THEWILL JUNE 13 - 19 EDITION

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T H EWI LLN I GERI A

JUNE 13 - JUNE 19, 2021 VOL . 1 NO. 18

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WAR OF THE BILLIONAIRES

Dangote Vs Rabiu: Rivalry Without End  How Buhari Tipped The Scale SPECIAL REPORT

22 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY: NOT YET UHURU

JUNE 13 - JUNE 19, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

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Great Lofty Heights Attain

...to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign!

On this Democracy Day, we are inspired by these words from the second stanza of our National Anthem, and it is our prayer that the God of creation directs our noble cause!

Happy Democracy Day

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COVER

Dangote Vs Rabiu:

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f there are two Nigerian businessmen who touch the day-to-day lives of their compatriots, it has to be Aliko Dangote and Abdul Samad Isyaku Rabiu, both founders and owners of companies that produce everything from edibles (rice, salt, sugar, vegetable oil) to building materials like cement, steel and petrochemical refineries. Both are from Kano state and are scions of parents who were also reputable businessmen.

Dangote Group is a household name in Nigeria and much of the West African sub-region while BUA has its business holdings in Nigeria mainly but also exports to some other neighbouring countries.

As of today, both are buccaneer businessmen billionaires, buccaneer not in the usual sense of sea pirates but being adventurous and sometimes quite reckless in their business pursuit. Above everything else, they are also rivals bent on outdoing, outsmarting one another for dominance in the vast and forever expanding marketplace in the country and Africa.

Rated by Forbes as Africa’s richest man, Dangote’s net worth in the first quarter of 2021 was $16.4 billion. At $4.9 billion, Rabiu’s real time net worth is almost a quarter of his senior colleague and fellow industrialist.

To answer these questions, it is perhaps necessary to go back in time and exhume from history similar business spats and rivalry between contemporaries who fought battles not only on the pages of newspapers but in the courts.

Sometime in 1879, Thomas Edison invented the light bulb to pioneer a new age of electricity. But there was a problem: how to transmit this new invention to a larger populace, from people in urban areas to the remotest folk in rural settlements.

Unsure of what to do, Edison challenged a young Serbian mathematician and engineer, Nikola Tesla, working in his company, Edison Machine Works to find a solution. The brilliant Serb did. His answer was redesigning his boss’s Direct Current to Alternating Current to transmit high voltage energy over long distances using low current.

Edison was charmed by Tesla’s solution and even called it “splendid” but thought it was impracticable. Certain of his workable solution, Tesla looked to another company, Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing, where George Westinghouse immediately bought and championed the young engineer’s solution. In no time, Westinghouse had taken over much of electricity transmission in parts of America at the expense of Edison.

Naturally, Edison felt threatened. What to do? Bring down Westinghouse by any means possible. How did he go about it? The imminent execution of a murderer condemned to death by hanging, which was the major form of execution at the time, presented Edison with a golden opportunity to ruin his competitor, Westinghouse, leading to what has been dubbed the War of the Currents.

To cut a long story short, Edison suggested using Alternating Current for future execution of condemned criminals and even carried out public demonstrations on animals proving, once and for good, how awful his rival’s invention was.

The face-off between Dangote and Rabiu has nothing to do with electricity transmission but the same motive of market dominance lies at the heart of it all. If a rival is creeping in on your turf patch by patch, there is every tendency he might corner everything to himself at some point, thereby reducing your market value and returns. Nothing could be more threatening to a businessman with great expectations from a market he had entirely to himself.

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Dangote

Why are two of the most influential businessmen in Africa at war? Why are these two men who should otherwise be brothers given their natal state, now in a litigious claim in the court?

Dangote and Rabiu’s enduring rivalry is decades old. People close to the families say their feud dates back to the 80s.

Abdul Samad Isyaku Rabiu is the son of foremost Kano merchant, Alhaji Isyaku Rabiu, who made his fortune from trading and manufacturing while Dangote is the son of Mohammed Dangote though he was raised by his maternal grandfather, Sanusi Dantata, the wealthy merchant, following the death of his father.

Rabiu established the BUA Group in 1988 as a manufacturing, trading and agricultural company eleven years after Dangote launched his company in 1977.

According to multiple sources, Rabiu claims Dangote has managed to attain the successes he has achieved in business because he has been using his connections in government to influence policies that help stifle competition in his favour in order to monopolise trade since the Rabiu family business suffered a great deal when then military head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, detained and locked up Isyaku Rabiu on allegations of not paying taxes to the federal government.

Dangote has managed his business interest stealthily nurturing it as governments changed hands from military to civilian rule. His big break would come during Olusegun Obasanjo’s eight-year administration when he found favour in Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba popularly known as Andy Uba, a former powerful and influential aide of OBJ as he is commonly called. The leverage helped Dangote dominate and expand his hold in the commodities trade crushing competitors in his path.

Rabiu, who appears to have found favour in the current administration, to Dangote’s chagrin, has been steadily and boldly making inroads into the cement and sugar sector and taking market share and frontally challenging Dangote in the process.

Now referred to as the Sugar War between the businessmen, Kenneth Ehigiator reported in Vanguard of April 9, 2021 how the conglomerates are “locked in a bitter sugar war over production and exportation” of the commodity.

Joined by Flour Mills owner, John Coumantaros, a Greek/ American, Ehigiator wrote that on January 28, 2021, the duo of Dangote and Coumantaros had written to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, concerning BUA’s refinery in Bundu Free Trade Zone in Port Harcourt “of undermining the National Sugar Master Plan NSMP.” In a counter charge written on February 11, 2021 to Adebayo, Rabiu took umbrage at the pair’s letter to the minister, describing Dangote as “a monopolist.” In his letter, he said: “in Nigeria and anywhere in the world wherever Dangote is operating in any sector or business, he seeks to muscle out competition through any means necessary” and “this scenario is playing out again in this case.”

“It is, however, strange that his current co-conspirator, John Coumantaros, a Greek/American national, was once a victim of Dangote’s. They are only just acting as friends in connivance because of their interest to push out competition and create a monopoly for themselves.”

Besides, Rabiu responded that the sugar refinery in Port Harcourt has presidential backing, insisting that Dangote and Coumantaros “were calling to question the authority of the President’s power and the diligence of the trade ministry.” Rabiu did not stop there, declaring that “we see this as an affront to the powers of the president and an attempt to undermine Nigeria and its institutions as well as edge out competition, to gain a monopoly that holds the country to ransom.’’

Rabiu would take his case further to the Presidential Villa where he eventually got President Buhari to overturn Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, the now suspended Managing Direc-

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COVER

Rivalry Without End

period. With a combined market capitalization of N6.27 trillion (N3.74 trillion and N2.53 trillion), or 31 percent of total market capitalization of N20.23 trillion as of March 2020, Dangote and BUA naturally boosted the stock market.

In its aggressive pursuit of market dominance, Dangote Cement executed a buy-back (of 85.2 million shares) on the NSE in December 2020. The deal, aimed to repurchase 10 per cent of the company’s 17.04 billion issued shares, led to a 9.98 per cent rise in its share price to N230.4. The shares, which had hit bottom in April, rose to an almost two-year high on news of the share buyback, according to Reuters.

One can philosophically say, when Dangote sneezes, the market catches cold.

Notwithstanding their market dominance, Dangote Cement remains one of the most capitalized firms on the Stock Exchange. As of December 31, 2020, Dangote Cement has a market capitalization of N3.65 trillion, while BUA recorded a N2.49 trillion capitalization.

Such is the perennial rivalry between the two business moguls that a commentator bemoaned their ruptured relation in an article published recently. “Discord rattles the beams and eaves of industry and high society,” the writer began, “as Abdul Samad Rabiu and Aliko Dangote engage in a bitter feud. The chairman of BUA and Dangote Group, respectively, disrupt the peace of the industry leaving it shaken and distraught like a guava tree caught in the path of a thunderstorm.”

Rabiu

A healthy competition, so it is said, brings out the best anywhere in the world except in totalitarian regimes. Sports goods giant, Nike, may just sit on its palms if there was no Reebok or Puma to offer a good fight. Likewise Coca Cola if Pepsi Cola didn’t exist. In that light, some now see the rivalry between Dangote Group and BUA portending the best for Nigeria’s economy.

tor of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, who had earlier withdrawn the approval given to BUA for the sugar refinery. Ms. Bala Usman was however suspended from office over an unrelated issue.

Dangote had initially used Ms. Bala Usman, his intimate friend, to try to knock down the BUA sugar refinery until Buhari stepped in.

Most business analysts can tell you off the cuff that one of the most consistent charges levelled against Africa’s richest industrialist is living up to his reputation as a core capitalist and monopolist.

A few days after the president gave the sugar refinery his backing via a directive to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, THEWILL gathered that Dangote frantically sought audience with the president to overturn the approval. He met a brick wall. While the President was in Paris recently at the behest of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, for urgent talks on economic and security issues, Dangote flew to the French capital hoping to meet with PMB on the BUA refinery issue as well as to plead for the reinstatement of Ms. Bala Usman. He was unsuccessful.

Is Africa’s richest man losing his influence at the presidency? Dangote had enjoyed easy access to multiple Nigerian presidents, from Obasanjo through Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to his successor, Goodluck Jonathan. After all, he contributed billions of naira to their campaigns and, in turn, the former presidents lent him their sympathetic ears.

close radius of the factory itself. Controversy however followed after it emerged that Dangote Group also bought the land on which the limestone deposit is. How come? Dangote and Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, are very close friends.

BUA Group thereafter filed a suit and got an injunction against Dangote through its lawyers, insisting that the Dangote Group only has mining rights in Kogi state and not Edo, a border state.

Another instance of the bitter rivalry between these industrialists could be seen in Rabiu’s entry into petrochemicals and hydrocarbon refining.

Just about three years after Dangote started construction of his gigantic 650, 000 bpd petrochemical refinery in Lekki, Lagos, Rabiu, last September, announced BUA’s plan to construct a 200, 000 bpd integrated refinery and petrochemical plant in Akwa Ibom State after signing a technology licensing deal with Jean Sentenac, CEO of French environmentally-friendly hydrocarbon processing company, Axens.

While Dangote’s plant is scheduled to commence full operations in the first quarter of 2022, BUA’s refinery is primed for delivery in 2024.

Another case pending in the court is between Dangote and BUA over the later’s acquisition of mining rights in Okpella, Edo state.

Dangote and BUA are both blue-chip companies, in the same sector and both enjoy federal import protection. They also both serve a local market with huge demands for cement. The two companies enjoyed preferential treatment during the land border closure when they were reportedly given the permit to export their products while the border closure was still in force.

Okpella Cement Factory had been run for years by the Edo State Government, almost always at a loss. BUA successfully bid for and now manages the cement factory with a large deposit of the raw materials - a limestone quarry - within a

This controversial treatment impacted significantly on the stock market because their operations obey the fundamental ‘ice’ law of economic development: Investment, Consumption and Export (ICE). They earned huge money during the

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Besides, there are no shortages of former allies, business partners and competitors turned enemies in history. Though it would have been unthinkable in Soviet-era Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, once the Iron Curtain came tumbling down, it quickly opened the way for a free market economy.

It also opened the way for spirited competitiveness among its business elite, the oligarchs.

Two of them stand out, Boris Berezovsky and his former business partner, Roman Abramovich. After a long-drawn court case in London, the two parted ways and never met.

Berezovsky died in March 2013.

Far away to the west of Moscow and across the Atlantic, two former business partners also had their squabbles over the monopolistic tendencies of one of them, almighty Bill Gates of Microsoft. His accuser was Steve Jobs of Apple.

Though they later made up with a prompt financial rescue package by Gates to Apple in its period of crisis, the acrimony tore the friends apart for years.

Described as “genius rivals,” Jobs famously said of Microsoft in a cutting remark in 1996 that “the only problem with Microsoft is they have no taste. They have absolutely no taste. And I don’t mean that in a small way, I mean that in a big way, in the sense that they don’t think of original ideas, and they don’t bring much culture to their products.”

Riled to no end, Gates responded to Jobs’s barbs thusly: “I don’t know why acting like it’s superior. I don’t even get it.

If you just want to say, ‘Steve Jobs invented the world, and then the rest of us came along,’ that’s fine.”

Even so, when the time came to bail out Apple with funds, Gates never hesitated. They also made up afterwards.

So will the legendary feud between Dangote and Rabiu come to an amicable resolution at all or will this protracted trade war continue to evade settlement like the Israeli and Palestinian conflict?

Time will tell.

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JUNE 13 - JUNE 19, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

NEWS Ban on Keke: Hard Times Hit Commuters in Anambra FROM CHARLES OKEKE, AWKA

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ommuters were stranded in different parts of Anambra State last Friday as the ban on commercial tricycles, popularly called Keke NAPEP, and shuttle buses came into full force.

It would be recalled that the Anambra State Government banned the vehicles from operating in any part of the state as from 7pm.

The development forced thousands of commuters to walk long distances, at great risk to their health and personal safety, to their various destinations.

A statement signed by the Secretary to the State government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, had earlier announced the ban to the general public.

In the statement, Chukwulobelu explained that due to the need to check the crime rate and improve security in the state, the state government deemed it necessary to ban commercial tricycles from operating in greater Onitsha and Awka areas during the day and night.

He warned that commercial tricycles found within these areas would be impounded.

The ban, according to the statement, will last for one month. It added that shuttle buses were banned from using tinted glasses or curtains while plying Anambra roads.

Since the ban was announced, life has not been the same for many residents of the state. THEWILL investigation showed that apart from the fact that none of the outlawed categories of commercial vehicles were seen on major streets and adjourning communities in Awka, the state capital, many commuters had to walk all the way to their destinations.

The areas worse hit by the ban include Dike Street, Arthur Eze Avenue, Awka to Amawbia routes and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Avenue routes, among others daily plied by Keke and shuttle buses in the state capital.

Anambra Government to Offset Hospital Bills of Accident Victims

FROM CHARLES OKEKE, AWKA

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he Anambra State Government has said it will pay the medical bills of all the victims of the fatal road accident that occurred recently at the Akwata Junction in Awka.

The incident took place when the driver of a truck loaded with cows lost control of his vehicle and ran into passersby, killing eight persons and damaged some vehicles in the process.

A release signed by the Commission for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C.Don Adinuba, stated that Governor Willie Obiano had directed a team of top government officials to ensure that the victims received proper medical attention and, if necessary, were taken to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, or any other reputable hospital in the state for treatment.

Governor Obiano has also directed the high-powered team to visit families of the deceased and the owner of the cattle involved in the accident, Mr Cosmas Chibuike of Umunnachi in the Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state. Obiano asked the team to condole with Mr Chibuike not only over the death of the cows in the accident, but also the killing of some of the animals by a irate mob.

Stressing that the state government and the people of Anambra abhor jungle justice, the governor added that such behaviour had no place in a civilised society. “Like in every decent society, there are laid down procedures which aggrieved citizens and people take. Persons found guilty of irresponsible conduct in respect of the tragedy of last Friday will face the consequences of their action,” he said.

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L-R; Emir of Kano, HRM Alh Aminu Ado Bayero; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Barr Joseph Bade Daramola and His Eminence, President General of NSCIA and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar during an audience with Osinbajo by members of Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), held at the State House, Abuja on 11/6/ 2021.

Buhari Underscores Benefits of Rail Network he President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the new rail network initiative would make Nigeria’s ports as the choice for import and export business particularly for landlocked Niger Republic.

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“I am pleased to address you again today and preside over the flag off ceremony for Commercial Operations of Lagos – Ibadan railway project at the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station, Ebute Metta, Lagos,” Buhari said.

Buhari made the assertion at the flag off of the Commercial Operation of the Lagos – Ibadan Rail Line project held on Thursday at the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

According to him, the vital line had established an end-to-end logistic supply chain in railway transport within its short corridor, Lagos – Ibadan.

He said that the inauguration of the standard gauge railway would be beneficial to the economy through employment from new business opportunities and wealth creation.

Buhari said that goods to the hinterland would now be transported by rail directly from the Apapa port Quayside straight to the Inland Container Depot located in Ibadan from where it can be distributed to other parts of the country.

Buhari said that the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Finance had been directed to vigorously seek njfinancial agreements with appropriate co-financiers to partner with the Federal Government for the development of the Ibadan – Kano railway.

He said that the rail would connect the Tin Can Island port as well as the West – East Coastal rail line from Lagos to Calabar linking Onitsha, Benin, Warri, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Aba and Uyo. “This is already yielding the desired result as construction activities on the railway segment, Kaduna – Kano has commenced with backend engineering activities.

“Distinguished guests, from the beginning of this administration, railway infrastructure development has been given the priority it deserves and various milestones have been reached, right from when the Abuja – Kaduna railway was flagged-off for commercial operation in 2016.

“This Lagos – Ibadan railway project is being commissioned today for full commercial operation.

He said that in clear recognition of the challenges posed to our economic growth by absence of strong and effective infrastructure, the government had embarked on the completion of the outstanding segment of the Lagos – Kano railway, which was Ibadan – Kano.

He said that the Lagos – Kano railway project when completed would link the Kano – Maradi line at Kano and a rail link from the Nigeria southern ports of Lagos to Maradi in Niger Republic would be achieved.

Buhari commended the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, and management of Railway Corporation for their drive and tenacity to achieve the milestone recorded today.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said that this was the third times President Muhammadu Buhari would be commissioning standard gauge railway.

In his welcome address, the Board Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Alhaji Ibrahim Alhassan, said elected representatives had supported the standards gauge railway to be successful (NAN).

CNPP Urges Lovers of Democracy to Beware of APC’s Antics

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he umbrella association of all registered political parties and political association in the country, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) called on Nigerian voters and lovers of democracy across the world to be wary of what it described as “the antics” of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of appearing “to be pro-democrats and at the same time circumvent democratic norms”.

CNPP Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, in a statement commemorating the anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely acclaimed to be won by business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, noted, “While June 12 will continue to remain relevant in political discourse in Nigeria, many antidemocratic individuals have continued to gain access into the corridors of power under the guise of June 12 supporters.

“It is about time we began self-appraisals, ahead of the 2023 general elections, to ensure that Nigerians benefit from what June 12 epitomises rather than turning the symbolisms of the annulled free and fair election as a gate-pass to power by politicians and their cronies.

“The All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government has

carried on theoretically in the last six years as pro-June 12 and all that the June 12, 1993 presidential election represented, especially by instituting June 12 as a Democracy Day. But in practice, it has exhibited anti-democratic tendencies, either by oversight or consciously.

“Two of the fundamental elements of democracy are periodic elections and respect for rule of law. These basic ingredients of democracy have been unacceptably undermined in the last six years.

“First, the APC won presidential election, for the first time in the history of the country, an opposition party’s candidate beat an incumbent president in an election that was globally heralded as free and fair.

“This was attested to by the fact that the then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) never challenged the outcome of the presidential polls in court.

“Has the APC improved on acceptance of election outcomes in the country in the last six years? Are our elections better? Do citizens have more confidence in the electoral process today?

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SPECIAL REPORT

22 Years of Democracy: Not Yet Uhuru

THEWILL CORRESPONDENTS igeria marked another Democracy Day on Saturday, June 12 to celebrate the nation’s burgeoning democratic experience. Without any iota of doubt, the democratic journey for the country has not only been tortuous but frustrating at the same time. More disappointing for most Nigerians is the fact that 22 years into the democratic journey, the most populous black nation in the world is walking a tight rope as its economy is on life support. Aside from the glaring infrastructure deficit, the aching spot is the acute revenue shortage. Yet, the country sinks deeper in the miry clay of debt. At the same time, the culture of waste, kleptomania and corruption persists. This demands urgent action to save the economy from possible implosion as the volatility associated with oil price in the international market is real.

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Nigeria’s debt profile is mounting precariously with little revenue cushioning effect. Latest data by the Debt Management Office (DMO) shows that the country’s total public debt portfolio (for states and federal government) as at December 31, 2020 is N32.91 trillion. This is N20.31 or 161 per cent higher than N12.6 trillion in 2015 when the Muhammadu Buhari-led government was first inaugurated.

Government officials use any opportunity to convince Nigerians that the nation’s fiscal challenge is not debt but revenue. This argument is considered corrugated by many. How can you borrow above your revenue capacity?

Why invest on huge infrastructure projects that would not generate the revenue to pay back the debt? What is the rationale in borrowing for recurrent expenditure, especially payment of salaries? Most worrisome: Why is your recurrent expenditure window increasing and widening amid revenue challenges?

Since 2016, the Nigerian government has not achieved THEWILLNIGERIA

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its revenue budgets, while recurrent expenditure is fully executed as a matter of ritual. Based on the 2017 Budget Implementation Report by the Budget Office, for instance, out of N5.084 trillion projection of Federal Government retained revenue, only N2.37 trillion was realised, representing 46.75 percent performance.

On the expenditure side, the combined executed personnel and debt servicing budgets amounting to N3.50 trillion exceeds the overall realised revenue by a whopping N844.88 billion. This implies that Nigeria used borrowed funds amounting to N844.88 billion to pay salaries and service debts. This is part of the overall N2.5 trillion borrowed to fund the 2017 budget (made up of N1.3 trillion from domestic and N1.2 trillion from external markets, respectively).

Further analysis revealed that the overall borrowed sum of N2.5 trillion was more than the net increase in lending to the private sector in 2017 by the deposit money banks. In the final analysis, the government carried a debt burden of N1.3 trillion it could not resolve in 2017. The quagmire arose from the fact that the N2.5 trillion it borrowed from banks to finance the budget was short of clearing the N3.8 trillion arising from expenditure that overshot revenue.

This is an example of Nigeria’s fiscal challenge that has dovetailed into a high debt profile which now consumes about 80 percent of revenue annually for debt servicing. The consequence is that the capital expenditure which should drive the economy through viable infrastructure development is abandoned. This creates negative macroeconomic circumstances such as rise in unemployment, inflation, misery index, insecurity and drop in standard of living.

Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, at a recent webinar organised by the Association of Securities Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), stressed that the government’s

borrowings should be targeted at development of the productive base of the economy, rather than supporting or supplementing consumptive tendency.

The limited economic linkage of the huge project compared to the benefit of investing the resources in power generating plants, for instance, can be imagined. A shock in oil price in the international market will result in economic upheaval that will trigger disruption in productive activities, job losses, drop in tax revenue and high inflation; but debt obligations must be met.

The DMO has blamed COVID-19 for the recent rise in government borrowings. Government recently disclosed that it would convert the N10 trillion loans it owes the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) into a 30-year bond. The ‘indebtedness’ to the CBN was largely by Ways and Means advances.

In many cases, the much-touted infrastructure ends up an expensive, wasteful and corrupt-ridden social project. For instance, the Abuja-Kaduna train, for a long time , reportedly consumed fuel worth three times the ticket revenue realised in a month. Interestingly, e-ticketing has been introduced to correct the anomaly. Little is known about the cost-benefit or return-on-investment outcome of the Kano-Maradi (Niger Republic) $1.9 billion railway project flagged off

by President Buhari in February 2021 being executed with public debt.

Recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics showed a 60 per cent drop in capital inflow in 2020 from $24 billion in 2019 to $9.7 billion in 2020. The country’s foreign trade also dropped by 10 per cent to N32.42 trillion in 2020 from N36.15 trillion in 2019. Total exports dropped by 34.8 per cent from N19.19 trillion in 2019 to N12.522 trillion in 2020. *Continues on Page 8

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SPECIAL REPORT Unemployment rate climbed from 27.1 percent in Q2 2020, to 33.3 per cent in 2020 – the highest in over 13 years.

Inflation soared to 17.33 percent in February – the highest in four years, as against 16.47 percent in January 2020. The economy needs to be re-tuned to avoid the damage that a huge debt profile with inadequate revenue stream will create.

The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, in January 2021 cautioned Nigeria on its ballooning debt profile, noting that the country’s debt servicing obligations posed the greatest risk to the economy.

Akinwunmi spoke at the First Annual National Tax Dialogue organised by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in Abuja.

While passing the 2021-2023 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF-FSP) in October 2020, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, bemoaned the Federal Government’s unbridled appetite for debt to finance projects.

“There are projects that I feel we should ensure we don’t borrow to fund. We should explore other opportunities in sourcing funds such as the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), Public Private Partnerships and so many other options.

I think we should explore those so that we minimize the borrowing,” Lawan counselled.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in March 2018, warned that Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African nations were at growing risk of debt distress because of heavy borrowing and gaping deficits. The resident representative of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Nigeria, Abdallah Kiliaki, at a meeting with then Senate Committee Chairman on Foreign and Local Debts, Shehu Sani, in 2016, observed that although Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio was low at 17 percent, resources being used to pay the debts were enormous going by percentages taken on a yearly basis.

He added that Nigeria spent 80 percent of her revenue on debt servicing, cautioning the country against getting herself suffocated by such huge debt servicing with limited resources.

However, the Federal Government thinks otherwise.

Nonetheless, Nigerians have been reacting to the muchflaunted democratic journey of Nigeria, saying it is not yet Uhuru for the country. With the Buhari Administration in the mid-term of its second tenure, after spending a cumulative six years in power, there is so much despair and frustration in the land. The general insecurity, kidnappings and banditry across the nooks and crannies of the country have exposed the helplessness of the government thus compounding the woes of Nigerians.

IT’S A HUGE JOKE - BODE GEORGE For the former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, the celebration of Democracy Day is simply a ‘huge joke’.

He maintained that those elected into various offices in Nigeria have emerged through a rotten process, saying if they have emerged through a rotten process , what comes out of that?

“There has not been a thorough election. Those people in INEC can also see that their families too are suffering now.

The people you claim you elected , somebody selected them and paid you. We are deceiving ourselves, that is why there is nothing impactful in the so-called democracy here. We say we are celebrating democracy day. It is a joke,” he told THEWILL, adding, “I have been saying it and I have been happy to hear that the INEC is now saying that we want to go digital to modernise our electoral process. Until we do that, we are deceiving ourselves.”

NOTHING TO CELEBRATE - STEVE ALUKO Steve Aluko of the Civil Societies Organisation, Jos, Plateau State, affirmed that “There is nothing to celebrate.”

Aluko said, “Everything that June 12 stands for has been compromised by the same people that are calling on us to celebrate it. The same people in government now have never believed in June 12, which they are promoting now for political reasons. They can’t be celebrating June 12 when there is no local government autonomy; local

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Not Yet Uhuru Buhari being sworn in as President on May 29, 2015.

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government elections are not held when due; elected councils are dissolved at will with executive impunity; and there is no security of lives and property. June 12 is rather a moment for sober reflection, especially now that things have gone so bad, and government and governance have failed to guarantee the welfare of the people.”

ALL THE GAINS HAVE BEEN RUBBISHED – ADAMU MADAIKI A lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Jos, Adamu Madaiki, also maintained that there is little to celebrate, especially from 2015 to the present day.

“All the gains of 1999-2015 have unfortunately been rubbished by the present dispensation. The rule of law as a hallmark of democracy is no longer there and the electoral process is so badly flawed that elections no longer give the people hope and opportunity to determine their affairs by actually choosing who presides over them. So, I think there is very little to celebrate on June 12 as it is idleness,” Madaki told THEWILL. NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY STILL AT TEETHING STAGE – SULE YAU SULE Dr. Sule Yau Sule, a senior lecturer at the Mass Communication Department of the Bayero University, Kano, thinks democracy is still in its teething stage in Nigeria. Sule, who is a former media adviser to former Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso, says, “We should be talking about Democracy Day with mixed feelings because it has provided us an opportunity to progress and have infrastructural development. But at the same time, it is giving people the opportunity to engage in activities that are inimical to national unity. Anyway, it is a learning process for many because up till now most Nigerians do not understand what democracy means, including our leaders. Why for instance should state governors corner allocations meant for local government areas? That is where the dividends of democracy mean more to the people.”

FRUSTRATING TIMES FOR ENTERTAINERS BOB MANUEL- UDOKWU Actor-cum-politician, Bob Manuel-Udokwu, believes that President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure has not impacted anything positive in the entertainment industry.

“Things are now more difficult than before and this has to a large extent affected the industry, which is now comatose thus leading to unimaginable frustration and despair for entertainers.

“People are no longer working. If you check the pages of newspapers, you will see that practitioners are dying. The situation is really bad. This administration has not favoured

the industry. It is really terrible for the entertainment industry,” he said, in an interview with THEWILL. So, I think there is very little in celebrating June 12 as it INSECURITY, KIDNAPPING NOT HELPING MOVIE MAKERS - NWABUEZE But Chinyere Nwabueze, an actress/movie producer, says most movie producers now rely more on digital marketing, especially for movies shot in Asaba, Delta State as the second coming of the Muhammadu Buhari administration has caused piracy to die a natural death.

“Industry practitioners no longer have to grapple with the menace, unlike before when at the stakeholders lost millions of naira to piracy. Also, the increasing spate of insecurity and kidnappings has greatly hindered moviemaking as this requires a lot of travelling from one location to another.

“Nobody wants to be caught in a cross-fire or kidnapped on the highway while travelling to different towns to shoot movies. And so, most movie producers in the South-East now prefer to bring their productions down to Asaba to shoot, but the number of movies they shoot is few and far between, unlike what was obtainable in the past,” she said.

REMARKABLE RESILIENCE FROM WRITERS, ARTISTS Most African governments are notorious for not caring much about the arts, literature and culture though they claim to be only when a writer wins some international recognition. It has been so with Nigeria. It is on record, for instance, that former President Olusegun Obasanjo presented former French President Jacques Chirac with some art works during a state visit to France.

Despite all that, artists, writers and those in related professions have done well for themselves individually.

More books have been written by Nigerians home and abroad, such as Helon Habila’s ‘Travelers’, to cite one example. Exhibitions have taken place, too, despite the COVID-19 restrictions. What it all means is that, despite lack of government encouragement and patronage, Nigerian writers, artists and culture workers have shown remarkable resilience against all odds.

Most impressive of all is the imminent return of looted art works from Benin during the massacre in 1897 when the British invaded and stole many works of art from the ancient kingdom. Those in the know say they will be returned in batches from both private collections and public galleries and museums where they have been for centuries. It is something to be cheerful about.

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POLITICS

Mid-Term Report: 9th National Assembly T

that existed between the legislature and the executive between 2015 and 2019 is not repeated.

This is not surprising, if one recalls Lawan’s inaugural speech two years ago, in which he emphasised the need for a paradigm shift on a working relationship between the legislature and the executive arm of government.

2009), which was specifically geared towards increasing collectable revenues from proceeds of crude sales. This is aside many other development focused legislations targeted at boosting the national economy like the Public Procurement 2007 (amendment) bill 2019, Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap C20 LFN 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2019 etc, which were passed and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.

So what has the current National Assembly been able to achieve at its mid-term, both in its core legislative duties and the oversight functions over the Ministries, Departments and Agencies? Expectedly this question will generate mixed reactions from Nigerians who elected the legislators in the 2019 general elections.

In the speech, titled: ‘A Senate that works for Nigerians,’ Lawan said, “We are going to work collaboratively with the executive arm of government to strengthen our planning and budget linkage that ensures effective service delivery and fulfillment of essential government obligations to the citizens, while taking care of the perennial delays in our annual appropriation bill passage and implementation.

It is also on record that both chambers of the National Assembly have brought about constructive engagements between the 9th National Assembly and the executive arm of government, resulting in the bringing of the passage and expected Presidential Assent to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) this year, which had defied efforts in that direction for the past 14 years, into reality.

“Within us as a Senate, our leadership will commit to partnership rather than partisanship. Between us and the executive arm of government, we will choose unity of purpose over conflict and discord, while also working towards further strengthening and guaranteeing our independence and that of the judiciary…”

THE CRITICS’ VIEWS Many critics of the Ninth National Assembly have seen its actions within the last two years, with regard to express approval of executive requests and approval of appointments with little or less screening , as portraying it as a ‘rubber stamp’ to the executive arm of government.

Two years down the lane, the National Assembly under the leadership of Lawan and that of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt.Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, had in collaboration with the executive arm of government, reverted the yearly budget cycle to January – December as against June – May yearly cycle that existed in the past.

Many of the critics believe that President Buhari has been able to take some steps, which they believe are not following democratic tenets and able to go ahead with it because the National Assembly dozed off and was unable to check the excesses of the Executive.

BY AYO ESAN

he Ninth National Assembly clocked two years on Friday June 11, 2021 having been inaugurated on June 11, 2019. Both chambers of the Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives, were inaugurated separately on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 and they will both run their course on June 11, 2023.

It is pertinent to state that in writing about the mid-term report of the National Assembly, kudos must first be given to it for the peaceful manner in which it elected its leaders in 2019.

The calibre of leaders of the assembly also gave hope to many Nigerians that it would have a good record and achieve stability for the second tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Ninth National Assembly is presided over by Senator Ahmad Lawan in the Senate and Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila in the House of Representatives. Lawan, who is from Yobe State, has been a member of the National Assembly (first in the House of Representatives) since 1999, while Gbajabiamila has been in the House since 2003. While Lawan is deputised

by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from Delta State, Gbajabiamila is deputised by Ahmed Idris Wase from Plateau State.

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Also during the period under review, the Senate in collaboration with the House of Representatives, had successfully amended and passed the Deep Off-Shore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act Cap D3LFN 2004 (Amendment Bill

Speaking with THEWILL, a former Chief of Army Training, Operations and Planning, Major-General Isola Williams (Retd.), said the Ninth National Assembly has failed to live up to the expectations of Nigerians. He said, “In fact, the current *Continues on Page 11

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POLITICS

Nigeria Must Be United – Governorship Aspirant to ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizens of the state.

STORIES FROM UDEME UTIP, UYO t this period in Nigeria’s history, everyone and institution wants to stand on their own, and to have absolute control of their resources. Everybody wants to opt out of a system that is on the brink of total collapse as a result of the incompetence of the government at the centre.

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“From what I have seen, I give Governor Udom Emmanuel a lot of credit. Democracy entails giving the people good governance. I can say that Emmanuel has delivered the dividends of democracy to the people. Another administration can build on that without jeopradising the peace and security of the state.

Agitations driven by a secessionist agenda have been on the front burner of discourse in the country for many years.

In fact, this dates back to the period after Nigeria gained independence from the colonial rule. It is a historical fact that such agitation led the country to a destructive civil war, in human and material terms, which lasted between 1967 and 1970.

“I want to say that we have come back to the foundation of democracy laid by people like Obong Akpan Isemin and Obong Victor Attach. We need to continue to strengthen it,” he says.

The international businessman has been in private practice for over three decades. He fits into Emmanuel’s idea of a successor, one with an internationally recognised email address. He says that, following the philosophy of the cluster industrial development initiated by the present administration in the state, there is a properly laid foundation to follow and many issues to be fixed.

This is evident in the rising waves of protests by pressure groups across the country. Even the recent #EndSARS protest that sent waves of violence sweeping across the country looked more like a pre-planned revolution but for the timely intervention of the security agencies.

The recent public sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives committees on the review of the 1999 Constitution reveals that some of the 36 states are hardly satisfied with the positions they have found themselves. They see the federation as currently constituted as a forceful union that has not worked and cannot work except restructuring takes place.

The Efik speaking people of Cross River State, for example, are agitating for a separate state that would join them with their counterparts in Akwa Ibom State, the Oron people to form Calabar State.

Almost all the states are looking for more local government areas and local government areas are agitating for more political wards. These agitations are clearly driven by a desire for political and economic gains, which may not be of much benefit to the masses but members of the ruling class.

In the face of this development, discerning and patriotic Nigerians, who still hold the opinion that a united and indivisible Nigeria is possible, have appealed to a voice of reasoning among the people.

One of them is the Chief Executive Officer of Iniama Consult, an Estate Management and Valuers firm, James Iniama, says that what led the country to a civil war should be forgotten, even as the things that unites Nigeria as one entity must be emphasised.

Iniama is of the school of thought that believes charity must begin at home. Noting that family systems and structures should be developed to strengthen unity among siblings and by implication, the larger Nigerian society, he says, “The family is the smallest socialising unit. If we fail at this stage, then it is impossible to talk about unity I the larger society. I think we should begin to inculcate the values of unity in our families, religion, the educational system, government and non-governmental organisations. I want to stress the culture of having our families dwell together in unity because that is where it begins”.

Iniama, who is also one of the governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State, recalls that the forebears of the Akwa Ibom State, even before it was created out of Cross River State, were bound by what was called the Ibibio Union, which established the people in a manner that they lived in unity and engaged in communal services as a people.

He argues that if Nigerians collectively de-emphasise the things that keep them apart and focus on the things that hold them together as one nation, unity and peaceful coexistence will be achieved.

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It is obvious that there are persons who view the idea of secession from the federation as a permanent solution to the challenges currently facing the country.

“Let us keep aside everything that is divisible: religious bigotry and tribalism, which have weakened the very fabric of the country. I believe that unity is an absolute necessity.”

Iniama, who sees unity in diversify as a means of promoting democracy in Nigeria, calls on the authorities to insist on the implementation of the institutional requirements that strengthen the bond of unity, such as the Federal Character Commission, which seeks to give equal rights to all the federating units.

Assessing the tenure of the Udom Emmanuel administration in Akwa Ibom, he says he decided to return to the state when he discovered that the administration had done a lot

He notes that human capital development, informal business sector, small and medium scale enterprises, agriculture, which entails food processing, storage and general food security are necessary issues to be fixed in the state to ensure sustainable economic growth.

Calling for more responsiveness from the government at the centre, Iniama adds, “President Muhammadu Buhari should listen more to the yearnings of the people. There is so much of crying in the nation. Even the earth of our nation is crying today because of too much blood shade and iniquities.

“I call on the Christian community and the Muslim community that a time has come when we must deal with issues because we must have our country. We don’t have a choice.

Nigeria is our only country and it cannot be divided. We must live together in peace and harmony.”

Udom Emmanuel’s Five-point Agenda in Motion

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t is obvious that despite growing concerns over the economic challenges associated with the global insecurity and economic recession, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State is committed to the completion of major projects embarked upon even by his predecessors for the well-being of the people.

One of these is a world class international terminal building and other innovations geared at repositioning Akwa Ibom as an aviation hub in Africa.

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Special Duties, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, and the team Project Manager handling the edifice, Mr Onur Uzel, stated that the governor is really positively different as he runs the state like a business. Modelled after the latest international airport terminal at Istanbul, Turkey, Ette said that although the terminal would be an improvement on previous ones in the country, every facility would be automated; from the access routes, the elevators and escalators, etc, which makes it a smart building. It is designed to accomodate a minimum of 1 million passengers every year.

Talking more on the facilities at the terminal, the commissioner explained that the facility at completion will be divided into two: Domestic and international terminals and each with a sitting capacity of 1,000 persons each at the arrival and departure halls.

“Provision is made for Immigration, Customs, duty free shops and everything to qualify an international terminal in an airport.”

With the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) to complement, The Victor Attach International Airport, when completed has the capability to employ thousands of Akwa Ibom people directly and indirectly, in addition to providing investment opportunities and boosting small and medium scale enterprises.

With two aircrafts expected to be added to the Ibom air fleet soon, the airport is one project that is expected to generate a lot of revenue for the state when completed and completely operational.

The Project manager, who took our reporter round the construction site, said the terminal is standing on 30 square metres of land, constructed with Space Frame roofing, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria without any welding point. He explained that such roofing, a Turkish technology, allows for expansion and is favourable in any weather condition.

He expressed regret at the delay occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, but pledges that the project will be completed and delivered before the end of 2022, taking into consideration few months of test running.

As he celebrates six years in the Hill Top Mansion, the seat of government in the state, Udom Emmanuel has commissioned scores of projects, including those inherited from past administrations.

He promised to leave Akwa Ibom State better than he met it and it is obvious that his administration has achieved this and is currently doing more.

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POLITICS Democracy Day: Senator Tinubu Expresses Optimism for A Greater Country

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enator representing Lagos West in the National Assembly, Oluremi Tinubu has expressed optimism in the growth and development of Nigeria as a strong, vibrant and united country amid the current challenges of insecurity and civil unrest.

In a message to celebrate Democracy Day, tagged Nigeria: A Diamond in the Rough, she congratulated the government and citizens of Nigeria at home and in the Diaspora, describing the current fourth republic as worthy of celebrating as the longest chain of civilian rule our country, Nigeria, has witnessed.

She said in the message signed by her and made available to THEWILL, “Twenty-two years ago, we made a choice – a conscious decision to be governed by democratic principles and to uphold the rights of every Nigerian. And while it has not always been an easy journey and has often, failed to meet the expectations of the ordinary Nigerian, there is no doubt that this administration is on the right track to creating the Nigeria we can all be proud of.

“I have seen a Nigeria that is a diamond in the rough – resource and culture rich, with vast human capital, and huge potential for growth. We have survived a civil war, various military regimes, civil unrest etc. and emerged on the other side, still waxing strong.

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Mid-Term Report

Senate President is the worst we ever had in this country.”

Gen Williams described the Senate President as not good enough for the country. He noted that since the law setting up the South-West security outfit known as Amotekun had been established in every state in the geopolitical zone, what the National Assembly ought to have done was regularise the situation, but it failed to do just that.

Also the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja Chapter, Dr Kassim Umar, cautioned the leadership of the National Assembly on ‘the same page relationship’ it is running with the executive arm of government, since the three arms of government in a presidential democracy are meant to serve as check and balance on one another.

Umar said, “Harmonious working relationship among the three arms of government and in particular, between the Legislature and the Executive in a presidential democracy like Nigeria, is a welcome development, but taking it to the realm of subservience, by being on the same page with the executive on all issues, is dangerous for good governance.

“In the light of this, Nigerians will want the Ninth National Assembly to be more assertive, thorough and resolute in exercising its constitutional duties as regards approval of proposals from the executive arm of government so as not to be seen as rubber stamp and invariably creating perception problem for itself.

“The performance of effective oversight functions on the two other arms of government by the National Assembly is highly expected by Nigerians. This will go a long way, in taking off whatever toga of rubber stamp many critics have put on them.

“Approving all proposals forwarded by the Executive without coming up with a robust legislation that will transform the country for good, will make its public perception to be more of a rubber-stamp than an autonomous arm of government.“ Also speaking with THEWILL, a former Presidential Candidate of Kowa Party in the 2015 General election, Prof Remi Sonaiya, condemned the extravagant nature of the National Assembly wondering whether its members were really interested in serving the generality of Nigerians or the elite.

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Representatives, saying that both chambers would have done it jointly to save costs.

WE ARE NOT RUBBER STAMP – LAWAN, GBAJABIAMILA The rubber stamp appellation given to the Ninth National Assembly was vehemently rejected by its leaders. In their reactions, Lawan and Gbajabiamila expressed the opinion that having a harmonious working relationship with the Executive and the attendant ‘rubber stamp’ appellation is far better than frictional one maintained by the immediate past assembly, which yielded Nigerians and Nigeria, nothing, in terms of good governance.

Gbajabiamila said, “People, critics and members of other political parties have said the Ninth National Assembly is a rubber stamp of the executive. They may have told you that, too. You know what? It is better to be a rubber stamp and bring progress than fight the executive without progress because when two elephants fight, the grass suffers.

“The fact is that the National Assembly is not a rubber stamp.

This is a National Assembly that represents the interests of the people. The people of Surulere did not elect me to fight the executive, but to engage and collaborate with stakeholders to bring the dividends of democracy.

“We have witnessed growth in various facets of our nationhood. We have also been plagued by insecurity, and divergent voices speaking against the Unity and Peace of our Nation.

She said that in spite of it the crisis facing the country, Nigerians must continue to bring to the fore, “the diversity and resilience that we are known for, defending her unity, and upholding the honour and glory of Nigeria.

“A great Nation is possible and we must continue to keep the faith, believing in the future of our Country, and playing our part to protect the Dignity, Peace and Prosperity of Nigeria,” she concluded.

Ayade’s Defection: Council Chair, Deputy Speaker, Others Formally Quit PDP

FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR ollowing the recent defection of the Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade from the PDP to the APC, several supporters across the state have keyed into the political realignment.

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The latest is the Chairperson of Calabar South Local Government Area, Esther Bassey, who has formally defected from the PDP to the APC. Esther Bassey who is also called Queen of the South moved to the APC alongside lawmakers, commissioners, aides, and stalwarts in the council area.

“This is a new dispensation. There will be checks and balances.

There will be separation of powers. We will agree with the executive if we have to and we will disagree if we have to. Our watchword is to protect the interests of the Nigerian people.

That is the oath that my colleagues and I swore to.”

Her move to the APC is significant as the area has one of the highest registered voters in the state and plays host to a number of political heavyweights in the state.

Also reacting, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan declared that the path chosen by the Ninth National Assembly to work in harmony with the executive arm of government has benefitted Nigeria and Nigerians in so many ways through series of bills passed and assented to by the President and very important ones being worked upon with the hope and assurance of being assented to by the President when transmitted to him for that purpose.

Others chieftains from the area who also defected with the Chairperson include the Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Joseph Bassey and the Chief Whip of the Assembly, Okon Ephraim.

“Such bills include the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Electoral Act (Amendment) 2021, 1999 Constitution (Amendment) 2021 etc.”, he said.

Political analysts, watchers of political developments in the country and social commentators while appreciating the peaceful engagement between the Ninth National Assembly and the Executive, believe the assembly ought to perform better than it has done in the face of various challenges facing the nation since the last two years.

The Chairperson registered for the APC alongside all the councillors of the local government and political appointees from the area.

Others are the Commissioner of International Donor Support, Inyang Asibong, the State Chief of Protocol, Emmanuel Asikpo as well as the Commissioner for Environment. Mfon Bassey.

Speaking after her defection, the Council Chairperson said they needed to join the governor in relocating to the center and commended the governor for the bold move.

She decried the high level of unemployment in the area and said the defection will afford youths in the area the more opportunities.

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POLITICS/INTERVIEW

Nigeria Must Be Restructured Before Next Election - Sonaiya Prof Oluremi Sonaiya was the only female candidate that contested in the 2015 presidential election. In this interview with AYO ESAN, she speaks on issues affecting Nigeria. Excerpts:

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une 12 has been chosen as Nigeria’s Democracy Day. It used to be May 29, but three years ago President Muhammadu Buhari made the change. How do you see the development?

Well, it is a response to popular sentiment really because I believe it is the people who preferred June 12 as Democracy Day to May 29. So, may be President Muhammadu Buhari was just responding to popular sentiment. The people said June 12 is much more significant than May 29. So, it may be that President Buhari just feels it is good to go along with the people’s sentiment.

For instance, the latest ban on Twitter, under the guise of controlling hate speech and insecurity and so on, is really an attack on democracy. There is no democratic country that does not have people who are out to foment trouble. Will you say that because some people are using the Internet for hate speech you will impose a ban on it to the detriment of millions of other Nigerians who are using it in the right way and for good purposes?

Some people are doing legitimate business on Twitter.

Are you going to make them suffer because of some people who are using it wrongly? That is a challenge for Democracy and that is the challenge I believe that our leaders are unable to fix and to react to right now.

If your solution is to clampdown on people because some are using something wrongly, then you are really not in democracy. You are an authoritarian regime.

The Ninth National Assembly was two years on the June 11, 2021. How do you rate its performance in the last two years?

I don’t know about rating. The questions you are asking me are typical journalists’ questions. How do you rate this, how do you score that and so on. I think you people should help us to probe things deeply. You PAGE 12

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For the past 22 years we have been having democratic rule. How do you see the journey so far?

I think we should situate this conversation within the things that are happening in this country. Let us not just say, Democracy Day, another one has come again. The reality of our existence right now, I believe, is that there is an assault on democracy and democratic principles.

It seems as if our current government is drifting more and more into a resistance of true democracy. This is because true democracy is government by the people and for the people.

ought to go deeper than this. Let us look at what they are doing. How are they doing their work? Let us ask questions that will bring out the real issues.

The National Assembly currently has recommended some bills for passage which the President has not assented to .They have refused to pass some bills which the public might feel that they should have passed like the Gender Equity Bill. The question is who are they representing? Who are the members of the National Assembly representing? Are they representing the interests of the generality of Nigerians?

Let’s take the ongoing constitution review as an example. The House of Representatives and the Senate have had their public hearing and the people have asked, “What is the use of that duplication? Why did they duplicate efforts?” It does not look like our

lawmakers are mindful of the costs of their activities and the attendant burden placed on Nigerians. They don’t seem to be mindful of it .So the money is there and they can spend it anyhow. They spent it on themselves and for their own remuneration. They also spent it in duplicating efforts. Are they conscious of the fact that every single kobo that they spent in an unnecessary manner translates into robbing Nigerians of some vital services?

Our resources are not limitless. So if they are spending money on things that are not critical or vital, it means that they are not going to have money to spend on things that are more important, such as fixing our roads, giving us a better supply of electricity, water, hospitals, schools and so on. These are the real issues and that is why somebody like me, for instance, I would like to say that I am for a unicameral legislature.

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POLITICS/INTERVIEW

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Personally I am hoping that we are not going to have another election with the system that we have now.

That is my hope, my prayer and my desire. I pray that we will be determined to change this system and restructure this country

African country like Nigeria. We are having serious challenges in the form of banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram insurgency, herdsmen attacks and so on. We need money to tackle these challenges, but we are not thinking of making fundamental changes that can help us to save money.

You talked about the ongoing plan to review the 1999 constitution, but some people believe the appropriate thing to do is to get a brand new constitution. What’s your take on this?

Yes, a brand new constitution. That is my own personal opinion. I am part of a group known as ‘Fix Politics’. We want to fix Nigerian politics. We made representation at various centres during the public sitting on review of the constitution. And I will like to let you know that, what we are asking for is a brand new constitution. Of course, the members of the National Assembly have said they are not empowered to do that. According to them, what their power can do is to make amendments. So our suggestion is that they can just do one thing for us. They should not worry about the issues that various interests groups have brought before them. Let them do one thing: Amend the constitution to allow the citizens to have a referendum on the constitution. Let them just do that one thing for us.

I think that the situation in the country right now and the resources that we need, do not allow us this luxury of a bicameral legislature. I think that if the National Assembly really had the interest of this nation at heart, it would include a change from a bicameral to a unicameral legislature as part of the amendment of the ongoing amendment of the constitution. And it is not as if we are saying something that is out of the ordinary.

In 2012, Senegal needed money because they had serious drought that affected a lot of people. And they didn’t just want to go borrowing like Nigeria is wont to do. They asked themselves what to do internally to save money. What they did was to scrap their Senate and use the money saved as a result of the action to help their citizens affected by the drought. That is an THEWILLNIGERIA

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Once that is done, then the citizens can take over.

This is because what we want now is a citizens-driven constitution. It is not the one that a group of people will impose upon us. The citizens are already talking, anyway. Some are saying, let us first of all revert to the 1963 constitution. That one was clearly negotiated and agreed to by the different regions of Nigeria. May be we can go that way and then each region, which retained autonomy, can now decide what kind of structure they want internally for their region. Some are saying no because the regions in those days were divided into three: Western region, Eastern region and Northern region. What if we just take the six geopolitical zones that we have now and say let them be the federating units of our country? And then each federating unit can now decide what kind of structure it wishes to have internally. These cases of listing local government areas is not the business of the constitution. These are the issues we are concerned about.

What do you think can be done to improve our electoral system as we move forward as a nation?

Again we made our submission to the National Assembly, regarding the ongoing electoral review.

We also learnt that work has been completed on it.

Unfortunately nothing has come out. The National Assembly has not come out with what they have proposed as amendment. I think the general comment about the constitution also applies to the electoral law.

The problem with Nigeria is that we are running a

terribly centralised system. That cannot help us.

The reason why it cannot help us is because we are a diverse people and we have not been able to evolve a system to effectively manage our diversity. That is important and that is also reflected in the way that our elections are conducted. We conduct our elections as if the whole of the country is the same, may be in term of development and so on. But we know that is not true.

You can’t compare the level of Lagos State with the level of some other states. So why do we think we must have a blanket system for the entire country?

If INEC only managed the presidential election and the regions have complete authority over the elections at their different levels is it the state governor that they want to call the head of their region? Whether it is Prime Minister, local government, districts or whatever, this is the way democracy functions effectively. Democracy does not function well when you run a unitary system of government.

A few days ago on Channels TV, I saw somebody speaking in defence of the government on the ban on Twitter. He was making a comparison between the situation in Nigeria and other countries and kept referring to China and Russia. It was very instructive that his examples are not democratic countries. China does not run a democracy and Russia does not run a democracy. So why are his examples only from China and Russia? Why was he not talking about the United Kingdom? Why was he not talking about America?

Those are the established democracies that we know?

So it is important to realise that these are the issues we have to confront. Let us truly live up to our name of being a federal republic. We are a federation. That means a lot of autonomy for the federating units. And then the only structure that binds all of us together would be national issues.

I can quickly say that, for instance, when elections are conducted in some states in the United States of America, people don’t even bother to leave their homes because it has been decided that voting would be by posting ballots. You post your ballot. Of course, you post it freely. They send ballots to every voter and you are required to return it through the postal services.

So there is no going out to line up on Election Day. People can respond to the challenges within their own localities in a sensible manner. May be this is possible because of the high level of literacy in such states.

Similarly, we can engage our people with written documents and things like that. In some cases they do both electronic voting and stamping of papers. So why are we behaving as if we cannot think and find our way out of this mess? Nigerians are gifted people. The government should not confine us to a state of sleeping giant. We used to say that we are the giant of Africa, but people are no longer calling us that. It is true we have slipped and now we are called a failed state and it is a shame because Nigeria does not deserves to be in that position.

You contested the presidential election in 2015. Now that 2023 is almost here, what are you gunning for in the next election?

Personally I am hoping that we are not going to have another election with the system that we have now.

That is my hope, my prayer and my desire. I pray that we will be determined to change this system and restructure this country. That is the language people are using. I also pray that we should restructure before another election. Who is the present system helping?

Honestly it is not working. So why should we keep on repeating the same thing? That is my sincere hope.

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EDITORIAL

Nigeria’s Democracy @ 22

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ollowing the death of General Sani Abacha in 1998, his successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, initiated the transition which heralded Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999. The ban on political activities was lifted and political prisoners were released from detention.

A new constitution was drafted and enacted, albeit hurriedly, to usher in a Fourth Republic. Just like the 1979 Constitution, which ushered in the Second Republic, it favoured an American-style presidential system of government.

Subsequently political parties were formed. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) were registered and elections were scheduled for April 1999.

In the widely monitored 1999 election, former military ruler, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was elected as president on the PDP platform. He was sworn in as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in May 1999.

In the controversial general election, which was held on April 22, 2007, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the PDP was elected president.

Following the death of Yar’Adua on May 5, 2010, the then Vice President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, became the Acting President and held this position till the following year when he was elected president, in an election that was largely acknowledged as the freest since the restoration of democracy in the country.

Jonathan was succeeded by the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, who

won the 2015 presidential election, thus ending the PDP’s political domination of the country which lasted 16 years (1999–2015).

How then has Nigeria fared in its democracy in the last 22 years? Surely, we do not need a soothsayer to tell us that our journey to democracy so far has been riddled with socio-political challenges and seemingly intractable economic problems.

Nigeria is known to practice democracy only in name and not in principle. In the first place, the structure it inherited from the military was a top to bottom approach in which one man at the centre dictates to the federating units that form the ‘ federation’ and those at the helm in the states go cap-in-hand every month to collect their shared resources. The healthy competition that characterised the First Republic is conspicuously absent.

In a typical democratic setting, power evolves from the people in a bottom-to-the top approach to governance.

This is hardly the case in the current dispensation, especially with a self-serving political class that habitually turns its back on the electorate after satisfying its desire for votes.

Secondly, most major political players in the country are former military top brass that have not fully embraced authentic democratic principles. The only democratically-elected Presidents that enjoyed the two consecutive terms so far are former military heads of state, Olusegun Obasanjo (1999 - 2007) and the incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari (2015 to date).

Both Obasanjo and Buhari ruled Nigeria like military dictators. Their wishes and approaches to governance

were mostly undemocratic.

In its 22 years of uninterrupted democracy, Nigeria has been troubled by many governance-related problems, often typified by persistent crises experienced before, during and after elections. Instances of this abound from the experiences of the 1999, 2003 and 2007, even the 2015 general elections in the country. The conduct of these past elections was fraught with irregularities such that many wondered if the country could survive the ensuing crises. Fortunately, it did and has continued to do so amid a volatile political climate.

However, the nagging question is how long will the political leadership of this country continue to bastardise democracy and engage in electoral brinkmanship?

Nigerian politicians appear to be more interested in winning elections by any means possible than to build political institutions that will stand the test of time.

We believe the political leadership of the country should not only think of the yearly ritual of celebrating Democracy Day, but also learn to embrace the true ideals of democracy and its way of life as opposed to the arrogance and self-serving attitude exhibited by a majority of the elite.

Twenty-two years is a long time to master the art of democracy. By now, we should all put on our thinking caps and as we celebrate the Democracy Day, we should let it reflect in the way the country is governed.

Constitutionalism is a fundamental requirement of democracy and this should be imbibed as opposed to the present dictatorial tendencies of the ruling class.

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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

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OPINION Challenge Facing Farouk Yahaya

BY PHILIP AGBESE

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he appointment of Major-General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff on May 27, 2021, has generally elicited loud endorsements from Nigerians. His appointment followed the sudden demise of his predecessor, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a plane crash, along with 10 other military personnel in Kaduna a week ago.

Gen Yahaya, one of Nigeria’s finest breeds of trained infantry soldiers, has a rich profile and experience in counter-terrorism.

A member of the 37 Regular Course of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on September 22, 1990.

Over the past decades, Yahaya has held numerous staff, instructional and command appointments in the Nigerian Army.

He was a Garrison Commander, Headquarters Guards Brigade; Deputy Director of Army Research and Development; Military Secretary; the Chief of Staff, Headquarters of Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield; and the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, among others.

Until his recent appointment as COAS, Yahaya’s service records were synonymous with military excellence globally. He has been deeply involved in the campaign to rid the country of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, functioning in his capacity as the Theatre Commander of the renamed counterterrorism and counter-insurgency military outfit code-named ‘Operation Hadin Kai.’ The Hausa word, ‘Hadin Kai’ literally means ‘cooperation’ in English.

In the last six years, the Nigerian Army, no doubt, has dealt a fatal blow on Boko Haram insurgents, ISWAP terrorists, armed bandits and other allied cross border armed criminal gangs who have taken great delight in terrorising parts of the country. With the confusion and internal fighting in the Boko Haram and

ISWAP camps, coupled with the sustained pressure mounted on these terrorists by the Nigerian Army, the appointment of Gen Yahaya as Chief of Army Staff is quite significant to efforts aimed at stamping out all forms of terrorism in the country.

There is no disputing the fact that Yahaya will not only excel in his new assignment, but also his achievements will surpass that of his predecessors. The general public expects him to live up to expectation by breaking new records in the prosecution of Nigeria’s renamed counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

Yahaya’s appointment means many things to different Nigerians and it has spurted various dimensions of national discourse. But the dormant and inescapable feature of these perceptions is the trust and confidence reposed in him, as well as the belief in his competence and ability to finally extinguish the raging fires of terrorism in Nigeria.

However, there are a few leftists in Nigeria who have never failed to rubbish any policy or decision pronounced by the Buhari Presidency. These minority discordant voices have formed the habit of faulting every decision of the President. This is not necessarily based on sound reasoning, but from selfish, unpatriotic and self-satisfying prisms. This group of Nigerians is blind to the anticipated impact of Yahaya on Nigeria’s antiinsurgency campaign.

These ethno-religious bigots and promoters of regionalism are not pleased with President Buhari in his choice of Gen Yahaya simply because the battle tested Army general is not from their part of the country. The expressed sentiment is that Buhari would have attracted their eulogies had he appointed someone from their part of the country, even if he is glaringly incompetent or unqualified.

It is the usual hypocritical trait in most Nigerians, which has held back the progress of this country for many decades.

Many of the critics are laughably questioning Buhari’s failure to appoint an Igbo into the National Security Council. The truth is that the National Security Council is not an arena for ethnic groups or campaigners, but a serious platform for tested and trusted senior military officers. It is easy to notice the confusion in the camps of these disguised saboteurs. It is not surprising that none of them is faulting the appointment of Gen Yahaya as COAS based on competence or previously poor service records. Instead, their grouse is that he should have been a top-ranking Igbo, Yoruba or Ijaw military officer.

For those who are knowledgeable in security matters, Yahaya’s appointment is one of the best that President Buhari has made since the beginning of the year. Anyone who thinks otherwise should contest this assertion. As someone who has served as GOC and later, theatre commander in the Northeast, Yahaya is deserving of the mandate to lead the war against insurgency ad terrorism in the country.

Nigerians, particularly the troops in the frontlines, expect the new COAS to immediately restore suspended Army core values, which initially sustained counter-insurgency operations. These include the return of all quarterly exercises, development of a versatile Intelligence gathering network/ instruments, sustenance of the apolitical posturing of soldiers and decisive warfare expeditions against all armed criminal elements across the country.

Nigerians are assured that with the known records of Gen Yahaya the country is about to witness the final defeat of insurgents, terrorists and their sponsors. The COAS will certainly make Nigeria proud because he is prepared and well equipped to deliver on the task given to him. Nigerians wish him and his team good luck.

•Agbese is a publisher and human rights law researcher based in the United Kingdom

Constitutionalism: Time to Tinker With Confab ’94 Report

BY ABDULRAZAQ MAGAJI

F

ederal lawmakers have been travelling round the country to sample public opinion on how best to review the amended 1999 Constitution that was hastily prepared by the military. Of course, the exercise, like the previous ones, has cost the Federal Government a lot of money. While we pray that it does not turn out to be another jamboree, it is important to point that we could have achieved something close to a people’s constitution at less cost and devoid of any razzle-dazzle. How is this possible?

First, let us remind ourselves of one bitter truth. In more ways than one, the death of General Sani Abacha in 1998 denied Nigerians the opportunity to consign the hot air of restructuring to the trashcan of Nigeria’s political history.

Reference here is to the stillborn 1995 constitution, a product of the 1994/1995 National Constitutional Conference which contained some of the most revolutionary proclamations capable of restructuring the country. In a manner of speaking, the draft report of Confab ’94 would have given Nigerians something very close to a ‘people’s constitution.’

For very obvious reasons, it was expedient for General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who succeeded General Abacha, to shred any document that had the tag of his predecessor on it.

Without any doubt, Abacha, who was nudged into snatching power by the same people who turned round to become his implacable adversaries, was a divisive leader. When, therefore, he died after holding the country together for five impossible years, survival instincts compelled his stop-gap successor to disown him. Disowning him was a convenient way of healing wounds. More important, it was a way of wooing the SouthWest back into the fold.

Expectedly the Justice Niki Tobi Committee, which was set up to explore the way forward, slammed the 1995 draft constitution before hastily throwing it out. The committee’s reason was that Nigerians ‘raised compelling reservations’ over the document, being the ‘product of a disputed legitimacy’ and which ‘suffered a crisis of identity in the public consciousness’. In its place, the Niki Tobi Committee recommended that the 1979 Constitution be amended and foisted on Nigerians. The committee claimed that the 1979 THEWILLNIGERIA

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Constitution ‘had been tried and tested and, therefore, provides a better point of departure in the quest for constitutionalism in Nigeria.’

Criticism trailed the 1999 Constitution even before it was promulgated.

Let us return to the 1995 draft document. It is interesting to note that Nigeria’s official six geo-political zones, a product of the 1995 draft document, remains the most enduring legacy of General Abacha. In any case, the zones were meant to be the building blocks for the fundamental changes envisaged by the 1995 draft constitution which made provision for six principal offices of five-year single-term duration to rotate among the zones. The document made provision for the offices of President, Vice President, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as the position of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

It is safe to suggest today that, had death not abridged Abacha’s dream or, better still, had political exigency not prevailed on General Abubakar to throw away the baby with the bathwater after General Abacha’s death, the chances are that by 2021, Nigeria would have experimented with the ‘Abacha formula’ for 23 of the ‘30-year transition period’ which was projected to ‘promote national cohesion and integration’, after which merit and competence would replace rotation in determining who gets what.

In strict adherence to the principle of rotation envisaged by the Abacha document, at no point in time would any of the six geo-political zones have cause to complain of marginalisation since there was always going to be one ‘juicy’ office to be vied for by each of the zones every five years. What this means is that, by 2018, the fifth of the six zones would have produced a president for the country. It also means that by 2023, each of the six geopolitical zones would have produced a president, a vice president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, president of the Senate and speaker of the House of Representatives for a single term of five-year duration.

This unique provision eliminates the incumbency factor and its attendant abuses. Since the draft envisaged its replication at state levels, the President and other principal officers, as well as state governors and stand disqualified from standing

election for the same office during their five-year single term incumbency. General Abacha’s death robbed Nigeria of the benefits of these well-thought out provisions that would have restructured Nigeria from a country of contending ethnic nationalities into a modern nation state in 30 years.

More than two decades after ‘throwing away the baby with the bathwater’, Nigerians are still playing the ostrich instead of sobering up and overgrowing the prejudices of the Abacha era. Many of those who concede today that the late Head of State was not entirely evil allude to the uniqueness of the draft report of the National Constitutional Conference, which he convoked.

Take time to scrutinise the draft report of Confab ‘94 and you will readily admit there would not have been Boko Haram, IPOB and, most certainly, no Niger Delta insurgency if the nation was regulated by the provisions of the document.

As a matter of fact, the Abacha document was so comprehensive to have anticipated the untenable and wrong-headed secessionist agitation and the hollow talk of marginalisation that comes with it. Now, can and, should Nigerians continue to play the ostrich and allow lawlessness to dominate the political scene? Can we afford to allow virtual bandits to dictate how the country is run? Are we to allow a rambunctious few to continue to stampede us and dominate national discourse?

Of course, the talk of dissolving Nigeria is hot air that lacks substance. Yes, there is need to restructure and this should not be mistaken for a breakup as some are so lazy to believe. We need to restructure in a way every section of the country will, at all times, be appropriately represented in governance.

The Abacha draft constitution took care of these and more.

The document suggested a five-year single-term for elective posts. To restructure in a way lawmaking will be pro-active, effective, inexpensive, the document made provision for parttime lawmaking.

Nigeria should restructure in a way that treasury looters will not be shielded from prosecution. It may interest Nigerians •Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

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CBN Debunks Planned Nationalization of Unity Bank

Strides, Challenges of Ports Economic Regulation PAGE 33

Coronation Merchant Bank Quotes Additional CP On FMDQ PAGE 34

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$27.2bn Deal: FG Grants 4 Airports Special Economic Zones

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

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ith over $13.6 billion investments attracted into various Free Trade Zones in April, 2012, it is estimated that the value of investments till date may have doubled up to $27.2 billion.

• Rejigs NEPZA Act •Abuja, Lagos, Others to Enjoy Tax, Duty Waivers companies and others that reside within the zones, which the President noted and approved.

Some of the benefits, according to the Ministry of Aviation, include harnessing the socio-economic benefits derivable from civil aviation, generating revenues for the government and creating avenues to mobilise local and foreign direct investment for overall growth of the economy.

THEWILL recalls that the Federal Government in 1991 joined other countries operating Free Trade Zones (FTZ) by taking the first step toward establishing the Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA or the Authority), vide the NEPZ Act. However, it took the first EPZ in Calabar nine years after the birth of NEPZA to commence operations in 2001.

The designation is also expected to attract more international and domestic airlines and world class organisations into the Nigerian aviation industry, thereby fast tracking the upgrade and development of new infrastructure/facilities at the airports.

A decade after, and in its desire to address issues concerning taxation, custom duties and fiscal issues in the Nigerian Aviation industry, the Minister of Aviation, Alhaji Hadi Sirika, has requested NEPZA to designate four major international airports as special economic zones, based on the NEPZA Act. Under the Act, a Free Trade Zone is equally a category of the Special Economic Zone in Nigeria.

With the status of Special Economic Zones, the four airports are entitled to enjoy some benefits, such that they are seen as areas where goods may be landed, manufactured, handled, stored, or perhaps reconfigured and re-exported under specific customs regulation.

Also goods processed for export from FTZ are not subject to customs duty and they are often set up around major seaports, international airports and national frontiers, as well as areas with many geographical advantages for trade.

In addition, goods or services become subjected to customs duties only when they are moved to consumers outside the FTZ, but within the country in which the FTZ is located (the customs territory).

The Investment Procedures, Regulations and Operational Guidelines For Free Zones in Nigeria 2004 (IPROG2004) issued pursuant to section 10 (4) Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act (NEPZ Act) defines FTZ as export processing zones created under the NEPZ Act. At present, there are about 33 functional and active FTZs in Nigeria. They include Airline Services FTZ, Ladol FTZ, Lagos FTZ, Lekki FTZ15, Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), Nigeria International Commerce City (Eko Atlantic), Snake Island Integrated Free Zone in Lagos State16, Sebore Farms FTZ in Adamawa State, Alscon FTZ in Akwa Ibom, Calabar FTZ in Cross River, Maigatari Border Free Zone in Jigawa State, Kano FTZ in Kano State, Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone in Ogun State and Onne OGEFZ in River State.

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Sirika

The four international Airports concerned are the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Port-Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt; and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

“The Special Economic Zones would also help to reduce the tax burden on aviation companies to enable them compete internationally and create a more efficient and businessfriendly trade environment around the airports, comparable to other countries with less bureaucratic red tape because of the associated fiscal incentives and packages.

“

The operation of the airports as Special Economic Zones would also help to generate employment opportunities and human capital development, and improve the overall ease of doing business in Nigeria which is in line with the Federal Government’s commitment towards national economic development

These enterprises, THEWILL gathered, can operate without trade barriers, bureaucratic bottlenecks and customs interference in order to attract new investments, business and foreign participation. The ministry’s request therefore, is coming, following the approval granted by President Muhammadu Buhari to that effect.

With the move, aviation experts are of the belief that there are enormous benefits of the designation and operation of the airports as special economic zones.

As Special Economic Zones, the benefits can also be accorded to all airlines, airport operators, aviation support

“The operation of the airports as Special Economic Zones would also help to generate employment opportunities and human capital development and improve the overall ease of doing business in Nigeria, which is in line with the Federal Government’s commitment towards national economic development,” a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs at the ministry, James Odaudu, stated.

In terms of revenue, the Special Economic Zones will generate additional non-aeronautical sources of revenue for the aviation industry.

The ministry added, “As promised at the inception of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, the government remains committed to the development of an investmentfriendly aviation sector that will not only make Nigeria a regional hub for air transportation, but increase its contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product.”

The aviation minister, therefore, appealed for the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders in the new development in order to achieve the desired goals.

The government agency overseeing the activities in the free trade zones in Nigeria is the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) established under the Nigeria Export Processing Zone Act Cap N107 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (the Act).

Approved activities in the FTZs, include manufacturing of goods for export, warehousing freight forwarding and customs clearance, handling of duty free goods (transshipment, sorting, marketing, packaging, etc.), banking, stock exchange and other financial services; insurance and reinsurance and import of goods for special services.

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MARITIME

Strides, Challenges of Ports Economic Regulation bribes to carry out their functions at the nation’s seaports. Condemning such an attitude, Bello said this has a negative effect on the ports as it sends a bad signal to the international shipping community. He appealed to the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and other agencies to support the joint inspection to work at the ports. Bello believes that seven days cargo dwell time can be achieved with joint boarding of vessels and joint inspection of cargo. He argues that 21 days cargo dwell time, as has been the case, was because there has not been a joint examination.

He said, “What kind of country or port do we want if agencies responsible for joint examinations don’t report on time? Examination of cargo should be done at a given time and people should abide by the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as far as clearance of cargo is concerned.”

Bello had disclosed that through joint boarding of vessels, the Committee recovered $20,000 being bribe money by people who go onboard vessels. He warned that boarding of vessels in the ports is being monitored, adding that any agency or individual frustrating this process would be exposed. “We are going to name and shame them publicly and we will arrest them.”, he threatened.

Apapa Port

However, Bello disclosed that a lot of progress has been made as far as compliance with the ports process manual was concerned. Many of the agencies, he added, have been complying with the NPPM, though some were yet to fully comply with the new SOPs.

Amid the notorious operating environment of Nigeria ports -- characterised by corruption, congestion and choking traffic, FRANCIS UGWOKE, provides insight into the lingering nightmare the system imposes on operators and proffers the way out.

T

he job of an economic regulator is no doubt a formidable task. It is even more so in a sector like the maritime industry.

This is considering the setting and practitioners. Some would describe the environment as having a mafia setting and therefore a sector to beware because of the activities therein. Although, this is not to smear the good image of the providers and consumers of shipping services, the truth is that the sector is not one for cozy practitioners, so to say.

It is a sector where everyone is in the habit of hustling to maximize profit in a peculiar way. It is an industry where some would often circumvent trade rules for maximum profit. It is also a sector where the government has over the years continued to wage war against all forms of trade malpractices. This is not just about the shippers (importers and the exporters), terminal operators and multi-national shipping agencies, but also government’s own personnel who are supposed to be gate-keepers in the system.

In effect, what the shippers do is of interest to the gate-keepers without which the latter is out of business. For instance, it would be recalled that the former military President, Retd General Ibrahim Babangida had, decades ago, tried to reduce the number of security agencies at the ports to no avail. The security agents would receive a directive to leave, but would have a way of remaining put, enjoying the spoils of the sector.

The security agents would insist on being part of the examination of goods at the ports, or mount their own roadblocks if not involved -for extortionist tendencies -- with the excuse of protecting national security interest. That was before the concessioning of the nation’s ports in 2006.

Since then and in line with the ease of doing business at the ports, the agencies have had their numbers cut down. Yet, those affected, like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), among others, have not stopped lobbying to come back. The scenario is that even some personnel not posted to the ports among the approved agencies have devised the means of finding their way into the ports , or staying a few meters away from the facility.

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engage the services of freight forwarders to justify their being on the road. In Apapa port, Lagos, for instance, one can find operatives of the FOU stationed permanently near Flour Mills/Area B Police Station waiting for containers that have been cleared at the ports.

The FOU operatives also have a check-point at Otor Wharf, near Mile2 waiting for containers from Tin Can Island, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal and Sifax terminals at Coconut.

Owners of such containers and other goods leaving the terminals must settle the operatives or they will seize or delay movement of such goods on flimsy excuses. The situation has even become so embarrassing to the resident Customs commands whose personnel wonder why such vigil few meters away from the gates of the ports where these consignments had gone through scrutiny.

The operatives have had to claim that they have information on the containers as their excuse for stopping any truck. They have the backing of some highly placed customs officers at the headquarters who undoubtedly may be part of the ‘deal’. Again, the truth is that the resident Customs officers are also involved in their own deal in which they extort so much from the erring importers and allow them to go. So, the irony is that the importer is faced with a double tragedy in which he settles the resident Customs officers and again settles those waiting for him a few meters away from the gates and others on the highway. At the end, it is the final consumers of the goods that suffer the costs involved.

To observers, the situation in the ports is one of conspiracy in which some shippers and Customs officers are potential beneficiaries in trade malpractices. For the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) as the ports economic regulator, the task of addressing such ills in the system could therefore be herculean.

The mandate given to the Council as a lead agency in the ports process manual is to create a port environment that is really efficient and comparable to what obtains in other ports across the globe. The Council in a bid to carry out the assignment has been involved in sensitizing the ports community on ending trade malpractices and creating an environment for trade facilitation. The Council has carried out equipment audits on terminal operators to ensure that they provide the latest cargo handling equipment that can ease trade.

In effect most of the terminals can boast of providing enough cargo handling equipment to position containers for examination as required by the Customs. The result has been impressive, but the other side is that most times the Customs has been overwhelmed. Enough cargo handling equipment has made it possible for improvement on ship turn-around time as vessels are not delayed in discharge of cargo.

What the ports economic regulator is championing is the introduction of scanning machines which will fasten examination of goods at the ports.

Incidentally, the Customs has insisted that all containers must be examined 100 percent physically in what is not cheering news. However, it would appear the NSC is in a dilemma when Customs argues that it is targeted at checking smuggling of arms and ammunition.

As the ports economic regulator, the NSC sets this month, June, to attain a high level of automation in ports services. In April, Bello had given a score card of the efforts to achieve automation at the ports. He had disclosed that some terminal operators and shipping companies have attained between 50 to 90 percent level of automation. As of April, PTML BUA and Grimaldi were leading in automation. Bello is full of commendation for the terminal operators and believes that this is the way forward for the industry to attain global attention in trade facilitation. The push for automation is to end the era of human contact at the ports with associated corrupt practices.

Indeed the maritime industry is a major economic zone whose operations could be likened to a mild war arena . And this is amid poor infrastructure leading to unending gridlock. The ports economic regulator will, no doubt, with the sad scenario in the ports environment, give credence to this view. Saddled with the task of leading other agencies in implementing the National Ports Process Manual (NPPM) announced by the federal government in December last year, the Council no doubt has sad experience to share about the activities of the security agencies.

He said, “We shouldn’t forget that we have competition. Nigerian ports should be the hub in the West and Central African region.

However, we can’t achieve this without ports that are fully automated and operating 24 hours daily. Most ports across the world are digitized. Human contact is dangerous, it brings delay and extortion.

A port isn’t a place for contact. We are trying to achieve 100 per cent automation. To do this, we need full integration with banks, Nigeria Customs Service, terminals and shipping lines, among other stakeholders.”

One example is the efforts to eradicate bribery involved in boarding of vessels on arrival at the ports. In the past, some agencies were in the tradition of boarding separately until the Council decided that this should be done jointly by all the representatives of agencies assigned to the ports. The old system was prone to corruption in which some of the operatives collected large sums of bribe from the ships.

If the ports which are already linked with rails attain 100 percent automation soonest, perhaps, what remains is the issue of gridlock at the ports. The federal government is targeting between the end of this year and early next year to fix the Tin Can Island port road. For Bello, with good roads in and out of the ports, rail network, multi modal transport system such as deployment of barges, Nigeria would be among other global nations having efficient trade facilitation which impact will have a multiplier effect on the national economy.

Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr Hassan Bello recently threatened to expose corrupt officials of government security agencies demanding

•Ugwoke writes from Apapa, Lagos

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Oil drilling

ENERGY

Stakeholders Fault DPR on Marginal Field Bid-Rounds

BY CHUCKS MEZE

S

takeholders and industry experts have described the recently concluded marginal field bid-rounds conducted by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as a charade. They also maintain that the circumstances that encumbered the successful execution of the last exercise almost two decades ago, have not changed.

Eighteen years after 24 marginal oil and gas fields were offered for bids by Nigeria’s oil and gas regulator, DPR, the country recently concluded a marginal field bid-rounds, an exercise that is being faulted by stakeholders.

According to experts and industry watchers, who commented on the matter, the processes of the recent bid-rounds, like its predecessor in 2003, culminated in the presentation of letters to the bid winners, but differed in the turnout of bidders.

They argue that the recent bid-rounds may end the way of the former, which witnessed poor follow-up by the winners.

They maintain that, although there emerged 21 winners in the 2003 bid-rounds, which witnessed 24 fields put up for bids, only a handful of bidders was barely able to pay fully for the fields they won. They further argue that some of the winners, who bid on the basis of the promise of free crude oil lifting as an incentive, backed off when the free crude oil barrels were not forthcoming.

The experts draw attention to the fact that, of all the fields offered at the time, only 16 were operational, contributing less than two percent to the national oil reserve.

Speaking on the possibility of the recent bid rounds turning to a charade, a Port Harcourt based oil and gas consultant, Engr. Simeon Dakoro, posits that the current political atmosphere in the country, among several other reasons, may lead to the exercise turning into a charade Referring to the Niger Delta region where most of these fields are found, Dakoro warns that unless the government does something to assuage the temper of the teeming youths of the region, most of who are currently singing a war song,

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Eighteen years after about 24 marginal oil and gas fields were offered for bids by Nigeria’s oil and gas regulator, DPR, the country recently concluded a marginal field bid-rounds, an exercise that is being faulted by stakeholders

there will be little achievement from the recent exercise.

Dakoro also notes that the present government, given its character, may not be ready to consider appeasing the youths. This is because, its stand on the youths’ demand is that the youth cannot have their cake and eat it given their attitude to the previous administrations.

Mr Peter Tema, an oil and gas service practitioner, observed that the DPR chose the wrong time to carry out the bidrounds, pointing out that the country is at a crossroads politically, economically and securitywise. He said that situations like this were responsible for serious operators not participating in the recent bidding exercise.

Another area that led to the recent bid-rounds being considered a charade is the status of the bid winners. This is what industry watchers refer to as the harvest of non-starters and un-known names in the industry that emerged winners of the bids. These groups, they say, fall into the category of traders, who would only use the acquired fields for other businesses because they lack the wherewithal to operate the fields which are either on land, in the swamps or offshore.

They also stated that the list of winners as published by the DPR revealed that the country has not put an end to awarding fields to cronies, friends and family members; an anomaly they observe has become the Achilles heels of the industry over the years.

This barrage of criticism notwithstanding, the DPR has announced that 161 entities were successful at the bidding rounds and they will advance to the final stage. It informed that the successful 161 bidders were shortlisted from about 591 companies that applied for pre-qualification.

Some of the winners in the exercise include Matrix Energy, Andova, Support Midstream, AA Rano, Genesis Technical, Twin Summit, Bono Energy, Deep Offshore Integrated, Oodua Oil, MRS and Petrogras.

Others are Tempo Oil, Pioneer Global, Accord Oil, Pathway Oil, Aida, YY Connect, NIPCo, Virgin Oil, Pierport, North Oil, Shepherd, Hill, Akara and Metropole, among a host of others.

Unlike the 2003 bid-rounds, where Chinese national oil company- CNCP, India’s ONGC Mittal and Verdash took part, the recent bid-rounds witnessed 100 percent indigenous companies as winners.

According to the DPR Director, Sarki Auwalu, the department realised $500 million in signature bonuses.

Auwalu, during the exercise, disclosed that the bid will enhance economic growth, increase the gross domestic product (GDP) and create employment, while mistakes of the past will be avoided this time.

It could be recalled that after the 2003 bid rounds which was applauded by the industry experts and watchers, about 11 licences were revoked leading to loss of revenue as taxes and royalties were not paid on the fields while about 40 million barrels of crude oil and its equivalent of gas, could not be harnessed.

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BUSINESS NEWS CITN Elects New Leadership As Simplice Bows Out

BY SAM DIALA he Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has elected new officers to steer the affairs of the body for the next two years. This follows the successful conduct of the 29th Annual General Meeting of the Institute on June 3, 2021.

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The leadership baton of the Institute was officially passed on to Mr. Adesina Adedayo (FCTI) as President,

by Dame Gladys Olajumoke Simplice (FCTI), his immediate predecessor.

Adedayo obtained his B.Sc. degree in Accounting from the Nasarawa State University, Keffi in 2017. He is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Adedayo is also a member of the Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN) and a Certified Fraud Examiner.

Chief Executive Officer, OVH Energy, Hubb Stokman, exchanging pleasantries with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva at the opening exhibition of the 2021 Nigeria International Petroleum Summit in Abuja on 8/6/2021.

CBN Debunks Planned Nationalisation of Unity Bank

BY SAM DIALA he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has described as false a recent online news medium report that it planned to nationalize Unity Bank Plc. The Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Osita Nwanisobi, described the said report as, “fake news” and urged members of the public to discard it in its entirety.

of the second runner ups; N300,000 business grant for the first runner ups and a star prize of N500,000 for each of the ten winners.

He said: “The report is fake news. There is no iota of truth in it.” adding that the public should disregard such news.

The contestants’ business plans which ranged from fashion, fish production, poultry farming, retail chains and piggery to beverages were assessed on originality, marketability, future employability potential of the product and knowledge of the business.

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The report had claimed that the apex bank’s target examination of Unity Bank showed that the Tier-2 lender is in ”grave financial condition”, with Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) and Non- Performing Loans (NPL) ratio that breached prudential standards.

Meanwhile, Unity Bank has held the fifth edition of its business plan competition, ‘Corpreneurship Challenge’ held across 10 states.

The 30 winners who won cash prizes totalling N10 million emerged during the final business pitch in the fifth edition of the contest for NYSC 2021 Batch A Stream II Orientation Course, which took place simultaneously across ten NYSC camps in Lagos, Ogun, Benin, Abuja and Akwa Ibom.

Other NYSC camps where winners emerged included Ogun, Kano, Sokoto, Enugu and Osun.As in the previous editions, the cash prizes included a N200,000 business grant for each

A statement from the bank explained that the initiative attracted interests among the corps members, as over 1000 applications were received but only 100 were shortlisted for the pitching session from where the thirty winners emerged.

Speaking during the finale in Akwa Ibom NYSC camp, the Divisional Head, Retail, SME Banking and E-Business Directorate, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Olufunwa Akinmade, said the competition has proved to have a great impact on youth empowerment in the country.

“The Unity Bank Corpreneurship has a very positive impact, not only for the corps members but for the entire youth population in Nigeria. It is a way to support the young men and women who are just graduating from university to grow,” she added.

The overall winner, LilianAgu, a graduate of Mass Communication and Chinese Language from Federal Polytechnic, Oko, expressed gratitude to Unity Bank for the opportunity to actualise her dream of establishing a fashion outfit.

NGX Ltd Launches Enhanced Broker Performance Ranking Report

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igerian Exchange Limited (NGX) has launched an enhanced broker performance ranking report designed to provide detailed insight into the performance of Trading License Holders across asset classes and improve participation in other exchange products. The new ranking report was launched on Thursday, 10 June 2021, via a webinar themed, “The New Broker Performance Ranking: An Analytics Approach”.

The new Broker Performance Report, which shows the performance of Brokers ranked by the weighted calculated points in deals, volume, and value across all asset classes, comes in three different levels, distinguished by fields to be displayed.

In his opening remarks, the Divisional Head, Trading Business, NGX, Mr. Jude Chiemeka, noted: “Today’s traditional asset managers and stockbrokers find themselves increasingly pressured by demands to monitor and measure THEWILLNIGERIA

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their activities in all asset classes (Equity, Debt, ETFs), as the regulator and operating environment require better tracking, monitoring, and reporting of market activities.

At NGX, we came up with the new Broker Performance Ranking report as one of the solutions to this challenge”.

“The new Broker Performance Ranking adopts an analytical approach in determining the total ranking of the brokers.

It shows the performance of brokers (Volume, Value and Deals) in different asset classes (Equity, Bond and ETPs) and ranks brokers by weighted average performance across all asset class; thereby providing a level playing field and fair recognition for active market participants.”

Through frequent communications across its touchpoints and engagements such as this webinar, NGX is working tirelessly to ensure that Trading License Holders and other stakeholders are empowered with information to deliver more values

Others are Mr Samuel Agbeluyi (FCTI), Vice-President; Mr Innocent Ohagwa (FCTI, Deputy Vice-President, and Simon Kato (FCTI), Honorary Treasurer.

The Institute has created the position of two new Deputy Registrars. Dr. Lanre Olasunkanmi, (FCTI), a Chartered Accountant and Tax professional was appointed as Deputy Registrar Corporate & Internal Services while Mrs Afolake Oso (FCTI) was appointed as Deputy Registrar, Research & Professional Services.

Coronation Merchant Bank Quotes Additional CP On FMDQ Exchange

BY SAM DIALA

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MDQ Securities Exchange Ltd, through its Board Listings and Markets Committee, has approved the quotation of the Coronation Merchant Bank Limited ₦11.36 billion Series 18 Commercial Papers (CP). The listing comes under Coronation Merchant Bank’s ₦100.00 billion CP Issuance Programme on its platform.

Coronation Merchant Bank in 2018, joined the league of other companies whose debt profiles have been raised via the value-packed quotations service offered by FMDQ Exchange. Industry watchers confirm that the continuous admission of securities to FMDQ Exchange’s platform is reflective of the potential of the Nigerian debt capital market and the commendable level of confidence demonstrated by both issuers and investors in the market.

FMDQ Securities Exchange explained that the Coronation MB CP, which was co-sponsored on the Exchange

by Coronation Merchant Bank Limited and Chapel Hill Denham Advisory Limited, Registration Member (Quotations) of FMDQ Exchange, will be availed all the benefits of FMDQ Exchange’s prestigious quotations service. These include global visibility through its website and systems, governance, credible price formation and continuous information disclosure, to protect investor interest, amongst others. The proceeds from the quotation of this CP will be used to finance the Issuer’s working capital requirements.

“As the market participants and a host of other stakeholders continue to meet their funding needs effectively and invariably contribute to the development of the nation’s capital markets through FMDQ Exchange’s platform, the Exchange remains committed to taking crucial steps, in close collaboration with market stakeholders, to deliver on its agenda of making the Nigerian financial markets globally competitive, operationally excellent, liquid and diverse”, FMDQ Securities Exchange said.

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VIEWPOINT Olu of Warri Designate: Protagonists and Intrigues Behind the Scenes [2] •Continued from previous edition

the members of the Council of Chiefs and the Olu Advisory Council. When the 19th Olu joined his ancestors in 2015, Chief Tesigiweno Yahya Pessu, the Ojomo of Warri Kingdom and oldest serving member of the Olu Advisory Council, ‘acted’ the role of Ologbotsere. He midwifed the process that produced a successor until the final day when the golden crown was placed on the head of Ikenwoli by the Olare-Aja of Jakpa, Pa Ajofotan Oparokun.

BY CLIFFORD OGBEIDE

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nlike Ogiame Atuwatse II, who succeeded his father, Ogiame Erejuwa, his son, Prince Tsola Emiko, was opposed as successor to his father. He was presented for installation but certain powerful forces within the council of chiefs insisted that his uncle, Prince Godfrey Ikenwoli, should ascend the throne, instead. On the ground, the new Olu-designate was first disqualified from contesting the Oluship position five years ago. He cannot be seen to have slept over his fundamental rights.

Prince Tsola was disqualified from succeeding his father because his mother is a Yoruba woman.

Under the Fundamental Human Rights Enforcement Procedures Rule, there is no statute of limitations or statutes barred. If a wrong was inadvertently committed five years ago, what stops it from being right now? Just a rhetorical question.

However, 46-year-old Emami, a businessman, politician and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of A and E group, a company with investments in oil and gas, construction, haulage, entertainment and the hospitality industry, got the prestigious title of Ologbotsere, despites a series of protests. He is loved and unloved in almost equal measure by his supporters and opponents, respectively, within Warri Kingdom and beyond.

Similarly, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Article 2 states: “Every individual shall be entitled to the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms recognised and guaranteed in the present Charter without distinction of any kind such as race, ethnic group, colour, sex, language, religion, political or any other opinion, national and social origin, fortune, birth, or any status.”

While Article 28 states that every individual shall have the duty to respect and consider his fellow beings without discrimination and to maintain relations aimed at promoting, safeguarding reinforcing mutual respect and tolerance, Section 42, subsection (2) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999, as amended, provides as follows: “No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth.”

Furthermore, Section 1 of the Nigerian Constitution states: “This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on the authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” while subsection (3) also states: “If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.”

Age-long rivalry between Iyatsere and Ologbotsere The Ologbotsere is regarded as the Prime Minister of Warri Kingdom, the highest ranking chief and one of the most powerful members of the Council of Chiefs and the Olu Advisory Council. It is a prestigious title and like other traditional titles, such as Iyatsere, (Iyase) the Uwangure (Uwangue), Ojomo, Oshodi (Oshodin), a replica from the Benin Kingdom.

The Ologbotsere, contrary to popular belief, is not the Prime Minster of Warri Kingdom, according to sources.

The title grew in significance and influence when Chief Ogbemi Rewane held it, during which time the 1979 “edict” or declaration was drafted. The late Chief Ogbemi Rewane, was the influential older brother of Chief Alfred Rewane, the late NADECO chieftain. Chief Ogbemi Rewane remains one of the most powerful Ologbotseres in the Kingdom’s history. So, it is not impossible that men like that could have influenced the ‘edict’ and given

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Emami’s first chieftaincy title of Ajuwaojiboyemi of Warri was conferred on him by the late Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, the father of the new Olu-designate, Prince Utienyinoritsetsola Emiko, in April 2012.

Ayiri Emami

Legally speaking, this amounts to discrimination, which is prohibited by various international, regional and national statutes, of which Nigeria is a signatory. For example, Article 7 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.”

Chief Pessu’s ambition afterwards was to be named Ologbotsere by Ogiame Ikenwoli. This was never to be. Chief Oma Eyewuoma, a retired director of CONOIL Nigeria Limited, from Iye stock of Ologbotsere was also interested in the Ologbotsere title.

tremendous powers to the title,” according to those opposed to the powers of the Ologbotsere.

It was remarkable that the last public duty Chief Rewane performed, was the crowning of late Ogiame Atuwatse II, in May 1987. He died before the first anniversary of Ogiame Atuwatse II, who reigned for 28 years without an Ologbotsere.

According to Chief Johnson Amatserunleghe, the Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom, who was appointed by the Ruling House as acting head of the Olu Advisory Council, the Iyatsere in 1480 led the 70 chiefs with the first king, Prince Ginuwa, to found the Warri kingdom in 1480.

“From 1480 to 1760, there was nothing like Ologbotsere in Warri kingdom. Ologbotsere was introduced by Prince Ginuwa the first in 1460. That is to say for 300 years there was no Ologbotsere. After the first Ologbotsere in 1760, there was no Ologbotsere till 1951. The first Ologbotsere was in 1951 by name Chief John Mayuku. Then we have others like Ayiri who came in 2017. “Therefore, in the history of Itsekiri kingdom, which is about 700 years, we only have four Ologbotseres. That is to tell you that the Ologbotsere is not always in the kingdom. I am the 18th Iyatsere. The immediate past Olu is the 20th king to rule the kingdom. Ayeri is the fourth Ologbotsere in Warri Kingdom,” he said.

Despite the Iyatsere’s assertion, the 1979 “Edit” or Declaration confers enormous powers on the Ologbotsere in the process leading to the selection and crowning of a new Olu. Paragraph 7 of the “Edict” is unambiguous that it is the responsibility of the Ologbotsere to present the new Olu. “After the approval of the candidate by the Olu Advisory Council and the oracles, the Ologbotsere summons a meeting of the Ojoyes (noblemen) at his residence and announces the passing away of the Olu and the appointment of a successor who is then presented to the Ojoyes,” it reads.

Ogiame Atuwatse II avoided the backlash that greeted his successor’s choice because although he reigned without Ologbotsere, he relied on the wisdom and counsel of

Ogiame Ikenwoli was among Itsekiri elders who initially kicked against the installation of Emami as a chief in 2012. Five years later, he installed him as Ologbotsere. As expected, he came under intense and scathing criticism for this. It was the fear of the tremendous power that an Ologbotsere wields that triggered a loud outcry when Emami, was announced as the Ologbotsere in October 2017, just five years after he became a member of the traditional council. His rise to the position was astronomical. Some Itsekiri leaders believed that he was inexperienced and unprepared for the responsibilities and challenges of the title. Those who fought, in vain, to stop the conferment of the title on Chief Emami in 2017 are now unanimous in supporting the decision of the ruling house to suspend him, in a deft move that is seen as part of a bigger plan for his deposition and expulsion from the council of chiefs.

Internal Economic Indices and Political Forces for Control of Power and Resources The control of resources and influence is at the heart of this crisis rocking Iwereland. Power-play politics of who gets what, when and how, according to Harold Lasswell, forms the integral part of the controversy surrounding the selection of Prince Utieyinoritsola Emiko as OluDesignate for Warri Kingdom. The Itsekiri nation is one of the richest in the Niger Delta region with hundreds of communities like Ugborodo, Abiteye, Otumara and others hosting multi-billion-dollar oil and gas installations. The $9 billion EGTL and Chevron Nigeria Limited tank farm is in Ugborodo and a few of the key players in the power play are long time friends and adversaries whose sides have hardly changed.

There are also other external forces, which are reportedly sponsoring a faction for both economic and other strategic reasons. The Itsekiri nation has been a divided house for many years, the influence of oil wealth and the quest for patronage among oil prospecting companies in the Niger Delta and the control of the commonwealth of the people by key players, who are also very visible in this issue, created a very delicate balance that is now being threatened by the latest debacle. Some players behind the scene are believed to be aligning with either of both sides that guarantee their interests and align with their bias.

•To be continued next week

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•Omakwu

•Idahosa

•Joshua

•Adejobi

•Onaolapo

•Ajanaku

•Oduyemi

•Anayo-Iloputaife

•Obembe

STEPPING INTO THEIR HUSBANDS’ SHOES Women Running Successful Church Ministries THEWILLNIGERIA

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STORIES BY SHADE METIBOGUN

They are a rare breed of women whose husbands passed on and left them in charge of thriving Christian ministries. Some of these female General Overseers seem to have given a good account of their stewardship over the past years. They have not only steered the ministries in their care to overwhelming success but also succeeded against all odds to keep alive their late husbands’ dreams and legacies.

Pastors’ Wives in Charge of

Apostle Nkechi Anayo-Iloputaife

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eadership was suddenly thrust on Apostle Nkechi Anayo lloputaife of Faith Revival Ministries World Outreach, popularly known as Victory Christian Church with headquarters in Satellite Town, after the gruesome murder of her husband, Bishop Harford Anayo IIoputaife in 1995. The cleric was shot at close range by suspected assassins. He died from gunshot wounds a few days after he was rushed to a hospital for treatment, leaving his wife in charge of the ministry. Initially Mrs Iloputaife had a tough time running the affairs of the ministry.

She had to deal with a number of issues, including conspiracy and intimidation from a group of people who were supposed to provide support and assistance at a time she needed them most.

Five years after her husband’s demise and driven by frustration, she almost called it quits with the ministry. But Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission stood by her and guided her till she was able to find her feet as a preacher of the gospel. Since she took over as the General Overseer of Victory Christian Church, Apostle IIoputaife has stayed true to the calling of her late husband. Against the odds, she has steered the church to the height it has attained today. She has also devoted her life to caring for the less privileged and widows by establishing vocational and business training for them. The fire-brand cleric has also refused to give marriage another shot, having made a promise to marry only once in her lifetime.

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Pastor Sarah Omakwu

hen Pastor Inalegwu Omakwu the founder of Family Worship Center, Abuja, breathed his last in Los Angeles, United States of America in 2003, after battling brain cancer for three years, his beautiful wife, Sarah, took over the management of the ministry as its Senior Pastor. Determined and loyal to the vision she shared with her husband, Pastor Sarah Omakwu has lived up to expectation by steering the church to the enviable height that it has attained today. In addition to her pastoral responsibilities, she also serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Christian Broadcasting Network International.

She is a much sought-after conference speaker who has ministered locally and internationally. For her, stepping into the role of general overseer was easy because her late husband had earlier indicated how his ministry should be run in his absence. The anointed teacher of the gospel has so far followed in her husband’s footsteps and remained a widow 18 years after his death.

Archbishop Margaret Idahosa

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or Archbishop Margaret Idahosa, the first African female Archbishop and the first female Chancellor of the Benson Idahosa University, Benin, filling the vacuum which her late husband, Archbishop Benson Idahosa, left in the ministry wasn’t an easy task. She had made up her mind after her husband’s death to retire from active ministry and generally take care of the home front by visiting her children who lived in different parts of the world. But her dream of touring the world was shattered after she was ordained an Archbishop. Archbishop Idahosa took over the leadership of the Church of God Mission International after her husband’s death in March 1998, a day after he returned from a trip abroad. Upon assuming office, one of the first things she did was ask the entire congregation of the church if they wanted her to continue in her new role or shut down the ministry. Their response and cooperation, no doubt, has contributed in no small way to the smooth running of the ministry till date. The 77-year-old preacher now runs the church alongside her first son, Bishop Feb Idahosa. She has remained glued to the ministry which her late husband left behind. More important, 23 years after his passage, she has not remarried.

Rev Roselyn Oduyemi

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everend Roselyn Oduyemi took over the reins of affairs of Bethel Ministries Incorporated 16 years ago after the death of her husband, Apostle Gabriel Oduyemi. Taking charge of the ministry he left behind

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wasn’t a difficult one for the woman as she was part and parcel of her late husband’s ministerial engagements.

They often travelled together on soul-winning campaigns and preaching assignments. So when she was invited to take charge after her husband’s demise, she stepped into the role with ease. Rev Oduyemi introduced her own innovations in the course of running Bethel Ministries Inc. The first step was to let go of her husband’s private jet.

Being the first Nigerian clergy to own a private jet, she was criticised for giving out one of her husband’s most prized possessions, but it didn’t affect her tenacity and the aggressive manner in which she ran the church. According to her, when the need arises for her to own a private jet, the Lord who handed over the ministry to her would provide another jet. Just like other widows who took over their husband’s ministry, Rev Roselyn Oduyemi has remained single and flying the flag of Bethel Ministries all over the world.

Bishop Oluremi Ayotunde Obembe

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ishop Oluremi Obembe is the widow of late Archbishop Olanrewaju Obembe, the founder of El Shaddai Bible Church who passed on in May 2019 after a protracted illness. A few weeks after her husband’s burial, Dr Obembe was hurriedly ordained a Bishop to fill the vacuum created by his exit. She has since stepped into his shoes and continued handling the affairs of the ministry with support from her only son, Senior Obembe.

The late Archbishop Obembe was reputed to have pioneered the printing of the Amplified English Bible for the first time in West Africa in 1987. He was the Apostolic Prelate of International Communion of Charismatic and Apostolic Ministries before he died.

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Successful Church Ministries

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Pastor Evelyn Joshua

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Pastor Joy Ajanaku

astor Joy Ajanaku of Christ Revival Victory Chapel has been able to carry on with the responsibilities of overseeing the church since the death of her controversial husband, Prophet Ireti Ajanaku. Prophet Ajanaku died of an undisclosed ailment in August 2013 at Gbongan, Osun State and was buried almost one year after. Despite the controversy surrounding his death and the property tussle his wife had with members of his extended family, she has carried on with the smooth running of the ministry effortlessly.

At first, many people felt the church would die with its founder until the beautiful widow started making appreciable progress. Since she took over the leadership of the church, she has been able to record some laudable achievements, including the opening of new branches of the church across Nigeria.

Although Pastor Joy Ajanaku initially lacked the confidence to step into her late husband’s shoes with ease, with time she was emboldened and able to overcome her fears. Also, the encouragement she got from members of the congregation and her determination to keep the legacies of her late husband alive has kept her going over the years.

aturday, June 5, 2021 will remain a dark day in the hearts of worshippers of Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, as they woke up to the rude shock of the departure of their founder, Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly known as TB Joshua. Since his demise, his wife, Evelyn, has been the ministry’s spokesperson, communicating with members of the congregation and encouraging them to stay strong. What many do not know is that the beautiful mother of three has been an active member of the ministry. One of her duties as a minister was to attend to worshippers seeking healing and counseling from her late husband nearly every day. Most times when the late TB Joshua was too busy or unavailable, she took over from him and attended to the needs of the congregation. More so, she is the second most powerful person at the Synagogue after her husband. The full responsibility of overseeing the affairs of the SCOAN now rests on her shoulders.

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ishop Kola Onaolapo, the founder of Abundant Life Gospel Church passed on in October, 2012. He travelled to the United States for ministration where he took ill but couldn’t make it back home. His wife of many years, Revered Janet , started steering the ship of the ministry after his death. The church under the leadership of Rev Janet has experienced tremendous growth and many have been blessed through the great teachings of the humble woman. One of the notable achievements recorded was the completion of their ultra-modern worship centre in the Agege area of Lagos. Her late husband started the construction of the worship centre but could not complete it before death rudely snatched him away. She is known for her undiluted Bible teaching, Christian values and soul winning. She also didn’t consider remarrying as she is fully committed to the fulfillment of her late husband’s visions.

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Rev. Olive Sulola Adejobi

t has been more than 30 years since Primate Emmanuel Adejobi of the Church of the Lord, Aladura departed this world, but his wife, Olive Sulola Adejobi, has carried on with the mission of growing the church over the years. She might be in her 90s, but her physique and sharp memory doesn’t reflect her age. She still ensures that the church is run as smoothly as its founder would probably have done. She has also established other branches nationwide. Despite her age, she has continued to spend her time attending to members who need prayers, advice and counseling and also oversees the smooth administration of the ministry.

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Rev Janet Onaolapo

Pastor Matilda Akinola

he founder of Redemption Ministries Worldwide, with headquarters in Port Harcourt, Pastor Stephen Akinola, may have finished his race and passed on to glory, but his partner of many years, Matilda Akinola, is bracing up to take over the ministry that he left behind. Although not much is known about the new general overseer, she has been actively involved in ministerial work alongside her husband. So, taking charge of the ministry isn’t too tasking for her. Pastor Stephen Akinola died in Abuja on June 5, 2021, same day Prophet TB Joshua passed on. He was in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for his second kidney transplant. He visited India once for the same procedure,

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STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

Clarion Chukwurah Returns to Nollywood

Arinola Adeniyi Dies at 60

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opular society woman and founder of Venivici Health Spa and Urban Club, Arinola Adeniyi is dead. Arin, as she is fondly called gave up the ghost on Monday, June 7, 2021. According to a relative who spoke exclusively to THEWILL, the businesswoman died after a brief illness.

Arin, who was a former banker, a caréer she dumped in 2002 after practising for 18 years to pursue a career in the wellness industry, clocked 60 late last year. A tribute website, Forevermissed.com, has already been opened in her honour to collate tributes from her friends, family members and colleagues in the wellness industry.

Virtually everyone who has met or known Arin can attest to her generosity, kindness and warmth. Her remains will be laid to rest on June 23 after a funeral service at the House on The Rock Church where she worshipped before she died. There will be no wake-keep or night of tributes/celebrations as is usually the custom in this part of the world, and this is in keeping to the COVID-19 protocols.

Chukwurah

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easoned Nollywood actress, Clarion Chukwurah, is set to revive her acting career after a long absence from the lighted screen. The mother of talented video director and cinematographer, Clarence Peters, has been busy preparing for her return with lots of creative stylings, photo shoots and a new movie that is scheduled for release soon. Clarion, who will clock 57 soon, started acting in the 1980s. With a maiden appearance in a popular soap opera titled Mirror in the Sun, it was clear that she was destined for a brighter future as one of the most talented actresses to ever emerge from this part of the world. The actress has won many awards to prove that she is one of the best in the movie world. One of the prestigious awards she has received include Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 2014 Africa Movie Academy Awards. She is the first Nigerian to emerge Best Actress at the FESPACO Film Festival held in Burkina-Faso in 1982. Although she received other awards in the course of her career, she abandoned the movie sets when she became born again and decided to become an evangelist.

Clarion relocated to the United States with her third husband, Anthony Boyd and later became a Jehovah Witness. However, the allure of acting was too irresistible for the graduate of Acting and Speech from Obafemi Awolowo University, to ignore, which explains why she has decided to revive her acting career.

On the side, it is rumoured that she may have dumped her third husband in order to reposition herself for a return to Nollywood.

Her new film is entitled Beautiful People and it is produced by Uduak Isong.

Murray-Bruce & Quarshie

already married. The relationship produced a son named Cody. Both parties had to eventually move on when their relationship threatened Bruce’s marriage and only remained in each other’s lives because of their son, Cody.

While the Senator stayed by his wife of 41-years who later died a year ago, Tina chose to remain single after her first misadventure in marriage to a Ghanaian, Dr George Novisi Quarshie, who she met as a student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. The union ended after a decade.

A very cerebral lady, Tina made her mark in the banking industry and rose to become a director in both Zenith and Platinum Banks. She was also a director in Guaranty Trust Bank at some point, as well as a non-executive director in Wema Bank until 2020 when she retired from the bank. At a point, after quitting the financial institutions, she worked closely with Ben Bruce’s Silverbird Entertainment as a consultant. Today, she runs TVQ Consulting Group.

One wonders if there is a possibility that Murray-Bruce, and Tina could give love a second chance. After all, the coast seems clear now that he is back to the single men’s club.

Drama As Family Of Ex-Queen Moves to Reunite Her With Alaafin

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Alaafin & Damilola

t doesn’t look like the drama that trailed the exit of Queen Damilola, one of the estranged wives of 83-year-old Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, will end soon as older family members of the beautiful mother of twin boys are hell bent on ensuring that she returns to the palace.

However, the former queen has remained resolute in her decision not to return to the palace. She reportedly walked out of her almost five-year-old marriage in 2020, a year after another wife of the monarch, Queen Anu, left the palace under very controversial circumstances. Not many people were initially aware of Queen Damilola’s exit until she took to her social media page a few months later to accuse the king of constantly threatening and harassing her. The 24-yearold also claimed that the king was planning to kidnap her, adding that her life and that of her family was in danger. Although the former queen has said that she decided to quit the marriage because she did not want to continue to live in bondage, the elders in her family will have none of that. They have ordered her to return to the palace and pleaded with the monarch for forgiveness on her behalf.

The elders have also said that all the allegations leveled against the monarch by the queen borders on falsehood. They blame her decision

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to leave the king on youthful exuberance and wrong counsel from false friends who are jealous of her marriage. They insist that the monarch has been good to her and kind to her immediate and extended family members who have benefited immensely from him. Oba Adeyemi, the elders noted, had done a lot of good to her family, from changing the life of their daughter to sending her siblings to school and getting a new apartment for Damilola’s mother, among many other acts of kindness. But, in spite of all that the elders have said, Damilola has vowed never to return to the palace.

Oyo State’s Youngest Commissioner Ties The Knot With Igbo Lady

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he youngest member of the Oyo State cabinet, Seun Fakorede, has quit the bachelor’s club to marry his long-time fiancée, Chioma. Present at the wedding ceremony which was held late last month in Oyo State was his boss, Governor Seyi Makinde, alongside other members of the state executive council. Fakorede, became commissioner in August 2019 at just 27 years. The graduate of Civil Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, once contested as the Students’ Union President at the institution, but he lost the election to Tayo Akande popularly known as TY. He runs an entrepreneur and consultancy outfit, and a non-profit outfit, Home Advantage Africa (HAA) devoted to promoting local dominance and global stardom in Africa through digital storytelling and other projects of similar fashion.

Fakorede & Wife with Makinde

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any years ago, media entrepreneur and politician, Ben Murray-Bruce and Tina Onehimare Vukor Quarshie were an item. The relationship was a well celebrated affair despite the fact that Senator Bruce was

Adeniyi

Between Ben Murray-Bruce and Tina Vukor Quarshie

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JUNE 13 - JUNE 19, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

BY SHADE METIBOGUN

Life As a Female Politician is Very Challenging – Miracle Tyna Onem The Councillor representing Ogbia Ward 2 in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Hon. Miracle Tyna Onem, is celebrated for building a bridge linking two communities in her ward with money meant for the purchase of an official car. She speaks with SHADE METIBOGUN about the bridge project, her foray into politics and other matters. Excerpts:

H

Onem

Tell us about your background and education I came from a poor family. I funded my education up to university level. I am the only child of my father. He is late now. But I have younger siblings from my mother. I was born on April 11, 1990. I studied Political Science at the Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State. I attended primary and secondary school in my village where I built the miracle bridge. My village is my ward headquarters. My ward consists of four villages, namely Otuokpoti, Otuogori, Onuebum and Otuegwe. I attended Community Primary School, Otuokpoti and Community Secondary School Otuokpoti. Both of them are in Bayelsa State.

What was your childhood ambition and when did it change?

As a child, I was very ambitious, but my poor background did not allow me to pursue my dreams. I gained admission into the university four times. The first time, I was offered admission to study Medicine. With the second offer, I was supposed to study Civil Engineering. I was also admitted to study Nursing and finally, History and Diplomacy. I couldn’t accept any of the offers because there was no money. Like I told you, I came from a very poor background. My parents couldn’t afford to send me to those schools. So I went for a Diploma in Computer Studies. I was working and studying at the same time. At the end of my studies, I contested in an election. As a child, I loved to play football. Even now, I still play football. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to develop the talent to the level that I desired. I was also quite brilliant in school. I was well known in my village as a brilliant child, but things just didn’t work out well because of money.

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How would you describe the political structure in Nigeria?

What is happening in Nigeria is uncalled for. We are not happy with the way things are going in Nigeria, it is really sad. They say Nigerian youths are lazy, but we are not. There is neither employment nor opportunities for the youths. Let me not say that Nigeria is a failed state; let me just say the country is fragile.

Do you think more women should venture into politics?

I think we need more women in politics. Women will perform better than men. They are mothers and they know the challenges facing our people. I will gladly support any woman who wants to go into politics. If a woman indicates interest in running for the governorship position in my state now, I will definitely vote for her. My prayer is that a woman should be elected as Vice President of Nigeria one day. I know she will perform well.

Why did you use the fund meant for the purchase of an official car to build a bridge in your ward?

We were given N2million forward projects. At the same time, we were given money to buy an official car. When I started the project, I found out that the money I was given was not going to be enough. I had made up my mind to use my own money to complete the project, if the money allocated for it was not enough. I proceeded to do a market survey and I bought some of the materials. I found out that the money would only cover the expenses for the rod. The rod alone is about 1.8 million naira. Just the rod alone. A single rod costs N6, 200 in Bayelsa State. I bought more than 200 pieces. You can imagine that. I knew that the money would not be enough, so I had to make that sacrifice. Governor Diri saw the work on television and he called me on the phone. He wanted to know the reason for the project. He encouraged me to expand the bridge and provided some assistance. That was why I named it the Miracle Bridge’.

ow did your journey into politics begin?

I worked as a personal secretary to the Organising Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa State. When I was there, a lot of people were impressed with my dedication to duty and hard work that they asked me to contest for the position of councilor in my ward. The party executives gave me a free ticket to contest the position.

They also sponsored my campaign and everything about the election. His Excellency, Governor Douye Diri instructed that I should be given the form free-ofcharge. That was how I got into politics in 2019.

How would you describe your journey so far as a politician?

I am happy. The journey is going smoothly and I am praying for more good things. I pray that things will continue to fall in place for me. I know we cannot determine what will happen in the nearest future. But I am optimistic that things will continue to fall in place for me.

for me and that I was too small to embark on that type of project. That was before the governor intervened.

Why didn’t you join a local football club in Bayelsa?

On some occasions I travelled out of Bayelsa, even beyond the shores of Nigeria, to play football. When I was active as a footballer, I never imagined that I would be a politician some day. As they say, a man’s destiny may be delayed, but it cannot be denied. Now that I have found myself in politics, I love it and I am happy with it.

What are some of the challenges you have faced as a female politician?

Life as a female politician is very challenging, especially for young people like me. Most people think we are prostitutes who are just there because of men. They also think female politicians don’t have time for their families. Some of them even think female politicians are not responsible women.

I guess those are the challenges that female politicians encounter.

Did you at any time think of quitting?

Yes, there was a time I really wanted to quit. The challenges were just too much and the rumours spreading across my community also discouraged me. But my friends encouraged me to keep on moving. Many people in my community asked me why I chose such a big project, but I told them that since I had started it, I would not be able to stop it. Even the paramount ruler of the community told me to construct a foot bridge and forget about the project, but I decided to keep pushing. At a point, I wanted to abandon everything, including my political career, and run away. A lot of people in my community were saying that I would not be able to complete the project. They said the work was too much

How much were you given to buy a car?

It was N2.5 million. I used everything on that bridge project. I don’t have a car. Although I move around without a car of my own, I am still happy.

Why did you reject the offer of a GoFundMe campaign?

I rejected the offer because if you want to help somebody, you would do it willingly from your mind. You don’t have to ask me to beg or appeal for it. I am not a beggar. As a politician, I can’t beg. You can’t tell me to go on air and beg for fund for development. I think it is unfair. That was why I rejected the GoFundMe campaign. Any NGO or donor that wants to assist should do so willingly. As I am speaking with you, a company in Lagos State just sent me some amount of money to buy 100 jamb forms for students in Bayelsa State. The process is ongoing. It was something done willingly. I cannot go on air and beg people to provide funds for development. I can’t do that.

If you had the opportunity to choose between a career in football and politics, which one of the two would you go for and why?

I would go for politics because I want to change the narrative. I will be able to reach out to the less privilege.

I will have access to them and the opportunity to learn the challenges facing them and how I can solve all of them.

What other developmental project do you look forward to achieving before your tenure expires?

The road that leads to the bridge is not tarred and it is 10 kilometres long. I need money to construct that road. The health centre also needs to be renovated. There are other basic amenities that my ward needs. There are many things to be done. If there is money, you will see me performing miracles again.

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JUNE 13 - JUNE 19, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

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

L-R:- Kadaria Ahmed, Co-producer Unmasked; Alhaji Garba Alhaji, District Head, Kiru, representing Emir Karaye, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim II and Femi Odugbemi Producer/Director Unmasked during the premiere of Unmasked Leadership, Trust & The COVID-19 Pandemic held at Ado Bayero University, Kano on 10/06/2021.

L-R: Kwara State governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; First Lady Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq; Deputy High Commissioner Gill Atkinson, and Country Director Royal Commonwealth Society of Nigeria (RCS) Olaseni Blackson, during a dinner in honour of British High Commission and the RCS delegation to the state, at Government House, Ilorin on 9/6/2021.

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; President Muhammadu Buhari; Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Minister of Defense, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd) during the handing over of security vehicles, motorcycles, APCs, gadgets and other kits acquired by Lagos Government at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos on 10/6/2021

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mrs Magdalene Ajani; Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Ameachi and Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, during the inspection of Railway Project in Lagos on 9/6/2021.

L-R: Ekiti State Attorney General/ Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wale Fapounda, Chairman, Ekiti State Commission of Inquiry on Lands and Related Matters, Justice Adekunle Adeleye; Committee Secretary, Mrs. Tosin Odudu; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, during the presentation of report of the Ekiti State Commission of Inquiry on Lands and Related Matters to the governor at the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti on 9/6/2021.

L-R: National Commissioner of INEC, Mr Festus Okoye, representative of the Minster of Interior, Mr Peter Egbodo, Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba’ Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, National Security Adviser, Babagana Mongunu, and the representative of Controller General of Federal Fire Service (FFS), Mr Karebo Samson, during the deployment of a new firefighting truck to the commission by FFS, at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on 7/6/2021.

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TOURISM

Hoteliers, Businesses in Trouble as TB Joshua Transits STORIES BY JANEFRANCES CHIBUZOR

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t appeared things fell apart in the Nigerian hospitality sector as residents of Ikotun-Egbe, a major tourism hub, are worried following the demise of founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, last Saturday. He was 57.

And the incidence, no doubt, would truncate the business activities of Igando/Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State where SCOAN is located.

TB Joshua’s sudden death, apparently, is a huge loss to Lagos State, Nigeria and Africa because of his contributions to religious tourism and other businesses that have positively impacted the nation.

No fewer than 100 medium and small hotels are located in the community that depends on patronage from worshippers and

tourists to the church. In the last one year, these hotels have been operating below capacity due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The president of Lagos State Hoteliers Association, Oluomo Jamiu Talabi said: “When I heard that news my mind goes for our colleagues there. I asked myself, what would become of their businesses? And I know his death would drastically affect their businesses. Sitting alone is a business and landlords are collecting up to N500 just to sit on a chair not to talk of buying something.”

Michael Akaniyene of Victoria Continental Hotel, said: “Hospitality industry thrives here, especially on weekends. But with his death, we might not start seeing the impact now because the church service has not resumed fully because of COVID-19.

Again, more hotels are springing up hoping that after COVID-19 business will boom again. Unfortunately, his death will cause a huge setback to hotel owners because the church may no longer receive the large size of visitors and worshippers as before.

“The church visitors and worshippers are our major customers.

Also, taxi operators are connected to our business. Bureau de change operators too will not be left out of the impact. His death means a lot to the people especially the widows and orphans who he always assist. And because of his presence here in Ikotun axis, the residents enjoy some level of power supply. He even donated a generator to the community recently.”

A supervisor at Globus Supermarket in the area, Mr. Christopher Ehijele, noted that they recorded very low sales on Sunday, following the sad news of Joshua’s death. He stated that many people rushed to the church instead of coming to buy things from the supermarket. “Unfortunately, because of the lockdown, foreigners have not been attending the church which has affected our sales. It is a big blow to our business.”

Managing Director Hardrock Hotel, Chiyem Aghado said: “We will be losing business and we will miss him. It is a bad one for the hotel business and the people around too. I pray the church will continue to grow.”

Omowunmi Ayoade and Mrs Nkechi Olakunle both staff members of Hymax Hotel and Suites summed up the impact of Joshua’s death thus: “It will be much on our hotel business. Egbe community will miss him. Many of the hotel owners are in serious trauma since the death of TB. But, what can we do? God will see us through.”

Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, described Joshua as a committed tourism promoter with a huge contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He said the church has the largest network of religious tourism in Nigeria cutting across 15 countries.

TB Joshua

“Each time the church is holding its major event over 60 private jets will be parked at the Lagos Airport. Also, all hotels in Ikeja axis are always fully booked. In fact, I am impressed by his contributions to tourism development in the country.

NCAC Celebrates World Handicraft Day

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he celebration of the World Handicrafts day Thursday June 10 should be used to reflect on the founding principles of the World Craft Council which is mainly to foster economic development of crafts through crafts related activities in all its regions.

The Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, OON, made the call in Abuja at the occasion to mark the World Handicraft Day in Abuja.

Otunba Runsewe who doubles as the President of the World Craft Council, African Region, said the World Crafts Council is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization which was found in 1964 to promote friendship, foster economic development through income generating craft related activities, organize art-related exchange programmes and exhibitions, all tailored towards encouraging and advising craftsmen around the world.

Runsewe said since assumption of office as the President of the Council in the African Region, he has continued to work tirelessly towards integrating key players in the Arts and Crafts sector towards promoting the best of African’s Arts and Craft products and popularizing them all over the world.

Otunba Runsewe who has brought his dynamism and strength of character to bear in making the International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC) , a global fiesta where stakeholders all over the world meets to network and exchange views and experiences on global best practices in Arts and Crafts.

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“Apart from robust and strategic engagement with foreign missions in Nigeria to create the required synergy beneficial to all, we have also led advocacy campaigns in South Africa, Ghana, Botswana, Burkina Faso and so on,” Runsewe stated.

He reiterated the need for government to increase its funding to the Arts and Crafts sector as very little capital is needed by practitioners for takeoff.

According to him, “oil is good but exhaustible, but Arts and Crafts is inexhaustible.”

In his paper titled: “Economic Importance of Crafts” the keynote speaker, former lecturer in the Department of Fine Arts, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Dr. Cornel Agim, enumerated the economic value of arts and crafts to include job creation, creating new skills, building and amplifying the economic harmony through cultural exchanges as well as playing a major role in generating and sustaining a globally engaged economy.”

Other resource persons who spoke at the event said it would be shocking to note that most of the things that make people seek tourism to other countries are available in Nigeria, thus underscoring the need to promote domestic tourism.

Participants at the occasion were drawn from selected secondary schools within the FCT, stakeholders in the industry, media practitioners and members of the diplomatic community. The World Handicrafts Day is celebrated all over the world between June 10 and 17 every year.

“If 100 travellers from other African countries such as Zambia, Uganda and South Africa are applying for Nigeria’s visa, over 70 will be heading to Synagogue. Each year, the number of foreigners the church attracts to Nigeria is monumental and a major boost to our tourism. In fact, I am impressed by his contributions. I pray the church authorities will handle the succession process peacefully so that the image of the church will remain unblemished after Joshua’s death,” Runsewe said.

Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mr. Folorunsho Coker, described the late man of God as a great influential pillar of society who reached out to the globe.

He stated that though Prophet Joshua has left for the great beyond, his teachings will continue to bring worshippers to the church on pilgrimage. Coker noted that there may be a reduction in number of tourists for a while but that like religious tourists to other sites, it will pick up later.

“His death is a reminder that it is all by the grace of the Almighty.

His church will continue to flourish as another will pick up where he left off. His teachings will continue to bring worshippers to his church on a pilgrimage. I think there may be a reduction for a while but look at pilgrimages to holy sites. It continues after life,” he added.

Coordinator, Lagos State Chapter, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) Mr. Gbenga Sunmonu, said the death of Prophet T.B. Joshua is a monumental loss to the tourism and hospitality industry.

“A lot of the hotels in the industry will be challenged if programmes executed are not in line with the man’s vision. Tourist’s inflow will definitely decline because his personality has cornered inflow to the SCOAN. Prophet T.B. Joshua has played his role and has made a contribution that will leave an indelible mark in the history of religious tourism in Lagos State.”

Until his death, SCOAN has been a Mecca of sorts to many African leaders.

Meanwhile, THEWILL gathered that TB Joshua planned to donate a coaster bus to the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) in fulfillment of a promise made earlier to a team from the NIHOTOUR, Lagos zonal office last month.

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JUNE 13 - JUNE 19, 2021 www.thewillnigeria.com

PASSAGE

T. B Joshua: A Prophet With Honour in His Country to invoke strong, even extreme passions, particularly of envy and love. Some pastors saw him as a worker for the devil, while many, especially those he solved their spiritual and financial problems, saw him as God sent. And these many others on a global scale comprised Europeans, Americans and continental Africans, who flocked to his church for redemption.

BY AMOS ESELE

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ome people choose the way they live and exit the stage on their own terms. When the Founder of The Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua died on Saturday, June 5 he took the members of his church by surprise. Even his wife, Evelyn, was dumbstruck.

Speaking on his death, Mrs Joshua said, “He ended the race prayerfully. He spent about three hours in prayers before the last service on the mountain and was looking very healthy.

He never showed any sign of illness or worry…Afterward, he came up to shower. Few minutes later, he stepped out for ministration. While ministering, he spoke about a time to come and time to leave and suddenly, he left the stage and went to his inner chambers.

Commenting on how other pastors saw him, Senior Pastor of Benin-City based Divine Grace of Glory Church International, Pastor Peter Israel Obaseki, said, “Why I think he has not been in CAN or in PFN is because, many of the Christian bodies have not believed in his ministry.

“I waited a few minutes and thereafter, I decided to check on him. I met him sitting on the chair like someone reflecting but unconscious. His disciples came and tried to revive him to no avail.”

“We have not seen him in CAN meetings, PFN meetings and other Christian bodies, but he is a man that stands on his own. That makes his ministry to be different and because of that difference, many people misconstrued him, not believing him because the way God manifested through him became what many Christian bodies were doubting and this caused a lot of issues.

A fellow prophet, Apostle Iginla, said he had many visions of Joshua’s death long ago and told him. But Joshua waved him aside, saying he was ready anytime the Lord chose to call him home.

The man had his ways, wrote his script and performed it to the letter, regardless of what others thought of him or felt about his mission.

“It is now that many people are trying to understand his ministry. Many of those who criticised him in the past are beginning to understand that he was truly a man of God and not as they thought. Many of them have called him an antichrist and a false prophet in the past, but he never paid them attention.

He stayed focused on the area that God called him.”

Prophet Joshua took the country and indeed, Christendom by storm when he began his evangelism in the early 1990s.

Instant miracles and cure for all kinds of ailments and the casting out of demons were advertised on radio and TV sets hoisted aloft planks in his then ramshackle church building, which paled in comparison to the magnificent edifice that now stands on the same plot of land a few years after.

Testimonies after testimonies of his feat spread across the country in leaps and bounds. Soon enough, his fame also spread across the globe. And the high and low, the mighty and the weak flocked to Egbe-Ikotun on the outskirts of Lagos, where his church is located. World leaders, such as late John Evans Atta-Mills of Ghana; late Zimbabwean Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangira; Winnie Mandela; ex-First Lady, Patience Goodluck Jonathan and former President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, were among his patrons. So too were many football and movie stars, politicians and businessmen and women too numerous to name.

At a time, the Church became a Mecca for many Europeans and Americans in a way that exemplified one of the best examples of medical tourism the country has ever witnessed.

Many came with X-rays showing degrees of terminal diseases they wanted cured by Joshua. As a result, business boomed for many hotels in Lagos, just as much-needed foreign exchange poured into the Lagos economy.

Opinion is still divided whether any cure or healing actually took place, but the crowds of people seeking solutions to their problems never waned; it increased instead.

Faith was at work, as many were wont to say. Until misfortune struck the Church in September, 2014 when a building under construction collapsed, killing almost 100 persons, many of whom were visitors from South Africa.

Apart from his spirituality, Joshua was also known for his legendary philanthropy. He gave to the needy warm-heartedly, although with some ostentation. At times, he was said to send for beggars and hosted them to feasts. Scholarships were offered to members of the church and their children and others who requested for help. Again, fault finders never, for once, thought he was doing these things for free.

Mr Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, a senior journalist and currently Media Adviser to founder of United Nigeria Airlines, aptly

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Even so, it was a measure of Joshua’s national reputation that the Senate on Tuesday observed a minute’s silence in his honour.

This was sequel to the adoption of Order 43 raised by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ajayi Borroffice, over his death in Lagos.

captures these opposite views, on his Facebook wall, recently.

He wrote, “Never met Prophet T B Joshua personally, though I felt the impact of his humanness. I lived in Agodo-Egbe, close to him. I noticed that every December, he would send in earthmovers to grade the streets bordering his.

“On this particular Christmas Eve, TB sent in four bags of rice to the compound where I lived like he did to all houses on the streets around him. We had four flats and it was a bag per flat.

I am Catholic. The other neighbours were Apostolic, Deeper Life and Christ Embassy. To my surprise, they all rejected the bags of rice on the argument that TB was into occultism and that the rice was a bait. I laughed… don’t ask me what happened to the other three bags. The Christmas was finer.

Relax in Peace, TB.” According to Forbes Magazine, Joshua gave away $20m in three years before his death.

In this age of the three dominant strands of the Christian religion, namely orthodox, protestant and pentecostal churches alongside new age thought, ruled by gurus and their do-it-yourself meditation techniques, it may be hard to place the SCOAN. Joshua’s method and practices were more of a syncretic nature that appealed to the core of the African and like minds who believe every life challenge is “spiritual” and must be exorcised for a breakthrough.

Indeed, a man with such strange ways as Joshua was bound

Later, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, called for a minute’s silence to honour the late cleric. He also commiserated with the deceased’s family over the irreparable loss of their bread winner.

Earlier, President Muhamadu Buhari had condoled with the members of SCOAN and late Joshua’s family, saying, “that life is not measured and defined by chronological longevity, but by enduring legacies and lives touched positively.” His immediate predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan said, “As a Christian leader, TB Joshua and his ministry exemplified Christ in faith, love and charity; positively impacting the lives of many Nigerians, Africans and millions of people across the world.” Many state governors and businessmen have spoken in similar vein.

A day after Joshua passed on, the traditional ruler of his hometown in Ondo State, Arigidi Akoko, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, said he would like Joshua’s burial take place in the community so as to ensure that his philanthropic legacy remained in the heart of the people.

“He would bring rice to the people whenever we requested.

He hated to see people go hungry. He was instrumental to the electrification of many communities in Akoko land after years of darkness,” the monarch said.

In 2008, TB Joshua was honoured with the title of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the then Federal Government led by late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Surely, T. B Joshua may have meant different things to different people, but this prophet was with honour in his own country.

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FEATURES The advent of social media as a major tool for communication, connecting people and establishing relationships has also inspired LIFTED into creating the LIFT NIGERIA as a tool for alleviating poverty.

The platform is basically to give privileged Nigerians access to connect with and provide direct support to less privileged Nigerians. Intending beneficiaries are to register and signify the nature of support and empowerment that they desire. On the web platform, there are four basic areas which includes, partnership for individuals seeking partners who may be interested in investing in a specific project for expansion purposes, scholarships for students who may register on the platform to seek academic scholarships up to university level, mentorship for anyone who seeks to be mentored in any field of endeavor and sponsorship for Nigerians with innovative ideas for development.

Some of the beneficiaries

More so, benefactors can request for verification for a beneficiary they are interested in so that LIFTED can carry out a proper check on the person and the cause they have presented on the website after which the benefactor may decide to open communication with the beneficiary directly on the website or choose to take their communication beyond the site.

Lifting Nigerians Out of Poverty

BY JOY ONUORAH

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ith nearly 87 million people living in extreme poverty and over 100 million persons living below a dollar per day, Nigeria, though being Africa’s wealthiest country in capacity with abundant natural resources and a key regional player in West Africa, is currently listed among the countries with extremely poor people.

There has also been a consistent rise in the number of out-ofschool children over the years making the giant of Africa the country with the highest number of out-of -school children in Sub-Saharan Africa with 13.2 million children between 5 and 14 years that are already out of school, according to the a recent survey conducted by the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund. The causative factor is not farfetched.

Unemployment and underemployment is at the core of the high poverty level faced by many Nigerians. This is affecting households and increasing the number of people that are vulnerable to poverty. More so, factors like poor funding, unavailability of teachers, lack of educational facilities, among others, have contributed to the unstable and totally appalling educational system in the country.

While illiteracy poses a leading factor, the inability to harness, develop and maximise local contents across the various facets of the economy is yet another reason for the upsurge in the poverty levels in a country with nearly all the natural resources that can be found in the world.

In a bid to proffer a sustainable solution to alleviate poverty and further establish non-privileged persons in business and skills, LIFTED, an indigenous, independent nongovernmental organization and an arm of The Isaiah Wealth Initiative, TIWI, a platform that renders top notch and cutting edge humanitarian services through interventions in the areas of health, education, human empowerment, catering for victims of natural disasters and the less privileged, has embarked on a mission to bring about two special povertycombating initiatives.

The first, The Empowerment Network, TEN, is a poverty alleviation and empowerment initiative structured to lift 40 million Nigerians out of poverty and return 16 million children to school over the next ten years, 2020-2030. TEN seeks to train beneficiaries in various selected small-scale business enterprises and provide funding for them, integrate the beneficiaries into a progressive financial network that guarantees sustainable funding for their businesses and subsequently establish at least one empowerment centre in each of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria to carry on perpetual empowerment across the nation.

This they have started implementing by providing business grants for over 100 beneficiaries to start up businesses in the first phase.

According to the founder of the initiatives, Isaiah Wealth, the vision of the initiative is to refocus the minds of youths for creativity, productivity and self-reliance by training and mentoring them at grass root levels.

Government at all levels, no doubt, shares a large chunk of the blame as the machinery through which the wishes of the people are realised, formulated and expressed. Corruption among politicians across all divides, as well as certain religious leaders and other privileged individuals in the society, is also to blame.

At a media briefing held during the official launch of The Empowerment Network recently, Wealth said the network was structured to work with volunteers, who have been provided with guided skill-sharpening training to enable them engage in outreaches to impoverished areas so as to identify qualified beneficiaries, register them on the TEN mobile app platform and monitor the progress of the beneficiaries in their respective business.

However, following the state of the country and the continuous deafening silence from the government on the plight of the vulnerable masses, it has become expedient for every Nigerian to take their destiny in their hands by developing themselves mentally and otherwise. Acquiring relevant skill sets, starting business enterprises, regardless of size, and managing it properly becomes imperative.

The second initiative of LIFTED, LIFTNIGERIA, provides the opportunity to privileged and well-meaning Nigerians resident at home and abroad to play their role in alleviating poverty by contributing meaningfully to the living conditions of the less privileged in the country in a secure and transparent manner.

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Moreover, considering the immenseness of the project, The Empowerment Network is in partnership with the Joint Church Action, JCA, to facilitate the collaboration of churches in Nigeria to contribute their part towards the alleviation of poverty in the country.

Speaking at the launch, the chairman of the JCA Board, Bishop Wesley Arije said, for some years now, there have been a growing erroneous and misleading rhetoric among the youths especially on social media about the churches in Nigeria enriching themselves at the expense of the society.

According to him, this is partly fueled by the worsening poverty situation in the country and the perceived apathy of the church, which is considered one of the most prosperous institutions in the nation, to address the menace.

While this narrative is untrue, the gravity of the poverty situation in the country cannot be denied with over 47 per cent of her population living in abject poverty. In the midst of this, the church has continued to operate in healing and evangelism but has underperformed in what the Bible alludes to be the ministry of doing good because of the individualistic approach so far.

The chairman went on to say that if the church continues to engage only in healing and preaching without philanthropy, they may lose the next generation who are presently being fed with negative narratives on social media and the church may miss out on the opportunity to effectively reach out to the lost in poverty stricken areas.

Hence, JCA has been set up to propagate the relevance of the Church in Nigeria through joint philanthropy, embark on national help projects that engage the youths all in the bid to change the narrative around the gospel with regards to alleviating poverty.

For that reason, JCA is partnering with LIFTED as a fundraiser to empower at least eight million breadwinners with an average of five defendants each and two out-ofschool children while calling for collaboration with churches across the country to join in the vision.

The Empowerment Network initiative is also calling for partners, support, sponsors and volunteers to help facilitate and bring to actualisation its objectives of alleviating poverty and returning children to school.

Other arms of the Isaiah Wealth Initiative are Elders Support Programme, Father’s Orphanage, Youth Empowerment Project, First World Africa, Healing Care Foundation and several others.

Prophet Isaiah Wealth, as he is called, is an author, singer and founder of several philanthropic initiatives intended to improve the lives of people. He is the founder and senior pastor of the Gospel Pillars International Churches with headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria.

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SportsLive

Tokyo Olympics: Quadri Aruna Returns

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

O

ne of Nigeria’s best chances of a medal at the XXXLL Olympiad in Tokyo Japan is also one of Africa’s best table tennis exports. He is Nigeria’s own Quadri Aruna. The professional, who excels in a competition dominated by Asians, is heading to his third Summer Olympic Games with a determination to improve on his remarkably impressive 2016 run in Rio de Janeiro.

The 32-year-old will go to Tokyo ranked 21st in the world and the highest ranked African in the game. In fact, he qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021 by virtue of his current ranking.

In the 2016 Games, it was obvious that Aruna had learnt a lot. He posted the biggest upset of the tournament by defeating Chuang in a 4-0 flawless thumping without losing a single set. Yet, there was more.

In the third round, Aruna faced renowned German player Timo Boll, who as of June 2019 was ranked 6th in the world. In that match, Boll came undone by the Nigerian in a 4-2 victory The win earned Aruna a quarter-final berth against the tournament’s number one seed, China’s Ma Long, who was the Olympic and world champion at the time. Yet, despite the perceived wide gulf in class between both players, Aruna gave Long a fight to remember that created an entertaining scene of memorable lengthy rallies that went viral online.

Long eventually swept Aruna off his feet by seeing him off to a non-responsive 4-0 defeat, an evidence of Long’s status at the time.

Those victories and the loss to Long established Aruna as a force to be reckoned with on the African table tennis scene and he was honoured across the world.

His steady rise is attributed to the core principles of selfdiscipline, dedication, passion, perseverance and resilience that are to stay at the top in a competitive sport, such as table tennis. This athlete, who won a silver medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and remains unbeatable in the men’s singles event in Africa, has not stopped being a source of inspiration for Africans globally.

Underneath Aruna’s sporting image lies a humble man who has never forgotten his roots in Oyo State and who remembers the inspiration and support from older table tennis stars, such as Segun Toriola. In fact, there is only a few up-and-coming table tennis prospects in Nigeria that have not benefitted from him in one way or another.

Aruna’s contributions to the development of table tennis in Nigeria and Africa, as well as his donations to charity are pointers to his generosity. They also sum exemplify the high sense of responsibility that he has brought to bear on the next generation of table tennis players on the continent that he has continued to inspire.

The tennis star is virtually unrivalled when it comes to donating equipment and kit to the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation as well as contributing to the upkeep pf children in orphanages. In 2020, he donated equipment worth nearly 1,400 euros (about $1,700) to two Nigerian para-table tennis players, who will make their Paralympic Games debut in

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Aruna

In his first appearance at the Olympic Games, which was the 2012 London Summer Games, Aruna represented Nigeria at the table tennis men’s single event. He defeated Spain’s Carlos Machado 4-2 before bowing out in the second round to Turkey’s Bora Vang by 4-2. It was a learning experience for him at the biggest sporting stage in the world. It was his style to take the lessons forward and that was what he did.

Tokyo for Team Nigeria.

recognise me now and on the streets.”

This year, he has sponsored equipment for six table tennis players in Nigeria for 12 months, including under-13 world numero uno, Musa Mustapha, to keep them in competitive shape.

However, Aruna has had a tough time, in terms of competition. Last November, THEWILL reported his loss at the International Table Tennis Federation Men’s World Cup, which served off its first spins on Friday, November 13. He was beaten by his Slovenian opponent, Darko Jorgic.

The basis of these acts cannot be removed from his personal experience. “I have achieved what I have through hard work and self-confidence. I believe they can always do it. Nothing is impossible.

“For the ones who are getting support, I tell them that nobody supported me when I was going up. So they are going to be better than me,” he once said in an interview held in 2018.

That is why he is often considered to be an ambassador for young athletes. He uses his own life as a good example because in his youth, his mother, who used to be a schoolteacher at the time, often stressed the importance of his studies and why it must come first. Aruna’s initial teacher, Abolarin Oluwole, helped to instill this in him.

Confirming this, Aruna’s mother, Shakirat, said, “There was a time when I had to caution Oluwole (one of his first coaches, Abolarin Oluwole) not to allow table tennis to ruin my son’s studies, not knowing that this is what will bring fame and fortune to him.

“He has been helping the family since he moved to Europe and I can say that he is our breadwinner.”

Aruna’s achievement at the 2016 Olympic Game held in Rio de Janeiro has contributed in no small way to his rising profile. He is quite popular in Nigeria and across Africa where only football stars are celebrated as heroes. His feat against two top-seeded 10 players, Chuang Chih-yuan and Timo Boll, would have gone unnoticed but for the Internet, which made information on the events at Rio accessible to millions of people across the world.

Acknowledging this in 2018, he said, “I was aware the whole world was watching, not just Nigeria and Africa. My performance in Rio really made table tennis more popular in Nigeria. Whenever I am in the airport now many officials

The 22-year-old Slovenian, ranked 34th at the time, caused a major upset in the final match of the day by eliminating Aruna from the group stages to reach the round of 16 with a 4-2; 11-4, 8-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-8, 11-4 result.

Earlier in March 2021, Aruna could not continue his match at the African Olympic Qualifying tournament in Tunisia as he aggravated an old injury, which forced him to pull out of his final match against Tunisia’s Adam Hmam. The Tunisian was promptly handed the last ticket to Tokyo, as a consequence.

Again, at the World Table Tennis (WTT) championship in Doha, another Olympic qualifying event, Aruna was knocked out in the quarter-finals by world number seven tennis player Yun-Ju Lin of Chinese Taipei. Aruna’s zeal came through, but he lost 3-1 (8-11, 9-11, 17-15, 9-11) to the more fancied and better-ranked Lin. Notwithstanding the loss, he set a record in Doha as the first African to play in the quarter-finals stage of the WTT as he overcame the newly-crowned Indian national champion Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 3-0 (11-7,11-4, 11-8) and also defeated Portugal’s Joao Geraldo 3-2 (12-10, 12-10, 4-11, 11-6) before losing to Lin. His ranking came handy in the end to give him a path into the Games as a wild card. As the Tokyo Games beckon, this African pioneer has his sights set on breaking more barriers on the table. In his words: “Like every athlete, I want to do better than I have done before. I want better results in Tokyo. I am always thinking about it.”

The whole country, and by extension the entire continent, are behind him and will be cheering him on to do exploits, to break records and to bring home the medal that his dedication to his game and the love of his heart deserves.

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