THEWILL NEWSPAPER JUNE 05, 2022 EDITION

VOL 2 NO. 23 • JUNE

05 - JUNE VOL 2 NO. 23 • JUNE

05 - JUNE 11, 2022 11, 2022

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Wike, Okowa, Others Battle For PDP Vice Presidential Position

UBA’s Digital Banking Paves Way For Market Dominance – Data Shows

SANDRA IGHO EZE A LIFE OF FRAGRANCES

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2023 PRESIDENCY:

Amaechi, Lawan in Two-Horse Race as APC Awaits Buhari's 'Anointed Candidate' *Governors, Stakeholders Intensify Lobby *Zoning, Consensus Unsettle Aspirants *Tinubu's Presidential Bid Remains Doubtful in APC

JUNE O5 - JUNE 11, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

IS NOW WHOLLY DIGITAL

Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

This week we take a look at the coming of age of Influencers in Nigeria, and I can't help but think back to my early days as a young Editor.

Believe it or not, per my CEO's advice (at the time), I made content for a few brands in video product reviews, but only for the magazine.

He predicted that social media would transcend beyond just pictures and, in preparation for the transition, suggested that we make more content (video including) around fashion, beauty and lifestyle to position ourselves in a way that people would come to want those things and thus become influencers. This, he said, would attract brand partnerships. He was right.

The influencer marketing space has since witnessed a boom, and nowadays, the type of content an influencer puts out there can potentially secure them "the bag." This week, we spotlighted influencers as our cover story and invited Noble Igwe and Kaylah Oniwo to speak to DOWNTOWN about the possibility of Influencing as a career. (See pages 8-11).

Counterfeit luxury designer accessories have been in existence for ages. Our fashion pages list some tricks to help you spot them from a mile away for those who can't seem to tell a fake from the real deal.

VOL 2 NO. 23 • JUNE 05 - JUNE 11, 2022

I know we have a lot of apartment buildings to rent for the weekend in Nigeria, but do we actually offer the Airbnb model? I don't know about you, but I'm certainly not ready for that in Nigeria. All sorts have run through my mind just thinking about it.

Our movie review page has me all excited about Top Gun: Maverick, and from what I have read, I will be heading to the cinema as soon as this week's issue is published. the INFLUENCER

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Onah Nwachukwu

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Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN

@onahluciaa

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COVER

2023 PRESIDENCY:

Amaechi, Lawan in Two-Horse Race as APC Awaits Buhari's 'Anointed Candidate'

*Governors, Stakeholders Intensify Lobby *Zoning, Consensus Unsettle Aspirants *Tinubu's Presidential Bid Remains Doubtful in APC

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BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS

he die is cast for the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) as D-Day is just around the corner. The race for the presidential ticket of the party, ahead of the 2023 General Election is now at its climax and in the next two to three days, a clear winner would have emerged as the party's flagbearer .

THEWILL can authoritatively report that unless the unexpected happens, the much-anticipated APC presidential primary, which is now scheduled to take place between Monday, June 6 and Wednesday, June 8, 2022 in Abuja, after a series of postponements, political THEWILLNIGERIA

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scheming and permutations, is going to be a two-horse race.

THE TWO-HORSE RACE At the time of filing this report, THEWILL checks show the race for the APC presidential ticket in the 2023 General Election had finally been narrowed down to the duo of the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who is a top contender from the South, and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, believed to be the poster boy of some powerful northern clique to match Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is

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also from the North. A third contender, with a great hope of stepping into the shoes of his master for the sake of continuity, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, surprisingly dropped from the radar at the last minute.

OTHER ASPIRANTS IN FLIGHT OF FANCY No fewer than 20 aspirants had earlier been screened by the APC Presidential Screening Committee led by a former Governor of Edo State and former National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, for the contest, with the leading aspirants expressing the hope of clinching the ticket at the Presidential Convention. The already screened aspirants include PAGE 7

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COVER

Amaechi, Lawan in Two-Horse Race as APC Awaits Buhari's 'Anointed Candidate' Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Senator Ahmad Lawan; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State; Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State; Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State; Pastor Tunde Bakare; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; a female aspirant, Mrs Uju Ken-Ohanenye; Mr Tein Jack Rich; Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Senator Rochas Okorocha.

Others include a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu; former Minister of Information, Ikeobasi Mokelu; Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State; former Governor of Zamfara State, Sani Yerima; immediate past Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; a former presidential candidate, Nicholas Felix; Senator Ajayi Boroffice and former Senate President, Ken Nnamani.

The leading aspirants have also been going round the country to mobilse support for their aspirations and wooing the various states' delegates for their cause. The party, however, came up with a sucker punch on Friday, June 3, when the APC Presidential Screening Committee chairman, Oyegun, announced the disqualification of 10 of the screened aspirants from participating in the presidential primary.

The aspirants cleared to participate in the primary are: Abubakar Badaru, Godswill Akpabio, Rotimi Amaechi, Ibikunle Amosun, Yahaya Bello, Kayode Fayemi, Jack-Rich Tein, Ahmad Lawan, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Christopher Onu, Yemi Osinbajo, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Dave Umahi. This is believed to be in line with the instruction earlier given by President MuhammaduBuhari that the list of the aspirants be pruned to 10 names.

BUHARI TO 'ANOINT' SUCCESSOR However, despite the initial confidence exuded by quite a few of the leading aspirants, especially Asiwaju Tinubu and VP Osinbajo, among others, THEWILL gathered that the three-day presidential primary in Abuja is expected to result in shocking outcomes.

While the hopes of some of the leading aspirants have already been dashed, the highpoint of the APC presidential primary will be the emergence of the 'anointed' candidate of the party's leader, President Buhari, who had earlier pleaded with the APC governors to allow him to choose his successor. The President, as previously reported exclusively by this newspaper, had earlier instructed the party's national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, to narrow the number of aspirants down to 10 to enable him make his choice.

DOUBTS OVER TINUBU'S CHANCES Indications have also emerged that despite touting and flaunting himself as the most qualified aspirant to match Atiku Abubakar of the PDP at the poll and succeed President Buhari in 2023, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu's chances have also dimmed significantly. Apart from the fact that he appears not to be in the good books of the 'Aso Rock cabals' as he has severally been shown the red flag, Tinubu may have also sealed his fate by his careless and arrogant outburst last Thursday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, where he said that PAGE 8

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THEWILL investigation has however revealed that the highly cerebral event may just be an anointing ceremony in which President Buhari will anoint either Amaechi or Lawan as his preferred presidential candidate of the APC

he was the one who made Buhari president and that the incumbent governor of the state, Dapo Abiodun, wouldn't have dreamt of becoming a governor without his support.

A political miscalculation, according to observers of the event, Tinubu may have committed a big blunder that may not only put paid to his chances of becoming the number 1 citizen of Nigeria, come 2023, he may have also inadvertently thrown himself into a bigger problem.

THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY THEWILL investigation has however revealed that the highly cerebral event may just be an anointing ceremony in which President Buhari will anoint either Amaechi or Lawan as his preferred presidential candidate of the APC, while the other aspirants would be asked to respect the party's decision on a consensus candidate with the several delegates left with no choice than to toe the party’s line. This newspaper gathered that while the eight southern governors in the party, three of them - Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Ben Ayade of Cross River State and David Umahi of Ebonyi State who are among the 19 presidential aspirants of the party, have unanimously resolved that the top position should go to not only the South, but also one of their own, a governor, either former or serving, some northern elements in the party are strongly rooting for Lawan, a northerner from Yobe State in North-West geopolitical zone of the country.

CONSENSUS, ZONING UNSETTLE ASPIRANTS, STAKEHOLDERS All these developments are coming even as APC's zoning and the much flaunted but controversial consensus arrangements continue to unsettle both the aspirants and other stakeholders in the party. Already, nine northern governors are said to have joined their southern counterparts in the push for a southern candidate as they believe that a strong candidate from the South could also match PDP's Atiku Abubakar in the big battle ahead. They also believe that the zoning arrangement, which the party dearly subscribes to, but is about to be jettisoned for political expediency, must be respected. To these nine governors, it is the turn of the South to produce the presidential candidate of the ruling APC. The governors, according to a source close to the development, are Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno State; Simeon Lalong of Plateau State; Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.

Others are Governors Aminu Masari of Katsina

State; Abubakar Bello of Niger State; AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State; Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State.

WHO THE CAP FITS: BETWEEN AMAECHI AND LAWAN ROTIMI AMAECHI Fifty-six year-old Rotimi Amaechi is from Rivers State in the South-South geopolitical zone of the country. A former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly for two terms, between 1999 and 2007, he was also a two-term governor of the state between 2007 and 2015.

Amaechi, who was the Minister of Transportation between 2015 and May 2022, is believed to be highly favoured by President Buhari. His Dan Amanar Daura (the trusted son of Daura)'s honour by Buhari’s kinsmen in Katsina is an indication of how much he is loved in the North.

The Director-General of the Buhari-Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Committee in the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections, Amaechi is believed to have met the benchmark of outstanding service as a minister as he also fits the bridge between the old and younger generations. At 56, the immediate past Minister of Transportation is seen as being capable of birthing the much-vaunted generational shift in Nigeria's political leadership. As a hybrid of Igbo extraction (South-East and South-South), he is seen to fit into the President's calculation of giving the presidential ticket to the South-East coupled with his outstanding performances, especially in the infrastructure development of the country.

AHMAD LAWAN Sixty-two year-old Ahmad Lawan is from a minority tribe in Yobe State in the North-East geopolitical zone of the country. One of the longest -serving members of the National Assembly, Lawan was a Member, House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007; Member, Nigerian Senate from 2007 till date and he became the Senate President in 2019, a position he occupies till date.

Senator Lawan is one of the poster boys of the North, who is quite popular in the National Assembly as one of the longest-serving members. He is believed to have the capacity to mobilise support from lawmakers in both chambers to his cause as the Senate President.

Lawan's candidacy is being promoted by a powerful clique around the President, who argue that he is the party's best chance at taking on and defeating Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in next year's presidential election.

IT'S BUHARI'S CALL President Buhari and some close aides used the oneday Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Accra, Ghana, to strategise on the choice of his successor ahead of his imminent announcement, sources close to the development told THEWILL on Saturday. The President is scheduled to make his decision known to the party's leadership anytime from now, ahead of Monday's kickoff of the presidential primary. THEWILL, infact, gathered that the President will be meeting with the aspirants Saturday evening at 8 pm to inform them about his choice.

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NEWS Ogun Community Petitions CP Over Village Head’s Bad Behaviur FROM SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA

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L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Federic Oladeinde; Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; Chairman, Lagos State Environmental and Special Offence Unit (Taskforce), CSP Shola Jejeloye, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Kamar Olowoshago, briefing the Press during the crushing of impounded motorcycles (Okada) after the ban of its operation, on Friday, June 3, 2022.

I Remain Labour Party Chairman ASUU Strike: NANS Threatens to Take Protest in C’River – Ogar Osim to Margaret Ekpo Airport

FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR he Chairman of the State Inter Party Advisory Council, Comrade Ogar Osim, has said that he is still the Chairman of the Cross River State Chapter of the Labour Party.

Osim said this in an interview with THEWILL in Calabar, in reaction to claims that some people had taken charge of the state chapter of the party.

Arguing that he would not have emerged IPAC chairman without being a chairman of a political party, he stressed that since his chairmanship was not in dispute anyone dealing with someone else on behalf of IPAC is wasting his time.

"I remain the Acting state chairman of Labour Party. I was appointed and inaugurated last year.

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"I contested for the position and won.

Although there were some petitions, the National Chairman of IPAC, who is also the chairman of ADP, Y. Y Sani, told me to go and continue my work after reviewing all the petitions.

"The Cross River State Government knows that Ogar Osim is the state IPAC Chairman, the Police Commissioner is aware, the Director of SSS is aware, INEC Commissioner is aware and we have been working.

"It takes one to be a recognised party chairman to contest for a position in IPAC. "Anybody that is dealing with anyone in the name of Labour Party is wasting his time," he said.

NCF Celebrates 40th Anniversary on World Environment Day

BY JANEFRANCES CHIBUZOR

A

s the world celebrates World Environment Day (WED), Sunday, June 5, 2022 with the theme, Only One Earth, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) plans to commemorate the event in a unique way as the non-governmental organisation marks its 40th year anniversary.

“This year's event marks 40 years of NCF. We have adopted a year-long programme of activities to celebrate 40 years of NCF in 'only one earth'. Some people have described the environment as a very important support system. Unfortunately instead of conserving and improving the earth, a lot of activities are damaging and harming the earth. A lot of activities have been lined up to commemorate NCF's 40 years anniversary," NCF Coordinator of the Green Recovery Nigeria Project, Folake Salawu, said.

She pointed out that the theme of this year's WED boils down to promoting living sustainably in harmony with nature, while NCF is in alignment with THEWILLNIGERIA

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nature, which is promoting Nigeria where people are living in harmony with nature.

"Perhaps, for us at 'the Green Recovery Nigeria Project desk, the green recovery Nigerian project is a flagship programme of the NCF that targets contribution to increasing the forest cover in Nigeria from the present less than 10 percent rate to 25 percent by 2027," Salawu said.

The WED 2022 theme, Only One Earth, was first adopted as a slogan for the 1972 Stockholm Conference. The unique thing about the theme, 50 years on, is that this truth still holds. We have no other place and this planet is our only home. There is a need for the human race to collectively act against further anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases to and from the atmosphere.

Experts have identified significant progress made and what is ahead in decades to come, with the slogan Only One Earth.

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he National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to take its protest to the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar.

NANS said that this will help to draw the attention of the public to the strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which is taking its toll on them.

The students’ body made the threat at the Federal Secretariat in Calabar while protesting against the Federal Government’s failure to resolve its disagreement with university lecturers.

The dispute between the government and ASUU has led to the closure of the nation's tertiary institutions for several months, thereby forcing academic activities in the institutions to a halt.

The spokesman of NANS, Comrade Anthony Afufu, questioned the lackadaisical attitude of the government towards the strike action.

He said if one official of the government could steal more than N170 billion, the government had no reason to complain of lack of funds.

The student leader dispelled allegations that NANS was being sponsored to disrupt the peace and public activities.

"We contributed money to carry out this protest. We called on the Federal Government to give a listening ear to ASUU. "Imagine the Accountant General of the nation, just one man, stealing billions of naira, yet school gates are shut down.

"For how long are we going to stay at home? We cannot continue to stay at home just because the government claimed not to have money to settle university lecturers.

"Enough of this lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government," Afufu said.

esidents of Geleodun community in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, have petitioned the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Lanre Bankole, over alleged stealing and thuggery by a deposed Baale, Jamiu Abolade Omigade.

In the petition dated March 2, 2022, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, the deposed Baale was accused of stealing and constantly harassing residents of the community.

The letter partly reads, "The entire members of the OGBONI, OLOGUN, OLOROGUN and PARAMOUNT CHIEFS of Oba-Land Traditional Council of Chiefs unanimously agreed during the recent meeting that we should quickly bring to your notice the evil activities of Mr Jamiu Abolade Omigade, who was suspended as Baale (Village Head) of Geleodun Village on January 14, 2017 due to his acts of indiscipline, disobedience and disrespect to constituted traditional authority, as well as thuggery and humiliation of the natives and residents of Geleodun community and its environs through unlawful sale of people's land at Geleodun Village.

"Mr Jamiu Abolade Omigade is a native of Igbore whose forefathers had settled in Geleodun Village among other Igbore people. He was unanimously installed as the Baale (Village head) Geleodun Village in 2014 by the of Alake of Egbaland under the recommendation of the Igbore Traditional Council of Chiefs.

"He was suspended in 2017 by the same Igbore Traditional Council of Chiefs on the instruction of the prescribed authority of the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland.

“In spite of his removal Jamiu, Abolade Omigade has continued to parade himself as the Baale of Geleodun Village to cause a breach of peace and to threaten other people's lives.

"We have to state clearly that Mr. Jamiu Omigade was tried and convicted in August 2020, amongst other conspirators in the judgment of the Chief Magistrate of Ogun State in the Obafemi/Owode Magisterial District.

"Also, its pertinent to keep you informed that, His Royal Majesty Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, had since written a letter dated January, 30, 2020 and addressed to the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Nigeria Police OwodeEgba Area Command against Mr. Jamiu Abolade Omigade of his deposition, being the erstwhile Baale of Geleodun Village."

"In this regard, the Alake of Egbaland requested the Commissioner of Police to please invite Jamiu Abolade Omigade to sign a peaceful undertaking in the interest of peace in Geleodun Village and that Mr. Jamiu Omigade should stop parading himself as the Baale of Geleodun including the removal of all the illegal signboards he had erected to cause confusions in like manner to cause the breach of peace."

"In addition, it should be noted that the said Jamiu Abolade Omigade has never taken any administrative steps against his suspension as the Baale to the Kabiyesi Alake of Egbaland, the prescribed authority or to the Ogun State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for a possible review of his suspension before the new Baale was officially installed by the Alake of Egbaland.

Instead he (Jamiu Omigade) subsequently shunned all the procedural

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POLITICS

BY AYO ESAN

F

ormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged as presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after polling 371 votes out of 767 during the party’s Presidential Primary Election and Special Convention held on May 28 and 29 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Atiku defeated his closest rival, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who polled 237 votes. Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, came a distant third with 70 votes, while Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State scored 38 votes.

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, scored 14 votes and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State polled 20 votes.

Atiku Abubakar has spent the last few days reaching out to his opponents at the primary for their support in the task ahead.

The former Vice President spoke on the need for all to work together to ensure the party’s victory in the forthcoming presidential election in 2023.

He had in his acceptance speech given his fellow contestants the assurance that he was ready to work with them and give them a sense of belonging in the party, come 2023.

He expressed appreciation for their efforts to sustain the democratic process in the party and said he looked forward to working with them closely in order to build the party to a level where it can take over the government Appealing to all aggrieved members of the PDP to return, he pledged to address their grievances within the party.

It is now interesting that there are underground moves among the party’s leaders, especially those from the South, to pick the vice presidential slot.

Although Atiku may have made an input, the picking of the party’s vice presidential candidate is going to be done by the National Working Committee (NWC) in collaboration with the Members of the Board of Trustees (BoTs). And since the picking of the vice presidential ticket is not going to be done through voting or any election, there are underground moves by various interests within the party as usual.

While many political watchers have expressed the opinion that the Vice President will be picked from the South-East, analysts have warned that the voting strength of the PDP in the South-South should not be naively ignored. It is believed that the region will be favoured. In fact, there is an assumption that a serving governor will be favoured to become Atiku Abubakar’s deputy. The

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It must however be quick to point out that if there is any former governor that is close to Atiku in the South, it is former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanafe Ibori. The relationship between Ibori and Okowa seem to have gone sour with the recently conducted primary of the PDP in the state

likely nominees for the job are Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.

NYESOM WIKE Aside from emerging as runner-up in the PDP presidential primary, Wike is a respected party man. He used to boast that he had never left the PDP for another political party. He is also known to be a major financier of the party since the PDP left the national governance in 2015.

Political analysts believe he deserves to pick the vice presidential slot, given his political pedigree and commitment to the party.

However, many are cautious of his temperament.

One is also worried that with the way things are going, if the PDP fails to gain power at the federal level, Wike may be forced to go on holiday because he has not obtained the senatorial nomination form and so cannot be in the Senate.

Therefore if there is anybody that needs the post of vice president most, Wike is the one. But the question is, looking at the experience of former President Goodluck Jonathan and incumbent Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s second term in office, in which they were sort of pushed aside, will Wike be able to endure a situation where he is rendered almost irrelevant in the day-to-day running of government? Considering his antecedents, it is difficult to provide an answer to the question.

Wike

Emmanuel

Okowa

Wike, Okowa, Others Battle For PDP Vice Presidential Position

IFEANYI OKOWA Many people believe that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is best suited to be Atiku Abubakar’s running mate. Those who are in this school of thought believe his meekness and political sagacity is enough to make him the PDP’s vice presidential candidate.

It must however be quick to point out that if there is any former governor that is close to Atiku in the South, it is former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanafe Ibori. The relationship between Ibori and Okowa seem to have gone sour with the recently conducted primary of the PDP in the state.

It would be recalled that Sheriff Oborevwori, Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly won the PDP governorship primary in Delta State. He defeated David Edevbie, commissioner for finance during the James Ibori administration, who is believed to be Ibori's candidate for the governorship position.

It is therefore clear that Ibori will not put in a word to Atiku for Okowa. Perhaps he can do so only if Okowa reverses the PDP governorship primary in favour of Ibori’s candidate and therefore, trade off his candidate for the vice presidential position at the federal level.

UDOM EMMANUEL Emmanuel has a great chance of picking the Vice Presidential slot of the PDP. Being a former Executive Director of Zenith Bank will give balance to Atiku, who may not be well versed in economics. This becomes more necessary, given the economic situation of the country.

Aside this, Emmanuel, a cerebral politician who came fourth in the presidential primary, has been governor of the rich state of Akwa Ibom for more than seven years and he is somebody who can easily source money for a general election which will featured the PDP against the ruling party APC that has been in power for almost eight years.

Emmanuel’s support may be needed to buoy Atiku financially. It is believed that the latter is no longer as rich as he used to be.

GODWIN OBASEKI Obaseki has a distant chance of becoming the vice presidential candidate of the PDP, but some people believe his close relationship with Atiku during the PDP presidential primaries may fetch him the job. He was seen on the rostrum while Atiku was reading his acceptance speech. His sour relationship with Wike, who was seen as the arch opponent of At, may also boost his chances.

However many who are not in support of the Edo State governor becoming Atiku’s deputy are of the opinion that Obaseki is not a run-of-the-mill politician, but a technocrat. It was therefore their view that Obaseki will not be a valuable asset to Atiku Abubakar’s campaign, when it kicks off in September this year.

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POLITICS

BY AYO ESAN

M

inor political parties are usually devoid of activities, but they come alive during an election period, especially when aspirants who could not fulfill their desires in the two major parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), turn to them for succour.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) registered 18 political parties. Apart from the APC and PDP, only a few other parties, such as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), African Democratic Congress (ADC); Social Democratic Party (SDP); Labour Party (LP); Accord Party (AP); Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Young People’s Party (YPP) are active during election time and fizzle out afterwards.

One of such parties, which has found favour among aggrieved members of the PDP and APC, is the SDP. Currently this party is mired in a crisis of leadership, with a former boss of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Dr Olu Agunloye and a former Chairman of Afenifere in Lagos, Chief Supo Sonibare, separately claiming to be its rightful leader.

Falae said this when newly-elected members of the National Executive of the SDP in Ondo State, led by its Chairman, Dele Thomas, paid him a visit in Akure.

Other members of the national executive in attendance were the Secretary of the Ondo chapter of the party, Dr Sola Agboola; Treasurer, Mrs Rachael Ajayi and Publicity Scretary, Mr Remi Olayiwola.

Also in attendance were two former chairmen of the party in the state, Prince Dele Ogunbameru and Chief Korede Duyile.

Falae said the last convention of the party was held in 2016 and since then no national convention of the party had taken place.

“All I want to say is that as of today, nobody can claim to be a legitimate member of the SDP national executive, not one.

“The last election was held in March 2016. It expired March 2020. Anybody who is claiming to be national chairman of SDP is just floating on water, you have no mandate.

“There is no basis at all, whether it is Shonibare or Agunloye, whatever, my tenure was the only legitimate executive and it has expired,” he said.

Falae congratulated the newly elected executives and promised to look into their request to reconcile feuding members of the party.

He said that the party would have been a suitable bride with what was happening in the major parties but for the ongoing crisis.

Reacting to Chief Falae’s statement, the leadership of the party described it as “grossly erroneous and misleading.”

The party’s National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye, in a statement entitled ‘Chief Olu Falae erred’ said, “This fallacious and malicious mis-statement, although primarily directed to distort facts or influence pending court process, is very much unexpected from a revered leader like Chief Falae.

“First and foremost, let us take a closer look at the background of this matter in order to ensure maximum clarity as we put the facts bare on the table.

“This is necessary to show the public where Chief Olu Falae, affectionately referred to as Baba, has erred. We shall proceed to put the records straight in the interest of the ever-increasing members of the party nationwide and the public, in general.

“In February 2019, after serving as National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party for over 14 years, Chief Falae abruptly THEWILLNIGERIA

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Falae

Warning politicians not to contest for any elective position on the party’s platform, he described anybody claiming to be the National Chairman of the SDP as “floating on water.”

Agunloye

However, while the leadership tussle continued, a former National Chairman of the party, who is also a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, appeared to worsen the situation by claiming that the SDP had been parading illegal executives since 2020.

Leadership Crisis Tears SDP Apart

“

The last election was held in March 2016. It expired March 2020. Anybody who is claiming to be national chairman of SDP is just floating on water, you have no mandate

resigned his appointment seven days to the 2019 general election. He publicly announced this resignation and his retirement from politics.

“However, from ‘retirement’, Falae has proceeded to mislead the public and he has attempted to create a faction of SDP in his home state, Ondo.

“He may have finally teamed up with the same Shonibare group that castigated him for “misconduct and mismanagement” in a still pending suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja and with those who openly accused him of “impropriety” at an Afenifere meeting held in Akure to defame the SDP, his former party.

“It is noteworthy that Shonibare and his handful of supporters, all of whom had been sanctioned by SDP at one time or the other for misconduct and anti-party activities or for not falling in line with reorganisation and repositioning programmes of the party, have now taken advantage of Chief Falae’s old age and the fact the he has lost touch with SDP’s aspirations to lure him

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into placing his unfounded personal opinion in the public domain, as if he were a Court judge or INEC official.

“Accordingly, we wish to present the following points to set the records straight: Chief Supo Shonibare, who claims that Afenifere, the socio-cultural organisation in Yorubaland, had directed him to take over the SDP is relying on charges of mismanagement against Chief Olu Falae, a Deputy Leader of Afenifere, in order to justify his (Shonibare’s) case pending at a Federal High Court.

“INEC formally testified at the Federal High Court in the case brought by Chief Supo Shonibare in 2020 and 2021 that the March 2016 Convention on which Chief Falae based his own election was not covered by INEC. ” This could mean that Falae’s own national chairmanship was actually in the waters from March 2016 struggling to float, but perhaps drowning, until the October 2018 National Convention which came to his rescue.

“The October 2018 Convention presided over by the same Falae elected national officers, particularly those newly created by the new 2018 SDP Constitution and legitimised the appointments of the other officers, including that of Chief Olu Falae himself.

“Chief Falae presided over the ratification and adoption of the 2018 SDP Constitution at the National Convention of October 6, 2018, but Shonibare is now insisting that it is only the 2012 Constitution that is the valid constitution of the SDP. ” The same Falae, as the then National Chairman of the party, along with Chief Supo Shonibare, who was the National Vice Chairman, went to the Federal High Court, the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court between October 2018 to April 2019, against Prof Jerry Gana.

•Continues on page 13

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POLITICS/INTERVIEW

With Atiku, PDP Will Win 2023 Presidential Election – Dayo Chief Bayo Dayo is a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State. In this interview with AYO ESAN, he speaks on the last Presidential Primary of the PDP in Abuja and issues affecting Ogun State and Nigeria. Excerpts:

W

Another complaint by the people is that a lot of money was spent by the aspirants. There were records that delegates collected millions of naira. What do you think that portends for our democracy?

That is the situation in the country generally. If you go to any organization, you will start spending money on the people you meet on the way, right from the gatemen to the messengers that are going to pick up the files before you get to your destination. Most of our civil servants now are contractors. All the jobs that are supposed to go to the people go to these civil servants and they become overnight millionaires. Money has spoiled everything in Nigeria. So it is not only in politics; it is in everything. You cannot do anything without giving out money.

Those who are going to good offices are expected to spend money. By the time they get there, they would have been heavily indebted and they will be looking for money to repay their loans. That is the problem we are facing in Nigeria. It is in every profession. You are walking in the street and the police will be asking you for money. Anywhere you go in Nigeria, everything is based on money and you are expected to put some money in your pocket when you are leaving home. When you live abroad you only live on a debit card. Whatever you buy, you use your debit card. But in this country, everything you do is based on cash. So it is not only in politics but in everything. That is what is damaging this country. Corruption is everywhere. It is in every profession.

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Dayo

hat is your perception of the recently conducted Special Convention/Presidential Primary of your party, the PDP in Abuja?

It was a well organised primary. It was well conducted and very nice, indeed. But of course, people are complaining that the presidential candidate should have been from the South, based on our zoning system in the PDP constitution. But the Nigerian Constitution does not make provision for zoning.

And that is the issue. The constitution is what Nigeria is based upon. The party’s constitution, yes it is good and we have to abide by it, but you cannot go to court on party constitution.

The only constitution that applies in the court of law is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And there is no provision for zoning of the president in that constitution.

That is the only thing people are shouting about now.

Although it is morally right to give the position to the South, since the present government is from the North, that is just an arrangement within the PDP.

So talking about spending money at the primary, it is not a new thing. Now it has gone so high that before you become anything, even a councilor in a local government council, you will spend millions of naira. I mean you spend millions before you become a councilor, not to talk of council chairman, House of Assembly and so on and so forth. Everything is based on money now in Nigeria. That is the situation we have found ourselves in.

Last year, you said that it would be better for the PDP to have a candidate from the North. Are you satisfied with what transpired at the party’s last primary election?

Yes, I said so.

How do you see the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of your party?

When we talk of a private arrangement within the party, we agreed within ourselves that we would zone some offices. But

when you are in opposition, it will be very difficult for you to follow the zoning system. It is either you want to win an election or you want to zone and lose. If we had zoned the presidency to the South, even though the South is entitled to it, we would lose the election. This is because the people in the South can understand, but most of the people in the northern Nigeria don’t know what is going on. You just need to mention the name of a Hausa man, then they will start voting for him, no matter what you say.

You see, the problem we are having in Nigeria is the population.

When you go to a street in Kano and you need 500 youths, you will get them in a matter of minutes. Where would you get such a large number of people in the South? No, we don’t have many children. We base our children on our capacity. But in the North people just have as many children as possible. Those children are the ones causing problems now.

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POLITICS/INTERVIEW zoning and lose the election. It is either of the two and that is the situation we have found ourselves.

Are you surprised that the ruling APC has not been able to put its acts together to conduct a presidential primary?

I am not surprised. This is because when you have a bad leader, nothing you can do that can be smooth. The world is moving like a jet, you need people that can move with the world and not the people that do not understand what is going on around the world.

“

So Atiku is as good as anything because if we pick a southerner we will not win the election. Tinubu is the most powerful Yoruba politician today. But I can tell you if the APC chooses Tinubu as its presidential candidate, as powerful as he is, the northerners will not vote for him and he cannot win the election

When you have a bad leader, no matter what you do, you cannot be okay. People have realised now that they actually have nothing to offer. If they have anything to offer, why is it taking them several months to produce a candidate? Knowing fully well that they are going to have a consensus candidate, why are they asking 28 aspirants to pay N100m each? Having known that only one of them will emerge president, they are not going to refund the money.

When you look at Page 18 of the APC nomination form, they will tell you to fill page 18 and on that page 18 they tell you that you will have to resign or withdraw from the race voluntarily. If you don’t sign page 18, they will not consider you. And on that page 18, it is stated that you are to sign a letter of withdrawal for a reason best known to you. You sign that before they can collect the form from you. What kind of party is that?

Where will you resign in advance so that eventually when they don’t want you they will just help you to put a date and submit it for you? I don’t know of any other political party that behaves like that after collecting N100million from each of the aspirants. Is that fair to the people concerned? But that is the kind of party you call APC. We don’t do that in PDP. Although I see a good thing in the Yewa axis of the APC because they did a lot of work to put a round peg in a round hole. They agreed within themselves to come down and go for a lower position, in order to make the party win the election.

What of your party, the PDP in Ogun State?

In Ogun PDP, the elders should put their heads together and do the needful, if the aspirants will allow us to do it. But the situation we are in now in Ogun where aspirants are not looking for the leaders, but the leaders are going to aspirants in their houses. Everything has changed, but I prefer to stay in my house. Whoever needs my services will have to come to me. I will not go to any aspirant’s house because I want to take money from him. No. If you need our knowledge you must come to us and ask for it. Without respecting the elders, things will not go well in Ogun PDP. Now that you mentioned Ogun PDP, a few weeks ago, the party had two governorship primaries. What are you the elders doing to foster unity in the party?

When I had a disagreement with the late Buruji Kashamu, the disagreement was based on unity. I was working hard to have unity in the party. If a party is united, then there will be as many aspirants as possible. Now people have realised that the party can win the election. That is the situation in Ogun State.

If we are serious and we want to win the election, there is nothing we can do other than to go to where the population is very thick so that we can get votes from there. If you take anybody from the South, yes, we will clear our minds that we have done the right thing but we will not win the election.

That is the situation.

So Atiku is as good as anything because if we pick a southerner we will not win the election. Tinubu is the most powerful Yoruba politician today. But I can tell you if the APC chooses Tinubu as its presidential candidate, as powerful as he is, the northerners will not vote for him and he cannot win the election.

Politics is such a game that it needs a lot of calculation. If you don’t do your calculation right, then you will lose. It is either we calculate to be in government or we satisfy our people by THEWILLNIGERIA

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We are now united, we are all together and we are in a position to win many elections, but they do not give the elders enough opportunity to use their talents. Some people are dictating.

They are telling us that is the man who will go for this and this is the one that will go for that. And when we tell them that it doesn’t work out this way unless we listen to one another and allow the elders to settle our differences, there is no way we can make it. That is what is causing problems in Ogun PDP now.

With the unity of the party, of course, many aspirants will come in. They will be willing to contest in the party. But some aspirants that do not want other aspirants to come in, they want to be sole candidates. I disagree with that. I know Ladi Adebutu has been spending a lot of money to keep the party going for a long time. But that does not mean that other people will not use the opportunity they have in joining the party and tell us about their interests. It is for them to tell ustheir interests, and it is for the elders of the party to talk to them and arrange things the way it should be. We cannot say because we have Adebutu, we don’t want to see anybody else. No.

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*Continued from Page11

...Tears SDP Apart

“Armed with the 2018 SDP Constitution, Gana, Chief Falae’s friend of over 43 years, said,’ The Supreme Court upheld the 2018 SDP Constitution in its judgement of 29 March 2019 in the case of Prof Jerry Gana vs His Excellency, Donald Duke, Chief Olu Falae and others.’

“Mr. Dele Ogunbameru, whom Chief Olu Falae is now eulogising was summarily tried in a ‘parlour court’ in April 2017 in Chief Falae’s sitting room in Akure. This was because of a petition brought by Chief Korede Duyile, the then Ondo State Chairman of the SDP, against Mr Dele Ogunbameru, the then state secretary for insolence, fraud and gross indiscipline. Chief Falae, acting as the National Chairman and presiding judge, found Ogunbameru guilty and ordered him to prostrate to beg the then State Chairman, Chief Duyile. And the Chief closed the case.

“When Mr Dele Ogunbameru did not refrain from serial misconducts, Chief Duyile formally suspended him from the party in November 2017. Mr. Ogunbameru remained suspended from the SDP till December 2019 when he showed some remorse and was readmitted by Chief Duyile who then notified the National Secretariat about the readmission of Mr. Ogunbameru, but added that he was not fit to hold any party office.

“In June 2020, when Ogunbameru appeared to have fully purged himself of irresponsible behaviour, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the SDP appointed him as the Chairman of the Ondo State Caretaker Committee for 90 days.

“Chief Korede Duyile, Dele Thomas and Mr Sola Agboola petitioned against the appointment and later headed to the Federal High Court in Akure to ask the court to nullify the appointment of Mr. Ogunbameru. The case is still pending.

“In March 2020, when a member of the House of Representatives in the party took along Mr. Sola Agboola, also known as “Dr Shola” to the house of Chief Olu Falae for some intervention in a political situation in Ondo State, Chief Falae indignantly walked out Mr. Agboola from his sitting room, recalling that it was Mr. Sola Agboola who maliciously alleged at an Afenifere meeting in Akure that Chief Falae “collected and mismanaged funds from the President Goodluck Jonathan administration ” “Over the intervening period, Mr. Dele Ogunbameru became engrossed again in fraudulent and anti-party activities and he was suspended by the National Working Committee of the party in April 2022.

“Now Messrs Supo Shonibare, Dele Thomas, Sola Agboola and Dele Ogunbameru have now enlisted the collaboration of Chief Falae, elder statesman and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation to give further voice to misrepresentation and mischief, with a view to defame or demarket SDP in order to satisfy their paymasters.

Agunloye therefore said that “The current actions of Chief Falae to cast aspersions on the social Democratic Party are completely unwarranted and strongly condemned. The public is enjoined to disregard the utterances of the Chief”.

Speaking with THEWILL, a public affairs commentator based in Abuja, Kayode Ogunmodede, described the situation in the SDP as sad.

“I feel sorry that a party that is supposed to be a third force is still sitting pretty on the same spot for years. That it is now enmeshed in crisis is a dangerous signal to those who have picked the party’s ticket for elections. It means after winning the elections, they may lose their mandates through the court.

“Leadership tussle is a terrible thing in any political party.

But I think Falae with his position in the party in the past should be taken seriously. I therefore advised the party to resolve its differences before the coming elections.

“Sadly, I heard that Engr Segun Oni is pulling crowds in his campaign towards the June 18,2022 governorship election, but all these may amount to nothing if, at the end of the day, a man like Chief Falae says the NWC that gave him the party ticket is declared illegal by a court of law,” he said.

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EDITORIAL

Organised Impunity at Lagos Ports

T

he myriad of illegal checkpoints on the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports roads in Lagos, have become a channel of organised impunity, official lawlessness and excesses that defy the authority of the Lagos State Government.

of Nigeria’s ports is one of the worst in the world. According to the research firm, the unfriendly business environment of Nigeria’s ports system, owing to its harsh policies and corruption, has led to the diversion of Nigerian-bound cargo to most ports in neighbouring Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana. This is a window of significant revenue and job loss to Nigeria.

Security personnel, who showcase a false sense of duty of controlling traffic and providing security on these routes, have resorted to extortion and elevating corruption to a national priority.

In 2020, SBM tracked shipments over a period of three months to three ports in Africa and came up with the average cost of shipping charges, terminal charges and local transport to cost of warehousing. The costs for Apapa Port in Lagos were by far the highest, five times higher than in Durban, South Africa and three times higher than Tema in Ghana.

A recent report by a national newspaper revealed that over 26 illegal checkpoints exist within the Apapa and Tin-Can Island Port corridor where truckers are compelled to pay between N80,000 and N100,000 per trip to access the port, despite having valid electronic call-up tickets.

The agencies that mount the checkpoints are the Police, Army, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps, Customs and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), as well as local government officials and thugs.

Haulage operators reportedly spend a significant part of their profits paying their way in and out of the ports. As expected, monies spent by truckers on checkpoints are factored by cargo owners into the amount charged as the cost of haulage. This development threatens the stability of the electronic call-up systems recently introduced for port-bound trucks.

Another report by SBM Intel, an Africa-focused geopolitical, market intelligence and communications consulting firm, revealed that the unfriendly business environment

While each of the component parts of this dataset: shipping charges, terminal charges and local transport are highest for Lagos, local transport in Lagos, which is 10 times the cost in both Durban and Tema is what really makes Lagos an expensive place to do business in.

For a very long time, the Lagos port area has been seen as another ‘arm’ of government with powers to make its own ‘laws’ and enforce them in the most aggressive and brutal manner.

THEWILL had, in a previous publication, reported that perpetrators of illegal activities at the ports operate like a ‘task force’ set up to kill the economy. The “businesses” are facilitated by bare-faced officials of government agencies on uniforms that carry their name tags.

The fact that Nigeria’s major ports have become a zone of official lawlessness and all forms of contrary behaviour is, indeed, a matter of grave concern. The challenge of multiple illegal checkpoints compound the fact that Nigerian ports are marked with high charges and tariffs and notorious

for their closeness to densely populated cities and bus stops, which makes human movement and port operational performance very difficult.

The maritime industry in Nigeria is undeniably important to the country’s economic growth. Its role can either affect the economy positively or setback the economy.

A high percentage of Nigeria's cargo trade is facilitated by sea carriage as it accounts for about 95 percent of the vehicular means of Nigeria’s international trade. Nigeria trades about 180 million tons of seaborne cargo per annum.

In December 2021, the Federal Government estimated an investment of N7.73 trillion for the maritime

industry and other industries under the transport sector in the N348.1 trillion earmarked for the five-year National Development Plan (NDP) covering 2021-2025.

President Muhammadu Buhari said the government was expected to contribute N49.7 trillion while the remaining 85.7 percent, which is N298.3 trillion, would come from the private sector.

With this objective in view, it is unacceptable that corruption, collusion and confusion – rolled together – should be allowed to produce the frustration that reigns among users of Nigeria’s foremost seaports in Lagos. Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, cannot afford to develop by towing this line of ‘instituted’ corruption.

The Lagos State Government and the Maritime Police Command, which have been collaborating on this matter, should adopt concrete measures to end extortion and multiple checkpoints on the Lagos ports roads.

By convention, it is the role of the security agencies to enforce order and provide security so as to ensure orderliness, especially in the aspect of traffic flow. But the reverse is the case. They have become agents of extortion, intimidation and corruption

By convention, it is the role of the security agencies to enforce order and provide security so as to ensure orderliness, especially in the aspect of traffic flow. But the reverse is the case. They have become agents of extortion, intimidation and corruption.

It behoves the authorities of the various security agencies to see to it that their personnel do not continue to engage in these shameful acts. The Federal Government and Lagos State Government should collaborate and save Nigerians the embarrassment, logistics torture, extortion and corruption that the Lagos ports have been subjected to. We cannot be mouthing ‘ease of doing business’ when it does not practically exist in our system. It is a culture that drives foreign investors away.

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Austyn Ogannah Editor – Olaolu Olusina Deputy Editor – Amos Esele Politics Editor – Ayo Esan Business Editor – Sam Diala Copy Editor – Chux Ohai Cartoon Editor – Victor Asowata Entertainment/Society Editor – Ivory Ukonu Photo Editor – Peace Udugba Head, Graphics – Tosin Yusuph Circulation Manager – Victor Nwokoh Nigeria Bureau: 36AA Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja. Lagos, Nigeria. info@thewillnigeria.com / @ THEWILLNG, +234 810 345 2286, +234 913 333 3888.

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

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OPI N ION

Monkey Pox: Another Red-Alert For Nigeria

BY LINUS AWUTE

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here is a shock wave in many countries, following an outbreak of Monkeypox, a viral infection that has spread across Europe, the United States of America, Canada and Australia.

Only last Friday, more than 100 cases were either suspected or confirmed in Europe. It is also believed that this is the largest outbreak of the disease ever in Europe. I watched the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Dr. Teresa Tam, on YouTube when she said in an interview that the world was shocked that the outbreak could happen in countries outside Africa.

Tam said, “It is unusual for the world to see these cases reported in different countries outside of Africa. I think at the beginning of every outbreak we should try and understand the transmission routes”.

This is trying to say that it was not supposed to be an European or American disease. This is just one statement in the midst of many negative remarks on Africa and West Africa, in particular, since the outbreak of the disease.

It is now obvious that the focus of the West is adjusting towards the speculation that the source of this pandemic is Africa, instead of discussing the vulnerability of the African continent and the need to join hands with African leaders to protect the continent and its people in the Diaspora from the disease.

It is true that the WHO has taken a bold step to call a meeting in Geneva, working closely with countries responding to monkeypox virus outbreak. However, this call for a meeting is unfortunately dealing more on the outrage that this particular outbreaks, reported in 10 to 11 countries of Europe and America are atypical as they are occurring in non-endemic countries instead of the endemic countries of Africa. This is too sad to note, but it equally tells us Africans, to know the world and understand the interests of those living in it in order to readily understand when we are being used or insulted as a means of perpetuating the expression of innate feeling of superiority over us.

Stigmatising countries in Africa or groups of people because of a disease is not acceptable and we trust to believe that WHO itself does not believe in stigmatisation. It therefore behoves on the norganisation to understand how to go ahead of the national governments of the affected countries to eclipse their sentiments, outrage, hasty mischaracterisation and judgment with the correct narrative of their own unwholesome lifestyle and trending belief systems that are

capable of provoking the emergence of unknown diseases.

As monkeypox spreads through Europe, Canada, America and Australia, the best that anyone can expect of these countries is for them to focus their response on the people affected and their close contacts, as well as research and study their own peculiar life style.

People who closely interact with someone who is infected are at greater risk for infection. This is the scientific principle and the notable belief system that govern disease control, containment and prevention. We do not have to resort to conversations that diminish, unconsciously, the intellectual capacity of the scientists themselves.

For us in Nigeria, this is a wakeup call for a country with unmanned multiple land crossings and porous border lines.

The lesson to take home now is the fact that monkeypox may be yet another threat on the sobriety of Nigerians, our patriotism and resilience. We must therefore watch out with a clear head and not to allow ourselves to be too drunk with the sweet and bitter wine of politics, which has hitherto saturated the air.

Monkeypox is real. Although it is a rare disease that is caused by infection with monkey-pox virus, this disease is still a disease of high morbidity.

The monkey pox virus, as defined in the various health journals and scientific documents of the Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria, is “ the type of virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.

In the Orthopoxvirus genus, there are cowpox virus, variola virus which causes small pox and vaccine virus used in small pox vaccine.”

According to experts who have spoken by way of interview on the subject, human transmission of monkey pox occurs through close contact with infectious material from skin lesions of an infected person, through respiratory droplets in prolonged face to face contact and through fomites. It manifests in symptoms similar to the type that sufferers of Ebola Virus Disease and Covid19 have narrated, such as fever, headache, muscle ache, backache, chills, exhaustion, etc. The most distinguishing symptom for monkeypox virus is the swollen lymph nodes. Above all, monkeypox kills adamantly like the other named diseases.

From the benefits of hindsight, one can only but postulate or teach that which can suffice as patriotism under the circumstance. Borrowing the words of former President

Olusegun Obasanjo, during his 85 th birthday anniversary on March 5, 2022, we must “understand the world we live in, which may not feel that it owes us anything except what we can wrest from the abundance of good on earth for ourselves, essentially by ourselves to be preserved and used for and in the best interest of ourselves..”

To this end, I am inclined to seize this opportunity to reflect, in one sentence, on the unprecedented scale of the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in West Africa and how it was timely contained in Nigeria in order to underscore the need for us to consider the monkey pox, which is now ravaging Europe and America, as another threat to Nigeria, the extension of which is Africa.

This is because Nigerians are the most mobile people in Africa, a situation whereby it is estimated that one person out of every six persons in Africa is a Nigerian, being the reason behind the vigour and dedication witnessed in our Ebola containment effort in Nigeria during the pandemic in 2014.

Strictly speaking, the Ebola Virus Disease was contained in Nigeria not by the frontiers of monetary budgets, partisan rhetoric and foreign interventions, It was rather contained by the deep patriotic devotion of Nigerians, coupled with the spontaneity of the leadership in the bureaucracy of the Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria in our resolve to be ahead of the disease, using a collectively defined matrix for mutual accountability for achieving results for Nigerians.

As a people guided by institutional memory, we can still prepare for any unlikely event of an outbreak of the monkeypox virus in th country. It is therefore advisable that this outrage in Europe and America should sufficiently represent a red alert for Africa and for Nigeria in particular.

Let us send the red alert to all the states of the Federation through the medium of emergency meeting of the National Council on Health with observers such as the country representative of WHO and others invited to play their statutory roles. The cross cutting responsibilities of the Public Health and Health Planning Departments of the Federal Ministry of Health, including the NCDC, the Nigerian Immigration, the Ports Health Authority etc, as old hands in the game, can be further reinvigorated and promoted to synergise and focus on this threat and to adequately collaborate and prepare the country in advance against any situation of the monkeypox virus disease emergency.

•Awute, mni, was until his retirement one of the longest serving Federal Permanent Secretaries in Nigeria.

Okowa’s Leadership Capacity And a Commentator’s Ignorance

BY JEROME-MARIO UTOMI

O

ne inherent ‘sorrow’ associated with public leadership across the globe is that once a citizen is elevated to such a position, either through election or appointment, he loses his or her right to private life.

Closely associated with this challenge is that such public offices, particularly in Nigeria, have lately become targets for fierce political and ideological warfare in ways that negate our rationality as human beings. And each time such ‘wars’ occur, great amounts of innocent human character are spilled, wars of words waged, countless souls and ambition persecuted and martyred.

departure from the normal good sense and judgment expected of such a ‘public forum’. The diatribe demonstrated how an unequipped and misinformed public affairs commentator could easily morph into a political attack dog-promoting hatred and confuses malice with objectivity.

Aside from the visible departure from fact-based analysis, an action this writer believes was fired more by asymmetrical political and economic understanding than public good, it is important to expose the fundamental flaws in the basic argument projected by the said analyst/commentator as they cannot hold water when faced with the embarrassing fact.

Making it a reality to worry about is the new awareness that at every moment, it matters not whether the ‘embattled’ public official has demonstrated passion for his purpose, practised leadership values consistently, promoted social mobility, facilitated economic justice and led with his heart and head.

First and very fundamental, based on his achievements as commissioner and secretary to the state government, senator and governor, it is factually supported that Governor Okowa is eminently qualified to be the nation’s president as his credential speaks volume.

There are countless examples , but the first that understandably comes to mind is the recent comment by Frank Tietie, lawyer and public affairs commentator on an Arise TV programme broadcast on Monday, May 30, 2022. The comment this time around was spewed at Ifeanyi Okowa, a former Commissioner in Delta for eight years, one time/one term Secretary to the State Government, Senator and current Governor of the state.

Frank Tietie is perhaps unaware that Delta State under Okowa’s leadership was ranked the Best State in Human Capital Development in the 2017 States Peer Review of the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria? Is he unmindful of the fact that in 2020, Delta was adjudged the Second Least Poor State, coming only after Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS)? Or is he denying the fact that the state is a microcosm of Nigeria because she is populated by different ethnic nationalities and has under previous administrations had inter-ethnic conflicts/clashes, fatal boundary disputes, especially over oil-bearing land, political tensions, high unemployment and poverty rates, which have all been tackled and sustainable peace restored in those troubled areas by the Okowa-led administration?

Commenting on the strengths and weaknesses of some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tipped as Vice Presidential candidate to the party’s presidential candidate who emerged on Saturday night, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, when he got to Okowa for his assessment, he said that the gôvernor could not be the Vice Presidential candidate because he had not developed Delta State and that he lacked national exposure, among others.

Essentially, while he enjoys the right to comment on such public discourse, there was however, an unwelcome THEWILLNIGERIA

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How could these feats be possible if the state was not in the hands of a dynamic leadership that is exceptionally good

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at painting a clear vision, which inspires and motivates his populace? If the governor has not performed as alleged, how come sustainable peace has endured in the state?

The Asaba Airport for example, was downgraded just before the governor assumed office. Today, the same airport is now a category 6 airport that receives international flights. The airport is now a major national carrier’s hub in the SouthEast and South-South geo-political zones. Same goes with the Osubi Airport in Warri.

In the area of education, apart from three new universities that Okowa recently incubated, nurtured and established in the state, evidence abounds that as a result of the work of the Technical and Vocational Education Board in conjunction with the supervising Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in the state, six technical colleges in Agbor, Sapele, Ofagbe, Utagba-Ogbe, Ogor and Issele-Uku have been fully rehabilitated, well equipped and fully functional.

Consequently, Delta is the first state in the country to have all of the courses offered by its technical colleges accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

At the national level, the achievement of Governor Okowa stands tall. A while ago, he identified the absence of a national ideology, which all the component parts of the country subscribe to as the reason why we are yet to forge a sense of unity. In the absence of a shared national vision or aspiration, primordial loyalties and sentiments largely hold sway among the citizens. He submitted.

•Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy) of the Social And Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA). He can be reached via jeromeutomi@yahoo.com or 08032725374.

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

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www.t hew i llni g eri a. c om VOL .2 N O.2 3

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JUN E O 5 - JUN E 11, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R

UBA’s Digital Banking Paves Way For Market Dominance – Data Shows

BY SAM DIALA

e-Commerce: How Consumers Drive Retail’s Digital Transformation – Ola Williams

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

T

he Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Ola Williams has observed that it is the customer that lies at the heart of both e-commerce and "omnichannel", which also determines their staying power.

According to Ola, the COVID-19 pandemic left little room for

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error when it came to adapting to the new normal. For retail, this meant e-commerce experienced a renaissance, “omnichannel” received a lot of attention and customer experience was no longer an after-thought but a necessity.

Continues on page 17

In 2019, investment in E-Banking window rose by 19.8 percent to N28.46 billion; while N44.34 billion was recorded in 2020 showing a 55.8 percent; to peak at N57.75 billion in 2021 or 30.25 percent increase.

For Q1 2022 period, E-Banking Expenditure rose by 10 percent to N15 billion year-on-year from 13.52 billion.

The revenue haul in technology-related operations of the bank reflected in the Fees & Commission Income which showed an exponential growth of 92 percent during the five-year survey period. The data showed an increase of 13.4 percent from N82.94 billion in 2017 to N94 billion in 2018. It jumped to N110.57 billion in 2019 and N126.95 billion in 2020, reflecting an increase of 17.7 percent and 14.9 percent respectively. The bank raked in the sum of N158.65 billion in 2021 which was an increase of 25 percent during the year.

For Q1 2022, the bank’s Fees & Commission Income rose to N42.2 billion from N35.00 billion in the corresponding period of 2021, representing a 20.5 percent increase.

Further analysis of UBA’s technology-related performance during the period showed that IT Support & Related Expenditure increased from N5.52 billion in 2017 to N5.68 billion in 2018, an increase of 2.9 percent. It rose steadily to N6.1 billion and N6.64 billion reflecting a rise of 7.4 percent and 8.9 percent respectively. Investment on IT Support & Related Expenditure climbed to a high of N8.2 billion in 2021, which showed an increase of 23.5 percent.

“It shows that UBA is committed to excellence in technological-

MORE INSIDE

Continues on page 17

Ecobank Unveils 'Adire Lagos' Exhibition

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Ogun Supplements LGAs' May 2022 FG's Allocation With N392m PAGE 19

Nigeria's Xejet To Operate Sierra Leone’s National Carrier PAGE 19

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frica’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is poised for market dominance in the financial services industry going by the quantum leap it has recorded in technology – both in investment and in revenue. The bank’s annual reports for the past five years which showed remarkable growth in innovation and adoption of technology for its operations, attest to this.

Data from the Tier-1 Bank’s annual reports for FY 2017-2021 and for the Q1 2022 showed significant revenue growth from the technological platforms where it had also made robust investments towards pursuit of market dominance among its peers. Earning and investment windows in the annual reports, such as E-Banking, ITSupport and Training and Human Capital Development, revealed a quantum leap in Technology and related operations of the bank during the period.

Specifically, the bank’s E-Banking Income rose to N64.55 billion in 2021 from a meagre N20.93 billion in 2017, reflecting 208.5 percent. The quantum leap in revenue yield was consistent during the period: N27.93 billion in 2018 (33.5 percent rise); N38.77 billion in 2019 (reflecting 38.9 percent jump); N44.75 billion in 2020 (or a 15.43 percent increase) and N64.60 billion in 2021 (representing a spike of 44.38 percent).

For Q1 2022, E-Banking Income rose to N15.12 billion as against N12.46 billion in the corresponding period of 2021, reflecting a growth of 21.4 percent.

Investment in Technology also climbed steadily, recording a 285 percent increase during the five-year period. The bank’s E-Banking Expenditure rose from mere N15.00 billion in 2017 to N23.76 billion in the following year, 2018, showing an increase of 58.5 percent.

iding on the success of the just concluded Adire Market Week held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, which was proudly sponsored

by Ecobank, the bank has decided to extend the promotion of culture and tradition to the Lagos community. The Adire Festival, themed, ‘EPAC Adire Lagos Experience’ first-of-its kind by any bank in the country, will be held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos from Friday, June 10 till Sunday, Jun 12, 2022.

Originating from Abeokuta in south-western Nigeria, the Adire textile is an indigo-dyed cloth made by using different wax resist methods to Continues on page 19 THEWILLNIGERIA

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E-COMMERCE/BANKING UBA’s Digital Banking Paves Way For Market Dominance – Data Shows

Continued from page 16

Continued from page 16

Williams

e-Commerce: How Consumers Drive Retail’s Digital Transformation – Ola Williams

Globally, retail is a $25 trillion market with e-commerce accounting for a sizeable $9 trillion. In the Middle East and Africa (MEA), Microsoft retail customers reported that online sales brought in between two and five percent of revenues before the pandemic. Today, this has reached around 20 percent of top line profits.

This is an extraordinary amount of growth that took place in just two years, and according to Mastercard’s Economy 2022 report, this shift is expected to stay.

The Federal Government recently said the current e-commerce spending in Nigeria has grown to $13billion per annum and is expected to hit $75billion in revenue per annum by 2025. With an increase of 30%, the Nigerian eCommerce market contributed to the worldwide growth rate of 29% in 2021. The place of e-commerce in the Nigerian economy is being boosted by gradual transition of informal retailers into the online shopping community.

While this move to online shopping is a game changer for many retailers, it does not mean this is the end of brick-and-mortar stores. In fact, we are seeing omnichannel retail becoming a key approach for brands as they look to navigate a post-COVID-19 landscape. As lockdowns eased, consumers returned to their favourite stores, but were now more likely to have looked up the desired item online beforehand or research a product while perusing the shelves in person.

Retail brands that are able to seamlessly connect their customers to these different touchpoints will unlock greater business value. A Harvard Business Review study found that the more channels customers used, the more valuable they were. Omnichannel customers spent on average four percent more in store and 10 percent more online in comparison to singlechannel customers. A seamless approach to creating customer engagement from the virtual world into the physical can yield results for retailers.

The Customer Is Always Right Ola equally opined that the omnichannel approach is also having a positive impact on the customer experience,adding that It is through these multiple channels that shoppers are given more choice than ever.

"Consumers are looking for brands that meet all their needs, whether it’s browsing online or in-store, or opting for delivery or curb side collection".

"Retailers are further building on the customer experience through personalisation. Data holds THEWILLNIGERIA

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the key and customers are more comfortable sharing their data in exchange for better services and experiences", she explained.

MyMusic is a digital music platform in Nigeria that allows users to download high-quality local music and pay for it in a convenient way through mobile airtime. They partnered with Microsoft to use cloud technology as the backbone of their product. Using Microsoft Azure and its related services, MyMusic has integrated data analytics, machine learning and augmented reality into their solution. MyMusic gathers data around their consumer’s music preferences, browsing behaviors and spending patterns. More importantly, they use this data to improve their customer service. They personalize their user experience, giving users exactly what they want and need, before they even know they want and need it.

Loyalty programmes are a valuable asset for retailers looking to personalise the customer experience. In the case of Emaar Properties, the company sought to automate its Dubai Mall loyalty programme with the help of Azure Cognitive Services. Shoppers scan a receipt using the mall’s app, which will log their purchases and reward loyalty points accordingly.

In a world where consumers have more choice than ever before, retailers will need to work harder to maintain customer loyalty. Tools that help to automate loyalty programmes and provide insight into customer behaviour will help brands spend more time innovating products and services for their customers.

Building this loyalty and trust can be completely derailed by a single cyberattack, which is why any sort of data management should always be paired with a security solution. For Turkish conglomerate Doğuş Group, protecting its highly sensitive datasets was a growing concern as it witnessed a rise in cyberattacks. Improving its threat detection and resolution was top of mind when it deployed Microsoft Defender to secure its data and staff against security incidents. The group’s technology team are able to react faster to suspicious activity that before may have taken days to investigate.

Meeting Customer Demand With The Right Tech Tools According to Ola, another growing trend is the conscious consumer. Sustainability has become a major priority for customers with many choosing to spend more money with brands that demonstrate their commitment to environmentally conscious and ethical products and services. The right tech solutions can provide retailers with more transparency within their supply chains to ensure they meet this consumer demand.

She therefore explained that Microsoft is working with Interswitch, an impressive payments and fintech innovator in Africa.

Interswitch is working with banks like GT, UBA and Zenith to bridge the supply chain financing gap between an existing corporate-focused infrastructure and a small entrepreneurial economy emerging in the region using AI-enabled solutions. Partnering with large banks and corporates in Nigeria, Interswitch has built a bank guarantee service on Azure that extends the reach of the banking system to non-traditional players, empowering bank lenders, corporate suppliers, and borrowers of all sizes to manage their supply-chain financing under objective terms and complete transparency.

"It’s through technology that retailers can gain visibility through their supply chains and demonstrate transparent practices to their customers" .

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com THEWILLNIGERIA

driven operations which is the way to go, because we are approaching a stage where financial institutions that lag in cutting-edge technology will gradually close shop without being told. The rapidly diminishing of branch services, especially in non-urban areas points to a future of modern technology and, usually, the value that accrues from valueadded activities goes to the one that provides the value,” said Kehinde Komolafe, an ICT expert.

UBA recorded significant expenditure in Training & Human Capital Development during the period: N1.60 billion, N1.32 billion and N3.74 billion in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively.

During the 2020 COVID-19 year, it spent N709 million and N1.77 billion in the following year – 2021. The advancement in technology-driven operations reflected in a robust bottom line during the five-year period when profit after tax (PAT) rose to N118.68 billion in 2021 from moderate returns of N78.6 billion in 2017, or 51 percent increase. The bank reported a PAT increase of 8 percent from N38.2 billion in Q1 2021 to N41.5 billion in Q1 2022.

Digital banking has been the talk of the industry over the years and Nigerians continue to invest in cutting-edge technology that would make banking convenient and accessible to their customers in the most innovative way, irrespective of where they are or the time of the transaction.

UBA recently disclosed that it has concluded plans to commemorate the 4th anniversary of ‘Leo’, its flagship artificial intelligence Chabot, with new offerings set to further change the face of digital banking in Nigeria “Birthed January 11, 2018, with a firm resolve to prioritise its customers as well as put the bank at the heart of disruptive technologies that will transform the experience of esteemed customers, UBA did the unthinkable by getting 3 million users hooked in less than three years of its inception.”

Leo, which the bank stressed, has proven to be the most formidable artificial intelligence chat bot till date; serving an ever-increasing customer base who now have less transaction hassles to worry about is currently available on Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Apple Business Chat To further extend its reach, UBA has concluded plans to commence Leo services on Instagram and Google Business, terrains none of its peers can lay claim to.

Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, UBA, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, affirmed that UBA customers indeed agree that Leo is one of the bank’s biggest investments in cutting-edge technology and has been steadily changing the face of banking in the continent.

“Three years later, and with over almost four million customers and counting, UBA’s Leo, has without a doubt, remained the smartest Banking Chatbot in Nigeria because of its speed and quick learning intelligence and has continued to evolve with plenty to offer its teeming customers.

“

It shows that UBA is committed to excellence in technologically-driven operations which is the way to go, because we are approaching a stage where financial institutions that lag in cutting-edge technology will gradually close shop without being told

“While other financial institutions are still trying to find their feet as regards Artificial Intelligence, we can proudly say that our Leo has become a massive success as it continues to consolidate on its successes and accolades, winning several awards in a short while of its existence,” he added.

Uzoka continued: “In just four years, Leo’s landmark achievements have been indeed overwhelming, covering 20 African countries as well as garnering over 10 prestigious awards globally, a feat that is exceptional by every standard, I must say we are proud of Leo’s intimidating achievements which is largely unbeatable”.

“With this in mind, we have ensured that Leo continues to enjoy periodic and systematic upgrades with special emphasis on enhanced advancements and specialised unique features where necessary”.

Uzoka further explained that Leo is already present in 20 African countries and in three languages and has a number of features bound to fascinate existing and potential customers with services that are extremely fast and secure as all transactions and enquiries are encrypted, end-to-end.

“Leo has the ability to do a wide range of things, including funds transfer, call card top-up, checking of account balance, retrieval of bank statements, instant account openings for new customers, statement to embassy/ other banks/microfinance, purchase of airtime/ data, paying of bills, effectively helping with savings and spend limit.

“The AI Chatbot also boasts of remarkable innovative features that allow customers to enjoy banking Services – Request/stop/confirm Cheques, Block card, Log & track complaints, ATM/Branch Locator, Freeze accounts, and check weather etc. Other features include Customer Care complaint resolution, linking of new accounts, flight Payment, linking and Funding of Prepaid Card, Travel Notification, Wakanow services and Dubai Visa service,” he explained.

It could be recalled that UBA was adjudged as the ‘Most innovative Digital Bank’ of the year 2018, in the digital category of the International Finance Awards organised by the International Finance Magazine.

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SPOTLIGHT

Three Years on The Saddle: Onyeagwu Sings Ebenezer on Zenith Bank’s CEO Seat

BY SAM DIALA

Gross Loans to N2.30 trillion in 2019 from N1.82 trillion in 2018, a 26.38 percent. Apparently, in a bid to support the economy to wriggle out of COVID-19 pandemic, the bank grew its Gross Loans to N2.91 trillion in 2020 reflecting 26.5 percent rise from N2.30 trillion recorded in the preceding year. Gross Loans hit N3.51 trillion in 2021.

Net Interest Income which largely derives from banks’ core activity of lending rose steadily to N295.6 billion in 2018 from N258 billion; then N267 billion in 2019 and N299.7 billion in 2020 when COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the economy and created severe health challenges.

The N320.8 billion Net Interest Income recorded in 2021 was a significant growth of 24.35 percent during the review period.

As a result of the focused drive to increase retail deposits in the past three years, the bank’s Customer Deposits jumped 51.8 percent between 2019 and 2021, hitting an all time high of N6.47 trillion in 2021 against N4.26 trillion in 2019.

Customer Deposit is a measure of depositors’ confidence in a bank. Zenith Bank used to be criticised for its elitist stance that excluded the less privileged. But all that has changed because the rich, the poor and the neither-richnor-poor now patronize the bank -- which is a good testament to the organisation. Zenith Bank recorded Customer Deposit rise of 88.63 percent between 2017 and 2021.

Supporting the emergence of its strong asset base is the surge in Gross Earnings which hit N765.55 billion in 2021 against N696.45 billion in the preceding year, reflecting a 10 percent rise. Again, the pandemic year of 2020 did not witness a drop in Gross Earnings. Instead, it was a 5.17 percent rise against N662.25 billion in 2019. The figure for 2018 was N630.34 billion which is 5 percent lower than the 2019 record. Overall, the bank’s Gross Earnings rose 2.74 percent.

There is a steady rise in the bank’s profit during the five-year period. Profit before tax (PBT) rose to N280.37 in 2021 from N199.31 in 2017, a jump of 40.68 percent. Profit after tax (PAT) also reflected an upward trajectory hitting N244.6 billion in 2021 from N173.79 in 2017, a 40.8 percent improvement. As in the bank’s performance trend, PAT performance in 2020 was not decelerated

by COVID-19. It rose to N230.56 billion from N208.84 billion in 2019 or 10.4 percent. Earnings Per Share increased steadily from 5.53 in 2017 to 7.78 in 2021, reflecting a 40.6 percent.

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t is three years since Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu was appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc. On that day, June 1, 2019, his name, Ebenezar, resonated philosophically and literally in the finance world. It was headline news among local and international media which acknowledge Zenith Bank as one that operates at the zenith of the industry.

Not bothering about where his religious leanings tweak to, it was obvious that heading Zenith Bank, Nigeria’s largest commercial bank by market size, requires a huge measure of divine help. It is, therefore, natural to perceive that he must have, in his closet, activated the original meaning of his name, Ebenezar, the Hebrew word for God is my Stone of Help singing "God in my Ebenezer".

In an industry where the dominant lexicon is Money, inserting punctuation marks where unnecessary could be a major error capable of shipwrecking the expert’s hope. So, it is a herculean task sitting on the driver’s seat of Zenith Bank’s corporate leadership – to keep the numbers growing. This is more important for a financial service institution listed on the prestigious Premium Board of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). Onyeagwu knows he must be unyielding in his adherence to the culture of excellence with which Zenith Bank had carved out a niche for itself, to deliver. And he has, in the 1,095 days he has occupied the CEO’s seat at Zenith Bank.

Defying Headwinds The place to start is the bank’s 2021 annual report – three years after Onyeagwu’s appointment.

Zenith Bank Plc defied a challenging macroeconomic environment that witnessed the worst recession in a quarter of a century and exacerbated by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, to grow its assets 60 percent within five years. A review of the bank’s performance between 2017 and 2021, when it emerged from the economic uncertainties of 2016 recession and deepening effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed a culture of resilience that confirms its market leadership.

This unusual posture resulted in a significant asset growth that hit almost a trillion Naira in 2021, supported by continued impressive performance in virtually all the key parameters in the lender’s balance sheet during the period.

Analysts note that the performance did not reflect the general downturn in the economy when inflation, GDP growth and unemployment rates hit their worst points. This they attribute to the bank’s ability to carve out a niche for itself in the financial service industry.

A glean into the results showed that Zenith Bank’s Assets base rose 6.5 percent from N5.59 trillion in 2017 to N5.95 trillion in 2018. Evidently, this reflected the post-recession recovery environment that also impacted on the total Loans and Advances, which recorded a drop of 13.4 percent -- from N2.10 trillion to N1.83 trillion in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Significantly, Gross Loans rose to N3.51 trillion within the five year period or 67.15 percent from N2.10 trillion in 2017.

Expanding credit in an economy that was described as surviving on a life support is a measure of a bank’s confidence to achieve organic growth that is devoid of “soft” incomes common with seasonal investments.

Zenith Bank’s reports showed a steady growth in

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“

Three years after Onyeagwu’s appointment.

Zenith Bank Plc defied a challenging macroeconomic environment that witnessed the worst recession in a quarter of a century and exacerbated by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, to grow its assets 60 percent within five years

At the Conference Call held on March 3, 2022, to present the 2021 Financial Year Earnings (FYE), the Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said that Zenith Bank beat market expectations with double-digit growth in Gross Earnings and impressive performance in other parameters. He added that the growth was achieved in the face of growing macroeconomic instability which saw the bank sustain strong earnings growth and improved liquidity.

For over three decades, Zenith Bank has distinguished itself in the Nigerian financial services industry through superior service offerings, unique customer experience, and sound economic indices. Under Onyeagwu, the Bank remains a clear leader in the digital space with several firsts in deploying innovative products, solutions, and an assortment of alternative channels that ensure convenience, speed, and safety of transactions.

Let the Ebenezer song continue, 'Congratulations' on pitch descant.

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BUSINESS NEWS Nigeria's Xejet to Operate Sierra Leone’s National Carrier

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

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n aviation company with its head office in Lagos, Xejet Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of The Republic of Sierra Leone to operate her national carrier, Air Sierra Leone.

Xejet was conceptualised as a business classonly airline focused on becoming the airline of choice for premium flyers.

With the agreement, Xejet will operate regional and international Flights from Lungi International Airport, Freetown.

THEWILL gathered that the Sierra Leonean Government and Xejet have been in discussions and have now agreed that the company could go ahead to establish and operate a national carrier for the country.

The author, Mrs Bola Tinubu (right), and a guest, Mrs Tope Hassan (left), at the launch of Tinubu's new book, 'Bisi Is The Boss', to mark the 2022 Children's Day, at The Wings event centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, on May 27, 2022.

Ecobank Unveils 'Adire Lagos' Exhibition Continued from page 16 create dazzling designs.

Announcing the EPAC Adire Experience, Carol Oyedeji, Executive Director, Commercial Banking, at Ecobank Nigeria, says the exhibition is in line with the bank’s policy to deliver value beyond banking, adding that it is one of several initiatives aimed at boosting tourism, culture and the creative industry, using Adire as a key driver.

She stated that the three-day exhibition will have different music genres of Yoruba origin, an infusion of local foods and a mild atmospheric branding infusion of a wide variety of Adire into the setting to create a nostalgic mood. The festival will attract exhibitors, expatriates, influencers, dignitaries from all walks of life and members of the general public.

“The EPAC Adire Lagos Experience is in line with our brand promise as a Pan African Institution that delivers value to all its stakeholders. We will continue to curate experiences customised to peoples’ lifestyle whilst promoting the richness and diversity of our nation’s culture. The event will feature a series of masterclasses and exhibitions, as well as networking opportunities with

entrepreneurs, shoppers and everyone who is interested in the making or trading of Adire. We promise a cozy ambience and utmost serenity to make participants feel comfortable and safe,” she stated.

Oyedeji also noted that the dates of the exhibition were carefully chosen to coincide with the weekend leading to Nigeria’s Democracy Day. Some of the art and culture exponents expected to grace the fair include the wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, a major proponent of Adire in southwestern Nigeria; the CEO, Adire Oodua Textile Hub and Founder Africa Fashion Week, Princess Ronke Ademiluyi; the Iya Oloja of Abeokuta, Adire Market; the CEO, Dye Lab, Joke Ladoja; Mrs. Funmi Sosanya, Creative Director, Afume Global Concepts and Moyo Ogunseinde, CEO, Aga Culture and Upbeat, among others.

Only recently, Ecobank Nigeria partnered with the Ogun State First Lady’s office to organise the maiden edition of the Adire Market Week, an initiative of Mrs. Abiodun. The event attracted about 5,000 local and international participants.

Ogun Supplements LGAs' May 2022 FG's Allocation With N392m

FROM SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA

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gun State Government says it will supplement Local Government Allocation from the Federal Government account with a sum of N392,498,944.60, to meet up with the first line charges for the month of May, 2022.

The Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Mr Dapo Okubadejo, disclosed this while presenting the summary of the allocation and said N3,179,278,635.45 was to be shared among the 20 local council areas in the state.

Okubadejo, represented by the Permanent Secretary and Accountant-General of the state, Mr Babatunde Aregbesola, noted that a total of N4,218,445,057.78, which makes up the first line charges is required for the month of May statutory payments.

He said that the statutory payments include primary school teachers’ salaries, THEWILLNIGERIA

payment of retired local government staff’s salaries and allowances, checkoff dues, salaries and allowances for traditional council, among others, noting that there is need for additional N392,498,944.60 to balance up the first line charges for the month.

The commissioner added that N646,667,477.73 from Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Contributory Pension, five percent Bond on Pension, and Cooperative Loans were still pending for payment until the government’s revenue increases.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Kolawole Fagbohun, enjoined all the local government chairmen to intensify efforts on revenue generation, saying that the allocation from the Federal Government was dwindling.

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CBN Orders Banks’ Customers to Pay Indemnity For Transfers Above N1m The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has ordered banks to collect indemnities from their customers for highly secured online funds transfer amounting to N1million and above for individual customers and N10 million for corporate customers.

However, the apex bank placed an upper limit on the transferable amount at N25 million and N250 million for individual and corporate customers, respectively.

The indemnity was meant to put liabilities for any infringements or risk arising from such transfers on the customers.

CBN disclosed this yesterday in a circular titled: “Review of operations of the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS, Instant Payments System and other electronic payment options with similar features.”

The circular signed by Director Payments System Management Department, Musa Jimoh stated: “Further to the Circular on the above subject referenced BPS/ DIR/GEN/CIR/01/011 and dated August 13, 2014, banks are hereby required to comply with the following: “Accept indemnity from customers for ‘Highly Secured Online Funds Transfer above N1 million for individual and N10 million for corporate, subject to a maximum of N25 million (Individual) and N250 million (Corporate); “Provide customers with the option of electronic or paper indemnity based on the customer’s preference; Implement electronic indemnity with stricter controls requiring biometric verification of identity; “Adhere to multiple factor authentication (MFA) for ‘Highly Secured Online Funds Transfer; Inform and educate customers on the use of indemnity to increase transaction limits where applicable.”

The parties further agreed to work together to successfully execute the project to international standards.

The MoU was signed by the Sierra Leonean Minister of Transport and Aviation, Hon. Kabineh M. Kallon, on behalf of the government and Emmanuel Iza for Xejet in the presence of Dr. Rex Idaminabo (Consulting Associate) and Mr. Floyd Davis Deputy Director SLCAA. In attendance at the signing ceremony from the ministry of Transport and Aviation are Mr. Rex Bhonapha (Deputy Minister) the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Mr. Alhassan Kondeh, Dr Adams Steven (Technical Adviser), Mr. Hindolo Shiaka (Director of Transport) and Mr. Macmond Kallon Policy Coordinator OPII-State House.

Xejet Aviation was set up to provide Air Transport Services in the areas of passenger, cargo, aircraft maintenance and aviation training. Founded and run by a team of highly experienced technocrats with years of experience in Airline and Air Operation.

"Based outside Nigeria, Xejet plans to upgrade the existing Boeing B737 with only business class seats. The key effort being made is to provide travelers with an enriching experience at a relatively affordable price.

"Xejet wants customers to experience the benefit of a private jet with personalised service within the comfort and safety of a commercial airline", the company stated.

Equity Market Records Mixed Sentiments

A

total turnover of 28.736 billion shares worth N209.060 billion in 23,688 deals was traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 1.840 billion shares valued at N27.286 billion that exchanged hands last week in 27,273 deals.

The NGX All-Share Index and Market Capitalization depreciated by 2.18% to close the week at 52,908.24 and N28.523 trillion respectively The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 28.048 billion shares valued at N198.017 billion traded in 10,416 deals; thus contributing 97.61% and 94.72% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Conglomerates Industry followed with 434.845 million shares worth 1.339 billion in 1,225 deals. The third place was The Consumer Goods Industry, with a turnover of 74.111 million shares worth N2.853 billion in 3,835 deals.

At the end of the last weekday of trading on Friday, a total of 282,969,514 shares in 4,245 deals, corresponding to a market value of NGN 3,371,652,229.46, were traded.

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AGRIBUSINESS

CBN’s Agric Loans as ‘National Cake’?

BY MARCEL OKEKE

than 4.2 million smallholder farmers cultivating 21 commodities across the country.”

T

The CBN boss continued: “We also disbursed N1.50 billion under the Accelerated Agriculture Development Scheme to a new youth-led project, piloted and funded through the Government of Ondo State. This is for the acquisition of assets for oil-palm cultivation and the establishment of poultry farms,” he said, adding that “this brings the total disbursement under the scheme to N21.23 billion for 10 state-led and three private sector-led projects.’’ In reality, as the CBN boss said, a whopping fifty-eight billion Naira was disbursed to 185,972 ‘new projects’ in less than two months under the ABP that has an abysmal loan recovery rate of about fifteen per cent. And so, the ‘national-cake sharing’ escapade continues!

wo newspaper headlines triggered my curiosity on the much-bandied success of the agricultural support initiatives of the monetary authorities in Nigeria. One is a recent (May 2022) headline that says: “Most farmers see agric loan as ‘national cake’, CBN laments”; the other one came out in December 2021, and said: “Anchor borrowers programme: farmers owe CBN N77Bn, says BOA”.

According to the May 2022 report, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) lamented that the majority of farmers who benefited from the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) have not repaid the loans. A CBN Development Finance Officer Sadeeq Ajayi said this in Ibadan at an Agribusiness Innovation Clinic organized by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

This gives credence to the suspicion that trails this ‘national cake-sharing’ exercise that the ABP has remained. Muntari Dandutse, chairman of the House of Reps committee before whom the BOA boss and his team appeared had to remind Hassan (the BOA chief executive) that the public hearing they were holding was sequel to a motion to investigate the funds disbursed through the ABP.

“While the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme had recorded some level of success, the failure of farmers to repay the loans has, however, been a major setback. Many of the farmers refused to pay back their loans due to the misconception that since CBN is the lender, the loan is a ‘national cake’ and they do not have to pay back what they consider theirs as citizens,” Ajayi bemoaned.

As reported under the second headline in December 2021, Alwan Ali Hassan, acting managing director, Bank of Agriculture (BOA), said N77.18 billion loans collected by farmers under the Anchors Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) had not been repaid. Hassan disclosed this in Abuja at a public hearing by the house of Reps committee on agricultural production and services on the usage of funds disbursed to anchor companies under the ABP. He said that out of the total sum of N91.87 billion released by the CBN for the programme, only N14.68 billion was repaid.

Hassan further lamented that the implementation of the scheme was fraught with serious challenges to the bank. “The commodity associations were allowed to migrate freely between PFIs without settling prior indebtedness. The bank raised observations that such actions will affect recovery commitment,” he said, adding that “insurance was not properly managed; in some cases, the premium was paid late and in some cases unpaid.”

The Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) is an agricultural loan scheme launched in 2015 by the federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It was designed to boost agricultural yields, halt large volumes of food importation and address negative trade balance. Specifically, initiated on November 17, 2015, the ABP was aimed at creating a linkage between anchor companies involved in processing and smallholder farmers of key agricultural commodities.

However, the lamentation of Ajayi, the CBN’s Development Finance Officer and the shocking testimony of Hassan, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) at the Federal House of Representatives’ Hearing, are lurid revelations that amply put a lie to the massive hype about the celebrated success of the ABP. From both accounts which show a loan recovery rate of about 15 per cent, the CBN and its allies must have indeed been ‘sharing’ money to whoever they labelled as farmers.

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Emefiele

In his address titled, ‘Fostering Innovation and Collaboration Across the Agricultural Value Chain,’ Ajayi said most of the beneficiaries see the loan as their share of national cake and appealed to farmers who defaulted in repaying the loans to pay back. Ajayi said the inability of the apex bank to recover the loans from the defaulting farmers had threatened the scheme, adding that it had prevented other farmers from accessing the facility.

Little wonder, the Chief Executive Officer of Green Sahara Farms, Suleiman Dikwa had observed thus: “juxtaposed with the resources deployed, we can’t say the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) is a success. Maybe it worked in terms of injecting funds into the economy, but not agriculture, where you will find a very limited success.” Without a doubt, this view represents the position of most farmers and stakeholders in the agriculture sector, who have repeatedly faulted the Government’s initiative, and described it as a failure.

“

The Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) is an agricultural loan scheme launched in 2015 by the federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It was designed to boost agricultural yields, halt large volumes of food importation and address negative trade balance

In hyping the success story of the APB scheme, trillions of Naira given out as loans and millions of people called the ‘beneficiaries’ are always pushed into the public space as ‘news’. Unsurprisingly, this hype was dutifully packaged as part of the report of the outcome of the deliberations of the monetary policy committee of the CBN meeting held on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. The head of the committee who also heads the apex bank said: “between April and May, the CBN released N57.91 billion under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme to 185,972 new projects for the cultivation of rice, wheat, and maize.

“This brings the cumulative disbursement under the programme to N1.01 trillion, disbursed to more

Also trailing the ABP scheme has been relentless accusations and allegations that it is fraught with favouritism and nepotism—resulting in so much money getting into the hands of many who are not really farmers, or who do not meet the criteria for the ABP loans. This, in part, may have accounted for the very poor rate of loan recovery (15%) and lack of tangible impact on the food security situation of the country. In other words, despite the humongous sums said to have been pumped into the ABP, output of the commodities that are the foci of the scheme are yet to rise substantially to meet even local demands.

Even with local rice cultivation about which so much ‘noise’ and fanfare has been made, including the show of ‘rice pyramids’, prices of the commodity in the market still indicate so much shortage. So much smuggling (even importation) of the item is still going on via numerous channels.

Many importers and smugglers are still desperately employing all manner of tricks to keep bringing in ‘foreign’ rice into Nigeria, although it has been banned by the Government. Demand and taste for it is still very high among Nigerians — Nwho also face acute shortage of the local brands and substitutes.

Just during the week ended May 22, 2022, top officials of the Nigeria Customs Service were battling to unravel how containers of foreign rice landed at the Lagos seaports and found their ways into a warehouse in Lagos.

This may seem an isolated incident but the reality is that the demand and supply interplay about rice in the market makes nonsense of any claim of so much availability of the commodity. And this serves as a strong handle to question the much-paraded success of the ABP in terms of massive local food production and export potential. Alas, it all looks like a bubble.

•Okeke, an economist, sustainability expert and business strategy consultant, lives in LekkiLagos. He can be reached at obioraokeke2000@ yahoo.com THEWILLNIGERIA

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SANDRA IGHO EZE A Life of Fragrances PAGE 21-26

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In this interview with Ivory Ukonu, perfume manufacturer and owner of Lael Art of Perfumery, Sandra Igho Eze, talks about how she grew her craft over time and why she believes Nigeria has a big potential in perfumery. Excerpts:

NIGERIANS DON’T BUY MADE-IN-NIGERIA GOODS BECAUSE OF POOR PRESENTATION – SANDRA IGHO EZE P

erfume factories are not common in Nigeria, yet you own and run one, producing from the scratch. How were you able to pull this off?

Honestly, I’ll say it hasn’t been easy, considering the challenges and difficulty in accessing materials. Sometimes, it feels like everything is working against our field in this country, but my passion has been my drive.

What inspired you to go into perfume production?

My love for perfumes did. Growing up watching my mum collect fragrances, I grew in that path. Finding out I could impact lives with that knowledge further inspired me.

How cheap or expensive is it to run a perfume factory?

It is absolutely expensive, especially in our region.

Where did you acquire the requisite skills to go into perfume production?

In France. I have attended and I still attend some of the most prestigious perfume schools in France. The likes of Cinquieme sens and Isipca. I have also been under the keen tutelage of some of perfumery's biggest names, such as master perfumers Christophe Laudamiel and Viktoria Minyai.

How long have you been at this and what is the scale of Lael Art of Perfumery?

I have been in the perfumery field for seven years and it is quite sizable.

What kind of perfumes do you produce? EDTs, EDPs, Oil perfumes?

All types of perfumes from Eau De Toilettes to Eau De Parfums and perfume oil, including solid and traditional perfumes.

How would you describe your first attempt to make perfume?

My first attempt at creating a fragrance, I tried to make it as unique as possible. I called the collection ‘The Recree’ (In English The Recreate). Under this collection, I had to replicate the personalities of people very dear to me. Capturing each unique trait and putting it in a bottle was like magic. Fragrances under this collection were AIDAN, MIKAYLA, ELSA, ONOME,OKE. I moved to create another limited edition called ORGASM, where I got to capture the essence of femininity and the captivating scents of a woman.

All these creations are under the sister brand, EL’OLOR by Crystal.

My recent creation was for the new fragrance house, Charles de jeu, where I got to create AFFLUENTIAL, a fragrance telling a story about Charles Okpaleke, the owner of Charles of Play. Affluential depicts an affluent image of the brand owner, what he stands for and captures his character traits, one of which is having the fragrance diffuse and project better at night than during the day, just as Charles who is known to be the king of night life.

What are some of the unique attributes that distinguishes your brand from others?

Originality is the most unique attribute of my brand. Lael is here to promote originality and making the impossible possible in perfumery.

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Eze

Where do you source the raw materials for your perfumes?

Sadly, all materials are sourced from France and majority of packing from China. We are yet to grow big enough to start producing our own raw materials even though plans are already in the works..

Are the perfumes only locally marketed?

For now, all our perfumes are sold locally, except for 'Affluent' which obtained a licence to sell worldwide

Eze

Nigerians are generally known to prefer foreign goods. How are you able to convince them to buy your products?

As I always say, I’m here to change the narrative. Based on my opinion, many Nigerians don’t buy made-in Nigeria goods because of poor presentation. They always feel that goods produced in the country are mediocre. So far, I haven’t had any problem marking my products as homemade.

How do you deal with production challenges?

Nothing is easy in Nigeria. Everything is difficult and with the ongoing inflation, it is becoming almost unbearable. From the exchange rates to shipping and clearing trauma, it hasn’t been easy, I must say.

Do you run a perfumery school to train those who are interested in going into your kind of business?

Yes, LAEL has a perfume academy and we are focused mainly on teaching others about perfumery. In our region, as we are aware, a lot of misinformation about perfumery has taken over our field. Lael is a vision on a mission to promote originality for a healthy competition in the global market.

What was it about your growing up years that made you think producing perfumes is what you want to do in life?

Well, truthfully, I never thought that I would one day be in the perfumery industry. I didn’t think it was possible, especially in Nigeria, but one thing I remember about growing up was seeing my mum collecting scents, mixing them just so she smells mysterious.

I started using fragrances at a very young age and over time, I started investing in it. I didn’t start off as a perfumer. I started as a connoisseur. Later, I started yearning for in-depth knowledge in perfumery. I searched for schools in perfumery, but all I could find online was in France. So I promised myself that I would acquire this knowledge by all means and make it accessible in my home country.

Here I am today.

If you weren't a perfumer, what other kind of business do you think you would have excelled in?

Well if I wasn’t a perfumer, I probably would have been an interior designer. I have an eye for that kind of thing.

Do you wear other brands or do you just stick to your own brand?

I am a collector. I wear other brands to explore. It is also a learning process for me and a way to appreciate the craftsmanship of other perfumers.

What would you say must have significantly shaped you to be who you are?

Challenges. Each time I encountered challenges, I came back 10

times stronger than before. I’m glad that I had some challenges along the line. If it wasn’t for the challenges, Lael would probably not be existing today.

What would you say has been your greatest achievement since you started out as a perfume manufacturer?

Training the visually impaired, empowering women in need and raising young perfumers by starting classes for children. I’m glad to be among the few that have successfully achieved this worldwide.

Do you think Nigeria has the potential to be a major business hub as it concerns perfumery?

I can say for sure that Nigeria has a very big potential in perfumery.

With an estimate of $75 billion generated per annum, Nigerians are known to be among the biggest consumers of perfumes in the world.

Imagine what it would look like if we invested more in growing, extracting, processing and manufacturing our own raw materials.

For example, Nigerian ginger is currently the best and most soughtafter in perfumery. Imagine if we did the extraction back home and exported it, not having to buy it back at an outrageous amount. There is a future in perfumery in Nigeria.

What are your projections for the business in five years time?

In five years, all things being equal, we should have our own standard factory and raw material plant, a regulatory body and a strong presence in the global market.

What else do you do besides producing perfumes?

I am a full time perfumer.

What were you doing before venturing into this business?

I worked in the private sector.

How do you let off steam when you are not working?

I travel. I love to travel as it helps me see a lot differently and gives me the inspiration I need.

How would you describe yourself?

Free spirited, disciplined, passionate about the things I love. I am an optimist.

Give a brief description of what Lael Art of Perfumery is all about?

Lael is a vision on a mission, established for the purpose of training and educating Nigerians and Africans in general on the beauty and art of perfumery. Lael has been working to raise world class perfumers that can compete in the global market. Lael is also particular about empowering youths, women and children with the skill of fragrance making. Lael also does above just fragrances but also masters the art of candle making, diffuser (home fragrances), cosmetics etc.

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APC PRIMARIES: POLITICIANS’ CHILDREN WHO EMERGED WINNERS AND LOSERS The offspring of some politicians, past and present, contested for elective positions at the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections, which took place on Thursday, May 26 through Saturday, May 28. 2022. While some clinched the party’s ticket for the 2023 general election, others did not. Shade Wesley-Metibogun has a list of the winners and losers: OLADIPO AJOMALE

H

e has taken over the political baton of the Ajomale family from his father who was a former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State.

Oladipo’s father, Henry Ajomale, was a former Commissioner for Special Duties during the tenure of the Akinwunmi Ambode Administration.

Now his son has been recruited into the political circles.

Oladipo won the APC primary for the State House of Assembly, representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 11.

BELLO EL-RUFAI

T

he controversial son of the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, won the APC ticket for the House of Representatives in Kaduna North Federal Constituency. He defeated the incumbent, Samaila Suleiman, the lawmaker representing the constituency to win the ticket. Delegates who ensured Bello emerged victorious suddenly developed amnesia on the day of the primary and did not remember his infamous rape tweet in 2020. Bello had threatened to set up his friends to gang-rape a Twitter user's mother while also insulting the Igbo ethnic group in his tweet. His insult and disrespect became a subject of discourse on social media before he eventually apologised for his outburst. He has not stopped courting controversy like a second skin.

OLAMIJUWONLO ALAO-AKALA

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lamijuwonlo is the first son of the late former Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala. He was a former chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government Area before he contested for a seat in the Federal House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

Otunba Alao-Akala might be dead, but his political influence has definitely robbed off positively on his son, who won the ticket for Ogbomoso North, South and Oriire Federal Constituency. Olamijuwonlo defeated his opponent, Feyintola Onabanjo at the primary.

The older Alao-Akala had to dump his ambition to contest as Governor of Oyo State under the platform of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) to form an alliance with the candidate of the APC, Adebayo Adelabu, who was also the governorship candidate of the APC in 2019. It was after that move that his son was reinstated as the chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government after his suspension because of anti-party activities in 2019.

IDRIS ABIOLA-AJIMOBI

T

he only son of late former Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi won the APC ticket to represent Ibadan South-West 11 Constituency in the state House of Assembly.

He emerged as the consensus candidate for the constituency after his opponents stepped down for him. He is going to be the third generation of the Ajimobis to vie for a political office. His grandfather, Alhaji Ganiu Ajimobi, was a counselor in the old Municipal Local Government in Oyo State.

His father, Abiola Ajimobi was the former Governor of Oyo State, now he is also walking in their footsteps.

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UMAR GANDUJE

S

on of controversial Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje emerged the party's candidate for the House of Representative seat in Dawakin Tofa/ Tofa/Rimingado Federal constituency. His opponent, Junaidu Yakubu withdrew from the race leaving the governor's son unopposed. Ganduje is already planting his son in the political sphere to continue his political dynasty after he must have handed over to a new administration in the state. However, many are praying that he will not follow the footsteps of his father.

His father has been involved in a handful of controversies as the number one citizen of Kano State. He was allegedly caught on video receiving dollars from some suspected contractors but he denied the allegations and claimed the video was 'cloned'.

BABAJIDE IBRAHIM OBANIKORO

H

e is the son of Musiliu Babatunde Obanikoro, the former Minister of State for Defence. He lost his second term bid to return to the House of Representative last week. He wanted to represent Eti-Osa constituency but was rejected at the primary. Obanikoro was well tutored with numerous training on governance and leadership both in and out of the country in a bid to increase his knowledge on politics, economy and ostensibly in preparations for public service.

However, his second term bid ended on a sad note after he lost to one of his opponents, Oyekanmi Elegushi, brother to Oba Saheed Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom.

Elegushi beat Obanikoro by two votes to emerge winner. While he was still reeling in his loss, his father got trounced by Idiat Adebule, a former deputy governor of Lagos State. The APC primary was indeed a double tragedy for the Obanikoros.

THEWILLNIGERIA

OLUMIDE OSOBA

T

he former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, must have tutored his son, Olumide, in the game of politics well enough to have twice, successfully represented Abeokuta North/Odeda/ObafemiOwode Federal Constituency in Ogun State at the House of Representatives.

During his previous tenure, Olumide Osoba impressed his constituents so much that it has earned him a possible third term bid.

The younger Osoba won majority of the votes in the APC House of Representatives primary to represent Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency.

He had 118 votes while his challengers, Taiwo Oludotun had 40 votes and the Adegbenga Adeshina had 30 votes.

TOKUNBO ABIRU

T

he former bank chief is one of the sons of Mubasiru Akanbi Olatunji Abiru, a politician during Lateef Jakande's Governorship tenure. Abiru who is seeking a re-election as a member of the senate representing Lagos East senatorial district won the party's ticket at the primary unopposed. His first term tenure must have pleased the people in his constituency for him to have been given another opportunity to return to the senate.

FOLAJIMI MOHAMMED

S

on of the Minister of Information and Culture and former National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Layiwola Mohammed was not successful at the party primary for the Lagos State House of Assembly to represent Ikeja Constituency. Despite being a member of the house twice, it seems he didn't satisfy the people who voted him into power that they had to unseat him the third time.

Mohammed lost to Seyi Lawal who won a total of 15 votes. Lawal was a former legislative leader of the Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area.

H

SIRAJO MUHAMMAD

e is one of the sons of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad. Sirajo won the APC National Assembly ticket for Bauchi North Senatorial District. He defeated two other opponents, including the incumbent, Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa.

After his victory, there was an outcry among residents of Bauchi North Senatorial District. They claimed that Muhammad was imposed on them by the delegates who voted him to clinch the party ticket.

Sirajo Muhammad was accused of distributing about 150 cars to some people before the primary election. He also used his father's office to give out jobs and distributed millions of naira as an empowerment scheme for some indigenes.

AHMAD SANI YERIMA

H

e is the son of the former Governor of Zamfara State, Governor Ahmed Sani Yerima. He won the House of Representatives ticket of the party for Bukura/Maradun Federal Constituency.

His father, the former Governor of Zamfara State is regarded as the father of politics in the state. Being the first elected governor of the state, most politicians in the state cut their political teeth under his tutelage. Many were not surprised after his son clinched the ticket as he had taught him enough to start climbing the political ladder.

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STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

Digital Banking App, V Bank Set to Transform Into Actual Bank

MIXED FEELINGS AS AJIMOBI'S IN-LAW LOSES APC SENATORIAL PRIMARY K

F

olapo Kola-Daisi an inlaw to Abiola Ajimobi, the late Oyo State governor is currently in the eye of the storm over his political ambition. No sooner had Kolapo, the son of Chief Kola Daisi, an elder-statesman and industrialist declared his intention to represent the people of Oyo South Senatorial district in the hallowed chambers, that some youth groups in the state allegedly began to agitate against his ambition. But of course their concerns fell on deaf ears and Kolapo went ahead to participate in the primary where he supposedly 'emerged winner,' trouncing five other contenders including a former Oyo State Secretary to the State Government, Sharafadeen Alli and Kola Balogun, a younger brother to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun.

His winning further infuriated these various groups. One of the groups, Oyo Youth Vanguard allegedly kicked against the All Progressive Party giving him the party ticket.

They told party chiefs how he was

the least suitable person to represent the people of Oyo South in the Senate because of an alleged pending financial matter. The group stated that his getting the ticket was discouraging and unlawful and advised the APC to be careful as it might cost the party a lot at the general election. Fortunately for the youths and unfortunately for Kolapo, the election got cancelled due to over voting and in accordance with the amended electoral act. Only 200 delegates were accredited to cast their votes but 270 ended up casting their votes. How that happened is what still beats everyone's imagination.

The election was rescheduled and held under tight security in Ibadan and Alli emerged winner with 185 votes followed by Kolapo with 145 votes and the incumbent, Kola Balogun who polled 84 votes.

While the majority of Oyo people

rejoiced at the development, Kolapo has been seething with anger and has distanced himself from and rejected the result of the rerun. He claimed not to have participated in the rescheduled primary because he already won the first election on May 29th, the day the party slated and conducted the election, adding that the manner with which the initial election was cancelled and the arbitrary way a rerun was scheduled within 24hours without a petition does not suggest fairness. But the result of the rerun has since been ratified and Kolapo would have no choice but to take his loss and move on.

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struggling to stay afloat.

First, the company has had to deal with a series of crashes. Back in 2019, one of the company’s helicopters, which had Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on board, crash-landed in Kabba, Kogi State. The Vice President escaped unhurt. While the company blamed the crash on adverse weather conditions, the report by Accident Investigation Bureau attributed the incident to human error.

About three weeks ago, another helicopter belonging to the company crashed in Cameroon, killing all passengers on board, including the pilot, Adzuayi Ewuga, who was the daughter of a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Solomon Ewuga. The helicopter crashed into a forest after losing radio contact with air traffic services.

In addition, the company also lost its lucrative contract with Chevron Nigeria Limited to a rival company, Bristow Helicopters. THEWILL gathered that the loss was

allegedly due to the company's poor maintenance culture.

To make matters worse, Caverton only just allegedly secured about $17 million to finance the Chevron contract. With the loss, the company's financial challenges have gone from bad to worse. Now it will be harder to keep the company afloat or prevent pilots from leaving more than ever.

Prior to the recent blow, reports claimed that the aviation company was battling with poor management and non-payment of pilots’ salaries, among other challenges. Most of its pilots could not endure the situation and allegedly had to leave. Indeed, the company’s offices nationwide were shut down in 2018 after the staff accused it of running a slave camp. Some of the local pilots and engineers revealed that the management of Caverton was allegedly partial in the way it favoured some of its staff and neglected others.

The Nigerian workers accused the company of discriminating against indigenous pilots and engineers.

Also, investors are said to be allegedly pulling out their funds by selling off their shares, which has resulted in the company's shares dwindling beyond control.

Kola-Daisi

orty-three year-old Nonso Okpala has proved that by sheer dint of hard work a youth can succeed in a legitimate endeavour instead of resorting to fraud in its various forms.

A former staff member of accounting giant, KPMG and later HEIRS Holdings, Nonso, alongside his friends, floated VFD Bank while still an employee in 2009.

The bank was meant to be a side hustle at first and the dream was for it to scale from being a micro lender into a microfinance bank and then a full scale bank. After raising the initial N2.5 million in seed investment, he acquired 20 per cent of the company.

In 2015, he and his friends floated Everdon Bureau de Change, a retail foreign exchange business and in the same year, Central Bank of Nigeria issued him a licence to transform VFD into a Microfinance bank. Later that same year, he resigned his job at HEIRS Holdings to focus full time as the Chief Finance Officer of the Microfinance bank.

From that humble beginning in 2009, the two businesses started by Nonso and his friends have turned into a full-grown indigenous conglomerate known as the VFD Group. From a seed capital of N2.5 million about 13 years ago and shares priced at N2 per share during the company’s

Olori Hadiza Elegushi Comes Out of Mourning

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lori Hadiza, the Kano State-born wife of the Oba of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi Ikusenla II, has completed her mourning period and made a brief return to the social scene.

Not one to hug the limelight like her senior co-wife, Olori Sekinat, Hadiza, who is a twin and the daughter of Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, a former Liaison Officer to former President Shehu Shagari, had taken time off to mourn the loss of her son.

The toddler was a few months shy of clocking two years before death took him away in March 2022. He was Oba Elegushi's

What is Going on at Caverton Helicopters? here seems to be a decline in the fortunes of Caverton Helicopters.

The aviation company owned by one of the patriarchs of high society, Chief Remi Makanjuola, used to be considered as one of Nigeria’s leading providers of marine, aviation and logistics services to local and multinational oil and gas companies in the country. Unfortunately it is now

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initial capital raise, VFD Group Plc has grown and is currently priced at N368 per share in the Nigerian capital market.

The company reportedly has a market worth of N32 billion and investments in over 40 companies across many sectors of the economy. It is also listed on NASD. VFD Group further moved a notch higher to become what is now referred to as an industry-agnostic proprietary investment company, that is, a business that continues to seek profitable investment across different investment options and businesses, regardless of the industry. Okpala The most prominent of per share, the group decided it the companies under the group was about time to transform their is popularly known as Vbank, a digital bank to an actual bank. It digital banking application. The has since applied to the CBN for a group's tentacles spread across national banking licence. real estate, a mortgage banking, Nonso’s story is one of resilience, hospitality, Piggyvest, a very pushing the envelope, believing secure online savings platform that anything you put your mind that makes saving possible to is possible and refusing to by combining discipline plus settle for less, despite transacting flexibility to make you grow your in a dysfunctional environment savings etc, across Lagos and like Nigeria, where the odds are Abuja. With total assets hitting against one in most cases and N81.68 billion and an approved most people prefer to take the dividend of N1.37 billion to short and often devastating cut. shareholders, representing 10.79

Elegushi

only son and the heir apparent to the Elegushi throne, having lost his twin brother at birth.

Unfortunately he had to deal with some health challenges right from birth and despite getting the best medical care that money could buy, he didn't survive.

Olori Hadiza was inconsolable and stayed off the radar until she appeared about two weeks ago at the lavish 70th birthday party of her mother in-law, Olori Sinatu Aidelohi Titilayo Elegushi. From her looks and disposition, she has obviously recovered from the shock and pain of losing her child.

Jim Ovia Gives Out Daughter in Marriage

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ast weekend, the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, hosted dignitaries from all walks of life as banking guru and chairman of Zenith Bank PLC threw a lavish traditional wedding ceremony for his daughter, Tito and her beau, Ugo Chukwu, the son of wealthy Igbo business magnate and a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, Sir Tony Chukwu.

It was a display of some of the best things that money can buy as the bride's father played the perfect host alongside his wife, Kay. The couple treated relatives and friends to choice wines, spirits and a delightful cuisine.

On hand to provide entertainment for the couple and guests was the rave of the moment, Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe,

aka Kizz Daniel, who threw guests civil society organisation that was into a frenzy with his trending at the forefront of the #Endsars single, Buga, while master of movement. ceremony extraordinaire, IK Osakioduwa steered proceedings at the ceremony.

Tito runs Helim Health, a health care provider of a comprehensive suite of the technology solutions dedicated to managing every aspect of health care delivery delivery, from electronic medical records and telemedicine, to administration and financial management.

She is also a founder of Feminist Coalition, a Chukwu xx

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STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN

Ondo Lawmaker Disgraced For Seeking Re-Election

CP ALABI AND WIFE BAG CHIEFTAINCY TITLES T

he Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Sylvester Alabi and his wife, Tosin Alabi, have been installed as the Okanlomo and Yeye Meto of Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti-State.

His royal highness, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, the Alawe of Ilawe kingdom conferred the chieftaincy titles on the couple.

Alabi was honoured by the royal father for his contributions to the development of Ilawe, a few months after he was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police.

Being an illustrious son of Ilawe, Ekiti State, he has made a lot of difference in the Nigeria Police

Alabi

KWAM1 Reunites With Estranged Wife

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ing Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as KWAM1, and his estranged socialite wife, Titi Masha have resolved their differences. They were re-united by concerned friends of the socialite who gathered to ensure peace between the music icon and Titi.

A sneak peak of what transpired during the meeting organised in order to settle the rift between the singer and his former wife, Titi surfaced on the Internet last week.

In the video, the two former love birds took pictures together for the first time since they went their separate ways. They also shared a light hug before the music star left the venue of the peace keeping meeting. Some voices in the background were heard telling the couple to avoid bickering since Titi is a mother to three of KWAM1's more than 30 children.

Fans are hopeful that the peace keeping mission will yield positive results and the two lovers will return to their old romantic ways.

The love affair between KWAM1 and Titi, who is a popular socialite and cloth merchant, started after Yewande, one of KWAM1's wives relocated to Canada. Titi met the Fuji musician during one of his engagements. She was introduced to him by a socialite known as Gbenga Akinbobola, a.k.a Gbenga Islander.

Gbenga was not only KWAM1's friend at the time, but also Titi's lover. However, Titi ended up dumping him for KWAM1. The two took their affair to the next level when they tied the knots in 2017 in his palatial residence in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

But KWAM1 left her for another woman, Emmanuella Ropo whom he married in 2021.

Before things fell apart between them, Titi was the apple of K1's eyes. He would sing her praises at parties where he was the guest THEWILLNIGERIA

performer. He even granted an interview in which he revealed that Titi hardly listened to hear-say and they both shared a level of understanding that had kept their relationship solid. Unfortunately, KWAM1 could not suppress his unquenchable appetite for beautiful and well-endowed women. It turned out that his new wife, Emmanuella, was a loyal client of Titi who would always sing Emmanuella's praises for always patronising her. But like they say, Titi got served with the same 'spoon and plate' she served her ex-lover and KWAM1's friend, Gbenga Islander.

Unfortunately she couldn't take what she dished out. She felt insulted that her husband could go after her customer-turned friend and she made a scene

about it. She confronted her husband and things just went sour between them.

Unperturbed by Titi's reaction, KWAM1 carried on and legalised his marriage with Emmanuella.

Expectedly, Titi's friends who were not happy with the way their friend was treated threatened to disrupt their wedding and predicted the early demise of the marriage. In fact on the day of the wedding, KWAM1 ensured there was a heavy presence of security men to prevent any embarrassment. The wedding done and dusted, Titi's friends did not relent as they took to social media to spread false news about the music icon turning Emmanuella into a punching bag, an allegation the newlyweds denied.

The Marshals THEWILLNG

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Force since he joined in 1990. He served in various capacities within and outside the country.

Notably among them is the United Nations Mission in Kosovo in 2001.

After his return, Alabi became a Squadron Commander of Police Mobile Force, Diplomatic Protection Squadron in charge of the security of all embassies in Lagos. He also served is different capacities before being promoted to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State. His wife, Tosin is a seasoned fashion designer and the Chief Executive Officer of Unique Needle Apparel.

Afolabi

few weeks ago, he was however prevented Honorable Oluwole from holding a meeting Ogunmolasuyi, a within the community. It was lawmaker representing Owo gathered that the act was part 1 Constituency at the Ondo of the schemes of his political State House of Assembly on detractors who didn't want him the platform of All Progressive to return for a second term in Congress was disgraced in office.

Idanre, his home town.

The lawmaker had visited his hometown to attend a meeting of his party, but he was shocked by the cold reception from the community where he allegedly grew up. It was gathered that youths in the community chased the lawmaker and his police orderly out of the town.

They accused him of wasting his mandate and neglecting the people that voted him into power.

He was disgraced and sent out by irate youths who are tired of the lies and deceit from politicians.

Although Idanre is not his constituency, Ogunmolasuyi

TAIWO AFOLABI NAMED AS VANGUARD Anita Okoye Strikes BUSINESSMAN Deal With Nike OF THE YEAR A

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nita Okoye, the estranged wife of music artiste, Paul Okoye, has been living life to the fullest ever since she relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in the United States with her three children. The entrepreneur is now a copywriter and editing

r Taiwo Afolabi, the Chief Executive Officer of SIFAX group, a conglomerate of companies has emerged the Vanguard Businessman of the Year.

The amiable gentleman who was just appointed as the Chairman of SIFAX Group was honoured for his immense contribution to the business sector through the establishment of conglomerates, which has largely contributed to the economic and financial growth of the country.

The award was given to him by Vanguard Media Limited, publishers of Vanguard Newspaper. The awardee has since been basking in his latest title. Afolabi's SIFAX Group is one of the leading conglomerates in Nigeria with offices in Tema, Ghana, Durban, USA, Rotterdam, Belgium, Gambia, Malabo, London. It started operation as SIFAX Nigeria Limited, a freight forwarding agency in Lagos rendering services such as haulage and warehousing operations. The company later metamorphosed due to its rapid growth to several subsidiaries such as, Maritime, Aviation, Logistics, Oil and Gas, Financial Services and Hospitality.

Okoye

manager of a remarkable project, The Scadpro, a creative and inventive solution company and Nike, the reputable footwear and accessories company are both working on.

The mother of three abandoned her multi-million naira business, Tannkco in Nigeria for Creative Strategy in Atlanta, Georgia. She got the deal in the first quarter of 2022, but started work not too long ago.

She is excited about her new opportunity and not thinking of stepping on the shores of Nigeria anytime soon. It would be recalled that Anita travelled abroad under the guise of going for further education.

She left Nigeria with her children when things fell apart in her marriage.

Anita’s departure from Nigeria happened two years after launching her business, a children’s store called Tannkco. She now pays more attention to her new gig and has left Tannkco to suffer.

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STORIES BY IVORY UKONU AND SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN

WHAT'S UP WITH GIDEON OKEKE'S MARRIAGE?

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child was born in 2021.

Speculations around their troubled marriage heightened after the couple unfollowed each other on social media. The wife also yanked off her husbands' name from all her social media platforms and she has been quietly minding her business.

It was gathered that things have allegedly not been rosy for the actor, who has been finding it difficult to fulfill his financial obligations on the home front.

Movie roles have allegedly not been rolling in like before and his

modeling career is allegedly on a decline. His wife has been allegedly enduring the hardship and taking charge of some of the financial obligations in the family, but it seems that things have become unbearable for her. The actor has been vocal on how film executives and producers have been impoverishing actors. He even wanted to quit acting at a point, since acting jobs were no longer coming. He once bitterly lamented how a producer owed him half a million naira for three years.

Wema Bank in Trouble, Accused of Wrong Banking Practices

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he Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has queried Wema Bank Plc over alledged illegal banking practices. Having kept mute for days, after being publicly accused of some wrong practices - using customer's accounts, the agency was forced to call out the old generation bank, to address the general public on what

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rincess Toyin Kolade, the Iyalaje Oodua, has received an award for excellence from Lead City University. The award ceremony took place during a three-day programme in which eminent Nigerians in the culture and performing arts sector were hosted by the institution.

Kolade was presented with an award for her contribution to the development of the arts and culture locally and internationally.

Since the oil and gas mogul became the Iyalaje Oodua, she has been promoting Nigerian and African culture through her involvement in the internalisation of the country's culture. One of her greatest contributions to the development of culture

in Nigeria is through the celebration of Aje festival, a celebration of wealth and fertility in Yorubland and Olojo festival which is used to mark the creation of the universe.

Both festivals were revived

by Princess Kolade. She also ensured the launch of the festivals internationally in Brazil and some other part of the international community. While receiving the award, she thanked the Institution for the honour and for recognising her contribution towards the advancement of indigenous African culture as a whole.

The award is coming months after she was exonerated from an alleged fraud case running into several millions of dollars.

Kolade

How Bisoye Fagade's Uncertainty Cost Him Political Ambition

The Okekes

ollywood actor, model and television presenter, Gideon Okeke’s two-year-old marriage to Chidera Uduezue is allegedly on the brink of collapse.

His fans are worried that the former love birds might soon head to the court to dissolve their union, if care is not taken.

Gideon and Chidera had their traditional marriage in 2018. It was followed by a fairy-tale church wedding that took place in 2019.

They welcomed their first child, Ezra Okeke in 2019 and their second

Toyin Kolade Bags Award For Excellence

it was alledged to be doing with some of its customers’ accounts without their authorisation.

The agency insisted that the issue had gone beyond asking victims to send a direct message to their social media account to secretly tackle the issue, but to come clean. There have been allegations that the bank, via its online banking application, ALAT, and its agents have been opening unauthorised accounts for customers with information sourced from their Bank Verification Number (BVN) details.

Some victims, who are not customers of the bank, complained of getting emails linked to their BVN from the bank, One Time Passwords and the likes, all of which are considered a violation of data

rights and therefore, suggesting that something fraudulent was going on.

The floodgate of complaints from victims was opened by a mental health advocate, who goes by the name Adebayo Tayo. He lamented that he never knew he had a Wema Bank account until his mother contacted him because she received an alert that was intended for him.

In response to the report, the bank claimed that the unauthorised accounts were opened for certain persons in a bid to celebrate with the banking application's fifth anniversary, despite not informing them ahead or receiving approval to create the accounts.

In these perilous times where individual's bank accounts are sometimes wiped clean by internet fraudsters, it only makes sense for the management of Wema Bank to address the issue and exonerate the bank and its staff of any fraudulent activity. As at the time of filing in this report, Wema bank was yet to publicly address the matter.

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hen entrepreneur and politician, Bisoye Fagade, announced his intention to boot Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State out

Fagade

of office, about two months ago, many had applauded his vision and promised to support his ambition.

It was the second time that he had claimed to be on a mission to rescue Oyo. In his first attempt at fulfilling this dream on the platform of the Alliance For Democracy, Fagade failed to progress beyond the primaries.

However, a month after he announced his governorship ambition, he quietly changed his mind and instead, decided to run for the Senate, to represent Oyo Central Senatorial District.

Surprisingly, just a few minutes before the primary kicked off, Fagade pulled out of the election, claiming lack of transparency in the process, in favour of an 'unpopular' candidate to achieve a predetermined result. Any man that is unstable in his ways is considered unserious and untrustworthy.

Rather than take responsibility for his unpreparedness and lack of political wit, Fagade chose to clutch straws. Perhaps, if he had remained resolute about what he wanted, maybe he would have been taken seriously.

He would have gained the attention of those that mattered the next time he decides to run for an elective position.

Yolanda Okereke Resumes Social Life Months After Losing Husband

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elebrity stylist and founder of Wardrobe Shack and the Urani Company, Yolanda Okereke has returned to the social scene a few months after losing her husband, Kabiri Fubara, who died in December, 2021.

Kabiri Fubara who was a seasoned actor battled cancer of the liver for some years before breathing his last in a Dubai hospital where he was undergoing treatment.

The actor had announced that he was battling cancer in 2020 and that he was undergoing treatment.

Before his demise, he impressed with his

acting prowess in God’s Calling, Fractured, Gidi Up and a host of other Nollywood movies.

The fashion stylist was so devastated by his death that she took a long break from work and the social scene to mourn her husband. The entrepreneur has finally closed that chapter of her life and moved on now. She is fully back to work.

She was spotted at the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Award where she was nominated as the Best Costume Designer in the movie La Femme Anjola. She also graced actress Ini Dima Okojie’s wedding which took Okereke place last week.

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JUNE O5 - JUNE 11, 2022 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com

SHOTS OF THE WEEK Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]

L-R: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bourse des Valeurs Mobilières de l’Afrique Centrale (BVMAC), Louis Banga Ntolo; Deputy Manager, Trading & Surveillance, Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), Kofi Owusu Ansah; CEO, BOURSE REGIONALE DES VALEURS MOBILIERES (BRVM) and President of Africa Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) and Chairman of the African Exchanges Linkage Project (AELP) Steering Committee, Dr. Edoh Amenounve; Deputy Managing Director, GSE, Arbena Amoah; Head, International Relation, GSE, Diana Okine; Project Manager, AELP, Thapelo Tsheole; CEO, Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE), Lina Tonul, and Divisional Head, Business Support Services, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), and Chairperson of the Legal Committee of the AELP, Irene Robinson-Ayanwale, during the AELP Steering Committee Admission Ceremony for BSE (Botswana Stock Exchange) and GSE (Ghana Stock Exchange), as they were formally admitted into AELP, in Cameroun on June 1, 2022.

L-R: Vice President, Business and Operations, Jeffrey Williams-Edem; Super Aggregator and Winner of the Grand Cash Prize, Hameed Lasisi, and Vice President Brand, Marketing and Communications, Toluwani Odukoya-Ijogun, both of Nomba, at the Prize Presentation Ceremony of the Nomba Partner Reward Event held in Lagos on June 1, 2022.

L-R: First Chairman, CMC Connect, Mr. Billy Lawson; Executive Director, Mr. Raheem Olabode; Former Director, Mr. Tunde Dabiri; Former Director, Mrs Elizabeth Lawson; current Chairman, Mr. Akin Opeodu; GMD, Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, and Former shareholder, Sir Steve Omojafor, (all of CMC Connect) at the 30th anniversary of the company in Lagos on May 28, 2022.

L-R: General Manager, Aviation Security, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Anna Egbadon; MD, FAAN, Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu; Chairman, League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), Mr. Olusegun Koiki, and Ag. General Manager Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Faithful A. Hope-Ivbaze, during the courtesy visit by the FAAN's M.D. to LAAC, at the Murtala Muhammed Int'l Airport (MMIA), in Ikeja, Lagos on June 1, 2022.

L-R: Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Moronkeji Adesina; Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Kokumo Babatunde Johnson; Aide-de Camp (ADC), to the governor of Ekiti State, Oreoluwa Ogunwumiju, and Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, during the decoration of the ADC with his new rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Abuja on June 1, 2022.

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U.S. Mission Supports Morehouse College Glee Club 50th Anniversary Tour of Nigeria

Students performing an African-American spiritual with music instructors from the Morehouse College Glee Club at the University of Lagos.

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he United States is committed to strengthening the burgeoning U.S.-Nigeria cultural and people-to-people ties through music, arts and film which brings diverse people together and creates space for discussion and exchange.

From June 26 - July 9, 40 students and faculty members from Morehouse College Glee Club in Atlanta will travel to Nigeria for a three-city tour and cultural exploration of the country’s rich music heritage.

The Morehouse College Glee Club, which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its first tour in Nigeria, will offer public concerts in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu. In addition, the group will visit universities and high schools, meet Nigerian students, and explore their historical ties to Nigeria.

The 1972 visit to Nigeria infused African music into the Glee Club's tradition and American Choral music in general. Fifty years later, choirs across the United States sing in Nigerian languages, highlighting the long-term impact of that exchange.

The Morehouse College Glee Club has since learned a variety of songs in Edo, Yorùbá, Hausa, and Igbo, including a piece specifically composed for them by Igwe Laz Ekwueme, famed Nollywood actor and University of Lagos professor.

During the visit, the Morehouse College Glee Club will carry out a dynamic exchange of musical knowledge with the broad spectrum of the Nigerian society, singing in Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba languages.

U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard noted that the visit will strengthen the longstanding ties between American and Nigerian institutions of higher learning, and further expand the scope of academic and cultural relations between the United States and Nigeria.

“Cultural exchanges such as the upcoming visit of the Morehouse College Glee Club help contribute to strengthening the bonds of friendship and collaboration through music and arts, offering an opportunity for Nigerian students to learn about academic experiences in the United States,” Ambassador Leonardadded.

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“

I love the culture of Nigeria,” 19-year-old Schneider Grandpierre, a junior third-year student studying Music and Computer Science at the Morehouse College, said of the upcoming trip. “It is going to be such an enriching and amazing experience to be able to reconnect with our cultural roots and sing Nigerian music in different languages. I look forward to an extended stay here even after this tour

Many of the student members of the Morehouse College Glee Club described their upcoming visit as an opportunity to connect with their African roots.

“I love the culture of Nigeria,” 19-year-old Schneider Grandpierre, a junior third-year student studying Music and Computer Science at the Morehouse College, said of the upcoming trip. “It is going to be such an enriching and amazing experience to be able to reconnect with our cultural roots and sing Nigerian music in different languages. I look forward to an extended stay here even after this tour.”

Expressing his excitement about the visit, 23-year-old John Batey, a Business Administration major and tenor singer for the choral group said he has been able to trace his roots to Nigeria through a DNA test. “We will be exploring the Nigerian creative and entertainment industry. I am excited about the upcoming tour,” Batey said of the trip.

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Members of the Morehouse College Glee Club giving a performance.

Director of the Morehouse College Glee Club, Professor David Morrow, explained that the choral group will perform a repertoire of African and American songs particularly AfricanAmerican spirituals which have roots in West African music traditions.

Professor Morrow noted that the Morehouse College Glee Club is rooted in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s legacy. Dr. King, who sang in the Morehouse College Glee Club, was one of the notable alumni of the Historically Black College in the United States.

The Morehouse Glee Club 50th Anniversary Tour of Nigeria is supported in part through a public diplomacy grant of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria and showcases the United States’ strong commitment to strengthening cultural relations between the people of Nigeria and the United States. Delta Airlines and individual donors throughout the United States have also supported the upcoming tour.

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Winners Emerge in Mandela Gardens & Lodge Spelling Bee MAXIM UZOATU

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oyal Miral College and Epic Nursery/Primary School are the winners of the Nelson Mandela Gardens and Lodges Spelling Bee competition 2022.

The two schools defeated well over 20 competitors from public and private primary and secondary schools in Asaba, the Delta State capital that participated in the competition.

The participants were tested in knowledge of spelling in all subjects and various fields.

In the final round for three secondary schools held in Asaba, Royal Miral College beat Young Achievers Model School and Victory Baptists School to second and third places.

The school went home with the N100,000 first prize, courtesy of Nelson Mandela Gardens, while the two runners-up went home with N50,000 courtesy of FADE Africa, and N25,000, courtesy of Senator Stella Omu respectively.

In the primary school category, Epic Nursery/Primary School beat Prowess Nursery/Primary School to second place and thus won the N100,000 prize money courtesy of Mandela Gardens, while the runner-up won N50,000 courtesy of Fight Against Desert Encroachment, (FADE) Africa.

The Permanent Secretary, Government House/Protocols, Rotarian Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje said the important competition has confirmed that efforts to revive reading habit was yielding fruits especially when growing up.

He commended the students' proficiency in the knowledge of English Language, particularly spelling, vocabulary and also their schools for taking teaching of diction seriously.

He added that the competition would elicit positive interest among children and youths, and also encourage them to take up careers in some of the various professions highlighted.

Jibunoh, Dunkwu with the winners.

While encouraging the organizers, Mandela Gardens and Lodges, to sustain it, he pleaded with the company to encourage the students to participate by inviting additional schools, stating that a winner and loser must emerge.

"While losers should not be frustrated,” he said, stressing that “winners must see it as ‘no winner no vanquished’ competition.”

Hon Pally Eghove, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Social Works, urged parents to interact with their children by investing in their future as it was the duty of both parents and their formal school teachers to teach them.

Eghove said schools and offices should implement the policy of government that English Language and phonetics should be spoken and adopted in schools as a way of helping the young ones to grasp the language.

Omu Anioma, HRM Obi Martha Dunkwu, expressed her joy, saying: "I must say I am impressed with the performance of these students. While I was listening to them, I had internal joy that they could do so well. I want to thank the organizers of the Spelling Bee Competition for reawakening the consciousness. The good thing is that the fear that reading habit is going into extinction is no more there."

She added: "It is the duty of parents to encourage their children’s reading habit. That is why it is called 'first school'.

They should communicate with them in good phonetics; it also goes with strong understanding of words and their spellings."

Also speaking, Mr Ume Ume Ugbu,, Head, Human Resources/Admin, Asaba Airport Company, promised that the airport will be glad to support the competition every year.

He said the competition would equally reveal the schools

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Jibunoh with winners displaying certificates.

which have adequately prepared their students without paying lip service to teaching.

Earlier, Dr Newton Jibunor, Chairman, Mandela Gardens & Lodges, said the competition was aimed at making it attractive to the children. He commended the schools for keying into the project and assured that it would be a yearly competition especially to observe every children day.

"You can see how excited these students are competing,”

Jibunoh said. “They not only understand English, they are also proficient in spelling. We are hoping to make this a yearly event. We call on government at all levels, firms and individuals to come and partner us so that the awareness and reward can get better in subsequent editions."

The Spelling Bee was organized by Mandela Gardens and Lodges in collaboration with Rotary Club, Asaba Airport Company, ShopRite, Didi Museum, FADE Africa, Dubic Malt and others.

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SportsLive Nigerian Players And History-Making Teams of 2021/2022 Season

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

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Bassey put up another amazing effort to follow up his brilliance in the Europa League final. This time, he was a machine at left-back, creating three nice chances for teammates while also having a chance to score himself. Joe Aribo was similarly spectacular. Craig Gordon, the goalkeeper for Hearts, made a spectacular left-foot save to deny Aribo in stoppage time, before Wright hit the top of the bar with the final chance of normal time. Before the winning Rangers' goal, Aribo missed a close-range header he ought to have buried but it was not a regrettable miss because substitutes Ryan Jack and Scott Wright scored two goals in three extra-time minutes to soothe the agony of their Europa League final defeat. Jack smashed a shot off the bar from the edge of the box, while Wright finished low past Gordon to give the Ibrox side the title for the first time in 13 years.

There is also Cyriel Dessers, who was largely instrumental in seeing his on-loan side Feyenoord reach the final of the maiden edition of the UEFA Europa Conference League, their first ever European final appearance in 20 years. The striker rediscovered his scoring boots, especially in Europe, scoring 10 goals in 11 matches to take Feyenoord to the final of the Europa Conference League and a place in Feyenoord’s record books, as no striker has ever scored that many for the Dutch side in any European competition. It was significant for a club boasting a historical pedigree of some of Europe's excellent strikers as Pierre van Hooijdonk, who had the previous record of nine, Dirk Kuijt, Harry Bild, and Robin van Persie. The 27-year-old forward scored a brace against Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille in the first leg of their Conference League semi-finals to help them reach the club's first European final in two decades. His spectacular match-winning performance earned him the UEFA Conference League Player of the Week award and his double made him the first player in the newly formed Conference League to score 10 goals. Dessers finished the competition as the leading scorer. All these could make the striker one of the most sought-after players when the next transfer window opens in July.

Over at Moscow, Moses was similarly involved in a cup tie that had a city rivalry at stake. The Nigerian's club Spartak Moscow were taking on Dynamo Moscow for the bragging rights of the Russia Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium. Spartak were the underdogs as they went against the third-placed side in the Russian Premier League, from their unenviable 10th place. The 31-year-old Moses, who had played a pivotal role throughout the season, domestically and in the Europa League, was in the starting lineup once more. Had he been more clinical in the early exchanges, he could have broken the deadlock when he breezed past his marker and raced through on goal. However, the shot he unleashed was feeble and did not much trouble THEWILLNIGERIA

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Aribo

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Many other players were outstanding in their individual capacities and in the contributions they made to their teams all-season as Victor Osimhen did for Napoli and Taiwo Awoniyi for Union Berlin

Dynamo goalkeeper Igor Leshchuk. Fortunately, Spartak found the opener six minutes later courtesy of Alexander Sobolev for a 1-0 lead at the half-time break. Although Arsen Zakharyan levelled matters for Dynamo in the 55th minute, Quincy Promes fired home the winner for Spartak in the 72nd minute from a Sobolev assist. Moses and his teammates therefore ended their wait to clinch the domestic Cup since the 2002/2003 season, a long 19-year wait.

Much has already been said of the remarkable exploits of Super Falcons striker Oshoala and the near-perfect season she and her teammates at Barcelona Femini enjoyed in the 2021/2022 campaign that was only soiled by the loss to Olympique Lyonnais in the final of the UEFA Women's Champions League.

Apart from that loss, one of only two across all competitions throughout the season, Barca set a League unbeaten run with a perfect score of 30 wins in 30 matches, scoring an incredible 158 goals and conceding only 11. Despite a three-month injury layoff, Oshoala finished the season with 20 goals and three assists in 19 games. Although Real Madrid's Geyse Ferreira also scored 20 goals and added one assist, she did that in 27 games of the 30-game season. Oshoala and Ferreira finished the season with the Pichichi Award while Barca lifted all three domestic trophies, the Copa de la Reina, La Liga, and the Spanish Super Cup, without losing or drawing a single match, to cap off a fantastic season. Oshoala's feat was recognised by FIFA in a tweet that congratulated her for he Pichichi.

Other historic achievements incude Nigeria's other Moses, Simon. The Nantes player was crucial in the progress the Ligue 1 side made after seeing out the threat of relegation that hung around the club from the previous season. The remained in the top flight through the playoffs and faced a resurgent Nice side in the final of the French Cup. Nice had knocked out PSG, via penalty shootouts in the last 16, and Marseille en route to a first

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Oshoala

It was a very historic season in Scotland. The three domestic trophies all went to three different teams and former Scottish Premiership champions Rangers had the chance to finish with a double after reaching the final of the UEFA Europa League. Although the Gers lost the Europa Final to Eintracht Frankfurt, Giovanni van Bronckhorst's charges were asked to dig deep to avoid missing out on another silverware, the first of Bronckhorst's first season in charge at the Glasgow club.

The encounter demanded great amounts of stamina after the setback to Frankfurt, and the eventual outcome was another monumental effort from Rangers. Going the distance in extra time for the fourth time in 11 games and winning was a tremendous feat, especially considering the mental and physical toll Wednesday night's shootout setback must have taken. Nonetheless, it was important to cap off a memorable season with a trophy.

Moses

igerian footballers plying their across Europe were part of a set of historic fortunes for their clubs in the just concluded 2021/2022 football campaign. From the port city of Glasgow in Scotland to the frigid, densely populated Moscow in Russia, from the women's League in Spain to the Ligue 1 side Nantes in France, the men and women of the senior national football teams contributed to register one historic feat or another, while celebrating the triumphant trophy-lifting finale with which they wrapped up the football calendar in their clubs. THEWILL takes a look at how the hard work that Super Eagles' players like the Rangers trio of Leon Balogun, Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo, Moses Simon of Nantes, Cyriel Dessers of Feyenoord, Victor Moses of Spartak Moscow and Super Falcons' Asisat Oshoala together with other compatriots across Europe put into their football to finish as part of the historical accomplishments of their various clubs in the season just ended.

final since 1997 and were the overworking favourites to take the Cup. And, in the historic first French Cup final without PSG since 2014, Ludovic Blas drilled home a penalty at the start of the second half to bring Nantes the club's first major trophy since winning the Ligue 1 title in 2001, after a 21-year wait.

For the Cyprus-based Nigerian duo of goalkeeper Francis Uzoho and defender Abdullahi Shehu, history also beckoned in the season that just ended. Their side Omonia Nicosia finished the campaign with by lifting the Cypriot Cup. It was an accomplishment that they last recorded a decade ago.

Unfortunately for Shehu, he was red-carded in just the fifth minute of the final, a decision that could have been extremely costly for Omonia but his teammates rose to the occasion, finished the final goalless and overcame Ethnikos Achnas 5-4 in the decisive shootouts. At Trabzonspor in Turkey, there had not been a title celebration for drought that was 38 years old this year. One-capped Super Eagles' left-winger Anthony Nwakaeme helped the Turkish side to break that unfortunate streak and get the Trabzonspor fans celebrating again.

Many other players were outstanding in their individual capacities and in the contributions they made to their teams allseason as Victor Osimhen did for Napoli and Taiwo Awoniyi for Union Berlin. Porto's Zaidu Sanusi scored to help the poor Portuguese giants win the league, Akinkunmi Amoo lifted the Danish League title with FC Copenhagen, Samson Tijani was in the Red Bull Salzburg team that won the Austrian Bundesliga title and Olanrewaju Kayode assisted the winning goal in the Turkish Cup final win for Sivasspor. Yet, the truly historic victories belong to the players focused on above.

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www.thewillnigeria.com • June 05 - June 11, 2022

INEC Must Be Truly Independent

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n the text of its mission statement, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unambiguously described its goal as "to serve as an independent and effective Election Management Body (EMB) committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections for sustainable democracy in Nigeria."

In addition to that mission, some of the core values of the Commission, as listed on its website, incude autonomy, transparency, integrity, credibility and impartiality, which are regarded as the guiding principles that provide a foundation upon which it operates.

The values mean that "INEC shall carry out all its functions independently, free from external control and influence" as an autonomous body, it "shall display openness and transparency in all its activities and in its relationship with all stakeholders" while maintaining "truthfulness and honesty in all its dealings at all times".

Most importantly, as a Commission on which so much faith is reposed, the value of credibility requires that INEC ensures "that no action or activity is taken in support of any candidate or political party" and also "ensure that the creation of a level playing field for all political actors" is maintained at all times.

When on May 27, INEC extended the deadline for the conduct of political parties’ primaries for the 2023 general election, from June 3 to June 9, it seemed that the electoral umpire was neither acting on the basis of its mission statement nor on its hallowed values. This move was assumed to have disadvantaged one of the parties, which organised its primaries while keeping the previous deadline in mind, and favoured the other, which seemed to be aware of the postponement as it was unprepared for its primaries in any advanced stage but was now privy of the presidential direction of the former party.

It was a move that rendered the political games the two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), were playing in shifting the dates of their congresses, so as to determine which way to swing after the opposition had revealed tits hand, a waste of political strategy.

And it gave the upper hand to the governing party.

What made this action even more egregious was that the political parties requested an extension of the deadline, even as they played a game of political chairs to see which candidate the other party would pick to fly its flag at the 2023 polls. Their request to INEC was to be allowed more time to prepare and conduct their primary elections.

Engr. Yusuf Yabagi Sani, the chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), made the request for an extension during INEC’s meeting with the leaders of the political parties at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, May 10. It was a request, not just from the aid APC and PDP, but all of the 18 registered political parties, under the aegis of (IPAC).

Engr. Sani's appeal to INEC, during this quarterly consultative meeting, was predicated on the benefit that an adjusted timetable will have in providing for a free and credible election.

IPAC requested a month-long extension, citing specific reasons for doing so. The council argued that some of the constraining developments, which they believe were not considered and thus not factored in by the INEC when drafting its schedule of activities, include the Christian Lenten season and Muslim fasting in the month of Ramadan, followed by Easter and Eid El Fitr (Sallah) celebrations, in which the vast majority of party members participated. As a result, the developments inevitably disrupted the political parties' planned activities and programmes, resulting in a loss of about two weeks from the timetable's allotted time.

However, the commission put its foot on the ground with a vehement insistence that the June 3rd deadline for conclusion of party primaries was “firm and fixed”. According to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the commission had taken the initiative to previously remind political parties, on two occasions, of the need for strict compliance with the timelines for party primaries in order to avoid any hiccups with the schedule. The reminders were deliberate because INEC wanted to strictly maintain the timeline for the conclusion of primaries and submission of the names of candidates. The reason was that any attempt to alter the timetable was a recipe for confusion as it was inevitably going to affect other interrelated activities associated with the timelines down the line, thereby placing an unnecessary burden and avoidable pressure on the parties, the commission and the electoral system.

It was therefore best to avoid uncalled-for complications by sticking to the established timelines and leaving out any ideas of extensions.

Prof. Yakubu concluded: “Therefore, the commission will not review the timelines.

As the schedule seemed set in stone and no longer able to continue postponing, parties began to strategise and organise and redouble their campaigns so as to have names to send to the commission before the June 3 deadline.

The PDP, for instance, kicked off its various primaries across the country, while the big one, the Congress to pick the presidential candidate, was earmarked for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The top picks of Governor Nyesom Woke of Rivers State, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State were making final moves to sway the delegates to support their bids.

The same was taking place across the political firmament except in the governing party, which had not prepared the venue for its presidential primaries and its leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, had jetted out of the country on what could have been the eve of the most important congress of the party in recent time. It was as if they knew something others did not even know after INEC insisted that the deadlines were final.

That all became obvious when the electoral umpire appeared to have turned a blind eye to its mission statement and forgotten its core values, as well as caved in to partisan pressure to announce a belated extension of the deadline, thus calling INEC’s impartiality to question as one party looked set to reap the most from the move.

It is this inevitable suspicion of veiled partisanship that I think INEC will be better served to avoid. The responsibility to organise credible elections that are not only free and fair but also seen to be such is so sacred a role in our fledgling democratic process that the impartiality of the electoral umpire cannot be the subject of a debate.

INEC must be seen to be above board rather than cavorting to the whims of a party or allowing the political power of the day to be seen as influencing its decisions. Its value of autonomy is included in its title because of how important it is to retain full independence for the overall integrity of the electoral system.

In a political system, such as ours, where trust is scarce, it behoves the commission to carry out its activities with dignified adherence to those core values of autonomy, transparency, integrity, credibility and impartiality so as to win the confidence of all participants in the system, from party officials to contestants and from the electorate to election observers. This is the only way it can help our democracy mature and truly progress towards the realisation of its own vision statement on its website, which reads "The vision of INEC is to be one of the best Election Management Bodies (EMB) in the world that meets the aspirations of the Nigerian people."

INEC must be seen to be above board rather than cavorting to the whims of a party or allowing the political power of the day to be seen as influencing its decisions. Its value of autonomy is included in its title because of how important it is to retain full independence for the overall integrity of the electoral system PAGE 32

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