THEWILL JULY 4 EDITION

FG Loses N12bn to Idiroko Border Closure – PAGE 16

Democracy Has Come to Stay in Nigeria – Enoidem

TESSY IDEHEN Born With a Brush

– PAGE 37

– PAGE 10

Price: N350

T H EWI LLNI GERI A

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 VOL . 1 NO. 21

T H EWI LLN G

THEWILLNIGERIA

www.thewillnigeria.com

SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

Controversy Over KSUSTA Doctoral Student’s Death:

WHO DUNNIT?

NDDC At Dangerous Crossroads Dirty Politics Killing Regional Entity Intrigues, Power Play As Buhari Receives Fresh Nominees Forensic Audit, A Scheme To Buy Time - Stakeholders Allege Akpabio Has No Hidden Agenda - Aide

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

BREAKING NEW GROUNDS

THE FUTURE IS AITEO. With capabilities in energy exploration and production, upstream services, gas, both liquefied and natural, power large-scale storage, and a fast-developing distribution network, we are the one partner you can depend on to power your way into the future.

Learn more online at aiteogroup.com

PAGE 2

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

PAGE 3

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

COVER

NDDC At Dangerous Crossroads

BY AMOS ESELE he Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is at a critical crossroads at the moment. THEWILL can also confirm that the Commission responsible for taking care of the needs of the host communities in the nine states that make up the Niger Delta is currently fighting for its survival.

T

Multiple sources at the Port Harcourt headquarters of the NDDC told our correspondent that the ongoing politics and high-wired scheming at the Commission are not only threatening the corporate existence of the regional entity, but also frustrating the objectives for which the Commission was created.

THEWILL recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2019 instituted a forensic audit of the Commission’s operations from 2001 to 2019, a development that gave false hope to all the relevant stakeholders that light would come to the dark tunnel of the Commission’s decade-long unmitigated poor performance.

But THEWILL investigation shows that the matter is not just about politics, which may be another way of operating the Federal Character Principle in the Constitution, which enjoins fair representation of staffing in Federal Government agencies and institutions, but the shady dealings, readiness to subvert the aims and objectives of the Commission and to feather the nest of politicians of all hue.

IN THE BEGINNING Take for instance the intrigues that gave birth to the forensic auditing and its prolonged process before the youths and elders in the Niger Delta region had to issue ultimatums, first by the youths for 30 days, which expired in early June and then a seven-day ultimatum by elders and chiefs, which ended in July before the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, acceded to speed up the forensic auditing, submit the report to the President, as well as a list of nominees for the board to the Senate.

He said this much last week when he addressed State House Correspondents in Abuja after he met with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.

“We have fast-tracked the process of constituting the board, but we insist that the most important thing is not just the development of the Niger Delta region but how to reposition NDDC to ensure optimal performance as against the practice in the past.

“In terms of the composition of the board of the NDDC, we have fast-tracked the process and the National Assembly will soon get the list. But that is not as important as the forensic audit, which we have finally given a deadline. It will end in July,” Akpabio said.

However, before he came up with the forensic audit of the NDDC’s operations, President Buhari had submitted a list of nominees for the board to the Senate for screening and confirmation. That was on October 28, 2019.

According to Senate President Ahmed Lawan, who read the letter during a plenary session of the Senate, the NDDC’s Board nominees included the Chairman, Dr. Pius Odubu (Edo); Managing Director, Bernard O. Okumagba (Delta);

PAGE 4

Executive Director Projects, Engr. Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom); Executive Director Finance and Admin, Maxwell Okoh (Bayelsa); Delta State representative, Prophet Jones Erue; Chief Victor Ekhata (Edo); Dr. Joi Yimebe Nunieh (Rivers); and Nwogu Nwogu (Abia).

Others were Theodore A. Allison (Bayelsa); Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom); Maurice Effiwatt (Cross River); Olugbenga Elema (Ondo); Hon. Uchegbu Chidiebere Kyrian (Imo); Northwest Rep, Aisha Murtala Muhammed (Kano); Northeast Rep, Ardo Zubairu (Adamawa) and Southwest Rep, Engr. Badmus Mutalib (Lagos).

While the clearance process was going on, a new development sprung up and threw a spanner in the works.

POLITICS Akpabio, Senate Deputy President, Ovie-Omo Agege, then National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomole and Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Silva were in a four-cornered horse race.

Omo-Agege chose Bernard Okumagba, who is also his kinsman from Delta State, as Managing Director, while Oshiomhole nominated Dr. Pius Odubu for Chairman.

Odubu was Oshiomhole’s deputy when he was governor of Edo State. Sylvia nominated the Director of Finance and Administration, Maxwell Okoh from Bayelsa. Akpabio named the Director of projects, Engr. Otobong Ndem from Akwa Ibom.

Miffed at the development, which left him with a less ‘juicy appointee,’ Akpabio reportedly later approached Okumagba with a proposal. The minister allegedly told the him that he would appoint 10 special advisers into his office, a suggestion Okumagba turned down, arguing that the number was too high as it left no room for his own appointments.

Unsettled by this turn of events, the minister reportedly raced to some state governors in the region and sold the idea of a forensic audit to them. They fell for it and later agreed to it in a meeting with the President in Aso Rock in October 2019.

INTERIM MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE In anticipation of possible backlash from stakeholders in the

Akpabio

The current move to appoint a new board for the Commission, following the dissolution of the Interim Board, is another major test for the organisation. Stakeholders believe that the “something drastic..” that needed to be done, according to an inside source, who craved anonymity, was to “set aside politics in the appointment of the board and administration.

But then, that would go against the Act, which makes room for rotation among the nine member states that make up the Commission.”

Buhari

But authoritative sources at the Commission confided in THEWILL that hope is neither here nor there, saying that unless, “something drastic was done, “ that wish would also be dashed on the altar of politics and the weird interests that have haunted the Commission since its inception in 2000.

region who were already primed to expect the inauguration of a new Board, the minister constituted the IMC, led by two MDs in quick succession. It did not survive. First was the Mrs Joi Nuneh- led IMC which got embroiled in allegations of mismanagement and corruption with the minister and that of Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, which also got involved in a scandalous allocation of COVID-19 allowances running into N1.12 billion, despite receiving salaries and another N51.6 million in allowances, revealed during ad-hoc House of Representatives Committee hearing Joint National Assembly Committee. The Pondei- led IMC was eventually sacked by the court which granted the suit of some stakeholders who demanded the scrapping of the IMC because it was unknown to the law setting up the Commission.

It was replaced by a sole administrator, which currently administers the Commission under Engr. Effiong Okon Akwa, following the court ruling that the next most senior officer should take over from the sacked Pondei-led IMC. Akwa’s appointment has been plagued by protests, particularly by the Ijaw Youths Council, who issued a 30day ultimatum on the inauguration of the Senate screening Board while the forensic auditing was still going on. It was after the expiration of their ultimatum in June this year and a follow-up demand by the militant, Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, that the minister agreed to speed up the audit with a promise to submit the report to the President in July and inaugurate the board.

BOARD NOMINEES With the issues surrounding the forensic audit almost out of the way as the Minister has promised to submit the report to the president in July and the credibility of the Commission still at stake considering the poor performance of the IMC, the vexed issue of nominees for the Board has come up again.The Minister raised suspicion when he said he would submit a list to the Senate after he had submitted the forensic report to the president.

THEWILL checks revealed that an entirely new board with fresh names has been presented to the President by Akpabio for approval and onward transmission to the Senate for confirmation. According to our findings, the fresh executive board has its Chairman from Delta, Managing Director THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

COVER from Bayelsa, Executive Director of Projects from Rivers State while the Executive Director of Finance is a nominee from Akwa Ibom.

After Ijaw leaders met with President Buhari at the presidential villa last week and he promised them that he would only inaugurate the Board after receiving the forensic report, they were able to make their case. By law, Bayelsa, where the Ijaw leaders come from, ought to be the state to produce the next Managing Director of the Board.

DIRTY POLITICS The politicking for appointments is the first hurdle stumbling the performance of the Commission. To understand the magnitude of the problem, a look at the Master Plan for the Commission might be necessary. Inaugurated in 2000 when President Olusegun Obasanjo had acceded to the request of Niger Delta stakeholders for a Commission, a regional master plan was drawn up. It was touted as the best thing to happen to the region after similar outfits like the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission, OMPADEC, which was grounded by massive looting and corruption by politicians.

The NDDC master plan states that: “The disenchantment of the people not withstanding, it must be stated that the Niger Delta Master Plan is different in its goals, focus and approach, and will not suffer the fate of the others before it.

“The Master Plan is basically conceived as a tool that the millions of people of the Niger Delta Region can use to actualize their common vision and build their future to the standard they desire.

“The Master Plan is designed to offer stakeholders at all levels (individual, group and community) the opportunity to participate fully in the planning and decision making process. . specifically, the coordinating consultants require the ideas and opinions of stakeholders as basis for defining focus areas for development and for producing a vivid picture of what the people want the Niger Delta region to look like within 15 years of the master plan implementation.

This implies that the input of stakeholders today is what will determine the state of affairs (both for individuals and communities) in the region tomorrow.”

The Master Plan, for which satellite mapping had been completed and the resource consultants appointed, is expected to cover the following areas: 1. Demography 2. Environment and hydrology 3. Agriculture and aquaculture (with focus on economic activities) 4.

Biodiversity 5. Transport (infrastructure) 6. Rural, urban, regional planning and housing 7. Community Development 8. Governance and capacity development 9. Health 10.

Small and medium enterprises n11. Water supply 12.

Energy (electricity) 13. Telecommunication 14. Vocational training (with focus on employment generation) 15. Waste management and sanitation 16. Large-scale industry 17.

Solid minerals 18. Tourism 19. Social welfare 20. Arts, Sports and Culture, 21. Women and Youth employment 22.

Conflict prevention 23. Financial instruments and access 24. Investment promotion ABANDONED PROJECTS EVERYWHERE However, THEWILL was told that the master plan is beautiful on part but non-existent in reality.

At the unveiling of the permanent headquarters of the Commission named, Dappa Briye Complex, in September 2020, the Minister made a veiled reference to this fact.

While speaking at the event, he expressed regret that the NDDC had not lived up to expectations, noting that “Whether we like it or not, this child (NDDC) has not grown well in 19 years. It could have done better. Perhaps, we lost track of the developmental plan of the Niger Delta region.”

A combination of corrupt politicians, rapacious indigenous contractors, dubious indigenes and nonchalance of governments towards the success of the Commission have combined to rob it of capacity to fulfil its mandate.

A long-serving staff of the Commission confided in THEWILL that there are over 8,533 abandoned projects in all the nine- member states and others with than 40 per cent completion on roads, electricity, dredging, bridges. Indeed, he pointed out that a 2016 study commissioned by a Senate Committee showed that two-thirds of the awarded projects belong to politicians. Another revelation was that “the indigenes also get jobs and sell to contractors who get only 15 per cent of mobilization and that is all.”

In January this year, new report by the Civil Society Coalition on Audit in Nigeria (CSCAN) showed that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was unable to account for N90.9b in 176 contracts awarded between 2008 and 2018.

The group made up of Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI), BudglT Foundation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Dataphyte, Step Up Nigeria, Accountability Lab, Centre for Health, Equity and Justice (CEHEJ), Basic Rights Watch, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and media executives in Nigeria revealed most of the projects were either completely abandoned or poorly executed.

Executive Director of PLSI, Olusegun Elemo,who spoke on behalf of the group said review and analysis of and physical assessment of projects revealed the waste of resources in the NDDC. He said; “We visited most of the project sites, we have pictorial evidence and we have identified the companies involved and details of the beneficiaries and owners of the contracting firms.

“

According to an insider, the Federal Government is “at today is yet to remit NI.7 trillion, while the member states are owing N600 billion from the 13 per cent derivation they receive monthly and many of the oil companies which are supposed to make 10 per cent contribution from their annual turnover are in default

“We urge the National Assembly Public Accounts Committees, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take a professional, detailed look at the evidence and recover the funds,” he said.

Olusegun insisted “that there was no explanation to what happened in NDDC between 2008 and 2018 other than the fact that those entrusted with the management of the commonwealth of the Niger Delta people intentionally deprived them of the much-desired development.”

Also, BudgIT Deputy Manager, Tolutope Agunioye, lamented that over N500b was allocated for the development of the Niger Delta region between 2008 and 2018 and that the current state of some communities was not commensurate with the huge allocation, as most communities do not have potable water due to water pollution.

He said there was no effective healthcare system or a suitable environment for advance quality education for children in the region.

Confirming some of these issue to THEWILL on Thursday, Chief Nengi James Iworio, said: “Our people who are contractors are playing the same game with the politicians.

Major contractors from Delta, Rivers and Akwa Ibom are sponsoring names to the Board. If they are doing so and they get their appointees and a supporting minister, they buy their way through everything. It was because of such characters that we supported the forensic audit.”

Iworio said as one of the youngsters who worked alongside former Governor Peter Odili, Chief Harold Dappa Briye and Prof Dagogo Fubara under the Southsouth Peoples Committee, SOPEC, for the formation of NDDC, he would fight to ensure the dreams for which the NDDC was set up is achieved. He said he led a group of Chiefs in the Niger Delta to petition President Buhari to urge him to uphold the list of Board nominees that had been screened by the Senate was used.

“He can tinker with the list by making some adjustments so long as they were the same persons. After all, these persons had been vetted by the security agencies and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before they were screened by the Senate,” Iwori said.

ISSUES WITH FUNDING Added to the multiple challenges disrupting the NDDC master plan is the pitiable lack of funding by the contributing governments and organisations. According to an insider, the Federal Government is “at today is yet to remit NI.7 trillion, while the member states are owing N600 billion from the 13 per cent derivation they receive monthly and many of the oil companies which are supposed to make 10 per cent contribution from their annual turnover are in default.”

NO HIDDEN AGENDA – MINISTER’S AIDE When contacted, Akpabio’s aide, Mr Jackson Udom, said it was wrong information to say that his principal sold the idea of forensic audit to the host governors of the Commission because he lost out in the nomination for the Board. ”What happened was that the governors demanded for a forensic audit of the account of the NDDC because they said so much money has been released to the Commission with nothing on the ground to show for it,” he said, adding,” I am aware that they met the President and demanded for it, so it has nothing to do with the Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio.”

On stakeholder’s criticism of Akpabio’s statement to submit a list Board nominees to the Senate, Udom said people should not jump into conclusion without facts.

“I would not know whether there is s fresh list. The list that I know is the former list, which everybody knows. They were cleared, yes. But whether he has replaced the names, I do not know.”

Attempts to speak to the spokesperson of the Senate, Dr Basiru Ajibola, failed. He refused to answer repeated calls to his phone As promised by the President when he met with Ijaw leaders last week, every stakeholder would be waiting with bathed breath for the formal announcement of the names of members of the new board. Would that reset the template of the NDDC for the good of the region? Time will tell.

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

PAGE 5

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

GLOBAL NEWS

EU Border Guards Sent to Lithuania Amid Belarus Migrant Crisis

A

first team of six guards from the European Union’s border agency, Frontex, began working in Lithuania on Friday, as the Baltic state reported another sharp rise in migrants and refugees arriving from Belarus amid simmering tension between the bloc and Minsk.

The Lithuanian border guard service said over the last 24 hours it detained 150 migrants and refugees – almost twice as many as for the whole of 2020.

That brings the total number of detected illegal crossings along their shared 680km (420-mile) border to more than 800 so far this year. In 2020, there were 81 detected crossings.

The Lithuanian Government, which is strongly opposed to Belarus’s longtime President Alexander Lukashenko, has said it suspects his government is allowing migrants and refugees through the border.

Lukashenko has previously warned his country will no longer try to stem a flow of illegal migrants and refugees from other countries to the EU following a downturn in relations between his government and Brussels prompted

by Minsk’s forced diversion of a passenger jet in May and subsequent arrest of a dissident journalist on board.

Last U.S., NATO Forces Leave Key Afghanistan Base

STORIES FROM ZACHEAUS SOMORIN IN TORONTO

T

he last US and NATO forces have left Afghanistan’s Bagram airbase, the centre of the war against militants for some 20 years, US officials say. The pull-out could signal that the complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan is imminent.

President Joe Biden has said US forces will be gone by 11 September. But the withdrawal from the sprawling base, north of Kabul, comes as the main jihadist group, the Taliban, advances in many parts of Afghanistan.

The 11 September deadline is the anniversary of the attacks on America in 2001, which killed nearly 3,000 people.

The attacks were carried out by al-Qaeda, an international jihadist group then based in Afghanistan with the support of the Taliban, who had been in control of the country since the 1990s. A US-led coalition invaded Afghanistan later that year to defeat both groups.

Some 2,500-3,500 US troops were thought to be still in Afghanistan until recently and when they depart, fewer than 1,000 American soldiers will remain. As of May there were

about 7,000 other coalition troops in Afghanistan but it is believed that most have now left, with Germany and Italy declaring their missions over on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a resurgent Taliban, buoyed by the expectation of the foreign withdrawal, has overrun dozens of districts, amid fears that a new civil war could erupt after the departure of foreign forces.

Bagram is a bellwether of what’s to come. This symbol of American military might was once a stronghold of Soviet forces. Now Afghan security forces will soon confront the challenge of securing this sprawling city within a city.

Bagram is vital - in symbolic and strategic ways. Taliban fighters, advancing in districts across the country, have this prize in their sights. Even last October, residents of the town which has swelled all around it told us the Taliban were already in their midst.

On a recent visit to the base, as the US packed up, we heard how Afghan security forces saw it as a mixed blessing. There’s a wealth of military assets within its walls; but that treasure is a top target for Taliban, not to mention corrupt commanders and others eying this fortune.

“The situation is tense and has a tendency to deteriorate further,” Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told the AFP news agency.

“The goal of the foreign ministry is clear – economic migrants who cross the EU border illegally have to be returned to the place they left,” he said.

Two weeks ago, the Lithuanian military set up several tents for the migrants and refugees, most of whom are reportedly from the Middle East, to cope with the increased numbers.

The number of Frontex border guards deployed on the border with Belarus is expected to increase to 30 later this month.

European Parliament President David Sassoli voiced “concern” on Friday about the situation there. “Once again someone is unacceptably playing with people’s lives,” he tweeted.

The EU has imposed far-reaching economic sanctions on Belarus over the forced landing of the Ryanair plane in Minsk, which in turn has withdrawn from the so-called European Partnership programme, through which the bloc seeks closer cooperation with several ex-Soviet states where Western powers and Russia vie for influence.

Belarus was rocked by months of protests last year fuelled by Lukashenko’s re-election to a sixth term in an August 2020 election that was widely denounced by his opponents as rigged.

Authorities responded to the demonstrations with a massive crackdown that saw thousands of people arrested and reports of police brutality.

Most of Lukashenko’s opponents are now either in jail or have fled the country.

Meanwhile, Lukashenko ordered on Friday the full closure of Belarus’ border with neighbouring Ukraine, citing security reasons, BelTA state news agency reported.

He told a gathering marking the country’s Independence Day that rebel groups planning to carry out a coup were uncovered in Belarus, BelTA reported.

“A huge amount of weapons is coming from Ukraine to Belarus. That’s why I ordered border-security forces to fully close the border with Ukraine,” Lukashenko said.

PAGE 6

US troops leaving Afghanistan

Palestinians Defy ‘Precursor to Mass Displacements’

V

iolent confrontations broke out following Friday midday prayers between Israeli police and residents, with a number of Palestinians wounded and arrested.

Israeli forces fired stun grenades, rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas canisters at Palestinian demonstrators angered by ongoing home and business demolitions in the area.

Tensions continue after Nidal Rajabe, his brother Fadi, and several other Palestinians from Al Bustan were released to house arrest for five days on Friday, after paying 500 shekels ($150) bail each.

The men were charged with assault when they resisted arrest after Rajabe’s butchery and another Palestinian home were destroyed by Israeli authorities, using CAT excavators, on Tuesday.

Images of a distraught Rijabe trying to defend his butchery and livelihood from being demolished and his subsequent arrest – and those of the other young men who were all beaten – made the rounds on social media almost instantaneously, fuelling a growing vortex of collective anger in occupied East Jerusalem.

Since 2005, Israel has sent demolition notices to residents of about 100 homes in Silwan warning their abodes – housing more than 1,500 people – are to be destroyed on the grounds they were built without a permit.

However, it is almost impossible for Palestinians to get building permits in East Jerusalem, as only about 13 percent of the illegally occupied part of the city has been allocated for Palestinians.

Simultaneously, Israeli settlements are actively encouraged with financial incentives and the protection of Israeli law.

Europe Risks New COVID Cases Due to Ongoing Football Tourney - WHO

T

he Word Health organisation has alerted European countries that they may likely see another explosive wave of COVID cases due to ongoing Euro 2020 tournament, with Friday’s quarter finals, with huge turnouts expected. The global health body warned that though tests are conducted before entry into stadiums that was no guarantee that fans would not infected as not all fans are fully masked during the tourney.

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

NEWS

Assembly Approved N34.5bn Loan Facility for Edo in 2 Years – Speaker FROM ENAHORO IYEMEFOKHAI, BENIN CITY

O manner.

n June 17, 2019, the Edo State House of Assembly was inaugurated as the 7th Assembly by the clerk of the House, Alhaji Yahaya Omogbai, in a controversial

It was inaugurated amid a struggle for who would emerge the principal officers of the house between members-elect loyal to the Governor Godwin Obaseki and supporters of the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole.

But two years in the life of the Assembly, the leadership of the House reeled out bills and resolutions passed by the house as part of its second anniversary achievements.

The Speaker of the House, Marcus Onobun, listed, among the resolutions passed, the approval for the state government to access loan facilities valued at N34.3 billion from commercial banks and the capital market between 2019 and 2021.

President Muhammadu Buhari (right), Receives the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Command Islamic Republic of Pakistan, General Nadeem Raza, during an audience with the President in State House Abuja on 2/6/2021.

Onobun said that out of the N34.3 billion, the sum of N25 billion was approved for the government to be accessed through the issuance of bonds or notes either by way of public offer, book building, private placement or such other methods or any other method.

Intrigues, as each of the feuding groups held two parallel primaries in Awka.

He said the loan, which was approved on October 14, 2020, was raised from N20 billion to N25 billion.

While the Chief Chris Uba-led faction conducted its primary election in the premises of Paul University, Awka, at the end of which Dr Ugochukwu Uba, the eldest brother of Chris Uba, was announced as the chosen candidate of PDP, the group allegedly led by the embattled state Chairman of the party, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, conducted a separate primary election at the Women Development Centre, also in Awka, at the end of which Chief Val Ozigbo was also announced as the candidate of the party. The development has since thrown the party into a crisis, with each group struggling to have its way.

The speaker gave the breakdown of other loan facilities approved for the state government in the period under review to include a short-term infrastructure facility of N1.8billion from Sterling Bank Plc issued to the government on December 4, 2019, as well as a facility of N2.5billion from Access Bank meant for the funding of the building and expansion of the Edo State Medical/Health Care facilities and to acquire necessary medical equipment on July 27, 2020.

Anambra Gov: Intrigues Tear PDP, APC, APGA Apart

FROM CHARLES OKEKE, AWKA

A

head of the Anambra State governorship election, which is scheduled for of November 6, 2021, intrigues arising from the selection of candidates have torn the dominant parties, the Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress and the All Progressives Grand Alliance apart.

The development has led to the selection of two contending governorship candidates each from the PDP, APGA and APC, where the emergence of Senator Andy Uba has been rejected by not fewer than five aspirants and other key leaders of the party, including Chief George Moghalu and Senator Chris Ngige.

Signs that the crisis, which tore the same parties apart in 2017, was going to rear its ugly head again began to manifest immediately the three political parties started conducting their respective governorship primaries on June 26, 2021.

The PDP, which was yet to resolve the crisis that erupted after its ward congresses, was thrown into a bigger crisis which erupted on June 26. when it was expected to have conducted it’s gubernatorial primary in Awka. The contending groups in the party have re-enacted their decades old politics of acrimony fuelled by

The story is the same for the APC. The party is currently divided, following the outcome of the contentious primary election conducted by the Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, which saw the emergence of Senator Andy Uba as its governorship candidate.

The crisis in Anambra APC has worsened as not fewer than five aspirants, who were allegedly defeated during the controversial exercise, have rejected the outcome and described it as a travesty of justice. Already, it was gathered, some of the aggrieved aspirants have petitioned the national leadership of the party on the outcome of the election.

I Won’t Change Position On Anti-Open Grazing Law – Ortom

FROM AUSTINE JOR, MAKURDI

G

overnor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has once again declared that there will be no policy somersault on the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state.

The governor spoke with journalists after inspecting completed and ongoing projects in Makurdi, the state capital, against the backdrop of insinuations in the mass media that the state had reviewed its position against open grazing.

Ortom said a statement credited to the Commissioner of Education, Prof Dennis Ityavyar, on the availability of land for ranching was true. He stressed that those intending to do livestock business in the state must do so according to the provisions of the law, which prohibits open grazing and recognises only ranching.

Asked if the state government had a hand in an alleged peace deal with the leadership of Miyetti Allah, as reported in the media, the governor denied knowledge of any such negotiation between leaders from Benue and Miyetti Allah.

Commending the contractor that handled the construction of the 9-kilometre Apri-Tse-Poor Road for a job well done, Ortom also condemned a contractor with the State Universal Basic Education Board for executing a shoddy job.

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

According to him, the Apir-Tse-Poor Road project and electrification spanning 12 Kilometres cost N1.4 billion to execute.

Directing the Chairman of SUBEB to ensure that all primary schools in the Makurdi metropolis and other major towns were provided with customised desks and chairs, the governor also announced that the state government had received its counterpart fund of N1.6 billion from the Universal Basic Education Commission.

He said the state had started sourcing its own share to match for more infrastructural work in the sector.

At the old Lobi Bank complex which is now the permanent headquarters of the Board of Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, the governor directed that work be completed on the building immediately to enable the revenue generating agency move in.

The BIRS headquarters is now named as ‘Aper Aku House.’

Other projects inspected included the Benue Geographic Information Service (BENGIS) under construction at the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, permanent office complex for Ministry of Housing and other Government agencies.

THEWILLNIGERIA

Calabar To Enjoy 24 Hours Electricity by December, Says Ayade FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN

G

overnor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has said that the 27 mega-watt power plant built by his administration at TINAPA would provide 24 hours electricity supply to Calabar by December 2021.

The governor said the plant, which will soon be inaugurated would, alongside the 23 mega-watts plant at Parliamentary (also in Calabar), boost Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.

Ayade gave the assurance while inspecting the level of work along with Mr. Jitender Sachdeva, President, Skipperseil Group, Nigeria.

He said the idea was to ensure the MSME’s had access to electricity and to grow the local economy.

“This is actually a social electricity project intended to provide electricity to the poorest of the poor and communities around. We have 27 mega watts here with a potential to install another 27 mega watts, which gives us a combined cycle that can bring in a third. When we get to that capacity, we will be in a position to feed the national grid.”

“We are happy to announce to Nigerians that Cross River State is getting another power plant of 27 mega watts , the one in parliamentary is 23 mega watts.

“The cumulative effect of this is that Cross River State and indeed, Calabar in particular, will be the first state capital that will run on 24 hours electricity supply without fail,” he assured.

He said that with the completion of these power projects, alongside the Federal Government-owned Odukpani Power Plant, the state would generate electricity in excess of 600 mega watts.

PAGE 7

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

NEWS

2021 African Energy Week: PIB Passage to Top Agenda T he Nigerian Senate has officially passed the longawaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) on Thursday the 1st of July 2021, after deliberation and input by both the executive and legislative arms of government.

sector. I believe that this Bill will make the Nigerian energy sector competitive again and you will see rig counts go up. Nigeria will out-innovate, out-produce,

and out-compete those who counted out or bet against its oil and natural gas industry. We will showcase the opportunities at Africa Energy Week in Cape Town.”

Having been revised on many occasions throughout the past thirteen years since it was first presented to the National Assembly in 2008, the PIB comprises a combination of 16 Nigerian petroleum laws that outline the framework to boost oil and gas output while enhancing the sector’s attractiveness for international investment.

By ensuring an enabling environment for investors backed by a transparent and strengthened regulatory framework, the PIB will present significant investment opportunities for both regional and international stakeholders. At a time when the global energy sector is particularly competitive for foreign capital, the passing of the PIB serves to elevate Nigeria as an energy leader on the global stage and the upcoming African Energy Week (AEW) 2021 taking place in Cape Town on the 9th-12th of November will only enhance this trend.

“For 13 years, our oil and natural gas industry pushed and waited for this moment. Passing the Petroleum Industry Bill lays the foundation for a stronger, efficient and attractive energy industry in Nigeria.” Declared NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

“What we must do is make this legislation work for Nigerian companies and foreign companies in the energy

Ime Umanah’s Daughter Emerges First Black Woman President of Harvard Law Review

BY JOY ONUORAH me Ime Umanah, the 24-year-old daughter of the late Akwa Ibom State politician, Ime Sampson Umanah, has emerged as the first black woman President of the prestigious Havard Law Review in what has been described as a milestone in the 130-year history of the American institution. Ime Umanah, from Abak Local Government of Akwa Ibom State and a Nigerian immigrant in the U.S., grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She’s a joint degree candidate at Harvard Law School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

I

Chosen by the Harvard Law Review’s 92 student editors in what is widely considered the highest-ranked position that a student can have at the cut-throat Law School, Umanah is the first African-American woman to lead a journal that has the largest reach of any law journal in the world. Reports say that the difficult election process which led to her emergence required a thorough dissection of her work and application, and a 12-hour long deliberation of her portfolio.

The first black man to be elected president was Barack Obama 27 years ago and it has been 41 years since the first woman, Susan Estrich, was elected.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, (left), and Governor of Jigawa State , Abubakar Badaru, during the 28th Edition of the MSME Clinic and Commissions of roads in Dutse, Jigawa State on 1/7/2021.

Why Calabar–Itu Highway Remains Deplorable - Bishop Isong FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR

T

he National Publicity Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Emmah Gospel Isong, says politics and politicians are responsible for the deplorable state of the Calabar – Itu Highway.

Bishop Isong disclosed this in Calabar while speaking on the continued poor state of the road and some salient issues facing the country.

He said Cross River and Akwa Ibom States have dominated the Niger Delta Development Commission in recent times and have failed to prioritise the construction of that road but rather used their positions to further their political ambitions.

He revealed that his wife had an accident on that road besides several indigenes of both states who have lost their lives on the road as a journey of 35 minutes now takes over four hours.

According to him, “I am so passionate about that road, I have lost members of my family and the church on that road, I have done burials of pastors on that road my own wife had

Umanah

“All those that we have put in charge of the NDDC and all those ministers from Akwa Ibom and Cross River end up only contesting governorship elections as their priority projects.

Please give me names, give me one name that has been a Niger Delta minister or NDDC MD or Chairman and I will tell you which governorship elections he tried to contest.

“In the past 10 years, it is Cross River and Akwa Ibom that have dominated the NDDC either as minister or MD, I have not seen two states who almost own the Niger Delta or the NDDC. In fact, right now Usani Usani handed over to Godswill Akpabio.

“It is a road that will take 35 minutes if it is good but it takes four hours if you are with a good car and if you don’t meet gridlocks, people have died on that road like Professor Etuk, Professor Mbikpon was killed on that road, I can give you over 20 names, how many kilometres is the road and we cannot just focus, to me politics has killed Calabar-Itu road”, he said

Bayelsa, European Consortium Sign Fishery MoU •To Train 2,500, Employ 4,000 FROM DAVID AMOUS-OWEI, YENAGOA

B

ayelsa State’s focus on agric development got a boost on Wednesday with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a European fishing consortium that includes some Nigerian firms.

The deal with the consortium, African Atlantic Gulf of Guinea Fisheries (AAGGF), was facilitated by the Federal Government through the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta, Senator Ita Enang.

PAGE 8

had terrible accident on that road and came for thanksgiving on that road.

At the signing ceremony in Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Douye Diri disclosed that the pact would generate employment for no fewer than 4,000 youths and that 2,500 would be trained in fish farming and given European Union certification.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, on Thursday, quoted the governor as assuring the consortium

of his administration’s support and expressed the hope that the MoU would translate into a workable contractual agreement.

He listed the benefits of the pact to include training of 2,500 youths by the Greece-based University of Patras and award of European Union standard certification.

Governor Diri also said the deal involved creation of 4,000 jobs in the first year as well as construction of a boat building yard with trawlers and fish processing plant of over 20,000-metric tonne capacity alongside a 300-hectare offshore aquaculture farm.

He called on the youths to take advantage of the opportunity rather than dissipating energy on profitless ventures.

Diri also called on other foreign investors to take a cue from African Atlantic Gulf of Guinea Fisheries by exploring the investment opportunities that abound in the state.

Describing Bayelsa as one of the most peaceful states in the country, the governor assured foreign and local investors of the needed support for their business in the state.

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

POLITICS governorship election, saying that reconciliation was ongoing.

He said, “You know the South-West Executive of the party was just recently inaugurated. From the speech of our regional National Vice Chairman, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, the task before us is to reconcile all aggrieved members across the South-West. This we are committed to achieve. The PDP is strong in Ekiti State and we are going to win the next election.”

The situation in the Ekiti State chapter of the APC is not better, as the party has also been split into two. The main APC faction is led by Governor Fayemi, while Dayo Adeyeye is in charge of the South-West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA).

Fayemi’s undeclared intention to contest the Presidential election alongside the National Leader of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is believed, is the source of the crisis in the Ekiti APC .

Fayose

Fayemi

It is gathered that although Fayemi will not contest next the 2022 governorship election in the state, he is interested in anointing a candidate that will succeed him.

Ekiti 2022: Crises Rock APC, PDP As Preparation Begins

BY AYO ESAN he Independent National Electoral Commission, penultimate week, announced June 18, 2022 as the date for the Ekiti State Governorship Election.

T

In announcing the date, INEC said the tenure of the incumbent governor of the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi, would end on October 15, 2022.

The time-table of the election, which was extracted from the INEC Website, also revealed that the conduct of primaries by political parties, including the resolution of disputes arising from the primaries, would take place between January 4 and 29, 2022.

Other details on the time-table include the publication of the personal particulars of candidates ( EC9) by INEC, February 11, 2022; last day for withdrawal by candidate (s)/replacement of withdrawn candidate (s) by political parties, February 25, 2021; and the last day for submission of nomination form (EC13B) by political parties, March 11, 2022.

According to INEC, political parties will begin public campaign on March 20, 2022, while the last date for the campaign by political parties and their candidates has been given as March 26, 2022. This will be preceded by the final list of publication of nominated candidates by the commission on May, 2022.

The incumbent governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who is from the All Progressives Congress, is on his second and last term as stipulated by the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The fact that he is not eligible to contest the forthcoming election has thrown the race open to eligible members of his party and they have started expressing their intention to the people of the state.

Ekiti State is used to rotating its governors between two main parties since the inception of the present democratic dispensation. The parties involved are the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress, which evolved from a merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (previously known as the Alliance for Democracy) with the Congress for Progressive Change, the All Nigeria Peoples Party and the All Progressive Grand Alliance.

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

Political analysts and watchers of political developments in Ekiti unanimously agree that the 2022 governorship election in the state will be a straight battle between the PDP and APC. It is therefore pertinent to look at the situation in both parties. The truth is that the two parties are enmeshed in internal crises, which has left them weakened and divided into factions.

Ekiti State PDP, for example, has two factions and each of them has a different chairman. While former Governor Ayodele Fayose’s faction is chaired by Bisi Kolawole, Senator Biodun Olujimi’s faction has Kehinde Odebunmi as its Chairman.

The polarisation of the party is the direct result of a struggle for supremacy between Fayose and his former Deputy, Olujimi.

Olujimi who is currently the Senate Minority Whip is the only serving PDP Senator from Ekiti State. According to party’s convention, since she is the highest elected PDP politician in the state, this makes her the leader of the party. But Fayose would not want to hear anything like it. The crisis worsened when both factions organised separate state congresses that produced two different executives.

Although the governor has not openly declared his interest in the 2023 presidential race, his body language says it all.

He and his loyalists view anybody supporting Tinubu’s 2023 presidential ambition as their enemy.

According to sources, members of SWAGA have gone to town with complaints of marginalisation. Some of them even claimed to have been suspended from the party. A source within the group told THEWILL, on the condition of anonymity, that the Ekiti APC had already broken into two, saying the party was getting ready to hold its state congress, beginning from the ward level, on July 24, 2021. A new state executive is expected to emerge at the end of the event on September 18, 2021.

“Those of us in SWAGA will go into the congress and ensure we take over the leadership of the party. We have information that Fayemi wants to retain members of the party executive, except for a few of them that are in SWAGA. We shall resist it. We will have our own candidates during the congress and at the party’s governorship primaries,”the source said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Ekiti SWAGA, Senator Tony Adeniyi, said he was miffed by the Ekiti State Government’s efforts to subvert the group and frustrate its activities through needless witch-hunting of its members.

Taking stock of activities before, during and after the inauguration of SWAGA, Adeniyi condemned the ongoing victimisation of members of the group across the state and the recent refusal of the state government to allow the group erect its billboards in the state despite observing due protocol.

He said, “SWAGA is a group within the APC, rooting for and canvassing Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show interest in the 2023 presidential race and also generating support for the party’s electoral success in coming elections.”

Adeniyi wondered why a group set up to boost the electoral viability of APC in coming elections would become an enemy of a self acclaimed progressive within the party.

He condemned the recent suspension of one Kayode Adetifa and Jide Osho, both of who are leaders of the APC in the Oye Local Government Council of Ekiti State, over their sympathy for SWAGA and warned that any further attempt to muzzle the group would be resisted.

While former Commissioner for Environment, Bisi Kolawole emerged as chairman from the group loyal to Fayose and another former governor of the state, Segun Oni, Odebunmi was elected chairman by the faction loyal to Olujimi.

But the Publicity Secretary of APC in Ekiti, Ade Ajayi, said the suspension of some members of the party had nothing to do with SWAGA, adding that they were punished for disobeying the party’s orders and dividing it through their actions.

Speaking after his election at the parallel congress held at Lotus Hotel, Ado Ekiti, Odebunmi, who was backed

by Olujimi, Sikiru Lawal and others, said the task of repositioning Ekiti PDP had begun with his emergence.

“They were not suspended because of SWAGA. They have been dividing the party and all efforts to rein them in failed.

Nobody is bigger than the party,” Ajayi said.

Odebunmi lambasted Fayose for trying to forcefully take over the party’s structures in flagrant violation of the existing statute and extant laws guiding the PDP. Speaking with THEWILL, the South-West Secretary of the PDP, Mr Rahman Owokoniran, allayed the fear that the prevailing crisis would affect the party in the forthcoming

THEWILLNIGERIA

Although he confirmed the existence of SWAGA, Ajayi said the APC in Ekiti was still one and there was no room for factions.

Political analysts rule out the involvement of a third force in the internal crises rocking the two political parties in Ekiti, but they expressed the opinion that the leadership of both parties need to sort out the problems within.

PAGE 9

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

POLITICS/INTERVIEW

Democracy Has Come to Stay in Nigeria – Enoidem Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem is the National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).

In this interview with UDEME UTIP in Uyo he identified, injustice, unemployment/joblessness, religious/ethnic crisis as factors responsible for insecurity in Nigeria. He also speaks on other sundry issues as they affect the country. Excerpts:

D

o you still think that Nigeria is the sleeping giant of Africa?

Nigeria appears to be hunted by a crisis that has on many occasions defied solutions. Our nation is the only country on earth that is currently plagued with multi-dimensional problems in the forms of terrorism via the Boko Haram insurgency, Fulani herdsmen/ farmers crisis and banditry, kidnapping, advance fee fraud, self determination agenda, worsening economy, ritual killings and bad leadership.

Is there hope for the common man after 22 years of democracy?

Many African countries lack credible, workable, purposeful and result-oriented democratic governance. Nigeria is one of such countries.

In advanced countries such as the United States of America and United Kingdom, adherence to democratic principles is the raison d’être of its social, political and economical justification. That is why Amdani in 1999 said, “it is fair to say that Nigeria has little or no experience in sustaining democracy.” This raises serious concern about the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.

Enoidem

Never in the history of our country have we had mutual concerns about what the future holds for us.

For the first time after the Nigerian Civil War, which lasted two years, six months, one week, and two days, there are real threats to the corporate existence of Nigeria. The reality of this challenge is established by the fact that more than one ethnic group is insisting on breaking away from the country.

What are the characteristics of democracy and how would you rate Nigeria’s democratic experience in the last 22 years?

I will talk about the characteristics of democracy by describing it, in the well-known words of Abraham Lincoln, as ‘the government of the people, by the people and for the people.’ In other words, it is government that is rooted and grounded in the popular will of the people. In a democratic process, the people must be allowed to speak freely and donate their mandate and authority to whoever they choose.

widening gulf created by decades of hatred and animosity, especially among the major ethnic groups; ending the culture of violence; and restoring the country on the path of prosperity. The anticipated dividends of democracy are still far-fetched. Instead of closing the gap of ethnic rivalry, Nigeria is fast becoming a country that seems to gauge its political maturity by how many inter-ethnic animosities it frequently generates.

In the last 22 years, Nigerians have experienced unbroken democratic governance, albeit in an imperfect manner, with growing concerns about ethnic and religious crises resulting from poverty amid plenty, revenue sharing formula, insecurity, marginalisation and domination of government positions by a particular ethnic group. Nigerians expected democracy to assist towards closing the

For a change, would you advocate a military takeover of government?

No. Notwithstanding the imperfections, our democratic experience in the last 22 years is by far better than the best and most robust military government. Nigerians have endured for the right reasons. It is on that note, that I join all lovers of democracy to congratulate Nigerians for their faith

PAGE 10

in the system. There is no gainsay ing the fact that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. It should and must be seen as a way of liwfe.

In building viable, workable, effective, result-oriented and sustainable democratic structures in Nigeria, the citizens must be alive to their responsibilities and eschew all activities that will mar the progress made in the last few years. They must conform to ideas and attitudes that aid sustainable development.

Government at all levels must also own up to its faults and redefine its position on the core values of democracy, which include respect for human rights, adherence to free speech and access to education.

That is why I agree with those who say that the nurturing of democracy depends on a revolutionary overhaul of public institutions, the mentality of those saddled with the responsibility of entrenching laws, THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

POLITICS/INTERVIEW as well as those who heed the call for restructuring.

What is your assessment of the security situation in the country?

The biggest and the most debilitating challenge facing Nigeria at the moment is insecurity. It is an existential problem worse than what we experienced during the last civil war. The unity of the country is badly threatened. Our national foundation is badly rocked. The country today stands on a cliff. What seems to baffle most Nigerians is the fact that the government of the day appears to be completely helpless. Nigeria’s western allies, such as the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom, have described our security challenges as so complex that outsiders find very difficult to intervene.

What, in your own opinion, are the factors responsible for such high level of insecurity?

I have identified the various factors responsible for insecurity in the country. Injustice is one of them.

Injustice means a lot of things to many people. It could be lack of fairness and justice or an unjust act or occurrence. It could also refer to a kind of behaviour that lacks what is morally right and fair.

It is definitely the opposite of fairness, equity, and justice.

Injustice inflicts undeserved pain, violates a person’s fundamental human rights and deprives him of his lawful entitlements. It smacks of discrimination, exclusion, and a brazen infliction of emotional, physical and social agonies. It is often said that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. It cannot be doubted that what is happening in the South-East today, which is gradually snowballing and spreading to other parts of the country, is a function of a builtup perennial systemic injustice.

The Nigerian state specifically from 1999 till date has continued to show disdain for the Igbo, an attitude that proves the civil war has not ended. My opinion is that until and unless the managers and leaders of the Nigerian state take deliberate and sincere steps to accommodate the Igbo by allowing them to occupy the highest office in the land, the civil war has not ended.

balkanisation of the country along ethnic cleavages.

While members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and another separatist group in the South-West are agitating for the ‘Republics of Biafra and Oduduwa, Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists are pushing an Islamist agenda. Also, Fulani herdsmen, who are believed to be non-natives of Nigeria, are claiming that the country belongs to their ancestors and as such, they must continue open grazing in the 21st century, irrespective of the negative consequences for farmers who are authentic Nigerian citizens. Unfortunately, the present Federal Government openly supports this by trying to re-establish what it sadly calls traditional grazing routes.

Until all the above issues are roundly addressed and sincerely resolved, the government will continue to

“

Notwithstanding the imperfections, our democratic experience in the last 22 years is by far better than the best and most robust military government.

Nigerians have endured for the right reasons. It is on that note, that I join all lovers of democracy to congratulate Nigerians for their faith in the system

This is not to justify any form of violence resulting in the death of people and destruction of property. I completely condemn violence.

However, the Nigerian leadership must be alive to its responsibility by assuaging all the stakeholders, dialoguing with them and building a productive relationship based on trust.

Nigerians

THEWILLNIGERIA

have

called

for

THEWILLNG

the

Enoidem

Some

Do you envisage a united Nigeria?

I need to state here emphatically that from the amalgamation in 1914 till today, Nigeria has not experienced real unity. Indeed, the creators of Nigeria - the British never really wanted the country to be united. The amalgamation was not made in the interest of Nigeria. It was made to bring the vast region of the Niger areas comprising different nationalistic compositions for the benefit of the colonial masters, for economic gain and their administrative convenience. It was a very artificial arrangement devoid of any sense of integration or justice.

This has remained largely so through independence, with the inherent injustice, dislocation and divisions that eventually culminated in the devastating civil war that lasted between 1967 and 1970. One expected that some lessons would have been learned from the war, which claimed 1 million lives, at least and some strategies would have been adopted to ensure that the wounds incurred are massaged in a veil attempt to cure or at worst, mitigate them. Unfortunately, today the situation is fed and sustained by blind partisanship on the part of the current political leaders of the country and their followers.

What is the way forward for Nigeria?

There are several strategies that the Federal Government can adopt to make the country work again. They include an amendment of the current constitution of the country to reflect the practice of true federalism. The government can also dialogue with the ethnic groups that are agitating for secession and democratise education.

Nigeria is on the brink of collapse because its leaders lack the required skills to govern, as well as the vision to train and educate the citizenry. The Federal Government should also fund and encourage studies that will quicken the pace of unity, in addition to strengthening laws of the country to enable the full practice of the rule of law. It should liaise with a western power to train Nigeria’s military personnel on how to combat terrorism. It must pursue the fight against corruption with vigour, sincerity and holistically. Finally, we need to encourage ethno-religious tolerance and give prizes and national recognition to boost efforts made at enhancing national unity.

What advice do you have for Nigerians and the country’s leaders?

To sustain democracy in Nigeria and find a solution to her numerous problems, there is a need for the various ethnic groups and other stakeholders to come together and understand the dynamics of democracy and the need to incorporate the spirit of tolerance. Nigeria has come of age, the country belongs to all of us. No ethnic or religious group has any right to impose itself on the others. Our democracy must be strengthened and made to work.

Another potent source of insecurity in Nigeria is unemployment, which has risen by 33 per cent. About 66 million people, in a population of 200 million, are reportedly unemployed in the country. I do not agree with the figure. I believe that it is higher than that figure. Now, most of these 66 million people are graduates of tertiary institutions who have been without jobs for more than 10 years. There are others who are employed, but their salaries cannot feed their families for up to seven days in a month.

These unemployed youths get involved in anti-social behavior, which is responsible for insecurity in the country. A perfect example of what happens when the majority of a country’s youths are unemployed was observed during the #endSARS protests, in which millions of Nigerian youths occupied the streets in most parts of the country. Many of those youths who occupied the streets and shook the foundation of the country were unemployed.

pay lip service to insecurity. As long as the causes of insecurity are not addressed squarely then we will continue to play the ostrich.

THEWILLNIGERIA

At this juncture, I must commend Nigerians for their resilience, doggedness, and unwavering commitment to the Nigerian project. We believe that despite the deficiencies and shortcomings in the practice of democracy in our country, it remains the best option. Our belief is anchored on the hope that our leaders will learn to be sincere to all and treat every tribe as a core component of the country. Just as we hope that the secularity of the nation will de-emphasise tribal sentiments. It is only then that democracy will yield its ultimate benefits, enhance security in our country and promote unity.

PAGE 11

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

POLITICS that “on assumption of office the Caretaker Committee swung into action by continuing with the already started process of participating in the upcoming local government councils elections in Plateau.” It stated further that “based on the election guidelines and timetable released by the PLASIEC, the PDP, in line with its extant laws wrote to notify the PLASIEC of our activities towards the elections (that is notification for conduct of ward and local government congresses/primaries) to elect our Party candidates for the local government councils elections scheduled for October, 2021”.

Lalong

The PLASIEC says it takes exception that the letter notifying it of the inauguration of a caretaker committee for the PDP in Plateau State was a sheer adaptation of the one written to the INEC on the same subject matter. In other words, the electoral body is of the position that irrespective of the subject matter, the notification sent to it was malicious, make belief, and an afterthought.

Plateau LG Polls: PLASIEC, PDP and Politicisation of Court Order

If the ousted Exco was outlawed and set aside by the law court and the PLASIEC is pleading the same judgment not to deal with it, what is the problem of the PLASIEC with the caretaker committee put in place in regards of the same court judgment? Why is the PLASIEC having issues with the constitutionality of a caretaker committee when the different parties are being run by the same instrument as enshrined in the parties’ constitutions? Is it not any of the participating parties that should challenge the PDP or any other on its competence to participate and field candidates in the election rather than the PLASIEC that has no advantage to compete for in the same elections? Should the commission decline to observe the primaries of a duly registered, qualified, and competent political party just to preempt its lack of qualification to participate in an election in which it is an umpire?

In its June 25 press briefing, the PLASIEC admitted no less, including saying it has refused to give nomination forms to the PDP, because, going by the laid down guidelines for the elections, it has breached certain requirements, and has thus been disqualified from the exercise.

BY UKANDI ODEY arring a court order, it appears that the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) has dealt the main opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party, a technical blow that sits and sinks like a sucker punch. The state elections regulating body announced recently that as of 4pm on June 25, 2021 the chances of the PDP to participate in the forthcoming local government polls had come to naught because it failed to meet a court order that directed it to conduct the election and elect an executive committee to take charge of the party’s affairs in the state.

PLASIEC to argue a cause in which only other competing and contending political parties have a stake and the locus standi to do so. Many are of the view that as an umpire, PLASIEC has gone beyond the scope of neutrality to becoming an interested party and engaging the PDP on behalf of other parties without recourse to fairness and good conscience. Those who distrust PLASIEC’s claims on this have also pointedly referred to the position in the ruling APC in the state. For one, the APC is being run by an unelected caretaker committee long before the electoral body announced its time-table for the local government elections.

The PDP reported its frustrations to the effect that “correspondences were done between the Caretaker Committee and the PLASIEC including request for the 2021 LG elections guidelines, request for the release of nomination forms for our candidates, and request for audience with the PLASIEC chairman. All the requests were responded to in the negative as none was granted”.

Having declined to observe the PDP chairmanship and councillorship primaries, PLASIEC claims also that it had earlier been warned by a faction of the PDP to be wary of its indulgence with ‘constituted’ PDP authority or risk running afoul of the court order and stand liable to be charged for contempt of court.

Secondly, the APC in Plateau State, especially after the contrived suspension of the former chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Letep Dabang, is in at least two factions, the one headed and controlled by Governor Lalong, and the other, quite understandably and predictably, by the estranged Dabang. Yet, this group points out also that the issue of factions in the opposition PDP was rested with the inauguration of the Caretaker Committee which has since taken over the leadership of the party in the state.

The PDP has promised to “resist any attempt to subvert the wheel of justice and deny our people the opportunity to participate in electing their leaders at the local government level through legitimate and legal means”. As at press time, it was learnt that the PDP legal team was putting spanners in the work that will eventually enrich constitutional democracy, election jurisprudence, and the entire gamut of legal literature.

B

The PLASIEC stated further that it refused to release nomination forms to the PDP, not so much for the fact that the PDP asked that the forms be made available to it at no cost and at a venue of its convenience, but in compliance with its lack of qualification for the exercise as a result of the court order. With the PDP put out of the way, PLASIEC has confirmed that it has 17 political parties to contend with as it implements and monitors adherence to its guidelines in the buildup of activities to the elections.

Outside officialdom, not many seem to agree with the PLASIEC, dismissing its stance as malicious, cowardly, an atrophy of standard democratic practice, predetermined, and simply acting the interest of the man who pays the piper. Expert opinion too does not reinforce the arguments of commission, with the recurrent refrain being that it, not being a party to the said suit, cannot be entitled to a pound of flesh when it made no prayer to the court.

Besides, the PDP itself is forthcoming and eloquent about its preparedness and competence to participate in the exercise.

At a press conference on June 25, the Party backgrounds its subsisting outlook thus: ‘’you are aware that following a court judgment that ordered for a fresh state congress to elect officers of the party, the National Working Committee of our party dissolved the erstwhile state Exco of the party, and in line with the constitution of our party, put in place an 11-member caretaker committee to oversee the running of the state chapter of the party for a period of 90 days or until a new state Exco is elected”. The PDP insists and clarified further that “relevant government agencies were communicated/notified of the dissolution of the state Exco as ordered by the Court and the constitution of a caretaker committee”.

Legal authorities also point at the moral impropriety of

During the press conference, the PDP also put it on record

PAGE 12

Convinced by the deliberate frustrations and procedural impediments, the PDP accused the PLASIEC of an agenda to frustrate its chances in the said local government polls before eventually announcig its disqualification on June 25.

Noting that the court order in issue has no bearing with local government elections, and noting similarly that there is no court order restraining PLASIEC from releasing nomination forms to its candidates, the PDP has called on the election body to do its best for transparency, credibility, confidence, and independence to come to bear on the process leading to free and fair polls. The PLASIEC, under Fabian Ntung Ari, has been quite controversial and asymmetrical in its conduct of election affairs. In the 2018 local government elections on October 10, voters were still waiting to vote, journalists were still in the field monitoring voting and voter turnout, while PLASIEC was announcing ‘results’ of the same elections in Jos. Under him, the electoral body also ensured that four local government areas, arguably the stronghold of the opposition, namely Barkin Ladi, Jos North, Jos South, and Ryom were denied elections and democracy since the last local government elections. Is a new divisor in the works?

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

FEATURES Ravaging Floods Devastate Lagos Community at a stretch. Nobody leaves the house or enters till the flood has receded.

Confirming the accounts of the troubled residents, the chair of the local landlords’ association, Mr Favour Wilifred, in an interview with THEWILL, said the situation has become a constant nightmare to the people. According to him, the situation was different when he moved into the community about 11 years ago.

Judging by the topography of the area, it is expected that the residents might have occasionally suffered some inconvenience whenever it rained in the past, but not to this extent. The flooding became unexpectedly severe around 2006 and led to the loss of lives and valuable property in 2010.

Wilfred said the community wrote to the Ministry of Environment, Works and Erosion Control when the roads started collapsing and erosion-related problems began to set in.

He also confirmed that many residents were forced to abandon their landed properties as a result of the flooding, while others are still living in the community for want of better alternatives. The floods have on some occasions carried away adults and schoolchildren alike, some of which were rescued, to the best of his knowledge.

Wilfred also said that letters were written to the CDA who has in turn written to the appropriate ministries that should see to the situation. At one time, he claimed, a commissioner visited the street to see things for himself.

A flooded street in Motolola

Following the series of letters that were written, the residents were given the assurance that government would remedy the situation on Ishola Salisu Street as soon as the rehabilitation of Isuti Road commenced.

Unfortunately nothing has been done since the commencement of the Isuti Road project, which is almost completed now.

Commending the CDA chairman for his support and for reaching out to the appropriate authorities, a gesture that has resulted in the survey of the environment in preparation for a meaningful intervention, Wilifred stated that the Isuti project, which was highly appreciated by the people, has ironically worsened the situation by a hundred times.

BY JOY ONUORAH or residents of Ishola Salisu, a street in Motolola Community Development Area, Alimosho Local Government Area, life has assumed a horrid dimension, no thanks to the constant flooding of the area during the rainy season and the resulting loss of valuable property.

F

Perhaps, the phrase, ‘suffering and not smiling’ best describes the predicament of these people who are constantly endangered by floodwater pouring into one of the streets from the drainage servicing about 46 others in the CDA. The mental torture and losses arising from the development is best imagined than experienced.

THE WILL investigation shows that the residents of Ishola Salisu have been in this life-threatening situation for a long time. According to eye witness accounts, it is so bad that some landlords have sold off their houses and are now living as tenants in the same community.

Many residents have stopped short of leaving the community for want of better accommodation elsewhere. Others have surrendered to fate and hopes for help from the government someday.

Speaking with THEWILL, a resident known as Alfa recounted how his home was flooded, even up to window level, one wet morning and his belongings destroyed in the process.

For another resident and his family, life in Ishola Salisu has been an endless tale of discomfort from the first day.

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

According to him, even it rains lightly the whole place is covered with water. The fence around his residence, which was meant to hold back the water, had been brought down for a minimum of six times. Now the man’s wife insists on leaving the village for a safer environment as it appears there might not be a solution to the problem any time soon.

A female resident also told THEWILL that she almost lost her life to flood on one occasion. Narrating her experience, she said that on the particular day there was a downpour. She had stepped out of her home to draw some water from a deep gutter that was already overflowing with floodwater. But she missed a step and fell into the gutter. According to her, she swallowed some of the dirty floodwater and sustained both external and internal injuries that took several weeks to heal.

“Whenever it is about to rain and I am outside my home, I run all the way to my compound. It does not matter where I am and what I’m doing at that moment, I would hurry home to pack in my things else they would all be destroyed by the flood.”

Over time, the constant flooding of Ishola Salisu has had severe ad life-threatening consequences for many of its residents. Most of the time, it was gathered, the dirty floodwater hardly recedes until after five days or more.

During that period, it poses a serious health challenge to the residents who are often exposed to water-borne diseases and other ailments.

A businesswoman and mother of four children, who lives in the neighbourhood, also told THEWILL that at such times whole families are trapped in their homes for several days

THEWILLNIGERIA

According to him, even with a slight shower, people from different streets come to dump their refuse in the gutter that is directed towards Ishola Salisu. “Sometimes dead animals and babies dumped in the gutter get stuck in front of people’s houses,” he lamented.

More so, the Chairman of Motolola CDA, Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area, under which Ishola Salisu is placed, Alhaji Babatunde Kehinde, said he was aware of the consistent flooding of Ishola Salisu and that it had been existing long before the inauguration of the current CDA Excos in August 2020. According to him, the community has in the last couple of years contributed the sum of N700,000 yearly for waterway extension, as well as for widening the drainages, which always got clogged up with the refuse that the residents often dumped during the rainy season.

Also, he mentioned that over the years, the flood had created great ditches that keeps spreading and tearing into people’s compounds. He also warned that if not attended to on time, the ditches could cause the collapse of houses in the area.

Alhaji Kehinde also confirmed that nothing has been done by either the local or state governments, except for a few visits and inspections by some government officials.

He said the community has no other option than to appeal to the Lagos State Government to open canals or water flows that can empty the floods. He recommended a strong concrete channelisation from Isuti Road to Ishola Salisu Street and the refilling of the eroded portions of the street surface as actions necessary for the protection of the lives and properties of the residents.

PAGE 13

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

EDITORIAL

Futile Efforts to Gag The Press T

he renewed efforts by senior lawmakers to gag the mass media will go the way of their previous efforts and end up as an exercise in futility. The reasons are too glaring for the politically discerning to see.

bureaucracy, an exclusive and elitist thing.

Among many professions in Nigeria, the mass media and the press or more appropriately, journalism, is the only profession constitutionally empowered to discharge a governance mandate in the country. That is to hold the government accountable to the people.

It is against this background that we fault the recent solo efforts by the Hon. Odebunmi Olusegun Dotun-led House of Representative Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values to amend the Acts of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Nigeria Press Organisation (NPO), among others.

Recall that Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, on the obligations of the mass media, states that, “the press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.” The italicised words are for emphasis.

It is also instructive that this mandate is placed in Chapter 2 of the Constitution under the Fundamental Objectives And Directive Principles of State policy, which also details the obligation of government to the security and welfare of the people, while acknowledging in Section 14 (2, a) “that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom the government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority.”

The operational words here inclusiveness and representation.

are

participation,

Sponsoring bills to amend the Acts of regulatory media organisations without full participation of relevant stakeholders at every stage, as Hon. Dotun has done, is, to say the least, unbecoming of an elected lawmaker.

The committee made scant attempt at consultation; no time to allow for proposals from stakeholders and worse, the Nigeria Press Organisation, comprising the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, has a pending case at the Supreme Court on the Nigeria Press Council.

In one fell swoop, therefore, the Constitution bestows on the mass media a sacred duty to act as a sort of spiritual guardian to society, mirroring it to itself so that through introspection, the people can operate according to the principles of democracy and social justice.

In fact, when Mr Azubuike Ishiekwene, Editor-In-Chief of Leadership Newspaper, who represented the NPO at the public hearing, drew the attention of the committee to the fact that the NPC case was still subjudice, considering that the Federal Government had appealed the ruling of an Appeal Court that struck down 17 clauses in the NPO Act as unconstitutional, Dotun and another member of the committee, Tajudeen Obasa, disregarded the information.

It is in this sense that the mass media is described as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, meaning as a mediator in governance and not as an extension of government. The former deals with participation, which is inclusive and democratic, while the latter deals with officialdom and

Ishiekwene pressed his point that when a similar move was made by the Senate some time ago, the NPO raised the same objection and the Senate apologised and stepped down the amendment, pending the ruling of the apex court.

Instructively, Dotun said repeatedly that the NPO was a baby of the government, while Obasa adlibs him thus: “NPO is a baby of government and there is nothing you can do about it.” Such disregard for the rule of law and a show of lack of recognition of the judiciary, an independent third-arm of government!

Obviously, this committee is following the inglorious footsteps of the previous personal bills on fake news, anti-social media bill, first proposed in 2015 but killed when Nigerians kicked against it and was re-introduced in 2019 by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa from Niger State. The bill, ‘Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations Bill 2019’, which was a duplication of existing laws, was also kicked against.

We urge the Reps committee to consult widely and give sufficient notification to stakeholders to make their contributions pending the legal pronouncement on the NPC case and the involved legislative processes to make the bill become law.

We support the main position of the NPO, which is that the mass media stakeholders should be allowed to regulate themselves within acceptable boundaries of law and good governance. That is the trend in democracies the world over, except in a dictatorship.

Without the mass media, the activities of government would go unreported, too.

While we support regulation, we kick against laws that are punitive, censorial exclusive so that the profession shall be free at all times to discharge its constitutional mandate to report the activities of the governed and the governors, which contributes to effective national dialogue and communication without which any humane society cannot function properly.

Anything less would amount to an exercise in futility.

AUSTYN OGANNAH

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Editor – Olaolu Olusina Deputy Editor – Amos Esele Politics Editor – Ayo Esan Business Editor – Sam Diala News Editor (Online) – Felix Oboagwina Copy Editor – Chux Ohai Cartoon Editor – Victor Asowata Entertainment/Society Editor – Ivory Ukonu Photo Editor – Peace Udugba Head, Graphics – Tosin Yusuph 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] PAGE 14

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

OPINION 2023 Voter Registration: Now We Have a Chance in Our Hands

Y

Engagement, dialogue and elections are some of the most fundamental aspects of pragmatism, I reckon. The first journey to any election starts with voter registration and that is what we now have in our hands an opportunity to register in order to vote at the election, so that we can all collectively deliver a credible and competent leadership for our country.

I cannot remember when I first heard the song, but since my first encounter with it, it has remained a food for my soul. I listen to it, especially when I need to brace up for a new challenge.

It is also my song for meditation because I find the lyrics very compelling and they speak directly to my consciousness, particularly on the topic of time and chance.

I have always maintained that there is no better revolution than the one achieved through elections. It is the most effective way to express our collective anger against a system that does not serve our interest. Yes, protests are good, but they can only deliver quick fixes which are ad hoc at best. Only electoral action can deliver the kind of system overhaul, sustainable change and long-term fixes that we badly desire.

Maybe this is unrelated, but since the Continuous Voter Registration commenced on Monday, June 28, 2021, nothing has reminded me of the importance of the process more than a part of the song, which according to Whitney Houston, says “I’ve lived to be, the very best. I want it all, no time for less. I’ve laid the plans. Now lies the chance, here in my hands”.

I understand the power of elections, which is the reason I dedicated an entire chapter in my book, ‘The Urgency of Now,’ to discuss what I have termed as the Power of the Ballot. I recall writing along the line that present and the future lies with the ballot. With every ballot comes an opportunity for renewal, redemption and restoration!

That part of the song speaks quite precisely to the importance of this moment in Nigeria’s history. It is a reminder that while we have all continued to clamour for improved governance and transformational leadership, we have this moment in time laid in our hands to change our own story and rewrite the fortunes of Nigeria.

If you have been following my writings and interventions online, in the print and broadcast media, you will never be in doubt about my conviction and approach to development. It has always been that of pragmatism or what can better be described as patient progress. I believe pragmatism, rather than radicalism, can deliver a more sustainable change and development.

Some may even argue that by not voting they are protesting, but voting itself is a more effective and even louder protest.

Through the ballot, we can demonstrate again that true power lies with the people. Elections are powerful and the outcome even outlasts the holders of such office. The impact is always that of a lifetime, either good or bad.

BY SEUN AWOGBENLE

ou can wager that one of my favourite songs of all time is the popular “One Moment in Time” – a song by American singer Whitney Houston, written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, and produced by Narada Michael Walden for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

I am excited that this time INEC has made provision for the online pre-registration process where citizens can commence their voter registration online and then choose an appointment date for biometric physical capture from July 19 at any of its state and local government offices. This is an impressive leap in our electoral history, which is coming at a time when we

continue to advocate the full deployment of technology for Nigeria’s election.

Now that INEC has laid the chance in our hands, this is the time for every young Nigerian above the age of 18 to register and get ready to vote. Although, I always hear some people say votes do not count, I have had to counter this argument too many times. While I understand that the Nigerian system has inspired nothing but cynicism over the years, there is really no logic to the generalisation that votes do not count. Votes count!

My simple counter had always been that if votes do not count, why then do politicians still spend heavily to buy them? No one would buy what does not count.

While I do not dispute the penchant of the political class for collusion to rig elections, many people fail to understand that the more people who choose not to vote, the easier it becomes for the political class to rig elections. The most effective antidote to rigging is for everyone of voting age to come out and vote.

It makes it difficult for elections to be rigged. Democracy has always been about numbers and elections offer an opportunity to make the numbers count.

Like I have always said, we have come too far to give up on Nigeria, if we give up on our country, we are giving up on our future. The progress of our country is never out of reach, but we must never forget that elections are the foundation of every democracy. If we must get everything else right, then it must start with elections – by getting involved in the process that produces democratic leadership.

Now that we have the chance laid in our hands, we must make this moment count and get involved in the process that leads to the transformation of our country from that of a third world country to an example of shared prosperity. Register to Vote!

Prof. Sonny Tyoden: Peace Building Agent on The Plateau

BY MOHAMMED ISA BILAL

A

lthough the Nigerian Constitution has evidently not assigned any definite or particular official responsibilities to deputy governors, apart from being in office just to assist or deputise for their principals, their roles are at the discretion of their bosses.

The only pronouncement in respect to deputy governors made by the Nigeria constitution is for the deputy governors to assume automatic leadership of their respective states as executive governors after the demise of their principals.

In such circumstances therefore, it means a deputy governor would perpetually remain subservient to the dictates of his principal, except where the governor deems it fit to assign any portfolio or official assignment to the deputy governor. In the absence of the foregoing, a deputy governor would remain ceremonial as an onlooker on the fence till the end of the tenure.

harmony through his foundation, a private initiative which he has been nurturing since his days as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos. It was to his credit that he intermittently convened stakeholders’ meetings of faith-based organisations in his office and in most cases, at his personal residence to discuss the ways and means to achieving religious harmony in the state.

At other times, the deputy governor had severally convened ethnic meetings of the various community leaders from across the state, to also sensitised them on the need for inter-ethnic mutual understanding and as well sought for their advice in the interest of guarding government decisions.

Since the administration is primarily hinged and focused on rescuing the people and the state from the unfortunate rancorous and turbulent past and therefore, the need to embrace and remain open to all shades of interest groups in the state.

However, in the case of Prof Sonny Tyoden, the incumbent deputy governor of Plateau State, who at present enjoys a robust working relationship with his boss, Governor Simon Lalong, has found a vocation in building bridges of peace and philanthropy across the 17 local government areas of the state.

Little wonder, the deputy governor has become a rallying point to many ethnic and religious groups, which were inclined to seek one favour or the other, this intervention has in reality, but silently and tremendously, helped in stabilising the relative peace pervading the landscape of the entire state.

Apart from representing Governor Lalong at most public functions, Prof Tyoden has been engaging in fostering ethnic and religious understanding amongst the people of the state.

What is more? With the full cooperation of Governor Lalong, Prof Tyoden has become a source of succour and inspiration to many individuals, women groups, youth groups, students, people living with disabilities, the vulnerable class and faithbased organisations in the state.

Perhaps, Tyoden is conscious of the fact that at the inception of their administration they inherited a state that was fractured and dismantled along ethnic and religious lines, arising from more than a decade of communal and centrifugal violence.

By May 29, 2015, at the inception of the Simon Lalong administration, in which the professor is a critical stakeholder and the official second in command, the state was just recovering from a previously devastating civil unrest and the attendant loss of trust and harmony among the inhabitants, as well as the insidious loss of confidence by a large section of the public against the state government.

Perhaps these had combined to influenced Tyoden’s decision to actively take part in the promotion of ethnic and religious THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

In line with the inclusive policy of the Lalong administration, the financial, moral and material support rendered by the deputy governor is convincingly and equitably disbursed.

This was carried out, irrespective of religious or any primordial sentiment, this has further strengthened the hope and confidence of the people in the present administration in the state, resulting in a more cohesion and mutual harmony amongst the diverse interest groups in the state.

In attesting to the numerous assistance granted to many organisation by the Plateau State deputy governor, the chief Imam of Rikkos Friday Mosque, Ustaz Mohammed Kabir

THEWILLNIGERIA

Chidawa has affirmed thus, “Unlike the part where the state establishment was hostile and partial to the Muslim community, especially in Jos North Local Government Area. Now we have a state governor who is not a religious bigot, but a detribalised and accommodating person.

Similarly, his deputy, Prof Tyoden, is a wonderful man, who sees the entire state as a family. He personally paid for the digging and construction of the entire foundation to lintel level of a Muslim Primary and Secondary school at Gangare, Jos .

On the other hand, the General Overseer) of God’s Prophetic Ministry situated at Chollom Street, Apata in Jos North LGA, Mrs Bridget Okoli, also had a glowing testimony of the deputy governor.

“The present administration in the state belongs to all of us.

Many Christians clergies have informed me about how the deputy governor has been rendering assistance, morally and financially, to their churches and members across stands denominations.

“My church has also approached him for assistance toward the completion of the children section of the church, which has been under construction for sometimes now, but uncompleted due to lack of fund. We know he will listen to us,” Okoli said.

Similarly, the ward heads of Naraguta Village, Nasarawa Gwom, Jenta-Adamu all in Jos North LGA and the ward head of Anguwan Hausawa in Bokkos LGA, as well as the ward head of Mista-Ali in Bassa LGA, and the ward heads of Sabon Layi and Anguwan Doki of Jos-South LGA have all testified to the fact that Prof Tyoden is the silent peace ambassador of the Lalong administration.

Also, he has remained a cheerful giver to the needy, irrespective of ethnic or religious background.

Be that as it may, available records indicate that Tyoden has so far paid for the WASSCE and NECO examinations fees of about 3,830 candidates, as well as the UTME fees of 3,456 prospective students drawn from the 17 LGAs of Plateau State, among who were the children of the less privileged and orphans.

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

PAGE 15

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

Hassan Bello: Celebrating Quintessential Maritime Industry Icon PAGE 35

150% Decrease In Ground Handling Charges Worry Stakeholders PAGE 33

NADDC DG to Speak At NAJA Workshop PAGE 35

FG Loses N12bn to Idiroko Border Closure •Reopening Not Feasible •Over 500 Nigerians Use Route to Escape

where they are handed to the Immigration officers who will take them across the border at Idiroko.

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

He said, “The Immigration officers are expected to take them through Hila Condji, a border town between Cotonou in Benin Republic and Lome, the capital of Togo. In Lome, the travelers are usually lodged in hotels where they rest and freshen up before continuing the journey the following day.

The movements are done with both cars and commercial motorcycles.

I

diroko is a town in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State located on Nigeria’s border with the Republic of Benin. It has been an official border crossing point in the past six decades.

Due to the location of an official cross-border post and as a result of cross-border trading activities within the frontier town, Idiroko has become the fulcrum of both local and international business transactions. In addition to the business boom in the area, the border town has also been turned into a safe haven for illegal migrants leaving or entering the country at will.

“From Togo they now move to Ghana, which is usually the destination of most of the travellers in the first phase of the journey. The remaining phases of the trip could take them outside the continent.”

Further investigation shows that there are over 25 checkpoints from the headquarters of Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) located at Km. 10, Idiroko Road, Ota in Ogun State to Owode, but the security personnel manning the checkpoints, who seem to be aware of the deal, always look the other way. They are said to be settled regularly by the bus drivers and receive as much as N2, 000 from each of the drivers, depending on the negotiation between both parties.

The Federal Government decided to shut the border, alongside others, in August 2019 as part of its effort to check the activities of smugglers bringing in banned goods from neighbouring countries and the unbridled influx of illegal migrants. Before the closure, the Idiroko border was estimated to have generated over N6 billion annually. By August 2021, it would be two years since the border was officially closed. This clearly translates into the loss of revenue estimated at N12 billion.

Addressing the House, Lawal pointed out that while the Federal Government reopened the Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfun borders, the Idiroko border had remained closed.

Since the borders’ closure in August 2019, he argued, residents of Idiroko had witnessed a massive economic downturn and the situation did not increase the volume of food production in the area.

Meanwhile, THEWILL investigation shows that no fewer than 500 Nigerians, mostly youths, leave the country annually through the Idiroko border. Other neighbouring towns and villages, such as Oke Odan, Ilase, Ita Egbe and Ajilete, which also serve as escape routes for desperate and illegal migrants, equally suffer the same fate.

Further Investigation shows that many youths between the ages of 25 to 30 are involved in this illegal movement and each traveller is charged N65, 000 for the two-day journey that begins from Lagos.

A popular transport company with its headquarters in the Yaba area of Lagos, it was gathered, collaborates with unscrupulous Immigration officers to arrange the trips after which they share the proceeds.

Aregbesola

THEWILL recalls that the House of Representatives recently shut down a motion to reopen Idiroko border and other land borders in the country. The motion was moved

by Kolawole Lawal (APC-Ogun) at the plenary held last week in Abuja.

It was also gathered that the drivers used to drop the travellers wherever they reach any checkpoint perceived to be manned by ‘difficult’ and uncompromising security personnel. The travellers in turn would trek several kilometers away from the checkpoint to evade interrogation. They are usually picked up to continue the journey when they have walked quite a long distance from the checkpoints.

“

It was also gathered that a popular transport company with headquarters in Yaba area of Lagos conspires with unscrupulous Immigration officers to perform the deal, after which they share the proceeds from the N65, 000 charges from each traveller

According to a bus conductor, who works with the transport company, the role of the transport company is to charge intending travellers the total amount required for the trip, factoring in hotel, immigration and transportation fees.

“The company charges N65, 000 for full service. Once they pay, they are given time to report at its Iyana Ipaja branch office where they usually take off at about 5.00pm every evening.”

The conductor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the company charges N65, 000 for a full service, which is paid up front.

The bus conductor disclosed that the preferred time of departure was to enable the travellers to get to Owode, another border town that is a few kilometres from Idiroko,

PAGE 16

To enable them to outwit law enforcement agents, the travellers are also trained by the transport company to lie about their home addresses. They are taught to claim that they live in nearby communities, such as Onibukun, Iju, Obere, Atan, Lusada, Alapoti, Igbesa and others, whenever they were asked about their destinations.

A resident of Atan, Yahaya Abdul-Azeez, describes such movements across the border towns as a frequent occurrence, which takes place almost every day.

Abdul-Azeez explains that the complexity of its pattern stems from the fact that the same socio-cultural group is found on both sides of the Nigeria-Benin border.

He urges the Federal Government to ensure that the border surveillance is strengthened to stop illegal migration through the land borders.

In his reaction, a human rights activist and lawyer, Mr Tony Wami, said people migrate for different reasons. According to him, some of the movements are considered as being within a nationality rather than between two geo-political entities because of the proximity.

The lawyer pointed out that some aspects of the movement of people would not normally be regarded as migration, particularly when such travellers stayed for a short time.

He however, opined that since the movement occurs over an international boundary, and is subject to legal restrictions and regulations, it also has to be regarded as international migration.

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

AVIATION 150% Decrease In Ground Handling Charges Worry Stakeholders

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

S

takeholders in the Nigerian aviation industry are worried over the escalating decrease in charges of ground handling services in the aviation industry.

They have however, raised economic, security and safety alarms due to the massive drop of ground handling charges from $1,139 to only $400 on a Boeing 737 aircraft (narrow body airplane) or its equivalent, depending on the negotiating power of a foreign airline with a ground handling company.

THEWILL investigations show that ground handling rates in Nigeria remain the lowest in the entire African countries.

Members of staff of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc in ground handling operations at their Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA) office in Ikeja, Lagos recently.

ICAO: Ensuring Aviation’s Recovery From Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic In this piece, ANTHONY AWUNOR examines new decisions at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council’s 223rd Session, which are geared toward the provision of support to aviation’s recovery and development globally.

A

t the 223rd Session of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council recently held in Montreal, Canada, the international aviation body took new decisions that are expected to assist in the recovery of the ailing industry.

A specialised agency of the United Nations, the ICAO was created by governments in 1944 to support their diplomacy on international air transport matters. Since that time, countries have adopted over 12,000 standards and practices through ICAO, which help to align their national regulations relevant to aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity and environmental protection, enabling a truly global network to be realised.

ICAO forums also provide opportunities for advice and advocacy to be shared with government decision-makers by industry groups, civil society NGOs, and other officially recognised air transport stakeholders.

Responding to a variety of recent and emerging aerospace and geopolitical developments throughout the session, which ended on June 28, 2021, the ICAO Council realised the important progress towards facilitating the aviation sector’s recovery from the impacts of the pandemic.

The decisions were geared towards enhancing the safety, security and sustainability of flights and towards improving the governance of the UN’s specialised agency for civil aviation.

The foundation of ICAO’s COVID-19 recovery strategy is assuring the implementation of the recommendations of the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce (CART), prepared in cooperation with WHO and other UN and aviation bodies.

Its recommendations have been updated on a continuous basis throughout the pandemic in order to reflect the highly dynamic context, knowledge, and challenges.

At this session, the Council reviewed the implementation of the most recent ‘Phase III’ guidance, which were adopted in March 2021, and discussed means by which to ramp up the THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

momentum. It also addressed ICAO’s preparations for its High Level Conference on COVID-19, which will take place in October. The Conference aims to promote and strengthen States’ collective efforts, including through CART implementation.

The undertaking of ICAO’s pre-COVID-19 work plan also remains crucial to aviation sectors in member states, with the negative effects of the pandemic not dampening but heightening the risks and the opportunities across the board.

Of special interest to the Council this session were updates on ICAO’s activities to mitigate cyber-security risks and threats.

Another aspect is on the UN agency’s efforts to ramp up the very promising achievements being realised in support of the sustainability of aviation.

Progress toward the implementation of the landmark Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) were highly appreciated, as were ICAO’s preparations in view of the upcoming 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland.

Assisting states with their cooperation on operational issues was also an important focus of the 223rd session.

The Council evaluated the progress on work to ensure the safety and security of flight through conflict zones, with a focus on Canada’s proposed “Safer Skies” initiative. It also facilitated the achievement of a decision in principle on the establishment of a Doha Flight Information Region and reviewed an interim report resulting from a fact-finding investigation led by the ICAO Secretariat into events surrounding Ryanair flight FR 4978 in Belarus. This investigation is ongoing, with a report expected at the Council’s next session, which begins on 13 September.

Progress towards enhancing ICAO’s own governance and operations is helping to ensure that the agency can continue to deliver its activities efficiently and effectively. This Council session marked the completion of work towards a new ICAO Ethics framework, the approval of ICAO’s 2020 Financial Statements, and the achievement of several governance decisions, including decisions pertaining to the re-organization of the Council Committees and its subsidiary bodies.

The end of ICAO Secretary-General Dr. Fang Liu’s second term also provided the Council with an opportunity to review and appreciate the Secretariat’s work towards these goals and ICAO’s Strategic Objectives. ICAO Council President Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano expressed the Council’s gratitude for the Secretary General’s end-of-term report and for her achievements throughout the six years of her leadership. The incoming Secretary General, Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, will assume the role on 1 August 2021.

THEWILLNIGERIA

It was gathered that that the three ground handling companies; Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc and AHS Aviation Handling Services charge the lowest on the continent, despite having better Ground Support Equipment (GSE) than most of their counterparts in Africa.

The investigation further revealed that ground handling charges in Guinea, Senegal, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Ghana for narrow body and wide body aircraft are way ahead of Nigeria.

The narrow body aircraft include B737, Airbus A320, ER 135 and ATR aircraft, while the wide body aircraft are categorised as B767, A330, B777, B747 and A380 aircraft.

A case in point is the fact that in Guinea, foreign airlines are charged $1,673 (narrow body); $4,715 (wide body), Senegal; $2,250 and $5,259, Cameroon; $1,400 and $4,500, Sierra Leone; $2,250 and $5,250 and Ghana with $1,500 and $4,150 for passenger flight.

Cargo flight attracts $2,300, $1,750, $2,300, and $2,500 in Senegal, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ghana, respectively for narrow body aircraft, while for wide body aircraft, the ground handling in those countries charge between $4,450 and $5,250 per flight.

Besides, further investigation by our correspondent revealed that while the above named countries charge the airlines appropriate rates, a narrow body aircraft attracts about $1,000 ground handling charges in Nigeria, while a wide body aircraft goes as low as $3,000 for passenger flight.

At times, it was gathered that the $1,000 ground handling rates could be as low as $400, depending on negotiations by such a foreign airline.

For cargo flight, foreign airlines pay as low as $1,300 and $3,850 for narrow and wide body aircraft, respectively.

It was further learnt that the current rates by the ground handling companies in Nigeria had been stagnant since 1986, despite the drop of naira against major currencies and the skyrocketed rates of acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment and training of personnel by the handlers.

Engr. Sam Oluwole, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN), regretted that the ground handling companies in 2021 currently charge far less what they were charging the foreign airlines in 1986, 35 years later.

According to him, in 1986, ground handlers were charging $1,139 for handling of a B737 aircraft, but lamented that despite the free fall of naira and increase in the price of acquisition of GSE, the handlers go as low as $300 for the same service in 2021.

He described it as an unhealthy rivalry, which could lead to compromise of safety, security and loss of revenues for the government.

He said: “There are three aspects that concern us at the moment; economic, safety and security of the industry. As far back as 1986, grand handlers were charging about $1,139 to handle a narrow body aircraft for instance, but regrettably today, despite the crash of naira against the dollars and other currencies, some of the handlers charge as low as $300. Then a dollar was equal to 90k, but today, the same dollar is about N500, yet we are charging low.

PAGE 33

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

BUSINESS FEATURES

Hassan Bello: Celebrating Quintessential Maritime Industry Icon “The x-factor of great leadership is not personality, it is humility – Jim Collins”

A

n appointment for any government position is a call to service. In a population of over 200 people, such an appointment is an honour and based on trust. However, no appointment is an easy task because of the expectations in the office. Apart from the banana peels which must be avoided at all times, one is expected to have the necessary capacity to cope with the power in public office.

After 22 years of meritorious service in the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr Hassan Bello, maritime lawyer, recently retired having served for eight years as the Executive Secretary of the ports economic regulator. In this report, FRANCIS UGWOKE writes on his achievements and encomiums which flowed from maritime industry stakeholders during a send- forth ceremony in Lagos. agencies, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), at individual levels to address bottlenecks in port operation. The major issue has been corruption in the port system.

Some would easily be swayed by their new position, becoming power drunk and probably losing direction, focusing on the visions of the organisation he was appointed to serve. In the maritime industry, leading an organisation is no doubt a herculean task considering the peculiarities of the sector. The sector is faced with a lot of challenges which could lead to hostility at some point in time.

With the involvement of all the agencies in the ports under the NPPM, a decision was reached for a joint boarding of vessels calling at the ports instead of doing so separately by different security agencies. Through this, the NPPM has been able to address the corruption involved during boarding of vessels.

The NPPM committee recovered a $20,000 bribe from some of the security agents and warned to bring to book those involved in such practices. The NSC will in the next few weeks reintroduce Cargo Tracking Notice (CTN) which is expected to address issues of fraudulent practices involved in the ports. CTN is expected to improve on revenue generation as it will eliminate the tradition of under-invoicing, under-declaration and outright concealment. It will also check capital flight by those who are involved in over-invoicing.

The nature of the shipping sector in Nigeria, particularly for those who have to cope with the Apapa gridlock on a daily basis to do business can contribute to hostility among the people.

Oftentimes, the hardship one faces in certain businesses could force one to transfer aggression to innocent people.

Therefore being the Chief executive officer of a government agency which is saddled with the statutory function of promoting efficiency in trade facilitation at the ports is indeed a big task.

Such responsibility requires a man who is not just good on the job but also one who is humble in addition to other qualities of wisdom and good temperament.

OVATION At the recent send forth for Bello last week, it was an emotion filled event as personnel of the NSC as well as many stakeholders felt that he would be missed so much for his selfless and meritorious service. It was encomium for him over his achievements in the past 8 years as Executive Secretary. He spent 22 years in the service of the Council.

APPOINTMENT About eight years ago, Barrister Hassan Bello was appointed the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), an agency of the Transportation Ministry saddled with the statutory function of ports economic regulation. NSC’s elevation as the port’s economic regulation came with more powers from just simply protecting the interest of shippers. But enjoying more power in an industry like the ports sector may not be enough to achieve the desired goals.

The sector is judged as having a mafia setting with both service providers and consumers of shipping services ready to circumvent rules and regulations for maximum profit. The sector is also full of power brokers who are close to the Presidency and could put the job of any chief executive on the line if wisdom is not applied. And this is considering the Nigerian environment where those in power can sacrifice due diligence for personal and political interests.

With the concessioning programme which placed terminal operation under concessionaires, ports slipped from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). In effect, the concessionaires who have strong connections with Aso Rock managed terminal operations. Regulating such operators in our clime is no doubt a big task. This explains why the NPA as the technical regulator and landlord of the system has not been able to successfully punish the terminal operators when they err.

The role of the technical regulator is to ensure that the terminal operators carry out their services in accordance with the concession agreement which also places statutory obligation in terms of infrastructure provision on the landlord. Most times both fell short of expectation.

ACCOMPLISHMENT The ports economic regulator plays the role of the umpire for all the service providers in the ports, including the landlord since the latter is a service provider. At some point in time, this role pitched the NPA with the NSC as the former was reluctant to bring itself under economic regulation. This however did not stop the NSC from forging ahead with its statutory regulation of pushing for an efficient port. The Council introduced a number of measures to improve on the cost of doing business at the ports.

Part of this was in putting the service providers to check so that they do not introduce charges without negotiation and approval.

In October 2014, the service providers dragged the Council to court when the ports economic regulator gave a directive reducing certain charges introduced by the terminal operators and increasing free storage time at the ports. Resisting this move by the Council, the two groups of service providers had dragged the NSC to court. But the Council won the case in December 2014 at the High Court, Lagos, before the service providers proceeded to the Appeal Court where they also lost before heading to the Supreme Court.

There has been a move to settle the matter out of court with one of the 12 service providers pursuing its own settlement to be sooner

PAGE 34

He is detribalized, humble, honest and hardworking. The NSC SERVICOM Zonal Coordinator, Mrs Nnenna Akajiemelu said the Council and staff were proud to associate with Bello’s milestone, selfless service and mentorship. She said Bello’s style was “working to excel.” Industry stakeholders who turned out for the celebration which took place at Eko Hotel in Lagos were full of encomiums for Bello for his outstanding performance.

than later.To Bello, the Council is not against increase in charges but insists that it must be negotiated by all the parties involved.

Bello while in the Council has worked on enthroning an efficient trade facilitation by carrying out equipment audits which compelled terminal operators to provide modern cargo handling equipment needed at the ports. With such equipment, discharge of goods from ships as well as positioning of containers for examination have become easier. In addition, the Council under Bello has also been able to get shipping companies to automate their services to reduce physical presence of shippers and freight forwarders in the ports.

The current digitalization level is about 80 – 90 percent among the shipping companies. Bello believes that the freight forwarders should follow next in digitalizing their services in line with the terminal operators and shipping companies. When this happens, they can stay in the comfort of their offices and process clearance of their goods at the ports thus eliminating gradually physical presence.

Bello was involved in mounting pressure on the federal government on the need to link the ports with rails which has now become a reality. At the send forth ceremony held in his honour, Bello regretted that the NSC was not involved in the port concessioning agreement in 2006 and about two years ago when NPA management under the suspended Hadiza Bala Usman carried out a review of the exercise.

He, however expressed delight that the new management of NPA has added the Council in the Port Concession Agreement review following the intervention of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. He also felt bitter about the continued Apapa port gridlock which has affected residents and trade facilitation even after the NPA introduced the electronic call up system for trucks. He disclosed that this was because the technical regulator ignored the NSC advice on the project.

In December last year, the NSC was appointed as the lead agency to implement the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM), a project of the federal government to improve on the ease of doing business at the ports. Bello and his management team met with all the service providers, including government security

Transportation Minister, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, described him as a good man, saying the testimony was clear for him to be having standing ovation at a ceremony for his departure.

Amaechi said, “His going is a bit emotional for me and my family. We wish him well.”

The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh described Bello as an epitome of effectiveness and efficiency, saying he worked to achieve international standards in service delivery.

Jamoh said Bello fought corruption in the ports industry and came up with efforts to address the issue.

“The subject matter at this event is Hassan Bello and what he has achieved for the past eight years as the executive secretary of NSC. We know for his doggedness in solving issues, in the aspect of gridlock, trade expansion, national fleet issues and others and for every area, you can write a chapter of a book on his contribution to the industry.”

Former Managing Director of NPA, Chief Adebayo Sarumi, who was equally former Executive Secretary of NSC said he was proud of him. Sarumi said, “I am proud to say that I employed him into NSC as a lawyer and he is a man we need as a Transport Coordinator, he is Mr modalism, and fair play.”

Former Director, NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka described Bello as a quintessential gentleman, saying he deserves to be celebrated.

Tumaka said, “Hassan Bello epitomizes a fine officer and a quintessential gentleman, amiable, humble, calm, cool and down to earth. His interpersonal skills are next to none, as he deserves to be celebrated and recognized. He deserves all the accolades as he is simply just a formidable, and a wonderful, shining personality”.

In the words of former Director with the NSC, Mrs Dabney Shaholma, “the man Hassan Bello is an Enigma.God sent home to Nigeria to be a bridge builder and he is the one man that can bring unity to this nation. He is detribalised Nigerian”.

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

BUSINESS NEWS Capacity Building: NDIC Boss Renews Support for Financial Journalists

BY SAM DIALA

T

he Managing Director of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, Mr Bello Hassan, has reiterated the support of the corporation in providing opportunities for financial journalists to enhance their knowledge and skill of reporting the financial services sector, especially the deposit insurance.

Mr Hassan said that the financial services sector which encompasses the business of deposit insurance has become complex and those journalists covering the beat should continue to upgrade their knowledge and skill of the sector to achieve effective reporting.

Mr Hassan stated this while receiving the executives of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria, FICAN, led by the National Chairman, Mr Chima Titus Nwokoji, in his office in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the group to interact with the new leadership of NDIC. L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr Edet Akpan; Minister of State for Science and Technology, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; Managing Director, Transnational Corporation Nigeria Plc (TRANSCORP), Mr Peter Ikenga; Legal Manager of TRANSCORP, Mr Humphrey Oyeukwu, and Head of Strategy and Business Transformation, TRANSCORP, Ilobekemen Idiake, during the visit of TRANSCORP’s delegation to the Minister’s Office in Abuja 28/6/21.

Mr Hassan took over from his immediate predecessor, Mr Umaru Ibrahim who retired in December 2020 at the expiration of his two-term tenure .

According to the NAJA chairman, “The need for training and retraining cannot be over emphasized especially in the 21st century which is largely driven by the knowledge economy.

He said that the exercise has led to broadening and deepening the horizon of deposit insurance to the benefit of the financial journalists who are now better placed to report the beat more effectively.

NADDC DG to Speak At NAJA W/Shop

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

A

s the global automotive industry looks towards electric and gas as alternative sources to petrol to run vehicles on the road, Nigeria is not left out in the new migration efforts by different countries with the National Automotive Design & Development Council (NADDC) as the chief driver.

It is against this backdrop that the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), the umbrella body for journalists covering the automobile sector, is throwing its weight behind the current trend during this year’s annual training and capacity building workshop for members to aid their skills on reporting in the country.

The event which is slated for July 29 with the theme ‘’Migration from Petrol to Electric & Gas-Powered Vehicles; Opportunities & Challenges for Nigeria’’ will be held at Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja Lagos, with Jelani Aliyu, MFR, who has been at the forefront of this scheme invited as the guest speaker.

In a statement signed by Mike Ochonma, chairman of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), the annual event is aimed at providing a robust refresher course for auto journalists to enhance their performances and efficiency in automotive journalism especially in view of the new electric car technology that is gradually being accepted by many countries.

“Given the challenges of the times, NAJA’s resolve to continually equip members across the nation with relevant skills, and acquaint them with modern trends, tools and techniques for enhanced and effective performance is further demonstrated through this upcoming seminar.

He remarked that the seminar which was being organised in collaboration with key stakeholders in the Nigerian auto industry will feature various experts including.

He said the theme becomes imperative because of the gradual move away from petrol-powered to both the electric and gaspowered vehicles, many countries, including Nigeria are also shifting focus to align with the global trend.

“Since this new global thinking, there are many questions and concerns from vehicle owners both from the individual and corporate fleet buyers on the implications of the new trend.

“It is therefore important for journalists covering the beat to be abreast of the new technology for them to adequately report the sector, and also be able answer questions and concerns regarding the new trends,” he added.

Chevron Initiative Boosts Development At Bayelsa Community

FROM DAVID AMOUS - OWEI IN YENAGOA

DRCDA on the AGM.

hevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) on Friday reiterated its belief and support for the community-driven development model it adopted some 19 years ago saying it has fast tracked development in host communities.

“The achievements of the DRCDA reinforce our belief that a process that is community-driven with an effective governance structure can stimulate quicker community development than processes and systems designed without effective participation of community members,” he said.

C

Mr Esimaje Brikinn, CNL’s General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs, said this at the 9thAnnual General Meeting (AGM) of the Dodo River Communities Development Association (DRCDA).

The AGM, an integral component of the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) for delivering CNL’s social obligations to its hosts was held at the Dodo River Secretariat, in Yenagoa Bayelsa State.

The DRCDA is a community-based organisation established under the GMoU between the Dodo Rivers Communities, the Bayelsa State Government and the CNL. Esimaje, who was represented by Elijah Bikikoro, Community Engagement Coordinator, CNL in Bayelsa, congratulated the THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

Mr Francis Amamogiran, Chairman DRCDA noted that the hallmark of the GMoU lies in the participation of the beneficiaries in the development process in an open and transparent manner from planning to execution of prioritised projects.

“The AGM is in keeping with the Transparency and Accountability principle embedded in the GMoU. It is an opportunity for the RDC to open its books for the relevant stakeholders to be abreast of its activities and accomplishments,” Amamogiran, who thanked NNPC/CNL Joint Venture for consistently funding the Association, called on the Government to be more actively involved in community development.

THEWILLNIGERIA

At the meeting attended by members of the corporation’s top management, Mr Hassan noted that NDIC and FICAN had maintained excellent relationships over the years during which the corporation created the annual capacity building workshop for finance correspondents and business editors in 2002, which has run for 17 year.

He lamented that some journalists dabble in financial services reporting, especially in the area of deposit insurance, without adequate knowledge of the area and that this does not only create confusion among the members of the public but gives a negative image of NDIC mandate and activities.

Unity Bank Commits Over N30m to Empower NYSC Members

N

igerian lender, Unity Bank Plc has committed over N30 million to empower National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members through the Bank’s flagship Youth entrepreneurship development initiative known as Unity Bank Corpreneurship Challenge.

The sum includes N4 million won by beneficiaries on four separate editions across four states and N10 million won by beneficiaries across the ten states in the latest edition.

The Corpreneurship Challenge, specially designed to targets corps members has produced no fewer than 48 winners across 14 NYSC camps in 13 States and the Federal Capital Territory since inception in 2019.

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brig.-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim in a recent meeting with the Managing Director of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Somefun commended the bank for providing financial grants to the corps members.

He said the pilot project of the “Corpreneurship challenge” had created opportunities for self-employment and wealth creation and would reduce the number of unemployed graduates.

“My appeal to you is to be determined, remain focused and fan into flame the training that you have acquired for your empowerment, as it would later translate to societal development,” the DG has said. “Be prudent in your spending, avoid indolence and be committed to what the Unity Bank has done for you,” he added.

The initiative was piloted across four locations – Lagos, Ogun, Edo and Abuja – but has now expanded to six other locations including Akwa Ibom, Kano, Sokoto, Enugu, Sokoto and Osun.

Each of the locations produce winners of business grants of N200,000 for the second runner ups; N300,000 business grant for the first runner ups and a star prize of N500,000 for the overall winners.

PAGE 35

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

SHOTS OF THE WEEK PHOTO EDITOR: PEACE UDUGBA [08033050729]

L-R: EngenderHealth West Africa Regional Representative, Nene Cisse: First Lady of Kebbi State, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu; Nigerian Minister of Women and Social Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, and USAID Health Office Director, Paul McDermott, during the launch of the USAID Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics activity to help more women in Nigeria overcome the burden of obstetric fistula in Abuja on 28/6/2021.

L-R: Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akerodolu SAN, and President/Chairman of Council,NBCC, Mr Kayode Falowo, during the official unveiling and Commissioning of the NBCC Plaza in Lagos on 29/6/ 2021.

L-R: Nigeria Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, presenting a souvenir to the InspectorGeneral of the Senegalese Armed Forces, Maj.-Gen. Elhaji Dauda, during his visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on 30/6/21.

Ekiti State Governor/Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi (right), and Acting Canadian High Commissioner, Nicolas Simard, during a courtesy visit to the High Commissioner in Abuja on 30/6/2921.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Bloom Public Health, Prof. Chimezie Anyakora; Chairman, Lexham Investment, Mrs Taiwo Taiwo; Director, Food and Drug, Federal Ministry of Health, Pharm.

Olubukola Ajayi; Executive Director, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Uzoma Ezeoke; GMD/Founder, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Mrs Stella Okoli; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Alhaji Abdullahi Mashi Abdullahi, and Director, Department of Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, during the visit and inspection of Emzor Ultra Modern WHO-Compliant Pharmaceutical Factory, at Shagamu, Ogun State on 25/6/ 2021.

L-R: Group Chairman, Alpha Mead Group, Mutiu Sunmonu (CON); Chairman, Alpha Mead Development Company, Engineer Dada Thomas; Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker; Group Managing Director, Alpha Mead Group, Engineer Femi Akintunde, and Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mrs Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire at the launch of Alpha Mead Healthcare Management Services’ Modular Healthcare Facility at Gbagada General Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos on 28/6/2021.

PAGE 36

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

TESSY IDEHEN BORN WITH A BRUSH THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

PAGE 37

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

I Dumped National Service For Painting – Tessy Idehen

Tessy Idehen is only in her early 20s, but she has succeeded in making her art gallery one of the most sought-after in the country. In this interview with IVORY UKONU, she talks about her career, life and other matters. Excerpts:

H

ow long have you been a painter?

I have been a painter all my life. I started by experimenting with colours, then decided to go and study it properly in school.

How did it start?

My late dad inspired my love for painting. He was a painter.

As a child, I always watched him working in his studio.

Besides, I love beautiful things and I like to replicate them in any form, especially through painting. In junior secondary school, where you have to make a choice between the arts, science or social science, I remember being confused about making the right choice. I wanted to become an accountant because I loved to count money. At the same time, I had a passion for art. Eventually I settled for what I loved most, which was art. When I was in Auchi Polytechnic, I had my one-year industrial attachment in a commercial bank. My experience there made me decide to choose painting as my career. It is as if I was born for this. I can stand on my feet all day painting without getting tired or hungry. It is called passion. Now the interesting thing about painting is that, before I gained admission to Auchi Polytechnic, I was a regular face at the University of Benin with my sketch pad, pencils and brushes. I would go to the art class and beg to join the students. They thought it was odd as I was not yet a student, just an ambitious young lady who wanted to hone her skill in art. I would go to some of the students and beg them to mentor me and help me to improve on my skill.

Eventually they allowed me to attend some of their lectures.

People thought I was one of them, but I wasn’t. I just didn’t want to sit at home idling away when I could judiciously spend my time honing my craft. I even made friends with some of the lecturers who encouraged and inspired me to pursue my interest in art.

How did your dad react to your decision to follow in his footsteps?

He was happy and often told me he could see himself in me. Unfortunately, he isn’t alive today to see how far I have come. He wasn’t even alive when I decided to take up painting as a career.

Is there anyone else in your family who loves to paint?

Yes, my kid brother. But he isn’t quite as keen as I am about it. So I would say that I am the only professional painter in my family.

When did you decide to go professional?

When I was in school. I was doing this on the side. Of course, I had to pay more attention to my studies. However, I went professional after graduating from school in 2018. I was posted to Bauchi State for national youth service, but I cancelled it because I didn’t want to fall victim to killer herdsmen. I was scared and decided to skip youth service.

Then I started painting in my room. I would take samples of my works to people in gyms, beauty salons and anywhere else I would find potential customers. I would convince them to allow me to draw a portrait of them. Of course, they saw me as a young female and they never hesitated to beat down my charges, which were quite measly at the time.

But I didn’t relent. So, little by little, I started to save some money and rented a small place in Asaba. The patronage continued to grow and then I had to get a bigger space for my art gallery. But I am not there yet, I am still growing.

You have a huge art gallery in Asaba. What made you to move to Lagos? Why didn’t you go to Abuja or Port Harcourt instead?

PAGE 38

I get clients from there as well, but I am expanding. After some time, I will extend my tentacles to those places. I chose Lagos because when you do sponsored advertisements on social media, you get to see where the majority of your clients are based. My sponsored advertisements showed that I was servicing more people in Lagos than any other place, although I was based in Asaba. But I was reluctant to make a move because I felt Lagos was too stressful. Besides, I felt I had made appreciable progress in Asaba. But I had to succumb to a wise business decision and left my comfort zone. I had already kept some money aside to do body enhancement. So I decided to use the money to rent a place for my business in Lekki phase 1. At first, I was discouraged by the cost, which is like five times what my huge gallery cost in Asaba, but I decided to brave it. I have no cause to regret my decision so far.

There are obviously more men in your profession than women. Were you at any point discouraged from choosing this career path?

No. I believe that everyone has their destined path mapped out. I also believe that what a man can do, a woman can do, if not better. When I was in school, only three ladies were in my class. The rest were men. Surprisingly, I have had a lot of encouragement from the men folk. Only a few people have turned up their noses at what I do, particularly colleagues.

I have had to battle with my social media accounts being reported, blocked or pulled down. I mean this is the avenue through which I advertise the works of my hand. As far as I am concerned, my detractors can only try, but they can’t discourage me. I believe that if you are in a hole and you are good at what you do, people will find you. Also, everyone’s grace is different.

What are some of the challenges of your profession?

Well, some people who think there is a lot of money to be made from art work, now dabble into the sale of it. A lot of ladies now call themselves interior decorators and sell art works alongside interior decorating items. So they buy mass produced art works, which is quite different from handmade ones. Also, Nigerians are only just beginning to appreciate and value art. The majority don’t know the effort that goes into producing one piece. They will haggle over an art work of about N400,000 until they get to a ridiculous sum, forgetting that, like jewellery, art works can be used

as collateral and they can be liquidated for funds. They will tell you that it is better to go to roadside painters to get a cheap art work and display it in their sitting room.

For this reason, I try not to do a lot of realism (detailed and accurate representation of scenes, objects, humans) with my paintings. I prefer to do more of expressionism, an artistic style in which the artist seeks to depict not objective reality but subjective emotions and responses, so that once they see it, they will appreciate the level of work that has gone into it.

Have you held any art exhibition since you went professional?

Yes. I have held several exhibitions in Asaba, but none in Lagos yet. I hope to do that soon.

How has being a professional artist impacted on you?

I can’t imagine myself not doing this because it has really impacted me in many ways. My lifestyle has changed as a result. I see life differently now. I barely go out to have fun; my painting is my friend and my gallery is my night club.

This is where my future lies and I intend to let the world know that I came and I made an impact though art.

How do you relax when you are not painting?

I watch movies and seek more ways to improve on what I do. I don’t keep friends.

If you weren’t an artist, what else would you have excelled in?

Fashion design. As a child, I was always playing with clothes and creating designs, by using cardboards, for my dolls and this prompted my dad to register me in a fashion designing house. In fact, I am looking at incorporating fashion designing into my business.

What advice would you give to a young lady who looks up to you and wants to become an artist?

It is not a walk in the park. Be determined, prayerful and humble. Seek out colleagues who are in the same industry with you and rub minds with them. Art work is not like fast food or provision stores where money comes in everyday.

In our world, you could go for months without making any money, but when it comes, it is often in a big way, such that for a year, you may not need to do anything.

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

STORIES BY SHADE METIBOGUN

25 Years After, LASG Rewards Chioma Ajunwa-Opara

flats each in any of place of their choice in Lagos.

He also stated that he promised a gift of N2 million to be shared among the officials and other members of the contingent who could not win a medal. Chioma Ajuwa-Opara who participated at the Olympics, did so as an officer of the Nigeria Police. She is currently an Assistant Commissioner of Police at the Police Service Commission.

Ojo

Iyabo Ojo in The Eye of The Storm

T

his is obviously not the best of times for talented actress, Iyabo Ojo who seems to be pitted against certain forces threatening her wellbeing and career at present. Her ordeal started after Olanrewaju James more popularly known as Baba Ijesha was accused of sexually molesting a minor. Yomi Fabiyi, one of his colleagues came to his rescue and requested for the footage of the video which contained evidence of the allegation leveled against him. An altercation ensued between Iyabo and Yomi when the latter insisted that Baba Ijesha did no inspite of the video evidence. They both threw caution to the wind and engaged in a war of words. While Baba Ijesha’s case was still ongoing, Iyabo picked yet another fight with

her best friend, Tosin Abiola more popularly known as Omobrish, with whom she co-produced the movie Under the Carpet with. The two washed their dirty linen in public and said unprintable things about each other. Soon Iyabo Ojo’s former personal assistant and manager, Gbeminiyi Adegbola joined the fray. Iyabo was miffed that her best friend Omobrish insisted on remaining close friends with Gbeminiyi whom she sacked after she tried to ruin her business. And this is despite Omobrish being aware of Gbeminiyi’s offences. Gbeminiyi was forced to back down when Iyabo came up with enough evidence to indict her.

Not long after, the Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria, (TAMPAN), announced Iyabo’s suspension from the body in a press conference. The association through its leader, Bolaji Amusan stated that they had earlier warned Iyabo against making further comments on Baba Ijesha’s matter but she turned a deaf ear to their warning. She was labeled one of the black sheep of the industry and was suspended indefinitely.

Ironically, Iyabo isn’t a member of the association. They also warned movie producers against working with her until the association rescinds its decision. Now, fans of the beautiful actress wonder how a body she isn’t a member of would suspend her indefinitely and at the same time, warn movie producers not to work with her. They decided to throw their weight behind her for standing her ground and demanding justice for the sexually molested minor.

But a few people who Iyabo respect have had to wade into the matter and this prompted her to tender an apology to the leadership of TAMPAN. Similarly, Amusan on behalf of the board of trustees of the association, tendered an apology to Iyabo. Despite the challenges the mother of two has faced in recent times, she is consoled that her daughter, Priscillia recently graduated from the Babcock University.

Knocks For Oniru Over Chieftaincy Title For Chinese Woman

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

Oniru & Chen

T

he traditional ruler of Iruland, Oba Abdul-Wasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, is at the receiving end of severe criticism for conferring a chieftaincy title on a Chinese woman, Diana Chen, who is the chairman of Choice International Group. Chen was conferred with the title, Yeye Onile Aje of Iruland, allegedly for her contributions to the economic development of Lagos State and Iruland, in particular, alongside other foreign nationals and Nigerians, on the day the king marked the first anniversary of his coronation. The gesture came as a surprise to many natives of Iruland and critics who could not help but conclude that the monarch had inadvertently sold the birthright of his people to foreigners. Despite the reactions of his critics, Oba Lawal has vowed to continue to recognise the positive contributions of eminent personalities, to the growth of the community. He described the honorary title as a call to service and the development of Iruland into one of the most sustainable and desirable communities in Lagos State.

THEWILLNIGERIA

D

uncan Wene Mighty Okechukwu has decided to forget his ordeal in the hands of his estranged wife, Vivien Nwakanma, and move on with his life. The selfacclaimed ‘Port Harcourt first son’ has found love again. This time, he is crazy about his new lover, a light-complexioned lady. And if things work out as planned, the relationship may be altar bound soon. The talented singer and entrepreneur unveiled his new love interest via a video he uploaded on social media where he was seen kissing the beautiful lady passionately and whispering sweet nothings to her. The video, which has since gone viral, has earned him applause from his fans who are excited that he has given love another chance.

Five years after Duncan walked down the aisle with Vivien on July 25, 2015 in a well-attended wedding ceremony held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the marriage, which produced three children, broke up after the singer accused his wife of conniving with her relatives to kill him through diabolic means and take all his properties because he is an only child.

The singer alleged that his wife confessed to the crime. He even recorded her confession and threatened to release it to the public if she and her family members denied the allegation. He also claimed that he was not the biological father of Vivien’s last child. Several months after the allegation, Duncan went public again with a story about his wife poisoning his food and bath water for two years and 11 months, adding that God miraculously saved him from certain death.

Mike Ezuruonye, Mr P Bag Honorary Doctorate Degrees

T

Ezuruonye & Okoye Willams

Ajuwa-Opara

Duncan & new love interest

C

hioma Ajunwa-Opara, the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event, is elated to have received a state honour 25 years after making her country proud. The former athlete who won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games held in Atlanta, USA, received the key to a threebedroom flat from Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, a week ago.

The newest landlord in town simply could not hide her surprise and joy at being rewarded more than two decades after her feat. She thanked the Lagos State Government profusely for the gift and the recognition accorded her through the gesture.

THEWILL gathered that the move by the state government encouraged other Nigerians to remember Chioma’s laudable feat and to send their gifts and support to the police officer. The apartment was the fulfillment of a promise made by the then Military Administrator of Lagos State, Colonel Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

However, Oyinlola, who is also a former governor of Osun State, has made it clear that what he promised Ajunwa and other athletes 25 years ago were parcels of land, while two other gold medallists, Teslim Fatusi and Joseph Dosu of the Under- 23 football team who hailed from Lagos State were to get newly built two-bedroom

Duncan Mighty Finds Love Again

he duo of actor Mike Ezuruonye and singer Peter Okoye, one half of the defunct singing duo, PSquare, were proud recipients of honorary doctorate degrees from two universities in neighbouring Benin Republic about two weeks ago.

While Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr P, was awarded a doctorate degree in the arts by Escae University, Mike Ezuruonye received a doctorate degree from Estam University, a Pan-African University of Advanced Technologies and Management located in the same country.

The elated artistes have been telling their fans and wellwishers to start addressing them as ‘doctors’. With the new feathers added to their caps, the duo has now joined the league of entertainers who have honorary doctorate degrees. The likes of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, ex Big Brother housemate, Anto Lecky and blogger, Linda Ikeji, have all been honoured in the past with doctorate degrees from different Universities.

PAGE 39

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

Caroline Danjuma’s Reunion Rumour with Estranged Husband

F

Holmes Takes Music Industry By Storm With First Body of Work

B

reak out artiste, Umughare Aghogho Prosper, popularly known as Holmes, is fast establishing himself as one of the music talents to watch out for on the continent as he gets set to drop his first body of work, after a year of experimenting with Afro-fusion sound.

Under the supervision of his management team, D’luxe Management team and his record label, Addictive Music Worldwide, Holmes has put together a self-titled, eight-track Extended Play titled HolmesSzn. On it, he enlisted the help of music industry heavyweights like Davido, who features in the track titled Love; Ice Prince who featured in the track, Money; and one of the most dynamic DJs on this side of the divide, DJ Neptune, for the track, Finally.

Other singles in the eclectic body of work are tracks like Tension, Tip, Amina, Body, and Gidi Girls. And come July 1st, the EP will be made available across all digital streaming platforms for his teeming fans to have a firsthand review of his works.

Having been credited as one of the new indie artists of the post-pandemic era, Holmes is ready to lay a marker as an artist here to stay.

Why Mercy Aigbe is Yet to Be Divorced From Estranged Hubby

ollowing their annual public spat on Father’s Day, actress and entrepreneur, Mercy Aigbe has revealed that contrary to speculations that it is truly over between her and her estranged husband, Lanre Gentry, she is yet to be fully divorced from him. For this reason, she has had to endure her continuous entanglement with him, a situation she despises and feels helpless about. The former couple on this year’s Father’s Day, June 20, had engaged in a social media squabble, as usual, over her Father’s Day message. The mother of two had taken to her Instagram page where she gave reasons why she should be celebrated on Father’s Day. “Happy Father’s Day to me and all the responsible fathers out there! 2 Kids (1 international student).

Changing naira to dollars with this dollar rate! Abeg it’s not easy! But God has been Gracious! Please no one should come and tell me how I shouldn’t take the shine off Fathers oh! (Fatherhood is beyond just impregnating a woman, if you are a man and do not perform your responsibilities towards your kids, Biko you ain’t fit to be called a father and that’s on Period!!! So, Since I am playing the dual role in my children’s lives, allow me celebrate myself every day! Cos it’s not easy!’’ she wrote.

Not one to let things slide, Gentry who has allegedly fallen on bad times, equally took to his social media to slam Mercy. “I’m a father to all my children. If you like take your children ton is nobody’s business. If you like pay in yen or dollar is nobody’s palaba. I have helped you to pay another man’s daughter’s school fees before so (sic),” part of his post read. He went on to call the mother of his son, a prostitute who likes to live a fake life and threatened to expose her secrets to the whole world.

They both continued with their diatribes, with Mercy eventually asking people to plead with Lanre to sign her divorce papers. She claimed that he refused to accept the divorce papers, not to mention signing them and he also refused to appear in court for the divorce proceedings. What this means is that they are still legally married. The couple separated in 2017 over allegations of infidelity and domestic violence.

PAGE 40

three children. Musa continued to fund her lifestyle so as to enable her take adequate care of their children.

Caroline dabbled into a few relationships, one of which was with the late Tagbo Umeike, Davido’s friend who died after taking too many shots of Tequila. But with the latest development, it is safe to say they have both come a full circle. We watch with keen interest to see how this plays out.

Aigbe & Gentry

T

hese are not the best of times for Nigerian singer and No 1 African bad girl, Tiwa Savage. The divorced mother of one is in a mournful mood over the death of one of Davido’s aides and crew members, Habeeb Uthman, popularly known as Obama DMW. Obama died of heart failure at Ever Care Hospital, Lekki, Lagos on Tuesday, June 29. He had complained of having difficulty breathing and managed to drive to the hospital, where he was admitted for treatment. Unfortunately, he died a few hours later.

Obama left behind a teenage son. Of the female entertainers in the country, Tiwa who has remained inconsolable since his death, has been the only one who has gone over and beyond to truly mourn him. She took to her social media to pen a eulogy for the late Obama. While describing him as a peacemaker who would take a bullet for those he loved and cared about, Tiwa promised to complete a project they both had talked about before his death, in his honour. An excerpt from her eulogy reads, “Brave heart, strong heart, soft heart, kind heart, pure heart, peace maker, hot stepper, incoming politician. I don’t know why my cheesy jokes always made you laugh. You were ready to take a bullet for your loved ones. 44 my black president, you chilling now, resting well, away from this cruel world. I’m allowed to cry, I’m a girl so don’t try to console me. I won’t listen to you anyway. This isn’t the end, that thing you and I always talked about, I promise I will do and you will be proud. I love you, we love you Habeeb,” she wrote.

For many wondering, it is alleged that Tiwa and Obama were an item, the reason she has remained inconsolable. Insiders within the entertainment industry insist they were very much in love with each other, but chose to keep it under the radar for reasons best known to them. This is hoping she finds the fortitude to bear the unfortunate loss.

Danjuma & Caroline

Real Reason Tiwa Savage Has Remained Inconsolable Over Obama DMW

Holmes

Tiwa Savage

T

he popular saying that a leopard cannot change its spots may not ring true in the case involving wealthy businessman and socialite, Musa Danjuma and his estranged wife, Caroline. Judging by the latest rumour in town, it is safe to assume that the former couple may be working towards reconciliation soon. Although they have been divorced for about five years, their body language, as observed during Caroline’s 34th birthday dinner on June 26, shows they have missed each other and are willing to bury the hatchet and work out a suitable arrangement that will be mutually beneficial to both of them.

It was the first time that Musa attended Caroline’s birthday party since they both went their separate ways. He even brought her a Christian Dior hand bag as birthday present, fresh flowers and a simple birthday cake with ‘Happy birthday darling’ inscribed on it. If they eventually revive their relationship, Musa will obviously have a lot of making up to do, considering that he put the actress cum socialite to so much trouble emotionally while their marriage lasted.

When he married Caroline in 2007, many thought that Musa, who had had three failed marriages before meeting her, would do everything possible to ensure the success of the marriage. Instead, he subjected her to a life of humiliation.

Caroline spent the better part of her marriage fighting off mistresses who Musa continuously flaunted in her face.

To avoid getting deeper into the dark abyss of depression, she decided to end the marriage and move on with their

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

Why EFCC Arrested Co-owners of Buzz

Odenigbo & Sunbo

B

est friends and business partners, Armani Boniface Odenigbo and Sunbo, who coown the popular Buzz Bar in Victoria Island, Lagos, are currently guests of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged fraud.

A large team of EFCC operatives picked up both men without warning on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at about 3pm in the Oniru area of Lagos where they both live. The operatives, who came prepared in the event of any resistance, also raided the duo’s garages and removed every single luxury car, probably to be used as exhibits when they go on trial. These cars include but are not limited to a white Bentley Bentagya, two white Lexus 570 Sport Utility Vehicles, two black and white S Class Mercedes Benz saloon cars, a Mercedes Benz G Wagon, etc.

Armani and Sunbo, who are best of friends, are

Nina Ivy Clashes With Herbal Company Over Butt Surgery

R

Stanley Uzochukwu Joins Edo Varsity Governing Council

A

Nina Ivy

eality television star and businesswoman, Nina Onyenobi, otherwise known as Nina Ivy, is currently at loggerheads with one of the beauty and sexual enhancement brands, which she also represents, over her decision to undergo a Brazilian butt lift procedure.

Trouble started when Nina released a video and pictures of herself about to undergo the procedure in Miami, USA, where she currently resides with her husband. She had as company, a fellow reality television star, Abiri Oluwabusayomi, aka Khloe, who already had work done on her butt and bust area. With this revelation, Mav Herbals, a Nigerian herbal body sculpting and sexual enhancement brand felt short-changed as three weeks to the revelation, they had just signed Nina on as their brand ambassador.

Mav Herbals prides its products as being able to effectively alter a woman’s body curvaceously without going under the knife. And so, it felt like a slap in their face for the mother of one to openly flaunt her butt surgery procedure, which is against what Mav Herbals is known for. The company had no other option than to issue a disclaimer and cancel their contract with her.

They also demanded full refund of the millions of naira paid to her to represent their company as well as an apology for misleading many who may have wanted to patronise them.

fingered in a $35 million dollar fraud and it is alleged that one of their partners in the United States gave them out to the FBI. Unknown to them, they had been under surveillance for a while, with EFCC operatives happily documenting their lavish lifestyle which they flaunted on social media.

Unlike his easy going and quiet partner, Sunbo, who is married to Tania Omotayo, a fashion designer and an ex-girlfriend of music star, Wizkid, is on the loud side.

He is one of the real big spenders in the Lekki area of Lagos and a darling to male clothiers as he doesn’t spare anything when it comes to updating his wardrobe with designer clothes. He also runs several businesses besides co-owning Buzz bar. With EFCC operatives looking to impress their new boss, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who has since read them the riot act on stepping up on their anticorruption drive, it is obvious that Armani and Sunbo are as good as minced meat. It is rumoured that the duo have allegedly reached out to one of their mentors, House of representative member, Shina Peller, who owns Quilox Nightclub to intervene. But being a member of the ruling APC and, with their anti-corruption mantra, it is doubtful that he would want to stick out his neck for them. We wait to see how things turn out.

Alaafin Confers Chieftaincy Title On Habeeb Okunola

t only 37 years, Stanley Uzochukwu keeps astounding many, including his competitors, with his many wins and achievements. The chairman of Stanel Group of Companies recently added another feather in his cap with his appointment as a member of the governing council of the Igbinedion University in Edo State, thus making him the youngest member of the governing council in the history of the university. The appointment which was communicated to him via a personal letter written by the university’s Chancellor, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, recognized Stanley’s tenacity, dedication and hard work which has given him the pedigree to make such a huge leap at this stage of his life.

From an obscure background, to setting up mega businesses, Stanley without a doubt has done quite well for himself in the business world to earn the respect of many. And just as he firmly has his money spinners on lockdown, so has he also firmly secured the home front. The gangly dude and his wife, Irene, daughter of the minister of women affairs, Pauline, are reportedly back together as man and wife. Uzochukwu had denied being estranged from her at any point, insisting that he is a family man and not one with the toga of irresponsibility.

Okunola & Wife THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

Uzochukwu

A

week ago, socialite, Habeeb Okunola, was installed the Akosin of Yorubaland by the Iku Baba Yeye, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, in a very colourful ceremony that spanned two days. Although he was conferred with the title in 2019, the ceremony proper and presentation of staff of office, held on Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26, 2021 in the presence of many dignitaries in the expansive palace of the Alaafin, in Oyo town. The chieftaincy title, which means the first person in Yorubaland to perform an extraordinary feat worthy to be celebrated, bestows enormous authority on the holder across Yorubaland. The ceremony, which began with Islamic prayers, ended with the public presentation of Okunola’s book titled, ‘Little Bites of Inspiration’.

As MD/CEO TILT Group of Companies Limited, and Founder of Habeeb Okunola Foundation, Okunola at only 39, sits atop a financial empire with stakes in real estate, construction, energy, engineering, agriculture, media and technology.

PAGE 41

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

ARTS

Spinning His Own Story

I walked in them, I played in them, I learnt from them…

The streets are not all about smoking hemp and being an area boy. The streets can be beneficial if all that energy is channeled into something positive.”

It is not on record Jimmy ever did dope or some such chemicals even when it would have been easy to access for a roving DJ like him. Even without such boosters or Dutch courage, Jimmy Jatt knew his surrounding well. “On the streets, if you are not confident, they will push you around…

You see this person whom everybody knows to be a tough guy. You, however, know his source, where he comes from and when you know where somebody comes from, you will know the person wasn’t born with iron for bones.”

Avant-Garde: The Cool DJ Jimmy Jatt Story by Peju Akande and Toni Kan, Radi8; Lagos, 168pp

BY MICHAEL JIMOH

S

pinning discs on turntables is what DJ Jimmy Jatt is best known for by all who have had cause to deal or relate with him. Younger and upcoming DJs look up to him for inspiration and guidance. He is almost always on call in the grandest parties in Lagos. He has a permanent corner in some of the swankiest clubs in town. As far as disc jockeying in Nigeria is concerned, the brand Jimmy Jatt has become such an enormous success that you easily forget people like Stagger Lee ever existed. What is the secret of his success?

As he tells it in this charming book, hard work, consistency, focus and, above all, passion have driven Jimmy Jatt as a DJ. Indeed, this publication is meant to celebrate his quarter of a century as a spin master from a poky room in Obalende to a world stage he now dominates. And his reputation is still growing.

Giving Disc Jockeying a respectable face Avant-Garde shows that when the gangly lad from Obalende began his career (he also lived in Maroko where his father built a house, Ikoyi and Lagos Island) the profession was meant for misfits. DJs plied their trade mostly in disco halls, a place where people thought all the bad things happen, “where people used to go and smoke hemp, womanize and do all sorts of bad things.”

From the fluffing disc jockey in a village hall to the savvy spin master in a city club, getting people to the dance floor through his inimitable and heady mixes is what Jimmy Jatt is known for. Now, he has proved he is equally adept at spinning his own story. And he spins it well to the pair of Peju Akande and Toni Kan in a new book, Avant-Garde: The Cool Jimmy Jatt Story.

It is a new kind of biography Peju and Toni have resurrected in these shores. Instead of the conventional bio where the author(s) intelligently interpret the subject’s life and times, they let him speak direct to the reader. It is as though you are in a room where Jimmy Jatt is doing a solo retelling of his odyssey as a disc jockey, with timely interventions by the authors leading him from one aspect of his life to another.

It is a success for both the story teller and his listeners because they cover much ground. Nothing is skipped over.

The significant and the banal are given equal space, Jimmy Jatt as a tagalong to parties his senior siblings, Tunde and Tayo, staged where he rapped and did some bit of breakdancing; his infatuation with music and deejaying once he got his first headphones on; his addiction to coke and bread; his pranks with other struggling artistes by dodging bus fares in Molues on Lagos routes. There is something to delight the reader or get him turning the pages.

The Jimmy Jatt story is not about him alone. His father, Adedoyin Amu, gets his due. Though his third son became a DJ by accident, it was Adedoyin who started off all of them by retailing and selling records and Sanyo products at No 17, Odo Street in Obalende. He had an eclectic taste in music for he was at home with juju and jazz, apala and fuji, rhythm and blues, disco, highlife and rock. Whichever record reigned at the time, you might just find it in Mr. Amu’s collection.

Fresh from London in 1986, Obi Asika recalls visiting Jatt Studio in Obalende. A reigning DJ at the time, Asika had a backpack loaded with 400 records to show off, presumably, to another DJ somebody described as “the best in Nigeria.”

The newly arrived from London also came with an attitude.

He considered himself a metropolitan sophisticate to a homeboy who probably couldn’t tell a swing from a rumba.

But after getting to know Jimmy Jatt, Asika himself is now more than convinced Jimmy’s swag is different. “Jimmy can deejay to a stadium of a hundred thousand people and keep ‘em motivated and he can deejay to a party of a hundred people.”

Jimmy Jatt’s road to Disc Jockeying and, ultimately, stardom started as a joke. But today, as Asika maintains, “if you talk about the entertainment industry in Nigeria and you don’t talk about Jimmy Jatt you’re not being real.”

Other renowned artistes have commendable words to say about Jimmy Jatt, some of whom he nurtured like DJ Mixmaster Tee, some of whom he gave their first big show like 2face Idibia. Olarewanju Fasasi aka Sound Sultan calls Jimmy Jatt “a man of great value…helpful yet humble, very influential, relevant and still grounded.”

Grounded is Jimmy Jatt in other aspects of life no doubt

PAGE 42

A level-headed guy, Jimmy never did any of those things even though there was much peer pressure. Like sportsmen and artistes, DJs attracted a special following from babes.

Been a good looking guy, Jimmy must have had a bevy of the most fetching to choose from. They never turned his head for once.

Instead, he settled for an Edo girl whom he is married to today, with two grown daughters, Oyindanmola and Oyinlola.

but disc jockeying takes first place after browsing AvantGarde. He had the luck to begin his career when there was great music to jolt Nigerian youths from a lethargic highlife genre their parents loved but had no appeal for them, music by immortal bands like The Commodores, Teddy Pendergrass, Dynasty, Lakeside, Whispers, The Jacksons, Prince, Blackbyrds, Millie Jackson, Steve Wonder, the list is endless.

And then, when the likes of Kurtis Blow, Run DMC, L.L Cool Jay appeared on the rap scene, Jimmy Jatt knew his moment had come as a rapper, too. Millions of youngsters loved the fast-talking, slow-thumping beat mostly done outdoors. Alone, he started the Road Block Jams that many corporate bodies quickly latched on to for self-promotion and a way to encourage emerging talents in music.

More than a third of younger Nigerian artistes went on tour with Jimmy Jatt at one time or the other for a Road Block show. There was Daddy Showkey and Daddy Fresh, Sound Sultan and 2Baba, Eedris and Eddy Remedy. Dozens of DJs followed the Road Block as well, always piloted by the innovative Jimmy Jatt.

Explaining the concept of the Road Block to the authors, Jimmy Jatt declares thus: “The Road Block was born out of the fact that I came into Deejaying from the position of what you would call, not a frustrated artiste, but an aspiring artiste that could not get the help needed because at that time, people felt that the kind of music we were doing wouldn’t get anywhere. Luckily for me, I had started gaining some fame as a DJ and so I thought of creating a platform for people like me who believed in what we were doing. That was how I started the Road Block.”

A self-confessed street-smart guy, Jimmy Jatt however distinguishes between negative and positive aspects of being street-smart. “I don’t see myself as a street boy but I consider myself street-smart...I know the streets well. I lived in them,

Jimmy Jatt also affected a unique sartorial blend to go with his new-found métier.

Transparent designer eye glasses, face cap turned backwards or forwards, a style that some of his colleagues have adopted till this day. As for his look and composure, Olisa Adibua says he is “the first DJ to turn deejaying into a proper professional business; who understood the whole idea of creating the image, and creating the brand.”

As the book shows, there were trying moments, too.

Successful brand or not, Jimmy Jatt sometimes had a raw deal with his clients. Doing his kind of business in a country where power supply is erratic, such disappointments are to be expected. In one such show, they collected extra money from Jimmy Jatt for diesel. But late in the night, the light went off and wasn’t restored until much later. But before then, the crowd had lost patience, attacked those at the gate and collected the takings for the night.

More than 37 pages of mostly colour photographs accompany this engaging book about an equally engaging personality.

This is where the reader is sure to raise his eyebrows about the publication. The editors should have combed through the captions more than once.

Even so, the pictures not only help carry Jimmy’s story forward but also broaden the entire vista of the man at the centre of it all. There are dozens of entertainment stars posing with the subject, from Gbenga Adeyinka to AY, Ego and Lagbaja, Basket Mouth and Basorge, Julius Agwu and Chidi Mokeme. There is no entertainment personality you don’t find with him in the pages of Avant-Garde.

In most of the shots, they are almost always smiling, the pose to strike in a classical photo-ops as those in the entertainment industry are wont to do. But hear Ikechukwu Godwin Ogwa muse about Jimmy and you know the smiles are not feigned. “The thing I like about Jimmy is his calmness, his understanding; how he quickly knows your feeling and how fast he tries to do something about it. You can always go to Jimmy and tell him something that you feel and he has ears that listen.”

Nearly all the stars in the photographs and his wife and children have said so about the spin master who is still scratching even after a quarter of a century on the job.

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

TOURISM NATOP AGM ‘2021’ Hits High Spot

STORIES BY JANEFRANCES CHIBUZOR

G

overnor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom has advised tourism stakeholders to device new methods that would make the country’s tourism industry attractive and economically beneficial.

Speaking during the two-day meeting of Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), Udom lamented the dwindling fortunes of the tourism sector despite its vast potentials in Nigeria.

The AGM with theme “Restarting Tourism in Nigeria: A New Template” Udom, however, applauded new level of commitment and zeal demonstrated in recent times by the tour operators and other stakeholders in promoting tourism saying if sustained, it could generate huge revenue for both practitioners and the government.

According to him, Akwa Ibom State is blessed with many cuisines and natural tourist sites, including the residence of Mary Slessor, the Blue River, the longest coastline in Nigeria, while the annual Christmas Carole and Christmas Village have become major events in the calendars of lovers of tourism.

He pledged the assistance and partnership of the state government to NATOP but urged them to adopt measures that would project their services and attract goodwill to the country.

In a keynote speech, an oil magnet, Mr Akanimo Udofia, said with improved commitment and institutional attention, tourism could generate more than crude oil and gas for the country. Udofia added that many countries not blessed with natural resources had thrived and prospered through tourism.

He stated: “You will be pleased to hear that a country like Thailand, which is a developing country, ranks as the fourth highest earner for tourism in the world, earning a whopping $60 billion a year.”

At the event, a former Minister of Tourism in Ghana, Mrs. Catherine Afeku, urged Akwa Ibom Government to utilise the opportunity of the Bridge of No Return to welcome back descendants of Nigeria lost to the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Afeku urged government and practitioners to focus on domestic tourism, lobby for tourism incentives, adopt a policy of Right of Abode for relatives in the diaspora, repackage tourism sites, and patronise Made in Nigeria products and services.

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Tourism, Mr. Orman Esin, applauded NATOP for choosing Akwa Ibom and expressed hope that the conference would usher a new partnership between the state and tour operators.

Esin pointed out that the state had pioneered several

From left, the representative of the Honourable Minister of Info and Culture, the Permanent Secretary, Dr (Mrs) Ifeoma Adara Anyanwutaku, the representative of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Secretary to the Govt of Akwa Ibom State, Dr Emmanuel Effiong Ekuwem, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Tourism and Culture, Rt Hon Orman Esin and National President, Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), Hajia Bilikisu Abdul at the NATOP AGM holding at Ibom Icon Hotel, Uyo recently

aspects of tourism in Nigeria, being home to the earliest missionaries.

National President of NATOP Hajia Bilkisu Abdul paid tribute to NATOP’s former president, Mrs. Fatima Garbati.

But Abdul regretted the loss of revenue in the tourism sector occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. She said, however, that the tour business had gradually returned, with Akwa Ibom being one of the star destinations for tour operators.

“As we begin to breath back life into tourism, insecurity and high airline tickets prices became a big problem.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Ifeoma Anyanwutaku. Mohammed urged NATOP to work towards restoring the damaged tourism reputation of the country and urged them to increase international partnerships while adopting international best practices for networking.

The minister called for increased participation from the private sector while urging stakeholders to work towards packaging the country’s investment and tourism potential by repositioning the image of the country.

Chairman, NATOP Board of Trustees and Acting President of FTAN, Nkeruwem Onung, canvassed for a separate ministry in order to exploit and develop the full tourism potential of Nigeria.

FTAN Holds 2021 Annual General Meeting F

ederation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), have concluded all arrangements to host its 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and general election. FTAN is the umbrella body for tourism operators in the private sector.

According to the Acting President of FTAN, Nkereuwem Onung, the 24th edition AGM is billed for Thursday, July 8, 2021, at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Onung, was erstwhile Deputy President until April when he assumed leadership of the federation following the demise of President, Alhaji Saleh Rabo. The AGM will be a watershed in the annals of FTAN, as it is expected to usher in a new era for the federation and tourism development. He further expressed delight at the prospect of the AGM, which he said is expected to bring together various stakeholders and members of the federation to deliberate on the affairs of the federation, periscope and pave a new path for Nigerian tourism development and promotion.

He said a befitting tribute would also be paid to Rabo, a renowned tourism operator, who served as the president of the federation between July 2017 and April 16, 2021. He said Rabo’s death was a great loss to the body and Nigerian THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

tourism, therefore, the AGM which is the first to be held post his death, would be in his honor as his various contributions to the body, which he led for eight years, would be celebrated.

Rabo’s tenure as two terms president would have ended at this AGM.

The gathering will be held at Rockview Hotel (Royale) in Wuse 2, and it is expected to draw the attention of various tourism associations and operators as well as allied sectors of the economy in the country, including the federal, state, and local governments, who are expected to attend the gathering in their numbers and make presentations on the state of their tourism development and promotion. The theme of the AGM is “Constitution review as it affects tourism development in Nigeria.”

Guests are the Director Generals of the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe; Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Folorunsho Coker; National Institute for Tourism and Hospitality (NIHOTOUR).

THEWILLNIGERIA

Mr. Ikechi Uko, the Organiser, Akwaaba African Travel Market, in his remark listed “leisure, religion, visiting friends and relatives, trade and business as some of the major drivers of international outbound travel and tourism in the country.”

Statistics provided by Uko indicated that at least 559,430 passengers travelled out of Nigeria in 2019 to various countries.

According to him, 29 per cent of these travellers went to Dubai, while others travelled to London and other parts of the world.

Purported Travel Agent with EFCC, Not Our Member, Says NANTA

T

he National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) says the alleged travel agent paraded by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is not its member and should not be addressed as a travel agent.

Mrs. Susan Akporiaye President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) who clarified the position of the umbrella body travel trade operators in Nigeria on the status of Kaduna-based agency, noted that all available verifiable information at the disposal of the association shows that the purported travel agent has no relationship with the association and, therefore, should not be so addressed.

Speaking at the sidelines of the official Opening of Travel Hub, a collaborative and one bus stop outfit geared towards providing operational environment for upcoming and registered operators who may not be able to afford the high cost of office space, Mrs. Akporiaye, stated that NANTA has invested time and money to address the various challenges posed by touts in the industry, and warned members of the traveling public to circumspect when planning their trips and who to engage.

“Before COVID-19, NANTA launched its membership identify card with security features that cannot be cloned and it behoves on the traveler to request for the identity profile of the travel professional before doing business. We frown hard at fraud in the sector and have taken critical measures to address it.”

“It kills and demoralizes the efforts of registered and genuine travel professionals when touts are labeled as travel agents. It is demeaning and we pray that the security agencies and the media should reach out to NANTA to verify such purported agent(s) before going public. We are ready to even disown our members who may run foul of the law and be seen to have defrauded any member of traveling public.”

PAGE 43

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

Controversy Over KSUSTA Doctoral Student’s Death: Who Dunnit?

What could have led young and brilliant Ayo Adekunle Ajala, a Ph.D student at the Department of Crop Science, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero (KSUSTA) to commit suicide? His family inisists he did not take his life. The school authorities and the police are keeping mum over the matter. ADENIYI OLUGBEMI reports from Sokoto...

S

itting under a shade tree in front of his residence at the Shagari Low Cost Housing Estate in Sokoto and surrounded by sympathisers, late Ayo’s distraught father, Mr Ayodeji Ajala, was clearly lost in thought when THEWILL paid him a visit. The death of his beloved son had felt like a big, numbing blow too painful to be absorbed without a whimper.

Recounting how he received the sad news of Ayo’s demise, Mr. Ajala said, “Ayo left home in Sokoto for school on Tuesday afternoon. His older sister told us that he spoke with her in the evening of the same day and that he got to school safely.

“The following day, which was Wednesday, I called him on

PAGE 44

the phone. His phone rang severally, but he didn’t answer my call. That was very unusual. I kept calling till 1.30am, but in vain. I could hardly sleep that night.

“At dawn, I rushed to the pastor of the church where Ayo worshipped and shared my experience with him. Incidentally the pastor’s wife is a member of the university’s staff. He immediately called and spoke with her. She promised to contact Ayo’s supervisor and get back to us later.

“We waited for almost eternity to hear from the pastor’s wife. When I got tired of waiting, I decided to travel to Aliero with Ayo’s younger brother. On my way, I got a phone call from the pastor’s wife asking me to hurry up to Aliero.

“On getting to the university campus, we noticed that a crowd had gathered outside the hostel where Ayo lived.

Some lecturers were already seated in the compound when I reached there. They gave me a chair to sit on and then, broke the sad news of my son’s death to me.”

The lecturers told Ajala that when they entered Ayo’s room on Thursday morning, they met his lifeless body.

“I was dazed with the news and his younger brother was inconsolable,” Ajala continued, “Thereafter, they asked if I would like to see his corpse, but I politely declined. I was led to an office where I contacted my son-in-law, who later joined us from Sokoto. He was the one that summoned courage to see Ayo’s corpse.”

Two days after Ayo’s demise, somebody posted a statement on social media announcing the sad event. To the consternation of the deceased’s family, it claimed that Ayo “hanged himself to death..” and concluded that, “The cause of his suicide is yet to be uncovered.”

Miffed, Mr Ajala and other members of his family

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

...Cut Down in His Prime

the DVC, who had instructed that nobody should be granted access to the room. I managed to peep into the room through the window and found that the bed was neatly arranged as if nobody had slept on it. I also noticed that there was plenty of sand on the floor. Upon enquiry, I gathered that the sand was intended to cover up blood stains on the floor.

“After I had observed these things, my next priority was how to get Daddy and Ayo’s younger brother back to Sokoto.

They were still in shock when I drove them to Sokoto.

“Later, the university took Ayo’s corpse, which was accompanied by a doctor, a nurse and a policeman, to Sokoto. On getting to the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, the doctor suggested that an autopsy should be performed on the body, but the medical staff of UDUTH declined it because the corpse was already swollen and the stench was unbearable. On the other hand, the policeman that accompanied the corpse did not come with any document authorising that autopsy should be carried out on the body.

“We later gathered from a source within UDUTH that the facilities needed to carry out autopsy, with the corpse in that condition, were not available. There and then, we opted to bury the corpse after obtaining the consent of the father and concluded that whatever investigation anybody wanted to do, they could go ahead.

The late Ayo Adekunle.

Mr Ayodeji Ajala, father of the deceased.

“

entire neighbourhood of Shagari Low Cost Housing Estate where he was born and raised.”

On Sunday, Ayo went to introduce his fiancé, whom we had already met, to his pastor.

On Monday, he resigned from his place of work to enable him concentrate on his studies. He returned to the university on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we could not reach him on phone, only to discover his lifeless body on Thursday.

denounced the post, describing the author’s claim that Ayo committed suicide as baseless and false.

Ajala said, “The school never mentioned anything near suicide when they broke the news of his death to me. They only said his lifeless body was found in his room and the police had already started investigating his death. They also asked if I wanted his remains to be buried in Aliero and I replied that it should be taken to Sokoto.

“As of today (penultimate Thursday), the police are yet to contact us. How did the theory of suicide come in? My son has no reason for and cannot contemplate such a cruel and ungodly act. He was a well brought up, God fearing, obedient and well behaved child. Anybody can independently verify my submission and obtain further testimony about Ayo’s character and conduct at First Baptist Church, Alheri Baptist Church, Faith Baptist Church, all in Sokoto, including the THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILL also gathered that late Ayo, who would have clocked 30 years on August 12, 2021 completed his Masters degree at the same Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, where he met his death.

Recalling his son’s last days, Ajala said, “On Sunday, Ayo went to introduce his fiancé, whom we had already met, to his pastor. On Monday, he resigned from his place of work to enable him concentrate on his studies. He returned to the university on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we could not reach him on phone, only to discover his lifeless body on Thursday.

“Ayo is gifted and very versatile. He was good in barbing, photography and printing works. May God accept his soul.”

The bereaved father solemnly prayed for the repose of his beloved son soul.

Members of KSUSTA Joint Christian Fellowship, who paid a condolence visit to the Ajala family in Sokoto, expressed shock on his sudden death.

The secretary of the fellowship, Mathew Samuel, said, “We have no information concerning his death, but someone posted a statement on the social media. The fellowship cannot rely on such statements or accept them as authentic because the social media occupy a free airspace, devoid of regulations and control, where anyone can post anything.”

Samuel described the deceased as a committed postgraduate student member of the fellowship, “Our meeting point is only at the fellowship.”

In his own account, Ajala’s son- in-law, who summoned courage to see his corpse, Pastor Ola Mustapha, said he was shown a rope, which the school authority claimed was allegedly removed from Ayo’s neck.

He said, “On getting to the campus, I requested to see Ayo’s corpse. I was informed that it had been evacuated in an ambulance to the hospital. I went to the hospital and demanded to see the body. They obliged me. They took me to the room where his body was kept, but it was locked.

“Since Ayo’s belongings were still in the room, I asked for the key to the room. But I was told that the key was with

THEWILLNIGERIA

“On Friday morning, I went back to the university campus to pack Ayo’s belongings. At the office of the Chief Security Officer, I was told that since the police were already investigating the matter, I would not be given access to the room and his belongings. When I told the security men to hand over his cell phone and laptop computer, they said the items were in the possession of the university management and I should give them a few days to conclude investigation before inviting me to come for his belongings.”

On the same Friday, Pastor Mustapha, recalled that at a chanced encounter, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Bashir Ladan Aliero, while consoling him on the death of Ayo, said the deceased was a brilliant student and all his lecturers testified that he was an intelligent and academically sound student that would be sorely missed.

Dismayed by the sudden twist in the tale of Ayo’s sudden death, Mustapha says the last may not have been heard about the sad event. He insists that there was more to his brotherin-law’s demise than meets the eye.

“The evidence at our disposal indicates that the rope they claimed to have found on Ayo’s neck is neither strong enough nor is it long enough to hold someone who wishes to commit suicide. The wardrobe, in which they claimed he hanged himself, is not high enough for someone of Ayo’s height.

Besides, the corpse they showed me was in a squatting and not straight position. His legs were folded and his neck was twisted to the left.

“This sudden twist has thrown the family into more grief.

We are bombarded with phone calls from people who are eager to find out the true position of the matter. However, we are holding our peace in honour of the departed and anxiously awaiting the outcome of the police investigation.

“The outcome should unravel how and why there are blood stains on the floor of the hospital room; how a man who committed suicide could possibly vomit blood; why Ayo’s lifeless body was in a squatting position, instead of lying straight or dangling; how come the porters, or any other person, in Ayo’s hostel did not see any blood stains in his room or perceive the odour of his decomposing body and many other mysteries,” he told THEWILL. A police source confirmed that upon preliminary investigation on the matter, a total sum of N291,000 found in the deceased’s room, his two cell phones and a laptop computer are in the custody of the police.

When contacted for an update on the investigation, the spokesman of the Police command in Kebbi State, DSP Nafiu Abubakar, pleaded for more time to enable the command give a detailed outcome of their investigations.

No official statement on the death of Ayo Ajala has been released by the university’s management. Several calls and text messages sent to the university PRO, Mallam Husaini Adamu, were not answered.

PAGE 45

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

SportsLive I

n August 2019, Nigeria’s most decorated Olympian football manager, Samson Siasia, was handed the maximum punishment for the alleged crime of agreeing to “receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches” according to the conclusion of investigations carried out by world football governing body FIFA. In his managerial career, the ex-Super Eagles midfielder, who had spells coaching the national side, the first between 2010-2011 and for a period in 2016 while also serving the country as coach of the Under-20 and Under-23 sides, with whom he recorded successes at the Olympics, faced the end of what was a career that still had years ahead of it.

The statement that contained the decision of FIFA read: “The Ethics Committee has found Mr Siasia, a former official of the Nigeria Football Federation, guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches in violation of the Fifa Code of Ethics.”

The implication was clearly stated. Siasia was effectively banned “for life from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level. In addition, a fine in the sum of CHF 50,000 (US$50,000) has been imposed on Mr Siasia.” All of this stemmed from the “largescale investigation” that FIFA conducted into the behaviour of convicted Singaporean match fixer, Wilson Raj Perumal.

The ban enlisted the then 52-year-old football administrator as FIFA’s third banned personality on the continent associated with the Perumal investigations. Prior to the hammer that FIFA slammed in Siasia’s case, Abu Bakarr Kabba, the former Sierra Leone FA official and Mooketsi Kgotlele, another former FA official but in Botswana, had both been duly suspended in July of the same year.

The judgments for all three differed. While Sierra Leone’s Kabba got a five-year ban for his involvement, Botswanan Kgotlele and Nigeria’s Siasia were hit with the maximum sentence of a life ban. To further worsen Siasia’s case, he was fined the sum included in the statement announcing his punishment for the bribery accusation.

The veteran Super Eagles star and Nigerian international, capped in excess of 50 times for his country, out of which he scored 16 goals from his position in the midfield, vehemently insisted on his innocence. His position was as clear as his determination to fight to clear his name.

Although he was short of the financial outlay to prosecute an elaborate and robust defense of himself, the player who won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, adamantly refuted the charges levelled against him and entrusted the legal redress of the ban in the hands of his lawyers, who immediately set out to study the FIFA ruling in a bid to address the charges in an appeal.

In a public statement at the time, THEWILL reported that Siasia did not mince words when he said FIFA was frustrating his efforts to clear his reputation of their embarrassing accusations and that was because they did not possess proof to back their claims that he indulged in the allegations levelled against him. That was what made him so confident that he had a strong case and that he had instructed his legal representatives in this matter.

He added, “I want the world to know that rather than correct itself now that FIFA knows of the strength of my appeal and the evidence given thus far to prove that I could not have committed the alleged offences of match fixing and bribery, FIFA continues to spread false allegations that I was involved with the match fixer without any shred of evidence and has continued to do so because it knows there is no compensation claim.”

In September, Siasia revealed that he had formally began his process of appealing against FIFA’s ban, telling the press that his lawyers filed the appeal to FIFA on August 27, while another appeal was filed with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) on August 29, 2019.

Siasia made another impassioned claim of his innocence with these words, “In all my career, I have done nothing but serve my country and clubs to the best of my personal and professional ability, with all my strength and might, with discipline, pride and passion and an awareness that it is a privilege to be an ambassador of our great nation.”

All he asked for was the support of the nation he had served dutifully and with patriotism especially at a time he was troubled on two fronts. He expressed this when he added: “It is my greatest hope and belief that my country also stands by and with me at

PAGE 46

Siasia’s Altercation with Sports Ministry Siasia

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

a time like this. I am still dealing with the pains and challenges of my mother being kidnapped again and fighting to secure her release. I urge the nation to support me with prayers, goodwill and support of all kind. The demands are very heavy,” This is the background to the recent brickbats being exchanged in the ongoing altercation between the 53-year-old and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development with a string of accusations and counter-accusations bedevilling the relations between Siasia and the Honourable Minister in the Ministry, Sunday Dare couched in finger-pointing.

It all erupted after Siasia’s appeal was favourably considered by CAS and he was granted reprieve. As THEWILL reported on Monday, June 21, CAS reduced to five years the life ban imposed on the manager, stating that they found: “the imposition of a life ban to be disproportionate for a first offence which was committed passively and which had not had an adverse or immediate effect on football stakeholders.” CAS also struck off the fine against him.

After an initial reticence immediately following the CAS reversal, Siasia held a press conference in Abuja on Friday, June 25 where he opened a can of worms with the disclosure of having been left to fend for himself, without the support of the government of his own country after all he had done and was still doing until the 2019 ban. He claimed the response he got when he met Dare after the ban was not helpful. In his words, “all the Minister could say was that there was no money.”

However, Dare, did not welcome the accusation. He insisted that Siasia received some money, the details of which still existed.

He was quoted as saying: “Siasia is not telling the truth and the ministry and the government will come out with the facts of the cash he collected and the efforts we made. He is not telling the truth.”

In a formal statement released from the office of the Minister to counter Siasia’s account of events, the official explanation states: “The Minister stayed on top of the case by pulling all strings to assist Siasia. In addition to the governors of Edo, Delta, and Lagos, he made an appeal to the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, the Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi. In another instance, the Minister took Siasia on a visit to the then Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson to appeal for support for him.

“Siasia’s claim that government did nothing to assist him is untrue, deceitful, and misleading. While there are no budgetary provisions for such incidents, the ministry and the Office of the Minister gave Siasia all the support that led to the mitigation of his life ban from football-related activities.”

That did not stop Siasia from initially staying adamant in his claim that there is no proof in the statements of financial outlay from the Minister. The former Under-23 team manager, whose Olympic teams won silver and bronze representing Nigeria, challenged Dare, whom he referred to as “a nice guy” to provide evidence.

“I met him a week after he assumed office and he said they didn’t

have money, so I went to Femi Adesina (Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity) and he sent me back to the Sports Minister. I told Adesina that I came to see the President (Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)), to see if he could talk to Dare to help me, but he said I should go back to the Minister. I have letters to that effect. I’m not saying he (Dare) did not do his best, I only said he could not help me because he just assumed office.

“If he has any proof that the Federal Government helped me, they should bring it out. Nobody is hiding anything here. I’m just disappointed they did not do anything. Private sector and some governors did, but ask Dare what did the FG do for me?

He made effort to talk to people and that was it. Through him, I texted someone and he gave me money. Maybe that’s the help he is talking about. But it is not the government but an individual. I have nothing against the Minister, but if he has proof of where the government gave me money, he should come out with it.”

This initially claim of having received no financial support of any sort has recently been revised by the Siasia, perhaps after time has helped to jog his memory or perhaps after seeing some evidence to counter his earlier claims. In an admission to some media outlets, Siasia changed a portion of his stance to now claim instead that while some money reached him from Lagos State, through the intermediation of the Minister, he still insists nothing came from the FG. He said: “I don’t have any problem with the Minister. He is a nice man, he listened to me and tried to help out. He helped me talk to the Lagos State government which gave me $5,000. If the Ministry gave me anything more than that, they should show me proof. Where did they help me with $40,000?

“I understand, the Ministry does not have money and that’s the truth. I am not saying that Dare didn’t help me. I said the federal government should have helped out because I don’t have that resource to fight FIFA. I wanted the government to help me and that was it, I don’t want people to see it as if I’m quarreling with the Minister.

The fact that he got something from the a State through the middle-man function of Dare, in his capacity as Sports Minister, lays credence to some claims of the Minister. This did not factor in Siasia’s earlier country-claims until recently. There may be more that clears up with time and this points to the fact that Siasia may remember other avenues that money came in through the Minister.

It may also be that, in reality, that was all far as it went with aid from elsewhere and he had to take care of himself on his own.

Time will tell which it is but what is clear at the moment is that, obviously, the last has not been heard of the accusations and counter-accusations with the truth not being known for the time being. However, the availability of proof and evidence may well be the next stage that the drama goes with the possibility of a twist in the story.

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA

PAGE 47

JULY 4 - JULY 10, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

PAGE 48

THEWILLNIGERIA

THEWILLNG

THEWILLNIGERIA