THEWILL NEWSPAPER December 25, 2022

IS NOW WHOLLY DIGITAL

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds; Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction. (Job 33:15-16).

The Bible tells us how God speaks to us as we sleep. More often than not, those messages turn out to be ingenious and usually quite clear when we apply such instructions that it wasn’t mere men who put the idea in us.

The same is true for Toyin Abraham’s latest movie, Ijakumo. Everyone she told about the film said it was a fantastic movie idea, and when she told them where it came from— a vision from God in her sleep, they agreed it could only have come from God.

So she cancelled a movie already scheduled to start shooting the next week, and Ijakumo was born. From comments after its premiere night, it will be a hit when it starts to show in theatres. Not a bad Christmas present, wouldn’t you say?

Speaking of Christmas, I saw a picture of my friend and her family. They had taken their daughter to see ‘Father Christmas’, and as is typical with those pictures, the look on her daughter’s face was priceless. It made me wonder, fondly, why, even after we remember being scared, we’ve continued the tradition by making our kids visit the big-bellied guy with a long white beard wearing a red suit.

From there came the idea for a short piece about our visit to the Father Christmas tent and, in the evidence of that visit, a picture; we always had a common look: FEAR. For some strange reason, it’s hilarious when we look at those pictures, remembering a time of our lives that seemed so scary yet, now counts as a blessing. We can look back on the year 2022 the same way. See the blessing in everything we have been through, good and bad, as we have become stronger in them. We can reflect fondly on how hard it was at the time, but the evidence, a picture, or scar—physical, spiritual or emotional, puts a smile on our faces as we count them all as blessings.

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year in advance! Until next week, enjoy your read.

Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

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THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA

Yuletide Dilemma as Nigerians End 2022 in Agony

BY AMOS ESELE, SAM DIALA, IVORY UKONU, SHADE WESLEYMETIBOGUN, UDEME UTIP, SEGUN AYINDE, BASSEY ANIEKAN, TUNDE OMOLEHIN, GEORGE MARTINS, SAMPSON UHUEGBU AND DAVID OWEI.

It was no comforting news to many discerning Nigerians who heard the highlights of the World Banks’ development update on their beloved country last week.

Five million Nigerians, according to the bank, were added to the ever-rising population of poor Nigerians in 2021 and in 2022. The figure rose to eight million with a likely projection of 12 million in 2023 unless the government carried out some urgent remedial policies: immediate removal of petrol subsidy, social protection programmes for the poor and vulnerable, unified exchange rate and fiscal prudence.

Coming at a time Nigerians are witnessing what can be considered the bleakest yuletide this year, 2022, the update has no doubt hit the bullseye.

The World Bank emphasised that Nigeria is in a worsening situation, with economic performance becoming weaker as inflation persists.

The high cost of food which is exacerbated by insecurity is, perhaps, the greatest existential threat to Nigerians at the moment.

Many households cannot feed themselves; the cost of basic food items such as yam, garri, maize, rice, beans, plantain and ingredients have skyrocketed. Today, no aspect of life is spared – from worsening

insecurity to unbearable cost of living.

Inflation rate quickened for the 10th straight month to a new 17-year high of 21.47 percent in November 2022 – driven majorly by food and petrol/diesel inflation. This has pushed the cost of goods and services beyond the reach of the ordinary citizen with a lean income as Nigeria maintains the infamous title of ‘World Poverty Capital’ since 2016.

Last month (November), the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, reported that 133 million Nigerians, representing 63 percent of population, are affected by multi-dimensional poverty, not necessarily because of disposable income but development factor.

Making a general assessment of the situation, Isaac Munoye, a development economist told THEWILL: “Food is the basic necessity of man before shelter and clothing. The high cost of feeding has put many lives on the line. It affects productivity because a hungry man cannot farm, school, produce, think, acquire skill or add value to life.”

Munonye observed that many homes are in penury as inflation has squeezed their finances with their income sources eroded.

For the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Wabba, Nigerians are currently going through “dark times.”

In a Christmas message issued at the weekend, Wabba said; “Many Nigerian workers and ordinary people are currently going through the dark tunnel of soaring inflation marked by very steep increases

in the prices of essential goods and services. Many Nigerian families are going through the dark tunnel of general apprehension about their security and personal safety as criminals and terrorists hold sway in many parts of the country looting, raping, kidnapping, and killing.

“Many Nigerians who would be traveling this festive season would be going through the dark tunnel of bruised, broken and battered infrastructure especially roads.

“While the light of Christmas would be celebrated across many cities, towns and villages around the world with bright illumination which are byproducts of stability in public electricity supply, many Nigerians would be battling with queuing for hours to get petrol to power their generators.''

SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM

COVID-19, regulatory pressures, difficult operating environment, foreign exchange volatility, high cost of diesel account as the major factors for many, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Even agriculture, which has played the role of shock-absorber in Nigeria’s troubled economic landscape, is equally challenged.

The National Bureau of Statistics( NBS) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reports reveal that agriculture has been on the decline due to low output occasioned by insecurity.

www.thewillnigeria.com

...Dilemma as Nigerians End 2022 in Agony

Many farmers no longer produce food because bandits now occupy their farmlands and force them to pay taxes to plant or harvest their crops.

This has pushed food inflation to an all-time high of 23.34 percent as of November 2022, according to the NBS, with unemployment presently at 33 per cent .

Access to credit facilities is becoming unfeasible, especially as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) continues to raise the monetary policy rate (MPR), the benchmark interest rate, currently at 16.5 per cent. Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) has climbed to 32.5 per cent.

The CRR is the share of a bank’s total customer deposit that must be kept with the CBN (‘quarantined’) in the form of liquid cash and not accessible for lending.

This has impacted negatively on MSMEs resulting in a cut in operations or outright shutdown.

According to the NBS and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), 1.9 million MSMEs were forced out of Nigeria's business landscape in three years (20182020).

IMPACT

A major fallout of this challenge is the impact on education and skill acquisition to boost employment and productivity as many parents are unable to pay their children’s school fees.

As it stands, Nigerians are in a yuletide dilemma.

Travelling has become unaffordable, unsafe and unpredictable. The high cost of aviation fuel has pushed flight tickets to a peak never experienced in the nation’s aviation industry with one-way LagosAbuja, Lagos-Port Harcourt economy tickets selling for as high as N120,000.

Even so, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) last week threatened to shut down operations should the cost of aviation fuel continue to skyrocket.

In the midst of this milieu of melancholy, Nigeria’s politicians, candidates in the upcoming general election are making assurance while canvassing for votes in the 2023 general elections and making promises of bringing succor to the people in agony.

LAMENTATIONS ACROSS THE STATES

In Akwa Ibom state, the persistent hike in premium motor spirit (petrol) has ignited price increase in every commodity particularly food stuffs.

THEWILL reports that since the return of petro queues in early November, the price of petrol has gone up gradually from N180 per litre to N185 to N200 until it hit N260 as the yuletide approached.

Some commercial bus and tricycle operators said that they now buy at N300 in the ‘black market’ mostly at night.

Weekly hike in transport fares, increase in food prices within Uyo, the state capital and neighbouring foodstuff towns like Oron and Ogoja in Cross Rivers State is impacting badly on the people

Commodities such as rice which is a priced meal at Christmas has gone up to N55,000 per 50kg bag as against N38, 000 shortly before the season.

Chicken which sold for between N2,500 and N6,500 in November, depending on the size and age, now goes for as high as N14, 000 to N20, 000.

Civil servants, who spoke with our correspondent in Akpan Andem market, Uyo, lamented the fact that salaries have remained the same while items in the market have increased by over 300 per cent and are still increasing.

A respondent who gave her name as Victoria, said; "My dear sister, I don't know what to say, I have spent N20,000 in this market but I can't see what I have bought, the tin tomato I bought last week for N35, 000 is N50, 000 today, vegetables oil has increased, everything but my salary instead of increasing, reduces at times.

"Last year, I was crying that a bag of rice was N25,000 but today, it is N56,000. Please, where are we heading ? It is my children I'm thinking of...".

Also speaking, the Chairman Board of Trustees in Itam market, Elder Godwin Ebong, blamed the high cost of items in the market on a hike in transportation occasioned by consistent hike in petrol price.

He said it is difficult to control prices of things, especially those coming from outside the state as the traders needed to make a margin for feeding and to restock their wares.

According to him, "My hands are so tight, I can't even sanction offenders in the market except criminals. You may think we are making so much gain but no; we just have to remain in business because we have hope that things will be better."

It is not all lamentations, as celebrities and politicians have devised a sure-fire approach to coping with the harsh economy; self-contentment and adaptation. Musician and entertainer, Veno Marioghae Mbanefo, gospel singer Kenny SaintBest, singer and songwriter Uwale Okoro share their experiences.

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Many Nigerians who would be traveling this festive season would be going through the dark tunnel of bruised, broken and battered infrastructure especially roads. While the light of Christmas would be celebrated across many cities, towns and villages around the world with bright illumination which are by-products of stability in public electricity supply, many Nigerians would be battling with queuing for hours to get petrol to power their generators

According to Marioghae Okoro, “I try to ensure that I concentrate on needs rather than wants. I have become more inventive in the kitchen. When you really don’t have money to make the kind of food you want, it becomes very necessary to be inventive. You have to devise ways to add twist to what you make so that it doesn’t look like a poor person’s meal.

"I also get my mind off what I think I may be lacking by being thankful. Gratitude and thankfulness add flavour to things. There are some people that have not eaten for three days and you are complaining when you have something to eat."

Saint Best concurs, saying, “it is the grace of God and it has been sufficient for me. I am a Christian, I am a person of faith. I can testify to the goodness of God. God has opened other channels for funds to come in.

"I must say that the harshness is not just peculiar to Nigeria alone, it’s all over the world, it is terrible abroad too but they are coping. There must be a coping mechanism for everyone."

For Okoro, “I am a Nigerian, so anything that is affecting everyone, affects me as well. I go to the market and buy things, I can say that it is a bit tough but as a Christian, I will not rule out the God factor. All I can say is that it is well. You are ensnared by the words of your mouth; so I have continued to confess positively."

Onem Miracle Tyna, a politician, tows the same line as Okoro.

“It has not been easy but we thank God for life. I have learnt to adjust my priorities and live within my means. I believe once there is life, there is hope,” said the Bayelsa councilor.

A chieftain of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Mr Joseph Agbacha, is in sympathy with his Bayelsa colleague.

He said in spite of the general hardship, his family has managed to live above board. The political climate is very rough but we are able to plan for our children's school fees among others."

A cross section of Nigerians in Sokoto State have highlighted how the high cost of foodstuffs, transportation hike, increase in petrol pump price and lack of security have continued to be their biggest challenges in the outgoing 2022.

Speaking with our correspondent in Sokoto state, Mr. Dele Joseph, like John Nwoke, both businessmen, blamed the federal government for not prioritising the people’s needs.

'We know that a good economy and insecurity cannot thrive side-by-side. This is the area the Federal Government has failed in 2022,, because the masses were totally insecure in all the regions,” Joseph said, adding,

"We have issues that have really affected our well-being like the high cost of transportation, skyrocketing foodstuffs price, insecurity and high cost of petroleum pump price in spite of the subsidy regime."

A senior lecturer of Business Management at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Dr. Yakubu Shaba, however pointed out that the recent pandemic was responsible for the nation's economy backward.

"There are several indicators that we have to look into if we want to be factual about this. The reality remains that the previous years (2019 and 2020)

...Nigerians End 2022 in Agony

were not too good for the global economy due to the pandemic," he explained.

Shaba believes the country is still suffering from the covid-19 aftermath that prompted a global shutdown of all sectors.

"If you can recall, most institutions and industries were closed down and there were no economic activities. As a result of that, prices of commodities went up."

He also linked the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine which he said has affected the entire world in terms of energy supply and consumption.

"So, it is a global time and when something is systemic, the risk must affect all sectors of the economy and Nigeria can not be exempted from this problem.

"In Nigeria, people like to complain about government policies and no matter the good intention of the government, Nigerians will still complain about it.

"But the truth remains that most of the government's policies may not immediately make any impact on the citizenry. It takes time to achieve positive results.

"Then, we also have inflation that could silence any government policy on reviving the economy. Most countries are facing this economy backward and they are even worse than Nigeria, '' he explained.

Given the statistics, he noted that in the first quarter, Nigeria GDP growth rate was at 3.11%, in the second quarter it increased to 3.54% but it later dropped in the third quarter to 2.25%.

"Though, the inflation rate is also increasing as computed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, where we have inflation rising from 20.77% in September.

"Then, in October, it increased to 21.09% in marginal increase. In November, it also increased to 21.79%. This is a global phenomenon that affects every nation's including the powerful nations," he submitted.

The don however blamed the growing population that is not commensurate with the country's economic growth.

"We have a fast growing population while our economic growth is at slow pace.

"We need to check this and also need to be patriotic citizens. Patriotic in the sense that we appreciate our local products and consume them rather than relying upon foreign goods and services. This is the only way our economic growth can complement our well-being," he said.

In Ogun State, the National Secretary Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Yinka Folarin, said “there is no festive mood, there is no celebration mood anywhere as far as I am concerned. The situation is critical, I think for me, this is likely going to be the worst Christmas and New year celebration ever.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party and its former chairman in Ogun State, Comrade(Dr.) Abayomi Arabami, said people should eat whatever they can afford. “The most important thing is that glory be to God we are alive.''

Mr. Jamiu Abiodun, a security man with one of the telecommunication network branches in Ogun State , said, “ As of today, a day before Christmas, I have not received my salary. How can I celebrate

the festive period with my family?''

The dire situation is no different in Makurdi, the Benue state capital. An estate manager, Paul Ato, bemoaned the loss of business due to economic downturn “because people hardly come up to inspect units of houses let alone talk of purchasing any. Nothing is moving fine," he said, adding prayerfully, "We are looking forward to a better year in 2023 with good tidings for the people of the state.”

Apart from decrying the high transport fare and increase in prices of goods, residents of Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa have a more immediate hardship to overcome.

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Speaking to our correspondent, a petty trader Mrs Tina Agboadei, said people are still reeling from the damaging effect of the flooding that ravaged the riverine state recently.

She expressed worry that the Bayelsa State Government seems to be aloof and yet to enforce relevant laws that would put the agencies on their feet and restrain traders and businessmen from taking laws into their hands.

Explaining further, Chief Bidemi Asafa, stated that the state government of the oil-rich state should create an enabling environment that supports creativity and entrepreneurship.

" I can tell you the egg, yams, fish and other items l eat are brought from Delta and Northern states. Why would the prices of goods not increase here?,'' he asked.

While praising Governor Duoye Diri’s administration for linking far-flung riverine communities with roads to facilitate trading, he cited the recent protest by Ijaw youths against importation of packaged water and bread into the state from Delta State, as salutary because it prompted bakeries and water factories to spring up in the state.

Chairman of the NLC in Cross River State, Comrade Ben Ukpepi, lamented workers' plight in the state .

“The consequential adjustment to the minimum wage is yet to be done, coupled with delays in payment of salaries and pension. This means a bleak year for all and sundry,'' he said.

Summing up the bleak situation for people in the state, Godwin Otei, Chairman of the Joint Council, said “Cross River is a civil service state and when there is no money in the system, how does the business thrive.? The two of them are tied together.”

Prince Raymond Atoulumah, a leader in Igbo community in the state and businessman, expressed optimism that the upcoming elections in 2023 will usher in good tidings for the country.

The news from Imo State is marked by the worsening insecurity there. Christmas and New year celebration in Imo, can be said to be tearful for those whose loved ones were killed by ‘unknown gunmen’ during the outgoing year 2022.

An Owerri-based public affairs analyst, Comrade Gabriel Nwachukwu, said, “We are afraid; we thought the insecurity in the state was over. People were planning to come back for this year’s Christmas until Simon Ekpa started this rubbish of attacks in the name of sit-at-home order. You saw how the entire Igbo land went up in flames. It was like a war zone. What we thought was over returned with several destructions and killings.”

Emmanuel Nna, from Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, said, “The fear is much. We are in deep fear. Something must be done to win the people’s confidence.”

Also, a trader at the Owerri main market, Mrs Lucy Iwuajoku, said that this year's Christmas celebration is nothing to write home about.

"Things are bad these days. Killings, everywhere. Nobody is safe, any longer", she said.

To raise the dark cloud hanging on the state and put smiles on the face of its citizens through workers patronage, Governor Hope Uzodimma has given a good message of hope by granting the approval to pay the 13th-month salary to civil servants.

We have a fast growing population while our economic growth is at slow pace. We need to check this and also need to be patriotic. Patriotic in the sense that we appreciate our local products and consume them rather than relying on foreign goods and services. This is the only way our economic growth can complement our wellbeing

Waba

Cross River Community Honours 20 For Selfless Service

Twenty persons have been given the award of honour in recognition of their selfless service to Akai Efa Community, Calabar Municipality Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The recipients of the award include former Head of Service of the federation, Winifred Oyo Ita; lawmaker representing Calabar Municipality State Constituency Rt. Hon. Efa Esua, as well as member representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani federal constituency, Etta Mbora. Others include member representing Biase/Akamkpa federal constituency, Daniel Asuquo and the lawmaker representing Cross River South senatorial district, Senator Gershom Bassey.

Services rendered by the recipients that attracted the awards include attraction of solar panel street lights to

the community, rehabilitation of bad roads/failed culverts, and donation of some key infrastructural facilities which includes school blocks, health care facilities among others to add value to Akai Efa Community.

HRH Mrs. Henrietta Efa-Akpera, the village head of the community, likened the award to the Biblical inference where King Ahasuerus lost sleep and ordered for chronicles of the memorable deeds of his subjects to be presented before him.

"Those chosen for the award were not just hand picked for formality purposes but we chose them because they met the criteria set up by the Committee.

"They have been dedicated, persistent in rendering selfless and humanitarian services to the community. Their good works have added value to our community," she explained.

NEMA Launches ‘Operation Eagle Eye’ in Abia

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Owerri Operations Office, on Friday launched a programme tagged ‘Operation Eagle Eye’ in Abia.

The exercise, which was launched in collaboration with Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), was aimed at reducing accidents during the yuletide.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the officials of NEMA, FRSC and other critical stakeholders visited some parks in Umuahia to enlighten the drivers on how to curb road accidents.

Director-General, NEMA, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, said that it was an annual exercise to enlighten the public against traffic crashes, especially during this festive period.

Ahmed, who was represented by the

Head of NEMA Owerri Operations Office, Mr Ifeanyi Nnaji, said that the agency decided to embark on the programme to sensitise the public against the dangers of road accidents.

“This year, we have come to talk to the drivers and the park managers to be conscious of their actions on the road, in order to forestall accidents,” he said.

The road users were sensitised on safe driving as well as given FRSC booklets on safety tips and other traffic regulations.

Dr Sunday Jackson, the Executive Secretary Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said that the programme would curb the menace of road safety challenges and save lives.

Other key stakeholders who participated in the exercise were SEMA, NSCDC, State Fire Service and the Red Cross.

I-G Deploys 7 CPs to States, Formations

The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba, has ordered the deployment of seven Commissioners of Police (CPs) to various police commands in states and formations across the country.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. He said the deployment followed the recent completion of the Senior Executive Course 44 at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) by some senior officers.

Adejobi said the newly deployed CP are: Sadiq Abubakar, FCT, Frank Mba, Border Patrol, Force Headquarters and Arungwa Udo, Department of Finance and Account (DFA), Force Intelligence Bureau, Force Headquarters.

He said others were Bardaru Lawal, General Investigations, Force Criminal Investigations Department Annex, Kaduna and Suleiman Yusuf, Admin, Research and Planning, Force Headquarters.

Adejobi said Ebong Ebong, Admin DFA, Force Headquarters and Babaji Sunday, Commandant, Police College Maiduguri were also deployed.

He said the I-G had charged the newly posted officers to hit the ground running in the areas of crime-fighting, public cooperation and safety.

Adejobi said the police boss also called for support and cooperation from the public to the new police helmsman to enable them perform optimally on their mandate.

Germany Returns Looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

German officials returned 20 of the treasured Benin Bronzes on Tuesday in the Nigerian capital Abuja, a move that has attracted international attention amid a debate about returning art looted in the colonial era.

The valuable objects were handed over to Nigeria at a solemn ceremony with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Culture Minister Claudia Roth.

"It was wrong to steal these bronzes. It was wrong to keep these bronzes. And it is more than overdue for these bronzes to be returned to their homeland," Baerbock said after a meeting with her Nigerian counterpart, Geoffrey Onyeama, earlier on Tuesday.

"Nigeria, Africa and indeed all of humanity will remember and always cherish the period in human history when Germany stood by us," Nigeria's Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said after the ceremony.

Twenty or even 10 years ago, nobody could have anticipated the return of the works, "because the obstacles to achieve repatriation were seemingly insurmountable," Lai Mohammed said.

The treasures - looted by colonial powers in the 19th century - previously belonged to collections of museums in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Dresden, Leipzig and Stuttgart.

"This is a story of European colonialism," in which Germany played "a dark role, causing tremendous suffering in different parts of Africa," Baerbock said.

The return of the bronzes is "a crucial step towards addressing this chapter in the way that it should be addressed: openly, frankly, with the willingness to critically assess one’s own actions."

The Green Party politicians were accompanied on their visit by the heads of several museums.

More than 1,100 of the works from the palace of the then kingdom of Benin, which is now part of Nigeria, have so far been in the possession of around 20 German museums. The objects, which are made of ivory and other materials in addition to bronze, mostly come from British looting in 1897.

The five museums now involved and their sponsors had already transferred the ownership rights to all Benin Bronzes prior to the returns. At the same time, the two sides agreed that Germany may keep some of the art treasures out on loan for display in Germany.

"It's rightfully ours and should be where it belongs, which is here, but nevertheless, we will share it with the world because for us, it is a common human asset," Foreign Minister Onyeama said.

Nigeria called on other organizations, institutions, museums and private collectors still holding on to Nigerian antiquities to release them.

Lai Mohammed mentioned the British Museum in particular.

"Many of these cultural objects are not mere art to us, but the true essence of our being. These artefacts are not mere collective works, but our culture and heritage. They belong here and not anywhere else," Lai Mohammed said.

Ekiti State First Lady, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, during the Christmas party hosted for children at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti on December 28,2022.

FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR

Wike

Makinde

POLITICS

Ikpeazu

Politicians With More Clout Than Their Parties

BY AYO ESAN

Party supremacy is a key feature of party politics in most democracies of the World. This was clearly demonstrated in the First; Second and even Third Republics in Nigeria. What this entails is that since the constitution did not allow for independent candidacy, then the party's decisions are not only sacrosanct but are binding on all members of the party.

The concept of party supremacy also forestalled a powerful individual dictating to other members of the party. What it connotes is that every member of the political party works for the good of the party and cannot take any independent decision that may be in conflict with the party’s decision.

However, since the beginning of this democracy in 1999, the power of the parties has been eroded. Mostly the cause of the dwindling of the parties’ power is because parties are now being financed by powerful individuals, most especially elected governors and other elected officers rather than all members.

These powerful politicians are now feeling indispensable and are of the view that they can do anything and go scotfree.

As the campaign for the 2023 general elections kicked off last October, aggrieved members of different political parties have been threatening that they will not campaign for their parties and the candidates nominated by the parties.

They also feel that despite their decisions, they are too powerful to be disciplined by their parties for anti-party activities.

Those in this category include former All Progressive Congress, APC Chieftain in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, the Integrity Group within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP led by Nyesom Wike who is the Governor of Rivers State. Other members of the Integrity Group include Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuayi of Enugu State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George; former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke and former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang among others.

The Integrity Group has been at loggerhead with the PDP

leadership since the completion of the party's presidential primary which was won by the former Vice President of the country, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. They have insisted that since Atiku who is from the north had emerged as the presidential candidate of the party; Senator Iyorchia Ayu who is also from the north must resign as national chairman and be replaced by a southerner.

They have also insisted that unless their demand is met, they would not be part of the PDP presidential campaign and they have stayed off the campaign so far.

The Integrity Group had openly announced also that if their demand is not met, they will mobilize against the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the February 2023 presidential election.

NYESOM WIKE

Wike has said the decision on which presidential candidate to mobilize votes for in the forthcoming 2023 general election had been taken and will be revealed in January, 2023.

Wike disclosed this last Thursday while speaking at the inauguration of the Rumuokwurusi-Elimgbu Flyover in Rumuokwurusi Town, Obio-Akpor local government area of the State.

The governor assured that from January 2023, he will first embark on a state-wide campaign tour to tell Rivers people who they should vote for as President of Nigeria.

He said, thereafter, he will undertake a nation-wide

campaign tour to tell Nigerians the most preferred presidential candidate deserving their votes.

Wike stated that Nigerians needed to know a reliable candidate that they can trust to deliver the needed national transformation with the expected capability and results.

The governor said: “So, from January next year, I will campaign to my people who they will vote for. So, all of you who have been in suspense. Who has been saying all kinds of things, abusing me, wait, January has come.

Few weeks back, Wike had come to Lagos to endorse his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for a second term in office.

The endorsement comes despite Wike’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party, having a governorship candidate in Lagos, in the person of Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor.

Wike has also pledged to support the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi with logistics for his campaign in Rivers State.

Wike, who invited the LP candidate to inaugurate the Nkpolu-Oroworokwo Flyover in Port-Harcourt, added that Obi had all the characteristics to lead Nigeria.

Wike said, “Each time you want to campaign in the state, let me know, all the logistics support, we will give to you.

“I know you as a person, you have all the criteria, you have all the characteristics to lead this country, and you have it. Nobody can deny that.”

He had also offered support to the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The development comes three days after Wike also offered support to the campaign of Peter Obi, Labour Party Presidential Candidate.

Wike said he was one of the few people that met Kwankwaso, a former PDP member, not to leave the party because he was an asset to the PDP.

“I remember when I went to meet you in your house in Abuja to plead with you not to leave the party (PDP)

They also feel that despite their decisions, they are too powerful to be disciplined by their parties for anti-party activities

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POLITICS

Politicians With More Clout Than Their Parties

because I knew you were an asset to the party. Even when they told me to leave you alone, I refused.”

“I have known you and I know you are a man of integrity so I want to say that whenever you want to campaign in Rivers State, I will provide you with all your logistics, just let me know when you want to come,” he said.

Wike has at different times calling on the leadership of the PDP to suspend him from the party if they can , saying nobody in the party has the gut to either suspend him or expel him from the party.

He said he had invested heavily in the party and dared anyone to sanction him based on anti party activity.

He boasted that when he came out in January to mention his preferred Presidential candidate that his loyalists in the PDP should vote for, nothing would happen. This means that the PDP’s leadership cannot do anything for him.

MAGNUS ABE

Magnus Abe served as a Senator for the Rivers South East Senatorial District of Rivers State. He was first elected to the Nigerian Senate in 2011 in the April 2011 Federal elections and again in a rerun poll in December 2016. In the 2015 general elections, he had lost a return bid to Senator Olaka Nwogu. But the poll, like others in Rivers, was invalidated by the court, necessitating a rerun poll.

Abe has since left the APC and picked the governorship ticket of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in Rivers State to contest the next year’s election.

Announcing his latest move and his declaration of joining the SDP, Abe said, “Yes, I am and I have been a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“I remain irrevocably committed to the ideals that have driven my politics through the years.

“We will continue to do all we can to improve internal democracy in the politics of our country and focus on the people.”

But answering questions on a national television monitored in Lagos penultimate week, Abe despite the fact that he had left the APC, said he will still campaign and seek votes for the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

When reminded about what he thinks of the SDP Presidential Candidate, Mr. Adewole Adebayo, he said he didn’t come to the Television to discuss Mr. Adebayo.

He however insisted that as far as he is concerned, he still remains a loyalist of Tinubu and will mobilize votes for him.

The open declaration or mobilization of support for another party’s presidential candidate, when his party, the SDP is fielding a candidate in the same election is an anti party activity.But like Wike and his group, Abe believes he can do whatever he likes and nobody can sanction him in his new party. The SDP has not done anything to caution Abe after his declaration to back Tinubu’s ambition to be the next occupant of Aso Rock Villa.

SEYI MAKINDE

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde sent a subtle solidarity message to the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election when he was being endorsed by a section of the Pan-Yoruba Group, Afenifere in Akure few months ago.

This was made known by the Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Bayo Lawal who represented Seyi Makinde in Ondo State at the reception of Tinubu by the leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

Lawal noted that though separated by political affiliation, Makinde is united by strong ethnic bonds.

Political pundits predicted defections with many believing the five aggrieved PDP governors, including Makinde might pitch their tents with the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu in the forthcoming election.

This was also reinforced by Makinde when he said he will go where the Yoruba people go in the next year’s presidential election.

Makinde also believes that his open support for Tinubu will not bring any sanction from the PDP. He is contesting a second term on the platform of the PDP as the governor of Oyo State.

“

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, last Thursday instead of campaigning for his party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar charged people of the state and other eligible Nigerians to identify party candidates who have the prospects of helping the country before casting their votes in the coming elections.

The governor stated this while signing the N179.5 billion 2023 appropriation bills into law at the Government House, Makurdi.

He said the election should not be based on political parties but on the ability of the candidates to perform if elected.

“Though 2023 is pregnant and loaded, we hope that God will see us through all the challenges we are facing.

“A lot of us are expecting a turnaround, rebranding and refocusing. We as humans have tried but we hope that God himself will rescue us and give us peace, hope and all that will make the coming year enjoyable.

“Come 2023, let us work hard and vote according to the election and not according to the party.

“We must know those people who have prospects to help us and the country. Let us be truthful when we sit to consider this and may God direct us”.

CHARLES SOLUDO

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has described Atiku Abubakar , the Presidential Candidate of the PDP as one of the two leading candidates for next year’s presidential election.

He made the comment at the Governor’s Lodge in Awka, Anambra State when Atiku visited him before attending a campaign rally ahead of the polls.

“You are one of the two frontrunners for the presidency of Nigeria,” the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor said.

Soludo had a few weeks back said there are only two contenders for the presidency and described the others as “exciting drama!”

“The brutal truth (and some will say, God forbid) is that there are two persons/parties seriously contesting for president: the rest is exciting drama!” he wrote in a lengthy November article.

While welcoming Atiku to the state, Governor Soludo added that “Nigeria is one great country that, as far as I am concerned, is destined by God to be the largest, most prosperous, and powerful black nation on earth.”

He also said the state is open to receiving all candidates who should sell themselves to the residents of the SouthEast state.

Anambra should be an open space for all to come and tell the people what they have in stock for them as the 2023 election draws closer, Soludo added.

“Part of what we are asking for is to have a level playing ground for all and that is my own orientation,” he said.

The governor equally appealed to Atiku to address erosion issues in Anambra if he wins next year’s election.

Soludo is a chieftain of All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA) and Professor Peter Umeadi is the presidential candidate of the party.

Umeadi is not one of the two candidates that Soludo described as frontliners in the next year’s election and he has not openly come out to support his candidature.

WABBA/OSIFO

The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) President, Ayuba Wabba and Trade Union Congress, (TUC) President, Festus Osifo also seem to have dumped the Labour Party, (LP) Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi

When the organized Labour met with the APC Candidate, Tinubu in Abuja the labour leaders handed over the Workers ‘Charter‘to him.

Analysts are wondering why this decision is made when there is a presidential candidate in the Labour Party.

To many, this is confusing because by virtue of article 9 of the Constitution of the Labour Party, the current President of the NLC and TUC are members of the Board of Trustees of the LP.

Duke George

SAMUEL ORTOM

When reminded about what he thinks of the SDP Presidential Candidate, Mr. Adewole Adebayo, he said he didn’t come to the Television to discuss Mr. Adebayo

POLITICS

Campaign Watch: Presidential Candidates on Silent Mode

AYO ESAN

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) registered 18 candidates for the February 25, 2023 presidential election.

The electoral umpire also opened the campaign window for the President /National Assembly election in October this year.

Since the opening of the window, the candidates and their parties have been making use of different platforms to carry out their campaigns. Such windows include Town Hall meetings, open campaign rallies and meetings with various stakeholders.

Notably, the four major political parties and their candidates namely- the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu; the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party, (LP), Peter Obi and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso have been moving across the length and breadth of the country soliciting for votes for weeks now .

Kwankwaso, Atiku and Obi attended the Nigeria Guild of Editors Forum in Lagos, where the editors and the media executives both from the Print and Electronic Media interact with them on what they are planning to do if they emerge victorious in the next year’s election.

They have also attended Town Hall Meetings organized by some national Television stations and their partners as well as forums of other professional bodies including the Labour Unions and the business communities.

Tinubu on the other hand, apart from campaigning across the country was also at Chatham House in London a few weeks ago where he talks extensively on his programme for the country if he wins the 2023 presidential election.

At the Chatham House, Tinubu said he stands firmly against all forms of electoral violence and intimidation.

“Having spent most of my career in political opposition, I have long fought against electoral malpractice and attempted to extinguish the legitimacy of the choice of voters. I will continue to do so, I promise,” he said.

He also appealed to his fellow contestants to commit to a peaceful election by allowing voters to determine the path of the country.

“I hereby urge all fellow contestants to do the same. Let the sovereign will of the people decide the path of our nation. And

“

Nwosu who said he was not aware of an Abuja High Court order which sacked him as the national chairman of the party expressed regrets that delegates of the party made the error of choosing Kachikwu during the national convention of the party earlier in the year.

``We don’t have any copy of any judgement from any court. We have been communicating with INEC on the elections and our preparations.

“We don’t want to speculate on something we are not aware of. It is wrong to speculate on it. Whatever you have seen out there are a bunch of speculations”, he said.

The Anambra-born politician swore that he would not allow anybody to undermine the party in a bid to achieve his selfish desires.

let this election be determined by voters, making their choice freely, rather than domineering domination and trouble,” he said.

While the leading four candidates and others were selling their programmes to the electorate, about ten political parties and their candidates were not visible. They have remained mute and with less than 70 days to the election, they have not been noticed on the campaign fields.

Those that have remained inactive on the political terrain include, Imumolen Christopher – Accord Party (AP); Kachikwu Dumebi – African Democratic Congress (ADC); Sani Yabagi Yusuf – Action Democratic Party (ADP), Umeadi Peter Nnanna – All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Ojei Princess Chichi – Allied People’s Movement (APM); Nnamdi Charles Osita – Action Peoples Party (APP); Adenuga Sunday Oluwafemi – Boot Party (BP); Osakwe Felix Johnson, National Rescue Movement (NRM); Ado-Ibrahim Abdumalik – Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Nwanyanwu Daniel Daberechukwu, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

One of the above mentioned candidates, Kachikwu Dumebi was suspended by his party, the African Democratic Congress, ADC due to internal bickering despite being registered by the INEC for the forthcoming election.

The party’s national chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu in a chat with THEWILL insists that Mr Dumebi Kachikwu is no longer the presidential candidate of the party.

He restated the resolve of the party not to field any presidential candidate for next year’s presidential elections.

He said the party doesn’t have a presidential candidate and it would therefore be baseless to say the party has failed to carry out presidential campaign rallies.

He disclosed that the party has presented 1,411 candidates vying for various elective seats with the prospects of sweeping at least 25 percent of states Houses and National Assemblies seats across the country.

Nwosu particularly expressed optimism that the party would win at least seven governorship seats in the country going by efforts and sacrifices made so far by party chieftains across the country.

Investigation by THEWILL showed that most of the candidates that have refused to organise or participate in presidential campaigns lack the capital and belong to political parties that lack the national spread.

Speaking with THEWILL, a Public Affairs Commentator, Paul Okoye said most of these parties mentioned and their candidates will soon align with the major candidates before the election.

.“That is their game plan. Most of them don’t have the wherewithal to campaign round the country and so what they do is to wait to be approached by any of the big parties and candidates for alliance.. Few weeks to the election they will now collapse their structures with the major candidates with a promise that they will get something if the alliance results in winning the election”, Okoye said.

Kachikwu Dumebi was suspended by his party, the African Democratic Congress, ADC due to internal bickering despite being registered by the INEC for the forthcoming election

Umeadi

Yabagi

Kachikwu

POLITICS NEWS

Electioneering: Yiaga Africa Offers Technical Support to Young Candidates

Yiaga Africa, an NGO, has organised a two-day workshop to offer technical support to young male and female candidates’ between 25 to 35 years during the electioneering for the 2023 polls.

The NGO’s Executive Director, Mr. Samson Itodo, announced this at the Political Organizing LAB for young candidates in Lagos .

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Election Law Clinic is part of the ‘Turn Up Democracy’ project of the NGO, funded by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

NAN reports that Yiaga Africa is a civic hub of change makers committed to the promotion of democracy, good governance, and civic participation.

2023: Nigeria Must Provide Adequate Security – Cleric O

GeneralOverseer of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has has said that for the 2023 general elections to be conducted successfully and without any problem, Nigeria must prepare specially trained security personnel for the purpose of the elections.

Primate Ayodele who made this known while addressing the media in Lagos on Friday said security must be tightened and deployed to every vital part of the country during the election. He said next year’s election will cost more than other previous elections held in the country.

His words: “The 2023 elections will cost the Nigerian government financially multiple folds of what it has ever spent on elections in the past.

“Money will determine the coming elections. Nigerians will not vote their conscience in 2023 but their stomachs; it is no money, no vote. Nigerians will sell their conscience because of the poverty the past and present governments have created. There will be no votes for any party that doesn’t give money”.

Ayodele said he doesn’t have any preferred candidate among those who are contesting the 2023 Presidential election, saying he is only revealing what God had revealed to him on the election.

He said, “God revealed to me that if Atiku wins the presidency, Nigeria’s economy will improve and if the APC candidate, Tinubu,

gets the ticket, Nigeria will be a little better. If the Labour Party wins the presidency, it is going to be a government for the poor where the rich will be complaining. The PDP government will be for the poor and the rich.

Ayodele has also warned that the continuing keeping of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in prison will threaten Nigeria’s security.

Still on the 2023 elections, he said the APC is desperate to win in 2023.

“What God has shown me is that APC is using all means to win the election next year; legally, illegally, physically and spiritually, even financially. APC is very desperate to win. PDP and Labour Party are taking this election matter with levity; the two candidates are not fighting the battle with seriousness. APC is ready to buy anything that can be bought to win the election. 2023”, he said.

He further revealed that the 2023 election will hold but there is going to be a change in the date of the election.

Ayodele urged INEC to use BVAS for the election, saying”otherwise, Nigerians will be disappointed and they will suffer three times what they are suffering under this present government.

He said with BVAS, it will be difficult for any party to rig itself into power.

“With BVAS, the election rigging will be minimal as BVAS will checkmate rigging. So says the Lord”, he said.

I’ll Remain Truthful to Electorate if Re-Elected – Makinde

yo State Governor, Engr. 'Seyi Makinde, has declared that his administration will remain truthful to the people of Oyo State, if re-elected.

The governor while speaking with the Oyo State League of Imams and State Rabith's Acquaintance at the Rabitot-ul-Aimmat Wal Ulama South West office, near Bodija Market, Ibadan, said he will continue to be fair to all religious faithful in the state.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Makinde as saying that his administration has been handling issues relating to religious bodies in the state objectively since assuming office.

According to him, his administration has been maintaining the policy instituted on the use of Hijab in the public schools of Oyo State by the previous administration in the state.

He charged the electorate to cast their votes based on merit, saying that there won’t be any room for those that want to divide the people through religion.

The governor said: "I have noted all the things you have said and if I summarize everything, what you mean is that I am returning as the governor of the state. "And I can assure you that the next government will be better than what we currently have.

"I agree that there are some misconceptions and if I did not address them, people may not be well informed about certain things.

"You talked about appointments into the pilgrim’s welfare board and Education Secretaries. We appointed the education secretaries about two days ago and we have 10 Muslims out of 33 of them.

"The current Commissioner for Education is a Muslim and you know education is one of the major pillars of this administration. Let me repeat it again, if our elites want to cause division with religion, it won't be possible. As we speak, we have more Muslims holding top positions in this government and I am the only Christian in this echelon.

Itodo explained that the youth candidates required technical support to adopt political organizing skills and improve their knowledge on the electioneering and election day operations.

“These young people who have emerged as candidates on the ballot, we consider them as part of our own generational responsibility to provide technical support to them.

“We are also helping them to organise effectively and understand the procedure as they prepare for elections.

This lab is also geared towards equipping them with the kind of skill that they require to win elections.

“This programme is just to inspire them and let them know that there is a generation of young people who are determined to change the face of politics in the country.

”They represent the new leaders that Nigeria needs to transform, as well as solve leadership crisis that we face,” he said.

Itodo said they had familiarised themselves with the campaign and electoral challenges ahead of them and how to solve them.

He said the candidates also shared their challenges among themselves which would not only inspire them but could also help them to win an election.

The official noted that this could produce more leaders that would fix the problems which the country was presently grappling with.

He said participants selected must be candidates on the INEC ballot, “secondly we also ensure that there is representation from all the parties; we also looked at the age to conform with the Not Too Young to Run Act”.

Itodo said it also considered first time candidates that were running for elective offices in the country.

He, however, called for more young people within the age of 20 to 35, to contest for elective offices in the future.

One of the candidates, Mrs Islamiyah Adebowale, who is contesting for the Alimosho II, state constituency on the platform of the NNPP, said the sensitisation had been an amazing experience, educative and informative.

“I must say that my presence here in this programme has further given me hope that there is a possibility of winning in the forthcoming elections.

Oyo State Governor, 'Seyi Makinde (middle); Chief of Staff, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi (left); Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Prof. Kehinde Shangodoyin (second left); Chairman, State Advisory Council, Senator Hosea Agboola (right) and others, during the inspection of ongoing Apata-BemboJankata road, Ibadan.

AYO ESAN

www.thewillnigeria.com

Pauline Tallen's Reckless Outburst

inister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Paulen Tallen, is in the eye of the storm as the Plateau-born minister might have ran herself into trouble with her recent reckless outburst. Apparently taking her role and position as a champion of women's interest too far, the minister was quoted to have made a very careless statement, disparaging the judiciary.

According to multiple reports, Tallen, who is also a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), had played to the gallery in an attempt to impress her immediate constituency - the womenfolk - on October 15, 2022 on the sidelines of the First Global Reunion and Annual General Meeting of the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Bida Old Girls Association, in Abuja.

Tallen was quoted as saying that "the ruling that sacked Aishatu Binani, the only female governorship candidate in the country is a kangaroo judgment that should be rejected by wellmeaning Nigerians, " adding, "The Court is declaring that the party has no candidate. This is unacceptable. It is like a kangaroo judgment, but we will not give up.''

Her comment was in respect of the judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/YL/12/2022 between Mallam Nuhu Ribadu v. All Progressives Congress (APC) & two others delivered on October

14, 2022.

Just like many other concerned Nigerians, we condemn the statement , which has neither been denied nor controverted by Tallen despite the controversy it has generated so far. It is totally reckless and unexpected of a federal government official , more so, a minister of Tallen's standing.

However, we are not too surprised at the outburst. It was yet another display of sheer arrogance that has, sadly, become a trait of ministers under the Muhammadu Buhari Administration with utter disregard for other arms of government. It is only under the present regime that you find ministers trying to play god and carrying themselves around as if all powers belong to them. .

Nonetheless, we are happy that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is taking the matter up appropriately.

NBA President, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, has swung into action by petitioning the minister and demanding a withdrawal of the reckless statement with an apology to the court. NBA, correctly, said it would not sit idly and watch the Executive rubbish, an organ of government that is to provide a check on the excesses of the Executive in a democracy.

Describing Tallen's statement as disparaging and contemptuous, NBA has threatened to drag the minister to court for ''being unfit to continue to hold any public office in Nigeria,'' if she fails to tender an unreserved apology.

NBA maintained that though it does not have any interest in the matter and holds no brief for any of the

parties in the dispute, it would not shy away from its responsibility of protecting the integrity and independence of the Courts. The Association also affirmed that it does not and will not take kindly to the action of any person or group of persons which treat the Court and its processes or proceedings with levity and contempt.

According to NBA, Tallen comments

were unconstitutional, careless, reckless, disparaging, and, in deed , a call to disobey the judgment of court and therefore contemptuous of the Federal High Court of Nigeria;

Unfortunately, Tallen has not deemed it fit to respond to the NBA's complaints and has not even acknowledged the Association's protest letter .This is highly condemnable as it is another display of arrogance for which Buhari's ministers are notorious for.

In a democracy, the principle of checks and balances is sacrosanct and no arm of government should consider itself as superior to the other. It is rather sad that the Nigerian democracy is not fully abiding with this as the Executive sees itself as superior to the others

In a democracy, the principle of checks and balances is sacrosanct and no arm of government should consider itself as superior to the other. It is rather sad that the Nigerian democracy is not fully abiding with this principle as the Executive sees itself as superior to the other arms of government hence the ministers feel that they are above the law.

Executive arrogance and recklessness are antithetical to democratic principles . Members of the Executive arm of government should not be seen to be disparaging the judiciary through reckless and careless statements in a bid to play to the gallery.

We therefore call on ministers to respect their offices and stop casting aspersions on judgments from lawfully-constituted courts of law.

Tallen will be doing herself and the office she occupies a lot of good by tendering an unreserved apology to the court she has rubbished and the judiciary as a respect for the mutual interdependence of the three arms of government, the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature.

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

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

www.thewillnigeria.com

Open Government: Adeleke is Walking His Talk

BY SARAFA IBRAHIM

During his campaign for the governorship seat, Governor Ademola Adeleke, promised to run a government that is open and accountable to the people.

This promise was emphasised in his remark while receiving a report of the transition committee he set up shortly after he won the election.

"Let me reassure the people of Osun state. Good governance is on the way. Responsible and responsive leadership is here. Transparency and accountability are knocking the door. I will be a true people's governor all the time," Governor Adeleke remarked at the event.

The fulfilment of that promise was evident recently, when Governor Adeleke opened up the book of the finances of the state before traditional rulers across the state. The Governor expressly said the move was in "pursuance of my pledge to be transparent and run an open government."

Right in that hall in the Finance Building of the State Secretariat in Abeere, there was an ambience of disbelief, not just because of the disturbing figures of the state's debt profile but the unprecedented show of transparency that the Governor demonstrated. It has never happened before in the over 31 years of the state's existence that a Governor will open the books of the state to traditional rulers, not to talk of the generality of the people.

This ignited a flood of praises from the traditional rulers, who were unanimous in acknowledging Governor Adeleke's sincerity and openness.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi , who is the Chairman of the Council of Obas in Osun state, was the

first to laud Governor Adeleke for the disclosure, which he said has never been done by any Governor in the history of the state.

Other Obas, who spoke at the event, toed the line of the Ooni of Ife, as they took turns to applaud the Governor for the openness he has shown, with the Eburu of Iba, Oba Adekunle Adeogun Okunoye, pointedly saying Governor Adeleke has set a standard in transparency and accountability in the governance of the state.

Critics have tried to import unnecessary meanings to the good intention of Governor Adeleke to run an open government, flying all sorts of narratives, which are principally influenced by politics. What they, however, missed is the simple fact that transparency and accountability are the foundation of good governance.

A Governor administers the affairs of a state in trust for the people, and as such, has a responsibility of keeping them informed on the state of things. I understand that Osun people are not used to a Governor opening up to them on the finances of the state, nevertheless, that is not enough reason for the sheer mischief that Governor Adeleke's impressive commitment to accountability has attracted from some quarters.

As Governor Adeleke emphatically noted at the meeting with Osun Obas, his interest was not politics or to trade blame, but rather, a conscious adherence to the ideal of good governance, which has transparency and accountability at its heart.

"This is not for political purposes but was in line with my campaign promise to run an open and transparent government," the Governor said.

This clearly defeats the narrative being advanced by some people that the step taken by Governor Adeleke was targeted at anyone. Far from it. The Governor simply wants the Osun people, who are the owners of the state, to know the position of things he inherited. If anything, the Governor deserves commendation, as he did the right thing by every standard.

Across Osun state, people are tired of guessing the exact amount that was owed on their behalf. But that confusion has been resolved and Osun people now know how much was incurred in their names and for how long it will take to offset it. This is something that happens almost everywhere and I don't seem to understand the basis for the hullabaloo.

In Nigeria, the debt accumulated by the Federal Government is published almost every quarter, making it possible for citizens to raise questions (where necessary) on utilisation. It may take some time to have answers on how we got here, but at least, we are no longer in the dark about the huge debt obligations that hang around our necks as Osun citizens.

Governor Adeleke has set the foundation for transparency and accountability in the management of the finances of the state and it is quite remarkable. I am willing to bet that if those who had expressed misgivings at the step look at it objectively, they will most certainly appreciate the incredible benefits of an open government, which defines Governor Adeleke's action.

•Sarafa Ibrahim writes from Osogbo, Osun state. He can be reached via email: neyoclass09@gmail.com or Twitter: @SarafaNgr

FIFA World Cup 2022: A Review

BY REUBEN ABATI

The 2022 World Cup is over and what a World Cup that was. 29 days: November 20 – December 18 of pure passion, nail-biting, knife-edge matches, records made, myths broken, pure, contagious, joy in a tournament that has been truly adjudged as one of the greatest ever of its kind, since the World Cup began in July 1930. No one gave the government and the people of Qatar a chance: there were issues about human rights, the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community and migrant workers, the non-consumption of alcohol, and Qatar’s insistence. on the inviolability of its cultural and conservative values. Many questioned why the tournament was awarded to Qatar in the first place and predicted it would turn out to be the dullest World Cup in history.

The objections were probably 12 years late. Over a period of 12 years, the government of Qatar, engaged over 26, 000 workers to build seven new stadiums, 100 hotels, apartments, villas, estates and tents. The host country also built a completely new metro rail system and major highways to facilitate transportation within the 54 km radius within which all the 8 stadiums used for the tournament are located. A fleet of 4,000 buses was made available, with about 49, 000 security personnel, both public and private, on duty to provide security. It was the first time the World Cup would be hosted in the Middle East and by an Arab nation, which does not even have a record of any outstanding performance in football as firmly indicated eventually by the fact that Qatar turned out to be the first host country, granted automatic qualification in line with FIFA traditions, that would lose all its matches in the group stage.

But in the end, the country put up a spectacular performance, it invested a total of about $220 billion – clearly, the most expensive World Cup ever held. Attendance was over 3.4 million, 64 matches, played by 32 teams, scoring 172 goals – the highest in the history of the tournament. Thus, Qatar defied all the odds to stage a World Cup that would be remembered for long as a great achievement for both Qatar and the entire Arab world. It is not for nothing that Qatar is now making a bid to host the 2036 Olympics Games. It can do so having shown its capability to host the entire world and do so successfully. The big point is not about the money spent, but leadership, focus, vision, and the fact that rules work when enforced, and those are precisely the key points those seeking lessons from Qatar and the World Cup should consider. The people and government of Qatar deserve a standing ovation. This was also Africa’s best outing at the World Cup with the Atlas Lions of Morocco, achieving the feat of fourth place,

losing to Croatia 2 - 1 in a third-place play-off, after losing to France in the semi-finals. In a tournament in which the Three Lions of England were tamed by arch-rivals, France, in the quarter-finals, the Atlas Lions of Morocco, kept roaring beyond the semi-finals. They may have lost to Croatia, but they did Africa proud and sent a strong message to the world about the growing maturity of football in the continent. The world will remember that Morocco did not concede goals, except an own goal during the group stage, until the semi-finals against France. Morocco in the course of the tournament proved to be a giant slayer, beating Spain to reach the quarterfinals. The celebration of this feat was so loud that when Moroccan women trooped to the streets in Ceuta, Spain to celebrate, Spanish policemen turned on them with truncheons. Morocco had, in fact, defeated Belgium and Portugal too. The Moroccan wins generated violent attacks in Europe (Antwerp, Brussels, Rotterdam, Amsterdam) and the Hague) and also in Israel. When Morocco made it to the semi-finals against France, the referee was so obviously unfriendly.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation had to petition FIFA over the performance of referee Cesar Ramos. But it no longer matters, Morocco has made history that is good for it and also for African football. Senegal’s national team, the Lions of Teranga, may have lost in the group of 16 knock-out stage to the Three Lions of England, 3-0, but they didn’t do badly either. Even without Sadio Mane, the Senegalese talisman, the world witnessed at closer range, the creativity of Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, and Ismaila Sarr, who gave a good account of themselves. Tunisia may not have gone beyond the group stage, but the team pulled off one of the greatest shocks in the tournament, beating defending champion and eventual runner-up, France, 1- 0. Cameroon and Ghana, the two other African representatives, did not make it beyond the group stage too. But overall, the world will not forget Africa’s performance at the World Cup 2022. It was a pity that Nigeria was not there. However, African football associations as Sunday Oliseh, a member of the FIFA Technical Crew has pointed out, need to develop the local leagues at home, and that is a message that Nigeria needs to note carefully.

Once upon a time in this country, the local Nigerian league produced stars. Sunday Oliseh himself is homemade: from Saint Finbarr’s, Akoka, he played in the Principal’s Cup and was a star in the Nigerian League, as player with Julius Berger before he went abroad and subsequently became a legend.

The Nigerian Football Federation has failed to build on past glories. The Nigerian League is in shambles. Many Nigerians would rather watch European football. Many do not even know

that once upon a time in this country, Nigerians were excited watching clubs like Stationery Stores. BCC Lions of Gboko, IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, ACB Lagos, Mighty Jets of Jos, Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Owerri, Abiola Babes, Leventis United, Concord FC, Bendel Insurance, Enugu Rangers, Sharks of Port Harcourt and others. Football in Nigeria is in a state of “arrested development” for the want of a better phrase. This year, we were left with no option but to console ourselves with the role of spectators and commentators. Our only bright moment perhaps was the appearance of Davido on the closing day, singing “Hayya Hayya” (Better Together) alongside Trinidad Cardona, and Qatari singer, Aisha. Davido made us proud, reiterating the importance of the creative arts as veritable tools of diplomacy, branding and international relations and the limitless value of individual talent. Morocco did not just make history, it has now been chosen as the host of the Club World Cup in February 2023, a tournament it had the honour of hosting previously in 2013 and 2014. No one should be surprised if someday in the future, Morocco is chosen to host the FIFA World Cup.

Watching the 2022 World Cup, it is difficult even after the teams have all departed, to forget some of the historic moments: Saudi Arabia defeated the eventual winner – Argentina, 2-1, Tunisia handed France a 2-1 defeat, and as if these were not enough, Japan walloped a presumably formidable German side 2 -1. Japan also beat Spain 2 – 1, South Korea humiliated Portugal 2-1. Canada scored its first, historic World Cup goal against Croatia, but despite losing and crashing out early, that was more than exciting for the Canadians. This was one World Cup where every team was determined to stand out and refused to be taken for granted. There was no fear in the eyes of the so-called underdogs, who fought valiantly. The World Cup is about glory and the thrill, although some people have observed that money is also a factor. But that cannot possibly be the main motivation for the great individual and team performance that we saw on display. What we know, however, is that for just qualifying at all, each team got 1.2 million pounds, teams that got to the group stage - £7.5m, Round of 16 - £11m, Quarter-finals - £14m, Fourth place£21m, Third place - £23m, Runners-up - £25m, Winners - £35m, not to forget the fact that the players were entitled to 30% share of the prize fund. FIFA itself made 7.5 billion, more than the originally anticipated profit. But what we saw on display was patriotism, self-belief, confidence, human capacity, and the determination to excel.

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

Access, Zenith, FBNH, UBA to Boost Banks’ Assets With N15trn

BY SAM DIALA

Based on their performance trajectory in the year, Nigeria’s four largest deposit money banks (DMBs) by assets, will raise the banking industry’s total assets with a minimum of N15 trillion in 2022, THEWILL findings have revealed. The four DMBs, all Tier-1 banks, are Access Corporation with N11.73 trillion, Zenith Bank N9.44 trillion, FBN Holdings N8.93 trillion and United Bank for Africa N8.54 trillion – as of December 31, 2021.

Data from the four banks’ Q3 2022 (nine months) interim reports showed a remarkable growth trajectory between FY 2021 and Q3 2022, as well as Q3 2022 numbers compared with the corresponding period (Q3 2021).

In Q3 2022, Access Corporation grew assets to N13.41 trillion from N10.33 trillion in the corresponding period, representing a 30 percent rise. Zenith Bank’s assets rose to 11.34 trillion from N8.75 trillion in Q3 2021 or 30 percent increase. FBN Holdings (FBNH) recorded a balance sheet strength of N9.85 trillion against N8.51 trillion in the corresponding period. United Bank for Africa (UBA)’s assets jumped by 10.6 percent to N9,22 trillion from N8.34 trillion in Q3 2021.

To arrive at the projected N15 trillion, each bank’s Q3 figures were divided by three (quarters) and totaled. The average outcome was N4.47 trillion, N3.78 trillion, N3.28 trillion and N3.1 trillion for Access Corporation, Zenith Bank, FBNH and UBA respectively. By implication, Access Corporation’s balance sheet growth is projected at N16.25 trillion in FY

Agric Imports Rise to N512.91bn in Q3 2022

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

The value of total imports of agricultural goods in Q3 2022 rose to N512.91 billion or 10.44 percent compared with the value recorded in the preceding period of Q2 2022 (N464.45 billion). It also showed an increase by 7 percent as against the value of N482.21 billion that occurred in the corresponding

period of Q3 2021.

These figures were contained in the Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics – Q3 2022, published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) last week. The NBS also stated that the total value of imported agricultural

Continues on page 33

2022, while Zenith’s is expected to hit N13.22 trillion. FBNH would record a balance sheet growth to N12.21 while UBA’s assets are projected to hit N11.44 trillion. This newspaper had earlier reported that Africa’s Global Bank (UBA) would hit and exceed the N10 trillion assets mark in 2022.

Commenting on the significance of strong assets quality, Professor of Finance and Accounts at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Muhammad Mainoma, had told THEWILL that strong assets base is strategic to the development of any business because an enterprise is handicapped if it trades with a lean balance sheet.

“Strong asset base signifies that a business is strategically positioned to take advantage of its environment. For a bank, there is no time that people will not need money. Once a business is focused and invests in areas that people always need, it will not lose. This explains the continuous growth (in assets) despite the difficult operating environment,” Mainoma, immediate past President, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), had told this newspaper in a note.

Nigerian banks’ total assets rose to N59.24tn as of the end of 2021 compared to 50.99tn in 2020, according to CBN. The apex bank disclosed this in the personal statements of members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in March 2021.

Agric Imports Rise to N512.91bn in Q3 2022

represents 9.06 percent of total imports in the review period.

According to the statistical bureau, the major agriculture goods imported in Q3, 2022 included ‘Durum wheat (not in seeds)’ from the United States of America with N78.29 billion and Poland with N45.62

billion. This was followed by ‘Jack and horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.) meat, frozen’ from Chile valued at N15.87billion and The Netherlands with N1.69 billion.

Nigeria turned to the US and Poland for wheat importation as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war which broke out in February 2022 and cut off supply chain from that region which is the world’s major producer and exporter of the commodity. The development sparked off a high cost of the imported wheat which constitutes a major component of cereal production thereby reflecting in consumers paying more for bread and related products.

The report further revealed that the value of total trade (exports and imports) in agricultural goods in Q3, 2022 stood at N597.12 billion, of which exports were valued at N84.21 billion in Q3, 2022.

“Exports of agricultural goods fell by 40.60% and increased by 6.03% when compared to the value recorded in Q2, 2022 (N141.77 billion) and Q3, 2021 (N79.41billion) respectively,” the report stated.

Nigeria turned to the US and Poland for wheat importation as a result of the RussiaUkraine war which broke out in February 2022 and cut off supply chain from that region which is the world’s major producer and exporter of the commodity

Most agricultural products were exported to Asia valued at B44.04 billion, followed by Europe with N22.95 billion.

Export of agricultural products was dominated by ‘Superior quality Cocoa beans’ valued at N24.58 billion followed by ‘Sesamum seeds, whether or not broken’ with N19.80 billion and ‘Cashew nuts in shell’ with N7.20 billion.

By direction of trade, ‘Superior quality Cocoa beans’ worth N8.07 billion and N6.63 billion were exported to Indonesia and Malaysia respectively. Furthermore, ‘Sesamum seeds’ worth N5.62 billion

and N5.49 billion were exported to Japan and China respectively, followed by exports of ‘Cashew nuts in shell’ worth N3.86 billion and N2.21 billion to Vietnam and India respectively.

In the raw materials segment, the value of total trade of raw materials stood at N835.23 billion in the third quarter of 2022 of which imports were valued at N649.21 billion while exports stood at N186.02 billion.

“During the quarter, ‘Urea whether or not in aqueous solution’ was exported to Brazil at a value of N63.69 billion. This was followed by ‘Nonmonetary Gold (including gold plated with platinum) in Powder form’ exported to Switzerland valued at N17.32 billion,” the NBS said.

In terms of raw material imports, ‘cane sugar’ worth N86.58 billion was imported from Brazil, this was followed by ‘Potassium sulphate’ imported from Canada valued at N29.18 billion. Another product imported under this category was ‘Milk preparations containing vegetable fats /oils, powdered/granular, packings > 25 kg’ imported from Ireland valued at N15.65 billion.

The NBS further said that majority of commodities exported out of Nigeria during the period were by sea. Maritime transport accounted for N5,867.03 billion or 98.88% of total exports. Air transport accounted for N30.92 billion or 0.52 percent, while Road transport recorded N21.85 billion or 0.37 percent.

On the import side; maritime transport accounted for N5,375.45 billion or 94.90 percent of the value of total imports, while Air transport accounted for goods valued at N270.87 billion or 4.78 percent.

The bulk of export transactions were carried through Apapa Port with goods valued at N5,649.51 billion or 95.21 percent of total exports. This was followed by Port Harcourt which recorded N115.34 billion or 1.94 percent of total export.

\In terms of imports, Apapa Port also recorded the highest number of transactions valued at N3,335.24 billion or 58.88 percent of total imports. This was followed by Tin can Island which accounted for goods valued at N832.64 billion or 14.74%, while Port Harcourt handled N481.69 billion or 8.50% of total imports.

Access, Zenith, FBNH, UBA to Boost Banks’ Assets With N15trn

Continued from page 32

According to CBN, a member of the MPC, Kingsley Obiora, had said, “The banking system continued to sustain its soundness, safety, and resilience amid economic recovery.

The total asset of the banking industry increased from N50.99tn from end-December 2020 to N59.24tn, representing an increase of 16.18 per cent, driven by balances with CBN/ banks, OMO bills, and credits.”

This means that the four major Tier-1 banks (Access Corporation, Zenith Bank, FBNH and UBA) with a total assets of N38.64 trillion controlled 65.3 percent of the total banking industry assets as of 2021.

Further investigation revealed that the four banks topped both the banking industry and the 157 listed firms on the main board of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited by assets in 2021. They also ranked among the top seven by revenue and top six by profit and employees respectively.

By revenue in 2021, Zenith Bank raked in N765.56 billion to lead the pack, followed by FBNH with N757.30 billion. Access Corporation recorded a revenue haul of N734.28 billion ahead of UBA’s N660.22 billion. The four major banks posted a total revenue of N3 trillion in 2021.

The four banks also played in the league of top listed companies by net profit in 2021 where they pooled a total of N674.52 billion; with Zenith Bank hauling N244.56 billion, GTCO N174.4 billion and Access Bank N160.20 billion. FBNH and UBA recorded N151.08 billion and N118.68 billion respectively.

UBA topped the list by employees with 10.19 million followed by FBNH 8.17 million. Access Corporation and Zenith Bank had 2.87 million and 6.29 million respectively. Total employees in the four major Tier-1 banks totaled 27.52 million in 2021.

Access Incorporation’s assets base is boosted by the group’s singular bid to promote global brand through merger and acquisition In June, 2022, the group entered into an agreement to acquire the entire 83.4 percent equity stake held by Centum Investment Plc, a Kenyan-based investment company, in Sidian Bank Ltd, for the sum of about N15 billion ($37 million).

“Sidian will be merged with Access Bank’s subsidiary in Kenya, Access Bank Kenya, to create a stronger banking institution better positioned to serve the Kenyan market,” the financial institution said in a statement.

The deal was the bank’s sixth

“

acquisition in five years.

In 2018, the lender acquired Diamond Bank through a merger and acquisition deal, completed in 2019. In the fourth quarter of the same year, it acquired Transnational Bank (Kenya) Plc. In August 2020, the bank also announced the acquisition of Cavmont Bank Limited, Lusaka, Zambia, through a merger deal and finalised the process in January 2021. It also acquired Grobank in South Africa.

Other banks it had acquired include Marina International Bank Limited, Nigeria, Capital Bank International Plc, Nigeria, and African Banking Corporation in Mozambique. In October 2022, Access Corporation announced its acquisition of First Guarantee Pension Ltd (FGPL) and First Ally Asset Management Ltd and the entire issued shares of Actis Golf Nigeria Ltd, owners of Sigma Pension.

A look at the bank’s reports showed that it has maintained the tempo in credit expansion as a priority to stimulate the economy while its assets base soars.

Access Bank is Nigeria’s largest banking group, accounting for 19 percent of banking system assets at the end of the financial year 2021, according to Fitch Rating which applauded the bank’s acquisition strategy. Fitch analysts expect the acquisition trend to continue, strengthening Access Bank’s franchise and geographical diversification. It said Access Bank has a record of integrating domestic acquisitions but a large number of cross-border acquisitions creates execution risks and may pressure capital.

This means that the four major Tier1 banks (Access Corporation, Zenith Bank, FBNH and UBA) with a total assets of N38.64 trillion controlled 65.3 percent of the total banking industry assets as of 2021

We’re Partnering With 15 Firms on Key Energy Projects – NCDMB

stakeholders tagged “Enhancing Media Competencies to Support Nigerian Content in a Gas Economy”, held in Abuja.

Mr Ginah noted that 70 per cent of the board investments are gasbased, particularly midstream and downstream gas investments.

“As you are aware, President Muhammadu Buhari declared 2021 – 2030 as Nigeria’s Decade of Gas and announced the federal government’s determination to fully exploit the nation’s abundant gas resources to accelerate the development of the economy.

“This declaration aligns fully with the rising global demand for cleaner energy sources and the demand for the reduction of global carbon emissions through the reduction in the utilization of fossil fuels. “

The NCDMB top official said his agency has taken deliberate steps to actualize the federal government’s declarations in gas and other aspects of the oil and gas value chain.

“We have partnered with credible investors to develop critical projects in

the sector to take Nigeria towards the goal.

“Some of our gas-based projects include our partnership with Rungas to produce 1.2 million LPG composite cylinders per annum in Bayelsa and Lagos States and our collaboration with NEDO gas processing company in Kwale, Delta State for the establishment of 80 million standard cubic feet per day gas processing plant and a 300 million standard cubic feet per day gas gathering hub.”

He further explained that the board is teaming up with Duport Midstream with a view to constructing an Energy Park at Egbokor, Edo State that will have a plant able to process 40 million standard cubic feet of gas daily and 2,500 barrels of crude per day, adding that a 20-megawatt power plant is being planned for the same location.

“Another important partnership is with Southfield Petroleum to establish a 200-million metric standard cubic feet of gas-processing plant at Utorogu, Delta State. The project will produce 123,000 million tons per annum of LPG, about 10 per cent of current LPG demand nationwide,” Ginah said.

FG Trains 415 Women, Youths in ICT, Agric in Niger Delta

The federal government has empowered 415 Niger Delta youths and women in agriculture, information communication technology, and entrepreneurship.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Umana, disclosed this at the graduation ceremony of the trainees of an empowerment programme in Uyo on Saturday.

Mr Umana, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry, Alfred Alber, said the initiative was one of the many gestures by the federal government.

He said the training was to diversify the economy, reorient values and generate employment for women, youths and other vulnerable groups in the Niger

Delta region.

The minister also said the training, expected to prepare the participants for the tasks ahead, lasted five days and was held in Uyo, the state capital.

Mr Umana said each participant would collect N500,000, stating that the cash would be credited directly into the bank account details provided by the participants by the training consultant.

He further stated that the package was meant for the participants to commence micro or small enterprises on what they had been taught at the training.

The minister noted that the programme was put together to impact theoretical and practical knowledge, provide skills in ICT and ensure self-reliance and the ability to engage others.

FMDQ Exchange Admits Rand Merchant Bank N2.36bn CP Quote

To guarantee sustained business operations in the current challenging economic environment, corporate institutions have continued to explore alternative financing options by tapping the debt capital market to plug capital shortfalls.

With a Commercial Paper (CP) market value of N3.25 trillion as of November 30, 2022, FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited is pleased to announce the admission of the quotation of the Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited N0.55 billion Series 3 and N1.81 billion Series 4 CPs under its N80.00 billion CP Programme on its platform.

Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited is a corporate and investment banking firm, which provides innovative advisory services on infrastructure projects, mergers and acquisitions, as well as the funding of various transactions across multiple sectors.

The proceeds from the quotation of the quoted CPs, which are co-sponsored by Standard Chartered Capital & Advisory Nigeria Limited –Lead Sponsor; FCMB Capital Markets Limited, FSDH Capital Limited, Rand Merchant Bank, and Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited (Co-Sponsors) – all Registration Member (Quotations) of the Exchange, will be utilised by the Issuer to support its short-term working capital and funding requirements.

As part of its efforts towards unlocking the potential of the Nigerian economy, FMDQ Exchange said it would continue to support institutional growth and stimulate continuous development of the economy at large, through the provision of a world-class Securities Admission Service, in line with its mandate. “The Exchange will continue to demonstrate commitment towards delivering a globally competitive, operationally excellent, liquid and diverse (“GOLD”) standard to the Nigerian debt capital market, availing issuers and investors the much-needed global visibility, confidence and protection in the markets”, the firm said.

FMDQ Group is Africa’s first vertically integrated financial market infrastructure (FMI) group, strategically positioned to provide registration, listing, quotation and noting services; integrated trading. It also undertakes clearing & central counterparty, settlement, and risk management for financial market transactions; depository of securities, as well as data and information services, across the debt capital, foreign exchange, derivatives and equity markets.

'Payments, Commerce, Logistics, Critical For Inclusive Digital Transformation'

Flutterwave’s CEO, Olugbenga Agboola, has said, “The three major pillars that can help Africans effectively leverage digital transformation for inclusive and sustainable development are payment, commerce and logistics. These pillars support the cross-border movement of money, people, goods and services without barriers.”

Olugbenga GB Agboola said this while participating as a panelist in a discussion titled “How Can the U.S. Support an Inclusive Digital Transformation in Africa?” The session is part of the activities for the USAfrica Leaders Summit 2022 hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC.

Mr Agboola, while speaking, acknowledged challenges to the growth of digital transformation in Africa, “For Flutterwave to build a payment infrastructure that connects more than 30 of 50+ African countries, we had to visit every country in the continent, get different licenses, build partnerships, and connect with regulators. At the end, we have over 500 payment partner integrations at Flutterwave that must be maintained daily”.

Dr. Zainab Usman, Senior Fellow and Director of the African Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC, while introducing the participants highlighted the importance of uniform growth of Africa’s digital ecosystem.

Mr Burns spoke on the need for countries to embrace the responsible use of digital technologies. He added, “When you look at the investment that has been made across the continent over the past 20 years, they are deliberate investments that track everything from policy to infrastructure to services to capacity building”.

The reasons for this nascent investment strategy across Africa include, “a better understanding of digital transformation and its attendant risks, the effect of COVID-19 in speeding up digital transformation in the continent and the USAID Digital Strategy which has made the promotion of secure, open, and inclusive country-level digital ecosystems across the world a priority for the US.”

The digital transformation in Africa comes with its risks, and that explains why, Mr. Tanui commented on how the Kenyan government enables innovation, “the Kenya government, through many bills and initiatives like Kenya Information and Communication Act, ICT Universal Fund, Data Protection Act, Kenya National Innovation Agency, Digital Economy Bill, and the Startup Bill has been working hard to ensure a functioning legal and regulatory environment that does not stifle innovation.”

He also highlighted the efforts of the government to provide opportunities for innovators to pilot and commercialize their ideas within a reasonable time frame. “We established the National Council of Science, Technology, and Innovation, the Kenya National Innovation Agency with research funds to support innovative and promising ideas.”

Mr. Lacina highlighted that bold and innovative commitment from African Heads of State and Government, like the SMART Africa alliance, which consists of 36 African countries, will accelerate sustainable socioeconomic development.

He said, “What we at SMART Africa and other stakeholders should do is policy harmonization of the continent for investors to see Africa as a 1.3 billion market. We can become a startup continent, have more than 7 unicorns like Gbenga’s Flutterwave and improve intra-Africa trade when we leverage on our youthful population and harmonize our regulations.”

L-R: City and Guilds Country Manager, Engr Martins Adeleke; Country HR Manager, Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Shakiru Lawal; Alagbara of Agbara, HRM, Oba (Barr.) Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade; MD/CEO, Nestlé Nigeria, Wassim Elhusseini; Agbara Factory Manager, Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Ibukun-Olu Ipinmoye and the Consul General, Consulate of Switzerland in Lagos, Thomas Schneider, during the graduation ceremony of Batch 6 of Nestlé Technical Training Centre at the Agbara factory, Ogun State on December 16,2022.

THEWILL NEWSPAPER • www.thewillnigeria.com

CAPITAL MARKET

The Nigerian Stockbrokers: Time For Renaissance

BY SOLA ONI

Renaissance denotes rebirth and regeneration. In the marital life, 30th wedding anniversary calls for celebration of wisdom, purity and love. In the life of an organization, it creates an opportunity to review the credits and debits over the period and make prognosis towards moving to the next level.

Stockbrokers under the aegis of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), have in the last two months commenced the Institute's 30th Anniversry with a clear message of celebrating three decades of impeccable professionalism. The founding fathers of the Institute deserve a thump up for the great initiative as their labour of the past is what every stockbrokers is enjoying today.

The first phase commenced on Friday, November 4 with a thanksgiving service in the mosque in Lagos and the same was replicated in a church on Sunday, November 6. This was followed by a street walk through Marina in Lagos. The Institute's President, Mr Oluwole Adeosun, symbolically closed the trading in some securities exchanges as part of the celebration .

The second phase started with the investiture of past two presidents of The Nigerian Stock Exchange ( now NGX) Alhaji Aliko Mohammed The Past, Present and Future" of the Institute , by Prince Abimbola Olashore. Special Awards were presented to those whose roles cannot be ignored in the formative years of the Institute.

Subsequently, the Institute held the investiture of the former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Bagbangida (rtd) in Minna, Niger State and that of the legal luminary, Chief Christopher Ogunbanjo in Lagos. More eminent Nigerians, including Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Mr Aigboje Aig- Imoukhuede, are already scheduled for the prestigious award in due course. A lot has changed in the operating environment of Stockbrokers in the last 30 years, however, there are many rivers to cross.

" Despite the huge challenges and hurdles to cross, I am very proud to state that CIS’ members were instrumental to the accomplishment of several major milestones in the Nigerian economy.", says Adeosun. There is no doubt that stockbrokers played key roles in the implementation of banking sector recapitalization exercise of 2005 -2007, despite some critics' notion that the policy of N25 billion minimum capital base for banks would not succeed. Today, many banks operate above N100 billion capital base.

The Gentlemen of the City have always played intermediating roles in the purchase and sales of the Federal Government's Sukuk Bond, floated to bridge funding gap for infrastructural projects and financing of budget deficits. Stockbrokers have traded heavily in the equity market, though other asset classes such as fixed income securities, derivatives and emerging digital assets are also on the front lane.

CIS has revolutionized the certification processes by creating a Stand-Alone Programme, which enables individuals to determine his areas of specialization in line with the global standard. Today, an Institute's candidate can write the Examination Online from many parts of the world through remote access. But it is not heartwarming that after 30 years, CIS can only boast of just above 3000 members in a country of over 200 million people.

Worst still, the future drivers of the Nigerian economy, the millennials do not appear to be interested in this important certification. Many of them could not understand why the certification is not recognized as a basis for employment in the public service, banks and universities for admission. The CISI Bill that will expand the Institute's scope and reinforce its rebranding for global competitiveness is currently undergoing scrutiny at the National Assembly.

The Institute parades multidimensional professionals with robust industry experience as you must have

belonged to another profession before you undergo the processes of the Institute's certification. This explains why stockbrokers have comparative advantage in advising the government on how to deepen the capital market and leverage it to grow the economy.

They advise the government by sending communique to the Presidency and appropriate government parastatals after every Conference over the years. But there has never been any feedback. The same affects the past communiques of Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), an umbrella for institutional members of stockbrokers. There is no doubt that Stockbrokers are needed in the strategic areas of economic decisions.

Why is it that there is no stockbroker at the Central Bank of Nigeria's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), to constantly remind the members about the inverse relationship between equity prices and changes in interest rate whenever the apex Bank intends to review the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)? Are there certified stockbrokers at the Ministry of Finance ? What about the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.? The time has come to recognize these investment doctors and tap into their talents to transform our financial market.

The Executive Governor of Edo State, Governor Obaseki, is a Stockbroker and we have some stockbrokers at the

National Assembly and at commissioner level in many states. They are all assets.

On the list of the prayers during the Institute’s Conference, held in Benin, in September were the need for the Federal Government to abolish the controversial Capital Gain Tax (CGT) which will increase transaction cost, legislate that all commodities exports should go through a commodities exchange for quality control. This is to make our commodities highly competitive in the international market and deploy appropriate policies as risk aversion measures for digital asset classes. I hope these lofty suggestions will not go the usual way of no response.

The economy is the underlying asset that determines state of the capital market. The Federal Government should play a pivotal role of creating an enabling environment through provision of infrastructure, addressing macroeconomic vagaries , enactment of market-friendly rules, increased utilization of the capital market to finance infrastructural deficits and revisit margin loans for stockbrokers to drive liquidity into the market. At the minimum, these shall create the much-needed enabling environment for stockbrokers.

The 30th Anniversary of the Institute calls for sober reflection on the future of the securities market. It is settled in strategic business management that business growth is contingent on continuing generating a pipeline of new ideas. Stockbrokers do not need a tarot card to know that digitization shall continue to alter the cosmic balance of their business. You don't need to be a stockbroker to execute transactions any longer. This comes with a great challenge to stockbrokers to train their clients on transaction processes to mitigate abuse of transaction.

Stockbrokers must constantly come with creativity and innovation to remain in business. They must invest more in technology. They must deepen their research base and learn new things to cope with the demand of savvy investors. Leadership of the Institute and ASHON, must wear their thinking caps to chart a roadmap for their members to flow with the tide. They must be on top of their game.

The emergence of NASD OTC Exchange, FMDQ, AFEX and Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE) with new asset classes has broken the age-long monopoly of NGX and presents more opportunities for stockbrokers to make money. These also come with a new challenge for stockbrokers to create new products for millennials to capture the huge niche market.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), should be commended for the launch of its Revised Capital Market Master Plan, which is set to transform the entire capital market operations. But there are insinuations that inputs of ASHON and CIS were not sought during the period of revision of the Master Plan.

Absence of inputs from these major stakeholders is a lethal attack on the successful implementation of the roadmap but there is still room for dialogue. Stockbrokers operate in a highly regulated market. They must keep to the rules of the game which are largely meant to protect investors.

Much as many stockbrokers have distinguished themselves as financial engineers in the last 30 years , some had paid dearly for malpractices by way of life jail or revocation of trading licences. Some stockbrokers passed on due to the shock of the 2008 meltdown .

However, by all known metrics, the 30th Anniversary of the Institute speaks into a glorious tomorrow when stockbrokers shall regain the pride of their profession : A day the newly qualified ones shall be offered employment with jumbo package immediately after certification; when securities exchanges shall be under pressure to meet huge requests for Quotation Committee's Meeting where applications for new issues are approved; a day when millennials shall be on the queue to write the Institute's professional examination and a day the government would accord stockbrokers the needed recognition to serve in various capacities.

*Continues online at www. thewillnigeria.com

Much as many stockbrokers have distinguished themselves as financial engineers in the last 30 years , some had paid dearly for malpractices by way of life jail or revocation of trading licences

“

Adeosun

"Modern technology has become a total phenomenon for civilization. the defining force of a new social order in which efficiency is no longer an option but a necessity imposed on all human activity."

- Jacques Ellul

• Oni is CEO, Sofunix Investment and Communications

45 Years of CBN Intervention

One of the conditions for sustainable economic growth in every economy is development funding. The provision of financial resources to diverse sectors of the economy would boost the growth of the economy, hence accelerating development and welfare in general. The Central Bank of Nigeria's development finance initiatives include the formulation and implementation of various policies, the creation of an enabling environment for financial institutions to provide services that are effective, efficient, and sustainable, and the innovation of appropriate products. The projects are mostly geared towards the agricultural sector, rural development, and micro, small, and medium-sized businesses.

FCT

The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, which lies strategically at the heart of Nigeria, is an attraction to many due to its warm and natural charm, beautiful landscape, interesting architecture, and colorful culture.

The region is a thriving business hub where innovative Nigerians are constantly breaking barriers in information technology and MSMEs, and also leveraging global trends and government interventions to improve production and value addition of grain and tuber crops, which are the main agricultural produce of the locality.

To further support economic activities in the capital city, the Central Bank of Nigeria, financed 46,531 projects in the FCT.

Highlighted below are some of these projects.

Name: DIFF Hospital

Intervention: Health Sector Intervention Fund (HSIF)

Location: Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria introduced concessionary financing to the health sector in a bid to provide readily accessible and affordable medical services to Nigerians, in a bid to reduce medical tourism and mortality.

Diff Medical Centre, famed for delivering quality pediatric and fertility services, is a beneficiary of the Health Sector Intervention Fund (HSIF).

Prior to accessing the fund, the hospital had thirty (30) staff, four (4) inpatient rooms, a consulting room, and a theatre. Accessing the fund enabled an upgrade which led to the building of thirty-two (32) in-patient rooms, five (5) consulting suites and three (3) operating theaters.

The expansion resulted in an increase in the number of medical services offered, including obstetrics and gynecological services, comprehensive medical and surgical services, pediatrics services, assisted conception unit, eye clinic, dental services, and neurological services. Earning it the reputation of being the best reproductive health centre in the FCT.

Name of Project: KAS Service Limited

Intervention: Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF/DCRR)

Location: Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) established the RSSF/DCRR to improve finance to the real sector of the economy, increase output, create jobs, diversify the economy, expand access to foreign reserves, and provide inputs for the industrial sector.

KAS Limited, one of the leading printing companies in Abuja, accessed funding under the RSSF. The funding enabled the purchase of cutting-edge digital printing equipment and the employment of 116 permanent staff, which has helped the company attract high profile clientele. It also enabled the establishment of KAS print 1 and KAS print 2 program hubs, where interested individuals are trained and exposed to contemporary printing techniques. Currently, there are 202 and 192 interns in the company’s Abuja and Lagos offices respectively.

Accessing the fund contributed to the success of the business, and KAS Limited has experienced a steady rise in revenue.

Name: Fays Agro Allied Mechanized Farms Intervention: Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS) Location: Abuja

Fays Agro Allied Mechanized Farms is engaged in poultry and fish farming. The farm accessed funding under the CACS, which enabled the purchase of 2,400 bags of 6mm feeds, 1,275 bags of 4mm feeds, 50,000 Poultry birds, and the installation of 5 pen houses.

The company currently has 30 staff in its employ, 9 modules of 8 ponds each, with the ability to raise 4,000 fishes to table size, while the construction of 5 additional layer pans each measuring 94m by 10m is in progress in the poultry farm.

Name: Anthony Nwabunna Intervention: Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) Location: FCT Abuja

The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented disruptions to global supply chains, a sharp drop in global crude oil prices, turmoil in global stock and financial markets, massive cancellation of sporting and entertainment events, and intercontinental travel bans/restrictions around the world.

These results have had serious effects on people's lives and corporate activities due to falling global demand, consumer confidence and output. To cushion the effects of the pandemic, the CBN introduced the Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) as a stimulus package to help families and MSMEs affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Anthony Nwabunna, the owner of Time Out Restaurant, nursed the ambition to expand his restaurant for a long time. He realized this dream when he accessed the Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Currently, he has three staff that manage operations at the restaurant.

Name of Beneficiary: Chioma Stephanie Intervention: AGSMEIS Location: FCT, Abuja

Chioma Stephanie has been involved in the manufacturing of fiber pillows, the sewing of bedsheets and duvets, and the production of foot mats. She had her sight set on growing her company and being a beneficiary of the AGSMEIS intervention provided her the opportunity to do so.

A significant portion of the funds accessed was used to purchase machines, including a generator, eight industrial sewing machines and a fiber blower, capable of producing 4,000 pillows daily.

Chioma’s company has experienced an increase in revenue, and her loan repayments have been on schedule.

45 Years of CBN Intervention

EBONYI

Ebonyi State is located in south-east Nigeria. It is one of the country's leading producers of food crops such as rice, yam, potatoes, maize, beans, and cassava. The state has offered many incentives to agro-allied investors in order to increase output. Abundant natural resources in the state include lead, oil, and gas and the Okposi and Uburu Salt Lakes, which are the country's greatest salt resources.

To encourage agricultural activities, mining and other economic activities within the state, the Central Bank of Nigeria provided concessionary funding to approximately 34,011 businesses in Ebonyi state.

Name: King David University of Medical Sciences I Ntervention: Health Sector Intervention Facility (HSIF) State: Ebonyi

King David University of Medical Sciences was established from a desire to meet a critical demand for medical education in Nigeria and the larger West African region. The University's principal mission is to provide the best possible educational setting for students to achieve the highest levels of professionalism, ethics, and competency in the health sciences.

Through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s HSIF intervention, the Ebonyi State Government accessed funding for its medical science educational project. With the funds, the University was able to upgrade its pharmaceutical, biology, and chemistry facilities. The University also purchased equipment, ambulances and built standard laboratories and medical and surgical wards.

More than 500 new jobs were created as a result of the establishment of the facility. The university is up to date with their loan repayment.

Olughu Victor Agwu accessed the AGSMEIS loan which he deployed to hire four new staff, build a two-bedroom farm home, dig seven ponds large enough to hold 25,000 fishes, and drill a borehole. Mr. Agwu has commenced loan repayment. Thanks to the Scheme, he been able to enhance his source of income.

Agbor Happiness Ogo accessed the AGSMEIS fund for the purpose of expanding her poultry and fish farm. Happiness was able to construct a borehole, chicken cages for layers and a fishpond at her farm, courtesy of the facility from CBN. She currently has 1,050 birds and 4,000 fish in the pond. She also has four (4) staff working on the farm. The funds she accessed has assisted her in creating a stable income flow.

Name: Ebonyi State Government Intervention: CACS Purpose: Rice Milling Location: Ebonyi State

The Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS) was introduced to speed up the growth of the agricultural sector of the Nigerian economy by giving credit to commercial agricultural businesses at a single-digit interest rate. It was also to improve national food security by increasing food supply and lowering the prices of agricultural products and produce, increase output, create jobs, diversify sources of income, and increase forex reserve. The Ebonyi State Government made good use of the opportunity presented by the intervention.

To ensure food security and encourage value addition to agricultural produce, the government of Ebonyi State established rice milling plants in Iboko, Izzi, Ikwo, Oso-Eda and Afikpo South LGA, with funds accessed from the CACS facility.

The loan facility was utilized to purchase an automatic bagging machine, de- stoners, paddy cleaners, paddy separators, huskers, two sets of whitening machines, two sets of polishing machines, two sets of length graters, two sets of color separators, a 500KVA power generator for the processing units, and two sets of 250KVA power generators for the boiling units.

Each milling machine processes five tons of rice per hour, and forty tons per day. There are currently 360 employees at the three milling factories, who work in two (2) shifts per day. The mill is expected to generate significant profit and repayments are made on schedule.

Name: Olughu Victor Agwu Intervention: AGSMEIS Project Type: Fishery State: Ebonyi

Name: Agbafor Happiness Ogo Intervention: AGSMEIS Project: Poultry And Fishery State: Ebonyi State

YEAR IN REVIEW: Scandals, break-ups, deaths, blackmails and several other entertainment/society stories that characterised 2022. The year has been an eventful one in the entertainment and society scene and with just a few days before it comes to an end, Ivory Ukonu looks back at some of these events that shaped 2022.

MARRIAGE/ RELATIONSHIP BREAK-UPS

Burna Boy/Stefflon Don

The much-celebrated relationship between Grammy award winning artist, Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy and his British rapper girlfriend, Stefflon Don that got people green with envy unfortunately collapsed like a pack of badly arranged cards. Rather than the former couple to peacefully go their separate ways, they resorted to shading each other the best possible way they could. While Burna Boy made a whole single about dumping Stefflon, she on her part tagged him a mummy's boy who can't function without his mother.

Nkechi Blessing/ Opeyemi Falegan

Theirs was perhaps the messiest relationship breakup in the history of Nollywood.

After months of flaunting upcoming politician, Opeyemi Falegan as her husband, actress Nkechi Blessing made a U-turn and denied they were ever married. She called him unprintable names while also revealing that she dumped him because of his inability to make something of his life. Falegan also made sure to shame and disgrace the actress, calling her out for exactly who she was to him.

Although both Funke Akindele and her estranged director and producer husband, Abdulrasheed Bello aka JJC Skillz tried to hide the fact that their almost six-year-old marriage had crashed irretrievably, it took Benito, JJC Skillz's son with one of his baby mamas, revealing the end of their marriage on social media. He also alleged that his stepmother was cheating on his father while his father looked the other way. JJC Skillz was forced to officially announce his separation from his wife and mother of his twin children. The actress cum producer didn't waste time to yank off her husband's name from all her social media handles.

While their relationship lasted, singer Abbey Elias aka Skiibii and femcee, Shola Dorcas Fapson aka Ms Dsf flaunted it to the envy of others. But from the moment they broke up, Ms Dsf ensured that everyone knows that she was the one financing their relationship. When Skiibii recently bought a new Maybach, Dsf wasted no time in shading him on social media, calling him a broke dude living a fake life.

Paul And Anita Okoye

The crash of the marriage between Paul Okoye, one half of the singing twins, PSquare and his wife of eight years, Anita, shocked quite a number of their fans who looked up to them. While the marriage crashed quietly in 2021 after Anita relocated to the US on the pretext of returning to school, it wasn't until this year that it made headlines.

Anita filed for divorce citing cheating, separation, being an absentee parent, fraud, and difficult experiences as her reasons. She, therefore, requested a settlement of $20,000 monthly as well as a number of her husband’s posh mansions. The union which produced three children was eventually dissolved by an Abuja High Court.

Roseline Afijie/ Emmanuel Umoh

The relationship between these two ex-Big Brother Naija housemates crashed before it even began. While they were in the big brother house, Roseline Afijie aka Liquorose and Emmanuel Umoh were so smitten with each other that many assumed that before long, they would most likely walk down the aisle. But the wishes of their fans dissipated as soon as they conceived that idea after Liquorose revealed that she caught her man with another lady while they were on a group trip in Dubai.

After four years of being married to his wife Chidera Udueze and producing two kids, actor Gideon Okeke revealed that his marriage had ended. The movie star calmly announced on social media that he and his wife decided to go their separate ways. He declared that he put out the statement to clear his conscience and for clarity's sake because his marriage breaking down was a hard hot pill he had to swallow.

Julius And Ibiere Agwu

The 14-year-old marriage between stand-up comedian, Julius Agwu and his wife, Ibiere ended after the latter reportedly walked out of the marriage. Ibiere allegedly packed her bags and left her matrimonial home, having become overwhelmed by Julius' illness and allegedly cheating on her. Ibiere remained a dutiful wife who was loyal to her husband and fulfilled her marital obligations since the comedian's travail started in 2015. Ibiere has since reverted to her maiden name, Maclayton. Julius however claims that despite his failed marriage, he is happy. The couple got married in Port Harcourt in 2008. Their union was blessed with two children, Zahra and Zadok before it packed up.

Gideon Okeke/Chidera Udueze

MARRIAGE/RELATIONSHIP BREAK-UPS

Sina Adeleke Kayode And Omotayo Oladotun

Sina, one of the sons of governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State did not have enough time to digest his father's gubernatorial victory before he was put on blast by his wife of less than a year, Korth. She accused her estranged husband and one of his sisters of domestic violence adding that the marriage is over because she refuses to tolerate any form of abuse. She revealed that her husband is indebted to her to the tune of N10,000 and refuses to help out with house chores even after she put to bed via caesarean surgery. She also claimed that the Adelekes wealth is a facade.

Precious Iginla/Blessing Joseph

Controversy does run in the Iginla's family who are majorly clergymen.

Barely three years after Prophet Joshua Iginla, the General Overseer of Champions Royal Assembly, Abuja, confessed to infidelity, divorcing his first wife of ten years and eventually marrying another, Blessing Joseph, the wife of his younger brother, Precious Iginla revealed that the cleric allegedly started abusing her barely a week into their marriage. Blessing and Precious who is a senior pastor at the Prophetic Fire Embassy International Church in Rivers State had two children before the marriage broke up. Blessing revealed that trouble started after her husband forced her to sit among the congregation during a service for an undisclosed reason. From that day, according to her, he started physically attacking her at every slight provocation or even attempting to strangle her. During such times, she claimed to either run out or he pushed her out of the house.

Precious however denied her claims.

Although Omotayo, the wife of on-air-personality Kayode Oladotun popularly known as Do2dtun, filed for divorce over alleged forced abortion of their third child, domestic violence and emotional abuse in late 2021 which she claimed adversely affected her health and general wellbeing, it wasn't until later this year that the information came to light. Omotayo, a younger sister to singer, Dapo Oyebanjo aka DBanj married Do2dtun in 2013 and both have two children together. The court granted divided custody of the children which Omotayo did not oppose, pending the final determination of the suit in court. But on December 14, 2022, Do2dtun stormed Omotayo’s Abuja residence with some policemen and forcefully broke into her premises, assaulted her gateman and staff. This prompted Omotayo to go into hiding and her lawyer thereafter petitioned the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja for unlawful entry, malicious damage, criminal trespass and unlawful use of policemen by Do2dtun. Not only did Do2dtun deny all allegations, he accused his brother inlaw, Dbanj of scheming with the press and police to tarnish his image.

Tonto Dikeh/Prince Kpokpogri

The relationship breakup of controversial Nollywood actress and activist cum businessman, Prince Kpokpogri was another messy breakup that rocked the entertainment industry in 2022. The drama that characterised the breakup of the relationship which lasted barely a year, spanned all of five months before the buzz around it began to die down. Tonto accused her ex-lover of fraud, blackmail, invasion of privacy, ulterior motive, seizure of assets etc.

SEX TAPE SCANDAL

Daniel Benson

Singer, Daniel Benson aka BNXN or Buju had his nudes leaked online by a lady, Filma Jones who claimed he got her pregnant and dumped her. The Headies Next rated winner 2022 however dismissed reports that any woman was pregnant for him. According to him, the lady was blackmailing him and only wanted him to send her money and when he refused, she leaked his nudes on social media. He did reveal that the lady has been locked up in jail.

Early in the year, the sex tape of popular radio presenter, Alhaja Kafilat Rufai, popularly known as Alhaja Kaola, went viral online. The lady who presents the Islamic programme, Albayan with Alhaja Kaola, on Fresh FM in Ibadan, Oyo State was seen giving an unidentified man a blow job. Kafilat attributed the leakage to being the handiwork of her ex-husband, who she said had threatened to release her nude photos and videos on the allegation that she snatched the husband of her sister, Maryam. According to her, her ex-husband vowed to smear her image and destroy her blossoming career. She however denied snatching any man from her sister. Unfortunately, she got stripped of her prestigious title as ‘Ummu Li Mumininah’ (mother of the faithful) by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland.

Barely six months after they celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary, Nabila went public with news of her separation from her singer husband, Oritsefemi Majemite Ekele. In February 2021, Nabila had hinted at troubles in their marriage through several subliminal Instagram posts. She accused the singer of having intercourse with an unidentified female on their matrimonial bed. But later this year, while announcing her separation, she revealed she is a victim of domestic, verbal and emotional abuse while also dealing with his cheating nature, having fathered several children during their marriage.

Bright, Elsie Okpocha

Stand-up comedian and actor, Bright Okpocha aka Basketmouth personally announced the end of his marriage with his wife Elsie Okpocha after 12 years of marital sojourn. He said it was an unavoidable situation and after much deliberations, homself and his wife both made the difficult decision to end their marriage. The marriage produced three children before it collapsed. The comedian has a child from a previous relationship.

Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman

Singer, Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman aka Oxlade got his sex tape uploaded on social media where he was seen having marathon sex with a lady. Nigerians however found humour in the sex tape with many expressing how impressed they were about the singer's sexual prowess. The afrobeat singer would later apologise to his fans and the unidentified lady.

THEWILLNG

Ebun Oloyede

Oritsefemi Majemite Ekele/Nabila Fash

Alhaja Kafilat Rufai

Veteran actor, Ebun Oloyede aka Olaiya Igwe took his loyalty for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, a notch too high that insulted the sensibilities of well-meaning Nigerians. The actor sent tongues wagging after he went unclad at the beach to pray for the presidential victory of Tinubu in a recorded video that lasted over one minute. Instagram deleted his account for violating its nudity and obscenity rules. For his unprofessionalism, the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, TAMPAN, summoned him to a disciplinary panel to explain the reason for his action. He is yet to respond to the summon.

.....AND DEATH CAME KNOCKING

Patrick Fakoya Onayiga Shola Laolu Martins

The death of Patrick Fakoya aka Rico

Swavey, a former housemate of Big Brother Naija season 3 was a painful loss to bear for both fans of the reality show and his fellow housemates. Rico who was only 29 died from fatal internal injuries from a ghastly motor accident.

At some point Nigerian entertainers launched a fundraiser for him after he was placed on life support but that did nothing to prevent him from passing on.

Ada Ameh

Following the death of her only daughter a few years before, Nollywood actress Ada Ameh's life never remained the same. She became troubled, depressed and almost got sued by a company she was supposed to do a job for but couldn't due to her inability to get herself together. She succumbed to the cold hands of death on July 17, 2022, while visiting a wealthy oil mogul’s family in Delta state.

Sammie Okposo

Veteran Nollywood actress, popularly known for her role as Ireti in Fuji House of Commotion drama series died on July 18, 2022. She had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. Her demise left many people mourning, especially those she had touched with her acting career.

The circumstances that surrounded the death of Laolu Martins, a co-founder of popular fast-food chain, Bukka Hut is still shrouded in mystery. While some reports claim he fell down at the stairs of a mall and hit his head, other reports claimed he committed suicide. This prompted his family to issue a statement soliciting the support and understanding of everyone as they grieve his loss. Martins was an investment banker who worked at the Nigeria International Security Limited, NISL, an independent financial services firm specialising in investments within the Nigerian space, at the time of his death.

Laolu Mudashiru

The Lagos social establishment was thrown into deep mourning when news of the death of Laolu Mudashiru, a son to a former military administrator of Lagos State became public.

Ifeanyi Adeleke

Just when

singer Sammie Okposo was beginning to get his groove back after his infidelity scandal with an American lady, death came calling. That his death shocked quite a number of people would be simply stating the obvious. Sammie was only 51.

Laolu was a victim of a hit and run driver. The happy go lucky fella who was the Deputy Managing Director of Vetiva Capital management, an investment and asset management firm, was riding his bicycle one early morning in Ikoyi, Lagos when the incident occurred.

Demola Seriki

The entire country mourned the death of Ifeanyi Adeleke, the first son of superstar musician, David Adeleke aka Davido who drowned at his Banana Island home swimming pool. Both Davido and Chioma Rowland, Ifeanyi's mother, weren't home at the time of the incident as he was left with his minders who were interrogated by the Nigerian police and eventually left off hook after a thorough investigation.

gospel

Socialite and Lagos politician, Demola Seriki succumbed to death after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He passed on at the age of 65 in faraway Madrid, Spain where he was based as the Nigerian ambassador to the European country. He was also Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations World Tourism OrganizationUNWTO. He was Minister of State for the Interior, Minister of State for Defense, the Supervising Minister of Mines and Steel Development as well as the Minister of State for Agriculture and Water Resources from 2007 to 2008 at various times during his political career. His death occurred just when he recently reconciled with his estranged wife, Wosilat Okoya, the only sister to wealthy industrialist, Chief Razaq Okoya.

News of the death of Otunba Adebayo Kassim sent shockwaves across social circles in Lagos This is because of Kassim's long standing clout within that circle. Kassim, who ventured into politics briefly, was in his 60s when he died. While he was alive, together with his equally famous sisters Shade and Folake, took over the running of their father’s business, the popular fast-food joint, Kas Chicken which had outlets at Allen Avenue, Ikeja and Surulere, Lagos.

Doyin Ojora-Ayinde

The household of Tayo Ayinde, the Chief Of Staff to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was thrown into mourning in the latter part of the year when he lost his wife, Doyin Ojora-Ayinde to the cold hands of death, just days after she returned from London where she had gone to birth her second child with Ayinde. Details of her death remain sketchy till date. Doyin was Ayinde’s second attempt at marriage after his first marriage ended shortly before Sanwo-Olu’s gubernatorial project kicked off. Doyin wh owas from the Oniru royal family was a niece to boardroom guru, Otunba Adekunle Ojora. She was a popular socialite before her marriage to Ayinde.

Law graduate turned skit maker, Michael Sani Amenesi aka MC Lively was blackmailed by someone whom he was supposedly in a relationship with. Although the incidence happened in late 2021, MC Lively narrated the full details of what transpired early this year. His then girlfriend of six years blackmailed him with tales of pregnancy because of his refusal to accede to her N800,000 demand for payment of her house rent and later money to terminate a false pregnancy. According to him, the lady whom he had known for a few years wanted more than a sexual relationship, which he didn’t want and she decided to blackmail him for that reason.

.....AND DEATH CAME KNOCKING BLACKMAIL Empress Njamah

Afew weeks ago, Yemi Sonde, chairman of Yemi Sonde Media Group and owner of the well-known radio station YES FM, cried out to the world that he is being blackmailed over a nude video of him. Sonde said the blackmailer had frequently demanded payments from him ranging from N500,000 to N1,500,000. The broadcaster further claimed the blackmailer also got in touch with a few of his colleagues, asking them to convince him to pay the ransom. Sonde added that the blackmailer threatened to post the tapes on social media in order to humiliate him and his family. The blackmailer said he would delete the video as soon as he pays the ransom. Sonde claims powerful people were behind the blackmails and he has vowed not to give any blackmailer his hard-earned money.

Actress, Empress Njamah's blackmail started off as an engagement announcement after she posted a video of herself on social media with an engagement ring. She would later claim that she made the post under duress as she was being blackmailed by a man who got into her life when she was vulnerable. Empress would later cry out to Nigerians via her business page and calling on the Nigerian police to help in tracking her blackmailer who she claimed has access to her private videos and also made away with her valuables worth millions of naira. But her alleged blackmailer who not only physically assaulted her but went as far as seizing her international passport claims, Empress defrauded him to the tune of $400,000 and had planned to run away to the United States with another man.

Kemi Nelson Harrison Okiri

Kemi Nelson, a former executive director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund and zonal women leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, passed on throwing the Lagos political circles into deep mourning. Nelson was the only female member of Bola Tinubu’s influential governance advisory council in Lagos, passed on, on Sunday morning. She had reportedly been unwell for a while, treating undisclosed ailments at different hospitals before she finally gave up the ghost. Nelson was appointed to NSITF by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, a position she held until May 2021 when Buhari sacked her alongside other top management of the agency following the recommendations of a Presidential Joint Board and Audit Investigation Panel set up by the President in July 2020 to investigate the infractions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and the Financial Regulations (FR) in the NSITF.

Singer, Harrison Okiri aka Harrysong, early this year shared a screenshot of the chat he had with an alleged blackmailer who had threatened to call him out over a sex scandal. In the screenshot, the blackmailer threatened to share the singer’s sex tape to bloggers. His cries came after raising the alarm that he was being framed for a sex scandal story by a prostitute. Harrysong revealed that he had paid the blackmailer several times while appealing to her to temper justice with mercy. Although the incident happened six years ago, long before he got married, he claims he had no idea that the lady recorded him.

Adebayo Kassim

Michael Sani Amenesi

.....A FEW MORE

SCANDALS

Housewife Versus Side Chick Kinsmen Rise up in Arms

Bunmi Alade-Adekunle, wife of Abuja based celebrity fashion designer, Seyi Adekunle aka Seyi Vodi took her uncouth nature a bit too far when she not only attacked her husband's side chick, Moesha, a social media influencer who also doubles as a designer but stripped her naked and made a video of her which went viral on social media. Bunmi, having found out that her husband was the one bankrolling his mistress’ lavish lifestyle as he bought her a brand-new Mercedez Benz and established a fashion house in her name, reportedly warned Moesha to stay away from her husband. In the viral video, Bunmi could be seen attacking Moesha and screaming that she had previously warned Moesha to stay away from her husband. Bunmi's friends also joined in to assault Moesha, who was tying a towel, before stripping her naked. Sey Vodi was said to have fled the scene during the altercation. While many rebuked Bunmi for violating the rights of Moesha rather than attacking her husband, others however took side with the wife, stressing the popularity of influencers who take to having questionable relationships with married men to fund their expensive lifestyles. As for Seyi, he is back to being a gentle dove, at least for now, until his urges force him out of his hibernation mode.

Arthur Eze's House of Commotion

Rather than bask in the expansion of his fleet of air carriers with the acquisition of a gulf stream G450 model which set him back by at least $45 million, billionaire businessman, Arthur Eze felt that the next most important thing to do with his time was to evict is nephews, Prince Olisa and Onyeka Eze and his entire family from their house. The diminutive oil magnate accused his nephews of fraudulently diverting the sum of N1.5 billion (Arthur Eze's money) for their own personal use. Arthur reportedly ignored the process of appeal pending before the appellate court seeking a stay of execution after he instituted a case in an Abuja High Court in 2020 and went ahead to evict his nephews in September 2022 through an execution order issued by Justice Modupe OshoAdebiyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on June 30, 2022. He also intimidated them with armed policemen who stormed the residence located at No. 5 Ifeanyi Ararume Street, Mabushi, Abuja in seven hilux vans. They broke the main gate and threw out all the occupants and their belongings from the duplex. The police turned down all entreaties made by Olisa’s wife, to exercise restraint and not subject her children to trauma with guns. The police in the process shoved her and threatened to throw her in their vehicle for daring to challenge them. Explaining his own side of the story, Olisa accused his uncle of employing illegality despite the fact the matter is still pending before the Court of Appeal. “This is illegality and it will not stand the test of time. He has been claiming that they stole from him. Who stole from you? How did it happen and where is the record? It is obvious that the sick-looking evil man never wanted anybody from the immediate family to become somebody unless he dies. He questioned how I could have built a house in Abuja for that matter. He vowed that over his dead body should we become somebody," he had said.

...Trouble in Paradise?

The 25-year-old marriage of Ayodele Oritsejafor, a former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and his wife Helen came under public scrutiny after it was reported that it had crashed due to infidelity and alleged fraud. The was all the more magnified after Nigerians dug up an interview where Helen allegedly accused her husband of making plans to kill her. Helen eventually debunked any news of her marriage being in trouble calling it the handiwork of the devil. However, Nigerians were not satisfied with her denial and wondered why she has been holed up in the United Kingdom for months and why she wasn't present during the 50th mega anniversary of her husband's ordination as a clergy, a programme that some prominent clergies attended. Instead, she held daily live prayer Facebook sessions tagged 'Command The Day'. They also wondered why her photograph was not conspicuously displayed on the flier of the church programme as has been the tradition.

Oritsejafor who is the founding and senior pastor and the founding senior pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, located in Warri, Delta State, married Helen in 1997, 13 months after the death of his late wife Stella with whom he founded the World of Life Bible Church on November 15, 1987.

In November, a group of women who referred to themselves as Concerned Women of Delta issued a stern warning to Kogi State born politician, Natasha Akpoti, asking her to let go of her husband, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, as he is another woman’s husband whom she allegedly snatched. The women in a viral video said, that Nigeria as a nation has women of substance everywhere who are capable of representing the interest of women in places of authority, adding that one who has caused pain, mental illness and unthinkable pain to a fellow woman, (by way of snatching) as evidenced by her letter from her solicitors to her husband where she demanded N10 billion as compensation or marry her, was not qualified to represent women in politics. They disclosed that they have evidence of the torture, fabricated lies and threats issued by Natasha to both Mrs Alero Uduaghan, Chief Uduaghan’s first wife and her father, before she blackmailed Chief Uduaghan into succumbing to marry her. The concerned women urged women and indeed Nigerians not to take anything Natasha says or does seriously, until she proves that she did not instruct a lawyer to write the said letter. They warned her to retrace her steps from destroying a family foundation built on trust, noting that if their sister and daughter (Alero) cannot fight for herself, they would not fold their hands and watch Natasha poke her finger into the eye of a Delta woman and go scot-free. The group then went on to call on well-meaning women in the country to rise up in defence of Alero Uduaghan and her children, in fasting and prayer until the wrongs are made right. The group said women representation in politics meant representation by women of virtue, not the likes of Natasha who would go to any length of blackmail to get what did not belong to them, as exposed by the alleged letter from her lawyers.

The Clergyman And His Female 'Disciples'

The year 2022 was one hell of a year for Pastor Johnson Suleiman, the Shepherd in charge of Omega Fire Ministries. The controversial clergy man who has always been the subject of one sexual scandal or the other got deeper into it in the year. An online platform had revealed that no fewer than 30 female actresses are alleged to be the cleric’s mistresses. Some of the actresses attempted to exonerate themselves from the accusations including Suleiman himself who maintained that some of the actresses who were romantically linked to him do fellowship regularly at his church. However, actress Halima Abubakar admitted to having an affair with the cleric in the past because the preacher told her he was divorced with three children. The actress not only accused him of feeding bloggers negative stories about her, she blamed the cleric for her spiritual and physical woes. She accused the cleric of using voodoo on her which has resulted in her being very sick and unable to function properly. As if that was not enough, Canada based singer, Stephanie Otobo revisited her matter with the clergy. Stephanie, who some years ago alleged that she had an amorous relationship with Suleman, released his nude photos in a Twitter thread. Sharing screenshots of her video chat with Suleman, she asked him to come forward and debunk her claims. A photo of the clergyman holding his penis was shared and another showing her breasts while on a video call with him was also shared online. She alleged that the cleric tried everything to stop her from progressing and had almost ended her life.

Clash of The Clergies

It is not often that you see members of the Nigerian gospel community engaging in social media war but that of the trio of Israel Oladele Ogundipe aka Genesis and the Shepherd-in-Charge of Celestial Church of Christ Global Genesis Parish; Reverend Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi of Love of Christ Generation Church, Cherubim and Seraphim, Lagos as well as gospel singer, Lanre Teriba aka Atorise makes this list. Ogundipe slammed Ajayi, who is like a mother to him, for abandoning him while he was in jail for allegedly defrauding a London-based architect who he was in a relationship with and converting her property for personal use in 2021. He claimed the highly revered cleric removed all his photos from her church's official social media pages because he was going through a tough phase. Ogundipe recounted how he had served Ajayi meritoriously, even to the extent of abandoning his own ministry. While Ajayi responded by saying she is too busy to lose focus or be distracted in her ministry work, Atorise who had no business in the feud demanded that Ogundipe apologise to Ajayi within 24 hours or incur his wrath. The matter was immediately nipped in the bud after a lawyer cautioned Atorise about his outburst and threats which is a crime and to desist from biting more than he can chew.

Adekunle Moesha

Eze

The Oritsejafors

Ogundipe

Suleiman

Akpoti-Uduaghan

Ajayi Teriba

www.thewillnigeria.com

Emefiele: Is DSS Going Too Far? FEATURES

BY AINA OJONUGA

One of the most powerful individuals in the U.S. for almost half a century was not even the POTUS or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was several rungs lower than the CJ. All the same he wielded more authority and power than his superiors in the Department of Justice. On a whim, he could order the arrest and detention of just about any person – Hollywood film stars and directors, writers and civil rights campaigners and even student demonstrators and sundry radicals.

That man was John Edgar Hoover!

His power derived not from any victory at the polls like most American politicians but from the immense influence he wielded as the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an organisation charged with internal security of the US. From 1924 when he became director, Hoover modernised what started as a ramshackle internal security outfit. By the time he left in 1972, the FBI had become synonymous with Edgar Hoover: Hoover was FBI and FBI was Hoover.

As a result, the director used the organisation he helmed to hound innocent Americans, ordered wiretaps of prominent citizens and ordinary Americans. In short, Hoover abused his office serially and threw his weight around like he was some kind of demi-god.

Nigerians are beginning to feel the same way about the current Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichii.

Only last week, Nigerians woke up to the shocking news of the security operatives seeking a court order to arrest and detain the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over what they charged as terrorism financing. The implication is that if an individual anywhere in the world is accused of financing terrorists, he is also one. The person himself may not strap bombs around his waist, point a Kalashnikov at cringing victims or even drive an explosive-packed vehicle into pedestrians. But a financier, in the DSS’s reckoning, can be labelled as a terrorist since his financial muscle makes the purchase of the arsenal possible.

It was with such a mindset the DSS sought approval from the court to arrest and detain the CBN governor. They failed, thanks to a gimlet-eyed and impartial judiciary.

Ever since, analysts have pored over the DSS versus Emefiele face-off, most of them making a case for the CBN governor and also damning the security outfit for their overzealousness and sheer audacity. More importantly, it was the trial judge himself who deflated the DSS’s case from the onset.

According to reports, the presiding judge, Justice JT Tsoho, saw loopholes in the DSS’s application. Weighty as the accusation seemed against the sitting governor of the CBN, Tsoho ruled that the “DSS did not provide any concrete evidence to substantiate its claims that Emefiele was involved in terrorism financing, and economic crimes,” insisting that “he (judge) should have been taken into confidence if there was any evidence to back the allegations.”

Of course, there was nothing like that from the DSS. Equally important, was the sloppiness of an organisation that should be very thorough. Whether out of premature excitement that they were going to net a big fish or out of pure ineptitude, the judge wondered “why the name of the respondent was given simply as ‘Godwin Emefiele’ without a material disclosure that he is the same person as the CBN governor, a highly ranking public official who occupies an extremely sensitive position.”

The inference is that without the CBN governor’s appropriate designation, the Godwin Emefiele the DSS sought to arrest and detain could have been any person. After all, there are some other Nigerians by that name. The DSS’s application, according to the discerning judge, could have been any one of them. It was confusing to the judge.

Even more confounding to him was the fact the application from the security operatives was without a presidential

“

What was needed was empirical evidence that the CBN governor had flouted the law, that he was a security threat to the country. There was none. Is it any surprise they bungled their case right from the get-go? Is it any surprise the allknowing judge saw through their ruse and let them know it?

approval. In other words, to arrest such a high-ranking public servant should bear a presidential seal of approval. There was none!

According to one source, “the court said such an application should have been accompanied by presidential approval because of the grave implications for the Nigerian economy if the CBN governor is arrested and detained.”

Apparently, the economic consequences of such an arrest and detention of Emefiele didn’t mean much to the almighty DSS. They wanted their man, period. And they were determined to get him. In the end, justice prevailed.

Writing in the Punch of Thursday December 22, 2022, for instance, Abimbola Adelakun, one of the country’s most read and incisive columnists, put the DSS/ Emefiele face-off in a better perspective.

Headlined “The DSS needs intelligent officers,” Adelakun started by giving the security operatives a thumbs-down. “If you thought that the characteristic display of sloppiness, laxity, and an outright lack of acumen by the Department of State Services can no longer embarrass you, then you should read the submission of the judge that refused to grant their prayer to arrest and detain the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor over alleged terrorism financing.”

Continuing, she noted that “such those allegations against a high-ranking government official like a CBN governor would be considered weighty and treated with all seriousness. In a nation where political and economic activities are properly understood as the determinants of people’s destinies, moving against a CBN governor is not a thoughtless affair. The allegations against such a figure must have irrefutable proof, and the nation’s leaders must be put on notice to make succession plans.”

As is now very well known, and as detailed in her column, “the court declined to grant the DSS application. Why? The DSS did not supply any “concrete evidence” substantiating their accusations. The more baffling aspect of the flippancy of the DSS is that their application could not even acknowledge the status and designation of the ‘Godwin Emefiele’ they wanted arrested.

“They probably forgot that detail, or they were so carried away by the aggrandising power they were about to display that they failed to diligently read the document they submitted to the court.

This might seem like a simple oversight, but their failure to observe such a vital detail calls the whole quality of their investigation and professional judgment to question. As the judge rightly noted, the DSS could have been accusing any random person who shares that name.”

More disturbing to Nigerians as Adelakun pointedly observed is “How does an organisation whose activities border on operations that require intelligence always manage to act so unintelligently? Yes, for an organisation like the DSS, intelligence means surveillance and gathering knowledge about activities that might threaten the nation’s security. But intelligence is not mere data, it is also dispositional. An organisation like the DSS would be considered truly intelligent if they combined their spying activities with the ability to think about things—reflexivity, logicality, reasonableness, and the ability to solve problems.”

As the latest fiasco demonstrates, not forgetting the surprise raid on a judge’s house months before, the DSS now smacks of the Directorate of Military Intelligence of yore, of hounding, arbitrary arrest and detention of Nigerians during the military dictatorships in the Abacha era.

More worrisome to Adelakun in her column and, by extension, the rest of us, is the security outfit’s reckless abuse of power, of practically taking the law into their hands.

“We should be worried,” she cautions, “about the lack of seriousness on the part of the DSS. A potent weapon in the hands of the unintelligent is frightening because they will put it to brutal use. Take the instance of DSS’ invasion of the house of supposed freedom fighter Sunday Adeyemo (or Sunday Igboho). The raid was illegal, and they even stormed his house with babalawos! Apparently, the DSS took the nonsense that Adeyemo could shape-shift into a cat seriously. They went as far as ‘arresting’ some cats believing one could be Adeyemo. They also arrested some babalawos they believed supplied him with supernatural powers, illegally detained them, and even taunted one of them to magically vanish before their eyes. Are you any surprised that these clowns carried such magical thinking into judicial processes? The superstition underlying their abjuration of logical reality when they believed a man could truly transmogrify followed them to the court where they also thought they could get things done in the real world even if reasonable processes were eliminated.”

This time in the DSS’s confrontation with the CBN governor, there were no juju men or even any form of voodoo involved. What was needed was empirical evidence that the CBN governor had flouted the law, that he was a security threat to the country. There was none. Is it any surprise they bungled their case right from the get-go? Is it any surprise the all-knowing judge saw through their ruse and let them know it?

Without any “concrete evidence” against the CBN governor as a financier of terrorism, the DSS seems to have lost one big one they hoped would have been an easy win.

NPFL 2023: Is Shooting Stars Inaugural Pre-season Victory Confident Preparation?

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

When the schedule of matches for the NPFLDozy Mmobuosi Foundation Pre-season Super Cup were postponed at the end of last month, it seemed as if the Nigerian factor of uncertainty and poor management was going to beset the budding competition. Having proposed the four-teamed competition as a pre-season Super Cup tournament packaged by Tingo Media, the organisers were hard at work to ensure the rescheduling did not derail the hard work that had gone into the making of the competition and they promised that the venue remained the Mobalaji Stadium, Onikan in Lagos and that the slight change of dates was only a minor inconvenience.

The Super Cup, which was initially to kick off on Thursday December 1 and end December 4 had been pushed back by five days and was going to hold from December 6 to 9. Davidson Owumi, the Head of Operations of the Nigeria Professional Football League, explained that rationale for the shift in a memo that read in part: “We regret to announce a slight shift in schedule for the NPFL-Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation pre-season Super Cup tournament due to unexpected logistics reasons that arose. However, the venue remains unchanged as the tournament now holds from December 6 to 9."

The competition is a partnership with the Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation, which was founded by Dozy Mmobuosi in December 2021 with a noble mission of promoting the progress of Africa and creating an environment where Africans can thrive. Their core areas of focus are Healthcare, Education, Entrepreneurship, Information Technology development as well as building partnerships through sports and other philantropic activities. Because they consider equity

“At the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, the preseason event got underway with Shooting Stars defeating Bendel Insurance 3-0 and Enyimba triumphing over the Rangers 1-0. Enyimba defeated Bendel Insurance 4-3 on day two, and 3SC and Rangers drew 1-1

to be of the utmost importance, they operate a ruralurban approach in the execution of all their projects while favouring long-term strategies that are both flexible and adaptive to new trends.

The Foundation concentrates most of their work in rural areas where a lot of assistance in the identified areas above is needed and because it enables them to assist high numbers of people in hardship or poverty. One way they aim to tackle these problems is by categorising them with the following key areas of Entrepreneurship, Technology Skills, Health Care, Education and Partnership Development, which involves building partnerships through sports and

other philantropic activities such as the Pre-season Super Cup.

For this inaugural edition, which involved the traditional four clubs of the NPFL namely Shooting Stars Sports Club, Enugu Rangers, Enyimba and the newly promoted Bendel Insurance, the Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation was dangling an unprecedented N100m prize money for the competition. Individual prizes included N1m each for the Highest goal-scorer and the Most Valuable Player. With the definitive dates set, it was left for the clubs to prove their worth of the prize money and the players to show they had what it took to come out at the top.

At the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, the preseason event got underway with Shooting Stars defeating Bendel Insurance 3-0 and Enyimba triumphing over the Rangers 1-0. Enyimba defeated Bendel Insurance 4-3 on day two, and 3SC and Rangers drew 1-1. On the third day of play, both clubs agreed to a scoreless draw, with Bendel Insurance shocking Rangers International 2-1 to finish with three points and a third-place finish. The Oluyole Warriors came in second place on the log with five points from three games, while the eight-time NPFL champions finished first with seven points.

It came down to the final day of action to determine which team will carry the day. A win for the Aba team will guarantee nine points devoid of the outcome between Bendel Insurance and Rangers in the other match of the day. Meanwhile, Chijioke Mbaoma, who notched a hat trick in the 4-3 win against Bendel Insurance to pick the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tie was confident of their victory. He made this plainly obvious when he spoke with the media ahead of the

Shooting Stars

...Is Shooting Stars Inaugural Pre-season Victory Confident Preparation?

half and could not find a way back afterwards. Some sluggish play at the back was causing grief for the visitors and it gave their opponents freedom to string beautiful patterns in dangerous zones from where the hosts grabbed the lead through Moses Omoduemuke tapping into the net as the quickest to react to Djeri Bassa’s block. Although Mbaoma, Emeka Obioma and Sadiq Abubakar had chances to get restore parity for the hosts, it was Shooting that seized their moment to double the lead – this time against the run of play – when Emmanuel Lucky benefitted from another defensive collapse to strike beyond a helpless Bassa.

Therefore, the stage appeared set for Enyimba to get one back as the most impressive side on the final day of the preseason but it was not to be, once more. In a tense final match, the Oluyole Warriors rallied back twice to prevail 3-2 to the dismay of the Aba side, who were in front twice but failed to defend those leads. Enyimba were the better team from the onset. They started the game off with an early goal in the sixth minute, cruising on autopilot. The goal came through a Fatai Abdullahi's free kick that hit the wall and eluded goalkeeper Bamidele. But, Malomo Taofeek helped the Ibadan Warriors draw level in the 16th minute. At the half hour mark, Enyimba went ahead again. Goalkeeper Bamidele parried Mbaoma's initial shot at goal, but Eze Ekwutoziam was on hand to find the net. Once again, 3SC was able to equalise when Kelly Kester curled the ball past goalie Noble in the 60th minute.

final game. He said: “I joined Enyimba to score goals and it has only started from this tournament which I have the confidence we will win."

The two teams have a history of exciting and tough encounters over the years. In some recent encounters, the Ibadan Warriors have found a way to silence their Aba rivals. For instance, they met on April 7, 2012 when the ancient town of Ibadan came alive that Saturday evening because their darling team, Shooting Stars conquered one of their staunchest rivals, Enyimba International, in the weekend’s star fixture of the Nigeria Premier League. In the tie, Mutiu Adegoke’s well taken freekick in the 87th minute of the fiercely contested match, played at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, secured the vital win for the Oluyole Warriors. With that victory, 3SC were able to to amass 23 points in the

league, a form and momentum that they were all too keen to sustain when the other half of the season got underway that 2012/2013 season.

In the most recent meeting in April this year, Enyimba suffered yet another setback, losing 2-0 to 3SC at the Lekan Salami Stadium on Monday, April 25. The People’s Elephant fell two goals down in the first

Emefiele And The Gang

In its reaction after the secret court filing became public, the DSS was combative in response to the general public’s reaction to their suspicious move. Responding to protests calling on it to retract its suit, the DSS warned Nigerians against being used to “undermine” its work. Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesperson, issued a statement last Monday with this warning and claimed that the Department will not be distracted by those seeking to use “propaganda” to undermine what it believed to be lawful investigations.

While I caution for responsibility at all levels, whether at the Central Bank, State Security and law enforcement, Judiciary and even the general public, we must put the interest of our country as well as our sensitive institutions first in all we do. Emefiele is not infallible. He is human after all and would have faults like you and I. The CBN under his leadership has done remarkably well considering the fundamental economic issues we have in the country. Do I agree with all his policies? Of course not. But I am not an economist. He is the expert so I will defer to him and accept his bank’s policies knowing that they are often in the interest of the country.

I often repeat this joke I was told by a ranking government official in the national budget office a while ago, who said that even if you hire the highly respected Alan Greenspan to run the CBN, he would face almost the same challenges all past CBN governors have faced because the fiscal side has never really delivered on its task – uninterrupted electricity, security

of lives and property, healthcare and effective public education amongst other things.

It is wrong and despicable to deliberately destroy the hard earned reputation of a person because you just do not like him. My counsel to those seeking Emefiele’s ouster over an alleged infringement or crime is to be transparent in the process for the sake of posterity and the integrity of the CBN.

First, President Buhari who is the CEO of the country must be presented with evidence of the alleged serious infraction against the holder of the sensitive office and if he is convinced that a crime has indeed been committed by Emefiele, I am certain he would handle the matter in a manner that protects the institution and country from a needless controversy, embarrassment and ridicule.

Emefiele was reappointed governor of the CBN in 2019 for a five-year tenure and is scheduled to serve until 2024. The procedure to remove a governor of the CBN is clear. Any other illegal means would taint the process and hurt the economy and the country’s reputation even more. A battle to forcefully remove Emefiele from office without Buhari and the Senate’s approval or consent will be long and costly for the nation’s fragile economy.

As we celebrate Christmas and look forward to the end of 2022 and enter the New Year, it is my desire that we all have stability, peace, prosperity and joy as we party and celebrate. Have a very Merry Christmas.

Anthony Okachi scored the third goal for 3SC in the 85th minute, shocking the Ibadan Warriors despite Enyimba's pressure to score on every opportunity that came their way in the second half. As a result, Shooting Stars won the inaugural edition of the competition and took home a N100m prize money. As the side that lifted the trophy, Okachi, who delivered the killer blow, was chosen as the competition's top player and went home with the N1m MVP award. When the season kicks off in January, in its abridged format, the 3SC will turn their attention once again to challenging for honours in the Nigeria Professional Football League. Whether that will be enough to get them the top prize, only time will tell.

Emefiele And The Gang

Godwin Ifeanyichukwu Emefiele has battled many controversies since his appointment as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2014 just like his predecessor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi did during his own tenure. No doubt with the power and influence of the office of the Governor of the reserve bank, the occupant will almost likely face pressures from the political class and elite over one thing or another. As a close observer of the activities of the CBN, I have keenly followed the bank’s policies and the reactions that greet their announcement and subsequent implementation.

There is however one policy, the naira redesign and weekly cash withdrawal peg, that is causing some politicians and some odious persons endless headaches and hypertension as we count down to the general elections slated for February 25, 2023.

These actors have argued both privately and openly that the redesign of the naira and the pegged weekly withdrawal limits was ill timed and should not have been implemented with elections around the corner. Some claim Emefiele deployed the policy to pay back politicians for antagonising his bid to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

The fact is that this policy had been unduly delayed because of political influence/considerations since the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, but thankfully, President Buhari, who will not be on the ballot, is desirous of leaving an unmatched record of conducting the most credible election the country has ever had where the influence of cash is drastically reduced.

My understanding of the policy according to the explanations by officials of the bank is that it helps to deal with many issues ranging from making kidnapping for ransom less attractive to curbing counterfeiting as well as reducing corruption having realised that more than 70 percent of issued notes were not in circulation but instead in private storage of corrupt government officials, politicians and criminals. President Buhari, who said he was fully briefed and supports the policy, as well as the electoral commission and monitors say the policy will significantly reduce vote buying and the influence of money in our elections and help the right candidates emerge.

Is this not good for Nigeria? Of course, it is. But what is always good for the country may not be good for one person, a few or a clique.

In the course of researching for this column, I also discovered that Emefiele is being vilified by some state governors as well because he is no longer open to support intervention programmes in their states.

You may now understand why Emefiele has suddenly become a target of attacks from multiple fronts by unusual allies who now see him as a common enemy. This policy has no doubt shaken these persons and they are hell bent on seeing Emefiele humiliated out of office by all means, as pay back.

It started recently with a claim by Hon. Muhammed Kazaure, a member of the House of Representatives who alleged the theft of N89 trillion of Stamp Duty proceeds alleging that the Central Bank and Godwin Emefiele were complicit amongst other wild allegations. The presidency has since debunked the claim saying ongoing reconciliation of the collection of stamp duties has so far shown no foul play after months of investigations. The CBN has also described the allegations as ridiculous and lacking in substance. I have taken time to watch a press conference addressed by Hon. Kazaure and also read the document circulated by him. I should add that some of the allegations were

made based on a lack of understanding or misconception of how some firms and things are designed to work. A detailed response to these allegations which make sense to me, have been made by Garba Shehu, President Buhari’s spokesman.

These wild allegations appear to be the reason for the ‘extensive investigations’ being carried out by the Department of State Services who I gather has interviewed the top management of the CBN multiple times. The officials including Emefiele, the deputy governors as well as some directors have all honoured the invitation of the DSS at all times to be interrogated as I have

nancing amongst others. Can you imagine the damage it would do to the United States and the Federal Reserve Bank if the FBI were to publicly accuse Jerome Power, the chair of the US Reserve Bank, of being a terrorist?

I have not in any way said Mr. Emefiele is above the law. If indeed he has broken the law there are better and more sophisticated ways to deal with the issue. This was clearly stated by Justice Tsoho in his ruling. He hinted that President Buhari’s approval to arrest Emefiele ought to have been sought because he is a “high ranking public official and indeed occupies a sensitive position as one of the key drivers of the nation’s economy.” I am of the opinion that if indeed Emefiele is a terrorist or terrorist financier as being alleged by the DSS (an allegation I personally find spurious, outlandish and outrageous) then why would it put the president in danger by allowing Emefiele meet PMB privately a few days ago in his Daura residence and also allowed him on the president’s entourage to Washington DC last week to honour the invitation of President Joe Biden, with the CBN Governor appearing next to Buhari at some of the events?

We must be careful in the manner we deal with issues when sensitive institutions are involved. I recall how the DSS poorly handled its beef with the leadership of the 8th National Assembly which caused the immediate past Director-General his job. I also recall the humiliation and hounding of the former Chief Justice of the Federation, Hon. Walter Onnoghen, GCON out of office by some powerful elements within the current All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government as we approached the 2019 general elections. The former CJN would later say he was unceremoniously removed from office barely a month to the 2019 presidential election over a false allegation that he met secretly in Dubai, UAE, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prior to the poll. It appears that when it comes to the quest for political power in Nigeria there are no sacred areas.

found out. What I however find curious is the secret court application by the secret police to detain the CBN Governor for 60 days (note elections are due to begin on Feb 25 and the bank plays a key role in our elections) on disputable terrorism financing allegations which of course the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Tsoho found suspicious and declined, saying the DSS “intends to use the court, as a cover for an irregular procedure, which is unacceptable.”

Justice Tsoho declared: “In the light of the foregoing reasons, I decline to grant this application ex parte. If the applicant believes that the evidence available to it so far is sufficient, then it can as well arrest and detain the applicant, even without the order of this. If however, the applicant desires to still pursue this application, then it should place the Respondent on Notice, considering the sensitive public office that he occupies. This application as presently constituted is refused."

Central banks universally are very sensitive institutions that work closely with each other and share common goals and as such must be handled with caution and thoroughly protected. To charge Emefiele with terrorism is not a tea party. The consequences of the allegation are grave for both the man and our country. We could be suspended by the EGMONT Group, a 164-country financial group that exchanges financial intelligence to combat money laundering and terror fi-

The Department of State Services (DSS) is a security and intelligence agency in Nigeria that was established in 1986. It was originally known as the National Security Organization (NSO) and was responsible for intelligence gathering and analysis, counterintelligence, and protective services. The NSO was dissolved in 1993 and replaced by the State Security Service (SSS), which was responsible for similar functions. In 2016, the SSS was reorganized and rebranded as the DSS, and its mandate was expanded to include the protection of national security and the investigation of crimes that threaten national security.

Throughout its history, the DSS has played a key role in the intelligence gathering and security efforts of the Nigerian government. It has been involved in a range of activities, including investigation of crimes and protection of government officials and VIPs. The DSS has also been involved in counterintelligence efforts, working to identify and prevent threats to national security. In recent years, the DSS has faced criticism and controversy in relation to its operations and activities even if it remains a key player in the intelligence and security efforts of the Nigerian government. The DSS as a sensitive and key institution cannot afford to be perceived as lacking in transparency and credibility. Recall the criticism and backlash it got for its controversial 2016 raid on the houses of some justices of the Supreme Court and high court judges.

You may now understand why Emefiele has suddenly become a target of attacks from multiple fronts by unusual allies who now see him as a common enemy. This policy has no doubt shaken these persons and they are hell bent on seeing Emefiele humiliated out of office by all means, as pay back