THEWILL NEWSPAPER April 02, 2023

How Obi, Tinubu Divided Afenifere

Non-oil Exports: Nigeria Earned $22.6bn in Four Years

FUNMI

Alleged GovernmentInterimPlan Unsettles Polity

46 Years of Impactful Scheme

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Intervention Fund, created in 1977 to stimulate growth in key sectors of the economy, has proved a success story among the states and the FCT, as Adamawa and Taraba (in North-East) showcase in this edition

… pages 36-37

Forerunner Of Nigeria's Fashion Industry

Wellness has become crucial in living our best life, and every year there is a new wellness trend. This week, we share some trends that will make rounds this year. From face massages to digital detox, micro workouts to sleep syncing, check out the various new quick ways to keep the body and soul in a wellness state.

It’s Ramadan season, so what better time to bring you an article about the dos and don’ts of undertaking a fast this season? It might seem like you know what to do, but trust me; you will learn a few things.

Human beings develop differently. Some are faster than others, while others have conditions that affect brain development. One such condition is with neurodivergent people, otherwise known as autistic persons. It’s interesting to learn that one in every one hundred children is autistic, with the highest percental being boys. And two of every one hundred people are autistic.

Even more interesting about neurodivergent people is that although they may say very few words or not speak at all, they understand you and can hear what you say. As I learnt from an article on page 14 of this week’s magazine, some may even repeat your words to someone else and, in some cases, in the exact same tone you spoke. This article makes for such an enlightening read on the subject.

As today is World Autism Day, make time to learn more about people— children and adults, who are neurodivergent or in the Autism spectrum.

And don’t forget to scan the QR codes on page 16 for music that will get you dancing.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

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COVER

Alleged Interim Government Plan Unsettles Polity

BY AMOS ESELE

It remained in the realm of rumour until Thursday, March 29, 2023. That day, the Directorate of State Services, DSS, openly admitted that politically-exposed persons in the country were plotting to introduce an Interim National Government, ING, in Nigeria.

Two things stood out in bold relief in the DSS statement by its spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, who described the alleged plot as “the illegality,(which) is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to peace-loving Nigerians.”

The two are, according to him, planned protests in the country and court orders to block the transition to the new government on Democracy Day, May 29, 2029.

Explaining that President Muhammadu Buhari had already inaugurated a transition committee that would oversee the smooth transition of power to the next government, the DSS spokesman, who pledged the agency’s loyalty to the Federal Government and expressed its commitment to the transition of power, warned of dire consequences awaiting those plotting the ING.

Without mentioning names or disclosing the identity of any organisation behind the alleged plotters, the public confirmation by the spy agency opened itself to guesswork.

Attempts to reach Afunanya for further clarification on Friday failed as he refused to answer calls put through to his phone or respond to text messages.

“They are flying a kite. They have an agenda,” 94-year old leader of Afenifere, Yoruba social and political organisation, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, however, told THEWILL on Friday.

On Tuesday, Adebanjo’s political group, which teamed up with its South-East counterpart, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Middle Belt Forum and Pan-Niger Delta Forum and endorsed the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, for the February 25, 2023 presidential poll, issued a post- election statement on Tuesday, March 26, 2023, saying that based on available evidence at its disposal, Obi won the February 25, 2023 election.

Asked if he thinks his organisation is one of those referred to in the DSS statement, he replied: “We are saying that the process of an

election is full of irregularities. Let the courts and the Election Tribunal adjudicate over the matter. With the badly conducted election, they know that people will protest or go to court. So they are preparing the grounds for arrests. I suspect they have an agenda.”

In the case of the LP, whose vice-presidential candidate, Dr Baba Datti-Ahmed, on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 Channels TV programme Politics Today, called on President Buhari and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court not to commit unconstitutionality by swearing-in President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on May 29, 2023 (for which Channels was on Friday fined N5 Million by the National Broadcasting Commission), LP Spokesperson, Tanko Yinusa, is evasive. He told THEWILL in an interview that the party, like the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC, have distanced themselves from the alleged ING plan.

“We are in court over election matters and we are waiting for pronouncements on our case, that is all for now,” he said, volunteering when pressed further, that “those who are likely to be pushing for the ING are those

Alleged Interim Government Plan Unsettles Polity

who were calling for it before the conduct of the elections, people who thought the election may not go their way.”

Prior to the DSS statement, some protesters on the platform of the Free Nigeria Movement on Tuesday last week, urged President Buhari to annul the February 25 presidential election and set up an ING In a counter-protest, pro-Tinubu protesters on the platform of ‘The Natives’, marched on Abuja streets on Monday, warning against the imposition of an ING.

Investigation by THEWILL reveals that unsubstantiated fears about hidden official hands suspected to be manipulating the handover of power may also be fueling the call for ING.

Apprehension over suspected official reluctance to supervise the electoral process smoothly with the traumatising cashless policy is yet to fade away, despite repeated assurances by President Buhari that he was awaiting the May 29 handover date with great expectation and the transition committee was well on track.

But are protesters likely to heed the DSS warning?

MORE PROTESTS COMING

Maverick Charles Oputa, a.k.a Charly Boy, who has been mobilising the youths in readiness for post-election protests across Nigeria, as he announced on his Twitter handle last week, said the DSS statement would not deter them.

He told THEWILL last week that what slowed down the pace of mobilisation is his determination to calm the angry youths so that they all could organise a peaceful protest that would be free from infiltration and disruption by hoodlums.

Charly Boy, who has become an advocate of the masses fighting for their rights, told this newspaper, “It is our civic right to protest against impunity as long as it is orderly. It is going to be all over the country. It is for the love of the country. Can leadership inspire anybody in Nigeria today? People in saner climes are thinking of progress, we are doing something different. We will do it within the law.''

He said the date was yet to be fixed because he was having a big time “calming many of the boys who are angry,'' adding, "I have asked them to chill, because when you are angry you can make costly mistakes.''

INTERIM NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN RECENT HISTORY

The Interim National Government was first muted in by the fading government of former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd.), whose government annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election widely believed to have been won by Chief M K O Abiola, thus plunging the Third Republic into crisis. In

an attempt to avoid the looming danger, General Babangida handed power over to corporate guru, Ernest Shonekan, as interim Head of State on August 27, 1993. The largely powerless government was dissolved by General Sani Abacha, who seized power on November17, 1993.

Twenty-nine years later, the call for ING resurfaced. This time, it was championed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, Ekiti State.

In April 19 2022, Babalola called on the Federal Government to suspend plans for the 2023 general elections and opt for a stopgap interim government.

According to the legal luminary, using the current Constitution to conduct another election in Nigeria would only reproduce the faulty leadership and system being experienced in the country.

At the media parley organised at ABUAD on that day, Babalola said, “As soon as the President, the present government completes its term, do not hold a new election,” he proposed. “Rather, let us have an interim government for a short period to discuss a new Constitution.

“This will consist of all retired presidents, vice Presidents, governors, and some selected people.”

“Moneybags now control the lever of powers, if we allow the present Constitution beyond 2023, what we will be getting is recycling leadership who will continue the old ways.”

REACTIONS

Although Babalola’s call attracted a passing attention, a similar call, according to the DSS, has attracted condemnation, surprisingly more from his juniors at the bar.

Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; Presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar; Social Democratic Party, SDP, Adewole Adebayo and Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Advisory Committee, IPAC, have all condemned the call for ING and urged the authorities to prosecute the identified promoters.

On Friday, while handing over office to Justice Mary Odili, his successor as Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, described as an aberration and an invitation to anarchy, the sudden call for an interim government in a democracy where elections had just been held and certificates of return issued to winners.

Speaking in Abuja at a public function organised in his honour by the Body of Benchers (BoB) to mark the end of his tenure as the Chairman of the prestigious organisation, he said : “It is unconstitutional. To me, it comes from the pit of hell. Calling for an interim national government? Where did you get it from? How do you compartmentalise it? How do you accommodate it within a constitutional democracy? As a lawyer, I don’t know the jurisprudence that will accommodate it.''

WHAT WAY FORWARD

Security expert, Kabir Adamu, on Friday said that it is good that the DSS alerted the public to an existential threat to the democratisation process in the country. For him, politicians are capable of anything, particularly when they have invested heavily in an election and eventually lost. He however advised the DSS to be more proactive in doing their work. He suggested ways the spy agency can go about it.

Advising against arrests of prominent opposition political leaders which could create more problems, he said the DSS has the capacity to de-escalate the problem through statecraft.

“By trailing suspects, studying their works and investigating them through cyberspace surveillance could be one effective way to handle the situation. Another would be to form the habit of inviting potential suspects for questioning and issuing warnings to them after interrogations,” he said.

For Pa Adebanjo, ''the DSS exists not to tell the public about danger but to to tell those who can prevent danger, the police for instance. When they come to the public and raise an alarm, they raise the tempo in the society.”

On the possibility of a looming anarchy in the country given that no culprit has been identified and arrests made not to talk of prosecution to serve as deterrent, the elder statesman said, “Only the judiciary can save the country now. Their decision on the postelection matters before them can make or mar the country because you cannot have peace without justice.”

We are saying that the process of an election is full of irregularities. Let the courts and the Election Tribunal adjudicate over the matter. With the badly conducted election, they know that people will protest or go to court. So they are preparing the grounds for arrests. I suspect they have an agenda

Obogoro

Erosion

Control Project Not Abandoned – Diri

The Bayelsa State Government has described reports that it abandoned the erosion control project in Obogoro Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area as incorrect and grossly inaccurate.

Governor Douye Diri, who gave the clarification in a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said, on the contrary, the project was on course and that the government was committed to finding a lasting solution to the erosion menace.

Nigeria's Petroleum Minister Sylva Resigns

Presidency Confirms THEWILL's Exclusive Report

Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, has resigned from office, the Presidency said on Friday, to confirm THEWILL's exclusive report.

Special Assistant to the President on Digital Communications, Bashir Ahmad, confirmed the development, just exactly a week after THEWILL exclusively reported his resignation.

THEWILL had reported on March 24, that he resigned from office in compliance with the Electoral Act to contest the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State.

Ahmad, in a tweet on his official Twitter handle on Friday, wrote: “Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and former Bayelsa State Governor, H.E. Timipre Sylva, has resigned his appointment to contest in the next Bayelsa governorship election.”

It was recently reported that some APC members in Bayelsa State had called on the national leadership of the party

Fagbohun Succeeds Aigoro as Ogun Head of Service

to disqualify Sylva from contesting the governorship primaries of the party over his refusal to resign his position as a minister.

The report stated that party members from 43 Wards in Ekeremor, Ogbia, Sagbama, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of the state, in a petition to the party national leadership, pointed out that as at the time the minister was screened, he had not resigned.

The APC primaries are fixed for April 14 with six aspirants vying for the sole ticket of the party.

They include a former Governor-elect Chief David Lyon, Former Vice Chancellor of the Maritime University Okerenkoko Delta State Professor Maureen Etebu, Barrister Festus Daumiebi Chief Mrs. Isikima Johnson Ogbomade and Joshua Machiver and Chiefs Timipre Sylva.

The winner will square up against the incumbent governor Senator Douye Diri who is the sole contestant of the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties.

C'River Gov-Elect, 25 Elected Lawmakers Receive Certificates of Return

The incoming governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu, his running mate, Peter Odey and the 25 elected members of the State House of Assembly have received their Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Resident Electoral Officer for the state, Prof Gabriel Yomere, issued the certificate to the elected officers at Mike Igini Hall, INEC headquarters, Calabar.

The REC said the event marked the end of the election process in the state and the exercise aligned with Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) which empowers INEC to issue certificates of return to elected members within 14 days

after an election.

In a vote of thanks, the Governor-elect, Senator Bassey Otu thanked all – INEC, security agents, the media, Cross Riverians, and non-indigenes for making the election a success, calling his fellow recipients to put the people first.

The governor-elect reiterated that his government would be all-inclusive and allow youths and women to contribute their quota.

Member-elect for Akamkpa State Constituency Okon Owuna said the outcome of the election spelt victory for the people and it would lead to the transformation of the state.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has appointed Mr Kolawole Peter Fagbohun as the new Head of Service in the state. This is contained in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Monday by Mr Tokunbo Talabi, the Secretary to the State Government.

According to the statement, the appointment takes immediate effect. Fagbohun succeeds Dr. Nafiu Aigoro, who retired from public service last Friday.

A multidisciplinary specialist with a rich social science background, with core competence in human resources, perception and reputation management, Mr. Fagbohun was the winner of 2007 Merit Award Winner in the Ogun State Public Service.

Until his appointment as Head of Service, he was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. He had also worked as Permanent Secretary in the Bureau of Cabinet and Special Services and Bureau of Service Matters, among others.

Born on April 10, 1964, Fagbohun is a native of Ilobi in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State. He holds a B.Sc in Political Science from the University of Benin in 1988 and Master’s degree in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from the University of Lagos.

He has attended several International and Local Management and Leadership Training Programmes, including Performance and Change Management at International Management Training Centre, Worthing, West Sussex, England.

While empathisng with the community over the negative effects of the coastal erosion, including the loss of lives, land, property and sources of livelihood, Diri urged the community to keep faith with the government to rescue the situation. He said he had visited the community and had also been briefed about the outcry of the community over the issue.

He advised those trying to use the project to fan the embers of discord to desist from doing so.

The governor said Obogoro was not the only community affected by erosion and similar environmental menace in the state as his own community, Sampou, and others were also affected.

Diri revealed that he had just received a detailed report from the State Ministry of Environment on the Obogoro erosion project and had given directives on how to address the menace permanently.

He explained that part of the report showed that the site clearing and part-dredging had been done and that the sum of N750 million had been spent on the ongoing project so far.

He further stated that at a meeting between government and the community, agreement was reached to suspend the dredging works and that the project be redesigned to shoreline protection.

“Also, the ministry subsequently engaged a technical team, which carried out survey map of the project site, bathymetric and topography survey and geo-technical studies.

“Obogoro cannot therefore claim to be neglected as this administration has built schools, health centre and roads among other projects in the community as well as appointed a commissioner and other senior officials of the government from that community.”

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, (right), receives UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Catriona Laing CB during her farewell courtesy call at the State house, Abuja on March 31, 2023.

FROM DAVID OWEI, YENAGOA

FROM DAVID OWEI, YENAGOA

FROM SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA

FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR

Tinubu

POLITICS

Obi

How Obi, Tinubu Divided Afenifere

This is not the best of times for the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organisation, Afenifere, as it has broken into two opposing camps that are currently singing discordant tunes.

Afenifere presents itself as the voice of the South-West, the same way that Ohanaeze Ndigbo claims to speak for the South-East, the Arewa Consultative Forum for the North, the Middle Belt Forum for the Middle Belt and the Pan Niger-Delta Forum (PANDEF) for the South-South.

Afenifere was initially seen as a socio-cultural organisation that aimed to promote the cultural heritage of the Yoruba. But this changed in 1998 when the group bankrolled the emergence of a new political party known as the Alliance for Democracy (AD). The party adopted the Afenifere agenda as its manifesto, thus signaling Afenifere transformation to a political organisation.

The coming of Afenifere into politics has been its Albatross, as the leaders have found it very difficult to speak in one voice. Last Tuesday, rising from a meeting of the organisation held at his country home in Isanya-Ogbo, Ogun State, its leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25, 2023 Presidential Election, Peter Obi, won the election.

In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by Adebanjo and its Secretary, Sola Ebiseni, Afenifere accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of manipulating the results of the election to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Afenifere said the results it obtained through credible sources confirmed that the candidate of the LP, Obi won the presidential poll.

The group, according to the communiqué, also suspended two of its principal officers, Jare Ajayi,

the National Publicity Secretary and Abagun Kole Omololu the National Organising Secretary for their "uncouth activities and unauthorized statements in its name and to the constant denigration of the organisation."

The Communiqué said, "Afenifere reiterates our position that the Presidential election held on the 25th of February 2023 was characterised by all forms of primitive manipulations and non-compliance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2022 and the Guidelines and Regulations made pursuant thereto with concomitant legislative force.

"The results of the lawful votes at the Presidential election available to the Afenifere through credible sources confirm that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, won the said election and we, thus, support his decision challenging the contrary declaration by the INEC.

"Re-assert that for equity, fairness, national cohesion and peaceful corporate existence, the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be person of its southern part and specifically the South-East.

“Condemn in the strongest terms, the campaigns of calumny and acts of ethnic violence deployed by some politicians and their hired criminal gangs in several parts of the federation during the gubernatorial election, particularly in Lagos State where the election was made to appear like an inter-ethnic war between the Yoruba and Igbo which greatly led to voters’ suppression and other forms of deliberate disenfranchisement through brigandage.

“Received a message credited to Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in a viral video alleging indictment of the Yoruba as political rascals on account of ethnic violence deployed by politicians of the ruling party in Lagos State. On the analysis of the video and information at the disposal of Afenifere by people at the Anambra State gathering, we are convinced that Chief Iwuanyanwu rightly asserted that the Yoruba and Igbo were not at war and truly condemned the shenanigans of some political rascals.

“Flowing from the above, Afenifere states that it never issued any statement and dissociates the organisation from any such statement against Chief Iwuanyanwu. "Observed the uncouth activities and unauthorised statements in its name and to the constant denigration of the organisation by Jare Ajayi, the National Publicity Secretary and Abagun Kole Omololu the National Organising Secretary.

"After due consideration of the unending embarrassing conduct of the two officers, the meeting resolved that they be and are hereby removed immediately from their respective offices and their membership be suspended sine die pending further decisions after their appearance before and recommendations by the Disciplinary Committee.

"Restate our position that in accordance with the hallowed Yoruba culture of civilised conduct, Afenifere assures all persons resident in Yorubaland,

“Afenifere said the results it obtained through credible sources confirmed that the candidate of the LP, Obi won the presidential poll

...

Divided Afenifere

Continued from Page 10

indigenes and non-indegenes, of protection in the conduct of their lawful duties and thus warns all threat mongers and merchants of violence to desist therefrom.

“Express our belief in the judiciary as an integral part of the democratic process and expect that it proves itself in the election litigations now pending before it without fear or favour and in accordance with the judicial oaths of its members, in covenant with the Nigerian people.

“Call on the President and Government of Nigeria to restore the patriotic confidence and hope of the Nigerian people in the continued corporate existence of the federation which will guaranty their safety throughout Nigeria".

A day later, the former Leader of Afenifere who handed over power to Adebanjo due to old age in 2021, Pa Fasoranti, issued a statement to disassociate the group from the earlier communique issued by Ayo Adebanjo and Sola Ebiseni.

He said he had dissociated the group from a communique purportedly issued, after a meeting that held on Tuesday, March 27, at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, because of the content of the said document.

In a release he personally signed, Chief Fasoranti stated that being a law abiding organisation, Afenifere could not have asserted that someone, other than the person declared by the body duly authorised by the constitution and other extant laws of the land, was the winner of the presidential election held on February 25, 2023 in Nigeria.

Fasoranti said the communique had also announced the removal and suspension of two officials of the organisation, Abagun Kole Omololu and Comrade Jare Ajayi, National Organising Secretary and National Publicity Secretary, respectively, “pending further decisions after their appearance before and recommendations by the Disciplinary Committee,” meaning that the duo were pronounced guilty and consequently sanctioned, even before their appearance before a disciplinary committee.

Fasoranti maintained that the organisation was not against the election of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who he personally blessed and anointed on October 30, 2022 before the whole world.

He said, “How then would we turn round and condemn the election of such a person? We never did so.This type of position is alien to us in Afenifere, which does not conduct itself as an agent of the state, let alone as an electoral umpire. We accept the results of the elections at all levels as declared by INEC until otherwise decided by competent courts in the land.

“Presently, the whole world knows that Nigeria has a President- elect in the person of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a true Yoruba son and nationalist. We in Afenifere not only acknowledge this, we take delight in his in-coming Presidency and are confident that he will, by the grace of God, return Nigeria to the glorious position that all of us will be proud of.

“Tinubu is a focused, highly disciplined person, who is very adept in organisation and in administering people. Based on his antecedent, we have no doubt at all that under his leadership, Nigeria will breathe a new lease of life that will soon make her one of the nations of the world that are respected and admired.

“The whole world is aware that I personally blessed and anointed Ahmed Bola Tinubu on October 30, 2022 in the presence of notable people from all parts of Yorubaland, right here in my place in Akure. How can we then turn round and condemn the election of such a person? We never did so”.

He also declared as null, void and of no effect whatsoever the purported removal and suspension of both Ajayi and Omololu.

“That is not the Afenifere way. A general meeting does not have the power to convene and take such a far-reaching decision just at the whims of individuals.

There must have been an official petition laid at the caucus meeting, which is referred to the disciplinary committee that will investigate and give the officers involved the opportunity to plead their cases. Reports and recommendations are then received by the Leaders-in-Council, who then take a decision on the report with the Leader before reverting to the caucus in communication. This fiat approach as seen in the current situation is alien to our organisation and cannot stand,” he said.

The Beginning of the Crisis

When Adebanjo announced to the world, after an Afenifere meeting which held in his country home, that the socio-cultural group had thrown its weight behind the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, many members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were flustered.

Some of them spun the yarn of Afenifere’s ‘irrelevance’ and ‘electoral worthlessness’ in the media. They said that the group did not command more than the individual votes of its members.

Adebanjo, who has been very steadfast in reaching out to other ethnic nationalities in the South and the Middle Belt like the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pan-Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF) and the Middle Belt Forum, to ensure that everyone has a sense of belonging canvassed that the Nigerian presidency be ceded to the South-East geopolitical zone, which has not had the privilege of producing the President since the return of democracy in 1999.

Surprisingly, Tinubu’s camp in the South-West, which had earlier rubbished the Obi’s endorsement by Afenifere, struck back by holding a well publicised event in Chief Fasoranti’s Akure home, at which the former Afenifere leader prayed for Tinubu’s success in the election.

During the visit, Pa Fasoranti prayed for Tinubu and recalled that the President-elect had visited him before the APC primary election, seeking his blessing, “But I advised him to go and work towards getting his party’s ticket before receiving my blessings and support for his aspiration.”

What attracted controversy was that the invitation to the event was issued by the ‘Conscience of Yoruba Nation,’ not by Afenifere.

Also, most of the dignitaries present were top ranking chieftains of the ruling APC from the South-West, but they were not regular attendees at Afenifere meetings. Pa Adebanjo and other leaders like the Secretary, Sola Ebiseni, were not at the gathering.

Although they gathered under the auspices of the Conscience of Yoruba Nation, the communiqué released at the end of the event was issued in Afenifere’s name.

So the gathering achieved its objective. It then looked like there were two factions of Afenifere and while Adebanjo’s faction was backing Peter Obi of Labour Party, the Fasoranti’s faction was supporting Tinubu of the APC.

So the seed of discord was sown and the unity within Afenifere could no longer be guaranteed.

As if dousing the tension, Fasoranti caused a press statement to be issued by his Personal Assistant, Adedapo Abiola, saying that Adebanjo remains the leader of Afenifere and that he didn’t say that future meeting of Afenifere should hold in his (Fasoranti) Akure residence.

Despite this assurance from Fasoranti, political analysts and watchers of political developments in the South-West announced the polarisation of Afenifere into two camps, one for Obi and the other for Tinubu. Their pronouncements came to reality with the event of the last week, which already pitched Adebanjo and Fasoranti in a supremacy battle and with two of them supporting different candidates in the 2023 Presidential election.

Adebanjo

Fasoranti

Presently, the whole world knows that Nigeria has a President- elect in the person of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a true Yoruba son and nationalist

“

Can Ayu Survive The Battle?

BY AYO ESAN

For months now, the embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu has been at the centre of the crisis plaguing the party.

Ayu’s insistence on completing his tenure as national chairman, even when five governors and some elders of the party across the country wanted him to step down for a southerner because of the emergence of Atiku Abubakar, who is also a northerner, as presidential candidate, caused the party some discomfort.

Some even saw it as the reason why the PDP lost the presidential election and couldn’t do well in the southern part of the country.

As a result of Ayu’s stand, the G-5 Governors, led by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, refused to be part of the campaign of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku Abubakar eventually lost the election to the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

In the post-election period, Ayu had led the party into suspending former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, former Governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and two others over alleged anti-party activities.

He had also led the NWC into referring Governor Samuel Ortom to the party’s disciplinary committee for the same offence.

However, last week, a development came up that made the embattled PDP Chairman to leave his office and was replaced by the Deputy National Chairman (North), Illya Damagun.

First, he was suspended by the executive committee of Igyorovo Ward, his local ward, in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

However, reacting to the purported suspension, Ayu said it was of no effect, arguing that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party had the constitutional right to suspend him.

He dismissed the suspension, saying it was the handiwork of those he described as “some members of the Exco who are only being teleguided by political gamblers to cause mischief and nothing more.”

Nevertheless, Wike, the arrow-head of the antiAyu movement within the PDP, was in support of Ayu’s suspension. Speaking during a television programme, he admitted that he supported the move because Ayu played a major role in the colossal failure of the PDP in the 2023 general election.

“First of all, if you are a member of the party, will you be happy with the way the party is today? It is only in this country that you see someone who has failed woefully and without any conscience still eager to occupy the position,” he said.

Wike noted that in the advanced countries, once the head of a political party leads the party to such colossal failure, he will not need anybody to tell him to quit honourably.

“So those in his ward in Benue State are angry. Why are they angry? Ayu ought to have left that office before now. People were saying we were pushing for Ayu to leave and that we had a hidden agenda to make PDP fail.

“Ayu remained and PDP didn’t win. You lost your

unit. As national chairman, you lost your ward and local government area. You did not only finish in a distant third position in the presidential election, but also lost in the governorship election,” he said.

As Ayu was wriggling out of the suspension from his ward, a Benue High Court also restrained him from parading himself as the national chairman of the PDP.

Last Tuesday, about 24 hours after the court ruling, he stepped down from his position as the PDP national chairman.

Initially after the ruling, he had dismissed the sack as a bluff, but made a U-turn amid pressure and threats from his traducers. He has since been replaced with the Deputy National Chairman (North), Ambassador Illya Damagum, who will act as the party’s national chairman until the final determination of the suit.

It would be recalled that Ayu took over from Uche Secondus who was also unceremoniously removed from office in 2021 for poor management of the party’s affairs.

Ayu’s removal has seen the main opposition party parading three national chairmen in less than three years. Like Secondus, whose removal was orchestrated by Wike and his group within the PDP, he has been served a dose of the same medicine. Since the PDP lost power at the centre in 2015, Ayu is the fourth person to have assumed that position, succeeding Secondus who stepped in after Ahmed Makarfi who replaced Ali Modu Sheriff.

Will Ayu bounce back or will he go the way of Secondus and many other PDP chairmen that failed to survive the obstacles that littered their paths and bowed out before their tenure ended?

The chairmanship of the PDP has witnessed a high turnover rate in its 25 years of existence, with most of them leaving in controversial circumstances and without completing their terms in office.

The only two that completed their tenure were Chief Barnabas Gemade and Dr Ahmadu Ali.

Political analysts agree that as events unfold in the days to come, it will become clear whether Atiku and his faction in the party will be able to sustain its slippery hold against Wike to control the structure of the party or not.

As if the party wants to use the stepping aside of Ayu to put itself back on good footing, it has started courting the aggrieved members.

Damagum held his first full-fledged NWC meeting on Thursday. During the meeting a decision to reverse the disciplinary measures already taken against some leaders of the party.

The decision to reverse the suspensions and other referrals was announced after the meeting by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba.

He said: “The National Working Committee, NWC, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at its meeting today, March 30, 2023, extensively discussed recent developments in the party.

“The NWC recognised the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive party in the overall interest of our teeming members and Nigerians in general”.

Those who had benefitted from the new thinking in the PDP NWC include Dr Ayo Fayose ; Pius Anyim Pius and others who have their suspension from the party reversed.

Also the decision against Governor Samuel Ortom, who was referred to the party’s disciplinary committee for anti-party activities, was reversed. Will the party leadership sacrifice Ayu to reach a compromise with the Wike-led Integrity Group? Only time will tell.

Speaking on this development, a chieftain of the PDP in Ogun State, Mr Segun Sowunmi, said the new development whereby the suspension orders on Fayose and others were reversed is a good development.

“It shows that the PDP has a peculiar way of resolving its internal crisis,” he told THEWILL.

Will Ayu bounce back or will he go the way of Secondus and many other PDP chairmen that failed to survive the obstacles that littered their paths and bowed out before their tenure ended?

SHOTS OF THE WEEK

Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]

L-R: Nigerian Idol host, IK Osakioduwa; Mktg Manager, Tecno, Thompson Ani; Nigerian Idol Season 7 winner, Progress Chukwuyem; Executive Head of Content and West Africa Channels, MultiChoice, Dr. Busola Tejumola; Nigerian Idol judge, Obi Asika; Asst Brand Manager, Bigi, Biola Aransiola and Executive Head of Mktg, MultiChoice Nigeria, Tope Oshunkeye, at the Nigerian Idol season 8 unveiling in Lagos on March 28, 2023.

Brand Ambassador, Reserve Portfolio, Tinya Alonge; Brand Ambassador, Reserve Portfolio, Moni Osibodu; Head of Customer Marketing, Reserve & Modern Trade, Adeleye Adeniran; Customer Marketing Manager, Olayinka Afolabi-Ajasa and Head Mixologist, Berg Baboyan, all of Guinness Nigeria during  World Class 2023 press briefing in Lagos on March 28, 2023.

Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), Mr. Temi Popoola; Group Chairman, Geregu Power Plc, Mr. Femi Otedola CON, and Director, Nigerian Exchange Limited NGX, Erelu Angela Adebayo, during a Closing Gong ceremony to commemorating its first Annual General Meeting as a listed company on NGX in Lagos on March 28, 2023.

L-R: Factory Manager, Nestlé Abaji Factory, Ayodele Ayeokere; Head, Water Supply, FCT Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Chinyelu Obrike; Director, School Health, FCT Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Aboki Danladi; Marketing and Category Manager, Nestlé Waters, Joy Abdullahi-Johnson and Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Victoria Uwadoka, at celebration of World Water Day 2023 on March 30, 2023.

L-R: Senior Manager, External Relations, MTN Nigeria, Funso Aina; Founder and Chair, PRovoke Media, Paul Holmes and Founder and CEO, Black House Media, Ayeni Adekunle, at the PRovoke EMEA Summit at Gesellschaftshaus Palmengarten, in Frankfurt, Germany, where Funso received the 2023 SABRE Award for African Innovator of the Year on March 23, 2023.

L-R:

L-R: Managing Director, Tetra Pak West Africa, Mr. Oshiokamele Aruna; Marketing Manager, Mrs. Lara Ikemefuna; Head, Communication, West Africa, Ms. Stella Ondimu; Marketing Analyst, Rasheed Abiodun and Marketing Director, Mr. Clement Sunday at Tetra Pak's media parley on 'Better With Carton' initiative held in Lagos on March 29, 2023.

EDITORIAL

Getting the 2023 National Population Census Right

Smarting from the bungled 2023 General Election, which, arguably, failed to meet the expectations of most Nigerians, despite the initial assurances and much-flaunted preparations, the Federal Government is set to conduct another population census. Scheduled to hold between May 3 and May 7, 2023, according to plans released by the National Population Commission (NPC), this year's headcount is expected to be a detailed enumeration of the country's population. It will be the sixth population census to be conducted in Nigeria since independence.

Already being flaunted as the first digital census to be conducted in the country, a whopping N190 billion has also been earmarked for the national exercise, thus making it the most expensive headcount in the history of Nigeria. And just as the bungled general election was hyped for its innovation, especially with the introduction of the Bimodal Integrated Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS), the 2023 National Census has also been receiving some rave previews as the NPC has also been flaunting its readiness and preparation for the exercise. Good as all of these may sound, it is sad and worrisome that Nigerians are not too bothered about the exercise, especially with the disappointment that the general election has turned out to be. Despite the immense benefits in the

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Austyn Ogannah

Editor – Olaolu Olusina

Deputy Editor – Amos Esele

Politics Editor – Ayo Esan

Business Editor – Sam Diala

Copy Editor – Chux Ohai

Cartoon Editor – Victor Asowata

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Photo Editor – Peace Udugba

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Circulation Manager – Victor Nwokoh

Nigeria Bureau: 36AA Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja. Lagos, Nigeria. info@thewillnigeria.com / @ THEWILLNG, +234 810 345 2286, +234 913 333 3888.

EDITOR: Olaolu Olusina @OLUSINA [Letters/Opinions: opinion.letters@thewillnigeria.com]

exercise for national planning and development, the lack of trust and total disbelief in government policies and programmes is about to rub off on the national headcount which is coming at a time when the Federal Government is still struggling with trust and faith in its policies.

It is really unfortunate that an exercise scheduled to start in just about a month is yet to be fully bought into and embraced by the majority of Nigerians, who appear more concerned with daily survival than a national exercise that they fear would also be bungled, given the experience with the general election. Originally scheduled to hold between March 29 and April 4, 2023, the exercise was shifted because of the governorship and state assemblies elections held by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the country.

According to the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), Nigeria's population as of 2023 is estimated at 216 million. We are therefore not in any way doubting the importance of the exercise that is about to commence as a population and housing census (PHC) is not only of great relevance to the economic, political and socio-cultural planning of a country but also helps to gather detailed data on the size, structure, distribution and socio-economic and demographic characteristics of a country's population as required for policy intervention and monitoring of development goals.

However, we are of the view that things must be done right

this time and must be seen to have been done at the same time. Nigerians have had enough of nasty arrangements thrown at them as if they have no choice in a system that celebrates mediocrity

Already being flaunted as the first digital census to be conducted in the country, a whopping N190 billion has also been earmarked for the national exercise, thus making it the most expensive headcount in the history of Nigeria. And just as the bungled 2023 general election was hyped for its innovation, especially with the introduction of the Bimodal Integrated Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS), the 2023 National Census has also been receiving some rave previews as the NPC has also been flaunting its readiness and preparations for for the exercise

and encourages nepotism instead of competence. The issue of uncontrolled movement and migration into the country, especially from neighbouring countries, is capable of distorting figures and this might also pose a great challenge to the credibility of the exercise if urgent steps are not taken to arrest the situation. Close monitoring and effective patrol of the nation's borders are key at this point in time, just as effective monitoring must be ensured for all NPC officials that will be involved in the headcount. Enough lessons must have been learned from the failures of the elections as a guide against a repeat in the national census.

As Nigerians continue to explore opportunities and challenges for their country's democratic future, in the face of obvious leadership failures in the recent past, we call on the Federal Government to use the forthcoming census in redeeming its much battered image by getting the exercise right. The exercise must not be politicised in any way and figures must not be tampered with or political gains.

The fact remains that the Muhammadu Buhari Administration owes it a duty to give Nigerians a credible housing and population census before its tenure ends in May as there can be no excuse for this exercise to be bungled like the general election despite all the hype and the whopping amount of money already allocated to it. Failure to achieve this will be a double disappointment for millions of Nigerians who had expected much from the outgoing administration.

More Notes on The Elections

BY REUBEN ABATI

The prevalence of the comic spirit is one of those distinctive features of Nigerian life and society –one of those things that make us who we are – our capacity to turn every season, every occasion, serious, not so serious, even sombre, into an opportunity for mirth, that is – plain rambunctious, defiant or deprecating laughter.

In my earlier life as a teacher of comic theory, it was an interesting time teaching the special veins of wit and humour and how the aesthetics of laughter defines national character and culture, a people’s capacity for word-play, and satire or parody. This trend, embodied in the Nigerian character, North or South, East to West is in part responsible, even in an electronic age, for the fantastic humour that Nigerians create on social media. There was so much of this on display during the recent Nigerian election and indeed perhaps, a documentation of the process would be incomplete without recalling some of the highlights of the humour that marked it, from the macabre to the grotesque, the irrational to the verbal magic of some of the key political players and their supporters. This account is merely representative; it is by no means exhaustive.

The place to begin is the verbal gem that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, then an aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu dropped in Abeokuta on June 2, 2022 when he used certain words which may well end up as part of Nigeria’s political lexicon viz: “Emilokan. Literally, the Yoruba word means “it is my turn” or “I’m next”.

Asiwaju Tinubu had categorically told his audience that it was his turn to become President of Nigeria, having helped the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari to gain power. Highly rated as a kingmaker in Nigeria’s power politics, Tinubu on that occasion announced that the kingmaker was tired of anointing others, he would rather ascend the throne personally. He was firm, assertive and throughout the season that followed, he did not waver despite criticisms that his was an expression of a sense of entitlement and disregard for the right of the electorate to choose.

Tinubu’s supporters felt inspired by his confidence. To illustrate his determination, he said that when Buhari failed thrice to become Nigeria’s President – ‘O lu le’, once, twice, thrice, he was the one who told the President to wipe his tears and he helped him in 2015 to achieve his dream.

In other words, the auto-suggestion by the APC presidential aspirant was that it was pay-back time – one good turn, as the cliché states, deserves another. He wanted his goodwill reciprocated. If anyone was in any doubt, Tinubu turned towards the sitting Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun and told his audience that even “Eleyi” (This One) could not have been Governor without him.

The three phrases in Yoruba and the underlying rhetoric captured public imagination and caught on like wildfire.

Musicians in various genres have turned Emilokan into lyrics – each singer adapting the phrase to suit his or her taste and creativity. The National Association of Seadogs – the Pyrates Confraternity, during the group’s 70th celebration in September 2022 came up with an adaptation of the Emilokan phrase in a highly personal, satirical song. Professor Wole Soyinka, father-figure of the Confraternity, dismissed the song as distasteful. In a subsequent statement, the group said it was not out to mock or discriminate against the subject and that it was apolitical.

The apology was rather late. Disc jockeys, musicians, notably the Afro-beat singer, Dede Mabiaku, had done their own re-mix versions of the song. Several other remixes also showed up on social media platforms. But as many would recall, Tinubu’s Emilokan turned out to be prophetic. Days after the Abeokuta incident, he went on to win his party’s primaries in Abuja scoring 1, 271 votes. He defeated 13 other contestants, with some of the original total of 23 aspirants stepping down for him before the commencement of voting. The closest person to him – Rotimi Amaechi, then Minister of Transportation, scored 316 votes!

Tinubu also received the endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari who raised his hand at several campaign rallies and who voted for him on February 25, enthusiastically showing off his ballot paper to prove that he voted for the APC, even if that gesture amounted to a violation of the Electoral Act 2022. Asiwaju Tinubu was later declared winner of the Presidential election by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with 8, 794, 726 votes, beating 17 other candidates. Four political parties – PDP, LP, AA and APM and their candidates have since gone to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to challenge the results.

Anyone who is interested in an elective position now borrows the phrase – Emilokan in the hope that just as Asiwaju Tinubu willed his ambition into reality, their own dreams would also come to pass. The other day, the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, freshly re-elected (Abia North) generated not a little laughter when he too announced that it was his turn, and the turn of his village, Igbere, to produce the next Senate President of Nigeria. Our democracy is now becoming “turn by turn” but let’s see if the Emilokan magical word would work for Senator Kalu.

In Ogun State, Tinubu’s host who was called “Eleyi”(This One) has been re-elected. Prince Abiodun can now confidently say that he is more than an “Eleyi” in Ogun State, having secured a second term without any Godfather pulling all the strings for him.

Next to Tinubu’s verbal inventiveness would be the memorable exertions of the Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike and his colleague-PDP-Governors – Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

(Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) who took a principled stand that it was the turn of the South to produce Nigeria’s next President and that it was wrong for their party to have elected a Presidential candidate from the North, and also the Chairman of the party from the North in the person of Senator Iyorchia Ayu. They wanted Ayu to step down as party Chairman at the minimum pre-condition for dialogue. The party refused.

Wike was accused of sour grapes, having lost his bid to be the party’s Presidential standard bearer at the primaries. The G-5, as the group was known, stood its ground. It later expanded into a bigger body known as the Integrity Group. Publicly, the group taunted the PDP and their presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. Wike, the obvious leader and main spirit openly identified with members of the APC and Labour Party. Whereas he invited members of those two parties to Rivers State to commission projects and treated them to generous receptions, he snubbed the PDP candidate and members of his own party at the state level who were pro-Atiku.

He made it clear that he would only support the PDP in the state elections, and that he and his colleagues in G-5 would not leave the party. Daniel Bwala, PDP Presidential Council spokesperson derisively referred to the G-5 as the Jackson 5. Other PDP spokespersons – Aare Dele Momodu and Senator Dino Melaye were also convinced that the PDP would not be affected at the polls by the G-5 rebellion. In the just concluded general election, the PDP paid heavily for this disunity within its ranks. On February 25, it lost in states where it should ordinarily have won because the five Governors did not lift a finger to help their own party’s presidential candidate.

In Enugu, Abia and Benue the PDP Governors lost their bids to go to the Senate- in a karmic sense, perhaps. In Oyo State on March 18, Governor Seyi Makinde, also of the G5 survived and was re-elected; in Rivers, Governor Wike fulfilled his promise of installing his own successor (a puppet?), although other parties in that election insist that what happened in Rivers state was not an election.

Before, during and after the election, the G5 would be remembered for introducing to the grammar of politics a song titled: _“As e dey sweet us, e go dey pain dem.” It is a triumphal song of defiance and self-assertion. Wike gained much attention with his unique style of dancing to this song and with his usual riposte: “Enough is Enough”. When the dust settles, Wike will not be forgotten for his many colourful displays, sometimes bordering on the farcical and the grotesque. For example, drinking a 40-year-old bottle of whiskey at 11.30 am and boasting that he would even drink a 50-year-old bottle.

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

Evils of Complacency in Politics

BY ABIODUN KOMOLAFE

Oftentimes, intrigues exist in political matrixes. Concepts such as political mass participation, collective demands, group identity and determination, as well as collateral damage could all mean different things to different people. It only depends on which side of the divide the definer pitches his or her tent. This unrestricted latitude and privilege to operationalize concepts and political ideas (especially in Nigeria) with a ‘sidon look’ response from the masses breed complacency on the part of the political gladiators. The salient issue, however, is that a little divergence from the standard definition or central course gnaws on both the integrity and legitimacy of the political institution.

Complacency comes in a surreptitiously slow-but-seamless manner. It doesn’t make noise even as it rubs in on people with definitive exactitude. Political activists become complacent when they are no longer thinking with the people when they think they know it all, and when they are eventually disconnected from the people. A discernible disconnect between the people and the political party is always in a spiral form, thereby making it problematic to actually curb, or control. The central rule is: never take the people for granted! Political party is about the people, and for the people; not the people for the political party! To this end, the leadership of any party must stop thinking for the people, but with the people. These are the issues!

Once upon a time in Nigeria’s chequered history, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was indeed a national party. During the 2nd Republic, NPN was the party to beat while other political

parties appeared like Lilliputians. As time went by, Nigerians began to see it as a party of the elite, the powerful and the rich. So, the mass of the people, who obviously constituted the majority, started leaving the ‘One Nation, One Destiny’ arrangement because, to them, they had nothing to show for being committed members of the party. After all, if you’re a politician of the NPN hue, you must be rich; otherwise, you’re just being used as cannon fodder. The perception went through the masses and it was well-received. Since politics is a game of numbers, the mass of the people left NPN – unknown to the party – for other political parties that showed some empathy towards the masses and the downtrodden.

Whereas, Obafemi Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) was determined to give the people, especially, the children of the poor ‘Free Education’, NPN started talking about ‘qualitative education’, which meaning was lost to the deaf ears of the masses. As far as they were concerned, what’s the meaning of ‘Qualitative Education’ when somebody else was ready to offer ‘Free Education’? In their opinion, that’s one sure way of deviating from the central theme of a political party. Thenceforth, complacency tampered with the destiny of NPN and its life never remained the same again! Sad, therefore, that the once-national party insisted on losing its vital contents! Ultimately, disintegration became its lot even before the military struck on December 31, 1983, and cleared whatever remained of NPN as a political party.

There was also a time when the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) boasted that it would be in power for the next fifty years.

As fate would have it, Nigerians are now witnesses to what has become of its fortunes as a result of complacency, particularly, on the part of its leaders. Take, for instance, the time it was in Nigeria when every nook and cranny of the country was overstuffed with the ‘Umbrella’ men: strong in structure and texture, and powerful in shape and size! It was such a rich, national party that it was at a time assumed to be the biggest party in Africa. To its handlers, power was a personal property that could last forever even as they had forgotten that ‘disservice power is like power thrown away.’ For the once-thriving party, the rest is history! Labour Party (LP) came recently, allegedly, from nowhere, only to help put a ‘dying-slowly’ lid on the hope of the hitherto formidable party!

When PDP came, the general thinking was that the party would have learnt a lesson or two from its forebears because, in terms of structure and configuration, PDP and NPN were Siamese twins from the same father, the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) of old; but, unfortunately, they went the same way! Now, and in our very eyes, PDP is disintegrating! Since the focus of its leadership is no longer the people but what each leader and/or handler can covet and convert to personal advantages, is it any wonder that members of the same political family are now fighting over positions? Aren’t they fighting over, even monetising privileges and personalised perks of office?

•Abiodun Komolafe wrote in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State.

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

Non-oil Exports: Nigeria Earned $22.6bn in Four Years

BY SAM DIALA

Following an aggressive diversification course championed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the country earned a total of $22.6 billion (N8.8 trillion) from non-oil exports between 2019 and 2022, data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have shown.

The non-oil components, which are categorised differently from ‘Non-Crude Oil”, include agricultural products, solid minerals, raw materials and manufactured goods.

Non-oil exports amounted to $7.1 billion, $3.7 billion, $5.5 billion and $6.1 billion in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively (using average exchange rate for each year). The Naira equivalent was N2.56 trillion, N1.42 trillion, N2.25 trillion and N2.55 trillion respectively.

The major traded agricultural products include cocoa beans, sesame seeds, soya beans seeds, cashew nuts, frozen shrimps and prawns, and natural cocoa butter.

The country also exported in commercial quantities ginger, groundnuts, palm nuts and kernels, and various kinds of flowers. Solid minerals include tin ores and concentrates, gold and white cement, while floating or submersible drilling/production platforms, unwrought aluminum alloys, cigarettes containing tobacco and beverages constitute manufactured goods.

‘Urea whether or not in aqueous solution’, ‘Nonmonetary gold (including gold plated with platinum) in powder form’ were in the raw material goods sector of the non-oil exports.

The CBN, which reinforced the non-oil export drive through its

Experts Caution States On Airport Projects

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

In recent times, airport projects have become a major aspect of government developmental plans. So far, more than five state governments have unveiled their plans to build airports. Most recent is that of the Benue State Government which got approval from the Federal Government last week.

In October 2022, the Lagos State Government had also obtained the Federal Government’s approval to build a passenger and cargo airport in the northeast of the city close to a major oil refinery and a new deep sea port.

The Federal Government recently granted approval to the Benue for the construction of a civil aviation

Continues on page 33

various intervention programmes and other domestic capacity enhancement initiatives, played a key role in boosting the nonoil export proceeds to $22.6 billion, compared to $12.5 billion (N3.35 trillion) in the previous four years (2015-2018).

The four-year periods correspond almost with the first and second tenures, respectively, of Godwin Emefiele as central bank of Nigeria governor. Emefiele was first appointed in June 2014 and re-appointed in June 2019. No available data was provided for non-oil exports for 2014.

The first four years of Emefiele’s tenure lagged behind his second tenure which kick-started with his 5-year strategic plan unveiled in Abuja on June 24 2019, tagged ‘5 year Policy Thrust of Central Bank of Nigeria 2019 – 2024’. The key components included 95 percent financial inclusion target and expanding the non-oil export ecosystem.

The apex bank has in this period intensified its various interventions aimed at stimulating production and productivity across the real sector. According to the communique on the March 2023 CBN Monetary Policy Meeting (MPC), the Bank disbursed N12.65 billion between January and February 2023, to three agricultural projects under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

The pay-out brought the cumulative disbursement under the Programme to N1.09 trillion made to over 4.6 million smallholder farmers cultivating or rearing 21 agricultural commodities on an approved 6.02 million hectares of farmland across the country.

Continues on page 33

MORE INSIDE

Oando

Plc to Delist From NGX After 31 Years

PAGE 34

C'River Commences Payment of Royalties to Cocoa Landlord

PAGE 34

FirstBank Announces Name Change of Subsidiaries – Reiterates Commitment to Boosting Cross-Border Business

First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier financial services institution, has announced a phased corporate name change of its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Sub-Saharan Africa.

FBNBank UK, FBNBank Sierra Leone, FBNBank Gambia and FBNBank DRC are the first set of subsidiaries effecting the name alignment. They are now known and addressed as FirstBank UK, FirstBank Sierra Leone, FirstBank Gambia and FirstBank DRC. The Ghana, Senegal and Guinea

Continues on page 34

Adeduntan

Emefiele

AVIATION/FINANCE

Experts Caution States On Airport Projects

Continued from page 32

of setting up an airport is gigantic. For instance the first phase of the Lagos airport project is projected to cost about $900 million.

Aviation stakeholders have, however, expressed fears over the proliferation of airports being driven by the states. They have, therefore, called on state governments to carry out project feasibility studies to determine the viability of airports in their states before venturing into such.

These experts are of the view that government should priortise the need of the people ranging from the basics of life like food, shelter, heath, education and the others, emphasising that airport construction goes beyond acquiring hectares of land without perimeter fencing , compromising the safety of operations and construction of substandard runways that will be washed away during one or two raining seasons

Commenting on the proliferation of airports across the country, President/CEO, Sabre Network Africa, Dr Gbenga Olowo, queried the rush for the establishment of more airports by state governments, claiming that most of the existing aerodromes are not commercially viable.

Non-oil Exports: Nigeria Earned $22.6bn in Four Years

Continued from page 32

The Bank also released the sum of N23.70 billion under the N1.0 trillion Real Sector Facility (RSF) to eight new real sector projects in agriculture, manufacturing, and services. Cumulative disbursements under the RSF currently stands at N2.43 trillion which was disbursed to 462 projects across the country, comprising 257 manufacturing, 95 agriculture, 97 services and 13 mining sector projects.

Under the 100 for 100 Policy on Production and Productivity (PPP) the CBN has disbursed N114.17 billion to beneficiaries since commencement in January 2022. The funds were expended on 71 projects across healthcare, manufacturing and agriculture sectors.

airport in Makurdi, the state capital.

The Commissioner for Information in Benue, Mr Mike Inalegwu, disclosed the approval recently, informing that the state was among those that secured licences from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authorities (NCAA) for the construction of Civil Aviation Airports in their respective territories.

Inalegwu said the construction of the new airport would commence in the second week of April, 2023 with a foundation laying ceremony for the airport at Kura village, along Naka road, about 12 kilometres away from the city centre.

Similarly, other states, including Ekiti, Bayelsa, Abia, Osun and Ogun are at various stages in their plans to build an airport.

By the time the airports are completed, they would have spent close to N150 billion, which may not be different from the ones in Delta, Akwa Ibom and Imo states, which are presently not viable. Reports have shown that the airports in these areas have not significantly improved the economies of the states because of low traffic level.

Consequently, many of the state-owned airports have become liabilities to the aviation agencies, particularly the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) even when they do not have direct impact on the people. Additionally, the cost

Rather, Olowo advised that efforts should be geared towards developing hubs at the major airports in the country, especially at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, with many terminals in order to attract more traffic and airlines.

Speaking with THEWILL, Olowo observed that most of the airports, apart from the ones in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, are not commercially viable.

According to him, facilities that would make the existing airports a hub are still lacking in most of the country’s airports. He mentioned the absence of a concourse light train network to connect the domestic and international terminals and vice versa both in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

"Installing modern technology facilities like self-checking service kiosks and the likes are also lacking. There exist too many toll-gate check-points rather than the many agencies to share data and file a single watch-list with security. This is a major disincentive for hub development. Passenger facilitation is made more cumbersome rather than the global effort at making it seamless".

For cargo airports, Olowo, who is the current president of Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ART), lamented that the intra- and inter-state road linkages to the airports are in deplorable states and wondered how such airports would be useful to farmers and other users to deliver their products.

He said that airports are not only expensive to build because of the many facility linkages but also expensive to maintain.

Olowo submitted that there must be a short and long term enforceable plan by successive governments before embarking on airport development if the government were to be a continuum.

"One governor quitting and another abandoning the project, such as revealed during the launch of the Ogun State Agro Airport runway is lamentable", he said:

“For Lagos Airport, for instance, to become a hub, first-class and world-class airport transfer connection facility is necessary. Concourse light trains should be built to connect the terminals rather than allowing Transit and or Transfer passengers to check out of the customs, burst into the precarious mammoth crowed in rain and shine with their baggage in order to pick a taxi to the next connecting terminal.

The programme is for select 100 private sector companies with projects that have the potential to significantly increase domestic production and productivity, reduce imports, increase non-oil exports and overall improvements in the foreign exchange generating capacity of the Nigerian economy.

According to the guidelines for the implementation of the initiative, the CBN fixes the maximum loan amount that a participant could get at N5 billion. The initiative which is bank-led, is rolled over every 100 days (that is quarterly) with a new set of companies selected for financing under the initiative.

The Bank also released N3.01 billion under the Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility (NEMSF-2) for capital and operational expenditure of distribution companies (Discos) aimed at improving their liquidity status and aid their recovery of legacy debt. The pay-out brouught the cumulative disbursement under the facility to N254.39 billion.

Another non-oil export promotion programme is the RT 200 FX. The scheme which was launched on February 10, 2022 to revolutionise non-oil export drive, stimulate domestic production and expand the frontier of diversification, has proved a success story in its first year. The RT 200 which stands for ‘Race to US$200 billion in Forex Repatriation’ constitutes blueprint that will enable Nigeria to attain the sky-high goal of US$200 billion repatriation, exclusively from non-oil exports over the next 3 to 5 years.

The scheme was created on five anchors, namely ValueAdding Exports Facility, Non-Oil Commodities Expansion Facility, Non-Oil FX Rebate Scheme, Dedicated Non-Oil Export and Terminal, Biannual Non-Oil Export Summit. Each of these anchors constitute a distinct and related channel of implementation of the scheme for measurable outcome.

The RT 200 FX includes a NonOil Exports Proceeds Repatriation Rebate Scheme, which incentivises exporters in the non-

oil sector to repatriate and sell export proceeds in the official FX market. Under the scheme, CBN pays rebate of N65 for every dollar repatriated and sold in the Investors & Exporters (I&E) window to authorised dealer banks for third party use. The CBN also pays rebate of N35 for every dollar repatriated and sold into I and E for own use for eligible transactions only, provided the spread is not more than 10 kobo.

The apex bank also stipulated that payment of the incentives shall be quarterly with exporters that qualify credited within one week after the end of the quarter.

At the launch of the scheme in 2022, Emefiele, said, “I am mindful that this goal itself may appear unattainable to some people. But I am resolute and determined that we can achieve it. Many countries that are much less endowed than Nigeria are doing it. Consider for example that agriculture exports alone from the Netherlands was about US$120 billion last year. Yet, Netherlands has a land mass of about 42,000 square kilometers, which is much smaller that the land mass of Niger State alone, at over 76,000 square kilometers.”

At the second RT 200 Non-oil Summit in November 2022, the CBN disclosed that it had paid out a total sum of N81 billion to Nigerian exporters in in the year as rebates for repatriating their export proceeds in line with the RT 200 FX policy. It revealed that a total of $4.987 billion had also been repatriated into the country by nonoil exporters, higher than the $3.190 billion repatriated in 2021.

States should put their heads together for the establishment of safe, functional and durable interstate road linkages first rather than conceiving the idea of a new agro Aerodrome

The CBN which reinforced the non-oil export drive through its various intervention programmes and other domestic capacity enhancement initiatives, played a key role in boosting the non-oil export proceeds to $22.6 billion, compared to $12.5 billion (N3.35 trillion) in the previous four years (2015-2018)

Sirika

FirstBank Announces Name Change of Subsidiaries

subsidiaries will be next in the phased name change implementation.

The name change is being implemented to align the subsidiaries with the parent brand and to enjoy the strong heritage and brand equity built by FirstBank Nigeria in its 129 years of banking leadership. This will further enhance the quality-ofservice delivery resulting in better brand clarity, uniformity and consistency across all the markets where the Bank operates.

A leading financial inclusion services provider, FirstBank Group is committed to its nation-building goal. It has taken giant performance strides on its unique growth trajectory as it continues to build distinctive capabilities through partnerships and the constant drive to reinvent itself. This performance is evidenced in the numerous awards and recognitions bestowed on the institution. These awards include Best Private Bank for Sustainable Investing in Africa 2023 by Global Finance Awards;

Best Corporate Bank in Western Africa

2022 by Global Banking & Finance;

Best CSR Bank Africa by International Business Magazine in 2022; and ranked as number one in Nigeria in terms

of Overall Performance; Profitability; Efficiency and Return on Risk by the Top

100 African Bank Rankings 2022 released by The Banker Magazine from the stables of Financial Times.

In addition, in Euromoney Market Leaders, an independent global assessment of the leading financial service providers conducted by Euromoney Institutional Investor Plc., the Bank was crowned: Market Leader in Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR); Market Leader in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG); Highly Regarded in Corporate Banking and Digital Solutions and Notable: in SME Banking.

Speaking on the name change, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, CEO of FirstBank Group, said ‘’ the name change which coincides with FirstBank’s 129th founding anniversary (March 31st, 2023) is indeed a milestone reflective of our resolve to continuously provide the gold standard of excellence and value as we put our customers First. The new identity of the subsidiaries contributes to an enhanced brand presence.

C'River Commences Payment of Royalties to Cocoa Landlord Communities

BY BASSEY ANIEKAN

The Cross River State government has kicked off the payment of rents and royalties to cocoa estate landlord communities in the state.

The special adviser to the governor on Cocoa Development and Control, Ntufam Dr Oscar Ofuka, disclosed this during a town hall engagement in Ikom.

The rents/royalties span over eight years and have most times led to confrontation with the host communities thereby hampering maximum cultivation of cocoa seedlings.

Ofuka stated that payment of rent and royalties to the communities was a priority on the agenda of the state government and debunked the rumours that government had refused to defray the debts.

Also speaking, the state commissioner for agriculture Mr Oliver Orok, said the strategy used to clear the debts remains the best as it provides opportunity for the landlord communities to decide whatever formula to be used in sharing the money.

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has urged the banking public that the safest place to keep their money is the formal banking system. This is because the NDIC protects their bank deposits.

The Managing NDIC, Mr Bello Hassan made this known today while presenting his speech at the NDIC special day at 34th Enugu International Trade Fair .

“The NDIC likes to reiterate to members of the public, particularly the teaming populace in the Medium, Small and Micro Enterprise (MSME) sector, and others in the informal segment of our economy that the safest, smartest and most prudent place to keep your money is in the formal banking system because the NDIC protects your bank deposits”, said Hassan.

Such deposits, he said also enjoy the benefit of effective regulation and supervision of relevant authorities, and take people’s hard earned money beyond the ambit of illegal fund managers and loan sharks that currently awash the investment landscape and fleecing unsuspecting members of public.

Hassan assured that as the unscrupulous elements get more and more creative in their ignoble acts, and as the NDIC and other regulatory bodies device more ingenious approaches to tackling their menace.

“It is pertinent for the Corporation to continue to sensitize the public on their expected roles towards protecting their bank deposits. Depositors are to ensure their phones have strong password and do not share their bank mobile app password with third parties; ensure no one is watching when they enter their PIN to perform transactions; ensure their token is secure and other parties do not have access to it; and ensure their debit card number and CVV are not exposed to people. Equally important is the need to avoid investment offers with quick and arbitrarily high returns”, he warned.

Multinational oil company, Oando Plc, is to delist from the Nigerian Exchange Limited 31 years after it was listed as a public company in February 1992.

This follows plans by its core investor, Ocean and Oil Development Partners Limited (OODP), to acquire the shares of all minority shareholders as earlier hinted nine months ago.

The firm in a statement Thursday signed by its chief compliance officer/company secretary, Ayotola Jagun, said if the conditions of the transaction with OODP, its core investor, are satisfied, the company will become a private company.

Oando was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange — now Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) — in February 1992, as a public company.

If the offer is completed, the oil firm will be subsequently delisted from NGX and Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and re-registered as a private company, according to the statement.

The organisation said the transaction will be executed through a scheme of arrangement, in accordance with section 715 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, and other applicable laws and that OODP is proposing to acquire the minority shares at N7.07 per share.

“Under the scheme, each scheme shareholder shall be entitled to receive the sum of N7.07 in cash or its equivalent in South African Rand (ZAR) for every ordinary share held by the qualified scheme shareholders at the effective date of the scheme (scheme consideration),” the statement reads.

“The proposed scheme consideration represents a 58 percent premium to the last traded share price of Oando on 28 March 2023, being the day prior to the date of submission of the scheme application to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).”

Oando said it has applied to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a “no objection” to the transaction, adding that it will seek approval of shareholders at a court-ordered meeting.

“Please note that the effectiveness of the scheme is subject to the approval of the shareholders of Oando at the courtordered meeting of the company, as well as the sanction of the federal high court,” the organisation said.

“The terms and conditions of the transaction will be provided in the scheme document which will be dispatched to all shareholders following the receipt of an order from the federal high court to convene a court-ordered meeting

The board of Oando Plc had said in June 2022 that it might seek voluntary delisting of its shares from the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) if ongoing plans to buy out the 42.63 per cent minority shares by OODP were approved by all the minority shareholders at a court-ordered meeting.

The company said the decision arose from a court ruling following a petition filed on March 25, 2021, at the Federal High Court, Lagos by 14 shareholders of Oando. The shareholders, it said, held a total of 299,257,869 shares, on behalf of Oando’s minority shareholders led by Venus Construction Company Limited.

GMD, Zenith Bank Plc, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, receives his honorary doctorate degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka,  on March 25, 2023.

Continued from page 32

Food Insecurity: Threat to Nigeria’s Economic Recovery And Growth?

According to the report, the state of insecurity in northern Nigeria plays a major role in the projected rate of food insecurity in the entire country. “Acute food insecurity is mostly driven by the deterioration of security conditions and conflicts in (Nigeria’s) northern states, which as of March 2022 (latest data available) have led to the displacement of about 3.17 million people and are constraining farmers’ access to their lands,” the report said.

The FAO recalls that in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari administration launched the Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP) with the goal to boost food production, create jobs, and reduce food import bills for the conservation of the foreign exchange reserves. However, the initiative, FAO noted, has been “marred by reports of poor allocation of resources and related issues.” The report noted that widespread flooding in 2022, affecting about 4.5 million people across the country, has further compounded conditions, particularly in areas already facing high levels of insecurity. “High food prices and the expected slowdown in economic growth in 2023 are additional drivers of acute food insecurity,” the report said. It added that this year’s situation would be a “significant deterioration” as the projection is bringing additional 5.85 million people to the 19.45 million estimated to face food insecurity earlier in 2022.

Specifically, a detailed review of Nigeria’s import data (by NBS) indicates a consistent increase in the value of agricultural imports during the period under review. In 2018, the value of agricultural imports was N851.6 billion; it increased to N959.5 billion in 2019, representing a 12.6 per cent increase; and further shot up in 2020 to N1.145 trillion, representing a 19.4 per cent increase from the previous year. Still, in 2021, there was a significant increase in agricultural imports to N1.96 trillion representing a 71.6 per cent increase from the previous year; and total imports in 2022 were N1.86 trillion representing 7.9 per cent of total imports, a slight drop from an average of nine per cent reported in 2021 and 2020.

BY MARCEL OKEKE

Regrettably, for the umpteenth time, a critical driver of the hyper-inflationary trend in Nigeria has been identified as the ever-rising price and shortage of food. Year after year the consumer price index (CPI) records an uptick mainly due to the high cost of food and food-related items.

Even in its latest MPC report, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) still attributed the soaring inflation essentially to the impact of high food prices. In its communique (147) on March 21, 2023, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) “observed with concern, the increase in headline inflation (year-on-year) in February 2023 to 21.91 per cent, from 21.82 per cent in January 2023”, stressing that “this…rise was largely due to rise in the food component.”

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), food inflation surged to 24.32 per cent in January 2023 from the 23.75 per cent recorded in December 2022, the highest in the last four years. The MPC said,“The shocks to the food component (of CPI) were driven by high cost of transportation of food items, lingering security challenges in major food producing areas and legacy infrastructural problems, which continue to hamper food supply logistics.”

All these vividly underline the pervasive impact of food scarcity with its attendant high prices on the quality and cost of living of the Nigerian populace. This persistent ugly trend is despite the best efforts of Government and its agencies to achieve ‘food security’ and sufficiency through several agricultural (or food) production initiatives.

Surprisingly, the more these policies and initiatives are implemented and funded, the more (seemingly) food and related items gulp in terms of importation from other countries. Thus, highlights of the latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that in the past five years (from 2018), Nigeria spent a humongous sum of N6.7 trillion on agricultural imports, accounting for 7.6 per cent of total imports of N89.2 trillion recorded

during the period. According to the NBS, this shows that the country’s reliance on agricultural/food imports has doubled since 2019.

This also unfortunately affirms that despite years of shifts in government policy towards agriculture, the country still relies heavily on imports to meet its local food demand/consumption. The NBS data reveals that rather than drop, reliance on agricultural imports has kept rising in the past five years.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has projected that about 25.3 million people in Nigeria would face acute food insecurity during the June to August 2023 lean season. A quarterly report released by the UN agency shows that the figure projected is higher than the 19.45 million forecast in 2022. The FAO report, titled “Crop Prospect and Food Situation”, assessed 45 countries to provide insight into the food situation with particular attention on LowIncome Food Deficit Countries such as Nigeria.

Over all, a comparison of Nigeria’s agricultural products imports with the exports clearly show it imported much more than it exported in all the five years under review. This implies that there is a consistent trade deficit in the agricultural sector, which usually translates to an adverse effect on the country’s balance of payments. This trade deficit means that there is usually a net outflow of currency from Nigeria to other countries, as Nigeria is paying more for imports than it is earning from exports.

This has unleashed several adverse effects on the country’s economy. For instance, it has contributed to a decrease in Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves, as more currency is leaving the country than is coming in. This has also in part made it difficult for Nigeria to finance its other imports and pay its foreign debts. Nigeria is already experiencing this with severe currency depreciation occurring over the last five years: the exchange rate has depreciated to N750/$1 on the black market from about N360/$1 five years ago.

Of course, the consistent trade deficit has also led to, and sustained rising inflation rate, as the increase in demand for imported (agric.) goods keeps driving up prices. This has obviously led to a decrease in the purchasing power of the Naira, a development that has been hurting the country’s consumers and businesses to no end. Nigeria’s inflation rate is currently (endFebruary 2023) at a 17-year high of 21.91 per cent—a whopping 100 per cent rise in prices, compared to the CPI level in 2017.

Furthermore, the persisting trade deficit has left the Nigerian economy more vulnerable to external shocks, such as changes in global commodity prices (occasioned by the Russia-Ukraine war) and/or currency fluctuations. For instance, the sudden increase in the price of agricultural products in the international market since the onset of the war early in 2022, has forced Nigeria to spend more money to import those products (e.g. wheat); and this has worsened the trade deficit. This extant reality has seen imported inflation rising by as much as 120 per cent between December 2017 and December 2022.

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

Acute food insecurity is mostly driven by the deterioration of security conditions and conflicts in (Nigeria’s) northern states, which as of March 2022 (latest data available) have led to the displacement of about 3.17 million people and are constraining farmers’ access to their lands

•Okeke is an economist, sustainability export and business strategy consultant.

CBN INTERVENTION IN ADAMAWA AND TARABA STATES

The real sector development initiatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were introduced to stimulate and sustain growth in key sectors of the economy, revive moribund sectors, empower the youth population, explore the untapped potential in various economic landscapes, and enhance foreign exchange inflow.

These interventions have significantly contributed to the overall growth of the Nigerian economy, as shown by available data. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Bank of Nigeria also granted loans to households and small businesses to cushion the adverse effects of the pandemic across the country.

In recognition of the importance of access to finance as a key factor

to innovation and development, the CBN’s development finance interventions are targeted at priority segments, which include the following:

1. Agriculture

2. Manufacturing

3. Infrastructure

4. HealthCare

5. Youth and Entrepreneurship Development

6. Export

7. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

46 Years of CBN Intervention ADAMAWA STATE

In Adamawa and Taraba states, the CBN has financed about 23,938 and 24,267 projects respectively. Below are the success stories from few beneficiaries of CBN’s interventions in both States.

NAME: Sebore Diary Factory INTERVENTION: RSSF-DCRR SECTOR: Agriculture LOCATION: Adamawa

Yepwa Multi – Ventures Limited is a poultry farm located in Yolde Pate, Adamawa State. The company accessed the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) facility for the construction of an additional poultry house to stock birds. Since the loan was accessed, the farm increased its stock of birds from 4,500 to 20,000, which brought about a good yield in the production of eggs, thereby increasing the daily capacity from 120 to 350 crates.

Accessing the loan enabled the company to scale up its production, which has led to hiring about twenty additional staff, bringing the total staff strength of the company to fifty.

Sebore Dairy Factory is a milk processing and production company established in 2022, in Mayobelwa Local Government Area, Adamawa State. The project was financed by the Central Bank of Nigeria under the Real Sector Support Facility-Differentiated Cash Reserve Requirements (RSSF-DCRR). The facility enabled the company to install an ultramodern milk production plant with a capacity to produce 150,000 liters of milk per day. The company also offers extension services in crop production, animal husbandry and artificial insemination, all in a bid to increase agricultural output.

Apart from creating 205 direct and 376 indirect jobs, the company has also contributed to the conservation of the country’s foreign exchange, which would have been utilized in the importation of dairy products.

NAME: Yepwa Multi – Ventures Limited INTERVENTION: CACS SECTOR: Agriculture LOCATION: Adamawa

NAME: Bala Muhammed Audi

INTERVENTION: AgSMEIS SECTOR: SMEs LOCATION: Adamawa

Bala Muhammed Audi is an entrepreneur from Yola, Adamawa state, who ventured into rice milling, processing, production, and packaging. Mr. Audi benefited from the CBN Agribusiness Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AgSMEIS) in 2019 to finance his business. He utilised the facility to acquire a six-in-one advanced combined milling machine, with capacity to process one ton of paddy per hour, bringing his total weekly output to thirty-five tons. The machine has capability of dehusking, separating, whitening, and polishing of paddy. He employed five additional staff to manage the business and provides consultancy services to other farmers in his community.

Mr. Muhammed expressed his gratitude to the CBN for supporting his business, which he described as a veritable source of livelihood for him and his employees.

NAME: Alobo Jolly

46 Years of CBN Intervention

TARABA STATE

INTERVENTION: AgSMEIS

SECTOR: SMEs LOCATION: Taraba

Shalong Global Investment is a fashion designing enterprise that produces customized items such as handkerchief, boxer shorts, and designer clothes. The project is located at Jalingo, Taraba State, and managed by Alobo Jolly.

The company accessed the Agribusiness Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AgSMEIS) loan. The facility enabled the business to procure advanced sewing machines to expand production and distribution to other states in Nigeria. Due to the increased production, seven more staff were employed to upscale the operation of the business.

NAME: Mahmud Jimada

INTERVENTION: TCF

SECTOR: SMEs LOCATION: Taraba

Mahmud Jimada is the proprietor of Smartphones Hub, a business that is engaged in the sale of phones, laptops and accessories. The company is located at Jalingo Shopping Complex, Taraba State. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the business suffered a setback due to the lockdown. Mahmud Jimada learnt about the Targeted Credit Finance (TCF) on Twitter and applied for the facility. The loan enabled him re-stock his shop after the lockdown.

Mr. Mahmud expressed his gratitude to CBN for the support in resuscitating his business after the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

NAME: Muphido Rice Milling Company Ltd

INTERVENTION: Anchor Borrowers’ Programme

SECTOR: Agriculture LOCATION: Taraba

Muphido Rice Milling Company Ltd is located in Jalingo, Taraba State, and was established by Muhammad Madu Mustapha for the purpose of rice production, processing, and packaging. It is one of the leading producers of rice in Taraba State and has the capacity to process 30 tons of paddy per day.

The company accessed a loan through the Anchor Borrowers Programme, an intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria with a single-digit interest rate, which was established for the purpose of boosting the agricultural sector of the economy and is designed to create an economic linkage between smallholder famers and agroprocessors/anchors. The programme adopts a value chain approach that links input to production to processing and to the market.

The facility enabled the company to expand its operations and production by employing twenty additional staff, acquiring milling equipment and other inputs, which has increased its processing capacity to 80 tons of paddy per day.

Former president of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN), Funmi Ajila-Ladipo started out when fashion wasn't quite as lucrative and recognised as it is today. Nevertheless, the story of Nigeria's fashion industry isn't complete without mentioning her contribution to its growth. In this interview with IVORY UKONU, she speaks on turning 60 and some of life's lessons that have shaped her to be who she is. Excerpts:

I’M ALREADY IMPACTING LIVES WITHOUT BEING IN POLITICS – FUNMI AJILA-LADIPO

Howdoes it feel turning 60, a landmark age?

It feels good to be 60. People say I don't look it, thanks be to God. But it is also due to how I have been very intentional about taking care of myself, internally and externally. I believe age is just a number and you are as old as you think you want to be. I mean, I threw a disco party and all my invited guests felt very young at heart. Are there things you want to discard or get more involved in now that you are 60?

I want to get closer to my maker. I already have a personal relationship with Him, but I want it to get deeper. I want to be more involved in projecting my craft, which is fashion designing through which I have made my mark. I also want to take service to humanity seriously. I have always been passionate about youth development and empowerment. I try as much as I can to use my influence to facilitate, sponsor and host programmes aimed at training the Nigerian youth in the creative industry. Together with the American embassy, I always nominate upcoming designers for the International Visitor's Leadership Program, IVLP, for training and development. I mentor and lecture young upcoming designers within the country and I am regularly invited to host or speak at fashion seminars, workshops around the world. In 2020, I established The Funmi Ajila Foundation to help drive these initiatives. The foundation was formally unveiled at my 60th birthday party. It is a non-profit organisation with the mission to empower youths with vocational skills through training, thus helping to reduce unemployment by providing access to quality vocational and technical education for a better life and national development.

At 60, would you say that you are fulfilled?

Very much so because I love what I do and I am passionate about it. I am passionate about fashion and impacting the youths. I am satisfied with it and I am enjoying it. I am believing God for my dream to come to pass, which is to have a place where I can mass produce and I know it will come. It is not about going to borrow money to make it work because I can if I want to. The time will come, I believe, when I can handle it, when things will fall easily on my laps. When it is time, something will prompt me to get going. Money isn’t quite the problem, proper planning is key.

When you say mass production, I believe it means in thousands of units. Are there really people who produce fashion goods in Nigeria in such large quantities?

Maybe not on a large scale, as obtainable in developed countries, but, yes, people mass produce fashion goods and they are mostly exported out of the country. Unfortunately we are unable to do large-scale

production here because there is no market for that sort of thing. Besides, power supply isn’t stable in the country. Added to this is the fact that skilled labour isn’t readily available. There is no serious mass export happening in the fashion industry. Government needs to look into the business of fashion as it is so vast. It is beyond just textiles. It is not encouraging at all.

If we had a textile industry that is producing the kind of textiles we expend energy looking for, all I need to do is get a sample from the marketing officers. I don’t need to know who owns the factory. If the quality is good enough we then go into business. I tell you to produce for me and deliver at a scheduled time. I don’t need to start walking around Balogun market, Lagos or Aba, Abia State. It is distracting and draining and God help you if you don’t find the kind of fabric you are looking for.

You are highly regarded as one of those who transformed the Nigerian creative industry via fashion. What is your story?

I started out as a professional model and for many years, I was one of the most sought after in the industry. I walked the runways for many designers of old. And I won many awards for strutting runways. Having studied Fashion and Textile Design at Yaba College of Technology, it only made sense for me to transition into a fashion designer. In 1987, I founded Regalia International which has since been rebranded into Regalia by FAL. In that same year, I was awarded the Afriprint Best Designer in Nigeria with my very first collection and since then, I have won many awards too numerous to mention both home and abroad.

Do you still actively run Regalia by FAL or has your daughter, who is also a fashion designer, taken over?

I have no plans to retire from fashion, not ever. That is the joy of doing

what one is most passionate about. So, yes I still run it. My daughter and I both run different fashion brands. Hers is called Ajila Ready to Wear. Our brands are both unique in their own ways and appeal to different audiences.

For eight years, you were the president of Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria, FADAN. What do you consider to be the highlight of your tenure?

I was able to bring serious-minded fashion designers together and they learnt how to grow their brands, showcase and package their business properly for profitability. I created the sub-skills through which my team and I gave back, by training members of the association on subjects they knew nothing about.

The fashion industry has different units; from designing to illustrations to sourcing to sewing itself, draping, etc. There are so many things in the fashion chain that not many people know about so that is where the sub skill comes in. I made sure our members were well-rounded in fashion.

I also started a master class where other top designers were invited from time to time, to talk to our members on how to grow their brand as well as the business side of fashion. You find out that a lot of us, myself included, only know how to be creative but when it comes to the business side of it, many of us are lacking. That is how my mentorship began.

I was also able to build FADAN chapters in different parts of the country, in about 11 states specifically. My team and I partnered with other bodies in the industry, the textile industry and virtually any affiliate of the fashion industry. I worked with the Bank of Industry, BOI to initiate the N1 billion loan scheme for the fashion industry. Many designers benefited from it.

As at the time I left, FADAN was no longer what it used to be. Now

Ajila-Ladipo

Ajila-Ladipo

people can authoritatively say they want to go into partnership with FADAN. In those days, it was never like that. FADAN would go all out to look for these people but now, they come looking for us. Unfortunately in Nigeria, we don’t come together in clusters, everyone wants to be a big man in their own way, and it doesn’t work out like that in the creative industry because we learn from each other. God has given each of us different creative abilities. What I know how to do, you may not know, but we can rub minds together and make it work. Also we created awareness for Nigerian brands by making people wear Nigerian brands and the government bought into it. It was a bit difficult because our textile industries are not working and we had to depend on foreign goods to service the fashion industry in Nigeria. But today, virtually every red-carpet event in Nigeria is graced by people wearing Nigerian brands. Even foreigners proudly wear Nigerian brands. It wasn't an easy feat being president, you know how it is in Nigeria when you are leading a group of very good creative people but God helped me.

Prior to your tenure, past presidents of FADAN never had the opportunity to do a second term. You broke the jinx. What do you think was responsible for this?

Maybe God wanted me to do it again. Maybe it was because I needed to complete what I started. I guess that was my winning strategy. I won’t say it is because I am better than anyone else or that I was desperate because leading people is not so easy. Some people may like you and others will resent you, but the most important thing is to know why you are there, do the job and have a continuity arrangement before leaving. Being FADAN president was such a huge task as there was so much to be done. Prior to my emergence as president, nothing had been done properly over the years. When I came in, my team and I turned things around. We revolutionised the way FADAN was being run and perceived. You know, you can’t turn things around without a fight. People will fight you, especially those who are not ready for change. But to change things, one must be ready for a fight.

Maybe I was ready for a fight to get things done. At first, I felt like giving up and just facing my own business, but after a while, it dawned on me that if we all keep running away, nobody will do the things that need to be done. I mean if God has placed one there, all one needed to do was to set the machinery in motion even if one may not be the one to complete the task.

The resistance was so much but I was determined to turn things around. The world itself is full of battles, even in our homes and one cannot run away, one has to stand firm and get the job done. But in the process of standing, you have to stand firm, otherwise you will probably lose out or something may go wrong. So I stood firm. I decided that certain things must change in FADAN. You can’t please everyone so it is important to face the task ahead of one and tackle it. I felt that I needed to finish what I started with God giving me the strength and ability. If it did not please God for me to be the president of FADAN, I would not be there for the first or even second tenure.

FADAN is the umbrella body for the fashion industry in Nigeria. Why are there so many people in the industry who are not members of the association?

You can’t force people to be members of FADAN. Everyone wants to be on their own which is a problem; they think they are better than others but they haven’t seen what others are doing. No one has the power to monopolize fashion in Nigeria. Nigeria is quite a complex country. As president, I personally invited some of them to join the body. Some paid their dues but never attended meetings. Perhaps they felt they were too big to sit with other members. But you see, that should be the beginning of humility. Veteran designers like Yves Saint Laurent, YSL, the luxury French brand and the likes, still come together, even with up-and-coming designers. The only thing is that they are classified. But how can FADAN classify designers in Nigeria when they shy away from meetings or choose not to be members? Instead they prefer to be aligned with the American and European fashion world. We all should try to come together and make it work. Some of them are so big they can actually talk to the government to help get things working but they would rather have it for themselves. Perhaps that is why the Federal Government is not taking the industry seriously.

Also, why has FADAN refused to align with annual fashion shows, such as the Lagos Fashion and Design Week, African Fashion Week, GTBank Fashion Weekend, ARISE Fashion Week etc?

The ones you have mentioned are organised by entertainers, not fashion designers. But they invite fashion designers to exhibit their products at the show and get buyers to buy the designs. Everyone is trying to make money in any way they can and you can’t ask an association to be part of the exhibitors. All FADAN does is partner with them. It is their show and it belongs to them. They don’t have to be members of the association. These organisers may decide at any time to rest the fashion shows if they so choose, but FADAN is a fashion body that has always and will always be in existence.

With the proliferation of fashion shows, isn’t it the job of FADAN to regulate the fashion industry?

FADAN can’t regulate the fashion industry without the backing of the Federal Government. You can’t stop people from doing these fashion shows because they are not designers, they are business people. If they partner with us, that is fine, otherwise there is really nothing we can do as there is no regulation in the industry. There is no body regulating fashion in Nigeria. So we can only remain a body and try to do as much as we can in terms of partnership with corporate bodies.

Why isn’t FADAN aiming to become a regulatory body? Oh believe me, FADAN has written series of letters, turned it into an issue on twitter to get the government's attention, but nothing came out of it. I personally know how many letters I wrote when I was president. There is no fashion council and that is the job of the government. You can’t have a body without the government approving it or putting its weight behind it. Now to further complicate things, FADAN falls under the Ministry of Commerce and Tourism, Ministry of

Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Export Promotion Council (NEPC). So FADAN really does not know who to actually direct these letters to.

Having successfully led a group like FADAN, are you planning to make greater impact on society through politics? No. Politics in Nigeria is a very dirty game. I have friends who are politicians, but I’m not interested in joining them. Politics makes people hate you unnecessarily. If I get an appointment, I won’t mind, but I won’t seek an elective position. However, I am already making an impact in the lives of people without necessarily being in politics.

What would you say significantly shaped you to be who you are today?

My parents. They gave me all the training and moral support I needed when I was growing up. God used them to help me find my way quickly in life. They mentored me. It is only a parent who watches his child closely that can spot the child’s talent and passion. I pray that more parents will spend more time with their children, train them properly and give them the right moral education. My parents made me to know the literal meaning of a good name being better than silver or gold.

What motivates you?

Many times, I thought of quitting fashion designing because the most difficult thing to do is to make clothes. You have to get the clothes into the exact body shape of a person and we all have different body sizes and shapes. Also the designer has to get into the mind of the wearer because sometimes the cloth may fit but the wearer may not like it. The work of a doctor is far easier than that of a fashion designer. But a designer not only has to make sure the clothes are well tailored but also fit the body of the wearer perfectly. Designers are not even well paid for the work they do. It is a whole lot of work, but I enjoy it. It is what I am called to do.

You have been married for almost 20 years in this age and time where marriages break down irretrievably as soon as they contracted. What advice do you have for the younger generation?

Marriage is beautiful but not easy. It is like a man travelling by air; you can’t ask the pilot to park in the air for you to come down. If you see your marriage that way, you will just take the good and bad and try and make it work. Yes, I agree that some marriages are unmanageable. If it is contesting with your God and religion, please move out of it. I call marriages contracted these days, microwave marriages. So my advice to them is to look into it properly before taking the plunge.

What is your most prized possession?

My salvation.

Ajila-Ladipo

Ajila-Ladipo

I want to get closer to my maker. I already have a personal relationship with Him, but I want it to get deeper. I want to be more involved in projecting my craft, which is fashion designing through which I have made my mark. I also want to take service to humanity seriously

STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

KOLA ABIOLA BACK TO SQUARE ONE

Barely a year after Kola Abiola, the eldest son of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, went public with his plan to contest the highest office in Nigeria, he has withdrawn into his shell after failing to impress in the presidential election.

The recluse, who has been somewhat out of circulation for as long as anyone can remember, had kept himself busy running what is left of his father's investments and squabbling with his half-siblings. Perhaps in a bid to actualise his late father’s unfulfilled dreams, Kola had hoped in delusion that Nigerians would rise up in unison and support him, just as they supported his father, and elected him president. Alas, he got no support, not even from his immediate family, let alone from Nigerians, when he contested on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP.

First, Kola’s half-sister, Hafsat

Abiola-Costello, who knew early on that he stood no chance, had pitched her tent with Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, a former presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress as his campaign director. Then a month to the election, the Abiola family and members of the MKO Abiola’s Mandate Group collapsed their structure to endorse Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

One of Kola’s half-brothers, Olalekan, whose mother was late Mrs Kudirat Abiola, alongside the Director-General of the Abiola Mandate Group, reiterated his endorsement of Tinubu for President because, according to both men, Tinubu represents the progressive tendencies that the late MKO stood and died for. The fact that Tinubu tagged his

The Tie That Binds Nyesom Wike And Seyi Makinde

It is no news that before the 2023 General Election, a close-knit bond existed among the G-5 governors, namely Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikepazu of Abia State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu. All five members of the self-styled Integrity Group are members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who broke ranks with the national leadership of the party for failing to honour an agreement to return power to the South.

The quintet entertained Nigerians with their colourful uniforms, usually the traditional outfit of any of their states whenever one of them played host to the others. They always travelled together and held press conferences together to regale Nigerians of their plans or the lack of it.

campaign slogan 'Renewed Hope', in line with the late MKO's campaign slogan, ‘Hope 93,’ showed beyond reasonable doubt that Tinubu will replicate what their late father had hoped to actualise were he not denied his mandate. Well Kola, unperturbed about scoring little or no votes in the election has since moved on. Hopefully he doesn't pull such a stunt in 2027.

Meet Nigerian Billionaire Making Waves in Tech World

While many Nigerians are making incredible waves in the tech world, only a small percentage actually rub shoulders with the movers and shakers of the tech world where it originated from, the United States of America. One of such people is Tope Awotona, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of a modern scheduling software app for high performance teams and individuals called Calendly. Awotona

is the first Nigerian American tech billionaire and the second black tech billionaire in the United States of America (USA) after David Steward. Awotona became a billionaire by simply scheduling meetings for people. The 41-year-old made the Forbes billionaire list for 2022, nabbing the 2076 spot. Like many businessmen, the road to success was not smooth at the beginning for Awotona. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Awotona's life was defined by tragedy. He immigrated to the United States as a teenager after watching his dad get shot and killed by a criminal who stole their car. His mom wanted a better life for him and his siblings and so moved the family there. He fell into deep depression and could not eat or sleep for several months as a result of the horror of seeing his father murdered. While it was a hard transition for him, he was driven to become successful for his dad. Before founding Calendly, Awotona had started a few other businesses, including one that sold projectors and another that sold garden tools, that flopped. Calendly was founded on the backbone of his frustration. After graduating from college

and working for many years in tech sales with companies such as Del EMC, he soon realized how much time he was wasting just scheduling sales meetings. He decided to create a tool that will help him schedule appointments without sending emails back and forth. He put all his savings into it, quit his job and started Calendly. He built its first product by hiring a Ukrainian firm for programming help. He moved to Kyiv during anti-government protests eight years ago for a while to ensure his dream saw the light of day. He bootstrapped Calendly for years before taking on a $350 million investment in 2021 that eventually valued the firm at $3 billion.

Only last week, THEWILL listed a few individuals who go way back with the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and who will most certainly find a pride of place in or out of his government. One of such individuals mentioned in the article was Wale Edun. A former commissioner for finance in Tinubu’s cabinet during his time as Lagos State governor, the ex-banker is a notable trusted ally of Tinubu. THEWILL had predicted that owing to his over 25-year experience, which spans merchant banking, corporate

While their bromance lasted, it is pertinent to note that Wike and Makinde's friendship stood out. While the others were more of lackeys to Wike, he related with Makinde as his equal, even though he is older and more experienced politically.

Long before Ortom, Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu joined the group, Wike regularly interacted with Makinde on a one-on-one basis. Makinde paid him a few courtesy visits and he in turn invited Makinde to Rivers State each time he had an important event to host. One of such televised events was one that he hosted to mark Justice Mary

Odili’s 70th birthday and retirement as Justice of the Supreme Court. Fast forward to their pre-election charade. Of the five governors, Makinde was the only who commissioned a road project, the Woji road and Obagi street. Of the five, Makinde was the only who Wike deemed fit to personally campaign for in Oyo. One may argue that it was because Makinde was seeking re-election for a second term. Well the other three (Ugwuanyi, Ortom, Ikpeazu) were also seeking a place in the Senate and needed to appeal to the electorate. Unfortunately, they all lost.

Also, while Ortom publicly endorsed Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Wike and Makinde both settled for Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Party,

Last week, Chioma, wife of former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim, clocked 60. Ohakim made sure to celebrate the woman who stood by him through thick and thin and did not leave him even at the height of his illicit affair with Abuja-based businesswoman, Chinyere Amuchienwa, a 59-year-old divorcee, which was fodder for the media.

Chioma, a barrister at law began the celebration of her birthday with a photo shoot at their Abuja home, with ace photographer George Okoro manipulating the lens to capture the

APC as their preferred presidential candidate but however kept their choice close to their chest leaving Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu confused as to who to support. Makinde and Wike were the only governors who Tinubu considered significant to his campaign and personally paid them visits. Well, one of the reasons why Wike is smitten with Makinde is because he is married to someone he considers his sister and that further drew him to the Oyo State governor. Makinde's wife, Tamunominini is an Ijaw woman from Buguma, Kalabari kingdom in Asari Toru local government area of Rivers state. An engineer by profession, she has been married to Makinde for over 22 years and they are blessed with three children.

joy that the mother of five radiated at turning a new age. A get-together was later organised where close friends and family gathered to celebrate her. The ceremony was deliberately kept low-key as the family were only just getting their groove back after an attempt was made to assassinate them on January 2, 2023 at Oriagu in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo state. Luckily, Ohakim and two of his children who were with him in his convoy escaped unscathed, but not his four police orderlies whose lives were snuffed out by the gunmen.

finance, economics and international finance at national and international levels, he may be recommended for a place in the helm of affairs in the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) or the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). True to the prediction, the endorsements have already begun. First, he was nominated by Tinubu as a member of the Presidential Transition Committee for the purpose of ensuring a smooth transition process between the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the incoming government.

Also, as part of the transition process, four members of Tinubu’s team will be joining the Federal Government delegation to the Spring Meeting of the World Bank. The inclusion of Tinubu's team will be an opportunity for him to engage directly with the international finance organisation early on before he takes the oath of office. No doubt, one of those who will make the FG delegation will be Edun based on his track record as an expert in all things finance. Edun is currently the Chairman of Chapel Hill Denham Group and has been since 2008.

THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA

Abiola

Ohakim

Wike and Makinde

Awotona Edun

STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN

KAYODE SALAKO, GBADEBO RHODES-VIVOUR IN HOT VERBAL EXCHANGE

Dino Melaye Eyes Kogi Government House

Kayode Salako, former Lagos State Chairman of Labour Party and the governorship candidate of the party in the recently concluded governorship election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, have been at each other's throats in recent times. It started after Salako penned a lengthy note on how Rhodes-Vivour betrayed him after nominating him as the choice candidate of the Labour party. Salako claimed that he ensured Rhodes-Vivour got the needed support to emerge as

the party's candidate without requesting anything from him when other governorship candidates from other parties paid millions of naira to him to help them secure the party's ticket.

According to Salako, RhodesVivour started making moves to push him aside, away from the governorship project. He said the governorship candidate ran a one-man show while sidelining almost all the Yoruba elders and prominent leaders in the party.

Salako also alleged that RhodesVivour worked with his detractors to sabotage his efforts as the state chairman of the party. The LP chieftain revealed that his only sin for being betrayed was because he reported Rhodes-Vivour to the leaders of the party so that he could do the right things, which he never did.

Reacting to Salako's lengthy note, Rhodes-Vivour rained invectives on the former LP chairman, describing him as one suffering from bipolar disorder.

Mixed Reactions Trail Afe Babalola's Donation to Kings College London

Mixed reactions have trailed the philanthropic gesture of eminent lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola to Kings College, London. The legal luminary had donated the sum of 10 million pounds to the institution. According to him, the donation will go into the establishment of the Afe Babalola African Centre for Transnational Education in King’s College as part of his efforts to enable young Africans to have access to education and opportunities which they would otherwise not be able to have.

When converted to the naira at the official exchange rate provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria, £10m is valued at N5.6 billion. Many have since reacted to the development.

Some berated the philanthropist for wasting such a huge sum of money abroad when the educational system in Nigeria is nothing to write home about.

They are of the opinion that he should have shared the money among poor states in Nigeria without adequate educational facilities, especially in the North where many parents cannot

afford to give their children quality education.

Some critics specified that Ekiti State University in Nigeria would have benefited a lot if Chief Babalola had channeled the funds there. The act was considered a misplaced priority and some people questioned the fact that Kings College has not deemed it fit to contribute to the educational institution in Nigeria or even Afe Babalola's educational institution

in Nigeria. However, some have however applauded his kind gesture. Former Deputy Governor of Central Bank, Kingsley Moghalu, applauded the educationist for not joining the bandwagon of many Nigerians who invest in politics. Nollywood actress, Dakore Egbuson, also commended him while praying for him. Same also with Chioma Ude, founder of Africa International Film Festival, AFRIFF and Tolu Ogunlesi, Special Assistant on Digital and New Media to President Muhammadu Buhari, who took time to school others about Chief Babalola's contribution to the education sector in Nigeria and the Diaspora.

According to Ogunlesi, Chief Babalola benefited from British education, hence he wanted to give back to the system while creating an avenue for Africans abroad to also benefit from the opportunity. His daughter, Bolanle Austin-Peters also commended her father. Calling the amount donated a token, she thanked her father for the gesture.

Former senator presenting Kogi West Senatorial District and spokesperson of the Abubakar Atiku/ Okowa Campaign Organisation, Dino Melaye, is set to contest the 2023 governorship position in Kogi State. Ahead of the declaration of interest, the controversial politician posted a video of some of his die-hard fans chanting and singing his praises on social media, while stating that he is the only candidate who can turn the fortune of Kogi around. He also gave a hint on Instagram with the #Dinoiscoming hashtag, which many of his fans reacted to . About two weeks after posting the video, Melaye released his first poster, describing himself as the solution to Kogi's numerous challenges. A campaign song has also been composed in Hausa to announce his intention to contest in

TAYO AYINDE RETURNS TO SOCIAL SCENE AFTER LOSING WIFE

Tayo Ayinde, the Chief of Staff to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Director General of the Tinubu/Sanwo-Olu Independent Council in the 2023 General Election has returned to the social scene four months after losing his wife, Princess Adedoyin Raliat Ayinde, nee Ojora. Princess Ayinde passed on in November 2022 after returning from a trip to the United Kingdom where she went to have their second baby. The deceased, who was a niece of business tycoon and former AGIP Board Chairman, Adekunle Ojora, was buried in a ceremony exclusively attended by members of her family. Ayinde married Adedoyin after his union with Titilola, his first wife, ended in 2019. He returned to the social scene after mourning his late wife for four months. Although he was not visible during the 2023 election that led to the victory of his boss and principal, Babajide SanwoOlu, he was at the burial ceremony of Alhaja Tai Elemonsho Okesanjo’s mother which took place two weeks ago. Ayinde took out time to catch up with friends and acquaintances before leaving the ceremony halfway.

the governorship election. Melaye first ran for governor in the state in 2019. He lost the keenly contested primary election where he came third, with a total of 70 votes behind Ibrahim Abubakar who had 710 votes, while Engineer Musa Wada won the party primaries. However, Yahaya Bello of the All Progressive Congress, APC won the election.

Kayode Olagunju Clocks 60

Former Assistant Corps Marshal with the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Dr Kayode Olagunju, husband to popular ex broadcaster, Seun Olagunju, who is now a topflight member of the staff of the Bank of Industry, BOI, has joined the diamond jubilee club . Olagunju, who recently retired after spending more than 30 meritorious years in service, marked the event in company with his family, friends, former colleagues and top government officials last week.

Dressed in a flowing brown

and wine aso oke robe with a matching cap, a deep sense of appreciation and fulfillment was written all over his face as he danced excitedly while making his entrance to the venue of the ceremony. Guests were welcomed at the entrance with pictures of the celebrant which loomed large on the walkway and the stage. His wife was full of appreciation as she played the dutiful hostess, welcoming guests to the occasion. His grown-up daughters who are abroad were conspicuously absent at the grand ceremony. It was gathered that they couldn't make it to Nigeria to join their father in marking his birthday. His only son, whom the family welcomed about 12 ago was all over the event venue, effortlessly taking the place of his big sisters. Being a fan of Arsenal, the English football club, Olagunju’s two-tier birthday cake proudly displayed the logo of his favorite football club. Comedian and master of ceremony, Gbenga Adeyinka, was the compere of the day. He kept guests entertained with jaw cracking jokes while the event lasted.

Ayinde

Salako

Rhodes-Vivour

Melaye

Babalola Olagunju

STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN

MAKINDE ENDS RIFT WITH OLOPOEYAN

Margery Chuba-Okadigbo Bags Award

The feud between Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and the leader of the New Nigerian People's Party in the South-West, Alhaji Bisi Abdulrasheed, also known as Olopoeyan, has ended. Before the two fell apart, Olopoeyan, played a major role that ensured the victory of Makinde for his first term in office in 2019 but the duo fell apart due to irreconcilable differences and misunderstanding after the election, which led to Olopoeyan's defection from the PDP to the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP. Even before he emerged winner of

Joshua

the 2019 election as a PDP candidate, Olopoeyan had played a major role in Makinde's political career. Makinde had left the PDP for the Social Democratic Party, SDP, after losing his bid to become the governor of Oyo State in 2012. He became tired of politics and defected to another party, however, Olopoeyan single-handedly brought him back to the PDP in May 2015. They had a meeting in London shortly after he lost the governorship election on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Olopoeyan promised to help him if he should return to the party. People accused

Ojo Returns to

Model cum actor, Joshua Ojo, is back to the industry that shot him into the limelight. Ojo was a force to reckon with in the modeling industry, having worked with popular and notable brands while growing up. His foray into the make-

believe world started while he was in secondary school where he featured in a notable TV series, ‘Tightrope,’ which was sponsored by the United States Agency For International Development, USAID.

The talented movie actor played the son of both Olu Jacob and Joke Silva in ‘Tightrope’. The series ran for many years on Nigeria Television Authority Network and was the toast of movie lovers. After the success of the drama series, he participated in several movies and won several accolades as a kid actor. The impressive response further ignited his passion for acting and he was able to worm his way into late Amaka Igwe's heart. He earned a major role, Mufu in her popular family TV series, Fuji House of Commotion which he did for more than 10 years before leaving to start a new career in movie production. Ojo started producing and directing his own movies when he was 17 years-old, but he had unpalatable tales to tell from his experience. Despite the fact that he earned the nickname, the youngest director in Nollywood, he was duped and didn't get a dime from his projects.

Olopoeyan of engaging in antiparty activities then because he was hobnobbing with Makinde just to ensure he returned to the party. His alliance with Makinde almost landed him a suspension from the party then but he ignored all and ensured he helped Makinde attain his political dream. However, after his victory at the polls, Makinde turned his back on Olopoeyan and failed to compensate him for his efforts. The people who worked with Olopoeyan for Makinde's victory were also neglected. Olopoeyan angrily left the party and decamped to the NNPP while making his grievances known to the governor. However, their enmity is now in the past as Babatunde Oduyoye, a political adviser to Makinde brokered peace between the two while trying to persuade Olopoeyan to return to the PDP. Oduyoye organised a reconciliatory meeting between the two warring parties and they all left the venue smiling. After the meeting, Olopoeyan wrote a congratulatory message to Makinde. He also visited him at his residence just to show that all is now well between the two. While making comments about the development, Olopoeyan stated that the development and progress of Oyo State overrides every other interest whether politics or personal, which is why they both decided to sheathe their swords.

Nollywood

Marketers duped him because he was young and had no proper experience and training for what he was doing. The disappointment in the way his efforts at movie production turned out made him quit all and he went back to continue his studies. After his graduation from the University of Ibadan where he studied Theatre Arts, he continued to hone his skills in directing with a course at ITPAN film school, Lagos State. He later traveled abroad to study filmmaking and directing at the New York Film Academy, NYFA in Florida. One of the reasons he chose NYFA was to have access to all the equipment which one can't get in some other film institutions. Ojo is now back to Nigeria and ready to take the movie industry by storm. His specialty is in history and biopics.

As a pan Africanist, the award winning actor is on a mission to unearth the best stories Africa has to offer, package them in a form that is universally acceptable using art and technology as tools, and finally deliver them to a global audience as entertaining content. With a desire to create movies with the intention of preserving the culture and heritage of Africans, educating as well as passing on important messages through his medium.

Senator Margery ChubaOkadigbo, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented to her during the 2023 Strategic Women in Energy, Oil and Gas Northern Summit, which was put together as part of the activities marking this year’s International Women’s Day, with the theme, ‘The Limitless Woman: Leveraging Innovation and Technology.’ The event took place at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua centre in Abuja last week.

Chuba-Okadigbo was honoured in recognition of her invaluable contributions to the ongoing commercialisation of the NNPC Limited and her contributions to various industrie spanning over four decades. The new awardee dedicated

the award to the board of directors and management of NNPC Limited. She appreciated the group for the honour, while making a case for the development of data-driven systems for measuring gender equity in the Nigerian energy sector, so as to appreciate the extent of the challenge and end the gaps.

Senator chubaOkadigbo is a seasoned lawyer, an entrepreneur and a former legislator who represented Anambra North Senatorial District as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 2011 and 2015. She was the Vice-Chairman Health Committee and member of

numerous committees such as SURE-P, Environment, Judiciary, FCT, Aviation and Constitutional Review. She had headed several committees and parastatal before she was appointed to the board of directors of NNPC.

Family to Mark 20 Years of Gbenga Adeboye's Demise

The family of late Gbenga Adeboye, foremost comedian, radio presenter and master of ceremony, is set to mark the 20th anniversary of his death. Adeboye died in 2003 of kidney disease, but his daughter, Damilola and his wife, Lara Adeboye, have tried to keep his legacies alive.

April 30 has been set aside by the family to mark the event, with a lineup of various activities put in place to make it unique. Some of the deceased’s evergreen songs, skits and comedy series will be on display, while up and coming skit makers and fans who can mimic the late talented artiste will have

Montai Fetes Guests at Mother's Funeral

Businesswoman and socialite, Hajia Tai Elemosho Okesanjo, gathered the crème la crème of Lagos society to the eight days prayer of her late mother, Madam Sifawu Ajoke Elemosho, who died at the age of 77 years. Montai had a quiet burial for her late mother but decided to roll out the drums in celebration of her life and times during the eight days fidau prayer which took place last week. Guests adhered to the white and orange colour code for the occasion. They adored gorgeous attires in different shades and forms to honour the shoe merchant. One of the highlights of the occasion was the solo performance by Juju queen, the president of Association of Juju Musicians, Ayo Balogun. Although a disc

jockey was on standby to thrill guests with melodious tunes, the juju queen took over the stage and serenaded the guests in attendance.

Montai played the dutiful host by moving round the venue to ensure all her guests were well catered for. Traditional African cuisine served in cute iron pots emitting hot steam was part of the assorted dishes served at the event.

Members of the All Progressive Congress, APC where the businesswoman belongs to were solidly behind her at the fidau prayer. They came in groups and wore orange face caps with the party's logo on it. The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-olu also honoured the business tycoon with his presence at the occasion.

the opportunity to grace the stage. Adeboye was one of the pioneers of comedy and skit making even before the Nigerian comedy industry became a thriving business. He was able to hit stardom with his unconventional humour before his untimely demise. The late Adeboye was a multi-talented individual, known as a singer, comedian, radio presenter and master of ceremony and great orator who was fondly called funwontan, the merchant and performer of traditional oduology, who worm his way into the heart of many Nigerians with his rib cracking jokes and skits.

Makinde

Abdulrasheed

Chuba-Okadigbo

Adeboye

Okesanjo

ARTS

EMOWAA Pavilion For Arts in City of Arts

MICHAEL JIMOH

Paris has the Louvre, New York MOMA. The London Museum is smack in the centre of England. There are as many museums in Florence and Venice as there are gondolas plying its waterways. Art aficionados and tourists flock to these institutions from time to time to admire a Picasso portrait, for instance, a Pollock drip work, a Michelangelo sculptural piece, a Constable landscape or a Van Gogh oil on canvas of miners feasting on potatoes at dusk.

Scholars and students of art, archeologists, researchers and restorers follow in their wake, stopping over for research purposes to better understand an art work, preserve a rare one or restore a precious masterpiece fast losing pigment and brush strokes by the original painter. With a rich heritage from as long as anyone can remember, those cities have become bona fide culture capitals in their own way basically because they have the institutions that serve more than what you expect from an average museum.

Having a replica of those great institutions in Nigeria has been festering for years in the mind of Phillp Iheanacho. His background is neither museums nor arts and culture. But the idea of having an all-encompassing art institution had taken root for some time, germinating gradually into what may become one of the most relevant such institutions in the culture sector in Nigeria.

The Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA) is something never dreamed of before. Yes, there are fifty or so museums across Nigerian towns and cities, most of them headquartered in state capitals or places designated heritage sites. Many of them are near decrepit state, overseen by untrained civil servants and bureaucrats who know next

to nothing about the technicalities involved in preserving one. Visitors are few and far between, drawing a mere few thousands in a year - far, far less than visitors to the Louvre in one summery month.

All that will change soon by the time EMOWAA opens its doors to the public from the second quarter of 2024. And, as its name suggests, it certainly will not be a repository of works from Benin alone. There will be art works from the West African sub-region - Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Togo on display.

Sow a thought, so the saying goes, and you reap a word. Sow a word and you reap an action. For Iheanacho the action now stands firmly near a similar edifice right in the heart of Benin City capital of Edo state. Called the Pavilion, EMOWAA is a glancing distance from the National Commission of Museum and Monuments at Ring Road in Benin. From the moment of conception to now as a reality on the ground, Iheanacho knew what he’d always wanted: an all-round art institution that will not only stage exhibitions but be home to in-house restorers of art works, venue for seminars and symposia, a residence for writers, filmmakers, artists, in short, a place where the creative types can blossom. The choice of the ancient city is not for nothing. The city of Ogisos has a well-fostered reputation for arts and culture dating back to the 15th century. So, there couldn’t have been a better choice for the non-for-profit body to site the Pavilion. For Iheanacho, the idea of setting up in Africa similar institutions in Europe has come – and for good reasons.

“One of the things that has always frustrated me

Edo Museum of West African Art is about supporting creative and heritage management involved in the cultural and creative sector ... EMOWAA is partly a museum project but it is much larger than that. It is about creating infrastructure that supports the sector generally, that creates opportunities for creative types in the cultural sector and it is about creating the necessary infrastructure that all museums and cultural institutions across West Africa can rely on

about our country is that we are a country with great culture, with great creativity but with very limited infrastructure to support creativity,” Iheanacho told journalists last week at Radisson Hotel GRA Ikeja, Lagos.

“Edo Museum of West African Art is about supporting creative and heritage management involved in the cultural and creative sector,” Iheanacho went on. “EMOWAA is partly a museum project but it is much larger than that. It is about creating infrastructure that supports the sector generally, that creates opportunities for creative types in the cultural sector and it is about creating the necessary infrastructure that all museums and cultural institutions across West Africa can rely on.”

So, in theory and practice, EMOWAA will be different from other existing museums in Nigeria today in that it will be “a living institution relevant and connected to the contemporary. It will expand public space and bridge traditional divides of heritage and living artists and artisans, demonstrating a strong continuum between past, present and future.”

Though Iheanacho did say the project isn’t so much

EMOWAA Pavilion in Benin City

EMOWAA Pavilion For Arts in City of Arts ARTS

about himself as it is about EMOWAA, it is almost impossible to write about such a grand project without a word or two about one of the brains behind it. Born in Lagos of Igbo parentage from Imo state, Iheanacho grew up in Jos. One question people frequently ask about his involvement in EMOWAA is how come he is neck-deep in the project since he is not Edo. Of course, Iheanacho cleared the air on that at the informal meeting with journalists last week in Lagos, as he has done severally at different occasions elsewhere. Having connections with the east, north and west, Iheanacho sees himself as a complete Nigerian. But beyond that is his fascination with EMOWAA and what he hopes to live behind for posterity, what he hopes to achieve with it.

“You get to a stage in life when you get older that you begin to ask questions not so much about what you are doing to make a living, not so much about what you are doing for your children,” sort of putting down all else in place of commitment to a cause, “but what do you want to do to give back and what you want to do and be remembered for?”

To make project EMOWAA see the light of day, Iheanacho knew exactly what to do and where to go. Meet and consult with stakeholders in Benin, starting with Governor Godwin Obaseki who was quite enthusiastic about EMOWAA and even showed a keener interest in making Edo state the cultural capital of the West African sub-region.

The royal palace in Benin was also consulted as with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, all of them indicating their interest to be part of the most ambitious cultural project in Nigeria once it starts to run.

“EMOWAA is a guest in the Bini Kingdom and is grateful to His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II,” a source from the project admitted. “Our explicit goal is to support and work with cultural institutions in Edo state and beyond, including the coming Royal Benin Museum to facilitate a thriving creative hub and tourism destination in Edo state.”

EMOWAA is an independent NGO but also “interrelated with other relevant bodies,” Iheanacho reemphasized to the newsmen, insisting that “for a museum infrastructure to work, you need to get to a critical mass. A place like Benin City which has a deep history, if it is to become a centre for culture, it needs to have multiple museums, multiple places that will be complimenting one another so that when visitors come, they come to see multiple things. Our idea is that we will focus on West African modern and contemporary art.”

More important is to work together “to reestablish Benin City as a cultural capital. It is not about one or the other. It is about cross-connecting and working together.”

For now, everything seems to be going swimmingly for the EMOWAA Pavilion in Benin City and those behind it. Designed by world renowned, awardwinning architect, Sir Dave Adjae, the edifice stands proudly on 38, 000 square feet of interior space, complete with an exhibition gallery with views into the collection study area, 180-seater auditorium, conference rooms, conservation labs and a library. Of course, as such grand projects go, the landscaped exterior will be useful for informal

gatherings and curated outdoor programmes.

All that, without doubt, is sure to change the cultural landscape of a city with a well fostered reputation as a place where artists thrived, spawning generations of bronze sculptors and wood carvers in the process. But then the British came around the turn of the 19th century, ransacked the city and depleted much of the art works which they took back to Europe. Many of those, in turn, found their way to museums and private collectors in the continent.

If all goes well as planned by the board and management of EMOWAA, visitors from the West African sub-region and the rest of the world will have the opportunity to stroll through the pavilion from June next year, revel in a sculptural piece from Nok or Ife, for instance, a figurine or sculpted mask from Senegal or the Gambia by indigenous artists as late as the 15th century down to contemporary art works in line with EMOWAA’s overall objective

Now, the same works of arts looted centuries ago are gradually finding their way back from whence they were purloined. It is a good thing for the Nigerian and Edo state government but particularly so for the royal palace in Benin where some of the works were stolen from in the first place. As Iheanacho stated last week in Lagos, EMOWAA isn’t about stocking up on returned arts works from Europe or anywhere else for that matter.

What’s more? The board of EMOWAA boasts some of the best and brightest minds among its ranks. Apart from Sir Dave the world renowned architect, there is HRH Prince Ezelekhae Ewuare Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Victor Ehikhamenor, a Nigerian artist, writer and photographer, Babatunde Adebiyi, representative of NCMM, Prince Babatunde Obaitan, Commissioner for Diasporan Affairs, Arts Culture and Tourism in Edo state as well as Dr. Myma Bello-Osagie, lawyer and managing partner of Udo-Udoma & Bello Osagie. All of them are trustees of the board of EMOWAA.

Partners in the EMOWAA project range from such reputable institutions as the British Museum to Oxford University and AG Leventis Foundations. NCMM and Deutsche Archaeologische Institute of Germany are also lending their support fully.

If all goes well as planned by the board and management of EMOWAA, visitors from the West African sub-region and the rest of the world will have the opportunity to stroll through the pavilion from June next year, revel in a sculptural piece from Nok or Ife, fsay a figurine or sculpted mask from Senegal or T he Gambia by indigenous artists as late as the 15th century down to contemporary art works in line with EMOWAA’s overall objective.

“Our ambition is to create a world-class collections facility and establish a centre of excellence for archeological science, conservation and museum practice in West Africa. The EMOWAA Pavilion will be a space for learning and (re)connection – a gateway between the sophistication of our shared past and the dynamism of our possible future.”

Iheanacho, ED of EMOWAA (middle) with Okugbowa and Odigie

SportsLive

AFCON Qualifiers Expose Super Eagles’ Inadequacies

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

On Matchday four of the TotalEnergies 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series, Senegal, South Africa and Burkina Faso all qualified for the tournament. Senegal beat Mozambique 1-0, South Africa defeated Liberia 2-1 and Burkina Faso drew 1-1 with Togo. Nigeria's Super Eagles were the bookies' favourite to be in this number of countries punching their tickets for the continental competition. This was expected because of the quality that Nigeria boasts, the antecedents of the Super Eagles and the circumstances surrounding the timing of the qualifiers with Nigerian strikers on top of their game.

The Super Eagles beat Sierra Leone 2-1 at home and pummelled Sao Tome and Principe 10-nil away in the first two legs of the series. Facing Guinea Bissau on matchday three, the expectation was that Nigeria, which is ranked 83 places above their West African opponents in the current FIFA ranking, were going to cruise to a qualification place over the two legs in the March international break. The reality turned out quite differently as Nigeria disappointingly slumped to a 1-0 upset at home. It was a disgraceful performance in an equally embarrassing Abuja stadium that had seen better days and was more untended than lush and green as could have been expected of a national stadium. The Nigeria Football Federation had to apologise to football fans and promised that everything will be done to rectify the loss when the teams clashed again three days later in Guinea Bissau.

THEWILL SportsLive analysis of the return fixture showed that Guinea-Bissau, whose appreciation of the quality against them was down-to-earth, employed an ultradefensive strategy throughout the game. It was a technical decision which worked for them in the first half. The hosts sat back and soaked up all the pressure from the Super Eagles and limited the opportunities for Nigeria's attacking players to take advantage of the gap in individual quality between the two teams. While Victor Osimhen, Terem Moffi, Samuel Chukwueze, and even Alex Iwobi and Joe Aribo had chances to score, they were either wasteful or stopped by the hosts' defence.

However, as the game progressed, it appeared that all the constant running to close up openings in the back line

and sprinting up field to break into counter attacks, started to take a toll on the Guinea Bissau's players. As the strain set in and the players tired out, there was a noticeable drop in their defensive intensity. This allowed Nigeria to create more chances, with Osimhen hitting the post and substitute Joe Aribo forcing a save from the goalkeeper. Even defender Kenneth Omeruo joined the attacking players in search of a goal, which showed their desperation to win the game.

Despite their numerous chances, Nigeria was unable to convert any of them until the half-hour penalty which the referee, Samir Guezzaz, wasted no time to award for a tackle on Bright Osayi-Samuel by Fali Candé inside the box. Over two legs, the Super Eagles could not score in open play, which highlights their lack of clinical finishing in front of goal. This was a major concern as the essence of scoring goals to win games, cannot be overemphasised especially at this level. Osimhen's attempt to find a goal was demonstrated by how he was incessantly flagged offside. It is another demonstration of the absence of technical direction that left the Napoli forward mostly isolated in some moments of the game. This needs to be addressed by the coaching staff to ensure that he gets more support

from his teammates.

In terms of the Super Eagles' overall strategy, their use of a 4-4-2 formation has not allowed them to perform to the best of their abilities. Despite boasting a squad of individual talented players, the formation appears to be a continuing hindrance to their attacking play. Coach Jose Peseiro seems reluctant to experiment with different formations and has been slow to make changes during games when the strategy at play and the players involved are not delivering expected dividends.

The work to improve the performance must begin from

Nigeria's Super Eagles were the bookies' favourite to be in this number of countries punching their tickets for the continental competition

Iwobi

AFCON Qualifiers Expose Super Eagles’ Inadequacies

goal. The goalkeeper position is an area of grave concern, with doubts about Francis Uzoho's ability to be a reliable goalkeeper for the team. Even if he has shown flashes of brilliance, he has also been prone to costly errors as in the goal that won the Djurtus the first leg in Abuja. While he kept a clean sheet in Guinea-Bissau, his performance was not flawless and he failed to inspire confidence in the times when he was called to action. The two local keepers called up as backup options, John Noble and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, are unlikely to pose a threat to Uzoho's position and this will not be enough to get the best out of the 24-year-old Omonoia FC keeper. One solution could be to promote Maduka Okoye, but his inactivity at Watford is a concern.

With Uzoho suspended for the next international break, the team will need to find a solution to this keeper issue quickly ahead of the next international break in June.

Furthermore, the midfield formation has also been a concern, with Alex Iwobi struggling with too much defensive responsibility. This has put more pressure on Wilfred Ndidi, who has not been in the same top form since recovering from injury. If Ndidi can return to top form and fitness, Nigeria will have a much stronger midfield. However, if he is unable to do so, Nigeria will continue to struggle in the midfield. This is a major concern as the midfield is a crucial third of the pitch that can make or break a team's chances of winning games. It means the team may need to consider alternative options. Joe Aribo, who plays for Rangers in Scotland, has shown that he can be a creative force in midfield, and he could be given a more advanced role in the team. Another option could be to give more playing time to younger players such as Shehu Abdullahi or Frank Onyeka.

There have also been issues with the use of wingers, particularly with Samuel Chukwueze's inconsistent performances. Ademola Lookman has shown himself to be a greater goal threat, but was overlooked in favour of Chukwueze, who put in a terribly poor performance in the return game against Guinea-Bissau. The Villarreal flank player repeatedly shot wildly instead of passing to his teammates. If he were clinical with his shooting, it may have been understandable but that he was not even manageably hitting the target made it shocking that the technical crew left him on until the 81st minute. Lookman has shown himself to be a greater goal threat since moving to Atalanta and could be given more playing time in the team to bring that ruthlessness to bear.

In front, attention returns to Osimhen. He is currently the leading goalscorer in Serie A and top candidate for the

Continued from Back Page

Interim Government, Military Coup: Hoax or Real?

Yet, the Electoral Act provides a legal framework for resolving electoral disputes and I will counsel the disputants and their supporters to take advantage of this framework to resolve the fallout of the general elections. This is recommended to avoid what could very well result in a swift conflagration and break down of law, order and everything in between.

Finally, it is essential to emphasise that the worst democratic government is far better than any military government in whatever shape or form, especially for the sake of citizens' rights and freedoms. Nigeria's history is replete with instances of military rule and the human rights abuses that occurred during those years are well-documented. The restoration of civilian rule in 1999 was a significant achievement, and it is essential that Nigeria's democracy continues to thrive rather than retrogress to conditions that should best be left in the past.

As important as it is to tirelessly defend norms and values of democratic practices, such as the sacredness of elections and the sanctity of the people's mandate, the impartiality of the judiciary and the respect of correctly enacted laws, the current crisis should not be allowed to derail Nigeria's democracy.

As much as we must avoid setting a terrible precedent that makes it seem that we can allow fraudulently acquired victories to stand just for the sake of peace, all parties should together recognise that we all have a responsibility to ensure that the country remains on the path of democratic consolidation. I therefore strongly advise against the unconstitutional context of an interim government or military government in Nigeria. Our democracy is a bastion for democratic practice across Africa and a reference point for the West. We have achieved it through blood, sweat and deaths. We owe it to those who suffered to bequeath it to us to preserve it for posterity. These are the reasons why we must preserve this democracy, flawed as it is, even as we fight to make sure courts do not decide the winners of our elections.

It is despicable that over a 100 cases are pending before various courts from these polls due to INEC’s corrupt officials and security agencies. Still, the current electoral crisis presents an opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen its democratic institutions and processes, and to build a more inclusive and participatory democracy. It is my hope that the disputants will heed this call and work towards a peaceful resolution of the current crisis, in the interest of Nigeria's democracy and its people.

Capocannoniere award this season. He thrives as a striker that can trouble any defensive formation but, over two legs, Osimhen cut a frustrated figure up top of the team formation. What was painfully obvious was that the team was not playing to his strengths. Osimhen is a quick and powerful striker who thrives on through balls and crosses, but the team's current formation neglected this and did not allow for adventurous wing-backs to provide him with these opportunities. When chances opened, there appeared to be a lack of synergy in the transition to the forward line. The ball was either lost, possession was taken, passes were without direction or selfish plays ruined taking advantage of such openings, as with Chukwueze's antics. If the team can come up with a new formation that allows for more adventurous flank play as they do in Napoli, they may be able to get the best out of Osimhen and create more chances. And, he will have less to be frustrated about.

There were some other performances that the return leg witnessed. Semi Ajayi performed admirably, displaying impressive aerial prowess and helping to secure the team's defensive line. Zaidu Sanusi, however, struggled to

make an impact, with the opposition frequently targeting him on the left flank. Perhaps the standout player of the night was Osayi-Samuel, whose dynamic and creative play in midfield helped to create several chances for the team. Unfortunately, many of these opportunities were squandered, with Osayi-Samuel himself narrowly missing the target with a powerful effort over the crossbar. He did enough to earn the penalty that won the game, so credit to him. Captain Ahmed Musa, who came on as substitute in the latter stages of the match, did not have enough time to make a significant impact.

Overall, while there are certainly areas of concern for the Nigerian team, there is still time to make improvements before the final group games and before the AFCON next year in Cote d'Ivoire. The team will need to address their issues with the goalkeeper position, midfield, and wingers if they are to qualify and perform up to par in Cote d'Ivoire next year. Peseiro, if he is still here next year, will need to be more willing to experiment with new formations and make changes during games as needed. With the right adjustments, Nigeria can still be a strong contender in the tournament.

As a footnote, there were ugly scenes of fans invading the pitch at the Estádio 24 de Setembro, Bissau, after the final whistle went up. This forced the Super Eagles to hurriedly leave the field for the dressing room. This is a worrying event that needs to be addressed by the Nigerian Football Federation and the Confederation of African Football to ensure that it is punished to deter future occurrences.

Iheanacho

Uzoho

Interim Government, Military Coup: Hoax or Real?

Political events in the country at the moment appear to be taking a dangerous and unpredictable turn, especially after the Department of State Services (DSS) formally confirmed speculations or what it believed to be a bombshell revelation surrounding our country’s constitutionally mandated transfer of political power from one democratically elected government to another. The DSS claimed to have identified some individuals involved in a plot for an Interim Government, which the agency viewed as an aberration and a mischievous way to subvert civil rule and the constitution. It noted that the planners have considered various options, including sponsoring violent mass protests and obtaining frivolous court injunctions to stop the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as freshly elected members of the incoming administration at both federal and state levels.

Although, and sadly, the agency did not publicly identify the persons or group(s) behind this supposed interim government plot, it however affirmed support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to a hitch-free handover and emphasised its readiness to ensure seamless inaugurations on May 29, 2023 across the federation.

Understandably, the secret police’s disclosure via a press statement evoked mixed reactions across the land in both traditional and new media. Some observers pointed to the fact that Tinubu made a similarly alarming claim at a political event in Ekiti State recently. He alleged that there were undisclosed, covert forces working behind-the-scenes to disrupt the general election. According to Tinubu, these unknown persons/groups aimed to incite violence and chaos during the election in order to create an opportunity for the introduction of an interim government that would seize control of the country.

While Tinubu did not offer any specific names or details about these supposed schemers, his weighty accusation was not taken seriously at the time. Given his prominent position as the candidate of the ruling party at the time, such weighty words ought to carry weight enough to be of extreme importance to those concerned.

The corroboration of that claim by the DSS now should also not be taken lightly. The debates that have erupted so far show that many Nigerians are giving it a serious consideration, even though I think the talk about interim government or military coup is a hoax just to add to the chaotic mix of the election dispute.

Besides questions about the import of why the DSS brought this to the public instead of arresting and prosecuting the persons behind this plot and what they aimed to achieve by the action, it is pertinent to call for a reining in of all extreme actions that can precipitate any breakdown of established law. Nigeria's political history is replete with instances of political crises arising from disputed election results. The most significant challenge to Nigeria's fledgling democracy, however, is the constant threat of a military takeover in the event of an

electoral dispute. This threat is one huge reason I strongly advise against the unconstitutional context of an interim government, especially in light of the disputed results of the February 25, 2023 general election.

If we draw on Nigeria's political history, it is clear that we will come to see a compelling case for why an interim government is not the solution to the current brewing electoral crisis. Nigeria's transition to democracy in 1999 was a significant milestone in

to the opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari. It was a move that was widely hailed as a victory for democracy and the act that saved the country from witnessing widespread bloodshed.

The current electoral crisis in Nigeria requires a careful and measured response. An interim government or a military coup is not the solution to the current crisis, and it could potentially do more harm than good. First, it would be unconstitutional and set a dangerous precedent for future elections. Second, it would be perceived as a power grab by those charged with its administration by whatever process from which they emerge and it could lead to widespread protests and violence, a situation it is supposed to prevent by those considering it as a viable midpoint option between two extremes.

Finally, an interim government or military takeover would be a distraction from the real issues that need to be addressed, such as electoral reforms and the strengthening of democratic institutions, particularly our overtly corrupt judiciary.

the country's history. After several years of destructive military rule, the country held its first democratic elections, which ushered in a new era of civilian rule. However, the transition to democracy was not without its challenges.

In 2007, the general election was marred by allegations of serious fraud and irregularities. The opposition parties rejected the results and the country was on the brink of another crisis. Fortunately, the then President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, now deceased, was able to resolve the dispute through effective dialogue and negotiation. He acknowledged the fraudulent practices that bedevilled the process and resolved to clean up and reform the electoral system.

The 2015 elections were not without irregularities and a recurrence of the same complaints that dogged election cycles in the past. The incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan was gracious enough to overlook the irregularities by conceding defeat

I know this is a difficult choice for the aggrieved groups, but I would counsel that instead of pressing for these options, the disputants should allow the court cases challenging the election that threw up Tinubu as President-elect to complete its course. Already, the main opposition parties, Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have petitions before the electoral tribunal seeking to upturn the poll as declared by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have a welldocumented journey at the courts over electoral matters. They are veterans with Obi actually a beneficiary of a ruling that restored his stolen electoral mandate as Governor of Anambra State in 2003. Obi has called for calm while he explores the legal provisions of the Constitution. This is why it was confusing to read the warning from the DSS. Perhaps, they were in lockstep with the petition from Festus Keyamo, SAN, who was himself reacting to feelers in certain quarters.

In truth, who can blame those who have lost faith in our judiciary? In verdict after verdict, from the lower courts and all the way to the highest court of the land, we have seen a bastardisation of the hallowed chambers of justice by corrupt judges and justices. Where formerly the last hope of the common folks were fair and blind to influence, what we have witnessed currently is anything but acceptable. I had foreseen this situation when in a past article, I warned that the judiciary ought to not only serve justice but be seen to be serving justice, especially as most elections were likely going to end up before the bar and bench. What we are witnessing is the consequence of the acute absence of confidence in the ability of the judiciary to deliver justice. As with every occasion where this is the status quo, the people are quick to resort to self-help and every manner of unconstitutional acts.

Continues on Page 47

The debates that have erupted so far show that many Nigerians are giving it a serious consideration, even though I think the talk about interim government or military coup is a hoax just to add to the chaotic mix of the election dispute