done, not only to him and Fodeke, but also to TellCo Europe Nigeria family. On behalf of his colleague, Fodeke, he pledged that they would continue to do their best in the service of mankind through the knowledge God has given them. Earlier in his address of welcome, John Kersey, president of the University, commended the honorands for distinguishing themselves in their various fields of endeavours.

APC made me poorer as governor - Ortom OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja

enue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said that he became poorer throughout his three years sojourn in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Ortom, who recently defected from the ruling party to the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), assured that with former Senate Presidents David Mark, Iyorchia Ayu and ex-governor Gabriel Suswam, the party would win the 2019 governorship election in Benue State. The governor, who was also a former minister, is seeking re-election on the platform of the PDP in next year’s election. Speaking at the 81st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of PDP, in Abuja, Ortom described the PDP as his home, hav-

Violent clashes in Akwa Ibom: Emmanuel waves olive branch to warring communities

ing served the party in various capacities including PDP State Secretary, State Deputy Chairman, PDP National Auditor, Director of Administration and Logistics of the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation in 2011 among others. “Though for obvious reasons, I had to undertake a journey but in that journey, I had too many travails and pains. I became poorer and all that I took along with me were destroyed,” he said. According to him, “I am happy for all of you that have kept this home together and I am happy coming to meet it intact. And I am happy about our leaders, Senators David Mark, Senator Iyorcha Ayu and Governor Gabriel Suswam are here and we shall together work and build a better and stronger home.

fter many have been killed and more kidnapped in parts of Akwa Ibom State, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel as the state government has extended an olive branch to the perpetrators of insecurity in the area. Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun Local Government Areas of the state have been embroiled in a gale of insecurity for more than a year with thousands displaced and taking refuge in other local government areas. The killings have continued despite the deployment of special squad by the security agencies comprising the police, soldiers and naval personnel to the area which shares a boundary with Rivers and Abia states and is said to be a result between rival groups. Speaking while presenting relief materials to the displaced persons, Governor Udom Emmanuel called on the youths to sheathe their sword and come out for rehabilitation stressing that his administration had no tolerance for violence and cultism related clashes. “It is not our wish that anyone should die, it is our wish that everyone repent and live in accordance with biblical principle. Let’s there be peace,’’ he said. The governor also called on sponsors of the gangsters to see the need for peace and normalcy in the area to forestall further bloodshed and destruction of properties. He condoled the displaced persons over their plight, maintaining that crises do not allow developments to thrive. Governor Emmanuel also tasked parents to dialogue with their children to

desist from these violent crimes and embrace his amnesty. The governor urged the coordinators to distribute the relief items to the affected communities. He said as a father he would not fold his hands and watch some criminal youths wreck havoc and bring sorrows to their families and called for restraint. He also visited one of the sites at Iwukem, Etim Ekpo, where he expressed profound sympathy with the people over their losses and urged them to reach out to the youths for peace to prevail. Earlier at a town hall meeting, Udeme Eduo, the chairman of the local government area expressed appreciation to the Governor for his magnanimity and peaceful disposition towards the plight of the people of Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun affected by the menace of cultism. He said that the provision of succour to the affected persons attested to his pragmatic and fatherly disposition. He prayed God to bless the Governor and grant him success in the next elections. A political leader, Eno Akpan, thanked the Governor for the visit and the provisions to the displaced persons and solicited for more police posts to boost the security in the Area. Items distributed included ten truckloads of rice, beans, beverages, toiletries and garri. The governor was accompanied on the visit by a former Governor, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga , some members of the State and National Assembly, the Secretary to the State Government, Emmanuel Ekuwem and other members of the State Executive Committee, Security Services’ Commanders and top members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

I’ll devote 21% of budget to education if elected – Atiku INNOCENT ODOH, Abuja

ormer Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has vowed to devote 21percent of the Federal budget to education if elected president next year. A statement issued on Saturday by the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation, stated that the presidential aspirant made the promise in response to the feat by Apple Inc which became the first private company in the world to worth $1 trillion on Thursday, August 2, 2018. In an editorial opinion penned for publication in a national newspaper, Atiku Abubakar, a businessman and educator, said that knowledge was the main raw material for the founding, development and success of Apple Inc. In the article titled ‘What Nigeria can learn from Apple’s trillion dollar status’, Atiku said: “I pledge that if I am chosen by my party, the People’s Democratic Party, to be its presidential candidate, and if I am subsequently elected president by Nigerians, I will go above and beyond the United Nations recommendations and ensure that a minimum of 21percent of the Federal budget is devoted to education.” The former Vice President is the founder of the American University of Nigeria, Yola

Atiku

and has built up the institution as Nigeria’s premier centre for the training of future knowledge workers. Atiku is the front-runner for the PDP presidential ticket and was the first major politician to leave the ruling All Progressives Congress for the main opposition PDP.

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News Change of leadership in Assembly is internal democracy, says Ganduje Adeola Ajakaiye, Kano

o v e r n o r Abdullahi Um a r Ga n duje of Kano State has described the change of leadership in the State House of Assembly as another process for strengthening internal democracy, stressing that, “The leadership change shows how Kano, as a state, is serious about internal democracy.” “Being an issue of internal democracy, that was why it took place smoothly without any fracas on the floor of the House. It is indeed a smooth change. As a veteran with legislative issues, I know this will further strengthen our internal democracy,” he noted. He also advised the new leadership of the House to carry all along in the discharge of their duties, emphasising that, “I am advising you that there should be no faction in the House. Mr. Speaker and other Principal Officers, you are aware how carrying all along can boost our great party.”

Ganduje

The state government, Ganduje assures, would have good synergy with the legislative house. “We will work together for the development of the state. We will also work together as partners in progress,” he stated. Governor Ganduje appreciates the new Speaker’s statement when he said they

would always support President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid and that of the governor. “I am happy that you are solidly behind our great party, the state government, behind me, behind President Muhammadu Buhari, behind the national leadership of our great party and also behind our re-election bid,”

he said. In his remarks, the new Speaker, Kabiru Alasan Rurum, reveals that, “We are here Your Excellency, to pay homage to you. We are solidly behind you and all government activities. We are loyal card-carrying members of our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC).” Rurum reminded that, “Your Excellency, we have been with you for many years, long before now. We were with you even before you were elected as the governor of Kano State. In fact, we were in the forefront when we fought for your nomination to become the gubernatorial flag bearer. We also contributed immensely to win the election.” “Nobody can use us against you sir. No shaking! Our loyalty is undivided and is built on very strong foundation. We are also assuring you that, no member of our party, the APC will move to any other party. We shall remain in the party. And even those who decamped to PDP, we will bring back some of them into our fold,” stated the new Speaker.

NAFDAC to table water producers: ‘Ensure consistency or risk sanctions’ Victoria Nnakaike, Lokoja

able water producers in Kogi State have been urged to always ensure consistency in quality of their products or risk the agency’s sanctions. The Kogi State coordinator of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Michael Ali Attah warned table water producers against low quality product. He gave the charge during a oneday seminar organised by the agency for table water producers in the state, saying that the regulatory body would not condone any sharp practice that is inimical to the health of the people in the state. According to Attah, the seminar was aimed at sensitising and educating

the table water producers on the modern method of treating and handling water so as to conform with the agency’s specifications, as well as to avoid the spread of water-borne diseases. “The seminar was organised for table water producers across the 21 local government areas of the state to enable them

know what they should do at all time to meet the minimum requirement of NAFDAC,” he said. He craved the indulgence of the producers to always ensure that the product meet the requirements of the agency. The State coordinator also stressed that NAFDAC would not spare

any water producer who is producing below the required standard, as he commends the leadership of the Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), Kogi State chapter for cooperating with the agency in the area of monitoring. Earlier in his address, the state Chairman of the association, Alimi Olaruwaju Oyetoke said the theme of the seminar “Hygienic condition of the table water’ was borne out of the desire by the regulatory body’s quest to ensure that table water being sold out in the state should be of high quality and of accepted standard. Oyetoke also pointed out that the seminar was aimed to avail the members of the association the opportunity that would help them in meeting the requirements of the regulatory agency.

Residents lament awful state of Agbara/Igbese road Ngozi Okpalakunne

he management of Loral International Boarding Nursery and Primary School, Agbara, Ogun State, has called on the state government to urgently repair Agbara/ Igbese road, saying that it poses a serious threat on motorists and commuters in the community. Speaking at the school’s 40th anniversary and ‘Family Day’ celebration, Christiana Oraka, the proprietress, described the awful state of the road as one of the challenges of the school. “We need government to not only come to our aid, but to the aid of people leaving here. The poor state of the road accounts for loss of intellectual, physical and economical investments,” Oraka said. Highlighting the significance of the school’s ‘Family Day’, Oraka said that the event was to create mutual bond among the pupils, parents and the school community.

“The family day is important to us as parents and pupils play, laugh and share things in common. The moments shared is our little way of promoting mutual love, respect and trust among the pupils, teachers and parents. “We showcase various activities such as cultural display, games, drama and songs among others and above all, we call a guest speaker to speak on the virtues of having a wonderful family,” she added. Giving a brief background of the school, the headmistress said: “Loral International School started in 1978 with the commencement of Nursery and Primary Schools,Day, Festac Town. While the Nu r s e r y a n d Pr i m a r y Schools, Day and Boarding started in Igbese in 2002. “However, the commencement of Basic Education in Igbese has continued to garner people from all walks of life, including foreigners based on the facilities we have on ground and the curriculum we run which is of global standard”.

Festac Rotary Club donates relief materials to persons with disabilities SEYI JOHN SALAU

s part of its commitment to continually impact positively on its community, the Rotary Club of Festac Town, Lagos has donated some valuable materials to Beth Torrey Home, a nongovernmental organization dedicated to improving the wellbeing and skills of mentally-challenged children and young adults located in the Amuwo-Odofin area of the state. Items donated to the home include refrigerator, relief materials, cartons of noodles, packs of toilet tissue, among others. Felix Nnamezie, president of Rotary Club of Festac Town for the 2018/2019 Rotary year, said the gesture was aimed at giving moral support to the less privileged, especially persons living with disabilities (PWDs), as well as to encourage Beth Torrey Home to keep up the good works it is doing with the PWDs under its care. Nnamezie said giving is an act backed by the spirit of God and encouraged people to always give back to the society as a means of showing gratitude to God.

“I believe that our purpose on earth is to be a blessing to others. We need to give back to the society no matter how small,” he said. The visit to the home coincided with the statutory visit of the district governor, Rotary International District 9110, Nigeria, Kolawole Sodipo, to the Festac club. Sodipe commended the club for the donations to the home, saying it was a sign of hospitality aimed at righting societal wrongs and putting smiles on the faces of the children of Beth Torrey Home. As part of its contribution in supporting societal goals, the club also commenced its tree planting initiative for the year 2018. Speaking on the tree planting initiative, Sodipe said it has been on for the past two years, pointing out the club’s willingness to contribute to the beautification of humanity and by extension, the state. He said it was the fourth such project embarked upon by the club. According to Sodipe, the club is creating partnership to support the cause of good governance in Lagos, hence the focus on volunteering initiatives and projects that have direct impact on human lives.

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News Prioritise skill education, Proprietor urges FG

he Federal Government has been urged to prioritise skill education in the country as it could help to solve the high employment rate among the youths. Proprietor of Kingstars Entrepreneurship and Management Consultants, Adebayo Obanla, stated this in his speech at the entrepreneurship conference and honorary doctorate award conferment ceremony of the institution which was held at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, lamenting that the current educational system in the country give little priority to entrepreneurship and innovation and had retarded the country and slow down the growth of the economy. Obanla said that the institution had over the years trained youths on different

skills and entrepreneurship programmes, adding that several of the institution’s graduates were now excelling in their various businesses. In his paper presentation at the event, Professor Amida Kannike Abiodun, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stressed that it was important that entrepreneurs understand and have legal knowledge of the kind of business they intend going into, while advising the youths to embrace entrepreneurship as a way out of the high unemployment in the country. Several eminent Nigerians who had distinguished themselves in their chosen fields which included Oluseyi Soji Surajudeen, who is the chairman of the Ogun State Civil Service Commission were honoured at the event.

CWG excited about UBA’s recognition at Euromoney Award Modestus Anaesoronye

WG Plc, partners to United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) congratulates the top African Bank on its recognition as the ‘Best Institution in Digital Banking’ across Africa at the prestigious Euromoney Awards in London recently. This adds further credence to the bank’s growing dominance in this space within the financial services institutions, CWG says. The Euromoney Awards ceremony which was held in July, 2018; covered over 20 global product categories, best-in-class awards in over 100 countries across

the world; recognizing institutions that have demonstrated leadership, innovation and momentum in the markets in which they operate. Euromoney’s award recipients were based on a riding principle of both quantitative and qualitative data to honor those who have brought the highest innovations and expertise to their customers. Kennedy Uzoka, group managing director / CEO, United Bank for Africa, appreciated the organisers for this recognition, whilst receiving the award in London, remarking that he was pleased that UBA’s commitment to hard work and insistence on quality services was once again being acknowledged.

Following the presentations, as accolades streamed in, Uzoka went on to commend his indefatigable staff and board, as well her partners, CWG Plc for supporting the bank in achieving the feat. It is no news that CWG Plc, touted as the largest systems integration company in Nigeria with presence in three other African countries, has been a reliable partner to UBA for many years. The recognition of CWG Plc’s contribution to this achievement was gladly received by James Agada, group CEO of CWG, who stated that the company’s mission to constantly deploy innovative technology solutions that enabled economic growth was something that

will not be taken for granted. He said that products and services rendered to clients like UBA will continue to be enhanced for more value creation. Today UBA provides banking services to more than 15 million customers globally; through diverse channels and over a thousand touch points. One that has served it well through its expertise in digital banking, as envisioned by its investment in cutting edge technology and the launch of the Chat banker that has disrupted banking across 15 African countries; showcasing its digital creativity within the financial services industry across the African continent.

Leadway Assurance Promotes Nigerian art with ‘Sao and the Muse 3’ Modestus Anaesoronye

n alignment with its commitment to promote the creative energy of African artists to strengthen the growth of the art industry, Nigeria’s foremost insurer, Leadway Assurance has announced its partnership with Sao Café for the 2018 edition of contemporary art exhibition tagged, ‘Sao and the Muse 3’. This year’s exhibition, themed “Collaboration Era”, explores the power of coming together to solve problems, breaking the traditional rules of art by creating an unlikely collaboration of artists with diverse mediums to create out of the box art. According to the announcement made available by the leading insurer, the partnership with Sao Café for Sao and the Muse 3, will further promote the celebration and empowerment of emerging art talents across Nigeria. It is also a vehicle to showcase Leadway’s bespoke Art insurance cover and give guests, collectors and art enthusiasts the opportunity to interact with and create useful conversations about the product and the cover it offers. The event, which is set to hold from August 3 - 5 2018 at Sao Café in Lagos, has drawn the attention of artists and art enthusiasts since 2016; featuring a unique multi-media exhibition that celebrates art in its many forms, enabling guests to connect, create and learn about art and music. Speaking on the partnership, Olubunmi Adeleye, head Corporate Services, reiterated Leadway’s con-

tinued support towards the celebration and protection of the creative arts in Nigeria. “We are delighted to be a part of this laudable and exemplary initiative targeted at promoting the vibrant creativity of Nigeria’s art community. We understand the importance and the place of creativity in nation building and its role in upscaling the development of the minds of young adults, hence, our support for an event that will promote ingenuity whilst enabling the emergence of budding talents.” “It is noteworthy that Leadway Assurance has consistently remained a front row proponent of the development and sustenance of creative arts in Nigeria, underpinned by the unveiling of our novel art insurance product designed to protect the various risks that the art community - comprising collectors, curators, promoters and the artists - are exposed to”, she added. According to the event organisers, Sao and the Muse was borne out of the admiration for the bubbling new scene of young, young, up and coming artists who fearlessly pursue originality and in turn are shaping the identity of the Nigerian millennial. The 3-day event will commission 12 artists from film, fashion, art, sound and color who will interpret a wide range of themes that affects the Nigerian millennial. As part of the exciting experience, the event will feature a curated art market where affordable art can be purchased, two master classes led by respected industry experts, as well as live painting and musical performances.

Who do we tell ? Dilapidated/abandoned section of Trinity along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos. Pic by Pius Okeosisi

Meadow Hall partners Amokachi to train children in football

pring Meadow Edutainment, the arm of Meadow Hall Group that focuses on nurturing creativity in children, teamed up with Daniel Amokachi to host the Meadow Hall Summer Football Camp 2018. The 6-day camp, open to children from 5 to 17 years, commenced on Monday, 23rd July and finished on Saturday, 28th July 2018 at the Mead Green Turf, Meadow Hall, Lekki, Lagos. The camp opened with Daniel Amokachi receiving the participants and discussing with them his expectations for the week ahead. The camp was packed with intensive training sessions and real case studies to aid the children develop professional football skills such as

dribbling, shooting, heading, tackling, team work, ball control and throwing, amongst others. There were also tons of bonding and warm up sessions and other engaging activities that kept the children intrigued and excited to learn throughout the camp. The campers also enjoyed one-on-one sessions with Daniel “The Bull” Amokachi, an outstanding former Super Eagles player, Olympic Gold Medallist and current Manager of Finnish football club, JS Hercules. The camp’s activities were very well thought out, building on the successes of the first two editions. The first edition held at Christmas time in 2016 and was appropriately tagged “Meadow Hall Christmas Soccer Camp with Daniel

Amokachi” while the second edition held in the summer of 2017; Meadow Hall Summer Football Camp with Daniel Amokachi. Being the third edition of the camp, Meadow Hall vastly improved the offering and quality of experience for the participants – this was made possible by the synergy between Meadow Hall and Daniel Amokachi in grooming the new generation of football stars. Commenting on the successful Meadow Hall Summer Football Camp, Daniel Amokachi believes the programme increased the participants’ enthusiasm for the game and is delighted in the improvements he saw over the course of the camp, which he believes will stand them in good stead for the future. “Our ultimate goal is to raise

world-class football stars, hence the idea of identifying them early and ensuring they understand the fundamentals of the game,” he further said. Kehinde Nwani, Founder/CEO of Meadow Hall Group is delighted about the success of the Meadow Hall Summer Football Camp 2018 and commends the organising team, Daniel Amokachi, the participants, parents and the media and corporate partners for being a part of it. “At Meadow Hall, we believe children have multiple intelligences and we are very serious and focused on developing them. I am very glad and thankful to all who participated in one way or the other- students, parents, sponsors, the organising team and our able coach, Daniel Amokachi’

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News Ugwuanyi, economic advisory committee set 5-year agenda for Enugu’s development Regis Anukwuoji, Enugu.

he governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has promised to not only give Enugu the leadership that will stand a test of time, but to also make it one of the best places to live and invest in West Africa. Ugwuanyi disclosed this in Enugu, while declaring open a 3-day retreat designed to bring together all key policy makers of the state, which include the Enugu State Economic Advisory committee, all members of the state Executive Council, permanent secretaries, Heads of Agencies of key sectors and heads of tertiary institutions owned by the state, to a new 5-year development plan that will meet the emerging needs of the people of the state. The retreat, which was sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with Enugu State Government, would also create an environment for aligning strategies and goals of sectors to the vision of the governor. The governor, who commended UNICEF for her commitment and participation in various development programmes in the state, said the state government would continue to partner UNICEF in the state. He said that although the last three years were successful because the government had boosted the state IGR base, improved on institutions for increased economic development, fought against social vices and corruption among others, there are still many stones that have remainedunturned. “We are still far from meeting all the needs of our people,” he noted. According to the governor, his administration in years to come shall focus on some areas like poverty reduction, youth empowerment and employment, urban and rural upgrade, peace and security, responsive, inclusive and accountable government, among others. “To achieve the goals,

this administration intends to adopt these strategies, growing urban and rural infrastructure, upgrading more rural communities to urban status, increasing agricultural productivity, making the state an investment hub, among others,”the governor said. ObiorahIkeh, chairman of Enugu State Economic Advisory Committee, who is also a Rev. Father, spoke on the topic ‘Ethical challenges on governance and bridging the cult of corruption’ advised the heads of government agencies to realise whom they are to the society and make good use of their positions to positively affect the lives of those in the rural areas in the areas of infrastructure development, provision of good drinking water, good roads, electricity, among others. Ikehsaid that the meeting was not about “what we have achieved, but on what must be done to have positive effect on the residents of Enugu State particularly those in the villages for the next five years, with integrity as the key word.” He said that the meeting was also to link the policy trust and strategic goals of the state to governor’s agenda and vision of the state. It was also to jointly draft a frame work for the development of Enugu State economic growth plan where each ministry brings measurable and achievable target for the state government. Earlier, Ibrahim Khalil Conteh, chief of Field Office, UNICEF Enugu, said the organisation would continue to support the government as far as the governor strives to continue the good work he is doing, delivering childfriendly, equity-focused development to the entire Enugu State. Conteh, who was represented by Mauren Zubby Okolo, said: “To maximise the opportunity presented by the review of the strategic plan for economic growth 2019-2021, it would be important to ensure desk review of the situation of children and women in Enugu State, using the Multi Indicator Cluster 2016-2017, among others”.

Abia First Lady empowers indigent women; inaugurates market UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

kechi Ikpeazu, wife of Abia governor, has distributed various gift items worth millions of Naira to indigent Abia women which include clothing, cash and equipment to help them start up micro scale businesses. The items were given out at an empowerment programme for women held at Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area. Ikpeazu also used the occasion to inaugurate a newly constructed local market built through her NGO Vicar Hope Foundation. Speaking at the event Ikpeazu said the programmes carried out by her pet project caught across all classes of people in its niches. She said that the newly inaugurated market had brought to 10 the number of markets so

Nkechi

far built all over the state, all designed to provide a commercial hub for rural farmers and traders to do business in conducive and rewarding environments. She added that the gesture had enhanced economic activities within the communities where these markets

are sited. The Abia first lady recalled that only a few days back her NGO inaugurated and equipped 50 trainees who had graduated from its Springboard Skills Acquisition programme run in collaboration with the NDE, bringing the total number of

persons so far trained to 400 people in rural communities in the state. She said the entire project was aimed at enhancing the income of rural families and the economy of the state while thanking the stakeholders for being part of the success story. In their separate comments, Obinna Oriaku, chairman of the occasion who also is the commissioner for finance, and Ifeanyi Isikaku chairman of Isiala Ngwa South, both eulogised the wife of the governor and her Vicar Hope Foundation for building the market and empowering hundreds of women. They assured her of the support of the people of the area towards her programmes and the 2nd term bid of her husband Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. Gold Agu, a representative of the women, in her speech thanked the wife of the governor for her magnanimity towards the women folk.

Reformed OPC condemns killings by Fulani herdsmen, warns against cattle colonies in Yorubaland Akinremi Feyisipo, Ibadan

he Reformed Oodua People’s Congress (OPC(R), has condemned in strong terms the killing of innocent Nigerians in some parts of the country by Fulani herdsmen. The congress however, warned against attempts to establish cattle colonies in Yoruba land. “Any Western governor that goes against his people’s

wish to consent to cattle colonies will surely face his doom whenever he comes back to his people after the duration of his tenure,” the group said. The National President of OPC(R), Oludare Olateju Adesope who stated these, stressed the need for ‘state police’. “It is a necessity because there is no one that will be more familiar with their neighborhood than the inhabitants, those that are say-

ing Nigeria is not ripe for it is not exposed. Was Rome built in a day? There is no better time than now. We need ‘state police’ in every state to reduce crime rate and we of OPC(R) are very ready to work with them, if we do not start early, how can we get there in time?” Adesope said. On unification of OPC groups, Adesope said: “We know what we want and why we want it. Our eyes

L-R: Engr Ajanaku Tokunbo, chairman Nigerian institution of Civil Engineers Lagos Branch, Olaseni Hamid, vice chairman, Lola Adetona, financial secretary, and Dotun Ojolola, general secretary, during the Monthly annual general meeting on adding Values for quality Engineering Practice, Organised by Nigerian institution of Civil Engineers Lagos Branch held in Lagos .

are open, we have reached our destination but why do we have to fight each other when we say we are fighting for the same cause? We should be fighting the enemies of the nation. We should boost our security and see members of each group as a fellow comrade not as an enemy. We will achieve so many things when we work together for the same goal.” His faction of the OPC, he pointed out, has started working together with New Era OPC to unify various factions of the OPC. Addressing the press during the inauguration of the executive members of Lagos State chapter OPC(R), launching of OPC Reformed Secretariat and award presentation, he stated that his faction and that of New Era have taken it upon themselves to unify all OPC factions in order to protect Yoruba land from any form of attack. “OPC(R) and OPC (New Era) are always working together. Oshibogun has reconciled Gani Adams and myself, I don’t have anything against Frederick Fasehun except when I registered my grievance with the role he played in the last presidential election. OPC should not derail from its primary objectives, we are to represent Yoruba race well and not turn against it because of money.

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Sunday 05 August 2018

A city in need of rescue from disorderliness on roads JOSHUA BASSEY

hings are falling apart, and the centre seems not to be holding anymore. Not in Lagos, Nigeria’s centre of commerce, where the residents in their millions, especially operators in the transportation sector, brazenly flout all known traffic laws. No thanks to the recurring logjam in and around the metropolis. While a semblance of discipline is observed in areas like Alausa, the seat of government, the highbrow Ikoyi and Lekki; the commercialise cum residential clusters- Victoria Island, Lagos Island, Apapa and Ikeja GRA are not as lucky. The seeming break down of law and order on the roads is worse in the densely populated and largely unplanned areas like Iyana-Iba inward Okokomaiko, Alaba International electronics market, Ikorodu, Ajegunle, Mile 2, Surulere, Abule Egba, Egbeda, Alimosho, Agege, Mushin, Oshodi, Orile Agege and Orile Iganmu among several areas. The situation has been compounded by the forceful encroachment of street traders and hawkers on the roads, some of which are in a terrible state of disrepair. It would seem that commercial and private motorists are cashing in on the intractable traffic scenario to breach the laws with impunity; driving with leisure against traffic flow (one-way) in what seems to suggest they are in charge. One only needs to drive through Iyana-Iba, and around the Lagos State University (LASU) on LagosBadagry Expressway to have a feel of a hell. A totally collapsed road network taken over by a swarm of commercial motorcycle riders (Okada) and locked-down by the activities of the yellow commercial bus drivers, who stay on the middle of the road to load and discharge passengers. You are moved with pity for the poor LASTMA officials; most of the time looking exhausted, overwhelmed and unable to enforce any form of discipline on the roads. The Second Rainbow Bus Stop on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway paints another picture of how the ‘centre of excellence’ has degenerated. Here, one sees a total disregard for law and order, as the Okada and Napep operators spread all over the expressway, making mockery of any extant traffic law in the state. Put it succinctly, events

in the former federal capital city run contrary to the provisions of the Lagos Road Traffic Law 2012. Virtually all the highways, bridges, roads and streets have been taken over by Okada and tricycles (Keke Napep). Apart from carrying two to three passengers, as against one, the provision of the traffic law that prohibits riding a motorcycle without a helmet is disdained and contravened. Most of the time, the riders are seen in speed competition with fast-moving vehicles on the expressway. And then you wonder whether it’s worth the efforts and resources expended by the government to draft a bill, take it through the State House of Assembly, organised a public hearing, passed and signed into law, only to be left unenforced at the time it is mostly needed. Under the road traffic

law which came into force in August, 2012, Okada and tricycles are prohibited from highways, major road, bridges and in some specific areas of the state metropolis. Among the highways listed in Schedule II (Section 3) of the road traffic, which Okada and Keke Napep are prohibited are Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Oworonshoki-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos-Ikorodu Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Third Mainland Bridge, Eti-Osa/Lekki Epe Expressway, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Funsho Williams Avenue (Western Avenue), Agege Motor Road, Eti-Osa/ Lekki Coastal Road. Among the bridges the motorcycles and tricycles are barred by the law are Ipaja Bridge, Dopemu Bridge Airport-Ikeja Bridge, Agege Motor Road/Oshodi Loop, Mushin-Isolo Link Bridge,

Dorman Long Bridge, Ojuelegba Bridge, National Stadium Flyover, IganmuFunsho Williams Bridge, Apa-

The Second Rainbow Bus Stop on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway paints another picture of how the ‘centre of excellence’ has degenerated pa-Iganmu Bridge, ApapaIjora Link Bridge, Liverpool Bridge, Mile 2 Bridge, Okota (Cele)-Ijesha Link Bridge, Anthony Clover leaf Bridge,

in Somolu, Trade Fair Flyover, Festac/Amuwo-Odofin link Bridge, Flyovers along Alhaji Masha Road, Ojota Clover leaf Bridge, Eko Bridge, Carter Bridge, Third Mainland Bridge, Maryland Flyover, Ikeja General Hospital Flyover, Kodesoh Bridge linking Oba Akran, in Ikeja among others. Things started taking turn for the worse in late 2014, as the state government ahead of the 2015 general elections, began to look the other way. The Okada riders, who had been sent packing from the highways and restricted to safer inner streets, started making a gradual return to the major roads and bridges, as the enforcement of the law nosedived. Two months ago, precisely June 4, the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences, backed by the police, was seen moving out to enforce discipline on

the roads in some areas of the metropolis, including Apapa, where they seized several motorcycles on Mobil Road. But that was only a reactionary action, as it was triggered after some Okada operators allegedly set ablaze a police patrol vehicle van at Ibeshe, Ikorodu, in protest against the death of one of their own, allegedly caused by the police, on May 30. In the after of the clash between the police and Okada riders, Chike Oti, spokesperson of the Lagos Police Command, had said the police would go full blast in the enforcement of the traffic law. “From June 15, all commercial motorcycle operators are restricted from plying the highways and the bridges. Every commercial motorcycle operator must register with any of the approved unions for the purpose of accountability and easy identification. “Every commercial motorcycle operator must wear an apron which must indicate the union he belongs and bear boldly, his identification number. “There will be a joint taskforce, comprising the police, the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental Sanitation and members of the motorcycle unions to oversee the implementation of the resolution reached and the enforcement of the Lagos State traffic laws”. Today the Okada and tricycle operators are on every road/bridge, even as the insanity being displayed on the roads within the metropolis gets messier.

Sunday 05 August 2018

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PhotoSplash

L-R; Ade Bademosi, group head, internal control and audit, Amazon Energy; VP, Sustainability and Corporate Services, Amazon Energy, Bolade Adebukunola; VP Business Development, Amazon Energy, Stanley Otokpa; Founder, Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice, Mrs Theresa Omolaja Adedoyin and Admin Manger, Amazon Energy, Henry Daniel during the visit of the Amazon Energy team to Heart of Gold Children Hospice in commemoration of Amazon Energy annual thanksgiving.

L-R; Biodun Adedipe, chief consultant, B Adedipe Associates Limited, and his wife, Toun Adedipe , parents of late Ifedolapo Damilola Adedipe; Osaretin Demuren , chairman Guaranty Trust Bank / chairman of the occasion; Ezeokolie Chinonyelum Rosejuliet , 2017/2018 student of University of Ibadan, a beneficiary of the scholarship by the Ifedolapo Damilola Adedipe Foundation (IDAF) during the official launch of the IDAF with the theme’ Empowering the Girl-Child’ in Lagos . Pic by Pius Okeosisi

L-R: Bridget Oyefeso-Odusami, acting head, marketing and communications, Stanbic IBTC; Robert Odu of Unilag Marines, most valuable player; Wole Adeniyi, executive director, operations, Stanbic IBTC; and Sola Fijabi, director, Pace Sport & Entertainment Marketing, at the presentation of MVP award to Odu after the Unilag-Uniben match in the Stanbic IBTC-sponsored varsity football league competition.

L-R : Ufuoma McDermott, host, Mamador Kitchen Makeover Promo Draw; Kalyan Bandyopadhyay ,regional category and brand director, PZ Wilmar; Abiola Laseinde :company secretary, PZ Cussons; Chioma Mbanugo, category marketing manager during the 2nd live draws event in Lagos.

L-R: Adesina Oladipupo, professor of accounting and forensic auditing, University of Benin; Victoria Enape, protem president, Chartered Institute of Forensic and Investigative Auditors (CIFIA); Grace Iloba, council member, CIFIA, and Eddybrown Okoro, general secretary of CIFIA, during the CIFIA Pre-Induction Training and Mandatory Continuing Professional Education, in Abuja. NAN

Kayode Opeifa, secretary, Transport Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, (l); Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, (m) and Anthony Agbakoba, chief resident engineer for Abuja Rail Project, during a facility tour of the Abuja Light Rail Project by the Minister. NAN

Tony Bello, chief executive officer of Heritage Agro-Allied (H2A) Foods, (l) in a handshake with Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger, during a visit to the Governor at the state liaison office in Abuja. NAN.

L-R: Ufuoma Udjoh, brand manager, Baileys; Barbara Uchenna Okereke, first runner up, Baileys Bakefest 2, and Michael Tawadrus, MD/CEO, Vava Furniture at the prize presentation for Baileys Bakefest 2, in Lagos.

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Sunday 05 August 2018

Feature How infrastructure gap fuels expansion in cement industry ODINAKA ANUDU

igeria has a population of 198 million growing at 2.6 percent. But the infrastructure stock does not grow to match this rising population. According to the National Infrastructure Master Plan, Nigeria needs to spend $3 trillion and five percent of GDP annually to bridge the infrastructure gap. From roads to bridges, down to power and railways, the country’s infrastructure has recorded significant depletion in the last 20 years, owing to poor maintenance culture, lack of sufficient funds and corruption. Nevertheless, the gap presents a huge opportunity for the cement industry players, who are aggressively expanding capacity and operations to tap into the hiatus. Prominent among the players is the Dangote Group, whose local capacity is estimated at 29.4 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa). In 2016, Dangote Cement commenced the construction of a $1 billion investment in cement plants in Okpella, Edo State, with potential for 6,000 new jobs. The 6 million mtpa capacity cement plant in Okpella came on the heels of a similar arrangement for another 6 million mtpa cement plant in Itori, in Ogun State, where the company is currently running a 12million mtpa cement plants at Ibese, in Yewa division of the state. By the time the investment is completed, Dangote’s production capacity will hit 41 million mtpa in Nigeria alone. Dangote Cement already has a strong presence in many African countries. While reviewing the company’s operations in the second quarter of 2018 on July 22, Joe Makoju, group chief executive officer of Dangote Cement, said Dangote has invested $3b in building manufacturing plants and import/grinding terminals across Africa. Makoju stated that the investments were located in Cameroon (1.5 million mtpa clinker grinding), Congo (1.5 million mtpa), Ghana (1.5 million mtpa import), Ethiopia (2.5 million mtpa), Senegal (1.5 million mtpa), Sierra Leone (0.7 million mtpa import), South Africa (2.8 million mtpa), Tanzania (3.0 million mtpa), and Zambia (1.5 million mtpa).

“In all, the company, which employed 27, 952 workers in Nigeria as at 2017, had its revenue increased by 16.9 percent and earning per share increased by 3 percent to N6.60 kobo per share for the second quarter, which ended June 30, 2018.” Dangote Cement Plc recorded a rise in its profit before tax to N155.6bn for the half-year of 2017, compared with N124.9bn posted in the corresponding period of 2016. Gross revenue was N412.7bn as against N292.2bn reported in June 2016. But Dangote Cement is not the only firm expanding operations. Last week, BUA Group commissioned 1.5 million mtpa Kalambaina cement plant in Sokoto State, which cost $350 million to build. The ultramodern cement plant has a 32 megawatts multifuel captive power plant and a coal mill, blessed with huge limestone deposits. One significant thing about the plant is that it increases cement production in Nigeria and BUA’s capacity in particular. BUA is building a $1 billion Obu Cement Complex in Okpella, Edo State. The plant, commissioned in August 2017, will be completed by end of this year.

By the time the Okpella plant is completed by end of the year, BUA’s total production capacity will hit eight million MT and would give 35 percent of the entire volumes produced in Nigeria. Another critical aspect of this plant is proximity to Niger Republic, which enhances its export potential. The cement plant started three years ago when BUA engaged Sinoma at the height of foreign exchange crisis and began production in March this year. “Nigeria now produces over 40 million MT of cement, more cement than any other country in Africa. Nigeria’s huge market size, low per capita cement

Nigeria now produces over 40 million MT of cement, more cement than any other country in Africa

consumption of 125kg and estimated housing deficit of 17 million are key drivers,” Yemi Osinbajo, vice president, said at the commissioning. “We can revolutionalise road construction by simply deciding that we can build roads with concretes. I have no doubt that this will boost employment generation and economic growth,” he stated, adding that a road has been completed in Ogun with concretes, while the Apapa road is being rehabilitated with concretes. Abdul Samad Rabiu, chairman and CEO of BUA Group, said the new plant will be generating more power than is currently generated by the entire Sokoto State. According to Rabiu, the plant will run on coal, heavy oils or a mixture of both, and the use of coal is expected to save over 70 percent of energy costs compared with 15 million litres of fuel oil per month or 40 tonnes or even 20 trucks of fuel that could have been used per day. He said at least 2,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs are required to get the plant running, adding that the $1 billion Obu Cement Complex in Okpella, Edo State, commissioned in August 2017, will be completed by end of this year.

More so, Lafarge Africa has taken some steps in recent times to show that it is committed to tapping into the infrastructure gap. In November 2017, Lafarge Africa issued and listed 85.26 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each in the name of minority shareholders of Ashaka Cement (AshakaCem) Plc. This was after the conclusion of share exchange agreement seeking to consolidate the Gombe-based Ashaka Cement as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lafarge Africa. In 2012, Lafarge Wapco invested €6 million in a ready-mix plant. In 2014, Lafarge Cement Wapco disclosed plans to invest $1.37bn to boost cement production in Nigeria in three to four years. The group also invested heavily in United Cement Company’s Mfamosing plant in Akamkpa local Government Area of Cross River. Lafarge may be slow in cement, but it is strong in concrete production. Successive chief executives of Lafarge Africa have told BusinessDay that the firm is not keen at becoming the largest cement maker in the country but is focused on providing solutions to Nigerians.

Sunday 05 August 2018

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Feature Improving Lagos waterways as integral part of transportation MIKE OCHONMA

ll over the world, movement of people and freight by water remains part and parcel of an integrated mode of transportation, especially in most mega cities like Lagos. For many years, water transportation has remained epileptic, if not elusive. And to a great extent, many Lagosians that would have moved by waterways have been forced to subject themselves to the troubles and frustrations that come with movement by road. Today, it is no longer news that many roads in the Lagos metropolis have been overtaken by decrepit and rickety articulated vehicles such as tankers and others carrying containers. Apart from being an integral part of city living, waterways transportation sector remains critical to solving the traffic congestion affecting Lagos state and its environs. Only recently, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State pledged the commitment of his administration to providing critical infrastructure and enabling environment for investors to participate in the ongoing efforts to scale up water transportation. This is a commendable move that must also be pursued with all the seriousness it requires. Although the sector had been left unattended to over the years, the Lagos state government should totally renew its determination to fully harness the potential of water transportation to the benefit of the people and economic prosperity of the state. The chaotic traffic situation in

some parts of the state in recent time and the pressure on the roads with its attendant danger to lives and property, should, as a matter or priority, provide the springboard to forge ahead with reforms in water transportation. In many fora where discussion on matters bordering on water transportation are brought to the front burner, many questions have been asked as to what has brought the situation to this sorry state, more especially when the only mode of transportation for the over 22 million people is by road, which is even growing more

chaotic by the day. “In the last three years, the Lagos state government has been saddled with the responsibility of fighting traffic and the most recent and on-going ugly situation is that of the gridlock in Apapa, centre Nigeria’s and one of Africa’s biggest seaports. Among the estimated over 22 million people living in Lagos, almost 8 million are walking on the streets every second and at the same time; 86 people enter into Lagos every one hour, according to the United Nations statistics for 2016, which is the largest in

the world. What this means is that when others see their states as no longer able to meet their needs, there is every tendency that an increasing number of people are going to be coming to Lagos to look for alternative means of livelihood. Every minute, there are people entering Lagos, not wanting to go back and the only mode of transportation for them is just the road and that is why it is expedient and very necessary for the state government to come up with other modes.

While the inherent benefits of water transportation, especially to traffic management, it is instructive to note that being surrounded by water, many parts of the state could be connected within few minutes when the required attention is being focused on the water sector. It is delightful to note that the state government is constructing major channelisation projects, shoreline protection and jetties, among others as part of efforts to boost the sector. It is also instructive to note that the recent Lagos state roundtable was basically to come up with sustainable framework to boost water transportation and encourage people to adopt it as alternative to other modes of transportation. The essence of the roundtable was to evolve effective framework in partnership with the private sector and relevant stakeholders to play up water transportation in the state. While wooing investors to take advantage of the reforms in the water sector, the state governor had maintained it was instructive that in the last 36 months, more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) came into the state largely due to transparency and credibility to encourage investors. Beyond these good moves, the enabling environment for businesses to thrive should be continually created and assured by the administration. Above all, responsible corporate citizens and institutions must be ready to partner with the state government to boost water transportation. It is only when all hands are deck that the desired result will be achieved.

Keeping farm records makes access to finance easier CALEB OJEWALE

iet Jan Thibaudier, a small holder farmer in Lemmer, Netherlands handed out his farm’s financial statements for the last three years, during a visit last month, capturing pretty much everything from income, to expenses, and amount of money available in bank and privately. Thaudier is a dairy farmer, who owns 180 cows, with a ranch occupying 100 hectares of land. Forty-five ha is owned by him, 25 ha is on long lease, while the remaining 30 ha is on short lease. Skipping through all these details, and providing something more ‘wholesome’, he was asked how much his revenue was for last year, and the calculation was around 500,000 Euros (from milk), out of which profit came down to about 200,000 Euros (approximately N82 million). He still had other income such as sales of a pasture reading (technology) said to have been ‘invented’ by him. The notable thing about Thaudier, like other smallholder farmers in the Netherlands is

that their books are well kept. The average small holder farmer can produce records to show series of line items capturing specific expenses and incomes, and further breaking this down to estimate for instance, expense per cattle, likewise income. This, from observations, goes beyond cattle to every other form of agricultural activity that has seen the small country, taking giant strides to feed the rest of the world. Smallholder farmers have developed a habit of proper record keeping, which makes it easier for them to get financial support especially from banks. The reverse is however the case in a place like Nigeria, where the average farmer has next to nothing to show when records of his business (which the farm ought to be), is requested. When farm records are available, a bank is able to see at a glance, how well (or badly) run a business is, and its potentials for revenue to be able to service any loan being sought, if granted. With Nigeria still having a huge gap to fill in food production, many agribusinesses are

desirous of expansions, but more often than not, do not have good records to present to the bank. These records are however important, in determining if the business has been performing as required. The management process itself would benefit from availability of proper records, as owners are able to plan and manage the farm efficiently. It will show where things may have been going wrong, leakages, ineffective expenses, and invariably making it possible to make decisions on what can be done to get things right. It will also act as a guideline in managing the farm budget. The farm records form a crucial part of business data, and the lack of it, is a problem in Nigeria. A BusinessDay article on inadequate funding in agriculture, noted that, (operational) data is often overlooked and the lack of it appears to have been accepted as the norm. However, data is important for investors in decision making, whereas in Nigeria, many businesses, particularly in the agric sector, are unable to meet the due diligence requirements to be found attrac-

tive by Private Equity investors, added to this, poor governance structures by many agribusinesses. Bank loans are often unattainable for many agribusinesses, as rates hovering around 25 percent make it nearly impossible for them to service it. In an exclusive interview with Wiebe Draijer, chairman of the Executive Board, Rabo Bank, he was asked how low interest rates are, to perhaps, compare what Nigeria could learn from this. In his response, he said, “Interest rate is calculated based on practices the farm employs, what the securities are against it, and whether or not he adopts sustainable practices. So, we can give discounts for farmers that are really sustainable, and get a better rate if there are certain securities behind the loan.” The question then is; how can farmers who fail to keep records, demonstrate they have been upholding sustainable practices, much less being in a position to secure guarantees that make it easier for the bank to provide them with finance. The challenge remains the same even when

attempting to explore opportunities in the private equity space. Kazim Yusuf, CEO, Kord capital, an investment advisory firm in Lagos, previously told BusinessDay that “Private equity operates in a terrain where there is structure and process. And that is partly why private equity hasn’t grown in Nigeria and other unstructured markets in Africa.” “Private equity functions where there is enough data to work on because private equity operators typically require data in order to deploy resources to invest in or manage businesses. They will look at credit ratings, audited accounts, corporate governance structure, among other criteria and all these will influence the investment decision,” Yusuf said. Mezuo Nwuneli, managing partner, Sahel Capital Agribusiness Managers Ltd, also said, “If a company is interested in raising private equity capital, it is paramount for it to ensure it actively works to strengthen its corporate governance. A robust governance structure could even enable it to secure better valuation pricing during investment negotiations.”

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Lagos and the prospect of water transportation

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Sunday 05 August 2018

TAYO OGUNBIYI Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

ddressing the transportation and traffic challenges of a complex Mega city like Lagos has been a foremost concern of successive administrations in the state. Evidently, Lagos has great potential to develop water transportation to a highly competitive level. At a recent a roundtable organized by the state government on water transportation, the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode reiterated the commitment of his administration to fully harnessing the potential of water transportation to the benefit of the people and economic prosperity of the state. Considering the size of investment required in boosting water transportation, it is only logical that government evolve effective framework in partnership with the private sector and relevant stakeholders in the project. It is, thus, quite encouraging to note that key private sector investors are actively involved in ongoing plans to boost the sector. It is, indeed, reassuring that government at the roundtable also sealed a major partnership with a consortium of multi-national companies, Food and Bev-

erage Recycling Alliance, to rid the waterways and water bodies in the state of filth with specific focus on plastic waste. The agreement will also bring about the setting up of a world class collection and recycling framework for plastic waste in Lagos State. The consortium will be investing in boats with capacity to collect waste from the waterways. In so doing, this will protect the ecosystem and boost water transportation. If the state’s water transportation potential is to be maximally exploited, there is need for more of such private sector’s collaborations. On its part, the state government has continued to demonstrate its resolve to change the face of water transportation in the state. Recently, the state government inaugurated some boats and four Jet Skis at Caverton Jetty in Civic Centre, Victoria Island. They were acquired to ensure safety on the waterways. Similarly, government lately ordered the procurement of seven additional ferries, while also doing a lot to encourage private sector operators to take over terminals and also to procure more of their own boats and ferries. Understandably, a lot of prominence is particularly being accorded safety of the water ways. This is why lots channelization and dredging are being done in order to make the waterways safe and secure for all stakeholders. There are also plans to connect water terminals and the roads, especially in places such as Badore,

Ajah, Mile 2, Badagry, Ikorodu and other places where there are terminals. Consequently, there is now visible evidence of government’s renewed investment in this sector. Presently, about thirty commercial routes have been identified on the state’s waterways for dredging and channelization, while ten jetties spread across the state were being constructed, among other ongoing plans for the sector. When all the designated corridors for the ferry service become fully operational, Lagos will not only reduce excess reliance on roads as a major means of transportation, but also reduces air pollution. The take off of these new corridors will also lead to additional new jobs with economic multiplier effects on the society. Perhaps more importantly, recent procurement of relevant sophisticated machines by the government is an indication that the process of ridding the State’s waterways of debris and hyacinth as part of the holistic plan to further boost water activities relating to the waterways, has earnestly begun. It would be recalled that for a long time, hyacinth which is otherwise known as aquatic weed, had been a major source of concern with attendant challenges to the waterways in the state. A seasonal threat, water hyacinth had brought about damages to propulsion system of boats thus affecting water related activities. The machines were, therefore, acquired to straight on tackle the challenges posed by water

hyacinth and other such water threats, by taking away debris and hyacinth from the state’s waterways. The new machines act like an underwater lawn mower and cut the vegetation, as well as collects and store weeds and debris, while it is fitted with a pick up conveyor at the forward end which can be lowered up to six feet deep into the water for effective cleaning of the waterways. Considering the various laudable initiatives of the state government towards improving waterways’ infrastructure in the state, it is important that all stakeholders come up with more innovative ideas that would further complement government’s efforts in this direction. Without a doubt, development of the state’s waterways represents a key solution to traffic gridlock across the state. But then, it must be stressed that the state’s waterways, stretching from Badagry to Epe, (with a Peninsular in between, a lagoon at the back and the Atlantic in front), Ikorodu to Marina and Badagry to Marina are nature’s gift that must be properly preserved. Nothing must be done to jeopardize their safety and purity. Injurious activities such as illegal sand mining and dredging, pollution of the water body through diverse unwholesome practices, among others, should be discouraged in its entirety. Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos

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Sunday 05 August 2018

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Comment Exnovating a nation: Nigeria’s widening silence on innovation CHIJIOKE MAMA

eveloping countries such as Nigeria face numerous dilemmas with respect to the best way to do things. We are grappling with “best practice” adoption. But innovators believe that best practices often constitute the strongest argument against innovation. Even in the absence of a consensus definition of innovation, the outcomes of innovation are often unmistakable. Nigerian may now be exnovating as a nation. An x-ray of the combined efforts of people, businesses and government - evident in the progress made in governance, growth of domestic businesses and quality of service in certain institutions such as universities and health centers -reveals a broad apathy towards innovation. Nigeria has been confortable with transferring technology as opposed to developing anyone; learning about efficient systems as opposed to creating one; adopting proven methods and procedures as opposed to designing one. From the highest echelons of government to the leading clubs of private sector leaders; the second hand, less troubling and seemingly easier approaches of transfer, learning and adoption has been mainstreamed as the default approach

to problems. These are evident in most national statistics and human development indices that reveal stagnancy and mostly retardation. A “recipient posture” to technology, processes and systems is simply inimical to progress and this approach- evident across several frontiers in our nation – is useful up toa narrow limits. It will never compare or equate the benefits, the appropriateness and the value content of self-developed, self-created and self-designed approaches. An innovative approach to economic and political problems that challengewidely accepted and legacy systems and which take a nation’s unique disposition into consideration in proffering solutions is simply invaluable. One of the dangerous implications of the visibly poor innovation culture in many spheres of Nigeria’s national life is the unhealthy reliance (mostly overreliance) on other people, organizations and nations in understanding and also in solving our problems. From the unfair number of foreigners that occupy certain work positions in Nigeria (simply due to superior skills and technological advantages), to the reliance on foreign nations for sophisticated services such as advanced healthcare. In-country, we see tertiary institutions and research centers that invent nothing in de-

cades, and we finance healthcare centers that pioneer nothing in centuries. Our schools and streets are filed with people who in spite of being endowed intellectually are shunned and suppressed by an unstated rule of anti-innovation made evident by a widespread preference for maintaining the status quo and a very rampant penchant for giving little thought to new/better ways of doing things. But it’s now evident that if we fail today to lay the foundation for innovation in our public endeavors and delay in incentivising innovation in the private sector, we will entrench the inefficiency that affects all nations that prefer to “receive” innovation as opposed to creating it. We will as well reinforce our dependence in several ways on nations and people that create the future. It’s often said that innovators are leaders and that’s largely true. The widespread economic and social benefits that the world has derived from the software and technological revolution of the last four decades have made a strong case for innovation in all spheres of human endeavor. From pharmaceutical breakthroughs to whole new systems for education and learning, it’s becoming evident that innovation offers some form of unrivalled competitive advantage. Which now permits the postulation that people, organizations and

nations that embrace innovation will not only compete favorably, but will dictate the scope, pattern and trend of related events. Innovation does not lie with technological systems as may be erroneously construed. Nigeria’s failure to make a meaningful change to her apparently inefficient system of government for decades is also the evidence of the anti-innovation posture that has almost become a national culture. Our near static education system createshuman outputs that are mostly intellectual burdens to the nation rather than assets. We clearly do not lead in any given sphere and that’s a clear sign of our negative disposition to innovation. Pockets of creativity recorded in the last few years that scarcely befit a 5 million people nation, cannot be an accolade for a nation of 190 million people. Our overall anti-innovation posture has made Nigeria to confront its economic, political and social problems with ineffective attention. All Innovators realise that the act of innovation transcends a single eureka moment or a countable set of connected activities. Rather it’s a pattern of events and approach to issues that most often become a culture for the innovator. Every four years Nigerians expect some magic in the form of transformational governance within a system that shuns, thought

leadership and inventiveness. The wide known fact that little or no remarkable invention has come out of Nigerian’s learning institutions is not necessarily a reflection of low intellect or ignorance of persons who exist within or run that system. However it’s often a reflection of the absence of any platforms, frameworks or systematic channel for promoting innovation. There will be no magic to national transformation unless we begin to build both the mindset and institutions that will drive innovation. We will therefore need to find new ways of spotting andincubating exceptional innovators across the nation, build centers and systems in all sectors that will challenge our existing assumptions and confront the task of redefining governance and leadership methods squarely. We will need to provide dedicated funds that cater for sophisticated inquiry, research and thought leadership. We will need to build rooms for innovation in our approach to teaching/learning at all levels, as well as, approach to research in all frontiers. For now the nation is largely silent on innovation and the silence is evident. .Mama is the founder of Meiracopp Nigeria Limited (MNL) and a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Port Harcourt. (m.chijioke@meiracopp.com)

Is charity for the poor futile? PETER SINGER Singer is Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, Laureate Professor in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne, and founder of the non-profit organization The Life You Can Save.

n an essay published last month in The Guardian, 15 leading economists – including the Nobel laureates Angus Deaton, James Heckman, and Joseph Stiglitz – criticized what they call “the ‘aid effectiveness’ craze” on the grounds that it leads us to ignore the root causes of global poverty. I advocate assessing the effectiveness of aid and providing resources for interventions shown to be highly cost-effective. To that end, I founded The Life You Can Save, an organization that gathers evidence about which charities give donors the most bang for their buck and encourages people to donate to them. The Life You Can Save recommends proven interventions because we think donors are likely to do more good by helping individuals with unmet needs than by aspiring to eliminate the root causes of poverty without a realistic strategy for achieving that goal. Deaton, Heckman, Stiglitz, and

their colleagues begin by telling us that global poverty “remains intractable.” This statement reflects and reinforces the gloomy view that we are not making any progress in reducing poverty. But that is not the case. The World Bank classifies people as living in “extreme poverty” if they lack the income needed to provide reliably for sufficient food, shelter, and other basic needs. The Bank’s most recent estimate is that there are 768.5 million people, or 10.7% of the world’s population, living in extreme poverty. In a world that produces more than enough to meet everyone’s basic needs, that figure provides no grounds for complacency. But in 1990, more than 35% of the world’s people were living in extreme poverty, and as recently as 2012, the figure was 12.4%. The longterm trend is clearly positive. Other indicators of human wellbeing debunk the gloomy view. For example, the rate of child mortality has fallen from 93 per 1,000 births to close to 40 since 1990. The economists’ essay then tells us that the supposed failure to make progress in reducing global poverty comes despite “hundreds of billions of dollars of

aid.” No time period is specified, but many readers will assume that the world gives “hundreds of billions of dollars” of aid each year. In 2017, official development assistance (ODA) from all the world’s advanced economies was $146.6 billion, or less than $1 of every $300 earned in these countries. If all of this money went to the 768.5 million people living in extreme poverty, it would amount to $191 for each of them. In fact, only 45% of ODA even goes to the least developed countries. Much of it goes to programs for which there is little evidence of effectiveness. No wonder that this very modest amount of oftenmisdirected assistance has yet to end extreme poverty! The next target for the 15 economists is the use of randomized controlled trials to test whether interventions are effective. These trials, they point out, are expensive. Perhaps, but they are less expensive than continuing to support projects that do no good. Randomized trials are not always applicable, and are not the only way to demonstrate effectiveness. But when they are available, they provide solid evidence that, for example, distributing bed nets to protect children against

malaria-bearing mosquitos does save lives – and at a modest cost. As noted, however, the economists’ major objection to this kind of evidence is that it leads us to focus on “micro-interventions” that do not tackle the underlying causes of poverty. The power of this objection depends on the availability of better alternatives. What do they suggest? They say the poor need “access to public education and health care” and that there should be coordinated public policies to prevent climate change. To make real progress in agriculture, we must end the excessive subsidies paid by rich countries. Other recommendations include stopping tax avoidance by multinational companies, regulating tax havens, and developing labor regulations to stop globalization’s “race to the bottom.” To understand which policies work best, we are told, we should draw on underused data and satellite imagery. The ultimate goal is to change the rules of the international economic system to make it “more ecological and fairer for the world’s majority.” These are laudable aims. But who are the economists addressing? Individuals who donate to charities? Senior officials

in government departments responsible for allocating aid? Governments? Only the last of these have the power to make the recommended changes. If the arguments are addressed to governments, however, would better data lead to better outcomes? On US agricultural subsidies, for example, anyone who has taken an impartial look knows that they harm the global poor and are a huge waste of public funds. Nevertheless, efforts to eliminate them have failed repeatedly, not because of a lack of policy analysis, but because of the political power of the rural states. The Life You Can Save, like GiveWell and similar organizations, seeks to influence individual donors, encouraging them to think about where they can direct their donations to do the most good. I hope that they will also be active citizens, urging their government to bring about a fairer and more sustainable world. But while we wait for our politicians to tackle the root causes of global poverty – and it could be a long wait – let’s concentrate our spare resources on effective aid that helps people in extreme poverty lead the best lives they can. ©: Project Syndicate

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Perspective

Will Nigeria’s democracy ever favour the poor? Your leaders have no respect for their people. They believe that their personal interests are the interests of the people. They take people’s resources and turn it into personal wealth. There is a level of poverty in Nigeria that should be unacceptable.

AYO OYOZE BAJE

ateline: June 25, 2018. The newspaper headlines painted the parlous picture of the country’s poverty conundrum. Or, at least, part of it: ‘Nigeria has overtaken India as the country with the largest number of people living in extreme poverty’. According to a new report by the World Poverty Clock extreme poverty in Nigeria is growing by six people every minute, the highest number in the world! At the end of May 2018, the survey showed that Nigeria had an estimated 87 million people in extreme poverty, compared to India’s 73 million. The report further stated that the Democratic Republic of Congo may soon overtake India as number two. In the list of top 10 extremely poor countries, Nigeria leads with 86.9 million people and is closely followed by D.R Congo with 60.9 million people. Ethiopia is next with 23.9 million people, followed by Tanzania with 19.9 million. Mozambique comes next with 17.8 million while Kenya has 14.7 million people living in extreme poverty. The least four are Uganda, South Africa, South Sudan and Zambia with 14.2, 13.8, 11.4 and 9.5 respectively. Apart from India other countries listed are all in Africa! That is a hot topic for another day. Meanwhile, our political leaders beat their chest about their great achievements in various sectors of the wobbling economy. But we know better, at least some of us. Interestingly, yours truly has written severally on this ever-relevant topic that should interest our leaders. But are they? Name them: ‘Do they know we are suffering?’ ‘What is our concept of leadership?’ ‘Mister Politician, what are your legacies?’ ‘We have failed our founding fathers’. All of these and more a re re f l e c t e d i n m y n e w l y launched book, ‘Drumbeats of Democracy’. One’s persisting argument is that the cost of accessing political power and the payment structure here in Nigeria, skewed in favour of the political class all constitute cogs in the wheel of any meaningful and sustainable socio-economic development. With trillions of naira revenue, mostly from crude oil sales from the ‘60s till date, it

-Nelson Mandela

is a crying shame that Nigeria parades some of the most disturbing dismal figures in the Human Development Index (HDI). The reasons are not farfetched. Much of our national wealth has gone to feather the nests of the shameless, avaricious locusts that have held the reins of political power since independence. While some have stashed t h e i r l o o t i n d a r k , f o re i g n vaults, others, as recent revelations from the EFCC go, have theirs hidden in overhead tanks, underground troves, soak ways, abandoned houses and even stinking graveyards! What a country?! Painful still, the perpetrators of these heinous crimes against poor Nigerians are walking our streets as free men! At the worst, they are held captive for a few days, then granted bail and paraded for media trial, with all the initial hoopla that soon dies from Doppler’s effect. But the concomitant implication of their crimes and the attendant impunity are telling on our frail democracy. From increasing poverty rate, decrepit infrastructure, poor healthcare delivery system, high maternal and infant m o r t a l i t y ra t e s , h i g h f o o d insecurity rate to huge youth unemployment, our nation’s sordid economic situation is a criminal betrayal of what God has richly endowed us with. For instance, poverty rate rose from 15 percent as at independence in 1960, to 67.1per-

cent in 1999 and 72.2percent in 2014. Now, as revealed by the World Poverty Clock, it has worsened more than ever. Back in April 2014, the World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, stated at the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings that Nigeria, with 7percent of the world’s poor ranked third in the world while India was placed at number one with 33 per cent of the world poor. But since the policy makers turned a deaf ear, we are number one today in 2018. The bitter is that we can no longer sustain the huge capital flight committed by our unpatriotic politicians, who bulldoze through the national till only to empower foreign nationals. For instance, in July 2004, UNIDO Report listed countries such as China, India, Singapore and Thailand amongst those with robust economies that reduced poverty rate from an average of 40percent in 1981 to 21percent in 2001, while ours was escalating. In fact, the Report singled out Nigeria as the country with the worst case scenario of capital flight and advised us to borrow a new leaf from Uganda, which had a similar challenge but was able to reverse the drift. Back then in 2004 our politicians were accused of stashing $107 billion abroad. Similarly, in April 2011 CNN MarketPlace Report stated that Nigerian politicians own 40 per cent of luxury properties in Central London, with the cost ranging from 17 million to 33 million

pounds sterling. Dubai is not left out. Such barefaced robbery of our common patrimony must also come to a halt. But how? That is the million-naira question. While not a few Nigerians thought the ‘change’ mantra, as promoted by the APCled government back in 2015 would bring succor to the poor (sentiments aside), there has been more heat than light in the art of governance of this democracy. What with the exasperating economic recession, increase in poverty rate, lack of access to quality jobs and the resultant increase in rate of suicide? But what is the way forward? To tread the path to prosperity, political re-engineering is sin qua non. We must retool our concept of governance, from the primary school level to the highest office in the land; to be for the state instead of the self. The payment structure of political appointees must be drastically scaled down, in tandem with the harsh economic reality. The undue fixation of political power at the bloated federal centre must be done away with. We should revisit and implement some of the well thought out recommendations of the National Conference. With true fiscal federalism in place, the over fixation on the so called Federation Account would come to a halt. There would be healthy competition amongst the states; to control their resources and apply such

to reverse the poverty rate. In fact, an expert on economic matters has posited that with creative thinking and prudent m a n a g e m e n t o f re s o u rc e s the states could cumulatively generate up to 10 million jobs. Governments at the federal and state levels should consider instituting a Ministry of Job Creation, by merging the Ministry of Labour and Productivity with that of Trade and Investment. But we have to start planning with the benefit of credible data. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) should be financially empowered to avail Nigerians with the number of jobseeking citizens, their areas of professional specialisation, age, gender, place of residence and year of graduation. Such a Ministry should work in concert with the organised private sector and research institutes to get our job-seeking youths off the streets. Industrialisation remains the panacea to solving the searing scourge of unemployment with stable infrastructure as the catalyst. Emphasis should shift to small and medium scale enterprises. Our banks should be more interested in identifying viable home-grown businesses and be ready to fund them. Above all, Nigerians must “shine their eyes” so as not to elect their enemies, with sugar-coated tongues into sensitive political offices. Come 2019, our destiny will be in our hands again.

Sunday 05 August 2018

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Interview

‘You can be plus-size, yet stylish’ There is one woman who is passionate about giving fashion a meaning to people who are plus-size. Temi Aboderin-Alao, founder of Golden Curve Agency, the first plus-size agency in Nigeria, is truly pushing the boundary for people of her size. In this interview with Obinna Emelike, she unveils her passion, trends in her business, forthcoming event, among others.

hen did you venture into the plus-size business?

I started in 2012 when there was almost nothing about plus-size. We kept going, even when we got laughed at. At shows, you will hear people saying, ‘what are these people going to do, they are going to fall’. There was hostility because p e o p l e t h o u g h t w e w e re promoting obesity and kept asking if fat girls can catwalk. Over the years it has improved because with our persistence in the plus-size, suddenly around 2015, everybody started doing plus-size. By 2016, it was everywhere. Also, I have always grown up being plus-size. My father, James Olubunmi Aboderin of Punch Newspaper used to call us princess. So that was what gave birth to my initial brand, James Princess Kingdom. Prior to that, my mum has also been quite fashionable, so I have always had that stylish feel. Obviously, growing older and becoming a mum, I have not really kept up with the way I used to be excessive with fashion. But I have always had that love for fashion. It was one of my friends in England that told me, back when we were still there, that I can be stylish with my size and I am. So, you need to show people that they can be stylish and plus-size. That was what gave birth to the JP Kingdom. I was still very much UK-based then. So 2012 was when we did a physical launch over here. The truth is when we started, nothing like that was around. When I was in secondary school in Nigeria, I remember that I could never buy anything from here. I would have to find something from abroad and even then, it was still limited. It really isn’t that case now. Now it’s everywhere. Almost every high street store abroad has a plus-size section now. How do you describe your designs? I like things being shiny. I do not look at what is in demand. When it comes to JP Kouture, for me it is living vicariously through fashion. It is just me doing what I like.

Temi Aboderin I can turn around and keep doing Ankara which I tried to do with that but as you can see, I still threw shiny stuff on it. I have been told that I need to think like other people but it is a hobby. If I was thinking along the lines of it being wearable, then maybe I would do the other stuff that people want to wear. But for me, it is just having fun.

The modelling competition that was part of the show is designed to bring out a plus-size model from here and take her international stage

What is Plus-size Fashion Week Africa all about and impact so far? There are so many plussize designers who do not have a platform. So, that is what Plus-size Fashion Week Africa is all about. Both designers here and abroad that want to expand their brand can come and showcase. So, it is for designers who would not be known if they did not have this platform. That is the aim of the platform and it has also inspired a new generation of plus-size designers. As well, after seeing Plus-size Fashion Week Africa, designers who do standard sizes, were excited and they extended their range to the plus-size market. It is important because it is not just about my brand it is about the plus-size community. It is about everyone and that is why at the beginning of the runway show, you have a video of the designer talking. A lot of standard size designers are also opening their doorway into the plus-size market. Another standard size designer who just trav-

elled was saying that someone in the US ordered her piece on the runway at PlusSize Fashion Week Africa. It is working. Even if some plus-size people want to be petty and do whatever they are doing, the truth is, it is going to open the doorway for all the standard size people who want to expand. How do you treat challenges? Sometimes I do feel like packing up and leave because I was not getting recognitions for my efforts. Those were moments I felt like I do not belong here. For instance, last year, it was a lot of work to put the show together and the fact that the event held successfully was by God’s grace. I was confused as to how people were easily manipulated to absorb the negative as opposed to the positive. I also felt like I had wasted my time coming back to Lagos. I think that was the breaking point for me. Another thing I found out when I came back to Lagos is that everybody believed that if you are not on the island

then it is not happening. That kind of mentality also shocked me a bit because as a kid, people lived on mainland, island and it was not a problem. And then certain people will send spies to come here to try and understand what our training program is like and to copy our designs. Then I thought to myself that if they keep sending people here, it means there is some value here that even I am not seeing. So, I have no other choice but to keep to keep going because there must be something here. Instead of backing away, we are now standing our ground. Why did you start training plus-size models? I am the best when it comes to training plus size models because it was something I wanted to do myself and because I am a perfectionist there is a way that I have mastered that craft. I do not shy away from any challenges. At a recent plus-size fashion show, it was only the models trained by my agency that the crowd clapped for on the runway. Not my show, this is another show. There is a difference in how we train our models and how other people do. Do you copyright your designs? I trademark everything. I am British. Everything is trademarked and copyrighted. You can tell a design that is popular. A design that gets an interest the most, then you go ahead and trademark. You cannot do it for every single piece that you have. It will be too expensive. That is not my primary focus and that is the British person in me talking. It is for me to have fun. Even though people are telling me I need to reprogramme my thinking when it comes to fashion but for me my business or what I see as the business is this Plus-size Fashion Week Africa. All the training initiatives we want to put in place for the new age of designers and then obviously the modelling competition that was part of the show is designed to bring out a plus-size model from here and take her international stage. This has never happened before.

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Sunday 05 August 2018

Interview How animation can challenge youths, create jobs, enhance Nigeria’s industry – Boye Gbenro United States-based Nigerian, Boye Gbenro, is a notable international player in the field of animation, 3D sculpting and painting, among others. He was a leading newspaper cartoonist, artist, painter, musician and socialite in Nigeria in the 1980s before he went to the United States for more laurels along these lines and others. In this interview with BILL OKONEDO, deputy editor, Gbenro chronicles his sojourn and development in the US and makes an assessment of the local industry in Nigeria and the prospects going forward. Excerpts:

an you give us a little background of your person and profession?

I am an artist, cartoonist, designer, story artist, animator, 3D sculptor, painter, musician, teacher, historian and lover of culture and tradition. How long have you been away and what is your estimation of the country today developmentally after all these years? I have been away now since 1990, but I have been visiting Nigeria yearly for about seven years now. I came around during my mother’s funeral in year 2007, and started visiting yearly from 2012. To me, I see a lot of progress around, and I observe a common trend within the system, especially computer hardware, applications and latest developments. I commend our self-taught animators and those who traveled to for example South Africa to study. Animation requires patience and smarts. What I will like to see is more commitment, more collaboration, more trust and more zeal. From what I have observed, Nigerians tend to not wait to acquire enough skill before venturing out to start business. I know this sounds vague and possibly not the true evaluation overall, but I have witnessed many young artists single-handedly start their own project. The downside to that is that it would have taken less time to produce if many hands were called to the table. You were quite an accomplished artist and cartoonist in Nigeria in the 1980s and you held exhibitions and had publications of your works which were quite notable and successful. What prompted you to leave Nigeria’s shores? Many factors contributed to my decision to leave Nigeria at the time I did. I will elaborate more when I write my autobiography, but then, I saw the anarchy, the deceptions, the reckless military and police, the uncertainty and the vulnerability regarding if I would survive what was later to come, which was a huge revelation after I left. Self-preservation is what was paramount in my mind. We should remember that my friend Dele Giwa was eliminated, some journalists too were eliminated and that should be enough reason for my exit, but there was much more that was going on in the society that discouraged artist like me. Also I wanted to further my studies and improve my life. It was time to take a break. What have you done since leaving? I studied cartooning and animation in New York and got a Bachelors of Arts degree, then I got employment with Walt Disney in Florida, I also worked for both Warner Brothers and Dreamworks SKG in California. Some of the movies I worked on are Pocahontas, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan,

Boye Gbenro Iron Giant, Osmosis Jones and Eldorado the City of Gold. After gaining the industrial experience, I settled in Detroit Michigan with my family and also taught in several institutions in Detroit Michigan, namely, College for Creative Studies, Baker College, ITT Tech, IADT, Art Institute and Timbuktu Academy. While studying in New York, I studied Jazz, orchestration at a program offered in Harlem called Jazzmobile in the early 1990s. I concentrated on being proficient on the tenor saxophone. After moving to Detroit, I searched for musicians that could help develop my orchestra and in 2013, my band, Odu Afrobeat Orchestra was born.

What is your estimation of the Nigerian newspaper cartoon industry today, compared to the 1980s? These days, most cartoons are produced digitally, which means the cartoons would be produced much faster with color and tone enhancement which were absent during the 70’s and the 80’s. I think most of the cartoonists in Nigeria are upping their game by aside from being original, cartoonists now are exposed to foreign cartoons. But looking back at the progression from then till now, the mindset in the 70s and 80s compared to now reveals a bit of contrast regarding idiomatic expression, visualisation,

humor, caricature, environment and amount of details. Then, we cartoonists at Punch were trained to select the news item but veer away from the norm and visualise complex ideas, break them down to simple visuals that the common man on the streets could understand. So in my opinion, the cartoonists then, I believe had more depth in terms of visualisation, providing commentary on the activities of government and the governed, compared to now. Cartoonists in essence became the heartbeat of the nation. A host of frontline cartoonists in these contemporary times have established their presence and are constantly challenging

the minds of their readers. What I would like to see more of today, are detailed backgrounds, interior compositions and humour. Every generation is faced with different challenges as the society they live in evolves and the current frontline cartoonists are mirroring the society as they perceive it, as they are on the ground and could feel the minute pulse by engaging the population. Like I explained earlier, the current cartoonists have the advantage of digital manipulations and color which was totally absent in those days. Those days, (1970s-1980s) I introduced the wash technique to mimic tones on faces and the atmosphere, we also used

Sunday 05 August 2018

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Interview Letratones which are now obsolete and could be found in digital applications like Manga or Clip Studio Paint Pro. What do you think it would it take to get more of our skilled Diaspora to return home or feedback home professionally? The atmosphere must be right and conducive. Artists like myself will like to see companies, corporations, state governments stretch their hands to us and initiate more workshops, more seminars, webinars, and conferences. Those avenues have great resource in the Diaspora and we are ready to take the challenge, like I have just done initiating a workshop in Lagos. We are planning other workshops for Abuja on my next visit. I am also stretching my hand to higher institutions of learning to offer crash courses in animation and digital painting. You held an animation workshop in Lagos recently. What inspired this and how did it go? I have visited Nigeria several times now, and each year I just either choose to play music for fun, visit like minds and just enjoy the city life, but this year, after discussing with CARTAN, a new Nigeria cartoonist association that started on online on WhatsApp, the idea came to me to hold such workshop anytime I am in Nigeria. I hope to continue this workshop yearly and also to hold crash courses at various educational institutions in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja. This is a way for me to bring my expertise to the people, re-introduce myself by saying, hey! I am here, I have the experience and have worked with a host of professionals on award winning and nominated animated movies. So, I am hoping that Nigerians from low and high would step up and do business with me as well as other seasoned artists who have industrial experience in the Diaspora. Animation encompasses a lot, from 30 second commercials to TV productions, to full length animated features, to traffic re-enactment videos, medical animation, forensics production, sports rehabilitation animation and various business presentations. The horizon is vast and lucrative, will provide employment to many Nigerians and open doors for the industry to flourish. Can you give us an idea of how the cartoon animation market works in the US, who it serves and its size and what it can do here in Nigeria? Cartoon animation is big business in the United States. The industry did suffer setbacks but always finds ways to bounce back. For example who would have thought that “Black Panther” would be a box office success, break records and exceed everyone’s expectations? 3D animation was used extensively on the movie, the story is also based on African concept. That also is a boost to our imagination and a great opportunity to invest in similar ideas, capitalise on it and find ways to monetise it. But the reality is, we should be true to ourselves and not wait for inspiration from the advanced nations, but work on our original stories and ideas and make them as intriguing and entertaining, just like we have done with our live action movies which have gained tremendous attention from the international media. Who are some of the prominent players? Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Nickelodeon, Klasky and Schupo and several others.

Do the Nigerian animation service providers in the Diaspora service the local market, in what way and to what extent, or are there plans for this? When we look at how cartoon network is popular here, many parents will want programs that have affinity with our cultural values, educative, informative and embedded with expected moral values as well. I know that majority of families would love to see characters that reflect our society and all those values that depict what we represent in the eyes of the outer world and the entertainment universe. The service providers at the moment are the big players like Nickelodeon, Warner Brothers and Disney, just to mention a few. We could have artists on ground to participate as well, that means those artists that are deeply entrenched in the cultural values that we all know are necessary for our society to develop positively. I think we are going to see more of that on a larger scale in the future and I hope that Nigerians will gain tremendously from that. What is your estimation of the cartoon animation business in Nigeria as compared to the US? Nigerian animation is gaining ground rapidly, but is yet to take off full steam, so there should not be comparison but just evaluation of how far we have gone in terms of learning and harnessing the industrial practices. We are lucky, because we are coming in at a stage where most software now are robust and easy to use. For example, in those days, you had to rig your characters from scratch, but now, you could just snap bones on your character and test your rig for the character to move smoothly and with added sophistication to facial expressions and simple to complex facial riggings. Rigging is a way to add bones to a character be it 2D or 3D. The bones assist the animator in moving the shapes of the figure of the character which cuts down the time of production. Nigeria is a vibrant country with a lot of talented people who are poised to shape the future. I am just amazed at how much talent we have in Nigeria and the potential for generation of humor and emotion. The entertainment industry alone could sustain Nigeria and both states and Federal governments should hone in on those opportunities that extrude out of this new terrain. What are the gains? People will be gainfully employed, and that will contribute to progress and the youth will have alternative avenues to explore and flourish. Can the Nigerian student get an alternative channel in terms of international industry certifications, what are some of these certifications and how long do they take? There are several online certifications. For example, Autodesk have certification process online. Several software companies open opportunities for certifications also. But the best way is to get proper animation training online or enroll for crash, or a four year course. It is widely perceived that a great mass of Nigerians in the Diaspora tend to disconnect almost completely from their roots. Do you think this is true and what could be responsible for it? I possibly couldn’t have done an accurate survey regarding that situation, but through interaction and observation, I would say many Nigerians prefer to be at home, but the conditions on the ground

discouraged many, especially the problem of electricity and obstacles at every juncture of progress. There are many factors to consider when you decide to plant your roots back in Nigeria. You must be ready to rough it out and embrace all the flaws and inadequacies, knowing full well that this is where you started out as a youth and you would want to contribute progressively the best way you could. What do you think it would take to get more of our skilled Diaspora to return home or feedback home professionally? The entertainment industry, Nollywood could be the fertile ground for exploration and I believe that is happening as we speak. Making special effects for difficult and seemingly impossible scenes in Nigerian movies could be a starting point. We could also be of great assistance in various fields, seminar presentations. Nigeria is at the beginning stages of professional animation, gradually professionals here will eventually develop fast

Boye Gbenro

Every generation is faced with different challenges as the society they live in evolves and the current frontline cartoonists are mirroring the society as they perceive it, as they are on the ground and could feel the minute pulse by engaging the population and produce more sophisticated movies. The economic situation will dictate the influx of professionals from the Diaspora to Nigeria. For instance, if news goes round that animation is fast developing, just like the live action movies did, Nigerians would jump on the opportunity and start to visiting en mass. Nigerians in the Diaspora need assurance, they need guarantee and they need to see several successful examples of individuals who have established a thriving business. They also want to develop a level of trust with their partners on the ground, could that be possible? Could people be trusted for a lengthy period? These are the questions that stay within the minds of many Nigerians. They have heard many horror stories and are now cautious in making decisions. Have you identified a market in Nigeria that you and your fellow Diaspora animators can service and which way forward? There are several areas we could initiate collaboration. Animators could be helpful in the areas of medical, forensics, rime sene reconstruction, educational presentation, assisting people who are physically impaired, assisting movie direction and special effects production. One of the ways is to establish joint studios in Nigeria, affiliated with stu-

Boye Gbenro dios overseas. Some bigger studios could buy smaller studios in Nigeria and provide services through that collaboration. Another approach is to constantly set up seminars and workshops, conferences and webinars to improve skills in Nigeria. With the social media and information technology in our hands, we should be able to find common ground to operate through mutual understanding and agreements. Agreement could be, accepting to finish and colour animated scenes, acquired from established studios abroad and working within a network. We also must work with deadline in mind by prompt delivery of professional work. What’s your message for the ambitious youth? To the aspiring youth, I will say, ask questions, secure a mentor who is way more knowledgeable than you, find mentors online, do not be shy to ask questions because many of the professionals out there are selfless, encouraging and are willing to go the extra mile to ensure that you receive knowledge. While I was at Walt Disney Feature Animation studios in Florida, I took time to visit other departments like especially the Layout and Backgrounds department. I learnt that

working in 2D, layout department could be the most fun you could have working on a feature film. You would have the luxury to work on the floor plan, where the characters will walk through, what sort of obstacles are placed along the path, the size of puddles, stagnant water and objects that could be knocked around in the scene. The layout department could be part of the scene planning team, and work directly with both directors and animators. At Disney, the layout artists basically work in blue pencil, which after approval will be passed down to the background painting department, where colors, values, intensity and direction of shadows will be established. The youth must always be on the lookout for new developments in the animation industry, join animation groups online and try out several applications to identify the few that fit your needs. Be available to work for free for experience, which could open doors for you on the long haul. You may also be called to work in a department you are not too familiar with, that too is an opportunity to gain experience and acquire pencil mileage. Any small input to get your foot in the door is equally important towards your goal.

18 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 05 August 2018

TheWorshippers Nigeria lacks leaders with vision for national unity – Pastor Ifediba Pastor Pascal Ifediba is the senior pastor of Christ Tent International. In this interview with SEYI JOHN SALAU, Pastor Ifediba says the church in Nigeria must do more of interceding for the nation in playing its role in nation-building. He also touches on other national issues. Excerpts: Why does it seem that there is too much religiosity and less spirituality in Nigeria? ccording to statistics, Nigeria is about 180 million people or more and there are two major religions in Nigeria, which are Christianity and Islam. So with this, the world already knows Nigeria as a religious nation, but I will base my response on Christianity because I don’t know what they teach in Islamic religion. The word in focus is spirituality, not religiosity because we have already seen Nigeria as a religious nation; the question is spirituality: where does spirituality begin? The word spirituality begins with the word spirit, so it has nothing to do with religion. In John 3v1-6, Nicodemus was one of the religious people of his time – he was rich and was also a ruler, but he saw something unique in Jesus and Jesus told him he’s got to be born again otherwise he won’t see the kingdom of God. The word seems simple and mean to understand, but until you are born again you won’t understand the things of God. Being born again ushers you into the realm of the Spirit of Jesus, otherwise you are just a mere religious man like Nicodemus was. Then Jesus said something so close to what we are reasoning, that’s spirituality. In verse 6, Jesus said that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit; this is where spirituality begins. It begins at new birth but don’t forget that whatsoever has beginning has also maturation or has to mature. This is where the work of the ministry or the work of the five-fold ministry plays its role: the maturing of the saints. This is where teaching and discipleship help the people of God grow to become spiritual. Unfortunately, most of the messages we hear from the pulpits are about blessings

To me, if we are one Nigeria, the word ‘minority’ shouldn’t come in at all. If we are one Nigeria, if whoever is there as president is doing well, we should applaud him, and if he’s not doing well, we should speak up

Pastor Pascal Ifediba

and many others that are not pointing to discipleship. Romans 8v14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons of God.” You have to be born of the Spirit to be led by the Spirit and you have to be led by the Spirit to become spiritual and religiosity won’t give you that except Jesus the son of God. So the church in Nigeria has to go back to real discipleship; I’m not talking about new converts’ classes, not even believers’ authority classes. You can do all of these in one month or three months interval; in fact. real discipleship messages are scarcely heard in most churches. Also, most churches today don’t even hold Sunday schools any more in their services; it’s sharp services of about one-and-a-half hours, some even less than that. In some places it’s preaching, preaching, preaching, then prophecies and miracles; no time to explain or teach – because that’s what it means to teach and explain the gospel. We have to go back to discipleship. Let’s look at national issues. What, in your view, is responsible for the level of division in Nigeria today? Leadership negligence to the cries of the people is the issue with Nigeria today. It will take a leadership that feels the pains of the people to turn things around. Onesided government and religious affinity also contributed to the situation Nigeria has found itself today. Therefore, as comprised of different ethnic groups and religions, we must see each other as im-

portant as others. No one is less important and we must work as one, otherwise the phrase ‘one Nigeria’ is not going to take us anywhere. That is nothing but the truth – until we put the phrase ‘one Nigeria’ to work, until we start seeing ourselves as one and doing things together and start valuing one another, we will not see that united country. But the case here is different; some see themselves as superior to others. To me, if we are one Nigeria, the word ‘minority’ shouldn’t come in at all. If we are one Nigeria, if whoever is there as president is doing well, we should applaud him, and if he’s not doing well, we should speak up. However, here in Nigeria once someone from a part of the country does something wrong, the people of that side would cover him and protect him, speak for him, and fight for him while suffering in silence. I think it is high time Nigerians stopped voting parties and start voting for credible leaders; those who love Nigerians, those who would move Nigeria forward. But the question is, do we have leaders now in Nigeria that have the vision for the unity of the nation? Do we have leaders that have the vision to move Nigeria into an established nation? No. Instead the country is being divided by the choices and decisions of our leaders make nowadays. In a similar vein, Nigerians are saying security in the country has gone from bad to worse. What is your take on this? Security is what everybody has inter-

est in because everybody wants to be secured. You want your money secured, you want your home secured, you want your mobile phones secured, your children and virtually everything secured. So, security is a very important issue and that is why we try to secure those things that are important to us. Consciously or unconsciously, we secure ourselves, so security should be everybody’s duty not only security agents. Yes, we may not have arms but we do the little we can to help the security agents. For example, you can make calls if you find some moves that are suspicious around where you live. I therefore advice the federal government to wake up and strengthen the security situation of this great nation called Nigeria. I also call on the security agencies in Nigeria to rise to the occasion if they love Nigeria. For crying out loud, Nigeria is a nation – the largest in Africa; it’s a shame. If the security agencies cannot protect Nigerians from the little forces within the country, how about the forces outside should any war break out between Nigeria and another nation? How best should the government deal with the insurgency up north? Boko Haram and herdsmen issues are a national challenge. Therefore, it’s the duty of the federal government to rise to the occasion and deal with these things, and remove sentiments that are involved in dealing with insurgency if they see it as a national challenge, otherwise it will get worse than this. What is your view on the lingering face-off between the federal executive and legislative arms of government? Face-off is normal in a democracy; we even see such in advanced democracies because you are dealing with human beings, not animals, and you don’t expect people to just agree with you even when you are heading toward the wrong direction. But my pain is that this face-off is about personal interest and ego and not about national advancement. Nigeria as it stands today needs people that will move the country forward, people that have the interest of the country at heart, not personal interests or that which will favour your own people and others are jeopardized. All of them over there are representing Nigeria, not one set of people; so if your idea won’t help Nigeria as a nation, keep it aside or bury it. It is unfortunate what we see here in Nigeria. Other countries are making sacrifices that will move their countries forward, but what we see here is divide and rule, my people, my people. Of course, your people are important but other people are no less important. It’s about Nigeria and all of us make up Nigeria. God will save us from people with personal ambitions not just in the 2019 elections but beginning from now, that’s my prayer for this country in Jesus name.

Sunday 05 August 2018

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BDSUNDAY 19

Inspirations The power of divine connections (3)

Pastor I.S James Acts 15:36-41

Continue from last week There are two institutions that God created: 1. The family 2. The church od never gave us the choice of the family (or race) we were born into. The decision on the family we are born into is God’s exclusive prerogative; he doesn’t seek our opinion on it. This physical principle mirrors the spiritual one shown here: (1Cor. 15:46) “However the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual”. The church is the spiritual family and God places you in the place that based on your particular make up and constitution suits you best. He places you under the care of the person that is best enabled to equip you with what you particularly need in life to cater for your own needs on your way to fulfilling destiny. God reserves the exclusive right to direct you to and plant you in the place that you will be trained. Your spiritual father isn’t necessarily the person that leads you to Christ, but the

person who plants, establishes and equips you in the way of the Kingdom. Just like any one can be a biological father, but the person who takes the pains of raising a child is the one who has earned the right to be called a father. None of us can claim to have come from perfect families where everything is perfect. Despite this fact, none of us has dissociated ourselves from these families, so why do we do that with the Church (where we have a sense of destiny and planting)? If God hasn’t given you the chance to change your physical family what makes you think it is right for you to change your church at will? When God even in marriage allows you the choice and all the time to make a choice in whom you connect to, once you make your choice and invite God to witness the establishment of your union you immediately forego the right to leave that connection. It’s the same as regards your spiritual heritage, once you are planted in a church you don’t toy with it and you do not make arbitrary decisions about leaving the church. A person’s life is made up of a series of connections and disconnections. Everything that God has created is connected to something or someone else. Nothing God has made stands alone, there is no such thing as a self-made man. Disconnections lead to malfunction. When there are disconnections things will not work the way they’re meant to work. Ps. 68:6 “God sets the solitary in families, he brings out those who are bound into prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land” From this passage of scripture we can deduce that if in disobedience to God’s word, you stand alone in isolation, you will dry up

and eventually die. This is why people who interfere with and dishonour what God has joined together (whether it’s marriage or family) are referred to adulterers. So, what do you think someone who interferes with the spiritual connection between himself and his church should be called? When a child’s conception results from the fertilisation of the egg of the mother by the seed of the father, after this the fertilised egg connects itself to the side of the mother’s womb. This is the healthy process, but if it becomes disconnected from the uterus before its due time it suffers what’s known as abortion/miscarriage. This is the same way many people are aborting their destinies by arbitrarily disconnecting themselves from the churches God has planted them. Like we see with the plant that God created to be connected to the earth, it flourishes when it’s connected to its original source. But when it is disconnected from its source it withers and dies. Even if it is sustained in a new environment by non-natural means it ends up not reaching its full potential. This principle applies to one’s spiritual planting as well. It is where God has planted you that you are sustained, nourished and provided for to reach your full potentials. If you uproot yourself and move somewhere else you either begin to wither and die or at best cut short your own potential. God is telling us He is the source of all wisdom and He has created everything with a purpose and that for us to be as productive as He wants us to be we need to remain connected to our divinely ordained sources. On the flip side, once we disconnect from our divinely ordained source, we begin to shrivel up and die. Man’s ability to thrive, be productive, po-

tent and live up to his potential is dependent on remaining connected to his source – God. Gen 2:18 Creation is God putting things into order, into the places they ought to be. First God created the earth, then He commanded the earth to bring forth. He did the same with the seas and the skies. This shows us that God is separating things and putting them in order. What we see here is that the things that are produced by the earth area meant to stay connected to the earth from which they originated. The same goes for the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, for them to be productive and functional; they must stay connected to the source God created them from. A disconnected devil (who knows he can’t get back at God directly, has chosen to attack man – the object of God’s love) and has poisoned the world by infusing his penchant for disconnection and noncommitment into the lives of people in the world – even in the Church. Mankind has been poisoned with a spirit of disconnection, rejecting loyalty, commitment and discipline. These days, the cool thing is people to not be connected to anything or anyone, but for them to have the freedom to live their lives as they please without any “entanglements or encumbrances” as they tend to say. To be concluded next week

Dr. Iruofagha James is the Founding Pastor, Glory Christian Ministries, Odo-Olowo Street, Apapa/Oshodi Expressway, Ijeshatedo, Lagos. www.isjames.org Tel: 08060599144

7 Reasons ministry cannot be run like business

REV. Yomi Kasali

@rev.yomikasali

his is probably the most controversial article I have ever penned down. It will certainly draw a lot of negatives. Especially in these days when ministry has totally being swallowed up with business ideologies. The very notion of comparing ministry with business is very much in vogue today because of the influx of various successful business people in ministry. Also, many active ministry people are in business. The dividing line is very blurry and the principles are difficult to separate. Lately, those that are not ‘thinking’ business are hardly regarded as successful today or at best called lucky. I am deeply troubled about the mix-up of ministry with business and have used some rhetoric inconvincing people about the differences. Consider the case of the paradigm shift in the worship ministry. Compare the way it was done about three decades ago with how it is being driven today. The dichotomy is clearer with the popularity of music ministry as music industry. The use of industry rather than ministry says it all about the concept of running ministry like industry or Business. Without trying to sermonize this topic, and fully understanding that most of my ‘Inspire’

readers are Christians who adhere to the principles of our Lord Jesus, I want to magnify these verses out of scriptures for our meditation: “No servant can serve two masters, either he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon”. The Pharisees who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus…” Luke 16 v 13-14. This is why Jesus also said: “…it is difficult for the rich man to enter heaven but with God, nothing shall be impossible.” - Matthew 19 v 23-26. The following thoughts are my honest opinion on the subject avoiding the temptation of running ministry like a business. Meanwhile, I will continue to patiently wait for anyone to convince me that Jesus ran ‘ministry’ like ‘business’, knowing fully that he had a carpentry business before going into fulltime ministry. Disparity of purpose: The purposes of ministry and industry are different. One is to make money while the other is to make souls. Jesus called the early disciples (Peter, James and John) and told them strictly that they shall henceforth ‘catch’ men. They were fishermen who had mastered the art of making a living through fishing but Jesus introduced them to another purpose – catching men to populate heaven. They caught fishes for profit or money. Now, they had to learn to catch men for God. (Luke 5 v 10). Difference in vehicles: The vehicles driving ministry and industry are different. One is driven by profit while the other is driven by morals. When I use vehicles, I mean it is meant to imply what is driving your decisions not necessarily why you are driven. The first reveals ‘the why’ which, is what is known as purpose, while the latter shows ‘the what’. Profits and morals are hardly compatible naturally. Hence, many busi-

ness men sell things that are harmful to men without a care in the world. Divergent sources: The source of ministry and industry are totally different. Industry can startanyhow and anytime but it is God that calls a man into ministry. I am aware the place of calling has been thrown away today. Yet, a search through scriptures tells us that most of those that did God’s work were called by Him through diverse means. There should be some kind of ‘calling’ into ministry. It is not just by feelings. This is why the Bible clearly states that many are called but few are chosen. Matthew 12 v 18; Matt 22 v 14. Separate gifts: Industry is a function of human talents and acquired skills. Ministry on the other hand, is a function of the Holy Spirit giving gifts to His people. There are many churches being led by persons who are simply talented in different areas of life but not gifted by the Holy Spirit uniquely. I know this may generate some arguments but we should know that God’s anointing (grace upon thegifted) is upon those He has deposited certain gifts into. Paul told the Romans that “...the gifts and calling of God are without repentance…” Romans 11 v 29. Human education versus divine revelation: To run great businesses or industries human education, be it formal or informal is required. However, educational pedigree becomes subject to divine revelation when it comes to ministry. Apostle Peter was not

educated (Acts 4 v13) yet; he had deep revelation into the things of God, which was why he excelled in ministry. Theological education is the equivalent of University education and both can be useful but they are not major requirements for a successful ministry. Different bottom-lines: Business success is measured by profits as stated in the balance sheets while ministry success is ideally measured by moral impact in society. There may be churches with bigger account balances but without significant impact in the society. The bible says we are the salt of the earth and light of the world (morals). Matt 5 v 13. The major quest of ministry is the testimony of changing and impacting lives while lives gold or silver is the benchmark of success. Charity versus compassion: The best businesses can offer is charity but ministry is driven by compassion. For industry, the person with the highest amount of cash to flaunt is the one to be respected. However, compassion is the currency of ministry. The most successful businessmen have been historically brutal in their dealings. This is one of the reason they are called ‘capitalists’. The ethos that run businesses are ay appear not compassionate in nature. They m to be warm by developing good customer service and the likes but it is still to make maximum profit possible out of their dealings. Ministry should be driven by compassion not cash. Any church withoutmercy is driven by money. I call you today to look inwards and be sure you are in ministry rather than in industry that your profiting may appear before your father in heaven who only truly rewards those who diligently seek Him. Shalom and be Inspired. Rev. Yomi Kasali is Senior Pastor, Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA), Surulere, Lagos

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Sunday 05 August 2018

Politics

Impeachments part of APC plot to stop further defections - Source INNOCENT ODOH, ABUJA

he alleged attempt by a group of Senators loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari, led by Ovie Omo- Agege to storm the Senate chamber to effect the impeachment and the removal of President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu, even when the lawmakers are on recess has been confirmed by a reliable source, who preferred anonymity. Although the said plot was allegedly foiled by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers, the source told our correspondent that the July 24 defections of 14 senators and 37 members of the House of Representatives threw the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency into panic and they are masterminding whatever measures within their disposal to stop further defection. According to the source, Tuesday’s defection of Saraki, the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and Wednesday’s defection of the Governor of Sokoto State, Waziri Tambuwal and the earlier defection of influential Kano lawmaker Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), dazed the ruling party and the Presidency. The source added that there is frenetic and precipitate strategy to avert an imminent second wave of defection, which will be more disastrous for the party when the lawmakers reconvene in September. “The government despite the bold face they are putting are apprehensive. The plotters have perfected the act to impeach Saraki and Ekweremadu and use other highhanded measures to deal with the other defectors including mass arrests and detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on trump up charges. “The reason for the anger in the Presidency and the APC is that the much maligned PDP has now been rejuvenated and its rank has been swollen by the former APC members who joined the main opposition party. It now appears as if all the propaganda mounted to destroy the PDP is now being perceived by the public as deceit by the APC. “The APC is terribly disturbed that if the PDP returned to power in 2019, key figures in

Ortom

Saraki

the current administration and especially President Buhari will be subjected to ridicule”, the source said. The aim of the APC moves to stop the gale of defection sweeping across the country is to sustain the advantage in some states calculated to be vital to reelection bid of President Buhari across the regions. In Imo State, the strong hold of the APC in the Southeast, Governor Rochas Okorocha, a staunch ally of Buhari, allegedly recruited the state lawmakers to impeach the deputy governor, Eze Madumere, who is said to be a threat to the governor’s quest to allegedly impose his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu as the next governor of the state in 2019. Madumere is also said to be poised to return the state to the PDP, once he is voted governor, which will erase any tinge of support for Buhari in the region where he got some of his worst results in 2015. Madumere, who is seeking to replace Governor Rochas Okorocha in 2019, was impeached on Monday by 19 of the 27 members of the Imo State House of Assembly despite a Court order restraining them. The Imo State High Court presided over by Justice Ben Iheka had on July 30, restrained the Chief Judge of the state and the legislators from the impeachment proceedings. Madumere was accused of abandoning his duties and failing to carry out official du-

ties assigned to him by the Governor, among other misdemeanor. Reacting, the impeached Deputy Governor in a statement by his media aide, Uche Onwuchekwa said “the state House of Assembly has become a mere stooge in the hands of the governor. “In disobedience to the restraining order against the Chief Judge, the seven-man panel, Speaker and members of Imo State House of Assembly from further action on the controversial impeachment proceeding against the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, the House of Assembly in Gestapo manner, has removed the Deputy Governor of the state from office. “The Presiding Judge of High Court 8, Justice Benjamin Iheka had restrained the seven-man panel of Inquiry constituted by the Chief Judge, Justice Paschal Nnadi, the Chief Judge, Speaker and members of Imo State House of Assembly over a matter brought before the court that bothers on constitutional breaches in the procedure adopted to remove the Deputy Governor from the office. “The Acho Ihim-led faction of the members of the House sponsored by Governor Okorocha against the Court Order and the rule of law illegally removed the Deputy Governor in a kangaroo manner. “Against the requirement of the law, Prince Madumere was not given fair hearing as

he was neither invited during the sitting of the investigative committee in the House of Assembly nor by the seven-man panel set up the Chief Judge.” The judges in the state have reportedly refused to swear in the anointed successor of Madumere, Calistus Ekenze in another unfolding drama in the state. The impeachment bug hit Benue state, when on July 30, 8 out of the 30 legislators allegedly aided by the Nigeria police stormed the state house of assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Samuel Ortom ostensibly for alleged corruption. Governor Ortom recently defected from APC to PDP, a development the high echelon of the ruling party described as an affront on the party and a threat to the ambition of the president in the state, which citizens have been largely killed by the Fulani herdsmen. However, the impeachment of Ortom failed as the high court in Makurdi, capital of Benue state, restrained the eight members led by former speaker Terkibir Ikyange of the state assembly from proceeding with the impeachment process on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Ikyange was removed as the Speaker of the Benue state House of Assembly. The presiding judge, Theresa Igoche also ordered security agencies to leave the premises of the assembly. In the same vein on July 30

the Speaker of the Kano state House of Assembly Abdullahi Ata was also impeached by the state legislators which governor Abdullahi Ganduje welcomed as good for democracy describing the impeachment as a smooth transition. But pundits said that the impeachment of Ata is to consolidate the powers of the Governor, who has promised to deliver 5 million votes to Buhari in 2019 especially now that the two political heavy weights in the state, Kwankwaso and Ibrahim Shekarau are backing the PDP. But the PDP has warned that the ‘contrived impeachments’ will not augur well for Nigerian democracy. The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, deplored the purported service of impeachment notice on Benue Governor, Ortom, by eight members of the House of Assembly. The statement said: “The NWC of the PDP condemns in its entirety the purported sitting of eight APC members, including the impeached and suspended Speaker. “This purported happened in a 30-member House, wherein they illegally claimed to have served an impeachment notice on the Governor of Benue, Dr Samuel Ortom.” Ologbondiyan admonished PDP members, particularly those in Benue, to remain firm in their quest to sustain the nation’s democracy.

Sunday 05 August 2018

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Politics

Gay mood in Rivers over PDP gains from gale of defections IGNATIUS CHUKWU

he sad gloom that descended on government officials and people of Rivers State the week Ekiti State election was conducted seems to have given way to brightness and backslapping as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gains hugely from the defection of political heavyweights from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Most groups had moodily condemned the way Ayo Fayose’s group lost out in Ekiti and compared the APC and FG tactics in Ekiti to what may happen in Rivers State in 2019. The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, openly condemned the events in Ekiti and called it a threat to democracy. The foot soldiers in the state reviewed the Ekiti invasion and began suggesting new ways to contain any number of soldiers sent to the state. This was going on when the gale of defections began. As 14 senators and about 27 House of Reps members defected, the governor said democracy was witnessing growth in Nigeria. When Bukola Saraki joined, the happy state governor said 2019 was becoming a clear matter. His supporters and allies began making more elaborate statements. When Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State defected, Wike was simply beside himself with joy of a new hope. He declared the defection as victory for democracy, noting that every right-thinking Nigerian should work in unity to salvage the country in 2019. Wike said: “This is a victory for democracy. There are lots of Nigerians who believe that the right thing should be done. What the Sokoto State Governor has done, is the right thing. “There are some people who have said that we cannot continue to live in a world of intimidation. We cannot continue to live in a world of harassment. Every right-thinking Nigerian should come together to see that something is done to salvage the country “. Governor Wike said things had degenerated to the level that all Nigerians must resist intimidation and work for the good of all. “I am aware that with what he has done today, the next line of action, the APC Federal Government will unleash the EFCC on Sokoto State Governor and his government.

Gov Wike explaining the significance of the mass defections to PDP “There are so many Nigerians who are waiting. I encourage them to be a part of history. If you don’t come out to support what is happening for Nigeria to regain its glory, when the history is written, your name will not be there”, Governor Wike said. He said that Nigerians should not be swayed by claims that the APC leaders are not worried. The governor added that Tambuwal as speaker of the House of Representatives led the formation of the coalition that prompted the victory of APC in 2015. He said that the negative actions of the failed APC Federal Government is threatening the root of democracy in the country. “Democracy is under threat in Nigeria. Nobody obeys court judgments. Nobody obeys the rule of law. If you say anything they come after you. That is no democracy. Democracy means allowing people to have different opinions”, he said. Governor Wike said that Rivers State is one of the states that is facing the worst form of harassment from the APC Federal Government. He noted he will never be deterred by the intimidation of the APC Federal Government.

“I am ready to be part of history. I am ready to be part of the positive change in the country in 2019. Some governors who cannot win elections based on their performance are merely hanging on because they believe that if Buhari runs, they will win. Those who are left in APC are afraid of intimidation by the EFCC. Some people are lilly-livered, so they cannot come out”. The governor said that the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu is simply facing political intimidation because of political developments in the country. Speaking further, Governor Wike said recent developments in the country have shown that Former President Goodluck Jonathan is Nigeria’s hero of democracy. “Nigerians know that Jonathan is the real hero of democracy in this country. For a sitting President not to have used his office to do what these people are doing today, he is the hero of democracy in Nigeria. “APC should be celebrating Jonathan because he could have done the same things they are doing today”, he said. Governor Wike said that all PDP leaders were working

as a team to ensure victory in 2019. He said the defections are a collective response to the failure of governance at the National level where there have been no projects delivery or security across the country. As the reactions continued, the Rivers State chairman of the PDP, Felix Obuah, said the development had brightened the chances of party’s victory come 2019. Obuah said their departure has inevitably put the APC in total disarray, stressing that the development has confirmed the unwavering position of the PDP that the ruling APC was visionless, lame duck and has nothing to offer the Nigerian masses other than poverty, hunger and bloodletting. Recalling that the decampees which include the senate president, the Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; National Publicity Secretary of APC, Bolaji Abdullahi and a host of some State Assembly members constituted the ‘heart and soul’ of APC, Obuah said the development now marks the end of the road for the APC. The State PDP chairman

said the ultimate beneficiaries of the development were the generality of the Nigerian citizens whose political system, he said, has been transformed to that of animal kingdom where sheer opposing views were regarded as coup d’état that must be suppressed with gunshots and machine guns through the instrumentality of willing security agents. “This hurricane that is blowing in the APC goes to support the fact that whatever you sow is what you will reap. They came through the backdoor but Nigerians are now wiser and seeing their true colours. PDP remains the hope for Nigerians and is gearing up to salvage the country, come 2019”, Obuah said, adding that the defection of these APC big-wigs is just a tip of the iceberg as many more defections might be witnessed in the coming weeks. While commending the decampees for doing the needful, Obuah expressed optimism that their action would boost and embolden the confidence of their teeming supporters to emulate their worthy example so that collectively Nigeria would be rescued from a draconian regime that is reminiscent of first century barbarians which the APC represents.

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Sunday 05 August 2018

Politics Lamentation in A/Ibom over FG’s abracadabra with derivation funds from oil producing states ANIEFIOK UDONQUK, Uyo

nder the 1999 Constitution (as amended), oil producing states which are found mostly in the Niger Delta region of the country are entitled to 13 percent derivation oil revenue from the Federal Government. The payment, which is based on oil producing quota from each of the states, is meant to ameliorate the negative impact of oil producing and exploration and to fast-track the development of the region which had suffered neglect from successful administrations. It was meant to check militant activities of the region which heightened with the agitation for resource control many years ago. Though the agitation may have died down not because all the contending issues have been resolved but a sub-regional body, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has taken up the mandate. When Victor Attah was governor of Akwa Ibom State between 1999 and 2007, one critical issue that he had to deal with was that of 13 percent derivation which later snowballed into the campaign for resource control. Quite vividly, Attah’s major complaint was that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was unwilling to pay the full 13 percent derivation to the state, adding that what the state was receiving at that time was far less than what was provided for in the constitution. Under the current sharing formula, the Federal Government takes the lion’s share of 52.68 percent from the Federation Account. The 36 states of the federation take 26.72 percent, while the balance of 20.60 percent is given to the 774 local governments in the country. Fast forward to 2018, nothing seemed to have changed as Governor Udom Emmanuel has also accused the Federal Government of not paying full derivation to Akwa Ibom State. While the Federal Government is quick to withhold the allocation of states, when it is not answerable to any group on how it spends its share of the allocation despite the clamour for a new revenue sharing formula that should be in favour of the states and the local governments. According to Governor Emmanuel, the Federal Government has withheld the derivation funds for the state, bringing financial constraints on the state government after it failed to remit N6.8 billion to the state government. “As at today, they’ve withheld all our derivation funds, we have not gotten anything out of the derivation for last month. Within

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his entourage during a courtesy call in Uyo.

two months, they have dropped the allocation of Akwa Ibom State by N6.8billion, so you can imagine how much I was able to get, all in the name of politics. I’m still trying to pay salaries for July,” the governor cried out. That has been the situation that states in the Niger Delta have found themselves and it appears it will persist with no hope of abating. While the states are grappling with the environmental degradation and the negative impact of oil exploration, they are at the same time being denied the benefit of the derivation fund which is clearly stated in the constitution. Meanwhile, the governor has expressed the hope that if the PDP comes to power once again, it would address the injustice in the payment of the fund. Speaking when he received Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he assured of fairness and sincerity in the process that would produce the candidate to fly the PDP flag during the 2019 presidential race, explaining that the party has deliberately refused to identify with any aspirant at the moment, in order to ensure a level playing ground for all aspirants. According to the governor, “people keep asking the PDP, ‘who is your candidate?’. It is a pure deliberate act to allow democracy to thrive. You would never see any governor openly identifying with any presidential aspirant. All of us want to leave it on a free, fair and level playing ground”. He expressed delight at the quality of aspirants from the umbrella party, vying for the ticket for the nation’s number one seat, hoping that Nigerians would appreciate the seriousness of the

party when the array of intellectuals are eventually presented to them and voted for an opportunity for aspirants to briefly address the nation on a live programme to convince Nigerians on what the PDP was actually ‘ bringing to the table’. While applauding the oratorical prowess of Turaki, and his eloquent analysis of the country’s problems, the State Chief Executive noted that such understanding would make it easier to correct the anomaly, wishing him success in his ambitions and reiterated that “Power belongs to God and if you are destined to get there, nothing can stop that from happening”. He also appreciated the Director-General of the campaign organisation, for laying out salient points to consider in choosing the party flag bearer, pointing out, however, that the PDP is interested in ensuring that the Presidency remains in the North in the next political dispensation, adding, “so that they can complete their tenure and leave it for us and when it comes to the South, we’ll decide where it goes to”. Emmanuel expressed the hope that every action taken and processes leading to the general election in 2019, would be aimed towards the success of the party and condemned the reckless disregard to democratic norms displayed by eight lawmakers in the Benue State House of Assembly. On his part, Turaki lauded Governor Emmanuel for the achievements, describing him as the best performing governor in Nigeria and the pride of the nation, while applauding his dynamism in governing the state and attributed it to his pedigree in the private sector. “I want to repeat it here, today, you are the best performing gov-

ernor in Nigeria and the pride of the nation. This is not an accident, your background in the private sector as one of the few specialists in corporate governance in this country, placed you in a better position because not only do you have education, you have knowledge and experience”. Turaki added, “The governor is an accomplished professional who has risen to the Zenith of his profession; that is why in Akwa Ibom, the system is not only working but working well, not only efficient but carries everybody along, giving everyone a sense of belonging. This is what we need in Nigeria”. The presidential hopeful, who is a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, said that so far, his team has toured about 21 states in the country interacting with PDP faithful, stressing that the quality of leaders and supporters they met at the State Party Secretariat, was the best they had seen and maintained that their belief that Akwa Ibom is a core PDP state, was not misplaced. He urged Nigerians to be careful in the calibre of people they elect into positions of authority to avoid individuals who have nothing to offer, to misgovern the country and destroy the economy, lamenting the situation in Benue State where eight state legislators, assisted by security agents, attempted to undermine clear provisions of the High Court and described the impunity as unfortunate and regrettable. Turaki, who hails from the same zone with President Buhari, decried the high rate of killings and insecurity in the country, noting, “Never in our history have we been so divided in this country along regional, ethnic and other

primordial lines, so much that Nigerians are beginning to doubt the workability of the Nigeria project. There is despondency, anger fear and there is mistrust.” He asserted that the country needs to be saved from imminent collapse. He condemned the obvious neglect of the Niger Delta Region by the government at the centre, explaining that the injustice and failure of the Federal Government to honour agreements earlier entered with communities of oil producing states in the region, have given rise to restiveness, which he claimed, was justifiable. Recounting the failed promises of the present administration, he also pointed out that the Nigerian constitution has been “hopelessly skewed”, promising that if given the ticket to contest and eventually emerge as the president of the country, he would ensure amendment of the constitution and laws against proper restructuring of the Nigerian nation as well as implementation of the 2014 Nigerian National Conference report. He called for intense work and committed efforts to be able to actualise the aspirations of the people in resurrecting the economy, urging Nigerians to continue putting faith in the PDP as the party to deliver the nation from the plagues currently ravaging it. He indicated that the PDP has learnt from previous mistakes and working assiduously to effect corrections. Earlier, the Director-General of the Campaign Organisation, Boni Haruna, said that the team was on consultation tour with a mission to try and secure the PDP Presidential ticket, adding that the concern of every party member, was, producing a capable candidate that would contest against the main opposition presidential candidate. Haruna, who is a former governor of Adamawa State, said that Turaki is a credible candidate in all ramifications, in terms of integrity, character, resourcefulness and enormous knowledge to understand and conceptualise the problems of Nigeria and proffer sustainable solutions. He recommended that the party should ensure that the PDP flag bearer is drawn from the same zone where the APC candidate comes from, explaining that it would minimise the risk of allowing room for block votes to be harvested by the opposition, during the election. Haruna stressed: “Election is not only about winning but winning with substantial and reasonable margin that even the defeated, would have nothing to say. Let us have the best for the 2019 presidential election against the APC presidential candidate”.

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Politics Oshiomhole must be losing sleep now

CHUKS OLUIGBO

f John Odigie-Oyegun, immediate past national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were a vindictive man, he would be sitting over some chilled bottles of cognac with friends in his house right now having a good laugh and sneering at all those who plotted his exit from office and saying, “Serves you right!” Like the proverbial lizard that fell from the iroko, he would also beat his chest in self-adulation as he recounts his achievements as national chairman of the ruling party. He would say, “If for no other thing, my tenure witnessed massive influx of quality politicians into the APC, and I led the party to victory in 2015 when we made history as the first political party in Nigeria to defeat an incumbent president.” The story is, however, different for his successor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, whose barely-onemonth-old tenure as national chairman of the ruling party has witnessed exodus of tsunamic proportions, with many more defections projected to be on the way. Maybe it is too early in the day to conclude, but there are some who believe that much of what APC laboured to achieve in the past few years may have been rolled back already, and by the time Oshiomhole’s tenure is over, nothing would be left of the ruling party. That these defections may have been conceived long before Oshiomhole took over the mantle as APC national chairman is not in doubt. As Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha put it in a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, a few days back, “What is happening in the party now could not have been planned and executed within these few weeks Oshiomhole took over as the national chairman of the party.” Some political pundits, however, say they had expected that the former Edo State governor would have used his much-touted negotiating skills to halt the mass exodus. Rather, he was said to have dashed the hopes of many that he would reconcile the various factions across the states who felt short-changed by their governors at the party congresses. That these defections occurred in spite of Oshiomhole being in charge is, therefore, seen by many as a failure on the part of the new national chairman. The reasons are not far-fetched. Among the justifications given for President Muhammadu Buhari’s preference for Oshiomhole for the position of APC national chairman include his wealth of knowledge and political experience.

Oshiomhole

Oshiomhole, one of the founding members of APC who contributed to the merger process, was seen by his keen supporters as “a hard-nosed, pragmatic, handson campaigner who talks a good game and who can rally support for an incumbent who will need all the support he can get ahead of a major election season”. So, ahead of the APC national convention, not only President Buhari but also Bola Tinubu, national leader of the party, APC state governors and many party heavyweights had thrown their collective weight behind Oshiomhole, putting immense pressure on the other contestants, former Cross River State Governor Clement Ebiri and former Edo State Governor Oserheimen Osunbor, to shelve their ambition. Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu had said Oshiomhole was “experienced in various aspects of national life” and had had “collective experience in the recent past as governor of Edo State, one of the most successful leaders of trade union, and a democratic activist all his life”. “These qualities will be brought to bear in achieving the ideals of the APC. So, we believe he will be a leader, he will be the embodiment of the spirit of the party and the experience will help him to make the party grow,” Bagudu had said. On his part, Governor Okorocha had affirmed that the former labour leader had the credentials to lead the party to success in 2019. “I have no doubts in my mind that Oshiomhole when elected will show the way. Oshiomhole’s coming in as national chairman of APC is bad news to other political parties. Adams Oshiomhole is a dogged fighter, a man who can face challenges, and I have no doubt that you will strengthen APC when elected,” Okorocha had said in a

goodwill message delivered when Oshiomhole formally declared his interest to contest for the party chairmanship. “Today, our party is going through some challenges and I must commend those who helped fight for this party even before this time; they have done well, but the fight ahead, the challenges ahead, are greater and we need great men like Adams Oshiomole to do this job,” he had said. Some others had also pointed to Oshiomhole’s persuasive powers and negotiating skills which, they said, would be indispensible in resolving the long-drawn internal crisis as well as the fractured relations that had characterised the party after its congresses. “He is a tested administrator. He had led what could pass as the strongest union in the country, the NLC, through challenging times and he was able to make his mark as a good leader,” Chris Oguoma, then a factional chairman of APC in Imo State, had said. “As the governor of Edo State, he also left a solid imprint. Without mincing words, he is the best man to lead our party at this point in its history. We need his experience to bring the party together again, to heal the party and position it for greater successes in the future,” Oguoma had said. Oshiomhole himself had also referred to his ability to listen, manage divergences, and exercise persuasive powers and negotiating skills, all of which he said he learnt as a labour union leader. He had also promised, among other things, to work for the unity of the party, “reposition the party for a united Nigeria”, “ensure proper management of the party”, and “provide leadership that will be firm, fair, just, transparent, faithful, and loyal to the members of the party”.

But now the time has come to put those skills to the test, Oshiomhole seems to have been found wanting. Rather, he is now being seen as a tactless, impatient, and undiplomatic leader, an attackdog, and an undertaker who has come to nail the coffin of APC. When an aggrieved faction of the APC, made up of mostly former PDP chieftains who had joined the party in 2014 under the auspices of the nPDP, formed the Reformed APC (R-APC) and threatened to leave the ruling party, Oshiomhole described them as mercenaries, said he was not threatened by them and would not lose sleep over their threats, and that he had been engaging the “real stakeholders” in trying to resolve the crisis in the party. Following the first batch of defections in the National Assembly on July 24, in which the APC lost a total of 15 senators (one later went back home) and 37 members of the House of Representatives, Oshiomhole bragged that he would not lose sleep over the incident. Speaking after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Oshiomhole said the defecting lawmakers were masquerades with little or no electoral value to the party and that their defection would not affect President Buhari’s chances in the 2019 elections. Reacting to Oshiomhole’s comment, Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and one of the defecting senators, told the APC chairman not to conclude in a hurry as 2019 would tell. “Let me remind him on how Kwankwaso nearly emerged the APC presidential flag-bearer in 2015, which clearly shows how popular Kwankwaso is. It is not a fiction that Kwankwaso in 2015 APC primaries in Lagos came second to Buhari which shows

clearly in Nigerian politics he is a force to be reckoned with,” said Kwankwaso, who spoke through his aide, Binta Sipikin. “Let me say clearly that by 2019, we will show to the whole world that Kwankwaso is truly a force to reckon with when it comes to Nigerian politics,” he said. But before the dust would settle on the first set of defections, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, who had been on a back-and-forth over his fate in the APC, finally left the ruling for the PDP carrying with him some members of the state assembly, commissioners, and local government chairmen. Despite his grandstanding, Oshiomhole’s response to Ortom’s exit from the APC did not show a man who was not losing sleep over the defections from his party. The same man who had only a few days earlier rained encomiums on Ortom made an automatic volteface and said Ortom was the worst thing to have happened to the Benue people. Just last week, another gale of earth-shaking defections hit the ruling party and by the time it was over, APC big-wigs like Senate President Bukola Saraki, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa Ahmed Ibeto, APC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, along with with their coterie of supporters and loyalists were in the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Again, Oshiomhole’s reaction has shown a man whose sleep has been cut short even if he pretends not to be aware of it. Just a few days back, he called on Saraki to vacate his seat as Senate president since he was no longer in the APC. He even said there was no difference between a senator, a president, a journalist and any other person since it is one man, one vote on election day – as if oblivious of the crowd a top-ranking politician can control in a country like Nigeria. But not only Oshiomhole, the ruling party has gone into overdrive holding several frantic meetings behind closed doors. Even some agencies under the control of the APC-led Federal Government have been unleashed to hound some of the defectors, including being brazenly used in failed impeachment attempts. But assuming that Oshiomhole is truly not losing sleep, perhaps, it is time for him to really forget about sleep at all and spend his nights working out how to gather up what is left of the APC. If not, he may wake up from his slumber someday soon to realise that the party he was elected its national chairman on June 24, 2018 has become a crumbled pack of cards.

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Politics ‘Governor Emmanuel will be re-elected based on his achievements’ Ephraim Inyangeyen is the Akwa Ibom State commissioner for works. Apart from superintending over the construction of several roads and bridges, he is considered to the governor’s right hand man. In this interview with ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, he gives reasons why the governor deserves to be re-elected and rejects insinuations that the governor entered into an agreement to serve a single term. Excerpts: Few months to the election year, Akwa Ibom government is still constructing many roads, how long can this be sustained? he governor believes that working for the people will determine his next level; he believes that his tomorrow will be determined by God and the people of Akwa Ibom State that is what he working for. I’ve found real and genuine Akwa Ibom people who truly tell me that I should pass on to the Governor that they never knew some roads that are done would ever be done. So the question is, “because of election, you suspend development in your state and where is that money going to?” Without anybody pressuring you, with what governor Udom Emmanuel has done, people will vote for him. So, to answer your question, we will remain on site, we will remain working because, Udom Emmanuel has brought a true change to the infrastructure dynamics of Akwa Ibom State and the people are happy for him. You cannot stop doing what is right because the people are appreciating what he is doing; he is not going to buy the heart of the people. What he has got to do is to sustain his good works and the people will decide. They will make their choices. I am told that some states are not paying salaries for months and apart from the social media where people say that salaries are not paid in Akwa Ibom, but I know that there is no month that by 24th to 25th that civil servants do not receive their salary in Akwa Ibom State.

Ibom State cannot afford, the governor would not even accept it, that we do a shoddy job. So the problem between Akwa Ibom State government and the NDDC is the nonexistent problem.

About a year or two ago, there was a disagreement between your ministry and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over the execution of projects, how has this been sorted out? Well, let me put it this way, we expected that NDDC would be coming to support the governor of Akwa Ibom State to add value to the lives of our people and we expected that they will tell the governor of Akwa Ibom State we want to help you here, where do you need help so that they will be no double effort but what we discovered and we said it was wrong. The governor goes to a community and makes pronouncement the following day NDDC will deploy equipment, sometimes without contract paper. Exactly what happened the on the Youth Avenue in Uyo metropolis, when the Accountant General of the state did thanksgiving, it was on a public holiday and he asked ministry of works that he wants that road to be done and on Wednesday morning we saw equipment being moved to the road and we asked ‘where is the contract paper?’ There was none, where is the design?

Inyangeyen

Where will the drainage be? There was none. I put a call to the director in charge of project in Akwa Ibom, he said he has not awarded the contract, so it was a political thing and I said, you can’t do a road in Akwa Ibom without a design, without a contract, somebody we can hold and they left. NDDC is expected to complement the effort of the state government because this is our money, not NDDC’s money Akwa Ibom today being the highest oil producer gives the highest contribution to NDDC, so we would welcome those projects but not substandard project, not inferior quality project that every time rain comes it washes off, that money is recorded against our state in the books at the centre that 18 roads were done in Akwa Ibom and in the actual truth, no road was done and we will go back to square one, that is just the truth of it. About two months ago, the governor received a plea from the people of Edemeya (where the NDDC managing director comes from) that there was no road linking Edemeya and other communities. The governor directed me to visit the area. I was walking through a bush path to get to the area, out of the five or four wards of Edemeya. I got there and report back to the governor, that it is actually true that this area needs intervention. He directed that we should do a survey, we were still doing the survey, but what I heard when I came back was that NDDC has also sent people to go and do a survey. Why that particular one that has been lying down there till

the governor spoke? And if we pull out of that project now, they will abandon it. It was the same with Abak hospital road that people were talking about. I went there, I went back to brief the governor, I was the one who told the governor, let us do the holistic thing and do the project within that area to collect the water, and do drainage that can receive the whole of that storm water and discharge it into the ravine. We were on the design when NDDC put up a sign post, and we said okay, good enough, and we left, it became a political issue and Abak people said they have been abandoned, that nobody cared for them, the ministry of works in Akwa

I will sincerely tell you that most of the people we were working with were the youth of Oro nation, all the think-tank of Oro nation went to the other camp

You are considered to be the governor’s right hand man. There is this talk that the Governor entered into an agreement with the Oron people to serve for only one term and that after that Oron people will do one term for the Eket Senatorial District to complete eight years. How true is this? I want to be very emphatic here. Oron is in my senatorial district, the people are my kiths and kin. There must have been people in that meeting, a document must have been signed I may not have been there, where are these documents? Who were the people that were there that heard this discussion. Please, don’t forget at the time Governor Udom Emmanuel was emerging, Oron people had massively, through Oron Development Union had gone to the other camp. I will sincerely tell you that most of the people we were working with were the youth of Oro nation, all the think-tank of Oro nation went to the other camp. So who were the team that led this delegation, where did they meet, who did they discuss with and where is the document? I believe with all my heart that one thing Governor Udom Emmanuel will not do is to lie. People believe that in government you must lie to get things done but I am of a different school of thought that is why I am able to work freely with the Governor. The Governor calls it the way it is. There was no such understanding, talk less of documentation. If you tell me that the then governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio must have had some understanding or said something I may not argue because I was not there, Governor Udom Emmanuel was not there. But at the beginning or during the process leading to Udom Emmanuel being elected the governor, I will say it is a figment of imagination of those who are saying it. There were reports that you were invited by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) due to your relationship with estate valuers or so; can you explain why you were invited? I will do just that and I will take time to explain it. In the compensation payment component that we met when we came on board in 2015, I’ve said it time and time again, it was open to abuse in the sense that one man was the estate valuer, that same man would make payment. On that basis, the governor said it was open to abuse and directed that we decongest that arrangement. So what we did was break the system into three, have the

Sunday 05 August 2018

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Politics estate valuer to value for government, after valuation, you bring the report to the ministry of works, we go out for physical verification, after the physical verification, the report is approved and given to a payment consultant. So if you had over valued a property for whatever reason, you will not enjoy the goodies because you are not going to be paid. You are not even associated with the payment. And if you are overvalued, what I have done that has brought a lot of attack which I don’t mind is that if we go out for the physical verification of every property, if there are five storey buildings and this one is N20 million, another is N5 million and another is N8 million, we will call to question and we will meet them and ask why is this storey building this high and this one too low and many times, the reconciliation has been in favour of government and once we take that report from you, you are no longer having anything to do with that document. If I don’t find a property physically standing as at the day of my verification, it is eliminated from the list. It is what I don’t remove that the payment consultant pays based on the valuation and we pay 90percent which is the net to the property owner. The 10percent is supposed to be kept for the property owner who has not given out power of attorney to anybody but we also discover that some property owners were deceived into giving out power of attorney. There are several others that three, four, five different people have the power of attorney and so in the circumstances we will suspend the payment because you don’t know who to pay to. Some people came back to withdraw their power of attorney so in that mixed up there were confusions and the ministry suspended that payment. We’ve even gone ahead in the last two months to set up a verification team by the valuers but they are yet to submit their report. So what we concentrated in paying was the net value to have right of way. These people that have been beneficiaries of the system have been shut down and they now are claiming that if we have N50 million to pay they should be prioritised and I don’t agree with that. I went to EFFC but by the time I gave the explanation and I told EFCC, you are not tax collectors. If anybody has any problem against government, he should go to court. We have done the best form of compensation payment, the most transparent in the history of this state and time will tell who is telling the truth. Is the payment of compensation delaying the execution of projects? No. Every project that the government has funded, the contractor always gives us a percentage to pay the compensation. What we have eliminated was that wholesome payment. Before now, money would be released to the contractor, he surrenders all of it and pays compensation for 10 kilometres and no money is left for construction and they would say that the road is abandoned. We now have a strategy that we will pay by installment. Even if you give me N5 million, I will not pay a whole sum as compensation. You give a contractor N5 million, the highest you can ask him to give is N250,000 because the other N4.75 million would not construct two kilometres of road, so why take the

money and pay compensation and leave the road undone? What is more critical is not the compensation payment, it’s the construction of the road that is what people are going to use. So what we do is, we pay in alignment with the work done. Any road that the contractor has not exhausted the right of way earlier provided, we don’t pay any new one. So any road that construction is not going on means that government for that period has not funded that project and therefore there will be no compensation payment on that road but as soon as government funds that project, we take a small percentage of that money to pay compensation and the work must finish on the portion that has been paid for. So there are expectations and there are false expectations where people celebrate when their houses are on the right of way, they believe that they will make a whole lot of money. A company, VKS is handling the road from Nkana in Etinan to Awa in ONNA , it cuts across Afaha group of villages, the drainage has been made but the road seemed to have been abandoned, what is happening? That community is not being fair to the government. The governor doesn’t just sit over that community, the sits over the entire state. The governor rations the money into several projects. The governor initiated that project and it’s at 60percent completion so that community should rather be thanking governor for God to provide more and it will be completed. They wouldn’t think that because governor has come to that place to start that job every other project because it is not in his neighborhood should be suspended. It is not done that way. This governor is the governor of the entire Akwa Ibom People. When I leave here now, I’m going to Obot Okara, I am going to Nto Edino, those are the places we have to get to in the outermost part of the state, they are parts of this state. So for the people of Awa group of villages to think that the governor who has come and has done 60percent will not finish the road in their area and they are angry, I think they are not being fair. Let me also tell you this, there is a major trunk road that if it is not completed, the other ones inside will not have value. Which one is more important, Etinan-Ndon-Eyo road or the Awa village road? The governor is a strategic thinker and he believes that if we can do Ikot Oku Ikono- Etinan road, Etinan-Ndon Eyo road, Etinan-Eket road to open up the main system, the other small alignment can take place. So the governor right now is concentrating on finishing Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road rather than go into one village to do one small road. How do you even access the road when the main alignment has not been done? If the governor leaves Etinan-Ndon Eyo that is going to be the centre piece to open up the entire state to construct the Awa-Nkana road it would not make sense that you drive in a bush track and enter a tarred road in your village. Delay for about three or four months does not mean that it has been abandoned. Every project on road started by this government will be completed, they could be delayed because of funding programme but believe me, the governor is determined to get all of them to their completion.

Killing the monster of vote-buying in the nation’s electoral process INIOBONG IWOK

lthough election rigging has been a serious problem in Nigeria, it is, unfortunately, growing in leaps and bounds at every election. It comes in many forms. A number of government officers have acknowledged in the past that they got into office through rigging. In Nigeria, ballot-snatching, figure alteration, bribing of electoral officers, intimidation of opponents through the use of security agents, multiple voting, among many others are known to many. Recently, vote-buying emerged as the greatest threat to nation’s electoral system. Since the advent of the current Fourth Republic in 1999, Nigeria’s electoral system has been plagued with several anomalies, ranging from; ballot box snatching, thuggery, mal-functioning of voting machines, godfatherism and to INEC’s tendency to adopt fire-brigade approach towards preparation for elections. These ills have affected the credibility of elections in the country, plunged the electoral system into chaos, while promoting irresponsible and bad governance. In recent times, vote-buying has emerged as the new impediment to the conduct of free and fair elections in the country. The automation of the electoral process since the 2015 general election, through the use of Permanent Voters Card, (PVC) has helped in checking rigging of elections across the country, though not new to nation’s voting process, vote-buying appears to be a new trend, which has become very pervasive. In the recently held gubernatorial elections in Anambra and Ekiti states, there were reports of vote- buying and open inducement of voters with money, ranging from N500 to N700 by the two leading political parties in the country; the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). What is interesting to note is that this act was brazenly carried out in the open in the polling units, and the full glare of security agents and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). There were also reports of party agents; who were armed with the voters’ registers in wards across the state, moving from house to house, offering money to residents whose names could be found in the registers in return for votes. The Ekiti State government was also accused of offering each voter between the sum of N4, 000 to N7, 000. Similarly, the Ekiti State workers and pensioners, who had been owed several months’ salaries, were reported to have received alert of N7, 000 a day before the election. As the 2019 general election approaches, political observers have raised concern about the trend, while urging that it must be urgently nipped-in-the-bud by relevant agencies. INEC, which is constitutionally charged with the conduct of elections in the country and empowered by the electoral laws to deal with election s to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of these crimes, which pursued has the tendency of distracting the Commission. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who spoke with BDSUNDAY on condition of anonymity as he is one of the litigants in the Ekiti State gubernatorial election tribunal, said that the trend was worrisome, stressing that there was little INEC could do, while advocating for a stakeholder-meeting to find a solution to the ugly trend. “The electoral law and other laws in the land empower INEC to deal with the issue

of vote-buying. Vote-buying can be tagged as election malpractice; it is a criminal act. If it happens in the voting centre it can lead to immediate arrest of those doing it. But how many issues can INEC deal with? INEC would be busy with the conduct of the elections. “All the parties are guilty of this offence. The one that happens in the Government House in Ekiti; how would INEC deal with that? You can arrest at the voting centres, but other places could be difficult. “If the issue is left with INEC alone there is little that can be achieved; there has to be a concerted effort from INEC and the political parties in dealing with the issue. There has to be stakeholders’ meeting. “When voters are beinginduced, it means they are voting for the wrong candidates which would affect governance, lead to poor governance and undermine the electoral process” he said. Muhammed Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Member, Information and Voter Education Committee, recently expressed concern about the trend ahead of 2019 general election. “The Commission reviewed the conduct of the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State and preparations for the September 22, 2018 Osun governorship election. It noted the satisfactory conduct of the Ekiti governorship election as attested to by both domestic and international observers, the media and other stakeholders. “The meeting also noted with deep concern, the rising phenomenon of vote-buying during elections and restated its commitment and determination to continue to work with all stakeholders, especially the security agencies, to stem the ugly trend”. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, in an interview with BDSUNDAY recently, said that the Commission was strategising on modalities for checking vote-buying during the 2019 general election, adding that it would adopt a method that would make it difficult to reveal which political party a voter was casting vote for. “But INEC is looking at the protocols involved in the process of casting the ballot; the voting cubicles and how ballot papers will be folded on election-day. The plan is to make it very difficult, if not impossible, for a voter to be able to reveal which party he or she has voted for during the 2019 general election,” he said. “All stakeholders, not only INEC, must come together to deal with the threat that vote-buying poses to our elections and democracy. All Nigerians should be concerned. In the real sense, it is not a new phenomenon, but I consider it a welcome development that serious attention is being given to it now, arising from what happened during the Ekiti governorship election,” Oyekanmi said. A chieftain of the Accord Party (AP), Yemi Kool, said that the trend was likely to continue if perpetrators were not punished, stressing that the political elite was capitalising on the high poverty rate among Nigerians. “The trend may continue, become as it is now the ruling party is the one doing it the most; look at what happened in Ekiti, they also tried it in Anambra. It is done in the presence of the police without any action. It would continue until the people involve are brought to book,” Kool said. With about six months before the general election, and impending governorship elections in Osun in September, it has become imperative that political stakeholders in the country, must urgently rally and find a lasting solution to the trend, to give more credibility to the electoral process.

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Sunday 05 August 2018

Politics Supporters open fresh wounds in Magnus Abe versus Dakuku Peterside faceoff IGNATIUS CHUKWU

he separation that has continued to grow wide between two prominent members of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) family since 2014, Magnus Abe and Dakuku Peterside, over who should fly the gubernatorial flag of the party, has continued to grow wider. Even in the face of the gale of defections from the national ruling party to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the silence that greeted the APC seems to return to hostile noise as new bullets begin to fly across the trenches. The first bullet flew from a chieftain of the APC, a chief, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, who has just berated those blaming the current challenges facing Senator Magnus Abe over his gubernatorial ambition on Nigeria’s Transportation Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. He rather said that Abe is the architect of his travails.

Peterside camp fires at Magnus Abe: ‘Abe blew his chance by not helping Peterside in 2015’ Eze, in a statement he signed and circulated to media organisations, revealed that APC had worked out a formula where Peterside, its gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 election, would complete his terms in office, whenever elected as governor. He said Abe was to take the ticket later as that would have satisfied the riverine agitation, answered the Ogoni Question and pacified the South East senatorial district. The contentious statement by Eze is that; “But Abe worked against it in 2015 by refusing to support Peterside, and by so doing, undermined his own ambition”. According to Eze, who said he is an ally of the key actors in Rivers APC, the three major unresolved issues facing Rivers State politics which he said are the sharing of political power along the upland and riverine dichotomy; the challenge of the South East senatorial district that have not produced an elected Governor since the creation of the State in 1967 coupled with the fact of Ogoni not producing a governor since the creation of the state on May, 27th 1967, were to have been resolved under the APC formula. He said; “It can only take a sagacious, patriotic, practical, concerned and seasoned political leader like Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to find a solution to such seemingly sophisticated and impossible challenge facing Rivers State as stated above. “In this regard, by Peterside, who is from Rivers South East senatorial district that had yet to produce an elected governor, and the riverine area of the state, serving his full terms in office, a solution to this seemingly impossible situation was proffered.” Eze continued: “Amaechi, whose love for Abe knows no bound as he had maintained at various fora, had devised the means to address the issue of the Ogoni not producing a governor for the state since 1967 by positioning him to fly the flag of APC after Peterside may have ended his governorship, but sadly, Abe worked against it.

Abe

“So it beats my imagination for Abe and his team to continue to deceive outsiders that Amaechi is against his gubernatorial ambition to govern Rivers State instead of telling the world that he personally scuttled this holistic arrangement that would have addressed the issue of Ogoni once and for all.” Eze expressed sadness that instead of Abe to adhere to wise counsel and engage the elders and political leaders in Rivers State to dialogue on whatever may be the issues between him and his brother, Amaechi, he allegedly preferred to set up a what he called mischievous media team under a ‘cancerous Media strategist’ to be spewing out venomous, toxic and negative reports against the Minister of Transportation and leader of APC in Niger Delta region on daily basis. “I just wonder how such a plot or sponsored attacks against Amaechi could help his gubernatorial aspiration” Abe camp fires back; ‘Did Abe make Peterside lose in his hometown?’ In a swift reaction, a person who described himself as a frontline politician in Rivers State, Kuro Briggs, described the allegations made against Abe by Eze as ‘childish and unfortunate’. Kuro in a statement in Port Harcourt said, when a man like Eze who should have known better concerning the reputation of Abe becomes an agent of misinformation, then it calls for concern. He went on: “It is important to state here that Senator Abe never worked against Dr. Dakuku Peterside before and during 2015 general election as Eze mischievously claimed. It was reported by both international, local and INEC monitors that the 2015 elections in Rivers State did not meet the

Peterside

standards of an election even by Nigerian standards. Rivers people remember vividly that Abe himself was a candidate in that election and was a victim of the election like Peterside so how can Chief Eze come out four years later to blame Senator Abe for the outcome of the election?. What did Abe do for himself that he did not do for Peterside? Was it Abe that stopped the APC victory even in Opobo where Peterside himself comes from or Ikwerre Local Government where Amaechi comes from? It is on record that Abe campaigned vigorously for Peterside and indeed all APC candidates in the seven local government areas that make up his Senatorial District (Rivers South-East). He (Abe) paid for and released jingles on radio and television in support of Peterside and all the other APC candidates. I need not remind Eze that APC eventually got a reprieve in the courts, but Peterside lost at the Supreme Court. Was that also as a result of Senator Abe’s sabotage? In the rerun elections when voting was allowed, all APC candidates in Senator Abe’s senatorial district including those opposed to Abe won overwhelmingly, while those in other senatorial zones failed to do as well, was that also Senator Abe’s fault. Eze childishly argued that there was an agreement for Peterside to handover to Abe after eight years, really? Abe is older than Peterside. Both hail from the same senatorial district. So how could there have been an agreement for a younger man to go first and handover to his elder from the same zone. Abe is from a larger tribe Ogoni, Peterside is from Opobo, same place as High Chief Gabriel Toby, a former deputy governor of the state who ended his tenure

in 2007. So, why should the Opobo marginalization be addressed before that of Ogoni? What is Riverine? In Rivers State we have different tribal groups such as Igbani, Kalabari, Wakirike, Ogoni, Ikwerrre, Etche, Ogba etc. These are distinct groups, so to lump everyone under a general group called upland or Riverine is simply mischief and we all know it. This justify the continued marginalisation of the Ogoni people under the logic that because the Ikwerre people can represent the Ogoni people because they are both upland is also the same as arguing that the Kalabari has been Governor because a Wakirike son who is Riverine has been Governor. However, you look at it, Chief Eze’s tissue of lies is childish, unfortunate, laughable and designed to sow seeds of discord, hatred and distrust within the APC family against Senator Abe. At a time when men of Goodwill are making concerted efforts to mend fences and forge a common front and have one united party, Chief Eze has chosen to embark on a fruitless journey to create animosity and bitterness to satisfy his pay masters. It will earn Eze some self-worth to respect the achievements of people within the APC family who by dints of hard-work have attained respectable positions and carved a niche for themselves. Nobody can stop a man whose time has come! Conclusion: With this, the division within the APC in Rivers State seems not ready to mellow down and the dangers of electoral injury in the face of a strong opponent such as Governor Nyesom Wike with huge power of incumbency would be greater.

Sunday 05 August 2018

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Politics Attempt by 8 lawmakers to impeach Ortom is sickening - Lasun Yusuf Lasun, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant in Osun State, in this interview with KEHINDE AKINTOLA and select journalists, breaks silence on the alleged irregularities observed in the just concluded primary election in the state, the future of All Progressives Congress (APC) and other national issues. Excerpts: What is your reaction to the Benue State crisis triggered by the suspension of Benue State governor by eight lawmakers? hat action if it is true that eight members of the State House of Assembly served an impeachment notice to a serving governor then it means Nigeria is sliding back to bad days. It is not constitutional, it’s not reasonable, it’s not morally right and it can never be supported by anything. So, I still don’t believe people can still go back to that level; out of 30-member house, eight will sit and serve an impeachment notice on a serving governor. I think members should go back home, they are not qualified to be in the House of Assembly. They are not qualified.

Does it mean that you are in support of the governor? No, I’m not supporting the governor. The first and foremost is that the Constitution must be followed. You have a 30-member House and it is clearly written in the constitution that to serve an impeachment notice to the governor, you can first of all start with one-third which is 10. So, 10 must sign but to get the process through you need two-third and to impeach a governor is a process. Some people are even talking about it as if the impeachment is that easy, because after that you must go to the second reading supported by two-third of the members. Then after that, there will be a 7-man committee that will be set up. And having that 7- member committee incidentally the governor will have the opportunity to make nominations and other strata of the society will make nominations. So, the 7-member committee will sit and consider whatever is considered as misconduct of the governor. And send that to the House and it will be voted on by two-third again to complete the process. So it’s a long process. But for eight members to have served, which is not even up to the requirement in the first instance; it is appalling. Let’s talk about the just concluded primary election held in your state, Osun. How would you describe it? I don’t want to talk on that. I’m a gentle politician but those who organised the primary know that they are trying to destroy the party. But there are insinuations that you may soon dump the party? No, I’m a member of APC, nobody can drive me out of APC unless if I will drive people out of APC. Nobody, nobody, I repeat nobody can drive me out of APC but those who organise that primary

Lasun

they know they are going to destroy that party. So have you accepted the outcome of the primary? No, why would I accept that kind of primary when a direct primary was conducted in one state; one week after, another form of primary was conducted in another state. That chairman will destroy that party. The chairman of that party is going to destroy it. Let me be specific, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is going to destroy APC. I’ve not spoken since that primary but I’m speaking now nobody can drive me out of that party; I’m a member of APC. I’m going to stay right inside there, if the thing is going to collapse let it collapse on all of us. If it’s going to survive we are going to survive with it together. That man is going to destroy that party. So, are you challenging the outcome of the primary election? No, I’m not challenging anything. I want the party to either collapse or we survive. I’m not challenging anything. What is your take on the PDP caucus threat to stall the consideration of the virement submitted by President Buhari in the wake of the crisis trailing the impeachment of Governor Ortom of Benue State? The PDP caucus never said that; don’t forget that when we get to the House,

even if you’re going to consider partisan matter, it’s always in a manner that will be of interest to the whole nation. So, we don’t discuss partisan matters in a manner that will affect the health of the nation. So, PDP never said that. So if the President wants to bring a supplementary budget, let him bring it. But what the government has sent and what we have is a virement, not a supplementary budget. The Deputy Minority Leader has the right to say whatever he wants to say. As long as he wants to achieve those things with due legislative procedure legally, but whether he threatens or not, what is going on in Benue State now is sickening. It doesn’t make sense. Nigerians should not be found in that situation in the 21st Century. How can eight members sit out of 30 members and say they are serving impeachment process on a serving governor? It doesn’t make sense; nobody

No, I’m a member of APC, nobody can drive me out of APC unless if I will drive people out of APC

needs to discuss this because everybody should come out unless we no longer want representative democracy. If we no longer want representative democracy then everybody can go back home and sleep. What is your reaction to the allegation that the budgets of 38 agencies of government are more than what Mr. President signed? Yes, I said that and I can repeat it anytime. So, I’m still repeating them. You go back to what I said earlier that there are 38 agencies of government whose budgets run into trillions of naira every year and it’s not open to Nigerians. And I mentioned examples: CBN, NPA, NNPC, NIMASA, they are there plenty. Their budgets every year run into trillions and it’s not open to the public. So, what the public is aware of is only the one presented by the President and say eh, they have not approved the budget, they have not passed the budget, without thinking that that budget is not guiding their lives. The one that is actually guiding their lives are the budgets of those agencies of government and about 38 of them. But is the Legislature not concerned about that? We have always been concerned. In fact, for the first time in 2016 they brought those budgets in 2016 at a very, very latter day, since then you can’t see those budgets.

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Sunday 05 August 2018

Politics Defecting APC members are hungry, dead-wood politicians – Oyebolu Biodun Oyebolu was a former Lagos State chairman of the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) for ten years and current a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with INIOBONG IWOK, he assesses the state of the party, the Buhari administration, among other issues. Excerpts: How would you describe the Buhari administration in the last three-and-half years? he President has done well, beyond my expectation; especially when it comes to the fight against corruption. PDP was in power for 16 years, what did they do? Look at the second Niger-bridge, we are doing it. Jonathan was in government for a long time and the project fell to his zone he could not do it. This government is fighting corruption and you can see that people cannot steal money again; a lot of them have skeletons in their cupboard that is why they are afraid.

around Fayemi beat him to his game.

There is a general perception among the populace that the Buhari administration has failed? Nigerians sometime are intolerant of the pain of development. It was not easy to explain that PDP was there for 15 years; we met empty treasury and the economy was in bad shape; if you have an empty treasury, what do you do? But since we came on board things have picked up and the naira has gained significantly. It is the people that are corrupt, they want to cover their inadequacies, they want to blame the government for everything; Buhari has performed. The way it is now majority of Nigerians are just paying lip-service to corruption and we have a society where our moral values have eroded. It is unfortunate that Buhari is fighting the anti-graft war alone. I was the coordinator of his campaign, here I know what I did to ensure that he won the election in my pooling unit, both in my Federal Government and the state; afterward we were abandoned and not rewarded. I have known him for ten years; he came to join us and later left to start the CPC.

Do you think the President deserve a second term? Yes he has done well to deserve a second term. We must look beyond personal interest; so far so good; if he gets second term he would do more; there are lots of people acting as stumbling blocks, who are also corrupt politicians. I would work for him in the election. I am a loyal party member; I would still be in the ship come rain, come shine. How do you react to the recent defections in the APC? If you look at those people who decide to defect, their move was self-serving. Majority of them have questions to answer from the security agencies. Many of them are dead wood in their constituencies, but they just want to show they are popular; some of them are already coming back, even this morning they just want to use this to negotiate their future. Is it Melaye that cannot get anything in Kogi; so many of them; it is only Saraki that has the financial power and I don’t think this time around he would get so much grip of his state Kwara like before? Don’t you think the rAPC members complaints are genuine? Galadima who is the head of the group is well known to me; he came to the party to join ANPP. Whatever their grievance is they should be loyal to the party and I know that their defection is self-serving. As a politician you should look at the bigger picture and not immediate goal. They are doing this because they want to steal and they have been given the chance. I was one of Lagos State coordinators for the Buhari 2015 presidential campaign, I won in my wards, local government, we also won the state, in spite of this I was not given anything, either appointment or contract but I am still loyal to the party. Their defection would not affect the party’s chances in 2019. Go and see Benue, it is half and half; the governor that defected, he does not have structures of the party in the state; the structure be-

Oyebolu

longs to the former governor of the state, he knows he can’t win second term as a governor. Most of them are using this to negotiate for second term ticket. What is your view about the Lagos APC crisis? There is no crisis in Lagos APC. We had only one congress, which was the one held at ACME road, there was no national officer present in the one they held at the Airport Hotel; there was no official of INEC in their congress either. They did not take part in the congress from ward level to the local government; they then came to take part in the state congress, how is that possible? Some of their people in this area were defeated; it was after that they ran to Okiled faction. If they did not participate in the congress from the beginning they should not complain. The party has a mechanism for resolution of grievances after such congress, if you are not satisfied you can go to the appeal committee and present your case; this committee would look into your case and report back to the party. The PDP says they are ready to take over power in 2019 elections? PDP is no more a party, even individually the house is dead and it is sinking; even nationally you can see they are not organised.

How do you react to the Ekiti votebuying issue? Vote-buying has always been there; but it is unfortunate, the issue has always been there even in the days of our fore-fathers. They may not do it anyhow; there was no impunity in their time either. If you buy me bag of rice to vote for you, is that not votebuying? Look at what happened in 2015. Look at the money PDP wasted, would anybody have known it would be like this? Look at how much Fayose spent on ‘stomach infrastructure’, but this time

Vote-buying has always been there; but it is unfortunate, the issue has always been there even in the days of our fore-fathers

Have you made any effort to see Buhari since he assumed office? Well, you know that office is not an office that you could easily access and see him. Maybe, it is not his fault; because things have not been done well, and if these appointments had been through the party; as a loyal party man, it would have been better; that is what I believe. In 2003, I took him to Oba of Lagos and what becomes APC of today started from there. It is believed that his appointments favour a particular section of the country? Well, I don’t want to ascribe to that; honestly the people in the corridors of power are from a certain side of the country. These appointments took so long before they came out. These board appointments should have been given years ago. There was no such arrangement; the party supposed to dissolve the boards. What is happening now is that the ministers are the ones giving out contracts in their ministries; that is why a lot of the ministers do not want to constitute the boards in their ministries. What is your view on the spate of killings in the country? The security situation is a minus to the government. Human live is sacred; No one has the right to take any other person’s life; losing any life is bad enough. The government should try and do something about it. The current administration has fallen short of that in tackling the current killings.

Sunday 05 August 2018

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Politics Okorocha vs Madumere: Love story gone sour

Ekenze. The court was said to have come in on Tuesday morning just as Ekenze was about to be sworn in.

CHUKS OLUIGBO

he impeachment of Eze Madumere, Imo State deputy governor, by the state House of Assembly on July 30 may well mark the culmination of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s all-out effort to fight back his detractors and regain full control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure in the state, but it also signals what lies ahead in Imo in 2019. The party structure in the state had temporarily slipped off Okorocha’s hand after Madumere coalesced with Ifeanyi Araraume, two-time senator and perennial aspirant to the Imo governorship seat; Osita Izunaso, then APC national organising secretary; Ben Uwajumogu, a former speaker of Imo State House of Assembly and now senator representing Imo North; Hope Uzodimma, senator representing Imo West who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC in April, and other party “strongmen” to hijack the congresses in the state. The Allied Forces, as they were called, were opposed to Okorocha’s moves to impose his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, as the party’s governorship candidate in 2019. Both Madumere and Araraume are interested in the ticket. They had, therefore, gone ahead to elect party officials of their choice at the ward, local government and state congresses, leaving the governor out in the cold. In desperation, Okorocha had cried out to both the presidency and the party national leadership, but it appeared that all he got were cold shoulders and more kicks in the butt, especially from the latter. Amidst these travails, there were speculations that Okorocha, who is nursing the ambition to go to the Senate, had begun to seek political shelter in an alternative platform. Okorocha was fast sliding down the path of total irrelevance, with the “hijackers” already gloating that they had demystified the governor. In the meantime, the governor’s men had approached the Federal High Court in Owerri urging it to nullify and set aside the results of the congresses in the state. Then came the party’s national convention held in Abuja June 23 and 24, and Okorocha’s colleagues in the Progressives Governors’ Forum, a union of the APC governors of which is chairman, came to the rescue. With the support of the APC governors, Emma Ibediro, an Okorocha ally, defeated Izunaso

Okorocha

by 1,749 votes to 1,459 votes to emerge as the national organizing secretary. On July 5, a Federal High Court sitting in Owerri nullified all the previous APC congresses in the state and ordered the party to conduct fresh elections in accordance with its guidelines. “They should go back and conduct fresh congresses in accordance with the constitution of the party; they should be responsible and save our democracy,” said the presiding judge, Justice Lewis Allagoa. Armed with the court judgment, Okorocha went on to conduct fresh congresses in the state, with the ward congress holding on July 20, local government congress July 21, and state congress July 23. With the party structure safely back in his hands, it was now time for Okorocha to deal with those who tried to pull the rug from under his feet. And Madumere was a good place to start. Love affair gone sour A former governor of Imo State is reputed to have once said that in politics, loyalty always trumps efficiency, the reason being that you can teach a loyal person to be efficient, but you cannot manage a disloyal person no matter how efficient he is. Speaking of loyalty, Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr., the 38th Vice President of the United States (1965-1969), once said, “Anyone who thinks that the vice-president can take a position independent of the president of his administration simply has no knowledge of politics or government. You are his choice in a political marriage, and he expects your absolute loyalty.” Perhaps, Madumere did not factor in the above when he elected to form an alliance

Madumere

against the man who brought him to political limelight. The relationship between Okorocha and Madumere goes back in time, and it had been cordial all the way – at least from what the eyes can see. Records have it that since his return to Nigeria in 1998 after his studies in the United States, Madumere has worked with Okorocha. In 1999 when Okorocha ran for the governorship primaries on the PDP platform, Madumere served as director for Women and Youth Mobilization of the Okorocha Campaign Organisation. In 2003 when Okorocha made an unsuccessful presidential bid on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Madumere was chief strategist on Media and Logistics for the campaign. Madumere would go on to serve as Okorocha’s chief of staff when the former was appointed special adviser on Interparty Relations by then President Olusegun Obasanjo. Subsequently, Madumere served as chief of staff to Okorocha in the latter’s capacity as chairman of Rochas Foundation. He was also Okorocha’s chief of staff in the latter’s capacity as president of Nigerian Red Cross Society. It was, therefore, not surprising that when he was lected governor in 2011, Okorocha would appoint Madumere as his chief of staff. Madumere was elevated to the position of deputy governor in 2013 following the impeachment of Jude Agbaso, Okorocha’s running mate in 2011. In 2015, Okorocha retained Madumere as his running mate and both went on to win a second term of office. Against this background, some political analysts reason that Madumere displayed disloyalty by ganging up against

Okorocha. For them, therefore, the impeachment did not come as a surprise. It was only a natural course by a principal who feels he can no longer work with his deputy. While it may have been easy for Okorocha to endure the gang-up by the others, it is not so with Madumere’s involvement. Like Julius Caesar, Okorocha must have gnashed his teeth and grieved, “Et tu Brute?” It was a killing stab. The drama goes on So began subterranean moves to give Madumere the boot. It began with allegations of gross misconduct, which included dereliction of duty for three months without reasons or official permission, failure to perform constitutional duties, failure to attend meetings with the governor and other government functionaries, and concealment of felonious act in the United States of America, all of which Madumere had dismissed as cheap, spurious and deliberately contrived to undermine his person. Last Monday, following an impeachment motion moved by Lugard Osuji (Owerri Municipal), majority leader, and seconded by Victor Onyewuchi (Owerri West), and supported by 19 lawmakers, the Imo Assembly impeached Madumere. In his stead, Callistus Okenze, Head of Service, who had been nominated by Okorocha, was cleared by the Assembly to occupy the seat. On Tuesday, however, reports had it that the chief judge of the state refused to swear in Ekenze as deputy governor, citing a retraining court order asking that the action be put on hold. The reports said a High Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, had stopped the swearing-in of

A page from the past About this time five years ago, Madumere was a beneficiary of a similar “mistreatment” of another deputy governor, Jude Agbaso. Exactly on March 28, 2013, lawmakers in the Imo State House of Assembly voted to impeach the then deputy governor, Jude Agbaso, over allegations of grave corruption, including the demand of a bribe of more than N400 million from a contractor, Jpros Ltd. Jude Agbaso was deputy governor but doubled as Commissioner for Works. However, reliable sources had said the real reason for the impeachment was that Okorocha fell out with his benefactor, Martin Agbaso, and so desired to severe relationship with the Agbasos and take his political destiny in his hands. Prior to Okorocha’s emergence in 2011, Martin Agbaso, Jude Agbaso’s elder brother, was the face of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Imo. It was said then that he actually gave the APGA governorship ticket to Okorocha on the agreement that Okorocha would pick Jude as his running mate, among other conditions. When the impeachment moves began, the then embattled deputy governor had reportedly filed a suit asking a High Court judge to bar the legislators from acting to impeach him, arguing that he was a victim of political intrigue and blackmail, but the court had refused to intervene, leaving the room open for the lawmakers to send Agbaso packing. Following Agbaso’s impeachment, Okorocha had nominated Madumere, who was then chief of staff, to replace the impeached deputy governor. Two months later, in May 2013, Okorocha formally moved to the then emergent APC with his entire political structure. Lesson for the opposition Governor Okorocha will stop at nothing to have his way in Imo State in 2019. With the defeat of the Allied Forces within his own party, he is gearing for the battle ahead. He has said he would match the opposition force for force, money for money. He was once quoted to have said in a political rally, “If they come with truckload of money, I will come with trailer load too.” Only a coalition of opposition forces can defeat Okorocha and his allies in 2019.

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Sunday 05 August 2018

AssemblyWatch From the Red Chamber

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE

n average politician in this part of the world will do anything to hold on to power. Since the July 24, 2018 defection of over fifty National Assembly members from the All Progressives Congress (APC), legislators from both the ruling and main opposition parties have thrown caution to the wind in trying to assert their authority in both chambers. An alleged plot by some APC senators to forcefully reconvene Senate plenary filtered into the air last week. And the agile House of Representatives members from PDP assumed the duties of ‘mai-guards’ or watchmen by keeping ‘vigil’ at the upper legislative chamber to prevent

When lawmakers become ‘mai-guards’ those they tagged ‘intruders’ from gaining entrance into the chamber to impeach Saraki. This was despite the large number of security operatives manning the Complex from police to civil defence, Department of State Services (DSS), private security guards amongst others. Perhaps, the action of the PDP lawmakers to turn themselves to vigilantes may not be unconnected with the April 18 ugly encounter where hoodlums with the alleged connivance of security men invaded Senate chambers, disrupted plenary and carted away the symbol of authority - mace. Even when PDP leadership hosted lawmakers who recently defected to its fold, for a dinner, acting Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Chukwuka Onyeama, revealed that some of his colleagues were still at the lobby of the National Assembly to scuttle the plans of APC senators allegedly lurking around to ‘invade Senate chambers’. As a result of the heightened tension over allegations of forceful resumption, the National Assembly has become a battle ground as

sergeant-at-arms now resume work not knowing what could befall them. The claim by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Abu Ibrahim, that lawmakers could reconvene with 30 senators shows that the lawmaker is either speaking from the point of ignorance or being mischievous. Section 54 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) puts the quorum for every legislative sitting in the Senate at one-third of all the members. This means not less than thirty-seven senators are required for sitting to commence. In addition, this only applies when the Senate is in session, as the Standing Order does not give the mandate of reconvening the Senate to one-third of the house. In the same vein, the Senate Standing Orders spells out the procedure for convening the apex legislative chamber. According to the Rule, only the President of the Senate has powers to reconvene the session if it becomes necessary to sit on a date different from the date it had earlier adjourned to. Specifically, Order 12 (2)

of the Rule stipulates that: “Whenever the Senate stands adjourned either to a date fixed by the rule of the Senate or to a date determined in accordance with paragraph (1) of his Rule and it is represented by the Leaders of the political parties in the Senate to the President of the Senate that the Public interest requires that the Senate should meet on an earlier or a later date or time than that on which it stands adjourned, the President of the Senate may give notice accordingly, and the Senate shall meet on the date and at the time stated in the notice”. The import of this provision is that reconvening the chamber is at the discretion of the Senate President. The defection of Saraki from APC to PDP appeared to have ruffled the feathers of the governing party as it called on the nation’s Number Three Citizen to resign his position and leave the ‘crown’ for the party. A glance at Order 3 (2) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015 (as amended) prescribes the condition for electing Presiding and Principal Officers on ranking and not on politi-

Defection and sequence of elections: Horse-trading ahead of 2019

rending news about the hullabaloo on the defection of notable federal lawmakers from All Progressive Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the impeachment of the Senate President Bukola Saraki re n t e d t h e a i r s i n c e l a s t Wednesday. As at 12noon on Friday, I read the news about the possibility of three serving PDP Governors, namely: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state as well as the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) defecting to the ruling party. Of course, I had my reservation about the latest permutation! For me, none of the names being touted of defecting to APC can accede to carrot being dangled by APC to attract them, except the threat of corruption cases. Unlike th e en thusia sm and public sympathy enjoyed by the transition of APC members to PDP, the latest news about the defection of Akpabio and others may not experience the same. With the ongoing political horse trading, no one is left in doubt that it’s all about self-interest, rather

than public or national interest. Peradventure the APC leadership succeeds in wooing the aforementioned PDP stalwarts into their side before the kick-off of the campaign for the 2019 general elections, the ruling party may spring surprise to floor PDP and other coalition parties that will rival President Muhammadu Buhari. That seems to be the only magic wand at APC disposal. I’m more worried that the Memorandum of Understanding signed by PDP and 34 other political parties is yet to yield result barely 194 days to the general elections. According to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, 16th February, 2019 while Governorship/ State Assembly/Federal Area Council election will hold on Saturday, 2nd March, 2019. As alluded to by some of the aggrieved PDP lawmakers in the wake of the defection which started on Tuesday, 24th July, 2018; most of the APC lawmakers who had earlier planned to announce their defection on the floor of the House, were pressurized to shelve the intention. More so, the security threat launched against the Senate President and his deputy,

Ike Ekweremadu truncated the massive defection that would have taken place on Wednesday and Thursday last week. As reflected in my report headlined: ‘APC to drag Saraki, other federal lawmakers to court over defection’; the decision of APC seems to be self-indicting. I recall similar situation played out ahead of the 2015 general election when some PDP members, including Aminu Tambuwal former S p e a ke r o f t h e H o u s e o f Representatives, defected to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). As at then, it was obvious that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration rubbished the party with the move to hijack the House leadership through the use of the Nigerian Police. Unfortunately, the recent scheming playing out against the incumbent Senate President, suggests that such tradition is becoming customary with Nigerian politicians. I had thought that with the public outcry that trailed Jonathan’s action, this administration should not have fallen into the same error. But here we are again. As mentioned by Femi Gbajabiamila, Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, APC and other political parties at a press conference

held after the defection of the 37 APC members, there’s no ideology guiding Nigerian politics, neither do they understand what it takes to be progressive, I so submit. I a l s o f o re s e e a n o t h e r crisis brewing over the recent verdict of the Federal Appeal Court on sequence of elections in favour of the National Assembly. I hinted in my report on Thursday that the ruling party has concluded to challenge the ruling. According to the President of the Appeal Court, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, ruled that the decision of the trial court (Federal High Court, Abuja) in delving into the matter amounted to a breach of the Doctrine of Separation of Powers, adding that the bill which seeks to change the election timetable was pursuant to the powers of the National Assembly under Section 4(1) of the 1999 Constitution, adding that it will only become law after presidential assent. To this end, the Appellate court dismissed the judgement of a Federal High Court in Abuja stopping the National Assembly from overriding the assent of the President in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2018. With all the available indices, it’s becoming clearer

cal leaning. Specifically, Order 3(2) states that: “Nomination of Senators to serve as Presiding Officers and appointments of Principal Officers and other Officers of the Senate or on any Parliamentary delegations shall be in accordance with the ranking of Senators. In determining ranking, the following order shall apply: (i) Senators returning based on number of times reelected; (ii) Senators who had been members of the House of Representatives; (iii) Senators elected as Senators for the first time”. E xc e p t A P C l a w m a ke r s adopt the Benue style where eight lawmakers received police cover to serve Governor Samuel Ortom impeachment notice, it is almost impossible to impeach Saraki, as not less than two-thirds majority of senators (which translates to seventy-three) is needed to do so. With the media war between Pro-Buhari and ProSaraki senators, the annual recess may have been technically cut short, as both sides regroup for the next line of action. The coming weeks promises to be interesting.

From the Green House With

KEHINDE AKINTOLA why some postulated that the 2019 general elections may not hold! As captured in my report mentioned earlier, APC is planning to challenge the Federal High Court ruling at the Appeal Court. For those who are familiar with Nigeria’s judiciary system where court cases linger for years and decades, INEC may be handicap to proceed with scheduled general election. Of course, if such scenario happens, we may be heading for another political crisis which will in no way augur well for the polity. But before it gets to such irredeemable extent, a stitch in time may save nigh! Of course, the best counsel for the political elites is to thread gently and be wary of any action that would truncate democracy.

Sunday 05 August 2018

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SundayBusiness Sterling Bank adopts efficient data destruction method …Signs pact with E-Terra Technologies

igeria’s leading commercial bank, Sterling Bank Plc, recently entered into partnership with Nigeria’s first electronic waste (e-waste) recycling firm, E-Terra Technologies for efficient and irreversible destruction of electronic waste in line with its sustainable banking initiatives. E-Terra Technologies is an end-to-end e-waste collection and disposal company deploying environmentallyfriendly methods to dispose unwanted, end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment. The process involves pre-evaluation, pick-up, dismantling, sorting and recycling of primarily waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) at the firm’s ultramodern Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Lagos, ensuring a convenient and effective means of disposing personal or business e-waste. Commenting on the partnership, Yinka Oni, chief information officer at Sterling Bank, said one of the benefits of the partnership is the irreversible destruction of sensi-

L-R: Ebenezer Ahisu, deputy chief information officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Ifeanyi Ochonogor, chief executive officer, E-Terra Technologies and Ifechukwude Ugbana, legal officer, E-Terra Technologies at the MoU signing event in Lagos.

tive information contained in decommissioned data storage media such as hard drives and tapes. Oni listed other benefits to include avoidance of data breach and negative consequences, business security as well as access to interna-

tional best practice in environmental sustainability and receipt of an eco-friendly certificate of data destruction and compliance. He said since the partnership is a full-service package, all items marked for destruction would be evacuated

from various branches of the bank to a central location. Oni said the bank chose ETerra Technologies because it is the only ISO 9001 and 14001 certified electronic waste management company in Nigeria with truly world-class and eco-friendly

The Luxury Network announces business development roundtable IFEOMA OKEKE

he Luxury Network, the world’s leading luxury affinity marketing group, has officially announced its plan to introduce its first Business Development Roundtable in Lagos, Nigeria. The Luxury Network Business Development Roundtable, which is scheduled to hold on Thursday, September 13, at the Wheatbaker, is organized to foster relationships, discuss topics on growth opportunities in the Nigerian luxury industry, analyse best practices in affinity marketing, explore real-life business and client development initiatives that boost brand exposure, brand confidence, sales and market share, customer loyalty and levels of client engagement, among others. The Luxury Network B2B events which take place all

over the world provide an excellent platform to share and learn about the latest success stories of the network globally and provide a platform to discuss practical partnership and collaboration opportunities, with the view to inspiring and supporting new strategic alliances and partnership opportunities between brands in the global luxury industry. The upcoming event will serve as a unique forum for brands and service providers in the luxury space in Nigeria to connect and

engage with one another, identify affinity marketing opportunities, form new business alliances, and be at the forefront of a new conversation on luxury inside Nigeria. “This event will give a unique insight into global best practice in affinity marketing, with a focus on our renowned business model, and will set the stage to create winning strategies for the Nigerian luxury market,” said Cas Ojo, MD, The Luxury Network Nigeria. “Together we will explore real-life business and client development initiatives that boost brand exposure, brand confidence, sales and market share, customer loyalty and levels of client engagement for all parties,” Ojo said. The core objective of The Luxury Network is to find synergies and identify business opportunities across a broad range of sectors. Already, the network in Nigeria has had a very promising start with highprofile collaborations, in-

cluding a Harrods Christmas ’17 shopping concierge service at the Wheatbaker, a collaboration with Nigeria’s foremost fashion designer, House of Deola, and an affiliation with Visa Infinite, the highest tier of Visa cards. The network also supported Porsche’s 70th anniversary celebration with Harrods giveaways and facilitated a lucrative contract between two member brands. After many months of market research and analysis, The Luxury Network Nigeria is ready to announce some new members for 2018/19, discuss potential partnership projects between member brands and share a number of very exciting activities in store for the next 12 months. The event, according to its organizers, is open primarily to The Luxury Network members. A complimentary invitation may, however, be extended to non-members who are interested in joining the network, they said.

machinery, systems and processes. On his part, Ifeanyi Ochonogor, chief executive officer at E-Terra Technologies said the company was well positioned to deliver on Sterling Bank’s need for efficient e-waste and data destruction methods. “We have worked with clients in the Nigerian financial services sector and understand the importance of completely destroying sensitive data as experience has shown that mere deleting of the files is not enough to discard the data,” he said. “We are thrilled to be partners with Sterling Bank as the company is well positioned to become Nigeria’s most sustainability focused bank”, Ochonogor further said. E-Terra recently won the 2018 Lagos State Ministry of the Environment Green Award in Environmental Innovation together with Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency’s (LASEPA) 2018 Sustainability Award (e-waste category). Sterling Bank has also been recognised for its com-

mitment to the sustainable implementation of the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles (NSBPs) through its Sterling Environmental Makeover (STEM) programme and recycling of waste at its head office in Lagos. The bank was recently recognised for its positive contributions to environmental sustainability by Wecyclers Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s pioneering waste recycling firm. The recognition was done at the commemoration of Wecyclers Nigeria’s one-year anniversary. In addition, Sterling Bank launched ReCylArt competition for young artists at the end of which one artist from each of the four designated zones in the competition wins one million naira each at the grand finale in Lagos. Consequently, the bank unveiled the winning ReCylArt sculpture from the Lagos Zone at the Muri Okunola Park in Lagos to advocate the cause of the environment by inspiring the masses to reuse and repurpose waste in order to reduce environmental challenges.

Glitz, glamour as Trace TV hosts French president

he historic Africa shrine came alive last month as eminent Nigerians, Nollywood personalities, musicals, business tycoons and top government officials hosted the French President, Emmanuel Macron. Ma c r o n , w h o i s t h e youngest ever French President, extolled the virtues of the late afro music legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, while describing the African shrine as a cultural and political symbol for Africa. He advised youths in the country to embrace politics,

noting that it was the only tool that could be used to change the society. “Politics are important, youths should be involved if they want to make change,” he said. The event which was packaged and organised by Trace Events, in partnership with Ecobank, also had in attendance more than 1,200 VIP guests and 250 journalists, who packed the iconic music and cultural venue to the brim. The event was spiced up with a splendid performance by legendary musician and son of Afro-beat pioneer Fela Kuti, who captured the audience with his iconic songs. Several Nollywood stars such as afro-pop queen Yemi Alade, Cameroonian singer Charlotte Dipanda and talking-drum performer, Ara Thunder graced the event. Prominent Nollywood director Kunle Afolayan, filmed a scene on Stage with top Nollywood stars such as Joke Silva, Rita Dominic, Omotola and Ramsey Nouah.

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Sunday 05 August 2018

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SundayBusiness Averting the looming food crisis in Nigeria Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

he scary reports of imminent food crisis in Nigeria keep coming at us in a fusillade, like the scourge of a devastating flood. Precisely on November 5, 2017 a report jointly prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the National Programme for Food Security projected that about 4.8 million Nigerians, up from3.1 million in 2017 may face critical food insecurity situations in 16 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2018. The report was titled: ‘Cadre Harmonise for identification of risk areas and vulnerable populations’. According to the FAO Country Representative, Sufyyan Koroma, who analysed the report at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja it provides reliable data on

Property Logic With Akhigbe Dominic

food security status in 16 states and FCT. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Bukar Hassan, stated that “the report will assist government to take the necessary steps to address food crisis and emergency situation in the country.” Subsequently, on March 15, 2018 UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP), listed the 16 states as Bauchi, Benue, Gombe, Jigawa, Plateau, Niger, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kano, Yobe, Borno and Adamawa. Even the FCT was not left out. According to the report: “More than 10 million people were analysed and over 3.8 million people need urgent attention of food, while it was projected that 5.8 million people would face extreme food and nutrition deficits”. The report said that the analysis was based on four conceptual frameworks, which included food security, nutrition, livelihoods and mortalities. It noted that the results of the analysis indicated that three local government areas (LGAs) in Adamawa, including Michika and Madagali LGAs, and another three LGAs in Borno were experiencing severe food crisis. More than half way into the year, the situation has been compounded by devastating floods in Ogun, Katsina and Zamfara states. Other factors that have aggravated the sad situation include the Boko Haram insurgency, killings in Adamawa, Taraba, Southern Kaduna and Benue states, said to be the food basket of the nation by fully armed herdsmen. The diversion of

It is not as if previous administrations have not done their bit on agriculture. But their best has not been enough. For instance, the Green Revolution Programme was a major agriculture policy of the Shehu Shagari administration and the Fourth National Development. Chief Olusegun Obasanja, a renowned farmer brought Operation Feed the Nation. General Ibrahim Babangida instituted DFRRI and the River Basin Authorities. Between then and now we have seen what the forward looking agriculture policies driven by Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina did for the country, with the focus on areas of comparative advantage, pest control and the more accessible and cheaper to get fertilizer policy. That was all under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan. His successor, President Muhammadu Buhari brought Agriculture Promotion Policy and has allocated N118.98 billion for Ministry of Agriculture in 2018 Budget . The rejuvenation of rice farming, including the LagosKebbi, Lake Rice is a commendable initiative. But policies go beyond rhetoric. According to Olatunji (2005), a programme is a collection of coordinated activities that are mutually directed towards the attainment of a definite goal and it usually comprises several segments or projects which can be separately pursued as a component of the whole. The concept of programme implies that a goal is in focus and several activities would be needed and coordinated to attain the goal. It is generally accepted that Nigerian agriculture has suffered as a result of the resource cause- effect

of oil and inappropriate policies and institutions. This, coupled with heavy handed and unpredictable government intervention programmes, has led to short term investment decisions and rentseeking behaviour by programmers and has created dysfunctional and disconnected benefit to the poor masses. To avert the looming food crisis, government must stem the tide of blood-letting of the rural dwellers most of who are farmers in the Middle Belt stat by the so called bandits and herdsmen as earlier mentioned. There should be incentives for graduates of agriculture, agric economics, agric engineering, food science and technology to move into the rural communities as farm extension workers. Besides, research institutes that have to do with agriculture should be well funded. So should state and federal budgets on food production, processing and preservation. Proactive efforts should be geared up to reduce the incident of floods. Also, warning signals given by NiMet, FAO and WFP should be taken seriously by policy makers and all the relevant stakeholders. Apparently, that given by Zakariya D. Goshit with the title: ‘The Impact of the Current Food Crisis on the Nigerian Society’ was not heeded. Nigeria is an abundantly blessed agrarian country and should be the food basket of Africa, not the other way round. A stitch in time saves nine.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media

The intrigues about land titles (3) ‘Landlords grow rich in their sleep without working, risking or economizing’ -John Stuart Mill, Political Economist facilitate the deal while her lawyer was to vet the process. When the deal was about to be consummated and the Deed of Sublease was presented for execution, hell immediately let loose. My learned friend vehemently declined signing this document on her client’s behalf. His argument was that the Deed of Sublease was not capable

Registered deed of sub1. lease am going to be very practical and a bit elaborate on this highly contentious title by going graphical to illustrate. As a matter of fact, am going to do a comparison of both the Deed of Assignment & The Deed of Sublease. A few years ago, I was involved in the transaction that had to do with the acquisition of a house for a close family member. Since she already had a lawyer who handled matters for her; mine was just to

attention by power-seeking politicians ahead of 2019 at the expense of good governance is another critical issue militating against food security. Food security exists when all people, at all times have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Nutrition security means access by all people at all times to the adequate utilization and absorption of nutrients in food, in order to be able to live a healthy and active life. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a state in which “consistent access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources at times during the year.” Terms for food insecurity are, “struggling to avoid hunger,” “hungry, or at risk of hunger,” and “hungry, or faced by the threat of hunger.” As at January 11, this year the World Food Programme (WFP) released some terrifying facts as it relates to hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria. According to the planet’s apex food security outfit, Nigeria is a food deficit country and is Africa’s largest importer of rice. Also one third of children under five (5) are stunted, that is twice the rate of Thailand and three times that of Tunisia. Not done, the WFP equally posits that a child in the remote north-western region of Nigeria, where stunting rates are around fifty-five percent; is four times more likely to experience malnutrition than a child in the south. Other salient areas the WFP report focused on were the underlying effects of insurgency which has left a large part of the displaced population without access to adequate food.

of conferring full ownership on his client. He said the word “Lease” was a bad omen as it simply makes his client a tenant to the estate owner who already had a global Certificate of Ownership covering the over five hundred Acres of land within which the estate is built. My learned friend insisted on a Certificate of Occupancy of

at least, a Deed of Assignment. All effort made by us to convince him otherwise hit the brick wall as our friend held on tenaciously to his allusions. This is what happens when round pegs are put in square holes! A registered Deed of Sublease is as important as a Certificate of Occupancy. See the illustration below:

From the foregoing, you can see that the Deed of Sublease is not a lesser title than the Certificate of Occupancy. It is share ignorance to insist that an individual or body corporate can originate a Certificate of Occupancy from a Global Certificate of Occupancy. Next time you need to buy that property or process that Housing document, ensure you get only an expert property attorney whose hands are on deck in the field of Conveyances and Perfection. At this; you would have saved yourself needless heart ache! To be continued Akhigbe Dominic.M. Esq., /Property Law Expert/CEO, PROPERTYLogic Homes Ltd Visit: www.propertylogichomeslimited.com for listed properties & Property information. Call us on: +234-8034846294 & +234-1-2166914 SENIOR STRATEGIC PARTNER, PropertyLogic Incorporated/ Seasoned Business Coach/Columnist of The BusinessDay/Contributing Editor,govandbusinessjournal.com.ng <http://govandbusinessjournal.com.ng

Sunday 05 August 2018

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BDSUNDAY 33

SundayBusiness Mortgage-guarantee programme as homeownership enabler

hat homeownership level has remained low at less than 5 percent in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, is explained more by absence of a functional mortgage system than anything else. The country has practically no process that supports housing development and homeownership unlike advanced societies such as England where there is a body called building society which subsidises mortgage and delivers same to home buyers either through banks or by itself. Mortgage sector stakeholders in Nigeria including the federal government, have tinkered with many ideas, policies and programmes aimed to grow the sector and make mortgage loans readily available to those who need them. A major problem with the mortgage system in Nigeria is accessibility and the second is clarity. When you approach mortgage banks for loan, they will begin to ask you for things that you cannot provide and so, mortgage is not accessible. In terms of clarity, there is no unified system. It is obvious that there is no clarity in the mortgage system and if there is any such thing, it is not yet published and so people don’t know and, if people don’t know, it means such a process does not exist. However, there is hope building

Spiritonomics

Debo Atiba

www.spiritonomics.org

n unraveling diverse mysteries that make for success, we must never forget the ones that makes for failure also. Behind every winning business outfit is a successful mindset and behind every pursuit of man in life is the thought of success. This goes to show that at the back of God’s mind and also in His design, success is at the forefront and it is inculcated in to our DNA. Our life-long quest for success and relevance is traceable to God’s design in us. If this is a common denominator between man and God, then we must examine the root (DNA) of failure. Why do men fail? Men do not fail because of what they experience, rather they fail because of what they THINK.

up in the horizon. A new initiative by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) known as the Mortgage Guarantee Programme holds out hope for low income earners who, ordinarily, cannot take mortgage loan because it is unaffordable to them. The programme is coming as a homeownership enabler. It is a kind of mortgage which is given to a borrower by a lender, where an identified third party will take responsibility for the loan if the borrower defaults. The programme is structured in such a way that once the borrower defaults, the third party receives a claim from the lender, pays the lender off, and assumes responsibility for the mortgage. As such, mortgage guarantee products incentivize lenders to accept loans with lower downpayments, thus increasing affordability. With increased affordability, it means more people will be brought into the mortgage net, making more money available to more home seekers. Besides incentivizing mortgage lenders, a quality mortgage guarantee programme is also used to provide credit loss protection to lenders in case of borrower’s default and, according to CBN officials, a robust primary mortgage market is a synergy of several components, all working together to effect affordability and access for intending buyers. Mortgage guarantee products

exist in various forms, and are administered by different agencies. Tokunbo Martins, director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department (OFISD) at CBN, explains that, “in most cases, the national government of the host country is the driver of any successful mortgage guarantee programme, which they administer either through a government agency, a private entity or a hybrid encompassing both types of entity”. The highpoint of this programme as homeownership enabler lies in its numerous benefits. It is a product of great value to any housing market because it offers opportunity to both the supply and the demand sides of the mortgage market. It provides potential opportunity of lower down-payment for borrowers, while opening up a larger market for lenders who make the decision to finance the target population for the programme. The importance of this programme in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized given that Nigeria is a country where typical downpayment is over 20 percent, with extremely high additional costs for regularization, titling and other home-buyer responsibilities. “Mortgage guarantee in our market will also be used as a valuable tool to regularize and standardize the market in every area from documentation to underwriting to collateralization and mortgage dispute resolution. These are major

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com) issues we need to resolve”, Martins noted in a paper she presented at a real estate forum in Abuja recently. Continuing, she said, “one of the most important benefits of mortgage guarantee is that it has the capacity to encourage the influx of investor funds, both local and international, into the mortgage market. A well-executed mortgage guarantee programme provides comfort to intending investors by signaling the presence of standards in the industry, that would likely reduce the risk of losing their invested funds”. In addition to all these, the programme also ensures increased access to housing finance; access to higher amount mortgages; better loan terms of rate, term etc; market standardization and increased consumer literacy; more stable property values, and overall more stable and improved national housing sector leading to better economy. It also ensures reduction of credit risk; expansion to new markets/ deepening of existing markets; reduction in capital adequacy requirements; enhanced access to

financing such as portfolio risk rating, refinancing and securitization. With all these in place, mortgages become more affordable to citizens; more people can meet their housing needs on their own; there will be financial system stability; more jobs and economic security for the citizens; better social inclusion and contentment for the citizens, and achievement of political and economic promises. Like any other economic plan or policy, the programme which has proposed pilot project with Nigeria Mortgage Guarantee Company (NMGC) as special purpose vehicle (SPV) is not without constraints. The project consultants, while cautiously optimistic about the viability of the project, have identified multiple constraints to its success and, according to the OFISD director, the biggest constraint is the 1978 Land Use Act. She assured, however, that “while we all understand that it would take a constitutional amendment to update the Act, certain administrative options have been identified to soften its draconian impact, especially at state levels”

terned their lives in alignment. Looking back in your life, you must have had this experience one way or the other, or at one time or the other. Although thoughts appear spontaneous and it looks as though we have no control over them, the truth is that they have an origin or source. We just do not think blank thoughts. The thoughts of our hearts are a product of the information we allow into our mind. The information we expose ourselves to, determine our thoughts to a large extent and consequently the outcome of our lives. The entertainment world is very good at programming us for their own advantage. The decision to buy what we buy is deliberately fed into our minds and we process them as our thoughts. For you to succeed at whatever endeavor, your thought must be rigid in the truth that has been fed into your life, otherwise you are a loser. The best information that you need for the deprogramming and reprogramming of your life is the thought of God spelt out in the word of God. Contrary to what anyone has to say, this is the only TRUTH that has never lacked

result. There the possibilities that your life possess are unveiled to you and the power to carry them out are released into you. Having been armed with the knowledge of the origin of our thoughts, we can easily eliminate the stumbling thoughts and build the good thoughts. As a new phase is just starting, we must be deliberate at selecting the information that we would allow into our minds, otherwise wrong information becomes destructive thought which does not make for success in life. The children of Israel could not enter Canaan land all because of wrong information disseminated in their hearing. This year we must take up our responsibility of seeking out right information that looks like where we are going and ingest them. The bible says that we must guard our hearts with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life. It takes quite some effort to do this but it is worth it. Get the right books and tapes, be in the right company and your life would definitely start taking a new turn.

DNA of failure Every action in life is preceded by THOUGHTS. In the realm of the spirit, THOUGHTS are things whether you believe it or not. However in the physical realm things do not appear to have originated from the Spirit. Every object you see, feel or touch in life are products of a man’s thought. Likewise when you study any successful man you see their thoughts made them. The Bible says that, ‘’as a man thinks in his heart so is he”. For this to emanate from God it means it is really big. Every time we remember that no action is taken except they are thought up, it actually shows the power that our thoughts wield. This means going forward or backward in life are all products of the thoughts in our lives. When we talk about obstacles, they are not necessarily tangible BARRIERS or road BLOCKS rather most times they are all inside you and I. Until we recognize the power that our thoughts have over the outcome of our lives, we would not treat it with respect and give it the honor that it deserves. We must settle it in ourselves that every single transaction we execute

in life must have been first of all processed in our thoughts. “But I don’t have control over the thoughts on my mind!!!!” you shouted. Well, I can only agree with you if you are dead or completely insane. A mad man has largelylost control over the thoughts of his mind that is why he is considered to be mad. In fact if you follow him closely, you would even discover he has moments of sanity. However I am sure you fall into none of the two categories. So congrats, “YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER YOUR MIND”. That means you have the power to CHOOSE between GOOD THOUGHTS and NEGATIVE THOUGHTS. So how do we recognize DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHTS? Every thought that does not make for encouragement, joy, peace, love, excitement or progress are DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHTS. It is your thought that tells you, you cannot do it when no man is there. Your thought tells you that people like you don’t succeed and you agree with it. Your thought tells you, you are not likeable and ugly. People have thought these ways, accepted these as truths and pat-

Remain blessed. @spiritonomics

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Sunday 05 August 2018

Equity Market

Rising crude oil prices, subsidy payment propel oil & gas firms’ half year profits to N43bn …market rally to be driven by macro indicators, elections TELIAT SULE

he combined half-year profits(PAT) of the 6 listed oil and gas firms in Nigeria for the period ended 30 June 2018 jumped by 435 percent to N42.9 billion as against N8.02 billion made in comparable period in 2017, as sustained rise in crude oil prices occasioned by increasing global demand and payment of subsidies to oil marketers helped oil and gas firms surpassed analysts’ projections at half year. The Brent crude closed last Friday at $73.49 a barrel. The oil and gas firms in question are Seplat, Forte Oil, 11 Plc(Mobil), Total, MRS and Oando. The aggregate revenue for the period rose on the average by 22 percent from N625.7 billion in June 2017 to N766.4 billion as the end of June 2018. Seplat, Forte Oil and 11 Plc surpassed the industry revenue growth of 22 percent. Seplat’s revenue grew by 160 percent from N40.3 billion in June 2017 to N104.8 billion as at June 2018. Forte Oil’s half year gross earnings increased by 32 percent to N61.8 billion in contrast to N46.7 billion same period last year. 11 Plc’s (Mobil) half year revenue rose by 49. 3 percent, implying that the firm made N83.9 billion compared with N56.2 billion realised same period last year. Total, MRS and Oando’s growth in gross revenue fell below industry average. At N156.3 billion in June 2018, Total’s gross revenue rose marginally by 2.2 percent over N153 billion made same period last year. Oando’s gross earnings rose by 11 percent from N267 billion in June 2017 to N297.3 billion in June this year. MRS’s gross earnings remained flat at -0.3 percent. “Based on available evidence which is supported by developments in the global oil and gas market, the Nigerian oil and gas firms have the wherewithal to sustain their impressive performance in the second half of the year”, Saheed Bashir, senior analyst at Meristem Securities, said. Cost of sales for the industry rose 15 percent from N541.9 billion in June 2017 to N624.5 billion by June 2018. However, the cost of sales relative to gross earnings fell from 87 percent in June last year to 81 percent same period this year. Seplat recorded the highest

increase in cost of sales over the period under review, as it rose from N23.9 billion to N51.5 billion by June 2018. However, the firm was able to reduce the cost of sales relative to gross earnings from 59 percent in June 2017 to 49 percent this year. Total Nigeria’s cost of sales expressed as a percentage of revenue also fell from 89 percent to 86 percent during the period. Similarly, Oando’s cost of sales relative to revenue fell to 83 percent from 87 percent last year June. On the contrary, Forte Oil, 11 Plc and MRS spent more to generate a naira revenue by this June as against what they expended last year June. Forte Oil’s cost oil sales to revenue rose from 87 percent last year June to 91 percent this year’s June. 11 Plc’s cost of sales to revenue rose to 91 percent from 88 percent last year. Further, MRS’s cost of sales to revenue rose to 95 percent as at June 2018 compared with 93 percent last year June. Profit margin for the oil and gas industry trended upward at half year 2018 as it moved from 1 percent last year June to 6 percent by June 2018. Upward movement in profit margin was impressive for Seplat and Forte

Oil. The former had its profit margin rise from -21 percent last year June to 14 percent by the end of June

2018 while Forte Oil’s profit margin was up from 9 percent to 13 percent within the same period. In spite of the impressive half year results, the share prices of the six oil and gas firms recorded mixed results year to date. Seplat appreciated by 13.4 percent year to date to close at N710 per share; Forte Oil declined by -46.2 percent YTD to close at N23.4 per share; 11 Plc’s share price fell by -7.6 percent YTD to close the week at N180; MRS appreciated by 4.6 percent YTD to close at N28.55; Total Nigeria shed -15.2 percent YTD to close at N195; while Oando’s share price shed -6.5 percent YTD to close at N5.60per share. Consequently, the rally in the second half of the year is expected to be driven by strong macroeconomic indicators and stable electioneering programs. “In the second half of the year, market rally will be driven by macroeconomic indicators as investors are now looking at what is happening in the economy as against stocks fundamentals”, Fola Abimbola, an analyst with CSL Stockbrokers said. “ The uncertainty around the forthcoming elections is key because most of the foreign investors execute more of sell transactions than buy transactions”, Abimbola added. At the close of business last week

Friday, the All Share Index (ASI) closed in the red at -4.56 percent year to date. This compares with 39.26 percent same period in 2017. Only the NSE Insurance Index closed in the positive territory at 4.25 percent year to date. “Rather than out rightly avoiding equities in H2-18, discerning investors can buy low in H2-18 and wait for a rebound to sell higher. To do this, investors must see beyond the temporary market volatility and critically assess the best-in-class stocks affected by panic sales in H2 -18 to benefit from market repricing after the election. Notwithstanding the distraction in the political climate, we are of the view that investing in dividend stocks is clearly strategic, considering the dynamics of the market in H2-18. “Thus, we advise investors to pay attention to stocks with consistent dividend payment profile, stable earnings, and stock market liquidity. Finally, we advise investors to focus on value stocks. In buying the dip, investors must choose stocks which have demonstrated a solid history of resilient revenue growth, earnings stability, dividend consistency and positive market sentiment. By implication, the outlook for the market in H2-18 suggests a general downtrend which may depress valuation for these stocks”, analysts at United Capital said in a note to investors.

alcohol industry and has worked across Africa in Uganda and Kenya as well as Ethiopia and the Sudan. He joined Diageo in 1999 as Marketing Manager, Uganda Breweries Limited and has held several increased leadership roles including Managing Director

Uganda Breweries Limited, Managing Director Kenya Breweries Limited, and Managing Director Diageo Guinness Cameroon SA. Baker joins Guinness Nigeria from Diageo owned Meta Abo Breweries in Ethiopia where he was the Managing Director.

Guinness Nigeria appoints Magunda as MD/CEO

uinness Nigeria Plc hereby notifies the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the public that the Board of Directors of Guinness Nigeria Plc on 1st August 2018 approved the appointment of Baker Magunda as the Managing

Director/Chief Executive Officer and as a Member of the Board of Directors of Guinness Nigeria Plc with effect from 1st July 2018. Peter Ndegwa gave notice of his resignation as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria Plc via his let-

ter dated 30 June 2018; the Board accepted his resignation with effect from 30 June 2018. Baker Magunda holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from Makerere University Uganda. He has nearly twenty years’ experience in the consumer goods and

Sunday 05 August 2018

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BDSUNDAY

BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

Politicians and Nation-building: Which way Nigeria? Akonte Ekine

he current defections in Nigeria’s political space are not a regular drama associated with Nollywood which brought great recognition to Nigeria; it is a drama by the men in power in their bid to sustain material relevance in the political landscape. This drama unlike the popular Capitol Hill TV series of the 70s is a real event happening and shaping the country’s narratives, especially when issue and people involved are considered. Key actors are party leaders with comments that reflect the interest of individuals and not nations, comments that show quest for power rather than ideology and comments that seek to elevate people’s positions rather than the citizens’ existence. Nigeria is crying for attention from different angles from the daily attacks of herdsmen to people displaced by community clashes as well as natural disastersflood and disease outbreaks. While the citizens are looking up to government for solutions, the politicians are struggling with positions for the simple reason of relevance. If not, how does one describe the issue of crosscarpeting by men who some 36 months ago were seen as heroes for leaving the same party to another party. Our political parties are fast becoming social parties where entry barriers are not based on ideology or principles but rather a simple capacity to influence vote within certain environment without due concern for the

President Muhammadu Buhari

community. Nigeria as a community is the loser in the big picture which is being exhibited to the world. Google came to town because we have value. General Electric is here with capital investment. There is an endless list of multinationals with interest in the country and what we show to them is the inconsistency of character that has no clear relationship with the challenges confronting the nation from security to food. The nation challenges including education, economy, health among others are begging for significant attention. In the face of this, there are no robust conversations about moving the nation forward. Rather, political gladiators at various levels ignite conversations with ‘it is my entitlement to be this or that’, a message that, in all its colours, shows the extent of how we have turned out to be a nation of selfish people. A nation of ‘once I have my situation settled, then it is well with the nation’. Our leaders are holding the channels and platforms of conversations to ransom and we are left with images and contents from the acts of these leaders, acts that depict

us as a people with less value for morals, principles and societal values. The entire narrative of leaders of the nation in contrast to the slogan known to us all is that it is about the survival of the fittest in the Nigerian jungle. The Nigerian situation is where a football coach is caught on camera collecting bribe, a functioning minister is unable to defend a compulsory certificate, and another top government official cannot clear the air on the authenticity of his WASSCE result. What are we telling the generation coming behind? We preach that coding is important to this generation. Contrastingly, we expose them to codeine syrup and its dangers. Recently, the Federal Government assented to the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill. However, they haven’t done much to facilitate enabling platforms for the young ones to obtain forms of political groupings and aspire for elective positions. The cost of partaking in an election is far from the reach of a huge chunk of Nigeria’s youth population with ambitions to rule and represent people. Ambitions of our politicians are more prominent

than visions capable of bettering the lots of our country. We see more of self-centered aspirations of leaders in power than clear direction of the country. As a nation, we find it difficult to follow consistent pattern for economic growth like other nations. We move a in circles in various sectors. Once upon a time, we said the government shouldn’t own businesses as a result of the mass failure in the management of government enterprises. Now we are back into investing in the same enterprises that we could not manage in the past. The subject of privatization was so great in our conversation about a decade ago that we sold almost everything. We are back on the ship of government’s spending to build companies. We refuse to address the fundamentals of nation building- the people. People are the first element of nation-building. Often we don’t show sincerity of purpose to the people, thus there is a disconnect between the government and the people. The people have turned around looking for alternatives to Nigerian citizenship. More and more Nigerians are joining illegal immigrant routes to Europe while there are those going out to give birth just to change the citizenship of their next generation. Which way Nigeria like late Sony Okosun sang, which way our fatherland. This nation is sold to the youth with the message to look beyond it and we cannot continue like this. Akonte Ekine is Lead Strategist/CEO at AbsolutePR, a brand and reputation management based in Lagos, Nigeria.

NIBSS, MTN partner Telcos, banks to re-launch mCASH

T N Ni g e r i a along with sixteen banks and all major mobile telcos, came together for the Nigeria InterBank Settlement Systems’ relaunch of mCASH. MCASH, is a mobile payment system for making low-value retail payments designed to extend e-payment options to lowincome buyers and sellers who deal in cash. The cashless initiative was first launched in 2016. Speaking at the re-launch

of the platform in Lagos, MTN Nigeria CEO, Ferdi Moolman, represented by the General Manager, Mobile Financial Services, MTN, Usoro Usoro, in a

statement described the initiative as the outcome of what can be achieved when organisations work together for a common goal, to serve.

“It’s incredible how much the world has changed and continues to evolve with new ideas and technologies. Today, Africa is increasingly embracing new ways of payment for retail consumption and transactions. “For those of us in the telecoms industry, this presented us with the question; how do we fully utilise all available options to provide standardised and efficient mobile cashless services for micro-payment and collections? The answer is MCASH,” he said.

WhiteHouse Hotels, Lagos gets AFARN recognition for tourism development Daniel Obi

ver time and largely due to the existence of oil, Nigeria has failed to identify tourism as a potential contributor to economic development. This negligence is making Nigeria to lose over $4 billion every year, according to experts. Unfortunately, available tourism destinations and festivals are not marketed like other nations and where any one exists, including hotels; government slams it with arbitrary taxes that put heavy burden on the promoters. This is in addition to lack of access roads and pervading insecurity. However and in spite of challenges, the private sector is pushing ahead to register Nigeria on the tourism map. The hospitality industry with ambience and satisfactory services including continental and African dishes is in the forefront. This was underscored when White House Hotels in Ikeja, Lagos recently bagged an award for good

with both local and foreign guests and providing their needs. “Standard of our services, the efficiency and the feel at home are top notch. We try to carry our clients along and satisfying them. We make our guests happy. 95 percent of our guests are foreigners and the guests come because of the standard and quality foods. What the foreigners eat here is not different from their home country”. The Hotels president relished that the award means a lot to him.” It is an encouragement to me to do more. If you don’t do things the right way you will not get result. You have to follow the standard to achieve your goal. This is big achievement to us”, he said. The luxury White House Hotel located on Joel Ogunnaike, GRA Ikeja and competing with about other 10 hotels on the same road is centrally located. Further assessing the hospitality industry, Eruotor, said Nigeria still needs bigger hotels in the 5-star category. He however regretted that financing such hotels is a big challenge as banks interest rate would

L-R: Allen Ose-Ediale,Lead consultant Shepherd field Network limited; Austin Eruotor, president White house hotels and Conference and Hon Taleb Tebite,at the presentation of award to White house hotel and tourism as Best 2018 Nigeria Aviation tourism organisation by Association of foreign Airlines and representatives in Nigeria(AFARN).

performance from the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria, AFARN. “The award is for best tourism hotel of the year. The association has seen the good works we are doing and it gave us the award to appreciate us for what we are doing for tourism”, the President of White House Hotels and Conference, Austin Eruotor, told BusinessDay in Lagos. Speaking on the specific niches that got the traction for the award, he said it includes the standard and ease of doing business

not encourage it. “If you look at Nigeria’s structure, the interest rate is high from the banks, the banks are not encouraging business at all. We pay up to 30 percent interest rate whereas in the developed world they pay 2 or 3 percent. If we are hosting any major event in Nigeria today, the hotels are just not enough. We suppose to host World Cup before South Africa as we have more population. Most of our hotels have small rooms. If you want to build bigger hotels, the bank will not help you. The interest rate is high at 30 %.”

Sunday 05 August 2018

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Arts Peju Alatise, the artist across borders OBINNA EMELIKE

few years ago, Horses, a triptych piece of artwork, was among the sought-after works at Bonhams, the foremost British art auction house in London. The work, which comprised of three sculptures of women sitting on pedestals and faces obscured by vibrantly patterned cloths draped over their heads, explored the societal notion that women are predestined to be mothers and wives. The creativity, appeal, message and quality all combined to woo the high profile art collectors present. At last, the artwork sold for over £30,000 that day. But the collectors went after the artist and were further surprised at her creative ingenuity. Of course, Peju Alatise is a household name in the contemporary African art. The foremost Nigerian female artist, who holds a degree in Architecture, is a mixed-medium artist, poet and published writer whose interdisciplinary work has garnered attention on the global art stage. She is known for her large-scale, sculptural works tackling contemporary themes most recurring of which is gender and its associated politics. With her works, Alatise transcends barriers and questions status quo in her country and Africa at large. Her guts is commendable and obvious with the passion she addresses social, political and genderrelated issues as her primary subject matter, through artistic work that also captures the joys and pain of womanhood in modern-lifeAfrican traditions. Alatise, a 2016 fellow at the Smithsonian Institute of African Art, believes that art should tell us more about ourselves, and also initiate social dialogue that enables us to reflect. She has participated in several international solo exhibitions and her works are in private and institutional collections around

Peju Alatise

the world. At 2014 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, her work was generally adjudged to be the standout piece created in response to the kidnapping of 234 Chibok girls. It featured a series of panels of anonymous Nigerian girls using the Ankara fabric. It was titled, ‘Missing’. Again, she was among the three Nigerian artists, who helped the country to rewrite her story at the Venice Biennale’s 57th edition in Venice, Italy, which Nigeria participated for the first time since the 122 years history of the International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, also known as the Olympics of the art world. At the exhibition, Alatise mirrored the

future with her installation tagged, ’Flying Girls. The installation was eight life-sized sculptures of girls with wings and birds in mid-flight. As well, the Nigerian female artist was announced as the 2017 recipient of the highly coveted FNB Art Prize at the 10th installment of the FNB JoburgArtFair. “The quality of each of the shortlisted candidates’ proposals this year was high. But we were ultimately unanimous in our decision around Alatise’s proposal – it stood out. The innovative, universal social relevance and poignancy in the themes underpinning her work were some of the deciding factors in tipping the scales in her favour. The overall body of her work over the years is varied and

compositionally strong, palpably reflecting the intense vibrancy of the African continent. We have no doubt that the integrity of the overall body of her work will propel her career meaningfully”, Pulane Kingston, member, the 2017 judging panel for the coveted FNB Art Prize, said. Also commending the creative ingenuity of the artist, Bola Asiru, founder, Red Door, the gallery that nominated Alatise for the FBN Art Prize, said, “Peju’s work is filled with strong societal narratives on the realities of life in Africa; her message has been heard in West Africa, at the Smithsonian in the United States and the Venice Biennale in Europe. We feel that it is time for this message to be taken to the rest of Africa and there is no better platform for this than the FNB JoburgArtFair.” However, Alatise always remembers her days of little beginning. Though her architecture allows her to design, sketch and draw, her visit to an exhibition of works by David Dale, a living art legend, when she was 15 years ignited her passion for visual art. Inspired by the exhibition, she later paid several visits to the studio of the legendary artist in Lagos mainland to learn from the master. As well, she furthered her interest by several visits to a craft market in Lagos where she mingled and learnt from the creative community. The formal and informal apprenticeships have equipped her with tremendous skills that are evident in her breathtaking works that are sought-after by museums, galleries, corporate and individual collectors across the world today. Moreover, Giles Peppiatt, director of Contemporary African Art at Bonhams, an art auction house in London, is awaiting Alatise’s works because of their growing demands and values at the auctions. If she is not in her studio in Lagos, she is partaking in one residence within or outside the country. But Alatise is always around with her works at museums and galleries. Visit to see her.

Free Vision deepens cultural awareness with Ogun beauty pageant ...to reward natural beauty, women values RAZAQ AYINLA

evising different means by which African culture and values, especially Yoruba cultural values, will be preserved and relevant in the contemporary world, Free Vision Limited has deepened its partnership with Ogun State government on the promotion of cultural heritage through cultural beauty pageant. The promotion and preservation of cultural values in the state through Miss Culture 2018, according to the official statement, is one of the flagship programmes created by the Ibikunle Amosun-led administration to salvage the dying African cultural values, having organised one of the popular cultural shows in Africa - African Drums Festival. Speaking on the concept of Ogun Miss Culture 2018, Olusesi Ayorinde, managing director of Free Vision Limited, declared that the event becomes necessary going by the eroding values and abandoning of real African cultural heritage and beliefs by crop of young ones. Ayorinde, who explained that Free Vision

Limited was just being African by taking the bold step to salvage eroding African values in terms of clothing, eating, greeting, reasoning

and socialising, added that the event would not only correct young men and women’s mentality on cultural heritage, but would

also redefine what constitutes real African culture and values. Affirming that the cultural beauty pageant event that is slated for November is geared towards promoting Yoruba culture, the organizer of the event said that the winner will go home with N500,000; the first runner-up will be rewarded with N150,000 while the second runner-up will receive N50,000 with various consolation prizes, adding that intending participants should visit www.freevision.com.ng for registration. Responding, Muyiwa Oladipo, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ogun State, assured investors and people of the state of government’s continued support to the promotion of culture, saying all culturallyinclined events and programmes in the state would continue to get the full backing of government. He said, “Like in other programmes that the state had supported, we have been creating enabling environment and providing necessary support, just as we did with the first edition, which was a huge success; I have high expectations for this year’s edition.”

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Sunday 05 August 2018

Arts AFRIMA receives 8,009 entries for 5th edition ...as AU commends Africa’s creative industry for enthusiastic participation OBINNA EMELIKE

he 5th edition o f Al l Af r i c a Music Awards, (AFRIMA), in partnership with the African Union Commission, (AUC), has received 8,009 songs/videos on its online portal as entry submission closed at 1159hour (WAT) of August 1,2018. This year’s submission sets a record as the highest number of entries from African artistes, music producers, songwriters, Disc Jockeys (DJs),video directors among others, since the inception of the most prestigious music event in Africa. The progress and increase of 63 percent against the 2017 edition of 4,816 entriesis a positive marker that has elicited satisfaction from the African Union, the International Committee of AFRIMA, as well as, the jury members of AFRIMA. Out of the entries received this year, Eastern Africa tops with 45 percent followed by Western Africa with 34 percent. Southern, Central and Northern Africa had 13 percent, 6 percent and 2 percent respectively. Reacting to the development, Machacha Shepande, acting director, Social Affairs, African Union Commission, congratulated Africa’s creative industry sector for par-

Angela Martins, head of Culture, African Union Commission

ticipating in the 5th AFRIMA Entry Submission campaign opened on May 25, 2018. “The AU commends the creative sector of Africa for participating so well in the AFRIMA entry submission process which closed on 1st August 2018 and in ensuring that the music industry remains relevant for the sus-

tainable growth of Africa’s economy which the African Union (AU) is championing through the cultural and creative agenda. The receipt in AFRIMA platform, this year, of over8,000 of entries across the five regions of Africa shows clearly the growth and importance of this con-

tinent wide platform in the promotion and development of the cultural and creative industries on the continent more specifically the creative industry of music. The significant rise in the entries has also shown that African talents spread across the continent are awakening to the call to promote

our cultural and creative industry continentally and to the world at large. The continent’s creativeindustry can only grow when we give relevant support to our creative talent and craft. Thus, the AUC calls upon AU member states, and other stakeholders in the music industry to continue supporting its efforts in the development and promotion of the creative economy sector through the AFRIMA platform and other Pan-African cultural initiatives”, Shepande concluded. Similarly, a member of the International Jury of AFRIMA representing Central Africa, Bob Ekukole, expressed a poetic insight while lauding the effort of the African music industry in entering their works for the annual AFRIMA entry submission process; “The muse of music seems to happily hover over the hills and valleys of our beautiful continent with AFRIMA as the fulcrum. With 8,009 entries, it is a resounding believe in AFRIMA’s vision, dream, growth and acceptability by the African artistes worldwide to communicate Africa to the rest of the world via art, culture, music, tourism and entertainment. The renowned media and music professional, added that AFRIMA’s persistence in believing in African talents and their aspirations is yield-

ing a tremendous platform for excellence in music. The 5th AFRIMA entries submission ended following a window period of May 25– August 1, 2018 and a validity period that works must be produced and released within the year under review- August 1, 2017 to August 1, 2018. The entries will be screened by the 13man jury of AFRIMA whose members are drawn from the five regions of Africa (two each from the Northern Africa, Southern African, Eastern Africa, Western Africa and Central Africa) and one African each represents the Diaspora – Europe and America and representative of the African Union in the person of Angela Martins who also is the Head of Culture of the African Union Commission. The Jury’s task will be a week-long adjudication process from August 7 to15, 2018 which includes: screening, categorising, grading, selection and announcement of nominations into the 38 Regional and Continental categories of the award that will emerge winners of the AFRIMA 23.9 carat gold plated trophy. The main events which include AFRIMA Music Village, Africa Music Business Summit and the 5th AFRIMA Awards will hold in November 2018. These events will be broadcast live to over 84 countries around the world.

Chapter One: Falana hosts exclusive listening event for her upcoming EP IFEOMA OKEKE

n July 27, 2018, in anticipation of the release of her latest project and extended play (EP); Chapter One, Falana, musician and singer, hosted guests to an evening of musical bliss at an exclusive listening concert at the upscale store Alara in Victoria Island. In her true fashion of sticking to her African roots and promoting her love for her Nigerian heritage, the artiste donned two outfits; she and her band wore custom made outfits by Orange Culture whilst she ended her night in a Maki Oh piece from Alara. The colour red was seemingly the artiste’s choice of the night as both ‘homemade’ outfits were a fiery red, which captivated

the audience along with her statement shoes by Shekudo. The event, which was supported by Alara and Belvedere was a huge success and a night to remember. From the ornately decorated vintage Mercedes Benz owned by the legendary painter Ben Enwonwu strategically placed at the entrance to the mood lights coupled with Falana’s powerful voice and mind-blowing music. The genius sound of Falana is the perfect blend of the old and the new- high life guitar riffs, amazing harmonies, distinct afro rhythm and powerful refined vocals. Her music took audiences on a journey blending contemporary sounds and truly compelling lyrics that promises to resonate with audiences upon release.

Guests were treated to delicious Belvedere cocktails courtesy co-sponsor ‘Belvedere’. The cocktails which

Falana performing on stage

were served throughout the night as guests they listened eagerly and intently to the sounds of the talented mu-

sician. Over the years, Falana electric performances have infused her unique style and

elements of afro-pop into her music; this has enabled a favourable reception by the average Nigerian and the Nigerian music scene, steadily penetrating the global music market with excellent reviews from Vogue and The Coveteur. Falana took the audience on a roller coaster ride, unearthing different emotions as she told her story of perseverance, love, patience and pain giving listeners an insight into how she produced tracks from the EP; the recording and selection process. In all, it was an expository experience transcending listeners to another dimension with her depth and versatility. Her performance left listeners craving more of her unique sound demanding an encore, which she delivered to thunderous applause.

Sunday 05 August 2018

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Entertainment Falz, DJ Spinall overwhelm lucky fan with surprise gig ...as MTN Pulse House Party Season 2 kicks off

riday, July 27, 2018 started off with the usual “TGIF” buzz with people in various fields and walks of life looking forward to a weekend where they could have fun and rest after an eventful week. Obinna Amaku (@Obivva), a final year law student of Benson Idahosa University, Benin, who is based in Abuja did not have any spectacular plan for the weekend; just a little hang out with family and friends. But Obinna got to know about the MTN Pulse house party, an initiative aimed at making the dreams of the young, vibrant, tech and music savvy Nigerian youth come true by inviting their favourite celebrities to party with them and basically have a great time together. Having no big plans for the weekend, @Obivva, an avid music lover decided to sign up for the Pulse house party. After following the simple and easy signup process, he could wait, hoping that he gets to be the lucky fan selected among the millions of MTN Pulse subscribers. Friday, the day MTN Pulse house party season 2 was ear-

marked to kick off, arrived and @Obivva was going about his normal day. Little did he know that world-class DJ Spinall and sensational musical act Falz were already in Abuja to party with him. In a teaser video posted on MTN’s Instagram page, Falz and

Spinall revealed that they were in an unknown location ready to go party with a fan. Of course, fans were anxious to see who it would be and where exactly the party would hold. At about 4pm Falz, Spinall and the entire crew went in a convoy

MTN, Crown Troupe partner to promote African arts, culture

Jennifer Lopez to receive Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award

…host Eko Theatre carnival CHINYERE OKEKE

s part of its extensive support and promotion of arts and culture in Nigeria, MTN Nigeria through its social investment vehicle, MTN Nigeria Foundation, has partnered with Crown Troupe of Africa, a Bariga, Lagosbased theatre group led by Segun Adefila, to provide arts enthusiasts in Lagos a week-long theatre carnival which ends today. Those who have never seen

“Trials of Brother Jero” or “The Lion and the Jewel” performed on stage not only watched it, they had the rare opportunity of a lifetime as they watched it performed in the Hebrew language. The Theatre Carnival which kicked off last week Sunday at the Nike Art Gallery with a media parley had notable guests, such as Adeen Aderemi Adedapo (Oba Alayemore of Ido-Osun), Dennis Okoro, director, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, executive secretary, MTN Founda-

to @Obivva’s house and as soon as they got into the estate where Obinna lives with his family, people in the street stopped to see too many cars in their estate. It was a strange sight. Meanwhile, Falz and Spinall made their way to Obinna’s gate

and knocked. On opening the gate, Obinna was shocked and could not believe his eyes. His favourite music stars were right in his house for a party. His compound was transformed to a party space within minutes and the gig kicked off with high intensity. There was palpable joy in the compound as Spinall controlled the console and Falz thrilled the party guests with his songs. “The Cap”, as Spinall is popularly called because of his distinctive cap, for the first time in his life gave a cap to a fan and Obinna was that lucky fan. He also got a framed photo autographed by Falz, Spinall and the MTN Pulse team. In the coming weeks, Falz and other notable celebs will be paying surprise visits to houses across the country with the #MTNPulseHouseParty this month. To party with celebs in your house just like @Obivva, fans are asked to simply visit the link on @mtnng’s bio (on social media), repost the Falz video on @mtnng’s social media page with the #MTNPulseHouseParty and get ready for the surprise house party of a lifetime.

tion, and several other art lovers. The week-long carnival featured top-notch performances from local and international artistes, including African Israeli Stage group, which performed “The Trials of Brother Jero” in Hebrew for the first time in Nigeria. The Eko Theatre Carnival, formerly known as the Bariga Open Air Theatre (B.O.A.T) Festival, is a performance-based carnival that celebrates the belief in performing arts as a viable tool for social engineering and empowerment. The carnival was introduced to mark more than two decades of creative theatrical performance by Crown Troupe of Africa. This year’s edition has been made possible by MTN Nigeria. This support further reinforces MTN Nigeria’s commitment to empowering the youth population in Nigeria as evident in other initiatives, such as Muson Scholars Programme and Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Festival (NUTAF). The partnership with Crown Troupe of Africa is another effort that is geared towards promoting the rich African cultural heritage.

ince her first album, “On the 6”, debuted in 1999, Jennifer Lopez has put herself on the global music scene, selling over 80 million records worldwide, 40 million albums, 16 top-10 hit songs, and three #1 albums. Just last week, MTV announced that Jennifer Lopez will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at its 2018 VMAs. Lopez joins a prestigious list of past Vanguard recipients that include Michael Jackson, Madonna, Guns N’ Rose, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, BEYONCÉ, Kanye West, Rihanna and P!nk. With a legacy that spawns over two decades, the global superstar is one of the most iconic and influential multi-hyphenates across music, film, television, fashion, business and philanthropy. Nominated for two VMAs for her most recent single, “Dinero”, Jlo as she is also known is expected to perform live during the event for the first time since inception of the awards in 2001. In addition to her music, Lopez has made her mark in film and television, with her films grossing over $2.9 billion worldwide, five of which opened at #1. Her portrayal of the Latin music

sensation “Selena” earned her widespread acclaim. Lopez’ simultaneous release of her second studio album “J.Lo” and her romantic comedy “The Wedding Planner” paved the way for her to become the first woman to have a number one album and film in the same week. Lopez also dedicates her time to support humanitarian causes. Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Lopez and Alex Rodriguez personally donated $1 million to humanitarian aid for Puerto Rico and helped launch a humanitarian relief campaign, “Somos Una Voz”, an effort supported by celebrities to rush supplies to areas affected by Hurricane Maria. Lopez and Rodriguez went ahead to organise a star-studded telethon event for disaster relief, “One Voice: Somos Live!”, which raised over $35 million. In April 2018, Lopez was named one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People”. The VMAs will air live from Radio City Music Hall on Tuesday, 21 August and repeat the same night across MTV’s global network of channels in more than 180 countries and territories, reaching more than half a billion households around the world. The broadcast is in partnership with Skky and Dragon.

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Sunday 05 August 2018

Life&Living

Best ways to enjoy a flight with children

JUMOKE AKIYODE-LAWANSON

t is summer time, the children are out of school until late September so you are probably jetting out with whole family for a well deserved holiday. Although going on a holiday is definitely fun for most people, the journey to the destination is often dreaded, especially when you are travelling with children and you have to be cramped up in an aircraft so high in the sky for several hours. In order to avoid getting frustrated before, during and after your flight, you might like to do the following; 1. Travel light It is wise to travel light, especially when you know that you are going to be coming back with a lot of shopping for the children’s new school year. With this, you wouldn’t be bothered about having to pay for extra luggages when you are returning and journey through airports, particularly on arrival, will certainly be quicker. Check your luggage allowance as each airline and airport has its own rules governing the size and number of luggages allowed per passenger. 2. Check in online Avoid the longer queues at the airport by checking in online (usually possible up to 24 hours in advance, but airlines’ rules differ, so check when booking your trip). Many enable you to select your seat when checking in online: first come, first served. So you can make sure that the whole family sits together on the flight. 3. Pick the best airlines Different carriers offer varying

amounts of legroom and standards of service. Check for airline reviews online to find out the best in service, airline entertainment, food and space. It is advised that you don’t book an airline without in-flight entertainment to keep the kids busy. 4. Avoid weekend flights Mid-week flights are generally less crowded than those at weekends and Mondays (the busiest flying day of the week). 5. Book a window and aisle seat for the kids As Nigel Tisdall the UK Telegraph travel writer reminds us, a window

on the world from an aeroplane seat is a simple pleasure that can be enjoyed by the most seasoned travellers. It is also advised for the children to sit by the aisle so that they don’t have to disturb other passengers when they need to use the toilet (which is often). 6. Sleep easy Make sure you get enough sleep before travel. A well rested body and brain helps with feeling more relaxed and less nervous during your flight. If you usually feel air sick or have motion sickness you can try taking some pills to help you sleep easily through-out your flight. You

might also want to book an evening flight to make sure that the children get enough sleep on the flight.

duty free at the transit airport and even buying some local souvenirs will add to the fun of travelling.

7. Be early It is always better to be early to the airport than to be on time. This is so that you don’t have to rush anything and in the process forget or lose something important.

9. Pack some candy and nibbles: Children normally complain about ear blockage on the flight especially during take-off and landing. To clear their ears, give them some sweets/ candy to lick as blocked ears are cleared when saliva is swallowed. If you’re travelling with an infant, try and breast feed or bottle feed when taking off and when landing to avoid discomfort. Also, they are usually peckish even before food is served. It’ll pay to pack some snacks for children to nibble on.

8. Try breaking long haul flights It might help to break long haul flights by transiting at a different destination for short while before embarking on the last lap of your journey to your final destination. This will help you stretch your legs by walking around

Why it’s important to get an event manager

IFEOMA OKEKE

here have been so many debates about whether or not the services of an event manager/planner should be consisered necessary, especially when everyone is trying to cut costs as much as possible when organizing a party or event. Event management is the application of project management to the creation and development of large-scale events such as festivals, conferences, ceremonies, weddings, formal parties, concerts, or conventions. It involves studying the brand, identifying its target audience, devising the event concept, and coordinating the technical aspects before actually launching the event. All over the world, the feel of bliss, love and lush at events are created glamorously through event planners. However, the skill of event management can be acquired through the right channels and connecting to the right people such as the popular Gideon Hermosa.

It has become evident that although the services of professional event planners have become more popular in Nigeria, most people are unwilling to pay for this service if they will not be given value for their money. “Most people that call themselves event planners or event managers in Nigeria are not professionals and just charge ridiculous fees to do absolutely nothing at your event. Sometimes your guests complain about not being fed, there is no coordination of vendors and there is still total chaos at your event, even after you have engaged the services of a so called event manager,” Keji Awokoya, a wedding blogger told BDSunday. Fortunately, celebrity event designer and florist, Gideon Hermosa is set to visit Lagos this August for an exclusive “Event Master Class” being organised by Diamond Ink Events. Gideon Hermosa, who is only 30 years old has racked up an impressive résumé in the event styling

scene. His success has been attributed to his ability to quickly adapt to any situation and blossom with the challenge that every unique event brings. For him, “a different wedding means different people, different characters and different ideas”. Gideon is one of the most influential and sought after event stylists of our time and his arrival in Nigeria will spark a lot of interest in the event and

wedding planning sector. “I am excited to be partnering with Diamond Ink Event to bring to Africa for the first time, my event designer and florist Masterclass. I look forward to meeting and connecting with fellow event designers and florists in Nigeria.”- Gideon Hermosa This upcoming event is expected to attract event planners, decorators, florists and people with interest

in events. Gideon will be teaching about floral arrangements, event conceptualization, execution, techniques, applications and fundamentals for design styles. This will be Gideon Hermosa’s first Master Class in Africa. “This event has been put together to give my fellow event and wedding planners an opportunity to learn from the talented Gideon Hermosa, and go in-depth on art of Event Decoration as client demands are becoming more elaborate. We are proud to be able to contribute to the event industry with this important event”, says Adenike Balogun of Diamond Ink Events. The two-day Master Class will take place on the 20th and 21st of August, 2018 in Lagos, Nigeria and is sponsored by The Podium Event Center, Bella Naija Weddings. Diamond Ink Events is an event design group with a Niche for intricately planning any event to reflect every bit of a clients’ vision.

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Travel Freedom on the Mountain Villa If you have been to the top of its mountains, drank from the springs at its valleys or even danced with the locals, Obudu Mountain Resort still has more to offer this summer writes OBINNA EMELIKE.

es, you may be wondering why Obudu when there are many other breathtaking destinations to visit, especially if you have been to the resort before. Well, the high exchange rate makes domestic destinations imperative at this summer season, especially as air tickets now leave big holes in the pocket. If you consider all these, and think of a place within your reach to escape to on holiday, Obudu Mountain Resort comes to mind. If you have been there before, all you need is to see the resort with new eyes, surrender yourself to the awesome nature within, and climb to the climax of leisure man and nature combine to offer at the resort. The mild temperature, breathtaking sights, adrenalin-filled activities, world-class facilities, the locals, serenity of the environment are top among the reasons the resort has remained the foremost tourist attraction in Nigeria. However, a visit to the resort without an experience of its accommodation offerings is not complete. Apart from the Presidential Villa, the height of excitement at the resort is a stay at the Mountain Villas. Short of words to describe the experience he had while staying in one of the improved Mountain Villa rooms, Kunle Oni, a telecom engineer, said it is simply freedom on the mountain. While there, he was woken by the rays of the rising sun behind towering mountain peaks, and had a mild peck on the chin by fresh and temperate weather while stretching his body at the balcony, and was excited by the warm greeting from the Villa staff eager to take his early morning orders. Of course, it is a world of luxury and romance in any of the 20

The Mountain Villas

The Villa room Mountain Villas (three-bedroom units with balcony) set atop the high plains in the Obudu Mountain Resort. Overlooking the Presidential

Retreat, the Mountain Villas are designed to give best of comfort and luxury to those who cherish quality accommodation option and special treat on their stay on

the Mountain Resort. Suitable for all-purpose stay, the three-room-in-one Villa accommodation is fashioned like a kingly duplex that gives guests opportunity to carry everybody along. For a family on vacation, the couple can afford to stay at the upper room undisturbed while the children, relations or house-helps share the two rooms below. A children playground adjacent the villa also keeps children busy while parents get time to get intimate as much as they want. The all-purpose setting allows for opportunity to do personal things within the villa. With the kitchenette, guests who so desire can prepare something for themselves without looking the way of the resort’s restaurant. Of course, the stylish dining invites everybody to breakfast, lunch or dinner while the large lounge can be turned into excitement ground or even bar depending on the guests’ choice. Yet, the three bedrooms are evenly furnished and stuffed with

facilities that keep guests hooked in them. From the rooms, the beautiful landscape around and far in the mountains, the well-paved streets, and most importantly, the closer cloud relax the nerves and set one in the mood for fun and adventure. Depending on the time of the day, the cloud looks so close that you imagine you can touch it from the rooms. On getting outside the room, the near-temperate climate caresses your body in a steady rhythm. The fun is also beyond the villas. One good thing about the offering is that no matter how long one wants to stay, the resort has enough attractions and activities that will keep a guest busy for as long as he/she can take. As a guest of the Mountain Villa, you have access to facilities, such as the cable car, canopy walk, the ninehole golf course, lawn tennis courts, the spa and gym, without additional cost except on special request. Telecommunication network is strong on the mountain for communication. Guests who want something beyond calls can always take advantage of the complimentary internet service to connect to the globe. Access to the resort is no longer an issue as many airlines now fly into Margaret Ekpo International Airport Calabar from where special cabs operated by Remlords Tours and other registered companies move on an appreciable speed to the four-hour journey to the resort. There is also a helipad few metres away from the Mountain Villas, while Bebi Airstrip offers safe landing and takeoff for small airplanes carrying visitors to the resort. It is shorter to driving from Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Abuja (about six hours), than from Lagos. So, keep a date with the resort this summer, and most importantly, see the offerings with ‘new eyes’.

Dubai woos tourists with alluring offerings this summer

hose planning a summer trip to Dubai are in for a treat as the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has released some numbers and facts that would serve as a guide to would-be tourists. According to the details released by DTCM, there are four different parks included within Dubai Parks & Resorts; Motion Gate, Bollywood Parks, Legoland, as well as, the Legoland Water Park. The parks feature over 100 incredible indoor and outdoor rides and attractions. They offer visitors the ultimate adrenaline-pumping experience. For art lovers, the Arab city boasts of 15 art galleries located in Alserkal Avenue. “If visual art is your thing, you will have enough at Alserkal Avenue located in the industrial area of Al Quoz. Alserkal Avenue is the region’s foremost arts and culture hub, home to 30 creative spaces, 15 top contemporary galleries, a private museum and a foundation. The neighborhood also accommodates exhibitions, talks, panel discussions, Young Collector’s Auctions and

community-based festivals that celebrate the arts, food and creativity,” a statement from DTCM reads. Located in the heart of Al Habtoor City, is the 25 metres high La Perle where actors are known to perform aerial stunts. The venue is known to bring to life a breath-taking fusion of artistic performance, creative imagery and groundbreaking technology. Directed by

Xline Dubai Marina

one of the world’s most renowned artistic directors, Franco Dragone, the 90-minute live performance features 65 world-class artists from 23 different countries. With over 2000 restaurants representing Dubai’s diverse mix of cultures, the UAE also aims to be among the top 25 nations worldwide excelling in the field of women’s empowerment.

According to information, both the United Nations and the World Economic Forum have recognized the country for its success in promoting gender equality and the role of women in all spheres of life. The UAE has nine women ministers, out of a total of 31. Women also make up 66 percent of public sector workers, with 30 percent of them being in leadership roles. Completed in 2011, the 78.6 kilometres of coastline on Palm Jumeirah, is home to some of Dubai’s most iconic resorts, including Atlantis The Palm, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, One & Only The Palm Resort and many more. The statement says it is also packed with fantastic dining options worth visiting. However, for a more relaxed beachfront dining experience, Club Vista Mare features seven restaurants over a 120-metre stretch of sand. For sports lovers and riders alike, the town also the town also boasts of the Al Qudra cycling path; a popular destination among Dubai’s adventure seekers. The 86 kilometres track consists primarily of a 50-kilometre loop followed by a section commonly known as ‘The Stick’ which runs approximately

15-20 kilometres straight along Al Qudra Road. Tourists are likely to catch a glimpse of some local wildlife like the oryx or horse riders along the path. “Currently standing as the world’s longest urban zip line, extending a full kilometre from a height of 170 metres to ground level, the XLine Dubai Marina features an incline of 16 degrees and reaches an average top speed of 80 kilometres per hour. “This is not forgetting the over 828 metres high pride of Dubai, the Burj Khalifa reputed for being the tallest building in the world. It was opened in 2010 and contains apartments, offices, two observation decks, a hotel and the world’s highest restaurant and bar,” the statement adds. Other features tourists stand a chance of experiencing are the over 200 different nationalities living in Dubai, about 2,500 animals in Dubai Safari which spans over 119 hectares and is divided into different sections as well as the 1.5 million square footage of IMG Worlds of Adventure, reputed as the largest indoor theme park in the world.

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Sunday 05 August 2018

Travel

In-flight continental meals passengers want to eat Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

ust AS change is the only permanent thing in life, so is the taste of every passenger. As passenger tastes change, so do the menus of airline in-flight meals (yes, even in economy class). In fact, it’s the back of the plane that presents the most challenge, and airlines are upping their game to please palates with more than a quick snack. There are several airline economy meals that go beyond the usual “meat or pasta.” Here are a few of them. Alaska airlines: Cascade Brisket Chili by Chef Tom Douglas Tom Douglas is one of Seattle’s most visible and celebrated chefs. Now, his award-winning cuisine (he’s a three-time James Beard winner) can be found in the skies. Alaska Airlines recently began a partnership with Douglas to introduce some of his signature flavors as purchasable meals

onboard flights from Seattle, of 2.5 hours or longer. Air New Zealand: Red wine braised beef with polenta A long flight to or from New Zealand is made better by economy-class menus from Peter Gordon Air New Zealand’s Executive Chef, a celebrated chef with res-

taurants in both London and Auckland who formulates the menus for each class. One such offering is this substantial main course: red wine braised beef with blue cheese polenta and green beans. Austrian Airlines: Viennese Schnitzel Upgrading your meal,

but not necessarily your seat, is an option on Austrian Airlines. For an extra €15, economy passengers on long-haul flights may pre-order from a menu of gourmet meals (including classic Viennese Schnitzel with a chocolate mousse dessert) from the chefs of Vienna-based DO & CO.

Passengers flying from Austrian’s hub at Vienna Airport may even place an order at the last minute, up to one hour before departure. Delta Air Lines: Strawberry frozen yogurt bars Free domestic meals in economy class aren’t completely gone from Delta, as the airline’s economy comfort passengers enjoy complimentary sandwiches and Luvo frozen yogurt bars on transcontinental flights from New York’s JFK Airport to Seattle, Los AngelesLAX, and San Francisco. JetBlue: Sirloin Sandwich Cross-country flights warrant a little something more than a tiny bag of potato chips. JetBlue understands this, offering several hearty sandwiches on their routes from from New York-JFK and Boston to San Francisco, Los Angeles-LAX and Long Beach. One offering is this sirloin sandwich, made with top sirloin steak, red-wine caramelized onions, white cheddar, baby spring greens, and horseradish cream on a roll, with

a side of quinoa and raisin salad. Virgin Atlantic: “Marvellous mac’N’cheese” kids meal from Chef Lorraine Pascale The littlest flyers aren’t forgotten on Virgin Atlantic, as the airline called upon British celebrity chef Lorraine Pascale to develop “fresh, nutritious, and simple meals with a homecooked feel” for children traveling in economy class. The “Marvellous Mac N Cheese” with pancetta is the far and away favorite, but children may also chose tender chicken strips and pea mash, sweet and sour pork, or “Mum’s chilli con carne” with calypso rice. Qatar Airways: Classic arabic mezze From their base in Doha, Qatar Airways develops menus to showcase both international and Middle Eastern favorites. A passenger favorite around the world is the Arabic Mezze, served in all classes. Economy enjoys hummus, tabouleh, muhammara, and lahim bil agine served with Arabic bread.

2019: Women aspirants lauds Hajj: Med-View airline begins airlift of 10,000 Pilgrims from Lagos Dana Air’s commitment to affirmative action

rospective women aspirants at the coming general elections have at a summit recently organized in Abuja, commended Dana Air for its commitment to affirmative action. Th e w o m e n d u r i n g the summit organized by Women Radio FM 91.7, Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), and Women in Politics Forum (WPF) commended the airline for not only contributing to th e s u c c e s s o f t he summit, but for showing massive commitment to the aspirations of women in the coming general elections in 2019. The Summit with the theme: Working Together for 2019, assembled women politicians who have expressed interest to contest various elective offices in next year’s general elections, was also aimed at enabling women to work together and strategize to win more elective positions in 2019. Speaking at the summit, Toun Okewale- Sonaiya, the CEO of Women Radio FM, said, “one critical point on the agenda was to bring women together with diverse experiences to further advance their participation in

political processes and governance.’’ “This is the first of its kind having female aspirants from all 6 geo political zones of Nigeria gather under one roof to focus on several paramount issues, including resource mobilization for campaigns, campaign team management, media visibility for women seeking elective positions among other issues and myself and the other women aspirants appreciate Dana Air for their support and commitment to this project.’’ Also speaking on the partnership, Obi Mbanuzuo, the accountable manager/ chief operating officer of Dana Air, said, “women have certain skills, capabilities and talents which we need to explore in governance and at Dana Air we are commitment to the Beijing Declaration of 1995, which advocates for more women in politics and decisionmaking.’’ Only recently, Dana Air won the Most Socially Responsible Airline award at the just concluded LAAC Awards. The airline having flown over 2.7 million passengers in the last 9 years of its operation is reputed for its unrivaled on-time departures, and world-class in-flight service.

ed-ViewAirline on Thursday commenced the 2018 airlift of Pilgrims from Lagos state to Mecca. No f e w e r t h a n 3 2 0 pilgrims were airlifted from the hajj camp of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport(MMIA) on board Med-view Airline at about 6:30am. The pilgrims started boarding the airline’s newly acquired Boeing 777-200 as early as 5:30 and were done with formalities before 6:00am. The airline is scheduled to airlift no fewer than 2001 passengers from Lagos alone and has a total of 10,000 pilgrims of the 95,0000 pilgrims to airlift. According to the airline

management, apart from Lagos pilgrims the airline will also be airlifting pilgrims from Kaduna, Maiduguri, Ilorin as well some extras from Guinea Bissau and Niger. Speaking with Journalist shortly before departure, Isiaq Na’allah, the executive d i r e c t o r, b u s i n e s s development, said that Med-view will be airlifting its pilgrims on seven trips.

Na’allah stated that: “We give praise to the almighty Allah for giving us the strength to start our airlift, this is the first flight we are doing this year and we are hoping to do about 10,000 pilgrims. We are airlifting our pilgrims from Lagos, Kaduna, Maiduguri and Ilorin.” “ Ob v i o u s l y, i t ’s challenging if you look at the number of passengers

we use to carry in such a short period, it is challenging and so you need a very high capacity aircraft, this is why we have brought this aircraft, it’s a triple seven(777) it’s a modern aircraft. This flight carries 323 capacity right now the Lagos people that are going now we have 320 . From Lagos state we have about 2000 passengers and we are going to do about seven flights for them.” On consistency he added, ”The major source of our consistency is our ability to provide the desired services for our passengers, we give them the comfort when they are going and when they are coming back and also when they are there as much as possible we make sure they enjoy their stay.”

Lufthansa offers six new tourist destinations departing Frankfurt, Munich

f you want to discover the northern lights or the Anti-Atlas mountain range you can now book additional and attractive winter destinations with Lufthansa. This is because Europe’s leading airline is expanding its offers from Frankfurt and Munich to include six new tourist destinations. All destinations are seamlessly reachable from Nigeria via Frankfurt. Lufthansa now flies from Frankfurt and Munich to

Eilat (Ovda), the attractive holiday resort on the Red Sea in the south of Israel. If you’ve had enough of winter and snow, Lufthansa will take you to this sunshine paradise four times a week (Thursdays and Sundays from Frankfurt and Tuesdays and Saturdays from Munich). Starting this winter, Lu f t h a n s a w i l l f l y t o Agadir (Morocco) every Monday and Saturday from Frankfurt and every Su n d a y f r o m Mu n i c h .

Agadir is located on the southern Atlantic coast of Morocco, in the foothills of the Anti-Atlas mountains. The capital of the province of Agadir Ida-Ou Tanane is a popular holiday destination featuring golf courses and endless beaches. Trieste (Italy), the capital of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia in the north-east of Italy, is considered one of the literary capitals of Europe, and its many ethnic and religious groups have earned it the

moniker of ‘early New York’. From the start of the winter, you can fly there with Lufthansa twelve times a week departing from Frankfurt. Fr o m w i n t e r 2 0 1 8 , Lufthansa once again offers flights to Thessaloniki (Greece) from Frankfurt. The town is the ideal starting point for hikes and explorations of the north of Greece, and it is the transit airport for onward travel to Chalkidiki in the south east.

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Sunday 05 August 2018

Consumer Watch

Nestlé moves to promote healthy cooking among consumers

... Introduces Yelo Péppé

Stories by Ngozi Okpalakunne

estlé’s Nigeria makers of MAGGI variety and other consumer products recently introduced “MAGGI Yelo Péppé”, an online nutrition education sequence to commemorate modern African cuisine and endorse healthy lifestyle. Dominique Allier, Business Executive Officer for Culinary at Nestlé Central & West Africa, who spoke at the launch said that the thirteen-week programme will highlight the numerous challenges that modern African women face when trying to balance providing nutritious and healthy food for their family, with all the other demands of a modern life. According to him, MAGGI has been inspiring millions of women to use local ingredients to cook tasty meals for their families through its highly successful nutrition road shows. “With its Yelo Pèppè series, MAGGI is adopting a new and innovative way to connect with the modern consumers who are increasingly watching online video content. “Connecting with their consumers through a completely

R-L: The Advisor to the Chancellor and Director of Africa Initiative, Washington University in St. Louis, Benjamin Ola Akande; Chancellor, Washington University in St. Louis, Mark S. Wrighton; and IITA Director General, Dr Nteranya Sanginga during IITA DG’s visit to the University.

original drama series, is the latest way MAGGI sets out to show that healthy cooking can be exciting without having to compromise on taste,’’ Allier said. He added: “To bring Central and West African audience the richest video content possible, MAGGI has partnered with

Google/YouTube and collaborated with Ghanaian awardwinning film director and writer, Shirley Frimpong-Manso. “The weekly programme will also link the viewers to a whole world of extra content such as beloved African recipes dressed with a health twist, lifestyles

discussion groups and nutrition tips created in collaboration with some of the best regional food influencers and Nestlé nutritionists. “MAGGI is committed to promote homemade wholesome cooking with local ingredients.

“We want to connect with more than 10 million people on the importance of eating a nutritious diet, adopting healthy lifestyles and maintaining a sense of wellbeing. “The series illustrates how MAGGI is contributing to Nestlé’s purpose of “enhancing the quality of life and contributing to a healthier future”, he added. To him, Nestlé is committed to enable healthier and happier lives by offering tastier and healthier choices, inspiring people to lead healthier lives and building, sharing and applying nutrition knowledge. He further described Yelo Peppè as a concrete expression of the fourth MAGGI ‘Simply Good’ commitments announced in 2017 which he said focuses on how to use more familiar and common ingredients; to improve the nutritional profile of its products, working on salt and sodium reduction, in addition to the fortification in iron; to create more value for the society and the community by increasing local sourcing and contributing to the local economy and; to raise awareness and contribute to nutrition education about healthy lifestyles, cooking and diets.

IITA partners Washington University to tackle poverty, hunger

he International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) are exploring areas of partnership that would address poverty and hunger. The plan is to influence on the strengths and expertise of the two institutions to solve the problem of poverty and hunger. A statement from IITA affirmed that the institutions resolved for a joint approach was made during a visit by Nteranya Sanginga, IITA director general, to WUSTL where he met the management of the University in the US. It also explained that during the visit, Sanginga held strategic meetings and discussions with Daniel Bentle, director of the Centre of Experiential Learning of Olin Business School; James Wertsch, director of the McDonnell International Scholars Academy; Kurt Dirks, Vice Chancellor for International

Affairs; Himadri Pakrasi, from Plant Science; Benjamin Ola Akande, Advisor to the Chancellor and Director of Africa Initiative; and the Chancellor, Mark S. Wrighton. “Located in St. Louis, WUSTL prides itself among the world’s leaders in teaching, research, patient care, and service to society. The university is committed to learning and exploration, to discovery and impact. “IITA, on the other hand, is headquartered in Nigeria with hubs in East, West, Central, and Southern Africa. A member of the CGIAR, IITA is the biggest international agriculture research center in Africa that is committed to agricultural transformation and a food secure Africa by leveraging on the power of science and technology. The centre gained global reputation for its breakthrough in the biological control of cassava mealybug, biological control of aflatox-

ins, and the development of improved varieties of banana/ plantain, cassava, cowpea, maize, soybean, and yam. IITA’s new research initiatives include addressing youth unemployment using the power of science,’’ it stated. “Besides the broader context of poverty, hunger, and unemployment, the two institutions will be focusing on some specific areas such as the engagement of youth in agribusiness, linking food nutrition and public health, and taking advantage of WUSTL’s current work on health issues and strength in medicine activities across the continent. “The two institutions will also delve into areas such as understanding the nexus between Food, Energy, and Water. There is a proposed focus on nitrogen fixation in cereals and cyanobacteria, and the linkage between the science of discovery and application”, it added.

Afang soup Ingredients for afang soup 400g sliced okazi/afang leaves about 4 handfuls 250g water leaves 20 to 25 cl red palm oil (about 1 drink glass) Beef, ponmo and dry fish 2 tablespoons ground crayfish Pepper and salt (to taste) 2 stock cubes. Before you start cooking: *Wash, drain and slice the water leaves in to tiny pieces. Grind or pound the okazi leaves. *Grind your pepper and crayfish and cut onions in to tiny pieces. Cooking direction: *Boil the beef and ponmo with diced onions and stock cubes in a very small quantity of water .When done , add the dry fish and cook for 5 more minutes. *Now add the palm oil, crayfish and pepper. The moment it starts boiling, add the afang leaves, water leaves and periwinkle. *When the okazi leaves have softened and the water has dried up a little, add salt to taste. And leave to simmer for about 5 minutes The afang soup is ready!

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MarketPlace with Lanre Ladipo co-founder and COO L&L Foods When considering a deal its best to have do some research about the party you’re negotiating with so as to capitalize on that knowledge. Also know your breaking point; you should always be prepared to suspend the deal if the other party is being unreasonable and lastly always go with your gut-feeling, if it’s too good to be true it probably is.

Akumah Uzochikwa

What is the Mr Ekpa Story? he Mr Ekpa story has evolved over the past few years from two individuals having an idea/vision to building on it and creating a brand in over 800 stores nationwide with the hopes to become a household name locally and internationally. How easy has it been getting people to buy your groundnut over the ones tied up in nylons or sold in bottles? Surprisingly it hasn’t been that difficult, Nigerians are now more observant and watchful of what they consume and are willing to pay for a standard when it comes to packaged goods. Most of our customers are surprisingly intrigued the first time they see our product on the shelves. How do you currently generate revenue? We currently generate rev-

Lanre Ladipo

enue through sales of Mr. Ekpa Frosted 50g, Mr. Ekpa Plain Roasted and lightly salted 50g/250g and Nutties 500g mostly locally and growing internationally. We also plan on launching

a new flavor in a few weeks which would help grow our market value and revenue. How many states in Nigeria currently have Mr Ekpa? Mr Ekpa is currently in

over 6 states and growing Do you think there’s a market for groundnut outside Nigeria? Yes, there is, we currently supply a few customers in Ghana and London and we’re looking to start trading raw groundnut in a few months. How have you been able to cope with the high cost of production in Nigeria? Production cost with diesel and fuel is a fixed cost once your capacity output is twice or even four times the amount you spend on your fixed cost its not a problem Tell us something about groundnuts that not a lot of people know about. There are over 500 peanuts in a jar of peanut butter also groundnuts don’t have the properties that can aggravate pimples unlike what most people think. Oh and groundnuts are not nuts but legumes.

Ladipo Lawani

What is the most important thing to consider when doing a deal?

Do you presently manage any other business? Yes, I’m the Co-Founder and MD of Spectrometer LTD an IT startup focused on building tech solutions in Nigeria our key skills are Mobile-web Application Development & Services, E-commerce development, web-services & API integrations, Internet Service/ Site hosting and Cryptp-currency integration systems/ Blockchain & TTP applications. Our Solutions include: The RegistryNG (www.theregistryng.com) an online ecommerce & crowd-funding platform, where soon to be couples can register on to create thoughtful and meaningful gift items called “wish list” which they can in turn share with their families, friends, and well-wishers in the hopes that they provide support to fund and purchase their items for them. Where do you see Mr. Ekpa in 5 years? In 5years we’d like to see Mr. Ekpa at a bigger factory location with the capacity to produce 3 tonnes an hour, We would also like to be in every mom and pop store in Nigeria, All the big chain supermarkets in Nigeria and also exporting internationally to over 10 countries worldwide.

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Bliss with Nonye Ben-Nwankwo

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Email: chiwuagwu@yahoo.com Phone number (sms only) 08057511893

I’ll buy a diamond engagement ring for Cossy Orjiakor – Benson Okonkwo

ontroversial actor, Benson Okonkwo is actually bent on getting married to Cossy Orjiakor. However, this desire may not be as easy as it sounds as the actress has demanded that Okonkwo produces a diamond engagement ring if he is really serious. In a phone interview with Bliss during the week, Okonkwo said no matter what, he would “hustle” harder in order to get what was required of him and he also “begged” those who had been urging him to get married to come and contribute to this ‘quest’ of getting an engagement ring. “Sincerely, if I could afford the diamond ring, I would get her engaged. All those people that are on my neck saying that I should get married, they might as well contribute so that I can get an engagement ring for Cossy and marry her. I am going to prove to the world that even with all that have been

said about me, I would marry her. I will have to step up my game and see if I would afford a diamond ring because she deserves it.” Explaining why he had to choose Cossy as the woman of his dreams despite the controversies trailing her, Okonkwo said, “Cossy has a good heart, a very beautiful heart. I have

known her for some time. Weird people are usually nice people. Cossy is the kind of woman I would marry even though people criticise her often.” However, Okonkwo added that her big boobs were equally an attraction. “The big boobs are an attraction but I also like her person. I want people to emulate her. I understand her kind of person. She has seen it all. She has been talked about. She is just like me in that aspect. People have said a lot about me. If I marry her, she would have my back even with what they have said about me. “I even enjoy the way she exposes her boobs. I love everything. I know that cosy cannot hurt a fly. Whatever she does is what makes her happy. I know that behind closed doors, she is a saint. People don’t know. There are many people who will not show their boobs yet they would do worst things,” he said.

Most Nigerian men think actresses can’t make good wives – Yetunde Bakare

ctress, Yetunde Bakare has said that an average Nigerian man has a bad perception about actresses in Nigeria. In a telephone conversation with Bliss recently, the actress said most men feel that females in her profession are promiscuous. “But that is just a lie. Promiscuity is in all professions. It is an individual problem. You have doctors, journalists, engineers

and even lawyers that are promiscuous. I don’t see reason everybody feel that actresses are very wild. “You know how Nigerian men reason; they are not mature enough to handle the fact that actresses do make good wives. Every average Nigerian man thinks that actresses are promiscuous.” A single mother of one, Yetunde said that she is single at the moment but has not ruled out the

idea of marriage. While refusing to talk about the father of her son, Yetunde said, “Hopefully, I wish I can have a family of my own in the next three years with additional set of twins. I want to be a good an exemplary mother and wife who all young girls out there can emulate. If you put your mind to do something, with hard work and dedication, you can achieve whatever you set out to achieve.” The actress, who features mostly in Yoruba movies, also said that life as an actor is not easy. “There are times you would be disappointed and you would feel like quitting but because of the passion you have for the job, you would reconsider.” Yetunde also disclosed that the life most of them live is an illusion most times. “Things are not as good as people think it is. Sometimes, we go through a lot of things that we cannot even tell the person next to us. We pretend as if everything is fine. It is not that rosy. I feel good being a star. But a lot of things come with it. I have made a lot of sacrifices. It is not easy at all. My son is the reason I keep pushing harder. He inspires me a lot,” she said.

pparently to mourn his son and get over the death of the lad, pop singer, D’banj, had stayed off social media since he tragically lost his child few weeks ago. However, the artiste has returned to social media and he thanked his fans who have supported him during this trying times. In a post on his instagram handle, the singer said, “The past few weeks have been incredibly trying and difficult, but God’s love has kept me and my family going. I can’t thank my team enough and the incredible love from you all. May God keep us all. #Stronger

D’banj thanks fans, returns to social media Together”. The post attracted thousands of comments with fans and fellow celebs, wishing him well. Caroline Danjuma, in her comment she posted, said, “The Lord will perfect all that concerns you and your h9ome.” Actress Rukky Sanda also posted saying, “God will continue to strengthen you bro, now and always.”

Ras Kimono to be buried August

eteran reggae musician, Ras Kimono, who died recently in Lagos, will be buried in his home town in Asaba, Delta State, this August. In a release made available to Bliss, there will be a one week event prior to the burial of the music icon. According to the release, the events will kick off with a social wake at his home in Lagos on August 17. Other events include a tribute night at Freedom Park, Lagos; COSON tribute night and lying in state at LTV, Ikeja before the corpse would be taken to his home town in Asaba.

Over 3000 entries for AMVCA 2018

he Africa Magic Viewers Choice award 2018 is likely going to be a clash of the titans as so many entries have been received for this year’s edition. For this year’s edition scheduled to hold on September 1, close to 3000 entries were received from the length and breadth of Africa and of course, the Diaspora. According to the organizers the aim of the award is for them to celebrate the contributions of African filmmakers (actors, directors, technicians etc.) to the success of the continent’s film industry. So far, about 151 awards have been presented to filmmakers in recognition of their work.

The likes of Falz, Somkele Idhalama, CJ Obasi, Kunle Afolayan, Kemi Lala Akindoju have gone on to achieve even greater individual excellence after receiving their first AMVCA plaques. For many others like Oluseyi Asurf who the award for Best Short Film in 2016 and Rotimi Salami who won as Best Supporting Actor in 2017, winning the award as a “relatively unknown” talent has hurled them into the consciousness of those within and outside the industry. Asurf has gone on to make a hugely successful Hakkunde by leveraging the “AMVCA winner” tag which he used to garner help via crowdfunding.

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Health&Science FG tasked on healthcare expansion, shift resources allocation

SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin

he Federal government had been charged to focus more on expansion of social reforms and provision of efficient primary healthcare delivery to save more lives in the country. Ola Brown Orekunrin, the Founder of West Africa’s leading air ambulance service, Flying Doctors Nigeria, recently made the call when she featured as guest appearance in a conference held at Musa Yar’adua Conference Centre, Abuja. Orekunrin, who spoke on the theme ‘Funding Healthcare for All’ disclosed “Nigeria has some of the poorest healthcare outcomes in the world. For example, the under-five mortality rate has been reported by the World Health Organization at 117 per 1000 live births. In other words, 1 in 10 Nigerian children under the age of 5 die annually.” According to her, the stratification of the causes of mortality amongst them reveals some of the chief causes which are as follows — Malaria, Acute Respiratory Infections and Diarrhea. These causes of mortality she said are worth deliberating, as they are preventable. “As our population continues to grow at rates as high as 4% the need for healthcare reform has never been more urgent. Hospitals are a big part of Nigeria’s problem. Our politicians love to launch them, celebrate them, we are sentimental about them, we constantly order expensive equipment for them, but in the grand scheme of things; they don’t really matter,” she explained The expert noted that as a developing country, Nigeria has

L-R: Bello Bala Shehu (Prof), Vice Chancellor Federal University of Technology Birinin Kebbi, Sydney Ibeanusi, Country Director, Ola Brown Orekunrin (Dr), Flying Doctors Nigeria and Omale Amedu (Dr, Director Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health during the conference on ‘Funding Health for All held at Umaru Musa Yar’adua Conference Centre, Abuja recently.

much untapped potential with regard to social reforms, comprehensive vaccination programmes, health education, institution of basic sanitation and waters provision infrastructure are not novel ideas and have been employed with great success in other developing countries. Orekunrin, who emphasised that our focus should be on emerging technologies and social reforms which Nigeria can tap on even at this stage to achieve modest morbidity and mortality rates. She said “These include telemedicine, remote support for para clinical healthcare staff, institution of robust systems to manage patient journeys, protocolization of common and easily preventable disease management guidelines and efficient referral systems. “A preventative health system would be primary and community based, and hinge on the shift in

resource allocation from tertiary institutions (hospitals) to community and primary care facilities.” Speaking further, Orekunrin stressed “ as healthcare advances, more can be done to treat patients that have what were previously disabling or life threatening conditions like burns, severe injuries or strokes. But, in order to provide complex healthcare safely, professional teams need to see sufficient volumes of patients with a particular condition. “The potential benefits from specialisation are greater for some life threatening conditions like heart attacks and major injuries, but the safest treatments cannot be provided at small general hospitals because there are not enough patients for teams to maintain their skills. More lives can be saved if advanced services are centralised in more specialist hospitals.”

Oyo to offer free cancer screening for over 16,500 women Akinremi Feyisipo, Ibadan

n its bid to reduce the prevalence of breast and cervical cancer among women to minimal level, Oyo state government says over 15,000 women are expected to benefit from free cancer screening. The free screening cancer in collaborative effort of the Oyo State Ministry of Health, the Local Government Councils across the state and the Access to Basic Care Foundation, a non-governmental organization founded by the wife of the state Governor, Florence Ajimobi, According to the government, the exercise would be provided for 500 women in each of the 33 Local councils and their Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) for the next six weeks. “The screening is part of the action plan of Oyo state for the control of cancer, saying that the programme will go a long way to ensure early detection and

thereby promoting treatment and management,” explained Ajimobi, who was represented at the event by Sola Oriniowo from Access to Basic Medical Care Foundation at the flag off of the free screening exercise on Tuesday at Kisi, the headquarters of Irepo Local Government. Ajimobi attributed that the state government is committed to reduce the prevalence of breast and cervical cancer; the screening exercise will also serve as human capacity building for nurses in the state who are responsible for cancer screening. “I promised that those found with any symptom of either breast or cervical cancer would be provided with treatment and support at Ibadan free of charge under the collaborative programme,” she said. According to Azeez Adeduntan, Oyo state commissioner for health, “the government is concerned by the increasing cases of cancer nowadays; the

Ministry of Health is leaving no stone unturned to reduce the ugly trend. “This programme would be carried in all the local governments across the state, the screening would be extended to men folk next year as a means of reducing the scourge of cancer in the state and i enjoined couples to avoid multiple sex partners to prevent cervical cancer in women,” advised Adeduntan. Flagging off the programme, the wife of the chairman of Irepo local Government, Rasidat Adediran lauded the Wife of the Governor, Florence Ajimobi for her commitment to the welfare of the people and urged the people to avail themselves of the opportunity of the free screening exercise. In their remarks, some of the beneficiaries of the free cancer screening, Afusat Amidu and Grace Popoola expressed appreciation to the State Government towards cancer control.

Physicians seek creation of faculty of family medicine in Ekiti RAPHAEL ADEYANJU, Ado-Ekiti

he Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON) has advised government in Ekiti state to establish the faculty of family medicine in state-owned University - Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, state capital. The group in a communiqué released to mark the World Family Doctors’ Day 2018 in the state and signed by the chairman and secretary, Solomon Olusoji and Agbesanwa Tosin respectively added that accreditation could be from either the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria or the West African College of Physicians. According to the group, this would enable the state to build for needed human resources required for the comprehensive health care needs of the people. They explained that the role of family physicians cannot be over-emphasised in the health sector saying that they are more proficient in the provision of cost effective and efficient health care services to public. “That the cost-effective of

health services provided by FPs will reduce health care expenditure by the state government, improve the health and overall productivity of its workforce. “Apart from the role of FPs at the Secondary Heath Care, they are also involved in the supervision and training of the primary health care team members and at the specialist and teaching hospitals the FP in involved in service delivery, training and research,” the communiqué read in parts. The group urged the state government and other relevant stakeholders to equip massively general hospitals across the state that would meet the standard of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. While soliciting the creation of at least one general hospital in each of the 16 local government areas in the state, the body stressed the need for 4 family physicians in each of the general hospitals. In order to improve the health care management of the citizens, they advised government to encourage medical officers in the state’s employment to obtain at least a diploma in family practise.

Fast facts on ovarian cysts Wired report

n ovarian cyst happens when fluid accumulates within a thin membrane inside the ovary. The size can range from as small as a pea to larger than an orange. A cyst is a closed sac-like structure. It is divided from surrounding tissue by a membrane. It is an abnormal pocket of fluid, similar to a blister. It contains either liquid, gaseous, or semi-solid material. The outer or capsular portion of a cyst is called the cyst wall. It is different from an abscess because it is not filled with pus. A pus-filled sac is an abscess. Most ovarian cysts are small and harmless. They occur most

frequently during the reproductive years,buttheycanappearatanyage. There are often no signs or symptoms, but ovarian cysts can sometimes cause pain and bleeding. If the cyst is over 5 centimeters in diameter, it may need to be surgically removed. Fast facts on ovarian cysts: An ovarian cyst is a buildup of fluid within an ovary surrounded by a thin shell, or membrane. Ovarian cysts are usually harmless, but a large one may need to be removed. There are two main types of ovarian cysts: functional ovarian cysts and pathological cysts. In most cases, ovarian cysts will cause no signs or symptoms. Culled from Medical News Today

WASCO Ajinomoto reiterates commitment to healthy living

est African Seasoning Company Limited (WASCO), an affiliate of the AJINOMOTO Group; a global food giant and makers of Aji-nomoto seasoning products has reiterated its commitment to promote healthy living through its seasoning, stating that monosodium glutamate (MSG) is good for human consumption. Junichi Niki, managing director of WASCO said Aji-no-moto is an MSG seasoning that improves and brings out the taste of other seasoning in a dish. “MSG, based on scientific findings, is 100 percent safe for consumption. For over a century now, MSG has been used to add Umami, the 5th basic taste, that enhances taste and make dishes more delicious since it was discovered in 1909. MSG is present in most natural foods such as meat, seafood, vegetable,

cheese and milk. Umami is a universal taste. “As a food company, we have been in Nigeria since 1991 distributing nationwide. Over the years we have grown especially in the Northern area and so we want to renew our strength in the Southern areas of Nigeria to complement our efforts in the North,” said Niki. Isa Hassan Shallangwa, head of marketing at Ajinomoto, speaking on the global acceptability and consumption of Aji-no-moto Umami seasoning said, it gives a strong pleasant taste that is not sweet, sour, salty, or bitter. “Umami taste is a member of the five basic tastes (alongside with sweetness, sourness, saltiness and bitterness”. The safety of umami substance has been approved by authorities all over the world such as in the USA, EU, Australia, Japan, and also by NAFDAC in Nigeria.

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Sports Qatar 2020: Over 600 construction workers stranded at site

Stories by Anthony Nlebem

ver 600 Indian construction workers in Qatar have for six months faced denial of salaries, job losses, the expiry of visas and substandard living conditions in labour camps, according to workers and official communications. Qatar has been drawing flak over the plight of migrant workers involved in construction work for the infrastructure required for the 2022 football World Cup. An Indian official said nearly 300 of the workers have been provided work in other companies while some have been brought back. But those affected say there has been no word on their compensation after having worked for eight to 10 years. The workers have fallen on hard times since a financial crisis hit leading Qatari firm HKH General Contracting Company, which once employed 1,200 workers. “We are now left to the mercy of people who help us on a charitable basis for food. We do not even have electricity in the daytime, but just about manage to get generators running in the night,’’said S Kumar, who is from Kerala and worked for the firm for eight years. He said he had not been paid for last six months. A plumber, who worked for the company for nine years, said they have no option but to wait. “I cannot even go to a hospital for the fear of getting caught as my visa has been expired,” he said on condition of anonymity. “I had to borrow money to

arrange for my flight back home. I feel hopeless. I pawned my property to come here two years ago. This is what life has given me here,’’ said another worker. The Indian embassy in Qatar took up the matter with the company without any response after 25 workers wrote to the mission on April 10 complaining that they had not been paid for months. Subsequently, the embassy approached Qatar’s administrative development, labour and social affairs ministry. “The ministry has assured us all humanitarian assistance,’’ said an Indian official.

The embassy again wrote to the company on May 5 reminding it of the non-payment of salaries. Kerala’s principal secretary took up the matter in a letter to the embassy on May 29. Jarnail Singh, a worker, said writing letters was not alone going to help. “What we want are our dues. Governments – state or Centre – say they are working on the issue. For us, its struggle of last six months and uncertainty about our future.” HKH General Contracting Company did not respond to HT’s queries. There was no response from the Qatari

embassy in New Delhi until Sunday evening. There was no response from the external affairs ministry. But a government official familiar with the issue said the mission and the Indian community in Qatar were arranging essential supplies for the workers. “We continue to work to resolve the status of others.” Rema George, a social activist who takes up such cases, said they have been pursuing the case. “The government should take immediate steps to address the issue immediately. These are poor people who have no other means to

survive. I have visited these camps where they stay and it is a sad sight.” In a July 12 letter to George, the Indian embassy said over 200 workers “have had their visa transferred to other companies and nearly 45 half left for India (out of which 14 airfares were given by the mission).” The Indian mission is working with Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines to press for relief for the workers. An official said Qatar recently announced Support Fund to clear dues of workers of distressed companies. But it is yet to become operational.

Chivita Active inspires consumers to get active

ew months after Chivita Active launched its new campaign, C’mon Get Active, to position the brand as an enabler for a healthy active life, the campaign is already inspiring a new social movement for consumers who are voting for active health by easily integrating Chivita Active into their daily routine as a partner in their journey for improved wellness and healthy lifestyle. The Chivita Active C’mon Get Active campaign, which is being driven across multiple engagement platforms is very relatable to consumers because it is creative, simple and straight to the point in delivering key messages of whole-

some nourishment, active health and wellness. Across Nigeria, #C’monGetActive continues to trend in the digital space offering consumers an opportunity to share their active health routine story and encourage one another. Analysts have commended the campaign for leveraging on the brand’s enabling role for regular healthy lifestyle activities to drive consumer preference and purchase intentions. They contend that the campaign reflects deep insights on the shift in consumption pattern as a result of growing social consciousness of wellness through active health, and Chivita Active’s brand purpose resonates with consumers who are already thinking in that

direction. For Chinedu Johnson, a grassroots soccer coach in Agege, Chivita Active represents a shift for consumers like himself who are desirous of a healthy beverage to support their daily activities without compromise on great taste, convenience and enhanced nourishment. “As a soccer coach, I have had the privilege of supervising numerous young people through daily fitness regimen. They are passionate about achieving their fitness goals and wellness through active health as well as enhanced nourishment from Chivita Active that supports to keep them focused,” he said.

According to Mrs. Adewunmi Akintola, a marketing executive, from taking a long walk in the morning or evening after work to a few light indoor exercises, the need to stay healthy has necessitated more people adopting active lifestyle habits that are beneficial and convenient. “With the daily physical exertion for wellness comes nourishment from Chivita Active. The C’mon Get Active campaign has made the brand an easy recall for me and my friends as we nudge each other on our amazing journey of wellness,” she added. Speaking on the campaign, Chi Limited’s Marketing Director, Mr. Probal Bhattacharya, explained that the objective

of Chivita Active’s C’mon Get Active campaign to challenge consumers to say YES to active health was being achieved based on numerous positive consumer feedbacks received. “We are still observing the trends and are excited by the responses so far. The C’mon Get Active campaign would continue to raise awareness and motivate, as the community of consumers who have voted for wellness through active health continues to grow,” he stressed. Chivita Active is available in four exciting blends of 6 Citrus Fruits and the Vegetables + Fruits variants: Carrot and Orange, Beetroot and Grape, Beetroot and Apple.

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Sports

England joins race to host 2030 World Cup

Stories by Anthony Nlebem

ngland Football Association (FA) is carrying out a study into the feasibility of hosting the 2030 World Cup finals, FA chairman Greg Clarke said in a statement on Wednesday. England, who hosted the World Cup in 1966, failed in their most recent attempt to win the rights for the 2018 tournament, which was held in Russia. “Last month the English FA board agreed to conduct feasibility work into the possibility of putting itself forward to be UEFA’s potential candidate to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup,” Clarke said. “This work will take place during the new season and no decision will be made until 2019.” A South American tri-nation bid involving Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay has already been announced for 2030. South American officials have said they are expecting a bid from England, possibly in alliance with the other parts of the United Kingdom. While the FA has not directly addressed the possibility

of a joint bid, it is likely that their study will look into the potential benefits of such an approach — given the World Cup will expand to 48 teams in 2026. FIFA’s congress voted in June for a joint bid from the United States, Canada and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup. Following that decision, the

FA’s representative at FIFA, David Gill, said the cleaner bidding process opened up the possibility of a new England bid. Clarke dismissed the suggestion from former FA chairman David Triesman that England could step in to host the 2022 tournament if it was taken away from Qatar. “FIFA has chosen Qatar

to host the 2022 World Cup and they have a duty to investigate any issues around the process that are rightly thrown into question. “Russia did a brilliant job hosting the 2018 World Cup and we support the rotation of World Cup hosting among the confederations,” said Clarke. “That would make the

2030 World Cup the next one a European nation might be able to host and not before. Anyone suggesting otherwise is acting disrespectfully to our global game and does not speak for the English FA.” England has not staged football’s flagship event since 1966, and lost out to Russia in humiliating fashion in voting for this summer’s showpiece, but the FA launched a feasibility study last month into becoming Europe’s preferred candidate to holding the competition in 12 years’ time. No decision will be made until next year on whether the FA will turn its interest into a concrete bid - one which could even include other countries from across the UK for what would be a 48-team competition - but there is optimism within the organisation it would be chosen as Uefa’s candidate, with European football’s governing body adamant it would be the continent’s turn to host the World Cup again in 2030. The FA also moved to distance itself from suggestions it could step in to host the 2022 World Cup if Qatar is stripped of the tournament.

Foundation to host 3rd edition of School Cycling Challenge

he third edition of the School Cycling Challenge (SCC) has been slated for September 20 and 21 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, with 240 students drawn from each of the education districts of Lagos State as participants. The competition, an initiative of the African Cycling Foundation, (ACF) is aimed at encouraging safe and regular cycling among secondary school students, male and female, across Nigeria. Yemi Osilaja, the founder of ACF, said the SCC is a platform for teenagers to exhibit their cycling skills encouraging more teens to take up safe and regular cycling in order to grow into healthy adults with long life expectancy. “The goal of the SCC is to facilitate the establishment of cycling clubs in secondary schools,” said Osilaja.

According to him, though it is free to participate, registration can only be done through a participating school, and all competitors must be

part of the school team and presented by the school. He added that ACF would provide all bicycles and helmets for the competition, while

the competition is targeted at secondary school students in rural and semi-urban areas who trek long distances to and from school daily.

Osilaja disclosed that the cycling challenge is being held in collaboration with relevant educational authorities, community leaders, school authorities and parents cum guardians to ensure a smooth and credible process. He however said that the foundation is willing to partner with individuals and corporate organisations to make the competition a huge success. “Sponsorship is welcome from individuals and corporate organizations. Sponsors’ brands would feature prominently on all competition media and publicity materials. We seek to partner with corporate organizations to establish cycling clubs for their staff. We are involved in a robust advocacy for the development of an enabling environment for safe and regular cycling at all levels in Nigeria,” Osilaja said.

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Sunday 05 august 2018

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Nigerian politicians and politics of shifting cultivation

n agriculture, the term shifting cultivation refers to a system of farming in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned and allowed to revert to their natural vegetation while the cultivator moves on to another plot. The period of cultivation is usually terminated when the soil shows signs of exhaustion or, more commonly, when the field is overrun by weeds. Many Nigerian politicians could be said to be practising shifting cultivation in their style of politicking in the country. For them, as it is said, there is actually no permanent enemy or friend, only permanent interest. They have become like a rolling stone that gathers no moss. They can be likened to nomads. They are migrant in nature; they keep migrating from one place to another. They have no enduring ideology and believe in none. They are ruled by the ambition of their heart. And to them, there is nothing like party supremacy. So, because of their roving nature, their defection this time around was not a surprise to many people. By this time four years ago, the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was seething in anger over the defection of five governors and a number of stalwarts from its fold to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The APC, on the other hand, was upbeat as it opened its arms wide to receive the decampees. With the immense assistance of the defectors, the APC, formed in 2013, sacked the PDP from power. Today, the tide appears to be changing. The “Prodigal Sons” are straying back in their numbers, eliciting joy and happiness in the camp of the PDP. Sounds of clinking glasses are being heard as the leadership of the party organised elaborate and rousing welcome party for the returnees. The last few days have been very interesting in the nation’s political scene. There has been a tsunami, akin to what happened in 2014, but in a reverse order. It began with the defection of 15 senators and 37 members of the House of Representatives. A few days later, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State jumped ship. Last Tuesday, Bukola Saraki, Senate president; Abdulfatah Ahmed, governor of Kwara State, and all members of the state House of Assembly and a retinue of supporters tore their APC membership cards and rejoined the PDP. The wind of defection also carried away Bolaji Abdullahi, who was the national publicity secretary of the APC, and landed him back in PDP. In faraway Sokoto State, Governor Aminu Tambuwal and most members of the state legislature staged a surprise divorce against the APC and went into a fresh matrimony with the umbrella party. Earlier, in Kano State, Mohammed Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, a serving senator and presidential aspirant, had made fences with Ibrahim Shekarau, another

presidential aspirant, and they both decided to empty themselves and their huge number of loyalists into PDP. The most dramatic of all was the defection of Ahmed Ibeto, a serving ambassador to South Africa. He flew into the country, renounced his membership of the APC and dropped his letter of resignation at the Ministry of External Affairs. As interesting as these defections seem, Nigerians must not be carried away by the antics of politicians. They all complained that the APC was a bad party and that they could not serve the country well on account of certain policies or tendencies from the ruling party. These were the same words that they employed when they dumped the PDP in 2014 for the then newly formed APC. At that time, they saw opportunities that were offered to them on a platter. And because they said unprintable things about their former party, they became hot cake to their new-found friends. It was a case of “my enemy is also your enemy”. They leveraged on this to become governors, senators, and some clinched political appointments. Today, because they have realised how difficult it may be for them to return to their posts if they stayed back in the APC, they decided to rejoin the PDP they had abused and denigrated so much. The account of the “Prodigal Son” in the Bible is apt in the drama that is unfolding in the country’s political scene. The young man took a decision to be on his own and mounted pressure on his father to give him his own portion of the inheritance. All efforts to persuade him to discard the dangerous idea fell on deaf ears. He got the inheritance and took off on a long journey to a place where no one would monitor him. He squandered the wealth and suddenly became penurious. He began to feed swine and was dying in hunger, so he sometimes wished he could help himself with the food meant for the swine. But then, he came to himself and realised that his father had many servants who lived well and wondered why he would be languishing in poverty. He decided to go back home to plead for forgiveness. That he did, and received pardon. The returnee politicians are not better than the “Prodigal Son” in some ways. They jumped the PDP ship when it was obvious that the party was sinking. The then ruling party was heading for disastrous end as a result of internal crisis rocking it over noticeable cases of high-handedness and impunity. These politicians left without looking back. They joined forces with the APC to oust the PDP, making Goodluck Jonathan to have an unenviable record as the only

Zebulon agomuo Nigerian sitting president to have been removed through the ballot. Today, having squandered the goodwill they initially enjoyed in the APC, they have remembered the PDP. They remembered the PDP because they know that the umbrella organisation is desperately in need of men and resources to prosecute the 2019 general election. Some of them who are nursing presidential ambition may yet again set off another round of crisis in the party as soon as they discover that the pendulum is not swinging to their side. Although they have been given the assurance by the leadership of the PDP, conveyed by Uche Secondus, national chairman of the party, that they are free to aspire to contest any position in the country on the platform, and that nobody in the party would refer to them as newcomers, it is left to be seen how this journey back home will positively impact the PDP, for it is said that there is no amount of treatment that could be given to a madman that could wean him off soliloquizing, which is a visible sign of madness. Moreover, although the scriptures did not tell us the later behaviour of the prodigal son after his return, it is not unlikely that nobody, including his father, was able to commit greater responsibility to him knowing full well that he can take a walk any day. The problem that may arise as a result of the congregation of presidential aspirants in the PDP - Atiku Abubakar, Saminu Turaki, Kwankwaso, Shekarau, Saraki, Sule Lamido, Ahmed Makarfi, Tambuwal, etc - is a clash of interest. Unfortunately, there seems not to be a father-figure in the party anymore, who could act as a kingmaker in the mould of the likes of Olusegun Obasanjo (who has left the party); Tony Anenih (Mr. Fix It); or the late Alex Ekwueme. Barnabas Gemade, who should have played such role given his pedigree in the party, is, unfortunately, also a rolling stone, himself needing help. The crop of leaders in the party at the moment is ambitious young men, who may not have the wherewithal to moderate the ambition of those under them. Nigerians have been bitten several times by the bugs of unfaithful politicians who recycle themselves, jumping from one party to the other. It is not likely that so much hope would be built around such politicians who have proven over the years that they are just like a rolling stone that gathers no moss. The onus is, however, on them to prove Nigerians wrong.

Quick Takes

Off the Cuff

N49b

Highly unpresidential!

he decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to proceed on a 10-day holiday in London at a time his party is on fire is a little bit insensitive and does not bode well for a leader who should be seen as a father-figure for the party at this trying moment. It is unnatural for a father whose children are running away from home, in a defiant manner, to begin to embark on a holiday when he should actually stay home to stave off the raging storm in the homefront. The decision to go on leave at this time conveys an I-don’t-care attitude, which he has been manifesting since he assumed office in 2015, and which has left Nigeria and Nigerians totally bruised. Some critics say it is typical of African leaders - very insensitive. This appears to have been elevated to a culture that nothing is taken very seriously no matter how serious it is. It is unthinkable that a party that spent a fortune and fought

tooth and nail to win just a state, Ekiti, could lose three states in a twinkle of an eye without anybody going to the poll, yet the party says it is not bothered and that is the time the President, the leader of that party, decides to embark on a holiday. Apart from losing three states at a whim, his party also lost to the opposition a Senate president, a number of senators, members of House of Representatives and other prominent members, signalling that all is not well with the party. And this should call for deep thought and reengineering in the party, but the response has been very infantile and castrated. The President said while outside the country that he was not bothered about the developments. It was not surprising that he said so. The party has always lived in denial. Many Nigerians are dying, the President and his party say they see nothing of such. The party is on fire, they say there is nothing like that. Herdsmen are killing people all over the place, the President says they are

remnants of Libyan soldiers fleeing from the crisis in their country. People are complaining over lopsided appointments, he says appointments are in order. When he was supposed to appoint his ministers, he said it was not necessary but he later did so six months after inauguration by which time a lot of ground had already been lost. Now, the meaning that is being read from the President’s holiday is that he was trying to escape from the heat to have a breath of fresh air. Some pundits say that some people are just using the President’s imprint to feed fat and that he is not just interested in the whole system and would have gladly loved to go home after May 2019, but for the hawks around him who hide under his name to perpetrate havoc in the system. All said, the holiday at this material time is ill-timed and highly “unpresidential”.

This is the amount the Federal Government said it has spent under its National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) in the last two years to feed school pupils in 24 states.

Still waiting on ‘Mama Taraba’ Nigerians are still waiting to hear from Aisha Alhassan, who has just resigned her appointment as minister of Women Affairs, to pursue her gubernatorial ambition in Taraba State. But Nigerians are waiting to hear when she would formally join Atiku Abubakar, her political godfather. Does anybody still remember the drama she acted sometime ago?

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