THEWILL NEWSPAPER August 20, 2023

New Ministers Take Oath, Face Daunting Challenges

• Tinubu Pins Renewed Hope Agenda on Cabinet •Top Likely Performers – Pate, Alausa, Keyamo, Fagbemi, Wike, Edun, Umahi, Anite, Musawa, Mamman, Tijani, Tuggar • Ministers to Watch – Idris, Utsev, Tunji-Ojo, Alake, Edu, Adelabu • Gbajabiamila, Ribadu Emerge President’s Most Influential Political Appointees

Who better to come on the cover of TheWill DOWNTOWN for National Radio Day than Chris Ubosi? Ubosi has twelve radio stations and four successful brands—Beat FM, Classic FM, Naija FM and Lagos Talk, each catering to its audience.

It’s interesting how far radio has come; back in the day, it was very one-dimensional, with the on-air personality doing all the talking and not hearing back from the audience. A lot has changed since then. Now we have live interactions on the radio where people call in to talk about one thing or the other. And things will change even more with the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI). Ubosi mentions that a radio station in the U.S. already uses AI in that there is no one on-air, just AI doing its thing—and he notes that they kind of use AI as well for algorithms. They haven’t gotten to the point of using the voices of the on-air personalities for different shows. Speaking of shows, although Chris Ubosi doesn’t host a show if given the opportunity, his choice of whom he would like to host a show with is very interesting. See pages 8 to 10 for his enlightening interview.

When Dorcas, our beauty writer, said she would like to write about masks, my immediate thought was pregnancy masks, and then she clarified that it was beauty masks. It turns out that you can break out in acne if you use masks the wrong way. She shares tips for combating mask-induced skin issues on page 5.

I recently decided to have my phone on silent when I go to bed, but a friend said there could be an emergency and someone could be unable to reach me. Well, now I’m torn because there are downsides to sleeping with your phone next to you. Read all about it on page 11.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

OnahNwachukwu Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN

COVER

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

New Ministers Take Oath, Face Daunting Challenges

• Tinubu Pins Renewed Hope Agenda on Cabinet

• Top Likely Performers – Pate, Alausa, Keyamo, Fagbemi, Wike, Edun, Umahi, Anite, Musawa, Mamman, Tijani, Tuggar

• Ministers to Watch – Idris, Utsev, Tunji-Ojo, Alake, Edu, Adelabu

• Gbajabiamila, Ribadu Emerge President’s Most Influential Political Appointees

BY AMOS ESELE

As is common with swearing-in ceremonies of public officials in Nigeria, the spacious State House Conference Centre, Aso Villa venue for the oath taking of the 45 ministers-designate newly appointed by President Bola Tinubu will come alive in carnival fashion from 10:am Monday.

After the colourful ceremony, the ministers will begin to face reality and the demands of their offices in fulfilment of the renewed hope agenda of the President and what Nigerians think and expect of them, considering the terrible state of the nation’s economy as passed on by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

A former National Chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and member of the National Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole, recently described the economy as being in a terrible shape. This verdict on the past eight-year rule by the party has left discerning Nigerians wondering whether a cabinet composed of active players in that past administration and period can make any difference in the next four

years.

“I doubt if this cabinet can make the desired impact,” said Dr Ike Okonta, Executive Director of Abuja based New Centre for Social Research in an interview with THEWILL on Friday. “Their appointment is not dictated by the development needs of Nigeria, but by political calculations. The President is already looking towards 2027. What he did was to appoint people who will deliver for him. This is what in political science is called machine politics; you identify godfathers who are likely to convince their people to vote for you and empower them.”

Indeed, eight of the ministers-designate are former state governors, namely, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe, Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi and Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun.

Many others are past and serving senators and House

of Representatives members like Senator Heineken Lopkobiri, Senator John Onah, Senator Abubakar Sani Danladi, Senator Abubakar Kyari, former House Deputy Chief Whip, Nkiru Onyejiocha, two-time House of Reps member, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo and Abubakar Momoh.

Others are politicians who worked for Tinubu’s victory like Betta Edu, APC Women Leader; APC presidential aspirant, Barrister Uju Kennedy; governorship candidate of Accord Party in Oyo State, Waheed Adebayo Adelabu; former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo; Election Petition Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Counsel, Lateef Fagbemi and Dele Alake, the Presidential Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy.

GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE

Given the parlous state of the economy at the departure of President Buhari, this government would require

...NewMinistersTake Oath,FaceDauntingChallenges

competence and capacity to turn things around.

Senator Yinus Akintunde, APC Oyo Central, at the weekend said it was premature to assess the cabinet members until after they had performed in their respective offices, adding that the President took time to compile the names.

He said, “I think we are in too much of a hurry. Those who have been appointed are political heads of their ministries, they are not even the accounting officers of their ministries. The argument that you must have experience in your ministry to be effective is not correct. Those complaining that ministers of areas dealing with defence need military background forget that there are service chiefs who oversee security. Former Kano governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, was once a minister of defence, yet he had no military background.”

Mr Daniel Bwala disagrees with Senator Akintunde. Bwala, one of the chief spokespersons of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign team in the 2023 general election, told THEWILL on Friday that there are certain critical ministries that should have adequately informed and prepared ministers.

By what he called the “fallacy of generalisation,” he said that Senator Akintunde could not be right. Section 5 of the Constitution says that executive power like that of the President must be exercised through the ministers. So, ministers are like Tinubu in their ministries. That is why we have ministers. They give direction and make concerted efforts to push efficiency in the ministries. Look at what happened to FCT, Abuja before Nasir el-Rufai was made its minister. The place was like a market before he came and turned it around,” Bwala said.

For him, the cabinet is a mismatch with a few competent hands and it cannot take the country far in terms of delivery of the President’s agenda on renewed hope.

“The President may be a good man with a plan, but if he does not have the people to push the plan, it means nothing.”

According to Bwala, there are those with capacity and others that are a mismatch. “The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Wale Edun and Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, for example, are square pegs in square holes.

Those that represent the mismatch, for example, are Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Hannatu Musawa, Minster of Art, Culture and Creative economy.”

Bwala says both ministers should swap positions because with the approach of a looming disaster posed by refugees that may likely stream into Nigeria, following the possible invasion of neighbouring Niger by the ECOWAS military force, Musawa, who hails from the North, would feel very much comfortable. Edu, on the other hand, would be at home with the Culture and Creative ministry because Cross River State, where she comes from, is noted for her rich culture and festivals.

Bwala is also critical of the Minister of Defence portfolio assigned to a former Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle and Budget and Economic Planning to exGovernor Atiku Bagudu, for reasons that the Matawalle was, “worse in dealing with insecurity in his state as a governor and was even wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, sometime in April, 2023.”

He asked rhetorically, “Does the President have something against retired military generals? The problem of insecurity is hydra-headed. It revolves around local banditry, criminality and terrorism, which requires somebody with military experience to handle.

“Bagudu has no degree, no knowledge nor experience in budgeting and economy. So why put him there? Then why make Wike FCT Minister, a natural troublemaker who likes to intimidate people?”

Dr Abiola Akiode, Executive Director of Director, Women Advocate Research and Development Centre, WARDC, agrees with Bwala on the question of

appointing competent hands to lead the ministries, saying that expertise is important.

“Why, for instance, did the President appoint Lateef Fagbemi as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, if competence does not matter?” She said in an interview with THEWILL, “The country does not have time for testing ground, there is a huge problem with that kind of argument because we are at a critical juncture of the country’s growth and development.”

Akiode is however riled by what she described as “disregard for gender inclusion policy according to the National Gender Policy that the government enacted into law in 2020, making it mandatory for 35 per cent representation of women in elective and appointive positions.”

She said she was disappointed at the way the portfolios were assigned and allocated, particularly to women, many of whom she said were those who actually helped the President to win election and not necessarily for women per say “because there are many qualified women in Nigeria.” Even so, she thinks the women should have been properly assigned according to their competence and capacity.

“Nkiruka Onyejiocha participated in oversight functions on aviation during her membership of the House of Reps. She would have been a perfect one for the Aviation and Aerospace Ministry just as Festus Keyamo, SAN, who had manned the Ministry of Labour and Employment as Minister of State should be effective here. Lola Ade-John’s background in technology would have landed her in Innovation Science and Technology and not the Tourism Ministry she was assigned.”

LIKELY TOP PERFORMERS

They are round pegs and round roles, square pegs in square holes as well as ministers-designate with versatile skills. Some already have their jobs cut out for them by their expertise. They are Tahir Mamman

(Education), a former Vice-Chancellor of Base University, Abuja; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, an economist and investment banker and was one-time Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, 1999- 2007; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, a former Ambassador to Germany; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate; a physician and globally respected public health expert; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, an entrepreneur and co-founder of Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), the leading Pan-African innovation and technology centre; Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

OTHER LIKELY TOP PERFORMERS

Hannatu Musawa: Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy

She was until her appointment the Special Adviser on Culture and Entertainment to President Bola Tinubu. Mrs Musawa is a lawyer, who served as the deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC). She holds a degree in law from the University of Buckingham, UK and took a postgraduate Masters degree in the Legal Aspects of Marine Affairs from the University of Cardiff, Wales.

Doris Uzoka-Anite: Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment

She is a medical doctor turned banker. A former Commissioner for Finance and Coordinating Economy in Imo State, Ms Uzoka-Anite was also a former General Manager of Zenith Bank Plc.

Festus Keyamo: Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development

Keyamo, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. He served as Minister of State for Labour and Employment after being redeployed from Minister of Niger Delta Affairs under the President Muhammadu Buhari. During the 2023 general elections, he served a spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

Nyesom Wike: Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT Wike is the immediate past governor of Rivers State of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. A lawyer by training, Wike also served two terms as Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area from 1999 to 2007. He obtained his Bachelor of Law degree from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology before proceeding to the Law School in 1997.

Dave Umahi: Minister of Work

Until his appointment as Minister, Umahi was a Senator representing Ebonyi South at the National. He served as the governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023, and as deputy governor from 2011 to 2015.

MINISTERS TO WATCH

Olubunmi Tunji Ojo Minister of Marine and Blue Economy

Ojo was until his appointment a lawmaker from the Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State. He took a Master’s degree in Digital Communication and Networking in 2006 and holds certifications in 18 professional qualifications in ICT. Ojo was one of the first set of certified ethical hackers from Royal Britannia IT Training Academy in the United Kingdom before he turned 24 years.

Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation

Edu was until her appointment the National Women Leader of the APC.

She was Cross River State Commissioner for Health until her resignation in 2022. She was also the National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.

Continues on page 8

I doubt if this cabinet can make the desired impact,” said Dr Ike Okonta, Executive Director of Abuja based New Centre for Social Research in an interview with THEWILL on Friday. “Their appointment is not dictated by the development needs of Nigeria, but by political calculations. The President is already looking towards 2027. What he did was to appoint people who will deliver for him. This is what in political science is called machine politics; you identify godfathers who are likely to convince their people to vote for you and empower them

Continued from page 7

...NewMinistersTake Oath,FaceDauntingChallenges

Prof Joseph Utsev: Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation

Professor Utsev is a qualified civil engineer and was a former commissioner in Governor Samuel Ortom administration, associate professor and a former rector at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State and former Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Wanune in Tarka LGA of Benue State.

Dele Alake: Minister of Solid Minerals Development

He was until his ministerial appointment the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy. He also served Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State between 1999 and 2007 when Tinubu was governor. He is a former Editor of National Concord from 1995 to June 1999 and a former vice president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

Mohammed Idris: Minister of Information and National Orientation

Idris was until his appointment the Publisher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Abujabased Blueprint newspaper. He is public relations professional, a politician and was the director of strategic communications for the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council.

Adebayo Adelabu: Minister of Power

Adelabu is a former Deputy Governor, Operations, of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He retired from the position in 2019 and ran unsuccessfully for governor in Oyo State as candidate for the APC and again in 2023 on the platform of Accord Party.

GBAJABIAMILA, RIBADU - TINUBU'S MOST INFLUENTIAL POLITICAL APPOINTEES

The President's Chief of Staff and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu RIbadu, have emerged the most powerful and influential duo in Tinubu's administration. Both men have the president's confidence and ears as well as have their imprints and inputs in key decisions taken by the President. While Ribadu has effectively taken charge of state related security issues and policy, Gbajabiamila has also entrenched himself in coordinating political affairs and policy implementation on behalf of the president.

WAY FORWARD

Given the four-year tenure of the administration, many like Dr Akiode, who think the President “allowed other considerations to cloud his judgement in making his choices of ministers,” say that since government is a continuum, there will be room for improvement.

“Ministers are managers and President Tinubu will have to rejig his cabinet sometime in the future to make it more efficient and capable of making the desired impact,” said Bwala.

Senator Akintunde is emphatic: “I insist that we allow the ministers to do their job before we assess their performance. Then, adjustments can be made, if need be.”

THE MINISTERS-DESIGNATE AND THEIR PORTFOLIOS

1. Minister of State, Agriculture and Food Security

A. Sabi Abdullahi

2. Minister of State, Housing And Urban Development

Abdullahi T. Gwarzo

3. Minster of Agriculture And Food Security

Abubakar Kyari

4. Minister of Youth

Abubakar Momoh

5. Minister of Power

Adebayo Adelabu

6. Minister of Transportation

Adegboyega Oyetola

7. Minister of Housing and Urban Development

Ahmed M. Dangiwa

8. Coordinating Minister of Health And Social Welfare

Ali Pate

9. Minister of Budget and Economic Planning

Atiku Bagudu

10. Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation

Bello M. Goronyo

11. Minister of State, Defence

Bello Matawalle

12. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty

Alleviation

Betta Edu

13. Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy

Bosun Tijani

14. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy

Bunmi Tunji-Ojo

15. Minister of Works

David Umahi

16. Minister of Solid Minerals Development

Dele Alake

17. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment

Doris Anite

18. Minister of State, Gas Resources

Ekperipe Ekpo

19. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development

I think we are in too much of a hurry. Those who have been appointed are political heads of their ministries, they are not even the accounting officers of their ministries. The argument that you must have experience in your ministry to be effective is not correct. Those complaining that ministers of areas dealing with defence need military background forget that there are service chiefs who oversee security. Former Kano governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, was once a minister of defence, yet he had no military background

Festus Keyamo

20. Minister of Art, Culture and The Creative Economy

Hannatu Musawa

21. Minister of State, Petroleum Resources

Heineken Lokpobiri

22. Minister of Police Affairs

Ibrahim Geidam

23. Minister of State, Police Affairs

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim

24. Minister of State, Environment and Ecology

Ishak Salako

25. Minister of Sports Development

John Enoh

26. Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation

Joseph Utsev

27. Attorney General of The Federation and Minister of Justice

Lateef Fagbemi

28. Minister of Tourism

Lola Ade-John

29. Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory

Mairiga Mahmud

30. Minister of Defence

Mohammed Badaru

31. Minister of Information and National Orientation

Muhammed Idris

32. Minister of State, Labour and Employment

Nkiruka Onyejeocha

33. Minister of The Federal Capital Territory

Nyesom Wike

34. Minister of Interior

Sa’idu A. Alkali

35. Minister of Steel Development

Shuaibu A. Audu

36. Minister of Labour and Employment

Simon B. Lalong

37. Minister of Education

Tahir Maman

38. Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare

Tunji Alausa

39. Minister of State, Steel Development

U. Maigari Ahmadu

40. Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology

Uche Nnaji

41. Minister of Women Affairs

Uju Kennedy

42. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of The Economy

Wale Edun

43. Minister of Foreign Affairs

Yusuf M. Tuggar

44. Minister of State, Education

Yusuf T. Sununu

45. Minister of Special Duties and InterGovernmental Affairs

Zephaniah Jisalo

46. Minister of Environment and Ecological Management (Kaduna)

Anxiety as Tinubu, Atiku, Obi Await Election Tribunal’s Verdict

BY AYO ESAN

As Nigerians await the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, (PEPT), there seems to be anxiety among the three presidential candidates in the 2023 election that appeared at the Tribunal, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and the incumbent President Bola Tinubu, as well as their supporters nationwide.

Atiku, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), both of who came second and third, respectively, in the election result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had dragged the winner of the election, Asiwaju BolaTinubu to the Tribunal, challenging his victory at the poll.

After over three months of hearing in the petitions, the Tribunal on August 1, 2023 reserved judgment in the two cases filed by both Atiku and Obi.

The five-member panel presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani reserved judgment in Atiku and Obi’s petitions to a date that will be communicated to the parties after their final written addresses have been adopted.

As the parties in the case eagerly await the outcome of the petitions, the Federal Government took a panic measure last Tuesday as it dissolved the Secretariat of the Advertising Standard Panel (ASP) over its approval of a billboard, which it termed as blackmailing the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal with the haedline ‘All Eyes on The Judiciary.’

“As the parties in the case eagerly await the outcome of the petitions, the Federal Government took a panic measure last Tuesday as it dissolved the Secretariat of the Advertising Standard Panel (ASP) over its approval of a billboard, which it termed as blackmailing the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal with the haedline ‘All Eyes on The Judiciary

The billboard erected in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is drawing the attention of the public to the impending judgment at the Presidential Election Tribunal. But the APC-led Federal Government said the Advertising Standard Panel, the statutory body under the Council charged with the duty of ensuring that advertisements conform to the prevailing laws of the Federation and the Code of Ethics of advertising, erred in approving the ' ‘All Eyes on The Judiciary' concept which draws attention to the pending cases at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

A statement by the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, which confirmed the dissolution of the panel, said the Council also suspended its Director and Deputy Director in charge of Regulations to allow investigation to be carried out on the issue.

The statement further said “The attention of the ARCON has been drawn to the “All Eyes on the Judiciary” advertisements exposed on some billboards across the country.

“The Advertising Standards Panel of the Council also erred in the approval of one of the concepts as the advertisement failed to vet guidelines on the following grounds:

“The cause forming the central theme of the campaign in the advertisement is a matter pending

Continues on page 10

Continued from page 9

...Await Election Tribunal’s Verdict

before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Hence, it’s Jus pendis.

“A matter being jus pendis and awaiting judicial pronouncement is, by virtue of the Nigerian legal system, precluded from being a subject of public statement, debate, discussion, advertisement, etc.

“The advertisement is controversial and capable of instigating public unrest and breach of public peace.

“The advertisement is considered blackmail against the Nigerian Judiciary, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunaland particularly the Honourable Justices of the Tribunal who are expected to discharge their judicial functions without fear or favour over a matter that is currently jus pendis.”

The ARCON DG said the Council would set up a committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the “erroneous approval” of one of the concepts of the advert and the breach of the vetting guidelines.

“Consequently, the Director and Deputy Director, Regulations have also been suspended. The suspension is to enable an unprejudiced investigation of the issue. The Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) Secretariat failing to diligently exercise its function as the gatekeeper of advertising, advertisement, and marketing communications is hereby dissolved,” he said.

What followed was the destruction and removal of the billboards carrying the advert in the Federal Capital Territory.

In its reaction, the sponsors of the billboards, through UC Maxwell, said that they would not be cowed or intimidated, insisting that free speech was a constitutional right of every Nigerian.

“We consider this attempt as a violation of the rights of citizens to freedom of expression and the press as guaranteed under Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered. Responding to the Four (4) outlines in the said Memo, we respond as follows.

“The central theme of the billboard ‘All Eyes on The Judiciary’ is not a matter before the court. The issues before the court are as they relate to the presidential election held in February 2023 and do not in any way affect the citizen’s duty to keep track of the exercise of governmental powers as provided for by the Constitution.

“Of the many issues for determination before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and various Election Tribunals in Nigeria, the petitioners and respondents to the suits before the various tribunals did not present ‘All Eyes on The Judiciary’ as an issue for determination.

“The call on Nigerians to be committed to holding the government accountable through the ‘All Eyes On The Judiciary’ theme does not in any way instigate the breach of public peace. The duty to criticise government officials and hold them accountable is established by law. It is instructive to note vehemently that the only thing that can and in fact will instigate public unrest and breach of public peace is where the government through any of its arms, particularly the Judiciary manifests grave injustice against the people.

“The Nigerian people will not accept the deliberate attempt to regard their duty of holding government officials accountable as blackmail. We consider this attempt as cheap blackmail in itself that will be resisted in all its forms. We must remind ARCON that it has an obligation under Section 22 of the Constitution to uphold the fundamental objectives of the Constitution and ‘uphold the responsibility and

accountability of the government to the people’.

Atiku also reacted to the destruction of the billboards in strategic locations in the Federal Capital Territory drawing public attention to the judiciary as Nigerians await the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, saying that the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government cannot remove public eyes from the judiciary.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Mr Phrank Shaibu in Abuja on Tuesday, Atiku said public eyes can’t be removed from the judiciary handling the election petitions. He described the destruction of the billboards as a clear evidence of “President Bola Tinubu’s authoritarianism and assault on the freedom of speech.”

According to him, the directive by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria to pull down all billboards carrying the advert across Nigeria was totally uncalled for.

Shuaibu said the entire incident reinforced the argument that election cases in court ought to be completed before inauguration of elected officials. He further wondered how messages like; ‘All Eyes on the Judiciary’ translates to a threat to society.

Shuaibu said that even arbiters of justice knew that all eyes were on them because of the historic nature of their assignment.

“The basic principle of social justice is about the people. The advertisers of the billboards only did what the norm is in civilized climes. It was the agents working to impress an interest that read meanings to that innocuous advert.

“Otherwise, it is a basic principle that eyes must be on the wheel of justice. Eyes must naturally be on the wheel of justice because when justice is delivered, it must be ‘seen’ to have been just!

“In any case, both Tinubu and the APC are before the same court. It is curious how they find this particular message upsetting. Anyway, even if they pull down the billboards, they can never stop all eyes from being on the judiciary at this historic time.”

“Tinubu has, once again, put his dictatorial tendency on public display. How has a simple message that says ‘All eyes are on the judiciary’ suddenly become offensive? This is a clear case of abuse of office and reinforces the argument that court cases ought to be concluded before inauguration so that beneficiaries of fraudulent elections would not be able to manipulate the system in their favour.

“Billboards are used in displaying educational messages. Is there any offence in alerting Nigerians to the fact that all eyes should indeed be on the judiciary? In any case, is there any Nigerian that does not know that the judiciary is hearing the case challenging Tinubu’s fraudulent victory? Even the justices themselves are aware that all eyes are on them because of the historic assignment that they are saddled with. If Tinubu had nothing to hide, why would he be afraid of such a message?

Shaibu said it was ironic that “Tinubu claimed to be a democrat and even boasted of funding the June 12 struggle only for him to transform into an intolerant authoritarian after the election.”

Also in another development, political watchers and political analysts have reacted to the visit of Atiku to the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP) Presidential Candidate, Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso’s residence in Abuja on Tuesday.

Though the purpose or agenda of the meeting was not made public; Atiku and Kwankwaso are known political rivals, a development that suggests that the meeting might be convened to close ranks and have a formidable opposition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by President Bola Tinubu.

In fact, some are of the opinion that it is the coming together of two great politicians ahead of the verdict of the Presidential Election Tribunal.

At the February 25 presidential election won by Tinubu, an outcome which is currently being disputed by Atiku and another opposition candidate, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) before the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC), Kwankwaso took the distant fourth position after Atiku and Obi, who trailed Tinubu respectively.

The central theme of the billboard ‘All Eyes on The Judiciary’ is not a matter before the court. The issues before the court are as they relate to the presidential election held in February 2023 and do not in any way affect the citizen’s duty to keep track of the exercise of governmental powers as provided for by the Constitution

Govt Must Ensure Palliatives Have Positive Impact on Nigerians – Senator Ali

Sarafadeen Ali is a member of the National Assembly representing Oyo South Senatorial District. He speaks with AYO ESAN about fuel subsidy removal and what Nigerians should expect from the 10th Senate, among other issues. Excerpts:

Theeffect of the removal of fuel subsidy is harsher than Nigerians expected. What is your take on this?

Well, this has become an inevitable thing. The Federal Government has done this and I think it is in good faith. Whatever the people are going through, I believe it is not going to be for long because the government has promised to back it up with palliatives that are expected to cushion the effect and hardship of the subsidy removal.

I know it is a difficult time for Nigerians now and honestly, no one is excluded. We shall come on top of it at last and not too long.

You said the pain is affecting all of us. Don't you think that President Bola Tinubu was impatient to have removed the subsidy without coming up with a plan on how to cushion the effects on the people?

Whatever the situation may be now, the main issue is how to move forward and for the government to ensure that the palliatives work and have impact on all Nigerians, especially the downtrodden. What is expected of the government, which will enable the citizens to get its impact at this trying period, is to invest the money removed from the subsidy to sustain education, health, infrastructures and invest heavily on agriculture.

The investment on agriculture should not be the priority of government alone at this crucial period in Nigeria; it should be the responsibility of all, the state governments, local governments and even the rich individuals. If there is plenty of food, the problems will be minimised. This is even going to help local industries grow, with the provision of raw materials for local productions.

What I would also like the government to do is to ensure that Nigerians have adequate power supply to help local artisans that will need it to work. The welders, hairdressers, carpenters, tailors and a lot of small businesses need power to grow.

The situation has reached a stage that the government should endeavour to make its policies work to favour the masses.

In addition, we should not forget the issue of security. Whatever we gained from the subsidy removal should go for the provision of security machinery that will help to curb crimes. We have to equip our security operatives to be able to tackle both internal and external aggressions.

What do you think the 10th National Assembly can do about local government autonomy?

This is one area in which both the legislature and the executive must work to ensure that the local governments are properly funded, so that they will be able to perform their obligations to the people at the

grassroots level.

I have been a chairman of a local government area and I know how things work there. As lawmakers, we just have to make sure that there is proper legislation to enforce the autonomy of local government councils. Although they will still have to be supervised by the state, their budgetary allocations are expected to be intact for them to function effectively.

During your campaign you made a lot of promises to the people. Now that you are in the Senate, are you going to keep your promise to provide the dividends of democracy to the people?

Yes, no doubt about that. I made promises and by the Grace of God, I will keep them. I am not new in governance and I know that the people of my state, especially, those in my senatorial district will be looking forward to what I will do. I have not gone back on the promises. Apart from making laws, I will try my possible best and ensure that a lot of programmes that will benefit my people are initiated and executed.

I am very passionate about education and empowerment of the people. There are many areas to be covered and I will, by the Grace of the Almighty Allah, do my best not to let my people down. You know I am a grassroots politician and that is the reason why I just have to make my people feel the impact of being at the National Assembly. I will also collaborate with my colleagues in the other two senatorial zones, to make sure that we bring laudable projects to Oyo State.

Oyo is governed by the PDP, not by your party. Conflicts often break out between lawmakers and state governors who are not in the same party, especially when it comes to projects. Some governors always think the party where federal lawmakers belong will take the credit for the projects and use it to campaign against the sitting government. How do you want to take care of this?

I think we are in the same state. Whatever projects brought by us the lawmakers, even if we are not in the same party with the sitting government in our state, are for the people and not individuals. The benefits which these projects will bring are for our people collectively. There is no way programmes for the people will be executed without carrying the state government along because whatever the case may be, we are all working on how to improve the welfare of our people.

As far as Oyo is concerned, all federal lawmakers from the state have good working relationships with the Oyo State Government and we shall work together to alleviate the our people’s suffering, despite the fact that we belong to APC and the government is PDP. Don't forget that we used to be members of the same political family and we know ourselves.

Can you give us some hints on what Nigerians should expect from the 10th National Assembly of which you are a member?

Let me say this clearly, the present National Assembly will be different from the past ones because there are seven political parties involved, both at the House of Representatives and the Senate. This is unlike the past when we had two or three political parties that were prominent in the Assembly. This means that there is going to be alignments and realignments and it does not mean that if a party has the majority it will use that as an advantage over the others. The present situation does not call for that and all the political parties this time around will work together for the good of our people.

Does it mean that there will be no rancour at the National Assembly?

There will definitely be rancour. You disagree to agree. That is what life is all about. But just as I said earlier, the 10th Assembly is going to be different from what we used to have because it is now a place where the ruling party in the majority cannot lord itself over others. But I can assure you that all what we are going to do will be in the best interest of the people.

Whatever the situation may be now, the main issue is how to move forward and for the government to ensure that the palliatives work and have impact on all Nigerians, especially the downtrodden

POLITICS NEWS

IPAC Backs

Tinubu’s Administration on Fuel Subsidy Removal

Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has declared support to the policies and programme of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration especially the removal of subsidy on Petroleum products.

Election Litigations: Group Advocates Amendment to Constitution

The Abuja School of Social and Political Thought (ASSPT) has advocated further amendment of Nigeria’s Constitution to allow conclusion of litigations before the inauguration of winners that emerged from elections.

The school’s Director, Dr Sam Amadi, made the call at a launch of a report titled on “Election without Democracy: Explanatory Notes on Nigeria’s 2023 elections.”

The event was organised by the Centre for Public Policy and Research (CPPR) in partnership with ASSPT, to review the outcome of the 2023 general elections and provide recommendations.

Concluding the litigation before inauguration of the new administration, according to Amadi, will solve half of the challenges the country is currently facing as well reduce the burden on the judiciary.

“In the report, we looked at the buildup, preparation and others.

“There shouldn’t be any government formed when there are pending court cases yet to be concluded. It is actually illogical to ensure all cases end before inauguration.

“People should not be disfranchised, the electoral umpire should be transparent and accountable, and INEC should make rules based on fairness and not bias,” he said.

Amadi said that the report also suggested a committee should be set up by INEC to review all petitions from aggrieved parties.

He said that such review by the committee would help the aggrieved party to either be satisfied with the outcome of the election or head to court to seek redress.

“After the election, INEC should sit with its team or committee and receive petitions from parties for review.

“When they approve all results, the next stage is swearing of elected

leaders.

“If these are done, it will reduce the cases of elections in court because they have been resolved through factfinding law application procedures.”

Amadi also advised Nigerians to accept the decisions of the judiciary on the various litigations at the judiciary.

“Nigerian judges are well trained and have the capacity to do justice. Once the court has spoken, we should all obey them,” Amadi said.

He also commended Justice Flora Azinge, the Chairman, State and House of Representatives Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano, who publicly raised an alarm that some individual lawyers arguing their petitions before the tribunal, attempted to obstruct the course of justice with financial inducement.

Azinge, addressing the open court on Tuesday shortly before calling the first matter, revealed how a senior member of the bar offered one of her staff N10 million bribe for onward delivery to the panel.

Speaking further on the group’s report, Amadi said in spite of the promises by electoral umpire, the elections still recorded some challenges.

He said that the report already submitted to INEC contained facts and observations on different areas of the election, including electronic transmission of election results, and INEC’s adherence to its own rules and regulations in the conduct of the election.

Amadi advised INEC to ensure that it adhered to its rules and regulations at all times in the conduct of elections.

“All elections are done according to law, and there are laws that state who’s qualified to run for an election.

“If we don’t follow our laws according to who is qualified to contest for an election, then the rule of law is defeated,” he said.

Return Official Vehicles, Oyo Govt Tells Immediate Past Political Appointees, Others

The Oyo State Government has directed all political appointees in the first tenure of Governor 'Seyi Makinde to return all official vehicles allocated to them on or before Friday, 25th August, 2023.

This directive was contained in a circular letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo, on August 18, 2023. According to the circular, the governor, the deputy governor, Speaker and members of the House of Assembly, Chief Judge of the State, Judges, Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Head of Service, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Accountant-General, Auditors-General and Surveyor-General are exempted from the directive.

The circular added that the second category of persons exempted from the directive are those gifted vehicles at the discretion of the governor, noting that officials who have documentary evidence to substantiate the claim of having been gifted official vehicles should present the evidence to schedule officers at their MDAs.

The circular enjoined those still in possession of official vehicles without due authorisation to return them on or before Friday, 25th August, 2023.

It added, “Schedule officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the State Public/Civil Service are mandated to recover official vehicles that have been taken away without due authorisation, if not returned on or before Friday, 25th August, 2023.”

The National Chairman of IPAC, Mr Yabaji Sani, made this known while speaking with journalists when he led a delegation of members of the council on a courtesy visit to the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Sani said the removal of fuel subsidy and the issue of foreign exchange rate are hard decisions that were necessary.

According to him, the government realised N1.9 trillion in July from the removal of fuel subsidy.

“Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), being the umbrella body of all political parties, finds it necessary and important to visit the Vice President so that we can assure the government that we are on the same page.

“Like you all know, we are going through some difficult times. In everything you do, the beginning is always difficult. So we came here to show solidarity with government.

“We also want to tell Nigerians and the whole world that as political parties we are together as far as deepening democracy is concerned, and as far as ensuring that we have stability, progress and we have a government that will perform for all of us.”

He said that Nigerians are looking for succour, adding that political parties represent the people.

“We believe coming here is a further assurance to the people of this country that politically we are united in spite of whatever must be happening. this is part of democracy.

“Democracy is a journey not a destination. We are building on the strength of democracy which we believe is the pride of black race. We should be able to demonstrate that democracy is the best form of government and that is why we are here.”

He described President Bola Tinubu as a democrat, who personifies democracy, adding that both Tinubu and Shettima have gone through the meals politically and they cannot but build on what the country had achieved so far.

AYO ESAN

L-R: Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku; Chairman, Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Tony Aziegbemi; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; PDP Chairmanship Candidate for Esan South East Local Government Area, Louis Imhandegbelo, in Ubiaja, Esan South East LGA.

SHOTS OF THE WEEK

Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]

Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Dr Adelabu Zachaeus (4th R);  ICPC  Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye (3rd R); Chief Compliance officer and Company Secretary, Oando PLC, Ayotola Nagin (R) and other dignitaries, during a sensitisation workshop on published guidelines for private sector response to  Illegal Financial Flow vulnerability in Nigeria organised by ICPC in Abuja on August 17, 2023.

Guest of Honour, Dr Abiola Ariyo-Atoye; Distinguished Fellow, The Abuja School of Social and Political Thought (TASSPT), Prof. Udenta Udenta and Director of TASSPT, Dr Sam Amadi; Senior Fellow, TASSPT, Dr Law Mefor, during the unveiling of the TASSPT report on Election Without Democracy: Explanatory Notes on Nigeria’s 2023 Election, an Ariyo Democracy Discourse (Series No. 1), in Abuja on August 17, 2023.

L-R: Special

First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu (left), discussing with the wife of the former first Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, during their meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on August 15, 2023.

L-R: Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Gawu; Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Mustapha Ahmed and the Deputy Governor of Niger State, Comrade Yakubu Garba, during the Deputy Governor’s visit to NEMA headquarters in Abuja on August 17, 2023.

L-R: Google Director, Government Relations and Public Policy, Charles Murito; Director, West Africa, Olumide Balogun and Vice President Kashim Shettima, during the visit of Google Executive to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on on August 15, 2023.

R-L: Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Dr. Bashir Gwandu and Managing Director, Family Homes Funds Ltd, Mr Abdulmutallab Muktar, when the latter paid an official visit at the NASENI Headquarters on August 16, 2023.

Nigerians have not forgotten how a similar programme initiated by the immediate past government in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic was shamelessly hijacked and messed up by crooked politicians and government officials, leading to mass looting of distribution centres across the country in protest

Ensuring Transparency, Equity in Distribution of Palliatives

The much-awaited palliatives promised by President Bola Tinubu to Nigerians to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on petrol are finally coming into the states across the country. Truckloads of food items, especially rice, are said to be heading to the various states in their hundreds just as the 36 state governments were also given N5 billion each to enable them to implement policies and programmes aimed at alleviating the economic hardships being experienced by residents in their various states.

Although coming a bit late, the palliatives are meant to provide temporary succour and relief from the very difficult situation the average Nigerian is currently facing, especially with the inflation rate in the country standing at 22. 41 percent as of May 2023, even as government, at all levels, appears to be helpless.

Last Friday, President Tinubu also approved the establishment of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) as part of his determination and resolve to reduce the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians by reducing energy costs which have since gone out of the reach of many Nigerians.

A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the PCNGI "is poised to revolutionise the transportation landscape in the country, targeting

over 11,500 new CNG-enabled vehicles and 55,000 CNG conversion kits for existing PMS-dependent vehicles, while simultaneously bolstering in-country manufacturing, local assembly and expansive job creation in line with the Presidential directive."

According to Ngelale, the landmark initiative, which comprises a Comprehensive Adoption Strategy, will include the following: Empowering Workshops Programme/Nationwide Network of Workshops, Local Assembly and Job Creation as key points of emphasis with an initial focus “on mass transit systems and student hubs in order to significantly reduce transit costs for the general populace in the immediate term.''

We commend the Federal Government for rising up to the occasion with these developments and course of actions as we believe that they are very necessary at the moment. Nonetheless, we call for strict monitoring of the implementation of the policies and programmes to ensure transparency and equity, especially in the distribution of the food items so as to benefit the poor and vulnerable Nigerians for which they are meant. Nigerians have not forgotten how a similar programme initiated by the immediate past government in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic was shamelessly hijacked and messed up by crooked politicians and government officials, leading to mass looting of distribution centres

across the country in protest as the people for which the food items were meant to serve could no longer bear the frustration.

We also implore the Federal Government to roll out instructions for the immediate take-off of the PCNGI to enable Nigerians to benefit from the impact as further delay through bureaucratic bottlenecks and undue overbearing by overzealous officials could frustrate the objectives and good intentions of the initiative. Moreover, the initiative should not be politicised and beneficiaries must not be selected based on party loyalty. State governments that owe workers backlogs of salary arrears have no excuse to make any longer as they now have enough funds to pay them. With a whopping N5 billion each, out of which N2 billion has already been released, no state government has any justification to deny its workers and pensioners their entitlements. We therefore call on all state governments to do the needful to justify the assistance given to them by the Federal Government.

Above all, we call on every Nigerian to support the Federal Government in its avowed resolve to put things right in view of the dire straits that the country has found itself. The support will not only assist the achievement of the goals of the government but also help to fasttrack the recovery process of the nation's battered economy.

THEWILL NEWSPAPER TEAM

War in The Sahel: In Whose Interest?

BY STANLEY EKPA

The world has returned to the climax of a Cold War and Ukraine and the Sahel region seem to be the operational theatres of the absurd. Although it is a complex and sloppy terrain, only wise leaders can decipher the reasoning of Sun Tzu: “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight…victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”

Four fundamental truths are clear for consideration – any military intervention in any of the countries under military control in the Sahel is a direct invitation for war. A war in the Sahel is not by any design likely to get to the mainland of the supporting western countries or Eastern Europe Russia. If a physical war is eventually fought, it is another means of growing the Gross Domestic Product of these foreign countries who supply the military weapons used in the war, since it is certain that we are not going to produce our weapons for war. A war will result in the loss of lives and the development of the region will be severely affected and once again, prolonged for nearly a century.

AS REQUIRED BY THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON DEMOCRACY, ELECTIONS AND GOVERNANCE, POLITICAL ACTORS AND LEADERS IN AFRICA MUST CONSPICUOUSLY OBSERVE THE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW AND POPULAR PARTICIPATION AND ENSURE THAT THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS ARE PROTECTED

Situated with tremendous potential for rapid growth, the Sahel or the vast semi-arid region of Africa separating the Sahara Desert to the north and tropical savannahs to the south, is as much a land of opportunities as it is of challenges. Notwithstanding its abundant human and natural resources, the Sahel is faced with deep-rooted challenges that are not limited to the environmental, political and security, which may affect the potential prosperity and peace of the region – impaired revolution.

Out of the 10 countries within the Sahel – Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, The Gambia, Guinea, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal – four are under military rule. The wave of military coups in the region started in Mali in August 2020, followed by Chad in 2021, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Niger, which is the latest to witness a coup d’etat, in July 2023.

In all the histories of war around the world, man often fails to estimate the human casualties of military actions. The weird assumption of political and military leaders is that military actions often bring a closure to complex social crises. On the contrary, almost all wars eventually end

with negotiations, compromise, reconciliation and suspicious peace. For those that do not understand the complexity of foreign power play in this Sahel crisis, it is easier to blame or support either of the parties. In the real sense, it is a difficult task for the ECOWAS Chairman, fortunately for him, Nigeria is under a constitutional democracy and the National Assembly has exercised its constitutional power to approve or reject military action in a way that saves the President from a possible of military intervention. If I were President Tinubu, I would have first played the Big Brother role, deploying diplomacy to break the unseen hands of foreign power blocs, before exerting force where and when it is extremely necessary. Africa, particularly West African countries are already, almost irretrievably, at the tail end of global development. This needless regional crisis will only worsen the development and the security quagmire of the region. By the time the Russian-Ukraine war is over, it is certain that Ukraine will rebuild itself better and faster than any country in the Sahel will achieve any of its developmental goals since independence. We have complex existential challenges that require deliberate commitment to development rather than deliberate commitment to crisis, violence and war. If the Sahel goes to war, it will take us more than a century to recover from the devastating effect that we would experience through the war.

Countries in the Sahel should focus more on actualising the UN Support Plan for the Sahel which seeks to mobilise public resources and triggering private investments in the 10 countries in support of ongoing efforts and initiatives by governments, international and regional organisations and other partners. The focus will be on the six focal priority areas of cross-border cooperation, prevention and sustainable peace, inclusive growth, limited action, renewable energy and women and youth empowerment. Such commitment is not about the revolutionary speeches of President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso.

African leaders since independence are known for cheap and smooth talk without enduring development results. This is not about changing foreign alliances either; it is about deliberate development and the productive value of our trade. It is about collaborative commitments to how democracies can deliver enduring development dividends for the people.

If we want to go to war, we must build our own weapons of war, fight on our own terms and win for the interests of our people. No responsible leader will fight with war machines built by his or her enemy.

We need peace in the Sahel but as Spinoza opined in 1670, “peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.” West African countries must practice its own Protocols on democracy and governance to deliver development for it to aspire for peace. Again, peace can never be achieved by changing foreign allegiance only, it will be situated by deliberately developing their countries.

As required by the African Charter on democracy, elections and governance, political actors and leaders in Africa must consciously observe the principles of good governance, respect the rule of law and popular participation and ensure that the rights of citizens are protected. The truth is that Africa can only come of age when African leaders are truly committed to the African people,

no matter the system of government we operate.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

•Ekpa, a lawyer and leadership consultant, writes from Sokoto.

This Violence Against The Judiciary

BY FREDRICK NWABUFO

Lately, no institution of government has been the object of derision, blackmail, and threats like the judiciary. This venerable and inviolable magisterial conservatory has been reduced to the jack-a-lent of ridicule, hate, and spite by those who are pursuing political profit through guerrilla means. How did we get here?

In the past, the judiciary had a sacrality that citizens dare not violate or abuse with wild conjectures, fallacies, innuendos, and invective. The judiciary was like a place of worship, where due obeisance and respects were paid. It was like the holy of holies. Vicious attacks were reserved for the executive and the legislature. But all of that has changed. Today, citizens, some of them born in the new millennium, take up cudgels and mud to bludgeon and smear the judiciary. The long-held worship of the judiciary seems to have evaporated.

What changed? Politics. Our politics has become more ill-omened, devastatingly cold and dark. The 2023 elections precipitated a dangerous angle to citizens’ behaviour and to citizengovernment relationship. The disposition and political proclivities of some candidates in the election, particularly those who lost the election introduced scorched-earth tactics into political opposition. This dimension of opposition is most destructive, perfidious, and insidious. It tears down without building; it talks down without uplifting; it attacks without reason; it claims without evidence; it lies without let; it defames and defiles without conscience; and it opposes without a cause. All it seeks is to pull down and destroy – for as long as its longing for the seat remains a chimera.

The judiciary became the captive of vicious propaganda as the Appeal Court heard cases on the 2023 presidential election. The names and photos of the justices hearing the cases became items for poisoned campaigns and objurgations. Some of the justices were virtually harassed and their particulars brought into the open.

A judge sitting on the panel was reported – by the troubadours of fake news on social media – to have resigned in protest against the conduct of other members of the panel. The National Judicial Council issued a statement torpedoing the falsehood. The appeal court concluded hearing on the matter on August 1 and reserved judgment. But the violence against the judiciary has ratcheted up. A few days ago, a vicious and injurious defamation, pertaining to the cases before the presidential election court, against a former state governor and minister twirled on the ubiquitous and ungoverned social media. The photo of an individual alleged to be a judge with his grandchildren was published and assaulted on the same network as well.

As you read through this filament of words, a large billboard with the words “ALL EYES ON THE JUDICIARY” is currently on display on the Abuja-Keffi Road, just opposite Mogadishu Barracks in the Federal Capital Territory. These are clearly subliminal threats against the judiciary. The

petals of desperation. The exploitation of mass hysteria. And the concomitants of confusion.It is clear that the unlawful resort to naked blackmail against judges is to menace the judiciary – to bend it to the will of those seeking political gains. And perhaps to create a siege of option and chaos should the judgment of the presidential election tribunal reflect a different candidate; and to prejudice the court with an impossible fait accompli.

GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS IS ALSO COMPLICIT IN THE COLLAPSING STATURE OF THE JUDICIARY. THE DISREGARD FOR COURT ORDERS AND THE RAIDING OF THE RESIDENCES OF JUDGES, AS WITNESSED IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, CONTRIBUTE TO THE DESECRATION OF THE TEMPLE OF JUSTICE

It is dangerous having very high hopes where there is no similitude of chance. It is foolhardy reating a dream that is unrealisable. It is unwise holding unto an illusion, believing it and living it. The only way out of this phantasm is the asylum. It is important to mention that government, at all levels, is also complicit in the collapsing stature of the judiciary. The disregard for court orders and the raiding of residences of judges as witnessed in previous administrations contribute to the desecration of the temple of justice. The judiciary itself is not without blame, but we must not in any way discredit this seminal institution or blot out its indispensability. The judiciary is too important to hold in contempt.

Nigerians must understand that the judiciary is the terminal instrument of all citizens. It must remain sacred. What is holy should be left whole. It must not be scandalised and diminished by those who lack basic understanding of how institutions function. It must not become a sport for political gladiator-ship, manoeuvrings, and attacks. It should be left in its pristineness to function.

The danger of scandalising the judiciary is enormous for society. Nothing can stand in a society where the judiciary is minimised, abused, and ridiculed. Even under military regimes, the judiciary is allowed to function because of its central role in the balance of society and in the maintenance of law and order. This violence against the judiciary must stop.

•Nwabufo is a media executive

HOPE RISES AS TRANSCORP DEEPENS HOLD IN POWER SECTOR WITH

EDITOR Sam Diala

Transcorp Power Limited has consolidated its position in Nigeria’s power sector as it acquired a 60 percent stake in Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), raising hope of improved supply in the territory.

The group has made significant inroads in the sector towards improving Nigeria’s epileptic power supply which has been the bane of the nation’s poor economic development.

Following the acquisition, Christopher Ezeafulukwe, the Managing Director/CEO of Transcorp Power Limited, has been appointed as the new Managing Director/CEO of AEDC. Transcorp Group, whose biggest shareholder is businessman Tony Elumelu, is one of Nigeria’s leading conglomerates with investments in the hospitality, power, and oil and gas sectors.

In a strategic move that further consolidates Transcorp’s position within the Nigerian power sector, Mr Ezeafulukwe’s appointment follows the acquisition of the stake in AEDC by a Transcorp-led consortium.

Prior to his appointment as the MD/CEO of AEDC, Mr Ezeafulukwe was the MD/CEO of Transcorp Power Ltd, Ughelli, a 972-MW thermal plant.

Under his leadership, the company said Transcorp Power Ltd consistently led the Nigerian power sector, being the first successor power company from the 2013 power privatisation programme, to be discharged from post-privatisation monitoring by the National Council on Privatisation, having surpassed the expectations of the Council.

The Ughelli Power plant, which Transcorp Group acquired during the privatisation of the power sector in 2013, demonstrates the

N135.52 N150bn

PSV 2025: Payment System Stakeholders to Discuss Digital Infrastructure at FICAN Conference

Equities Market Loses N150bn in Week of August 14

$3bn Afreximbank Loan: Mixed Reactions Trail NNPCL’s Search for Stable Naira

BY SAM DIALA

The announcement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on August 16, 2023 that it had secured a $3 billion emergency crude repayment loan from the African Export-Import (AFREXIM) bank to stabilise the naira, has generated mixed reactions.

While some experts commend the deal as a good quick fix, others express concern that the NNPC should focus on fixing the refineries and fighting the intractable oil theft which are root causes of the weak naira, instead of borrowing to lend to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Analysts at Cordros Securities, an investment and advisory firm, described the deal as a pleasant surprise. They commended the NNPCL for the initiative and said it would address the urgent forex crisis, at least in the short term while efforts are made to put the economy in a stable state.

“While we have held a standing view that Nigeria needs significant FX inflows to provide a near term support for the FX reforms the CBN embarked on since 14 June, the NNPCL’s loan arrangement came as a positive surprise to us as it was not among our expected short-term fixes.

“Consequently, we think this loan is a favourable short-term fix in providing near-term FX supply to support the FX market and stabilise the local currency,” the firm said in a note to its clients.

The Afreximbank deal squares with the position of Agora Policy, an Abuja-based think-tank which said in its report, “Steadying Nigeria’s Fledgling Foreign Exchange Reform” published on Monday, that Nigeria needs a big stash of dollars and fast to provide liquidity in the economy.

“A look at the fundamental data reveals the existence of large imbalances in Nigeria’s external accounts occasioned by a mix of structural shifts and policy missteps by the CBN as the bane of the present FX woes,” the Agora policy report said. It said mere forex adjustments to adapt to reality may lead to short-lived gains, followed by a return to previous practices. To address the present challenge, the think tank said

policymakers must look to strike the iron while it is hot to avoid reform fatigue by seeking out sources of large dollar liquidity on concessional terms.

Although THEWILL could not reach Agora Policy after the NNPCL’s announcement of the Afreximbank deal, the thinktank had said solution to the present forex crisis can be achieved “by exploring the option of a standby arrangement from multilateral agencies of significant scale ($5-10 billion) with the objective of acquiring credibility.”

“Having front-loaded fiscal consolidation and external sector adjustments, Nigeria has the credibility to embark on key partnerships to catalyse increased capital flows.”

While this is politically tricky, the think-tank explained that desperate times call for bold and desperate measures. It said the global geopolitical environment means Nigeria has a window to obtain this funding if it is ready to push the envelope.

Uche Uwaleke, Professor of Capital Market at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, said the $3 billion deal had huge implications that should not be overlooked, and that NNPC ought to have considered a better alternative such as using the nation’s reserves because of the impact of the loan on the government revenue.

“Much as intervention in the Forex market by the CBN is desirable, a more cost-effective option would have been to use what is left of our external reserves as opposed to taking a loan from Afreximbank or even the IMF.

“The fact that the $3 billion loan was taken by NNPCL, a company still owned 100 per cent by the Federal government with the Ministries of Finance and Petroleum Resources holding 50 per cent share each, makes it more worrisome.

“By implication, the Federal government that is already saddled with huge debt is borrowing to lend to the CBN, when it should have been the other way round. “Ultimately, this new

60% STAKE IN AEDC

NIGERIA'S PETROL IMPORTATION 2016-2022

Elumelu

BUSINESS WEEKLY

...Mixed Reactions Trail NNPCL’s Search for Stable Naira

loan contracted by the NNPCL adds to the growing public debt and may have been contracted at non concessionary terms being an emergency loan.

“It's important that Nigerians, especially the National Assembly, are informed about the terms of the loan and the collateral security involved.

“Without doubt, this $3 billion loan on the balance sheet of NNPCL will make the company less attractive and possibly jeopardize the ongoing plan to private the company by listing it on the Nigerian Exchange.” Uwaleke told THEWILL in a note.

The Managing Director/CEO, Taurus Oil & Gas Limited, Dr Nnaemeka Obiaraeri, said the foreign exchange market shares the same dynamics and fundamentals as any other two-way market. The finance and banking expert also emphasised that without productivity that generates goods and services to export and earn foreign exchange, any other means amount to “playing cosmetic games”.

“The Fx market, just like any market, is driven by the common law of demand and supply. If your global monthly dollar demand (real sector demand and corruption driven demand) is $8 billion, you must look at veritable and sustainable sources of generating dollar supply of at least $20 billion into your economy on a monthly basis. Anything outside this, is just playing cosmetic games.

“What is the singular reason why the UAE Dirham and Singaporean Dollar have remained very stable in exchange parity to the US Dollar over the last 15 years? It is the same fundamental principles at play,” Obiareri told this newspaper in a note.

The announcement by NNPCL caught most Nigerians unawares. It also sounded like one triggered by intuitive exhilaration over a spectacular feat. Coming at a time Nigeria seems to be at her wit’s end over the depreciating naira, the development caught the attention of many.

According to the NNPCL, the loan agreement is not a crude-for-refined product swap but an upfront cash loan against proceeds from a limited amount of future crude oil production. The loan arrangement means that the NNPCL is collecting its future revenue from crude oil production in advance from the Afreximbank to hold the Naira from falling further.

The disbursement will be in tranches depending on the Federal Government’s specific needs and requirements and there are no sovereign guarantees tied to the loan which means it will not be added to the existing government debt stock.

When the money comes to the NNPCL, it will enable the corporation to settle its taxes and royalties to the FGN in advance, providing the CBN with US dollar liquidity needed to provide near-term respite for the local currency. In terms of repayment, the NNPCL will repay the loan from its future crude oil production, depending on the terms of the agreement with AFREXIM.

...Deepens Hold in Power Sector with 60% Stake in AEDC

group’s transformative prowess, the company said.

“The plant’s available capacity, which stood at 160MW on acquisition, increased by 227 per cent to 680.83MW in 4 years, surpassing the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) five-year target of 670MW.

“With Ezeafulukwe’s proven capabilities and extensive experience, he will play a pivotal role in rejuvenating AEDC, the supplier of power to the nation’s capital,” it added.

Transcorp Group said its commitment to improving lives and transforming societies remains resolute. The Group’s subsidiaries, including Transafam Power Limited and Transcorp Hotels Plc, owners of Transcorp Hilton Abuja, have demonstrated continued value creation and a dedication to creating both economic and social wealth.

With a combined market capitalisation exceeding N540 billion, the Group continues to demonstrate the Africapitalism philosophy of its Group Chair –Tony Elumelu.

This will impact positively on the stock of Transcorp which has been on the rise, contributing to the bullish trend of the equities market since the year. The current share price of Transcorp Nigeria is N4.10. But it closed its last trading day (Thursday, August 17, 2023) at N4.01 per share on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), recording a 0.2% gain over its previous closing price of 4.00 NGN. Transcorp began the year with a share price of N1.13 and has since gained 255% on that price valuation, ranking it 10th on the NGX in terms of year-to-date performance.

Thus, Transcorp Nigeria ranks sixth most traded stock on the Nigerian Exchange over the past three months (May 17 - Aug 18, 2023). THEWILL findings show that it has traded a total volume of 2.26 billion shares—in 18,849 deals—valued at N8.29 billion over the period, with an average of 35.9 million traded shares per session. A volume high of 156 million was achieved on July 10th, and a low of 5.9 million on June 8th, for the same period.

“Their push into the power sector is a good move. That sector is a very critical one in Nigeria because it is the driver of economic production and determines the extent of industrialisation that would occur in the country. The Transcorp stock is rising and this reflects in the financials which have been impressive,” said Ken Uruwem, a financial analyst.

Transcorp grew its post-tax profit by 203 percent in three years from N2.38 billion in 2020 to N7.21 billion in 2022, while its revenue also recorded an upward trend to N8.43 billion in 2022 from N2.72 billion in 2020, an increase of 210 percent.

Uruwem said shareholders of Transcorp will enjoy an appreciable return on investment which has shown impressive performance in the past three years with earnings per share (EPS) rising to 18 kobo in 2022 from 6 kobo in 2020 a rise of 200 percent.

THEWILL recalls that AEDC was among the 11 electricity distribution companies that emerged from the 2013 privatisation of the sector following the unbundling of the state-owned Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Since coming on stream, the AEDC, like most other distribution companies, has struggled to improve power supply to its consumers and failed to break even.

CBN Announces New Guidelines For Bureau De Change Operations in Nigeria

In order to stem the slide in naira arising from dollar scarcity, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced additional guidelines for Bureau De Change (BDC) operators in an overall bid to improve efficiency of the Nigerian foreign exchange market.

The decision comes two years after the apex bank banned the sale of dollars to BDCs amid efforts to stabilize the market. However, the latest directive does not state that the central bank will resume the sale of dollars to the BDCs.

The new operational mechanism, contained in a circular dated 17 August, stated that the spread on buying and selling by BDC operators will be within an allowable limit of -2.5 percent to +2.5 per cent of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange market window weighted average rate of the previous days.

In the circular, signed by O.S Nnaji, the Director of Exchange Department, the bank ordered a mandatory rendition by BDC operators of the statutory periodic reports

(daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly) on the Financial Institution Form Rendition System (FIFX) which it said has been upgraded to meet individual operators requirements.

The apex bank warned that non-rendition of returns would attract sanctions which may include withdrawal of operating license with effect from the date of the circular.

“Where Operators do not have any transaction within the period, they are expected to render nil returns. Please be guided accordingly and ensure compliance,” the circular said.

In August 2021, the CBN ended the sale of forex to Bureau De Change operators, saying the parallel market had become a conduit for illicit forex flows and graft.

The bank said it would no longer process applications for BDC licences in the country.

Weekly sales of foreign exchange by the CBN was thereafter designed to go through commercial banks, the suspended governor

of CBN, Godwin Emefiele, said at the time.

“We are concerned that BDCs have allowed themselves to be used for graft,” Mr Emefiele said.

He argued that international bodies, including some embassies and donor agencies, had been complicit in illegal forex transactions that hindered the flow of foreign exchange into the country.

The directive was issued a few days after the acting central bank governor, Folashodun Shonubi, met with President Bola Tinubu during which he blamed the high exchange rate of the dollar to the naira at BDCs on speculators. He said the government would put measures in place to check the activities of currency speculators.

“We do not believe that the changes going on in the parallel market are driven by pure economic demand and supply but are topped by speculative demand from people,” he told journalists after the meeting.

If the government is not cutting waste and stemming corruption, the economy will continue to bleed which reflects in the declining value of the local currency

L-R: Board Member, International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), Dr Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien; Divisional Head, Business Support Services and General Counsel, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), Dr Irene RobisonAyanwale; Associate Director, ESG/ Sustainability KPMG Nigeria, Marilyn Obaisa–Osula, and Chief Executive Officer, NGX Regulation Limited (NGX RegCo), Ms Tinuade Awe, during the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2023 at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos on August 16, 2023.

PSV 2025: Payment System Stakeholders to Discuss Digital Infrastructure at FICAN Conference

In view of the challenges that emerged from the electronic payment system in the first quarter of 2023, stakeholders are set to provide solutions in line with Nigeria's Payment System Vision (PSV) 2025.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in December 2022 released the Payments System Vision (PSV) 2025 to be driven by contactless payments, big data and open banking, among others.

Specifically, regulators, key stakeholders in the telecommunications sector, financial services sector, as well as payments service providers and switching companies will come together in Lagos for the 2023 annual conference of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) to examine the subject-matter.

This year’s conference scheduled to hold on the 16th and 17th of September 2023 will be focusing on: "Strengthening Digital Infrastructure for Efficient, Innovative Payment Systems in Nigeria."

A statement co-signed by the National Chairman FICAN, Mr. Chima Titus Nwokoji and the National General Secretary Mr. Sam Diala, observed that events of the first three months of 2023 have shown that there is urgent need to ramp up infrastructural investment in the payment ecosystem of the country.

According to the statement, amid numerous challenges plaguing the e-payment ecosystem revolution, a major way of catalyzing its development is building a robust digital infrastructure that aligns with emerging global trends.

The Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), revealed recently that commercial banks and other financial institutions generated N135.52 trillion from electronic payment transactions in the first quarter (Q1) of this year.

Data from NIBSS further showed that the value of electronic payment transactions by the financial services institutions grew by 298 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2023, compared to N34.04 trillion the financial services industry generated between January and March 2022.

Aside from banks, telecommunications operators have played a key role in stabilizing the system and growing the economy. They are also expected to be more involved in electronic payment as the economy braces for future challenges.

The Ag. Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Mr. Folashodun Shonubi will be the Keynote Speaker while the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission and the Managing Directors of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and InterSwitch Group will be Guest Speakers at the Conference. Panelists include representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System,First bank, Airtel, E-Transact, Parthian Partners, Opay Digital Services and The President, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Mr.Gbenga Adebayo.

The Conference is a critical capacity building project of the Association, aimed at elevating the practice of financial journalism in the country. It will be attended by over 150 finance journalists and business editors from the print, online and electronic media platforms.

Seplat Provides Update on Incident Involving Depthwize Majestic Rig

Seplat Energy has provided an update to the previous announcement regarding the incident involving the Majestic rig which capsized in Delta State.

According to Seplat, contrary to some media reports, the Majestic rig is owned by Depthwize Nigeria Limited and not Seplat.

“As stated in our previous announcement, the rig was in transit to its next drill location at Ovhor. Seplat is the operator of OMLs 4, 38 & 41 on behalf of the NNPCEPL/ SEPLAT Joint Venture.

“Seplat Energy, alongside Depthwize, is continuing the search for the 3 missing crew members. Divers and other emergency services are on-site, and as of 9 am, the missing crew members remain unaccounted for.

“Of the other 92 crew members, 10 were admitted to hospital and stayed overnight. We are pleased to say the 10 crew members have all now been discharged from hospital. Seplat continues to support Depthwize with the emergency response and rescue efforts continue, with the priority being the search and rescue of the 3 missing crew members.

“Depthwize has notified Seplat that the single recorded fatality was a British national. The families of the deceased and the 3 missing crew members have been informed by Depthwize.

Seplat has notified the authorities of the incident and continues to comply with all regulatory requirements,” Seplat said.

Equities Market Loses N150bn in Week of August 14

The Equities market closed the week of August 14 in the negative territory.. The NGX All-Share Index and Market Capitalization depreciated by 0.93% and 0.42% to close the week at 64,721.09 and N35.422 trillion respectively, resulting in a N150 billion loss against the N35.572 trillion the market opened with on Monday.

A total turnover of 1.689 billion shares worth N29.407 billion in 29,477 deals was traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 1.741 billion shares valued at N25.087 billion that exchanged hands last week in 30,652 deals.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.166 billion shares valued at N16.925 billion traded in 13,819 deals; thus contributing 69.04% and 57.55% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with 191.320 million shares worth N843.336 million in 1,829 deals. The third place was the Oil & Gas Industry, with a turnover of 64.352 million shares worth N810.637 million in 2,159 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely FBN Holdings Plc, Transnational Corporation Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 576.688 million shares worth N6.911 billion in 3,524 deals, contributing 34.14% and 23.50% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Exit of GlaxoSmithKline From Nigeria: What Lessons?

BY MARCEL OKEKE

The sudden exit of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Nigeria Plc announced via a letter to the Board of directors of the company (which went viral), really has a lot of symbolism and significance.

The letter says: “In our published Q2 results we disclosed that the GSK UK Group has informed GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc of its strategic intent to cease commercialization of its prescription medicines and vaccines in Nigeria through the GSK local operating companies and transition to a third-party direct distribution model for its pharmaceutical products.

“The Haleon Group has also separately informed the Board of its intent to terminate its distribution agreement in the coming months and to appoint a third-party distributor in Nigeria for the supply of its consumer healthcare products.”

The letter, dated August 3, 2023 and signed by the company secretary, says “for the above reasons, and having together with GSK UK, evaluated various other options, the Board of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc has concluded that there is no alternative but to cease operations.”

From here, the letter went on to convey the tone of GSK’s hurried exit from Nigeria ‘with immediate effect.’

It says, “today we are briefing our employees…the Board is conscious that shareholders will have many questions…and we will be shortly submitting to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a draft Scheme of Arrangement which may, if approved, see shareholders other than GSK UK, receive an accelerated cash distribution and return of capital.”

From available information, GSK has been in Nigeria for upwards of five decades; and parades some of the most popular and successful brands of medicines and pharmaceutical products, including Panadol, Panadol Extra, Andrews Liver Salt, Voltaren, Ampiclox, and others.

The company, a multinational blue chip, is quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and is owned 53.6 per cent by Nigerian shareholders and 46.4 per cent by GSK UK. By all yardsticks, the company, with a Nigerian as Managing Director and Chief Executive, has been doing well in the Nigerian market over the years. Indeed, its annual report for the year ended December 31, 2022, showed that it recorded a total revenue of over N25 billion, and paid a dividend of 55 kobo per share.

So, what went wrong, to warrant the ‘hurried’ exit from Nigeria? The point must be made that GSK came into the country in the heydays of the Nigerian economy—when the petrodollar came in steady volumes. And the Naira was stronger than the currency of the metropole—the British Pound Sterling. The purchasing power parity between the Naira and the Pound was no issue.

Over time, however, the balance got remarkably tilted against the Naira, so much so that the revenues/earnings of the local GSK in Nigeria could no longer be easily repatriated. Indeed, in the past decade or so, the business climate in Nigeria has deteriorated markedly—to the extent that not a few companies have elected to leave the country for more business-friendly climes around the globe.

Some that could not repatriate much of their accumulated revenues and/or earnings were ‘compelled’ to re-invest them (locally) in the Nigerian subsidiaries. This year, a combination of endogenous and exogenous factors have combined to worsen Nigeria’s business terrain. Policies—ranging from Naira redesign, petrol subsidy removal, multiple exchange rates unification to multiplicity of taxes and levies, and others —have rather been scorching businesses. The fallout of all these, including their unintended consequences, have

been asphyxiating to all economic agents— including businesses—big or small.

To a ‘veteran’ in the Nigerian business terrain, the pace and variety of ‘reforms’ and policy changes (in 2023 alone) can only be described as terrific. Policies, reforms, ‘new agendas’ and programmes since the dawn of 2023 have been coming in ‘torrents’ and have left businesses flustered. President Muhammadu Buhari in the twilight of his administration kept junketing around the country, commissioning even uncompleted projects—including the much-awaited Dangote Refineries. Today, almost three months after the refinery was ‘commissioned’, it is yet to start spewing products. In fact, news now has it that the refinery would get operational only by 2025! That is two years after it was ‘commissioned’ by the Buhari administration. Similarly, on the eve of his exit from office on May 29, 2023, former President Buhari hurriedly signed some draconian tax bills among others into law; thus, further choking businesses and hardening their environment.

For President Bola Tinubu, no sooner was he sworn-in than he made policy pronouncements that today, remain a tremor to the Nigerian economy.

He has also gone ahead to reverse, cancel, suspend or postpone the implementation of some of those tax laws and other ill-digested legislation enacted by former President Buhari just a few days to the end of his tenure. All these truly left the business community dazed and confused!

As the Nigerian economy got badgered and battered by a ‘deluge’ of policies and somersaults (in recent times), practically all indicators have gone haywire.

Inflation is on a runaway pace—at 18-year high of 22.8 per cent in June 2023. Exchange rate of the Naira against the dollar is fast approaching N900/$1, from around N460/$1 in May 2023.

Petrol (Premium Motor Spirit, PMS) now goes for about N700 per litre at the pump as against N185 per litre in May this year. All these have translated into a sharp rise in cost of transportation, high prices of foodstuff, weak consumer demand/disposable income/consumption, etc. These are coupled with deepening and lingering insecurity in the land—with each economic agent facing existential threat ceaselessly.

This awful reality and dreary outlook is no good habitat for businesses, especially the multinationals that have the entire globe to choose the best locations. Apparently, therefore, while many blue chips listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange are counting their losses in billions during the first half-year 2023, the British conglomerate (GSK) opted to pull out of Nigeria.

For a company that has been in the country since 1972, the sudden exit of GSK from Nigeria is a direct ‘vote of no confidence’ in the country. By extension, the exit

of GSK is a show of revulsion against policy confusion and the foggy economic outlook that faces Nigeria. It is certainly a clear signal to the entire world that the Nigerian business environment is not only unattractive but also uninhabitable.

The GSK’s exit at this time shows unequivocally that it can no longer ‘manage’ to simply exist (and not thrive) in the choking and uncertain terrain that Nigeria has become.

At a micro level, the hurried exit of GSK Nigeria will unwittingly unleash many of its employees into the ‘jobless’ market. It is very unlikely that the departure of the company will leave its (ex-) staff in Nigeria better-off.

This is despite the promise that “we will treat them fairly, respectfully and with care…” contained in the company secretary’s letter. In fact, if anything, this promise is essentially to allay the justifiable fears of the employees, whose number is put at about four hundred. On their own part, Nigerian shareholders of the company are already getting apprehensive and restive.

Chairman Emeritus of the Independent Shareholders Association (ISA), Sunny Nwosu, has reportedly criticised the Nigerian government for creating an unfavourable business climate that pushes out businesses. Nwosu however insisted that “whatever is the case, Nigerian investors must be adequately compensated.”

The shareholder-activist also alluded to the fact that the un-repatriated revenues of many big companies in Nigeria like GSK have been a key disincentive and source of frustration. Pointing out that such revenues have been piling up over the years, the ISA chief urged the government to begin to budget for such overdue repatriations.

As GSK leaves Nigeria, there is fear that the move will trigger a bandwagon effect, a possibility that could mean the exodus of many more businesses from Nigeria. The huge “foreign exchange losses” reported by many blue chips in the first half 2023 as a result of recent government policies constitute a serious threat to the economy. It’s a wakeup call on the government to come up with the right initiatives.

•Okeke is an economist, sustainability expert and consultant on business strategy

The GSK’s exit at this time shows unequivocally that it can no longer ‘manage’ to simply exist (and not thrive) in the choking and uncertain terrain that Nigeria has become

Mercel

Global Diversity Export Initiative: US Moves to Deepen Trade, Investment Relationship With Africa

Since last December’s US-Africa Leaders Summit hosted by President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C and the USAfrica Business Forum organised by the US Commerce Department, no fewer than 75 new deals have been sealed between the United States and African countries . The deals are estimated to have been valued at a whopping $5.7 billion in two-way trade and investment. Now, the Biden-Harris Administration is stepping up its game to deepen trade and investment relationships with Africa through the Global Diversity Export Initiative Trade Mission to Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria even as the U.S. continues to identify new commercial opportunities as part of her commitment to the African continent. OLAOLU OLUSINA reports.

For two days, last week, the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Marisa Lago, was in Lagos. The visit to Nigeria's commercial city was her second visit to the country and the last lap of her justconcluded three-nation African tour which had earlier taken her to Ghana and South Africa in the past one week and a half. Under Secretary Lago, a top member of the Biden-Harris Administration, was also part of the US Presidential delegation to the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on May 29, 2023.

PRODUCTIVE AND PROFESSIONALLY ENRICHING VISIT

Describing her recent trip to Africa as highly productive and professionally enriching, Under Secretary Lago told journalists at a virtual media briefing, Wednesday, August 15, 2033, which was attended by this reporter, on the second day of her visit to Lagos, that she felt fulfilled.

"I am now at the conclusion of what has been a highly productive and professionally enriching visit to Africa, my fourth time on the African continent this year. For the past nine days, I’ve been leading the US Department of Commerce’s Global Diversity Export Initiative, or GDEI, Trade Mission, which has gone to South Africa, to Ghana, and to Nigeria, where we have been engaging with U.S. companies and African private sector leaders as well as my government counterparts.," she said.

Under Secretary Lago was joined at the media briefing by the chargé d’affaires in charge of the US Mission to Nigeria, David Greene, who flew in from his station in Abuja, Nigeria's capital city. Together, they discussed the US Department of Commerce-led Global Diversity Export Initiative Trade Mission to South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria, as well as the ongoing efforts to deepen the US-Africa trade and investment relationship while identifying new commercial opportunities as part of the US commitment to the African continent.

According to Lago, "The Biden-Harris administration has made a renewed commitment to deepening engagement across the African continent during – which was made during last December’s US-Africa Leaders Summit hosted by President Biden in Washington, D.C. Since then, there have been numerous high-level visits to the continent, including Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and in the last month alone the CEO of the US Development Finance

“Since December’s leaders summit and the US-Africa Business Forum that the Commerce Department organised, the Biden-Harris administration has helped close 75 new deals between the United States and African countries. We estimate that the total values of these deals result in $5.7 billion in two-way trade and investment

Corporation, Scott Nathan, and the head of the US Trade and Development Agency, Director Enoh Ebong, and Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland – a very high, sustained pace of senior-level government visits.

"So that said, our engagement or vision for deepened engagement with Africa entails a lot more than just high-level visits. We are laser-focused on delivering tangible results across all dimensions of our bilateral relationship, as well as our partnerships with subnational and pan-African institutions. And I’m pleased to report that if we look just in terms of trade and investment, since December’s leaders summit and the U.S.-Africa Business Forum that the Commerce Department organised, the

Biden-Harris administration has helped close 75 new deals between the United States and African countries. We estimate that the total values of these deals result in $5.7 billion in two-way trade and investment.

"To underscore the Commerce Department’s role in this wholeof-government commitment, I’ll repeat what I said earlier: While my role is global in scope, this is my fourth official visit to the African continent since the beginning of this year. In February, I traveled to Tanzania, where I engaged with government officials and U.S. and Tanzanian CEOs, startups, and other local private sector leaders, where we discussed the business environment in that country.

"From Tanzania, I moved on to Zambia, meeting with President Hichilema, hosting a roundtable for women entrepreneurs, meeting with key government leaders from several ministries and helping to lay the groundwork for the signing of a memorandum of understanding – an MOU –on commercial development with Zambia. This MOU was formalized and signed shortly after Vice President Harris visited Zambia in March.

"Fast-forward to May, I traveled to Cairo to hold the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Egypt Joint Economic Commission. There we established several areas to intensify our commercial cooperation.

"Later the same month, in the last days of May, I traveled to Abuja, Nigeria, as part of the U.S. presidential delegation to attend the inauguration of President Tinubu."

LOVING LAGOS' ELECTRIC PACE

On Tuesday, August 14, 2023, a day before the media briefing, Under Secretary Lago was the guest at the Microsoft Garage Electric Vehicle Hackathon, a gathering of industry stakeholders to brainstorm on the introduction of electric vehicles in Nigeria, a topic , she confessed, was of particular interest to her as, according to her, "I am proudly part of the Biden-Harris Administration, which is committed to combating the climate crisis and views EVs as critical technologies to facilitate the clean energy transition, creating new economy jobs in the process." However, Lago's excitement did not end with the topic of the day, but with the city of Lagos itself and the energy therein, which she described as electric.

"I am also especially pleased to be in Lagos. While it is my second time in Nigeria, it is my first time in Lagos. As a native and resident of NYC, I am loving Lagos’ electric pace! The innovative energy in Lagos, and especially here at the Microsoft Garage, is palpable. And the results that flow from this energy won’t benefit just Nigeria, as ideas originated here (will) inevitably grow beyond the Garage’s walls and Nigeria’s borders. You will be an impact on the world," she told her hosts.

Lago maintained that the US Department of Commerce views all these engagements as well as the GDEI Trade Mission "as important steps in continuing to deliver on the commitments that we made at last December’s USAfrica Leaders Summit and Business Forum," even as she revealed that "this trade mission has brought over 20 US companies and organisations, mostly owned by members of the African diaspora in the United States.''

...US Moves to Deepen Trade, Investment Relationship With Africa

She added, "These companies are active in a wide range of sectors, starting with the information and communications technology sector, cybersecurity, electric vehicles, energy, trade facilitation, and consumer goods. "

DEEPENING AND SUSTAINING US-AFRICA CONNECTIONS

The U.S Under Secretary continued: "While these US companies have been on this trade mission in Africa, the Commerce Department has arranged for them a robust series of tailored match-making opportunities with potential business owners – with potential business partners in these three countries. We have also introduced them to the decision-makers in South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria.

"This trade mission serves as an example of how intentionally we’re working to deepen and sustain connections between U.S. and African companies. We see trade missions like these as a foundational means of business-to-business relationship building as well as an important mechanism to foster ties that lead to concrete trade and investment deals.

MITIGATING BARRIERS TO TRADE AND INVESTMENT

"Over the course of this trip, I’ve also advanced policy objectives aimed at aligning our US approaches with those of the governments of South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria. What is the goal? To mitigate potential barriers that can hamper trade and investment. For example, in South Africa, I engaged with my government counterparts and private sector colleagues to explore potential solutions and opportunities in the infrastructure, healthcare, and ICT sectors with a special focus on supporting women in technology fields. In honour of South Africa’s National Women’s Day, I met with South African tech entrepreneurs at WomHub, which is a pan-African incubator for female founders in STEM – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – where we discussed opportunities for early and mid-stage startups to find opportunities for advancement and to be able to scale up in the US market.

"I also met with several established women business leaders to learn from their experiences, to hear about their challenges, and also the opportunities that they saw in the South African market. In Accra, we participated in the inaugural US-Ghana Business Expo, which was hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Ghana. This expo featured a trade pavilion that was buzzing with exhibitors from the companies on our trade mission but also about an additional 20 US companies that already have a presence in Ghana, and they were able to showcase to the Ghanaian business community their innovative products and services. The US companies on this trade mission also held dozens of business-tobusiness meetings with Ghanaian companies to explore new business conversations.

"In my conversations with both the US private sector and my Ghanaian Government counterparts, we discussed the role that US companies can play in Ghana’s economic recovery and the importance of addressing business environment concerns, including settling significant arrears in payments to US critical infrastructure companies. We held discussions focused on commercial solutions to cybersecurity challenges and also scaling electric vehicle charging in Ghana. We also were able to bring together the distinguished heads of prominent U.S. black-led business chambers with the heads of chambers from underserved business communities in Ghana, where they were able to engage in relationship building, peer mentoring, and sharing best practices.

"Coming to my visit to Nigeria yesterday and today, I participated in an incredibly lively hack-a-thon that was hosted by Microsoft’s Garage, where we were focused on how to grow and promote the development of the electric vehicle, the EV industry. Microsoft’s Garage is a centre for company employees, customers, partners, and the public to collaborate in STEM fields."

FOCUS ON DIGITAL ECONOMY

"There were conversations – I’m sorry. Across all of these countries that we visited, there was a consistent focus on the digital economy. I heard directly from my

government counterparts and the private sector on the opportunities and challenges in the digital sector. These conversations with our African partners already are and are going to remain critical to advancing progress under the US’ Digital Transformation with Africa, or DTA. This is an initiative that President Biden announced at last September’s US-Africa Business Forum. DTA aims to expand digital access and literacy, and also to strengthen the digital-enabling environments across Africa, all in line with the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy and the US Strategy Towards Sub-Saharan Africa. ''

WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY

"I’ll also want to note that today, I was delighted to facilitate a discussion with a group of leading Nigerian women in technology. It was graciously hosted at 21st Century

Technologies, a digital infrastructure and services company. We discussed best practices for increasing access for women entrepreneurs to venture capital and other resources, to overcome the historic challenge of gross underinvestment in women-owned and women-led businesses. During our discussion, I was heartened to see the strong relationships already being formed among our trade mission participants and Nigerian entrepreneurs, fostering deeper commercial collaboration and uplifting women in our communities.

"As we move forward, the US Commerce Department is going to continue bringing US companies to the continent, engaging in these critical dialogues – which will foster an enabling environment for increased trade and investment – and also working towards our shared goal of mutual economic prosperity for citizens of both of our nations."

Reacting to a question on the criteria for choosing Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa for the Trade Mission, Under Secretary Lago said: "When we selected the particular countries for this trade mission, we were looking to ensure that we included some of the largest economies on the African continent. We wanted to make sure that we selected countries whose economies had a strong presence in sectors that had strong prospects for U.S. companies, where there was the ability to match up the U.S. companies on this trade mission with companies in those countries.

"I’ll also note that we were joined on this trade mission by some of the leading chambers, business organizations, that represent the black community, the Native American/ Indian community, and the woman-led business community. So through these trade missions, we are reaching thousands of other businesses in the U.S.

"The other thing that we did is we reached out to the Commerce Department’s strategic partners to ask them where they thought there would be opportunities for the trade mission’s participants who came from historically underserved communities.

"Now, as I mentioned, we are already looking forward to future trade missions, and we will continue looking to visit other countries on the continent as well. Our mission is to support the competitiveness of US businesses and their workers, and this includes micro, small, and mediumsized enterprises and also tapping into the very strong African diaspora which we have in the United States and which is a source of our strength and also a point of pride."

BUILDING BRIDGES TO GLOBAL MARKETS

On how long the Global Diversity Export Initiative has been running and how many US companies have benefited with the current value of US exports to Africa, Under Secretary Lago said: " The Global Diversity Export Initiative is relatively young. It’s under two years old. And I’ll note that this trade mission that you’re seeing is just one portion of the initiative. It’d like to highlight a number of – another facet of it which we call Building Bridges to Global Markets. And under that initiative, by the end of this year, we will have sent teams of trade experts from Washington to 17 locations within the US, and these are to locations that have historically underserved communities. And we go there to be able to spread the word about the programming, the resources that are available. And rather than requiring small businesses to go to the time and expense of coming to us in Washington, we go out to the communities. Yes, we explain the resources that we have at the Department of Commerce. But as importantly, we listen to the needs of the businesses in these communities that may be thinking about exporting.

"I should note that within the Department of Commerce and in particular within the International Trade Administration that I have the privilege of leading, we have trade experts deployed in over 100 locations within the United States. Yes, the big cities that everyone knows of on the coast but also throughout the heartland of the US, including in rural locations. And these trade experts are charged with understanding the local business, the local businesses in their geographies, working with the existing exporters but, as importantly, tapping into the businesses that are doing just fine within their communities, within their states, but have the opportunities to go global.

Our Africa policy is about Africa... and the trade mission and Under Secretary Lago’s presence here today speak to the focus that we’re putting on our wholeof-government follow-up to the US-Africa Leaders Summit and our commitment to drive intensified engagement on the economic front for the benefit of the people of Africa and our partner nations and for the United States, of course

Meet Nigeria’s Foremost Minimally Invasive Heart Surgeon

ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY

EDITOR Ivory Ukonu

Last week, a video showing a team of healthcare professionals from Tristate Healthcare Systems, a private hospital in Lagos, performing Nigeria’s first minimally invasive heart surgery, went viral.

A minimally invasive heart surgery is a term for procedures performed through one or more small chest incisions. In contrast, open-heart surgeries use one long incision down the centre of the chest, while the

Continues on page 41

NO FANFARE AS WALE TINUBU'S WIFE BURIES FATHER

Unlike the fanfare that greeted the 80th birthday ceremony of Hajia Bintu Fatima Tinubu, almost two months ago, the same cannot be said of the funeral of Chief Olajide Oyewole, the father in-law of Wale Tinubu, the Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc. His wife, Bola who abhors publicity like a plague, ensured that her father's funeral was as simple as it can be, devoid of all the attendant extravagance characteristic of parties thrown by her ilk.

Although Chief Oyewole, who was the Otun of Igbajo, died on April 1, 2023, his funeral didn't take place until two months later. It began with a

Continues on page 41

Female Filmmakers Driving Nollywood to New Heights

Nollywood, adjudged the second fastest-growing movie industry in the world with a net worth of $6.4 billion, has reached new heights of success, partly due to the immense contributions of female filmmakers who have also earned themselves widespread recognition as some of the film industry’s biggest influencers.

IVORY UKONU writes on these women and how they have impacted the industry.

The 37-year-old filmmaker and founder of Greoh Studios, is one of Nollywood’s highly respected film producers. With a portfolio spanning a wide spectrum of genres, from romantic comedies such as 'Isoken' and ‘Sugar Rush’ to blockbusters like 'Brotherhood' and 'Gangs of Lagos,' the first Nigerian original film streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, Jade Osiberu has etched her name indelibly in the annals of the industry.

Osiberu’s partnership with Amazon Prime saw her signing a three-year deal to develop and produce original scripted television series and feature films. Her directorial debut, in 'Isoken,' catapulted her to stardom, introducing and cementing her filmmaking abilities. Also, Osiberu’s film ventures continue to make sizeable imprints on the Nigerian Box Office, thereby underscoring her craftsmanship and capability. Her films have sold millions of Naira, with 'Gangs of Lagos' winning the best movie in West Africa at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) in May 2023. Formerly a software developer before switching careers, she was born into a royal family. Her father, Oba Adewale Osiberu is the Elepe of Epe-Sagamu.

Ever since Mosunmola Abudu, also known as Mo’, dumped her career in Human Resources at Mobil Nigeria and ventured into filmmaking, she has turned herself into a reputable film maker and a big player in Nollywood. Her magic wand produced top-notch movies, such as ‘The Wedding Party,' ‘Fifty,’ ‘The Royal Hotel Hibiscus’ and 'Chief Daddy' via her EbonyLife Films.

Abudu was also responsible for some TV series that include ‘The Governor,’ ‘Desperate Housewives Africa,’ ‘Sons of the Caliphate,’ and ‘Fifty the Series.’ In 2018, she signed a deal with Sony Pictures Television (SPT) for a three-year deal to produce 'The Dahomey Warriors', a series about the Amazons who took on French colonialists in a 19th-century west African kingdom. In 2020, she also signed a partnership deal with AMC Networks to produce 'Nigeria 2099,' an afro futuristic crime-drama. In the same year, she also signed a new partnership with Netflix. The streaming giant acquired some of EbonyLife's drama serie, the success of which led to another deal with her to create two original series and multiple Netflix-branded films. That Mo has made significant impact in the industry is evident in her mention in 'The Hollywood Reporter's' annual list of the ‘25 Most Powerful Women in Global Television.' She has also earned herself an appointment as one of the academy directors for the prestigious Emmys. She was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by Babcock University in recognition of her contributions to the broadcasting industry in Nigeria.

Alabi Kemi Adetiba

Kemi Adetiba’s achievement in Nollywood comes a long way. She started out as a music video producer/director, showcasing her talent behind the camera by directing music videos for some of Nigeria’s prominent music acts, such as Tiwa Savage, Olamide,and Waje, before transitioning to the big screen as an acclaimed filmmaker in Nollywood. She has carved her niche for herself in Nollywood showcasing some of the best works ever witnessed in the industry, from her directorial debut in 2008 with the movie 'Across a Bloodied Ocean', to her breakthrough film in Nollywood in 2016 with the success of 'The Wedding Party,' a romantic comedy. She followed this up with another Nollywood success, 'King of Boys', which brought her a new partnership with the global film streaming platform, Netflix. The result of this partnership was the release of the sevenpart mini-series, 'King of Boys 2'.

A law graduate, Kemi's parents are the indefatigable Mayen Adetiba, the first woman to be elected to the executive committee of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Dele Adetiba, a veteran broadcaster and iconic sports commentator.

Biola Alabi is notable for spearheading the birth of one of Africa’s biggest movie awards, Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, AMVCA while she worked with Multichoice Nigeria as its managing director. After her exit from the cable TV company, Alabi began to work on her production house, Biola Alabi Media. The company delved into movie production and today, it is a major player in the Nigerian film industry with the production of ‘Banana Island Ghost’ and ‘Lara and the beat,' as well as the television show, 'Bukas and Joint' which was widely received.

Biola Alabi Media has made an impactful contribution to Nollywood. Alabi went a step further to host a TV show on Arise Network. She has been the anchor of the TV station’s coverage of the Academy Awards, the Oscars, since 2017. A recipient of Yale World Fellows, she was named in the list of top 100 global female executives published in the 2018 edition of Financial Times.

Jade Osiberu

Mosunmola Abudu

Biola

ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY

Tope Oshin

Tope Oshin started out as an actress and for 12 years, appeared in a variety of films before veering into directing, working as an associate producer and assistant director for 'The Apprentice Africa' from where she honed her skills, producing some of the highest box office breaking movies in Nigeria. She was the only female director on M-Net’s hit soap opera ‘Tinsel’ in its first five seasons. She shot about 350 episodes of the drama series. She also produced and directed several acclaimed movies, such as ‘Fifty,’ ‘Journey to Self’ and ‘In Line,’ among others.

Oshin is also known for directing series, such as ‘Hush,’ ‘Hotel Majestic,’ and ‘Shuga’ (Season 3 and 6). Her oeuvre as a director includes several short films like ‘The Young Smoker’, ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ and ‘New Horizons.’ In 2016, she directed the documentary, 'Amaka's Kin: The Women of Nollywood,' a memorial to influential filmmaker, Amaka Igwe, who died in 2014, and had before her death, paved the way for many female filmmakers.

Oshin has a thriving career as a casting director and she has worked on several film and television projects. Her company, Sunbow Productions, was commissioned to produce Season 8 of MTV Shuga, a television series and is credited as the series’ head director, showrunner, executive producer and producer after directing and casting Season 6 of the show in 2017. She also once served as a juror for the International Emmy Award.

Mildred Okwo

Mildred Okwo is a respected film director and producer whose films have been nominated and won several prestigious awards, including the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award, AMVCA; Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA; Nollywood Movie Awards, NMA and Publix du Prix at Nollywood Paris. A former Los Angeles-based litigation lawyer, she is the brain behind The Audrey Silva Company, a movie production company that he co-owns with actress Rita Dominic. A Theatre Arts graduate from the University of Benin, Edo State, Okwo has stamped her feet in Nollywood with movies such as 'The Meeting,' 'La Femme Anjola,' '30 Days' and 'Suru-Lere.' In 2016, she was named as one of '50 Women Shaping Africa' by Elle Magazine.

Bolanle Austen-Peters

Besides running renowned arts and cultural organisation, Terra Culture, Bolanle Austen-Peters also uses movies as an outlet to express her love for the arts and entertainment. She made her debut as a film producer with '93 Days,' a movie showing how the deadly Ebola virus was contained in Lagos. She also produced critically acclaimed musicals such as 'Saro the Musical,' 'Wakaa!' and 'Fela and the Kalakuta Queens' and 'Man Enough.'

She would later take it a notch higher when in 2018, she shot her second feature film, ‘The Bling Lagosians.' She has gone on to shoot other titles, such as 'Collision Course' and 'Man of God.'

A lawyer by training, who had previously worked with the United Nations, she is the daughter of Chief Afe Babalola, SAN and the founder of Terra Academy for the Arts in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, empowering young people.

Biodun Stephen

Atrained lawyer, Biodun Stephen would later venture into broadcasting before finally settling for filmmaking. She made out time to study filmmaking and scriptwriting at the London Film Academy. Upon her return to Nigeria, she immersed herself in the task of making a difference in Nollywood and partnered with Koga Entertainment to make the movie, ‘The Visit,’ which went on to open doors for her.

Working with several individuals, Stephen made headlines again with the interesting drama series, ‘Picture Perfect’ in 2017. In 2018, she joined Tope Oshin as one of the female filmmakers working with M-Net and Multichoice Nigeria to create content for Africa Magic. She has gone on to do other movies, such as ‘Joba,' ‘Tiwa's Baggage,' 'Ovy's Voice,' 'Ehi's Bitters' 'Breaded Life,' and 'Sobi's Mystic' etc.

Funke Akindele

Askilled actress whose forte is comedydrama, Funke Akindele combines producing and directing with her craft. She made her debut as a producer in the comic movie, 'Jenifa', in which she also acted the lead role. She would later produce a series based on the movie titled 'Jenifa's Diary.' Akindele went on to produce other series, such as 'My Siblings And I,' 'Far From Home,' 'Industreet.' She has equally produced blockbusters like 'Omo Ghetto', 'Battle on Buka Street,' and 'Omo Ghetto: The Saga.' The latter has been announced as the highest-grossing movie of all time in Nigeria. The movie grossed N468,036,300 after maintaining its number one spot for three consecutive weeks. Combined with her deal to license 'Omo Ghetto: The Saga' to Netflix, Akindele struck gold. A former deputy governorship candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last general election, she made her directorial debut in the movie, 'Your Excellency,' produced by Mo Abudu.

Nwakaego Boyo

An actress, Ego Boyo became popular for her role as Anne Haastrup in the early 1990s soap, 'Checkmate.' She has since moved on to film production, producing her own movie via Temple Productions, Temple films and Temple Studio companies. The former President of the International Women’s Society (IWS) has produced films like 'A Hotel Called Memory' and 'The Ghost and the house of truth.' Her husband is Omamofe Boyo, the Deputy Group Chief Executive of the Oando energy company.

Ruth Kadiri made her debut in Nollywood as an actress, but she has gone on to become a screenwriter and film producer.

Kadiri, who prefers to work behind the scenes, has several movies under her belt which she has either produced or scripted. Also, some of her movies are streamed on ROK TV and she gives the platform credit for providing the much-needed support to producers and actors.

ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY

Mary Nnenna Njoku

Mary Nnenna Njoku, also known as Mary Remmy or Mary Remmy Njoku, started out as a little unknown actress before blossoming to become a film producer, and director-general of Lagos-based film house, ROK Studios, in Nigeria, which was later acquired by French TV giant, CANAL+ [1]. They however retained her as the managing director, giving her maximum autonomy and creative freedom. Not only is Mary responsible for the rise of several actors who utilised her platform, at the time ROK Studios was acquired she had produced 540 movies and 25 original TV drama series, including 'Thy Will be Done,' 'Husbands of Lagos.' In August 2013, alongside her business partners Jason Njoku, her husband and Bastian Gotter, Mary launched a $2 million investment vehicle for Lagos-based Internet start-ups called Spark.

Tony Abraham, actress and producer who has made a name for herself in the film industry since 2003, is best known for her acclaimed roles in ‘Alani Baba Labake’ and ‘Ebimi ni’. Toyin also starred in the popular movie, ‘Black Val’. She produced movies like 'Fate of Alakada' which she sold to Netflix. The movie adds to her list of impressive achievements. She has gone on to produce 'Fate of Alakada 2' and 'Ijakumo: The Born-Again Stripper,' also on Netflix.

The multilingual award-winning actress, scriptwriter, director and producer joins this list of female filmmakers shattering the glass ceiling. A trained digital filmmaker and alumnus of the New York Film Academy, Oboli has to her credit several intriguing screenplays, including 'Fatal Imagination', 'Being Mrs Elliott', 'The First Lady,' 'The Rivals,' 'Wives on Strike' and 'Moms at War' where she made her directorial debut.

She also wrote the screenplay of some chartbusting movies, such as 'The Figurine' and 'Anchor Baby'. Recounting why she started making her own movies, Oboli said that after enjoying a brief career in the movie industry, she left to complete her university education, married immediately after graduation and did not return to the industry until a decade later, an act she said almost made her quit the movie industry. When she got back to the screen in 2009, she realised that the film industry had no space for her anymore. This was when she decided to start the production of her own movies.

Oboli is the first Nollywood actress to win in the Best Actress category in two international film festivals, not organised by Africans, in the same year (2010) - the Harlem International Film Festival and the Los Angeles Movie Awards for her lead role in the movie 'Anchor Baby.'

Alawyer and activist, Yemisi Wada got into film production when she produced 'Oluranlowo Mi' (My Benefactor), a drama/ documentary about the lives of some children who found themselves living on the streets. She had just founded 'Haven for the Nigerian Child Foundation' a charity orgnisation working with street children. She went on to produce 'Lasgidi Cop' which she licensed to DSTV for three years and then to some other stations like Africa Independent Television, AIT, etc. She also produced a web series titled ‘The Witches,' about a group of female friends living the cosmopolitan lifestyle in a city like Lagos with all of its hang ups.

Wada is currently in a partnership with a French production company interested in her turning 'Lasgidi Cop' into a series to be titled 'Lasgidi Cop: Special Crime Series.' The production will be fully funded by the company and handled by both parties . This is in addition to a Yoruba epic series which she is also working on.

Ruth Kadiri

Toyin Abraham

Omoni Oboli

Yemisi Wada

ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY

STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

FARIDA ABDULKABIR AND ADEMOLA OKULAJA'S

TWO MONTHS OLD MARRIAGE CRASHES

Less than two months after popular Lagos skincare entrepreneur and boss of House of Phreedah, Farida Abdulkabir and her partner, Ademola Okulaja tied the knot in a lavish wedding ceremony, the union has broken down irretrievably, like a pack of badly arranged cards. While their friends and family members have openly expressed their sympathies to the once enviable couple, they are rather, even more concerned about the millions of naira spent on the much-vaunted wedding that has now gone down the drain. Farida claims she single handedly spent N100 million for the wedding ceremony which was anchored by ace comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka. Music was provided by the Mayegun of Yorubaland, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal who entertained guests, such as traditional rulers, socialites, business moguls, movie stars, etc, with songs from his repertoire. The guests turned up at the event in expensive but exquisite pink lace 'aso ebi' and green head gear for women, while men adorned green caps atop white 'buba' and 'sokoto.'

Farida and Ademola's love story started over two decades ago when they began an off-and-on relationship until recently when Ademola, after serving time in a London prison, returned to Nigeria and decided to take his relationship with Farida to the next level. They had barely settled down to enjoy marital bliss when the centre could no longer hold them together any longer.

Farida who will be 50 years-old next month, accused Ademola of body shaming her, always referring to her as someone with the body of an 80-year-old woman. For that reason, according to her, she took to undressing or dressing up outside his view, preferably in the bathroom. She claimed he refused to accept her the way she is and put her under undue pressure to go under the knife for a liposuction and Brazilian Butt Lift procedures to make her look more attractive for him. She also accused him of suffering from erectile dysfunction which prompted them to go in search

of a remedy for his issue, including going the traditional way by visiting herbalists. She also claimed that he cheats on her without shame or remorse and is emotionally attached to a certain married woman (name withheld) whose romantic love message she intercepted on his phone that burst the bubble. She also claimed that she found out that Demola had nothing to his name and only reunited with her because of her wealth. In his defence, Demola claimed they attempted to go for In Vitro Fertilisation, IVF so she could bear a child, only for him to discover that she had no womb. He accused her of being a nymphomaniac who cheated on him with over 12 of his friends, a major reason he attempted to call off the wedding but was prevailed upon by well-wishers not to do so.

He also said that no sooner had they tied the knot than he began to experience excruciating headaches and after a series of comprehensive tests which turned up nothing, he was forced to go spiritual only to find out that his wife was fetish. This is what he said prompted him to move out of their matrimonial home. He denied ever cheating on her and only had one affair outside of his marriage after he moved out. However, a few days after the marriage packed up, Farida attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the Third Mainland bridge in Lagos. She was prevented from doing so by concerned motorists. She would later issue a public apology to her family and friends for her actions, blaming it on depression and suicidal thoughts caused by the crash of her marriage.

Farida was formerly married to Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola's ex-husband, Tunde Sobowale, son of a former Ccommissioner for Education in Lagos State, Professor Idowu Sobowale. They got married in 2015, but the marriage collapsed shortly after.

Meet Nigeria’s Foremost Minimally Invasive Heart Surgeon

heart of the patient is still beating.

The minimally invasive approach offers less scarring and pain and a faster recovery. One of the patients who benefitted from the services the team offered, was an 81-year-old woman who needed a valve replacement. The surgeons at the health service provider who carried out this feat were led by renowned cardiologist and professor of medicine, Professor Kamur Tayo Adeleke. It is not the first time that Adeleke would be leading a team of specialists to carry out an open-heart surgery. In 2013, while still living in the United States, he led his team from his practice in Delaware to perform the first successful open-heart surgery at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State. Before this recent feat, Nigerians could only get lifesaving minimally invasive heart surgeries in the West, India and South Africa. But since the coming of Tristate Health care, over 120 normal openheart surgeries have been done successfully, nationwide. Indeed, when Nigeria puts its mind at something, it becomes do-able.

An alumnus of Islamic High School, Ibadan, Oyo State, Adeleke chairs the Division of Cardiology at Benjamin Carson School of Medicine, Babcock University and doubles as a professor of Medicine/Cardiology at Babcock University. He is the President/ CEO of Tristate Cardiovascular Institute and

No Fanfare as Wale Tinubu's Wife Buries Father

commendation service at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja GRA. This was followed by a Christian Wake two days later at Osun State and then he was interred the day after, following a funeral service at Holy Trinity African Church, Igbajo, Osun State.

Adigun

AKEEM ADIGUN FINDS HIS GROOVE AGAIN

The simple ceremonies were planned by Eventful, a foremost events planning company owned by socialite Yewande Zaccheus. A notable corporate lawyer, investor and board member of several multinational companies including DHL Nigeria, Beroid Oil Services, Boulos Enterprises and King Carpets, Chief Oyewole established his own law firm, Olajide Oyewole & Co, focusing it

on being a solicitor’s firm which dwelt on serving the legal needs of corporate entities, even though the company could also handle litigation matters. He ran the company until he retired from active practice in 1990 and immediately moved to Igbajo the year after where he devoted himself fully to community development. A key project he was involved in was the establishment of Igbajo Polytechnic, the first community polytechnic to be established in Nigeria. He used his personal and corporate contacts to obtain substantial donations from various individuals and companies he was involved in to ensure its establishment.

heads the Division of Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Laboratory at University College Hospital, Ibadan. Adeleke is also the Founder/CEO of Tristate Healthcare system (THS) which manages Tristate Hospital Lekki, Babcock Tristate Heart and Vascular Centre, Tristate Hospital Ibadan, amongst others. Until he relocated to Nigeria, he was the Chief of Cardiology at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, USA for 10 years, Adeleke spearheaded the opening of the Open-Heart Surgery and Cardiac Catheterisation and Interventional Laboratory which he directed for 12 years before stepping down as director in 2014 and taking up his role at Benjamin Carson School of Medicine.

After spending over 40 years in America, the surgeon, who is from Oyo State, was forced to return to Nigeria after realising that the average life expectancy in Nigeria is 46 years. According to him, people were dying from heart disease, a non-communicable disease which affects certain geographical parts of the population and mainly the middle class and the upper class. Another reason why he said he chose to return home was because it was becoming increasingly difficult to find an interventional cardiologist and this prompted a former Minister of Health to do everything possible to ensure he returned home to render his services.

Otunba Akeem Adigun, popularly known as Socopao, seems to have found his groove again. He is no longer reeling from the shock of seeing his multi-million naira property destroyed in the wake of the kingship tussle in Agosasa Ikpokia, his hometown, in Ogun State. The grassroots politician also narrowly escaped assassination when thugs attacked his convoy over the same issue. But he seems to have moved on from the loss and is now back to being his bubbly self again. The Apagunpote of Iyewaland recently clocked 71. It was an opportunity for him to thank God for sparing his life. He started the day by sharing a video of himself dancing during a photoshoot, dressed in simple casuals. Later in the day, he feted friends, well-wishers and political associates who converged at his home to felicitate with him.

THEWILL had reported how, following the death of the first Oja of Agosasa, Oba James Elegbede in February 2022, there had been tension over who would take over the throne. The tussle reached a climax when some youths of the community took to the streets to warn against the installation of an unpopular candidate as the next king.

The youths had kicked against the alleged steps being taken by Adigun to install a king of his choice against the wish of the people. During the protest, one of them was hit by a bullet and he later died. This allegedly infuriated the irate youths who were later joined by other assailants and they all marched into Adigun's expansive country home on the outskirts of the town and wreaked massive havoc on his properties.

During the ensuing confusion, a former council Chairman in the state, Isiaka Aderounmu, also had his home and car torched by the rampaging youths. More youths died from the incident and not a few sustained injuries. Almost a year after the incident, the reason for the whole melee in the first place - a replacement king, is far from being appointed.

Uma Ukpai Throws Lavish Party For Son's Wedding

Continued from page 38 Continued

Penultimate week, Dwight Olugu, son of Reverend Uma Ukpai, walked down the aisle with the love of his life, Aniekeme Godwin Eyo, in a two-day ceremony that had quite a handful of dignitaries in attendance. Although Rev Ukpai and his wife are from

Abia State, they have lived most of their lives in Akwa Ibom where they also run their ministry, Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association. It was the reason the traditional and white wedding both held in the state with many clerics in attendance, including Apostle Zilly Aggrey, who officiated the holy solemnisation of the marriage. Pastor Ntia Ntia of Full Life Christian Centre was also one of the officiating ministers. The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno and his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, Honourable Udeme Otong, etc, all honoured the couple and their parents with their presence Not much is known about Aniekeme, but Olugu is the second son of Rev Ukpai and he is touted as the one who will likely take over the running of the ministry from his father when he retires.

The Ukpais

Rev

Okulaja & Abdulkabir

STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN

THE LIKELY RETURN OF STELLA OKOTETE

STORY BY IVORY UKONU

There are very strong indications that Stella Okotete, one of the ministerial nominees who was screened by the senate but was not cleared for appointment, may not be left out 'in the cold' after all, as Nigerians have been made to believe. Recall that besides Okotete, a former executive director at the Nigeria Export-Import Bank, NEXIM, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State and Nasir Danladi, a ministerial nominee from Taraba State, were excluded by the senate which approved and confirmed the ministerial nominations of 45 other appointees of President Bola Tinubu after a voice vote. The Senate claimed it withheld the ministerial confirmation of the trio pending their security clearance. While El Rufai who is currently holidaying in the Middle East and Europe was blocked from becoming Minister by powerful interests with the backing of President Bola Tinubu, the other two waited with bated breath, hoping they would scale through their security clearance. Clearly, Danladi won't be considered for reasons not unconnected with his alleged debarment in 2019 from contesting or holding political offices over alleged certificate forgery and age

Meram Indimi Remarries

falsification. However, THEWILL has reliably gathered that Okotete who was nominated by the First Lady, Remi Tinubu may likely get a soft landing. If she doesn't return with a ministerial appointment, she may likely be given a board appointment in a parastatal or government agency. Sources who are familiar with the matter told THEWILL in confidence that the First Lady has gone to work, applying pressure and appealing to her husband to reconsider finding a place for Okotete in his government. Whether the President will buckle under pressure and cave into the First Lady's demand is another kettle of fish.

South African Varsity Appoints

Bosun Tijani as Visiting Professor

Nigeria’s new Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has been appointed Visiting Professor by University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. His appointment came just a few days before he was named as minister by President Bola Tinubu. A visiting professor is a scholar from an institution who visits a host university to teach, lecture, or perform research on a topic for which the visitor is valued.

Tijani had applied to

become a visiting adjunct professor at the university. His application was approved by the institution last week and the appointment, which is supposed to take effect in September 2023, is expected to last till 2026. For posting messages on Twitter deemed to be unpatriotic and ‘insulting’ in 2019, Tijani, a tech guru, ran into a brick wall while undergoing ministerial screening at the Senate lately. His tweets during the EndSARS protest were also visited and some senators wanted to use them against his nomination. Fortunately for him, the likes of Senator Ishaku Abbo, representing Adamawa North Senatorial District defended him.

Senator Solomon Adeola, representing Ogun West and the Senate Majority leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, defended Tijani while asking for forgiveness from the Senate Screening Committee so that his past record would not be used against him. Tijani also apologized for his past social media utterances which he revealed were made out of anger because of the frustrating situation he was going through then. Tijani

Bola Owoyemi Marks 20th Anniversary Of Father’s Death

Fabric merchant, Bola Owoyemi and wife of hospitality mogul, Tajudeen Owoyemi, marked the 20th anniversary of her father’s passing last week. A memorial service was held in honour of the deceased, Chief Tiamiyu Balogun, who was the Odofin of Offa kingdom in Lagos State. Photographs on display at the venue of the memorial service brought back fond memories of the deceased.

Special prayer and sermon were offered by prominent Islamic clerics who graced

Meram Indimi, daughter of the Chairman of Oriental Energy Resource, Mohammed Indimi, has remarried for the second time, to the love of her life, Yukup Gundogdu. The couple’s Nikkai ceremony took place in Maiduguri, Borno State capital last week in the presence of family, friends and a few guests. It was followed by a dinner at Tulip Bistro, which was also attended by close friends of the Indimis and the Gundogdus. A few years ago, Meram walked out of her first marriage to Baffa Abdulkadir, a politician who contested in the 2019 National Assembly election in Gwale, Kano State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The marriage didn't stand the test of time. It collapsed and the couple quietly went their separate ways. Meram’s current husband is Turkish by birth. He is the director of Zeberced Group, a property development company based in Abuja. The company also manufactures furniture.

Double Celebration For Funmi Wakama And Husband

It was a double celebration for ace broadcaster, Funmi Wakama, the General Manager of the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Abeokuta, last week as she bowed out of active service after 35 years of meritorious service. She also received a chieftaincy title from the Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola. The traditional ruler conferred the titles of Yeye Fiwagboye and Fiwagboye of Owu on Funmi and her husband, Ene Wakama, respectively, in recognition of their contributions to the development

of Ogun State. Wakama’s commitment, diligence and exemplary leadership left an indelible mark in the broadcasting industry and Ogun State which the traditional ruler decided to reward. After the installation ceremony, a reception party was held to celebrate Funmi’s retirement from active service and she also launched a media firm and charity foundation on the same day. Many of her friends and colleagues in the broadcast media, traditional rulers and well-wishers attended the event.

HOW OBA KAYODE AFOLABI CELEBRATED

60TH BIRTHDAY

the occasion. Owoyemi played the part of a perfect hostess at the event, making sure that the guests enjoyed themselves. Her husband, Tajudeen, pulled his business associates, captains of industry, to the venue of the ceremony to support his wife. Alhaji Tajudeen is the Chairman and founder of Avalon Intercontinental Ltd, owners of Avalon Hotel, Radisson Blu and Park Inn hotels.

The Alapomus

The ancient town of Apomu in Osun State was agog last week when the Alapomu of Apomu, Oba Kayode Afolabi, celebrated his 60th birthday in a colourful ceremony.

The birthday festivities started with a celebration of the cultural heritage of the Yorubas. Wife of the traditional ruler, Olori Janet Afolabi, was the first to stage an exhibition to mark her husband's landmark age. She opened the event with the maiden edition of the Apomu Adire Festival organised by her foundation, Olori Janet Afolabi Foundation, OJAF. The exhibition was aimed at promoting cultural tourism and to empower hardworking youths who want to make a living through the production of adire clothing materials.

The event was supported by Dr. Bolanle Olawale Babalakin’s Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited. An

array of colourful adire fabrics were on display during the exhibition which was graced by traditional rulers, chiefs and residents of Apomu. A lavish party held at the palace of the Alapomu followed immediately. It was a gathering of traditional rulers, chiefs, politicians and other dignitaries from different walks of life. The event was also a display of culture and class as praise singers and local drummers welcomed guests at the entrance of the palace. A local singer, Apesin Kolayemi Kuti, played soul lifting and danceable songs to the delight of those who were present to celebrate with the traditional ruler. Guests were feted with choice drinks and food which kept flowing till the last guest departed the venue.

Okotete

The Gundogdus

The Wakamas

The Owoyemis

Portrait of a Pastor as a Politician

A Christian convert from Islam, Pastor Tunde Bakare has also taken up politics alongside his pastoral duties. Successful beyond any measure in his ecclesiastical calling, the same cannot be said of his venturing into politics. Bakare lost the 2011 presidential election as running mate to Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change. By the time Buhari won the same presidential election four years later as candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bakare was not anywhere near him. A pastor of a rival Pentecostal church made it to Aso Villa with the general. So it was in 2019 when Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo were re-elected. Unwavering in his assurance of divine backing and unrelenting in his, some now say, Quixotic quest, Bakare made a stab at the presidency in 2023 and recorded zero vote in the APC primaries. Notwithstanding, his political pronouncement do not count for nothing. In January 2012, he spearheaded Save Nigeria Group to protest proposed removal of fuel subsidy by Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration at the now famous Ojota sitin. Three years later, Jonathan’s government was booted out like an irritant pollutant from Nigeria’s political space. Exactly a week ago and still on oil subsidy removal, this time from the inner recesses of a swanky church he presides over at Oregun – a glancing distance away from Ojota – Bakare made his by now famous State of the Nation address. To what end? THEWILL wonders. Michael Jimoh reports…

As a preacher, Pastor Tunde Bakare already has what politicians crave most: the ability to make people not only believe what he tells them but also take him seriously. Every Sunday without fail, thousands of worshippers rise to their feet at his command, pray, sing or dance as it is done in most other Christian worship centres.

The Citadel Global Community Church on 30 Kudirat Abiola Way Oregun where he holds court is one of the swankiest religious centres in Lagos, boasting of 5,500-seater auditorium and an events centre with over 2000 seating capacity. There is a free e-library, a swimming pool, parking space for over 500 cars as well as 250 toilet facilities. There

is a pharmacy, hospital, banking halls, shopping malls and kindergarten school.

The capacious compound just by First Bank Bus stop is packed every day of the week with sundry visitors but mostly so on Sundays when worshippers fill the pews and traipse the aisles. For hours, they listen raptly to the Sunday sermon, look up to him as he paces right and left, back and forth, exhorting worshippers to follow the righteous path to become better Christians or better human beings. In bespoke suits, nifty shoes and fancy-framed spectacles, it is impossible to not listen up to this man of modest build with the physique of a jockey. Nimble as a tennis player,

Pastor Bakare holds his audience spellbound with his mesmerizing performance, spouting off philosophers and theologians many of his congregation scarcely know or have heard of. No matter. Congregants do get the message anyhow, as they did on Sunday August 13 when Bakare surprised all with a State of the Nation speech.

“Vice, Virtue and Time: the three things that shall never stand still” was the theme of his special message, covering everything from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy, arrest and detention of two former principal officers and holdovers from President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to the recent coup in Niger and ECOWAS’s response to the change of government.

One thing must be said for Pastor Bakare though: he has the daring of prophets of pre-Christian era even though some of his predictions never come to pass. “God told me I will be president,” he boasted in 2018. On another occasion, he declared that he would become the 16th president of Nigeria after Buhari’s 15. Both failed. But what he had to say

One thing must be said for Pastor Bakare though: he has the daring of prophets of pre-Christian era even though some of his predictions never come to pass

...Pastor as a Politician

this time were far from out of context revelations from God.

The trouble was not so much with removal of fuel subsidy by PBAT as the problem of corruption, Bakare thundered from the pulpit. An obvious question to ask is: Why was he against the same subsidy removal in 2012 that he now supports? He seemed to provide an answer himself.

“Kill corruption,” he told his audience and, by extension, the rest of the world, “and not Nigerians.”

The removal of the subsidy has made life more challenging for Nigerians. “What is further clear concerning our domestic challenges is that by imposing hardship on Nigerians without going after those corrupt individuals, corporations and government officials, who have plundered Nigeria over the years in the name of subsidy, the president has picked the wrong fight.”

Worse still is that while PBAT devoted so much time to the faceless individuals behind the subsidy scam, he neglected to mention any one of them. It got the pastor’s goats, prompting him to ask: "Who are these select groups of individuals into whose deep pockets our national treasury has been funneled? Who are these smugglers and fraudsters that have been defrauding our nation in the name of subsidy? Who are these nameless characters that have fed fat at the expense of the poor? Or are they all sacred cows?”

As a card-carrying member of the APC and as a concerned Nigerian, Bakare has every right to question some of the government’s policies he isn’t quite comfortable with. Besides, in the body of the speech itself, he explains what progressive politics ought to be, ought to contend with and put squarely in its sightline.

‘’As progressivism eliminates a corruption-ridden subsidy regime, it would not hesitate to boost or underwrite access to factors of production such as energy, infrastructure, and human resource in an atmosphere of transparency and accountability.

‘’A progressive approach to the subsidy conundrum would have been characterised by a phased removal of subsidy, buffered by transparent investments in local refining capacity and social welfare, while the corrupt individuals and corporations that have bled the nation are compelled to return their loots.”

Rather than do this, the continued detention of Godwin Emefiele and Abdulrasheed Bawa of the CBN and EFCC respectively has a ring of vendetta to it. Citing the incident in a Lagos High Court where the DSS brawled with officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service of Ikoyi Prisons over who should have custody of Emefiele, Bakare pointedly noted that “the actions of the DSS have raised concerns about professionalism and adherence to the rule of law. Instances such as the reported invasion of the premises of the EFCC and the handling of the case of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, have sparked discussions regarding the need for due process and equitable application of justice.”

The preacher equally criticized the continued incarceration of Bawa. “The same can be said of the detention of the suspended chairman of EFCC…Mr. Bawa was not only linked to the naira redesign policy, but he had also disclosed that

the anti-graft agency would arrest and prosecute some outgoing governors after the expiration of their immunity on May 29, 2023.”

In both cases, Bakare averred, the DSS “has reduced itself to a pack of Napoleon’s dogs let loose on perceived opponents of the president when, in this same country, a militant like Asari Dokubo is openly breeding an armed militia in open support of the president, doing so with impunity and without as much as a slap on the wrist from the security agencies.”

On the international front, Bakare expressed his misgivings about ECOWAS military intervention in Niger. It will be counterintuitive on the regional body because it could turn out to “be a protracted conflict.”

For all his well-rehearsed and spot-on SoN address, some in the APC have dismissed Bakare’s special Sunday sermon on August 13. Responding

on the same day, National Secretary of the party Senator Ajibola Basiru accused Bakare of “incompetence to speak on the economic reforms” of the president. The lawmaker availed himself of Channels Television’s “Politics Today” hours after Bakare’s SoN address to counter his claims.

“I must quickly comment on what Pastor Bakare said,” Basiru began by telling his interviewer on Channels. “Although I don’t see him as a politician and with respect to him, I don’t see him as being competent to say what he has said. The fact that we are talking of palliatives does not mean we are not talking about the dysfunctions, imbalances in the economy and addressing the fundamental problems. We are not limiting our problems to the issue of palliatives.”

Explaining further, Basiru insisted that the fact that the pastor is a Nigerian “does not mean he is an authority on all issues. I said competence on what he is talking about. The fact that you have ideas doesn’t mean you are competent in what you are saying. But he is entitled as a citizen.”

Which brings up the question of the pastor as a politician. As a politician, Bakare simply lacks what many politicians require to rise up in the political ladder: victory at the polls. In the minds of many, Bakare has not fared well in that regard. Despite his claims to commands from God himself to never give up his political career, he has not quite advanced from where he was in the beginning. In his New Year sermon at Latter Rain Assmebly Ogba in 2018, Bakare told his congregation of 12 revelations received from God, the last of which concerned his political career.

“This twelfth one is a difficult one for me,” Bakare said at the time. “It may draw excitement or condemnation. I have tried my best to keep it to (myself) but the Holy Spirit will not allow me to do so. In my study around 4am on Sunday morning, God told me ‘you cannot bring your political career to a close; there is still more to do. Run for presidency. I will do it at the appointed time.”

Of course the appointed time, as most people now know, did not come in the 2019 presidential election. Nor did it in 2023 after boasting that he will succeed Buhari. “I will succeed Buhari as President of Nigeria, nothing can change it. I am number 16, Buhari is number 15. I never said it to you before. I am saying it now and nothing can change it. In the name of Jesus, he (Buhari) is number 15. I am number 16. To this end was I born and for this purpose came I into the world. I have prepared you for this for more than 30 years.”

Men of God in Nigeria making predictions about others or themselves that never quite come to pass are aplenty. The outspoken senior pastor of CGCC is not alone in that. Still in the same Oregun, his colleague and co-traveller on the same political path Chris Okotie of the Household of God Church also boasted he would be elected president of Nigeria. It never got to be, making both of them dreamers as far as the presidency of the country is concerned.

Even so, there is nothing wrong in dreaming. The charismatic senior pastor’s dream of becoming president of his own country may never get to be. But one things is for sure, as certain as the worshippers listening to him right now at CGCC. Pastor Bakare is the president of his own church, which possibly accounts for why he prefixed paragraphs of his State of the Nation address with “My fellow citizens.”

Nimble as a tennis player, Pastor Bakare holds his audience spellbound with his mesmerizing performance, spouting off philosophers and theologians many of his congregation scarcely know or have heard

Resilience And Triumph: Amusan's Clearance From AIU Doping Allegations

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

In the lead-up to the World Athletics Championships now underway in Budapest, Hungary and scheduled to last till August 27, the female hurdle event found itself on the precipice of excitement and intrigue. Amidst the fervour, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the impending participation of Oluwatobiloba Amusan, the renowned Nigerian athlete whose mastery of the women's 100m event has garnered global acclaim.

However, allegations of doping, vehemently asserted by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), have thrust Amusan into the centre of controversy, sparking debates about fair play, ethics, and the integrity of the sport itself.

The intricate tapestry of Amusan’s journey is interwoven with elements of triumph, challenges, and the recent shadow of allegations that has cast uncertainty over her participation in the Championships. The crux of these allegations rests on doping violations and missed drug tests, a combination that strikes at the heart of the sport's commitment to clean competition. It was on the fateful day of July 19, this year, that Amusan

publicly disclosed that she had been charged by the AIU with committing a whereabouts doping violation. The AIU swiftly responded by imposing a provisional suspension upon her, a decision that reverberated throughout Nigeria and the international athletics community as a whole.

Amusan's alleged offences centre around what the AIU described as "whereabouts failures," a legal term encompassing instances of missed drug tests or discrepancies in providing accurate information regarding her location for doping tests. These failures are widely regarded as grave breaches of anti-doping regulations, given their potential to undermine the veracity and transparency of the testing process.

In the face of these allegations, Amusan demonstrated an unwavering commitment to clearing her name and preserving her hardearned reputation. Her response to the charges was characterised by a resolute determination to uphold her innocence. “I am a CLEAN ATHLETE, and I am regularly (possibly even more frequently than usual) subjected to testing by the AIU. I was tested within days of my ‘missed test.’ I remain OPTIMISTIC that this matter will be resolved in my favour, enabling me to compete in the World Championships this August,” she insisted in July.

In a strategic move aimed at securing her place in the World Athletics Championships, Amusan promptly launched an appeal against her

I am a CLEAN ATHLETE, and I am regularly (possibly even more frequently than usual) subjected to testing by the AIU. - Amusan

Amusan

...Amusan's Clearance From AIU Doping Allegations

provisional suspension. The athletics community keenly observed as World Athletics, the preeminent global governing body for track and field, provisionally included Amusan's name in the list of participants for

work, this was a trying period for Amusan. Her journey from a budding talent to a revered world champion epitomised the essence of dedication, perseverance, and innate talent. Born on April 23, 1997, in the vibrant Nigerian town of Ijebu Ode, Amusan's affinity for running was ignited during her formative years at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School. Her remarkable prowess soon transcended geographical boundaries, leading her to the United States, where she pursued higher education at the University of Texas at El Paso, ultimately earning a degree in health promotion in 2019.

the alleged infractions did not rise to the level of constituting an anti-doping rule violation. The ramifications were profound – the provisional suspension that had hovered ominously over her career was lifted, signifying the opportunity for her triumphant return to the international stage.

As she readies herself to grace the track in Budapest, Amusan's journey embodies a narrative of resilience, courage, and a resolute commitment to upholding the principles of fair play and integrity in sport. However, the AIU, in their pursuit of ethical conduct within athletics,

Championships in Budapest. This inclusion offered a glimmer of hope that she might yet be able to defend her 100m hurdles title.

However, on August 13, after media reports that her inclusion in the list of participants meant she was cleared of the doping allegations, World Athletics delivered a sobering reminder that Amusan's participation remained shrouded in ambiguity. Her clearance hinged on the outcome of her ongoing appeal, and the AIU's decision weighed heavily in the balance.

However, with the August 19 kickoff date imminent, the World Athletics Championships loomed large on the horizon, while the state of Amusan's case remained intertwined in uncertainty. The World Athletics' provisional listing of her name for the 100m hurdles event underscored the organisation's willingness to contemplate her participation. Yet, the ultimate determination of her fate necessitated speedy resolution to enable her to turn her undivided attention to the rigours of her high level preparations for the arduous task of defending her World record. Athletes, spectators, and stakeholders alike, awaited the verdict of the Disciplinary Tribunal of the AIU and the resolution of Amusan's appeal. As the days went by, the world remained captivated by the unfolding drama, collectively pondering whether Amusan will triumphantly step onto the track or whether her absence will cast a poignant shadow over the Championships.

For an athlete that had reached her enviable heights by sheer dint of discipline and hard

Continued from Back Page

Amusan's ascendancy on the international stage was marked by an array of resounding victories, each contributing to her illustrious legacy. Her notable achievements include clinching gold medals at the African Youth Games, African Junior Championships, and the African Games. Yet, her indelible imprint was etched in the annals of history in 2018, as she triumphed on the global stage by securing victories at the Commonwealth Games and the African Championships. This crescendo of success culminated in a crowning achievement in 2022, where she immortalised herself as the world champion and world record holder in the 100m hurdles. Amusan's achievements, a testament to her unwavering dedication, have etched her as a shining beacon in the pantheon of African athletics. Such dedication to excellence did not deserve the embarrassing trial of the 26-year-old. Fortunately, in a plot twist that sent shockwaves through the world of athletics, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria heralded the momentous clearance of Amusan to participate in the impending World Athletics Championships. The culmination of a rigorous deliberation process, this decision offered resounding vindication to Amusan and an opportunity to cast aside the shadow of doubt that had loomed over her participation at the Championships.

The heart of the matter rested upon the outcome of a Disciplinary Tribunal, which meticulously scrutinised the charges stemming from the trio of whereabouts failures. The tribunal's verdict, delivered in favour of Amusan, underscored that

President Tinubu, Sell Sell Sell!

have minority interests in these assets.

My proposal is to sell down at least 80 percent stake in all our state-owned assets and hold only 20 percent. We will raise billions of dollars instantly from these sales and subsequently rake in millions of dollars annually as profits from our remaining positions.

Nigeria is a very endowed and beautiful country, a natural investment destination for investors. But for self-inflicted wounds and woes, we have remained unattractive because of poor choices by previous Presidents and state governors. We have all the resources (human and natural) we need and the market. We can begin to correct these now and in a decade or two, become the global powerhouse that we ought to be.

A government committed to effective private sector participation, respect for the rule of law,

security, power generation, and welfare can act as a magnet for foreign investments. The confluence of these factors enhances Nigeria's investment climate, positioning the country as a lucrative destination for capital inflows. Foreign investors are more likely to commit resources when they witness a favourable business environment, robust legal protections and a focus on security and welfare. The privatisation narrative, intertwined with a holistic approach to economic governance, amplifies Nigeria's global attractiveness as a competitive investment hub.

As Nigeria embarks on the journey of reducing its equity and control in public assets and reshaping its economic landscape, my hope is that it serves as a beacon, illuminating the path towards a vibrant, diversified, secure, and globally competitive nation.

the spotlight following the tribunal's verdict. With disappointment in the verdict of their Disciplinary Tribunal, the AIU openly expressed their chagrin at the decision to clear Amusan of potential anti-doping violations. This sentiment unveiled the inherent complexities within the realm of anti-doping efforts, shedding light on the delicate balance between safeguarding the purity of competition and ensuring athletes' rights. AIU Head, Brett Clothier, made it clear that they were disappointed with the outcome of the disciplinary tribunal and will now take time to consider the written reasons behind the decision in full before deciding whether to appeal.

As the AIU grapples with this outcome, the episode serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate web of regulations, nuances, and ethical considerations that define the anti-doping landscape. The AIU's potential decision to appeal, a course of action that may ensue in the wake of the tribunal's verdict, underscores the ongoing dialogue between the AIU and the broader track and field community.

The saga of Amusan's journey from allegations to vindication serves as an emblematic tale that reverberates far beyond the confines of athletics. As the World Athletics Championships accelerates, Amusan stands poised at the intersection of history and destiny, prepared to etch a new chapter in the annals of athletics. In Budapest, under the watchful gaze of a global audience, Amusan will step onto the track not merely as a runner but as a beacon of inspiration, a symbol of the ideals that define sport at its purest. Whether she ascends the podium or not, her journey is a testament to the values that permeate the world of athletics – dedication, integrity, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence.

Clothier

President Tinubu, Sell Sell Sell!

Nigeria has an intricate fabric of economic challenges, accentuating the failures of numerous state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and the need for effective solutions to these challenges is ever more glaring by the day. The Federal Government's ambitious proposal to sell its majority stakes in at least 20 state-run companies stands as a beacon of hope, with the potential to catalyse economic growth, attract key foreign investment, enhance governance and bolster national security. Here, I intend to project that the Federal Government also extends the sale or divestment to some real estate assets littering all over the country and judiciously utilise funds generated for the transformative impact on Nigeria's economic trajectory.

It comes as no surprise that the country's economic journey has been plagued by slow growth and turbulence. The intricate interplay of governance complexities, global economic shifts and internal challenges has often led to inefficiencies and mismanagement within stateowned enterprises (SOEs). The ripple effects of these challenges have resonated across economic sectors, hindering growth and development. The proposed divestment of government stake in these select assets as announced by the chief executive officer at the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, Armstrong Takang, is a strategic endeavour to reshape the economic landscape, ensure national security, and propel the country towards sustainable development.

The annals of Nigeria's economic history are replete with poignant examples of SOE failures. Nigeria Airways, once a symbol of national pride, crumbled under the weight of financial mismanagement, corruption, and operational inefficiencies. The Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) faced an inglorious fate, characterised by mismanagement, financial constraints, and obsolete infrastructure. The National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) grappled with corruption, inefficiency and inadequate power supply, ultimately necessitating restructuring. The long moribund petroleum refineries and the saga of the Ajaokuta Steel Company epitomises a journey fraught with mismanagement, funding deficiencies and technical hurdles. The case was no different with NITEL, which could not innovate fast enough to keep up with the times from its origin as the best on the continent. These instances underscore the urgency of reforming the management and operations of SOEs.

The repercussions of poorly run public companies extend far beyond financial losses. These entities often become breeding grounds for corruption, nepotism, and inefficiency. Mismanagement of public funds and lack of accountability not only erode public trust but also divert resources away from critical sectors, such as healthcare, education and infrastructure. The inefficient use of resources translates into substandard services and products, hindering soci-

etal progress and impeding economic growth.

The government's proposal to divest some of its ownership stakes in these assets is a transformative step towards economic revival. Among these entities, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) assumes prominence. I am still shocked that the current man-

of security and trust among both domestic and foreign investors.

The privatisation of state-run entities can provide a formidable impetus to power generation and infrastructure development. The country continues to struggle with power generation and distribution. Adequate power supply is pivotal for economic growth, industrialisation, and job creation. By introducing private sector efficiencies, technological advancements and capital infusion into power generation and distribution projects, Nigeria can surmount its energy challenges and spur economic activities. The monies earned from the divestments can be strategically channeled into bolstering infrastructure, resulting in improved connectivity, transportation, and overall economic resilience. The rest of the funds can be reinvested into other strategic stakes with private sector partners in profitable ventures to keep reaping returns to government's coffers. Some of the revenues can also be directed towards sectors, such as healthcare and education, bolstering human capital development. Improved healthcare services and educational opportunities uplift the standard of living, equipping citizens with the skills needed to participate in a modern economy. The resultant inclusive growth reduces inequality and ensures that economic progress resonates across all strata of society.

Amidst the panorama of state-run entities, the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) stands as a beacon of success in the realm of public/private sector business partnership.

agement of the corporation remains in office despite their proven inefficiencies.

In moving for the divestment, I think the Federal Government's vision should extend beyond financial gains but encompass improved governance and efficiency within these enterprises. Strategies such as strategic sales and initial public offerings will attract private sector participation, thereby infusing fresh perspectives, innovation, and dynamism.

The confluence of effective privatisation and a government committed to the rule of law and respect for the judicial process can have a cascading impact on national security and stability. As the business environment becomes more conducive and predictable, foreign investors gain confidence in the stability of legal and regulatory frameworks. This augments overall security, instilling faith in the sanctity of contracts, property rights, and dispute resolution mechanisms. The intersection of privatisation with a robust judicial system fortifies the country's investment climate, fostering a sense

The NLNG, a joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), multinational oil companies, and foreign investors, has harnessed Nigeria's vast natural gas resources to drive economic growth. Operating a liquefied natural gas plant on Bonny Island, NLNG has not only bolstered the country's revenue but also served as a testament to the potential of strategic partnerships between the public and private sector in critical sectors. Its success underscores the transformative impact of PPP when harnessed to tap into Nigeria's abundant resources and unlock their potential for economic prosperity.

I personally do not believe that the government and its employees have the capacity to effectively run or manage any revenue generating enterprise effectively. We have been down this road multiple times and have ended up with the same tales of woe, pain and grave losses. This is why President Tinubu must sell everything that is state-owned and let the Federal Government

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A government committed to effective private sector participation, respect for the rule of law, security, power generation, and welfare can act as a magnet for foreign investments