THEWILL NEWSPAPER May 07, 2023

The Met Gala is long gone, but we can’t stop gushing over our predictions of Afrobeats stars attending the highly sought-after event. Tems wore a custom Robert Wun attire, while Burna Boy wore Burberry. They certainly made history. Here’s to more Nigerians attending The Met Gala.

There are many ways of making your house a home. One of which is by incorporating greenery—plants. We show you how to do this on page 11. Our beauty pages discuss the skin’s pH and how to balance it. Did you know that not managing stress properly could disrupt your skin’s pH? Find out more about the skin’s pH, understand why it matters and how to balance it on pages 12 to 13.

Downtown Confidential is back, this time with a story about a woman who isn’t sexually satisfied by her husband, who believes that certain sexual acts amount to sin, and so resorts to toys. The problem is she is worried about getting caught by her husband.

Ladies, would you continue to use toys in secret, or do you think it’s time to have the talk with him?

Don’t forget to scan the QR codes on page 16 for the best music compilation there is out there.

A new chapter begins in the British monarchy as Charles III takes the throne as King of England. We look at life before his new role in our cover story. Long may he live.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

OnahNwachukwu Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN

I nv e s t in what yo u d o n ow, wi t h the be n e fi t s o f the fu tur e w i t h Ac c e s s P e n s i o n s

V i s i t ww w ac c e s s p e n s i o n s n g to g e t st ar t e d

Access Pensions, Future Shaping

www accesspe nsions ng

Yo u r f u tu re , s h a p e i t yo u r w ay.

Labour Party Officials at Daggers-Drawn as Obi Looks to Annul Tinubu's Win at Tribunal

BY AMOS ESELE

Was it a show of their new found power or a way to take the political party mainstream politically that the leaders of the Chief Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party, LP, flew in an XE business jet to Bauchi for their first National Executive Council meeting last Wednesday?

The party leaders, THEWILL learnt, were bent on having the meeting that day, but there was no scheduled flight to Bauchi. So they chose to charter a jet. Labour Party?

“What is wrong with that?” The National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Adebayo Arabambi, fired back at THEWILL on Friday when asked to confirm the allegation that sponsors of the crisis in the party are financing his faction.

However, Arabambi stated that if the party

chieftains could travel by private jets during electioneering, why should anyone raise eyebrows now that the staff of the party had to fly in a jet to the party’s National Executive Council meeting?

“The same sponsors that supported the party are still sponsoring the party,” he said, adding, ''faction or no faction.''

What Arabambi could not say, or refused to disclose for obvious reasons, about the source of revenue for his faction, however, is that the faction appears to have fallen on good fortune, which has given them the strength to stand their ground in the lingering crisis rocking the party, courtesy of a Benin High Court ruling that restrained the party's National Chairman, Julius Abure, from acting.

The Abure-led faction still controls a

comparatively heavier war chest through the conduct of the governorship primary for offseason polls in the three states of Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa, whose elections are coming up in November 2023.

For as high as N15 million as fees for governorship nomination forms, the faction must have raked in good money from politician who want to burnished their ambition on the altar of a brand new Labour Party whose stock has risen beyond expectation, following the stellar performance of presidential candidate Peter Obi in the February 25, 2023 presidential poll.

With this strength therefore, the Apapa faction appears ready to engage the Abure group in a long- drawn conflict, even after the upcoming May 19, 2023 Abuja Federal High Court ruling on the locus of each faction.

Obi Looks to Annul Tinubu's Win at Tribunal

POINT OF NO RETURN?

While the public face of the crisis hangs on alleged mismanagement, financial recklessness and forgery carried out under Abure’s leadership, there is a creeping sense of power play that may reach a climax sooner than expected and keep the factions further apart.

Apart from consolidating its power through constituting a new NEC in Bauchi last Wednesday, the Apapa faction appears to be wary of the stand of Obi’s position on the brewing crisis.

For now, Obi is the bridge linking both groups. Despite its aggression towards Abure and his executive, the Apapa faction maintains its support for Obi and the party’s current petition at the Supreme Court.

At the Bauchi meeting where the Apapa faction announced a new executive and the suspension of four members of the Abureled Exco, namely Umar Farouk, National Secretary, Clement Ojukwu, National Organising secretary, National Treasurer Olushi Opara, the presidential candidate, Obi, his Vice- Presidential candidate, Datti Ahmed and elected members of the party were pardoned, “because they attended the illegal Asaba NEC meeting in error.”

The Abure faction had earlier suspended Apapa and his group at last month's Asaba NEC meeting together with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, leadership.

Yet, there is a meeting ground between both factions: The candidacy of Obi and the pending suit filed by the party and its presidential candidate at the Supreme Court.

Sources say that since the lingering crisis blew into the open immediately after the March 23, 2023 governorship poll , the uniting factor provided by the party’s presidential candidate, which both factions publicly acknowledge, appear to be the new source of renewed hostility.

According to sources, following pressure on him to save the party, Abure had offered his willingness to resign but Obi was said to have rejected the move.

The rejection is said to be based on the need to maintain the winning team in view of the pending petition before the Supreme Court coming up for hearing on Monday 9, 2023.

Obi’s recent statement that he had never met Apapa before is said to have infuriated the factional leaders making them harden their stance, even though publicly acknowledging his importance and relevance to the current survival of the party.

The faction is said to have been alarmed by the extent to which Obi continues to stick with Abure, especially with the handling of the recent crisis of the party in Imo State where Obi agreed to act as Steering Committee Chairman to oversee the conduct of the party

primary in the state after Abure had dissolved the state executive.

Moreover, there is a growing suspicion in the party that the party’s petition at the tribunal may crumble like a pack of cards. According to one of the aggrieved leaders, “the petition looked skewed in favour of certain interests and deliberately so as to make it a non-starter when the proceeding begins. The PDP is excluded from the petition, while the main target is APC. How can three main parties contest election and only the results of one of them is in contention? Are you not indirectly saying that the results of the excluded party in the suit are genuine?”

When the owners of the Labour Party, the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, threw its weight behind the Abure faction, the Apapa faction decided to consolidate their position by formalising their faction.

“I think the NLC ran against the law by supporting the Abure faction during their meeting in Asaba. That was why we conducted our NEC to give Apapa the powers,” said Arabambi. “We do not want to toe the path of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, currently steep in crisis by allowing impunity to reign in our party.”

The NLC, THEWILL recalls, did not manage its ownership of the party well. At a point in the past when a leadership supremacy battle raged in the party, a court ruling directed the union to hold a congress to reconcile the factions. The NLC, under the leadership of the immediate past President, Ayuba Wabba, failed to do so. The factions have since mutated under different guises with their participation in politics further driving a wedge among the warring groups.

Attempts to get the NLC’s reaction failed as the President, Mr Joe Ajaero, did not pick calls to his phone. There is however a strong, though unsubstantiated feeling in both the NLC and the Abure faction that the Apapa faction is a tool in the hands of agents of destabilisation, particularly as the election petition trial date draws near. Arabambi denies this, saying

that those who made the allegation have to prove it. He also said it was false that that the faction tried to withdraw the party’s suit at the presidential election tribunal.

Abure did not answer his mobile phone when THEWILL contacted him.

However, the Chief spokesperson of the LP Presidential Campaign Council, Tanko Yinusa, said the pending suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, will determine the real leaders of the Labour Party on May 12. He added that the Apapa faction lacks the locus standi and therefore, it is on a wild goose chase for relevance.

“They have no locus standi in the party, administrative or political. Firstly, article 14 of the party is clear on the procedure to remove a National Chairman. You need to call a NEC to do so. Uma Farouk, the National Secretary, is in a position to call a NEC meeting. The Apapa faction has no locus standi to cast aspersions. Whatever allegations or accusations they make cannot stand to reason. Two court rulings have so far been made on Abure. The Benin High Court stopped him but the Abuja court ruling exempted him. Anyway, the matter would be dealt with at the Federal High Court in Abuja on May 12, 2023, ” Yinusa told THEWILL.

When asked if the sustained crisis within the party would not contribute to weakening it and spoil its chances at the Election Petition Tribunal, he said, calmly, “Peter Obi and Labour Party are the plaintiffs. In case there is no Labour Party, Peter Obi will carry on with the case.”

NO HOPE FOR RECONCILIATION

The Apapa faction says it is looking ahead, towards the 2027 election, meaning that barring a court judgement against it, it is not ready for any dialogue to resolve the crisis.

Arabambi said the case of fraud allegedly committed by the Abure faction is such that it would have to go up in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for restitution. On the other hand, he said Abure alongside Farouk, Ojukwu and Opara must resign their positions after appearing before the Apapa led faction to answer allegations against them.

“He who must come to equity must do so with clean hands. We want to build a party Nigerians would be proud of unlike with the PDP and APC,“ he said, adding, “we are already looking ahead to the 2027 elections.

“Remember that it is the party that is in court contesting the outcome of the polls with Obi and not Abure.”

Yinusa laughed it off when asked about the imminent fall of LP because of the lingering crisis.

“The case will be decided on May 12 by the Federal High Court in Abuja. I am sure everything will end on that day because the Apapa faction has no locus standi and they know it,” he said.

Obi’s recent statement that he had never met Apapa before is said to have infuriated the factional leaders making them harden their stance, even though publicly acknowledging his importance and relevance to the current survival of the party

Emir of Kano Identifies Challenges of University Education in Nigeria

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, has identified some challenges of university education in Nigeria. These he said include University autonomy, imbroglio between government and ASUU, growth of new universities, students unrest among others.

The traditional ruler made this known after he was installed as the 6th Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar. He promised to engage the Federal Government and relevant agencies to address these challenges and also with for the growth and development of the University of Calabar.

"The imbroglio between the government and ASUU, the growth of new universities, the issue of access to University Education, students unrest, University autonomy, salary and wages issue and University infrastructure are daunting challenges confronting us.

"Against this background and with my new gab, I will engage the federal

government and all relevant agencies to look into the problem.

"I have undertaken to use this opportunity to see to it that we work with the University management for its growth and development.

"Our country Nigeria, as a part of the global village is not immune to the consequences of globalization, covid-19, Climate change and other developmental challenges have all combined to open new dimension to us as a developing country.

"We shall always be mindful of these while tackling our myriad development challenges", he said.

Speaking at the event, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, said he hoped that the confidence reposed in the Emir would not be betrayed.

Gambari, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, said "I trust that you will faithfully and delligently carry out the duties of your office in the University of Calabar", he said.

Provide Satellite Phones to Security Agents, Security Council Tells Benue Govt

The Benue State Security Council has advised the state government to make provision for satellite phones and Internetbased communication radios/gadgets, especially to the communities where there are no mobile communication networks to enhance quick transmission of information to security operatives for quick action.

Rising from a four-hour meeting held at the Benue People's House, Makurdi on Friday, the council also recommended that community members should be encouraged to be watchful and provide security surveillance in their areas and transmit information to the relevant authorities.

Abiodun Declares Cultism Act of Terrorism in Ogun

Worried by the activities of cultists in Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun has declared the social menace an act of terrorism.

The governor also vowed to deal with suspected cultists as terrorists henceforth. Abiodun, who made the declaration at the Akarigbo's Palace in Sagamu, during a stakeholders security meeting, held on Friday, said his government had had enough and was ready to deal with the matter once and for all.

No Longer Global Public Health Emergency – WHO Declares

COVID-19 is no longer a global public health emergency, the World Health Organisation (WHO), declared on Friday.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he made the decision following a recommendation from the WHO’s emergency committee, which met on Thursday, for the 15th time.

"I have accepted that advice. It is, therefore, with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency", Tedros said.

The WHO's designation of a "public health emergency of international concern" is reserved for the most serious disease outbreaks.

The organisation has assigned the label to seven outbreaks since 2007: monkeypox, COVID-19, Zika, H1N1 flu, polio and Ebola (which has twice been designated an emergency).

Globally, Covid deaths have fallen steadily over the last three months, from more than 41,000 weekly deaths at the start of January to around 3,500 on April 24, according to WHO data.

The Benue State Deputy governor, Engr Benson Abounu, who read the communique after the meeting, explained that the Council further asked stakeholders to note that the Anti-open grazing law is still in existence in Benue State and all must respect this fact and abide by the law.

"All stakeholders, especially law enforcement agencies, should show sincerity in the implementation/ enforcement of the Anti-Open Grazing Law currently in place in the state".

According to the communique, emphasis now should be on the prevention of attack by Fulani Herdsmen rather than the reactionary approach.

“For more than a year, the pandemic has been on a downward trend, with population immunity increasing from vaccination and infection, mortality decreasing and the pressure on health systems easing. This trend has allowed most countries to return to life as we knew it before Covid-19", Tedros said.

However, he noted that worldwide, someone died of Covid every three minutes last week, a figure that only includes reported deaths.

“The worst thing any country could do now is to use this news as a reason to let down its guard, to dismantle the systems it has built, or to send the message to its people that Covid-19 is nothing to worry about," Tedros added.

He said, "I am declaring cult activities here as an act of terrorism. I am taking these as a test of this administration's will. I sounded a note of warning to cultists in the past. I am sounding a fresh note of warning to all cult members, their parents, their landlords and sponsors.

"From today, we are considering cult members and other criminals as saboteurs to the economy of not just this local government or town, but also this state. We will treat them as terrorists.

"I have instructed our law enforcement agencies to smoke these people out. I have told the Commissioner of Police that he has no other job until every single member of this cult is found out.

"I am still trying to figure out the basis, motive and the reason behind these cult activities in Ogun State, particularly, in Sagamu and Remoland.

"We will collaborate with our Royal Majesties and Royal Highnesses in our resolve to bring lasting peace to this local government area."

Governor Abiodun said that his administration would establish a Joint Intervention squad comprising the military, police, Department of State Security, Civil Defence Corps and local vigilante, to deal with cultism and other related crimes, especially in Sagamu and other parts of the state.

The squad, he explained, would be provided with the necessary equipment, while its headquarters would be sited in Sagamu Local Government Area.

"Reports show that there has been a prevalence of cult activities in Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Sagamu, Ikenne, Odogbolu, particularly, we have been dealing with these issues over time, but in the last few weeks, we have begun to see an upsurge in the cases of inter-cult rivalry that had resulted in clashes and killings of innocent people", Abiodun noted.

The Akarigbo of Remoland and Chairman, Ogun State Council of Obas, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, in his remarks, said that people of diverse culture and religion have co-existed in the town for a long time. He wondered why a few elements in the society should disrupt the peace and progress the town had enjoyed in the past.

"We cannot continue to accommodate violence in this town. It is unacceptable. What is happening now is not in our culture and it is not in our interest. We have co-existed as brothers and sisters for a long time. It is time for parents and guardians to talk to their sons and daughters. Together, we shall overcome these trying times”, he said.

L-R: Anambra State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, receives document from the Flag Officer, commanding Central Naval Command, Oguta Base, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shettima, when the latter paid a working visit to the former at Government House Owerri on May 5, 2023.

FROM SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA

FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR

FROM GEORGE MARTINS, MAKURDI

L-R: Former Delta SSG, Chiedu Ebie, Executive Director UBA, Emem Usoro, Chairman, THISDAY/ Arise Media, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher, THEWILL Newspaper & DOWNTOWN Magazine, Prince Austyn Ogannah, Editor-at-Large, THEWILL Downtown Magazine, Chalya Shagaya & Managing Director, Daily Telegraph Newspaper, Ayodele Aminu.

L-R: Nkem Oganah-Ike, Chief Consultant Radiologists - Dr Pamela Irabor, Dr. Eloho Benedicta Obi-Egbedi-Ejakpovi; Prince Austyn Ogannah, Dr. Beatrice Oganah-Ikujenyo and Chief Consultant Radiologist, Dr Oriazo Theophilus Akhigbe.

L-R: Otunba Dr. Adejare Adegbenro, Charles Aigbe, Kolawole Ogubanjo, Clifford Eluem, Mena Ajakpovi, Prince Austyn Ogannah, Patrick Osu, Buchi Adeosun and former NBA National Chairman, Olumide Akata.

Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Kingsley Obiora and Executive Director, NIMASA, Rt. Hon. Engr. Victor Ochei.

L-R: Mr. Olukoya Ikujenyo, Barrister Ogundele and Mrs. Funto Ipaye.

Victor Nwoko, Victor Asowata, Peace Udugba, Elizabeth Teko, Iquo Umoh and Kehinde Fagbule

Officiating priests: Very Rev. Fr. Peter Mobuogwu (Parish Priest), Rev. Fr. Vincent Okwuokei (Assistant), Very Rev. Fr. Festus Okocha, Very Rev Fr. Norbert Uchunor, Rev. Fr. Jude Mordi, Rev. Fr. Christian Agha, Rev. Fr. Peter Agholor, Rev Fr. Innocent Ogbu, Rev. Fr. Andrew Ijegbulem and Rev. Fr. Peter Adeniran.

L-R:

L-R: Staff of THEWILL Newspaper:

Godbless & The Eboni Band Group.

POLITICS

Senate Presidency: Akpabio Leads The Pack

The race for the Senate presidency is being narrowed down to a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, but there is an indication that northern Senators are strategising to ensure that one of them from the North-West geopolitical zone clinches the position.

Although the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), after a meeting last Wednesday said it was not in a hurry to take a position on the zoning of the presiding offices of the 10th National Assembly, state governors on the party’s platform may have settled for Akpabio who is a ranking senator from the South – South geo-political zone of the country. This came into the open on Thursday when the Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano State disclosed that Akpabio would emerge as president of the Senate.

Ganduje spoke in Calabar, Cross River State capital, at a meeting with Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State and Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ganduje, who failed to disclose whether his declaration was the position of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declared that the decision to nominate Akpabio was already a done deal.

“The Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will come from the South-South and it is no other person than the former Governor of Akwa Ibom, “the uncommon governor and uncommon minister, who is going to be the uncommon president of the Senate. So, we have resolved that. I am giving you assurance, we are waiting for the D-Day that he will be Senate president,” he declared.

While speaking during the meeting, Governor Ayade, on his part, expressed his delight that the 10th Assembly Senate Presidency would come from the South-south.

“I want to thank you so much for zoning the senate president to the south-south and to our brother from a neighbouring state, who is also part of Cross River State.

We want to thank you for this great opportunity because our dream of a Bakassi seaport is becoming very real,” he said.

Also last Wednesday, Akpabio was part of President-elect Tinubu’s entourage to the well publicised visit to Rivers State where they were hosted by the Governor Nyesom Wike.

At the Gala Nite in honour of Tinubu and his entourage, Akpabio was called to address the gathering. As he held the microphone about 40 senators present came out to stand beside him in solidarity. This gesture has since been interpreted by political analysts and watchers of political developments as Akpabio’s endorsement as the next senate president.

This is also as some senators-elect from the North have insisted that the region must produce the senate president in the 10th national assembly.

Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari, (APC Zamfara) and Senator Barau Jibrin, (APC Kano) are the two leading aspirants for the position from the North.

What is working against the duo is the fact that they are Muslims. Analysts believe it would be difficult for the President-elect and his Vice to be Muslims and the Senate President also to be a Muslim.

It was gathered that the northern lawmakers from various political parties, took the decision last Sunday night during a meeting in Abuja, which was said to have been attended by 39 out of the 58 northern senators-elect. They were said to have demanded that the senate president should be zoned to the North in appreciation of the region’s support to the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the last presidential election.

It was further gathered that the Forum had also delegated two of its ranking members to meet with the Presidentelect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to relay their resolutions to him.

“

governor and uncommon minister, who is going to be the uncommon president of the Senate

Also, a group, the Arewa Political Forum has urged Senator Barau Jibrin to reject the call to accept the deputy senate president slot, but rather he should contest the position of president. The Forum’s Convener, Dr Abubakar Daura, made this known after an emergency meeting in Kaduna.

The group said the North had already ceded the presidency to the South, therefore, it would not accept the position of the deputy senate president.

The group said, “We sacrificed the number one position and now they want us to let this go. It won’t happen.

”We insist on Sen. Barau Jibrin, not just because he is from the North-West, but because he is the most competent among all the other candidates for the office of the President of the Senate.

“Jibrin is the highest-ranking, longest-serving legislator in the Senate and deserves to be the next Senate President. He is also from the state that has supported the All Progressives Congress (APC), since inception, and gave the highest votes during the 2023 Presidential Election.”

The group said, ”Barau is the choice of the North and cannot decide on his own to accept the deputy position being offered to him.”

It could be recalled that last Wednesday, APC Chairman, Adamu, after a meeting of the APC National Working Committee (NEC) that lasted for over four hours, said the zoning of offices of presiding officers was not part of the agenda and further noted that no formal pronouncement would emanate from the party national secretariat on the much expected zoning arrangement without the input of

President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He said, ”No, that isn’t what today’s meeting is about. When we will do the zoning meeting, we won’t just go as a party; zoning has to take along the man who has the mandate of this country, that’s the president elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“He travelled after the election and he came back only last week. We have to carry him along and we can’t stop those who are ambitious, who have zonal interest or individual interest. We can’t deny them.

“As long as that is there, we have to find a way to reach some level of understanding. That is what we are working on. It isn’t a one-day affair."

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, also appealed to party faithful to exercise patience, even as he declared that there was no timeline for the formal unveiling of the zoning arrangement.

“We are not wasting time. There is no timeline to do so. The zoning is something that the party does. It is a mechanism by which the party is able to make decisions and afford those who are interested in competing for power in the leadership of the 10th National Assembly to do so with a minimum rift and rancor, peacefully and seamlessly. So there is no timeline. We are not in hurry. We want to do it right.

“The chairman just said this required very exhaustive consultation, not just of the leadership of the party but also of those who are aspiring. So, whatever the party comes up with, by way of formula, will be acceptable with minimum friction. It is important that the consultation is done and it is done properly. That is what is going on right now,”Morka said.

The Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will come from the SouthSouth and it is no other person than the former Governor of Akwa Ibom, “the uncommon

Akpabio

Tinubu’s Cabinet And The Plateau Component

BY UKANDI ODEY

Whatever was the quantum of distrust and controversy that greeted the declaration of Ahmed Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), as the winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential election, the reality is already unmistakable that he will receive the reins of presidential power, come May 29.

For Tinubu, the challenge now is not so much his health, as the opposition and his traducers will prefer and wish it, as it is how to put together a team that will be resourceful and forthcoming in delivering a New Nigeria.

From different parts of the country, hustlers and opportunists have been jostling, just as the APC faithful and close associates of the President-elect have been falling over themselves in a lobbying frenzy, which is first about making the cabinet list, getting choice or ‘juicy’ posting, or simply making the first line list which, at worst, will earn the headship of a viable parastatal, agency or board.

In Plateau State, it is a real rats’ race, especially now that political power in the state has been lost to the opposition PDP who won the governorship poll convincingly, including the National Assembly Election in Plateau South Senatorial District where the outright defeat of Simon Lalong has been equated with a damning rejection of the outgoing governor for poor performance and squalid leadership.

However, with the emergence of Governor Lalong as the director-general of the now disbanded APC Presidential Campaign Council, he receives early mention when political analysts get under way with permutations about those from Plateau State that are likely to make Tinubu’s Cabinet.

Observers however, believe Lalong has a lot of minuses and deficits grating against him, ranging from his preprimaries posture against Tinubu, to his rating as the director general of the APC presidential campaign council.

His high profile and colourful opponents, including the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, Chief Amos Gizo, former secretary to the state government, Chief Sylvanus Lot, and the State APC defeated governorship candidate, Nentawe Yiltwada Goshwe, exploring his robust connection with Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, and the other sixteen gubernatorial aspirants arm twisted out of the race by Lalong, will use this pre-primary anti Tinubu posture of Lalong to secure advantage.

It is arguable whether the gamble for geopolitical and religious balancing and equity, which enabled Lalong to clinch the position of director-general in the APC presidential campaign organisation has neutralised his political offences of ignoring and avoiding Tinubu in the build-up to the party’s primaries.

It would be recalled that during Tinubu’s visit to see Plateau delegates in Jos, Lalong, who preferred and preserved the delegates for Rotimi Amaechi, sneaked out of town to avoid meeting with Tinubu.

Again, during the presidential convention in Abuja, Lalong ensured that the Plateau delegates were held and hidden from Tinubu in an obscure location, until the trio or triumvirate of Amos Gizo, Pauline Tallen, and Hon. Komsol staged a ‘coup’ and broke into the delegates abode and ‘stole’ a chunk into the pro-Tinubu camp to swell his votes on his way to eventual victory and emergence as the APC candidate.

Apart from politics without principle, another factor working against Lalong is that he is from Shendam Local Government Area as the present Minister for Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen. Adherents of rotational politics in Plateau are livid that the same local government area that produced both governor and minister in the last eight years should not take the turn of another local government area in this dispensation. As a matter of fact, the Plateau Central zone is strong in its belief that the ministerial slot to Plateau this time has to be allotted to the zone, since Plateau North kept the position from 2007 to 2015 when Jonah Jang was governor, and Plateau South did same under Lalong as governor from 2015 to 2023.

Yet, Simon Lalong’s albatross stretches tentacles beyond the political sphere of Plateau. As chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, he mobilized his colleagues strongly to remove Adams Oshiomole as National Chairman of the APC. He did in his calculation, to make the way for his friend, Rotimi Amaechi, to win the APC presidential primary election. Oshiomole is waiting, and is in a strategic position to take his pound of flesh on Lalong.

The immediate past Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al Makura has not forgiven Lalomg either, having frustrated his chances of emerging as the APC National Chairman, and he is playing a critical role in helping Tinubu to identify quality personnel in Plateau and

Nasarawa States to recruit into the anticipated cabinet. Because politics is not really a game driven by morality, revenge could be sweeter than Sweet!

Yet, Pauline Tallen is not so much a cog in the wheel for Lalong as Chief Amos Gizo is the real obstacle and stumbling block. Lalong got obsessed with his position as Governor, and later DG, campaign, to despise, denigrate, and cast aspersions on Gizo in the build up to the APC presidential primaries. But Gizo was luckier as the tick of time soon came with vicissitudes for Lalong whose preferred Rotimi Amaechi did not only lose the presidential primary, as he himself would later fail in his senatorial ambition, and failed even more precipitately in getting the APC gubernatorial candidate to succeed him.

Gizo’s luck continues and includes the fact that he is the closest and most trusted and dependable political ally of Tinubu in Plateau State. Against all odds, he believes in Tinubu and political possibilities around and about him. While Lalong was making mounds for Rotimi Amaechi, Gizo was busy fetching from the valley to grow Tinubu’s political mountain – he worked and mobilized for Tinubu to win, from primaries up to the election proper when, against all odds, he emerged as the candidate. He ensured that he delivered his home local government area, Kanam, to Tinubu and the APC in the February 25 presidential election. Putting the contributions of Lalong side by side with that of Gizo’s, Tinubu is likely to find the latter more trustworthy, dependable, deserving, and more predictable given his pedigree of loyalty and faith in the Tinubu politics.

For Honourable Komsol, many do not consider him a strong contender for first line appointment by the president-elect when the new administration takes off. Considered a recent and emergent phenomenon because of Lalong’s inability to effectively coordinate and harness the Plateau front for the APC, Hon. Komsol made paltry efforts when it was clear that the Lalongled campaign council was not on ground to harness the grassroots votes during the presidential election.

The other 16 aggrieved aspirants who were cheated out of the APC governorship primary through a convoluted and manipulated process determined to produce Nentawe, who also worked very hard to ensure that the APC and Tinubu scored above 25 per cent in Plateau, are even more deserving of patronage than Lalong who lost in his polling unit and local government area in the presidential election. Before the aggrieved 16 aspirants, Lalong had mismanaged the party’s chassis, beginning with the neglect of the fulcrum of the merger – ACN, CPC, and the ANPP, and the sordid handling of delegates’ election which was largely bungled and miscarried.

The aggrieved aspirants however mobilised and neutralised the disharmony and secured at least 37 per cent for the APC in the presidential election.

For the defeated Plateau APC governorship candidate, his fate in the scheme of things lies more with the sympathy of the party organogram. He is not an ally of Tinubu, and his hyped and over-rated political Manfriday, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, cannot help in this matter.

Observers however, believe Lalong has a lot of minuses and deficits grating against him, ranging from his pre-primaries posture against Tinubu, to his rating as the director general of the APC presidential campaign council

Tinubu

Lalong

Conduct of 2023 Election Cast a Slur on INEC – Nwosu

Chief Ralph Nwosu is the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). In this interview with AYO ESAN, he speaks on the crisis in the party and the preparation for the governorship elections coming up in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States later in the year, among other issues. Excerpts:

Whatis the situation in ADC after the 2023 General Election?

It is true that we had some major challenges with the presidential candidate we got to represent us in the last election and in the process we suspended him. After suspending him, he didn’t show any remorse. He continued the mercenary job he came to do and we expelled him.

Because his name has been sent to INEC, INEC still went ahead to place him in the election. But we have expelled him from the ADC and I think before the election, he played his card and he decided to support the party in power. At a point when he started the trouble, we were wondering where he came from, whether he came from the PDP or APC, but eventually it zeroed down to where he was sent.

The same young man, Dumebi Kachikwu, who emerged as our presidential candidate, was able to mobilise some of the state chairmen who helped him to corrupt the delegates. He teamed up with them to destabilise the party and they started what they called, ‘Chief Nwosu Must Go’ agenda, all in an effort to disrupt the party we have been working on.

In the process, we called the NEC and the members reaffirmed the leadership of the party. These people decided to go to court. They took us to court. While we were busy planning for our election, embarking on campaigns and so on, they insisted that we must go. So when we realised what these people were trying to do, they collected money to destroy our party. The National Working Committee and serious members of the NEC took action.

These guys went to court without our knowledge and got judgement. We said okay if you decide to take the party to court, then you should follow the process completely.

In politics and in general terms, once you decide to go to court, the court process must be taken to a logical conclusion before securing victory. So if you decide to go to court to settle an internal conflict, you can go to the High Court, when judgment is given in a High Court, any of the parties can appeal it, which means the process continues. After the Appeal Court‘s decision, any of the parties can approach the Supreme Court. You must be ready to finish the entire process, once you initiate it. But these people, may be through the limit of their knowledge, the little knowledge that they have , and their buccaneer attitude to politics, since getting one judgment, they have been parading the airwaves , parading the media , saying Nwosu has been removed. You went to court, but the court process didn’t end at the High Court. You did what you did at the High Court because we didn’t know, so allow the court process to finish. They didn’t do that. They burgled the party’s office recently and carted away things. We have reported them to the police and now all of those mercenaries employed by the Presidential candidate are now on the run because they are on the wanted list of the police.

From my experience in political management and political leadership, anybody that decides to go through a process must be ready to see it to the end. In our politics we have a lot of people who came into politics to trade, to do one thing or the other which is unfortunate. Some of them would come out to say they are contesting for president or they are contesting for governor. But some of them are mercenaries and they can disrupt the works that some committed minds have been doing for many years. That

nearly happened to us, but by the Grace of God, we are alive and we are doing well.

How was the party’s performance in the election?

We had a lot of challenges and we were unable to achieve some of the goals we set for ourselves. But we won elections in Kogi and Ogun States. In Ogun we won more than 25 percent of votes that were casted in about three to four local governments. In INEC requirements as far as the law is concerned, if you have 25 percent of the votes cast in one local government during a general election, like governorship election and so on, it shows that your party is strong. Strong enough to continue being in existence. So our party is strong.

Before this time, we won some local government elections. About 13 ADC candidates who contested the National Assembly election are in court. Some of them may win their cases. And about 25 of our State House of Assembly candidates are in the tribunal. Few of them may win their cases. Some of our governorship candidates are in the tribunal, one or two of them may win. These are the likely outcomes from the last election.

The quality of the general election fell below our expectations. It wasn’t what INEC promised the country. If you would recall, we all fought when the President initially failed to sign the Electoral Bill. At a point, they wanted to remove this electronic system, but all Nigerians insisted that it must be included, otherwise there would be problems. The Pesident delayed it for some time before signing it eventually, to the joy of many Nigerians.

INEC kept telling some of us who worked closely with it about the BVAS, Irev and the whole process that would make the election transparent and we went the extra mile to preach it to everybody. Unfortunately, the very first election that happened, INEC didn’t deliver on its promise. And that more or less affected all other elections because the impunity that we usually see in state elections started to happen.

INEC didn’t keep to the promised standard and because of that, during the next election that was conducted in March, almost all the governors went rogue. And because

of that, the outcome the people expected didn’t happen. It is unfortunate. And the election was very poor. You can see since after the election, it has been trouble every time. The kind of enthusiasm that made the people who have not voted before to want to go and vote was dashed. It also leaves a very big scar on INEC Chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood’s administration.

How is the ADC preparing for the forthcoming governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States?

The party is prepared. So far, we have fielded a governorship candidate in Kogi State. He is Hon. Leke Abejide. He is our man in Kogi. Everybody in the state thinks he is the person that will win the governorship election. He would use the projects he did in his constituency to entice everybody in the state. It is a simple challenge, as he would say. Look at what he achieved as a member of the House of Representative. No other person in Kogi State, no lawmaker, has done what he did in four years and some of them have been there for 12 years.

So we have the winning candidate. We just pray that INEC will take lessons from what happened in the last general election and allow the people to vote, allow Nigerians to vote and allow our democracy to thrive well. Once that is done, we have the assurance of winning.

Equally in Imo State, we have Professor James Okoroma. Okoroma, before he went into academics, was a seasoned journalist. His political pedigree is also wonderful. He served as the Media Assistant to late Senator Chuba Okadigbo as Senate President. He is a media consultant, a grassroots politician and a highly qualified governorship candidate. He is running for us in Imo State and he comes from the area that has been denied and unjustly treated. He is from Mbaise in Owerri Zone. Owerri Zone has not had a shot at governorship in the last 24 years and that is wrong. The people are determined to change that, and we have a good candidate. If things go well, many people will identify with our candidate.

For Bayelsa, we have a young man. We are pushing and I am going to meet him next week for o the first time. From the Curriculum Vitae I have seen, I think he is a quality candidate. But I have always known Abejide and Professor Okoroma and they have been members of the party all along and I can assure you that they are sure bankers, all other things being equal. ADC doesn’t participate in rigging elections. The moment they enter rigging, we are out.

INEC didn’t deliver on its promise. And that more or less affected all other elections because the impunity that we usually see in state elections started to happen

POLITICS NEWS

10th Assembly: Akande-Sadipe Eyes Deputy Speaker’s Seat

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, has declared her intention to vie for Deputy Speaker of the 10th Assembly should APC zone the position to the South West.

While addressing her colleagues on Wednesday in Abuja, Akande-Sadipe, acknowledged the challenges she faced during the electoral process and expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to serve the people.

Tinubu’s Administration Must Ensure Public Safety – Williams

The Anti-corruption crusader, Major-Gen. Ishola-Williams (Retd) has called on the incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure public safety.

Speaking exclusively with THEWILL on what he expects from Tinubu’s administration, Williams said the incoming administration should ensure public safety with greater effort on enhancing State and Local Government Areas to prevent, deter with the tools and tactics to ensure safe cities, towns and villages in Nigeria.

He said sophisticated weapons will not defeat but educated and well informed soldiers with good tactical training with motivation are needed.

He said “Can the next regime continue to spend Trillions, with health and education not up to par with the Armed Forces, Police and other Agencies, without improvement in maintenance of equipment, weapons system and public safety?

Williams specifically asked Tinubu’s presidency to reorganize the Police and other agencies for a new safety and security architecture.

On education, Williams said the incoming administration should make teaching and lecturing an attractive profession.

He said the administration should improve the Federal Secondary Schools and make History, Languages as well as Science and Technical Studies compulsory.

“Merge Federal Universities with several campuses. No University with campuses must have less than 50,000 students. Have one Research University per zone for postgraduate studies and research only. Health Universities must be merged. Have Herbal Medical Doctors as in Ghana and make them the nucleus of our Primary Healthcare System”, he said.

On the fight against corruption, Williams said the way out of corruption is intolerance for impunity.

FCT REC Bows Out of Service

Malam Yahaya Bello, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the FCT has bowed out of service, attributing his successes in office to God and teamwork.

Bello, during a retirement party in Abuja, thanked God and INEC staff members for playing a major role in his journey as REC.

”I did not have the monopoly of power and knowledge. I brought everybody on-board to work as a team to be able to achieve a lot.

“We worked together as brothers and sisters here and everybody was taken along.

“That was my secret. It was a matter of team work and dedication to this work.

"I also appreciate the supervision of Almighty God. Most of all, I was privileged

Reps Ask INEC to Clean up Voter’s Register

The House of Representatives has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clean up the voter’s register by removing names of dead people.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Mr Leke Abejide (ADC-Kogi) during plenary.

Moving the motion on Thursday, Abejide alleged that the register was full of names of dead people.

He said that the 2023 general elections revealed that names of people that died long ago were still in the voter’s register.

“Even the name of my own deceased father who passed on long ago was still on display on the board.

“Apart from dead voters, there are millions of fictitious voters who do not exist anywhere on this planet earth but have their names on INEC registered voters.

“It is believed that this was as a result of multiple registrations by Nigerians who had or have intention of rigging elections.

Akande-Sadipe, who happens to be the only female lawmaker in Oyo State presently, further said she was ready to focus on the work at hand and to move the assembly forward as a united one.

“My Honourable colleagues, like we all did, I have battled for my ticket, went to the poll on Feb. 25, unlike many I was forced into a rerun on April 15.

“That’s now done and dusted. My family and I have sent our cherished mother forth and now it is time to focus on the work at hand.

“Hence I come before you my esteemed colleagues to ask for your support as I vie for the role of deputy speaker of the 10th Assembly,” she said.

The chairman expressed confidence in her ability to carry out the responsibilities of the role of deputy speaker and promised to work tirelessly towards achieving the goals and objectives of the assembly.

She also expressed confidence to deliver on the responsibilities of the deputy speaker and serve her constituency with distinction if her party zoned the position to the south west.

“I pray you will assess me based on my vision, and my values, which are “Accountability and Professionalism” and support me on this journey,” she appealed.

to have participated in the conduct of elections in 1963 as an ad hoc staff , in 1983 I was an EO, then I came to INEC in 2018,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs Agness Akpe, Head of Voter Education and Publicity Department of INEC FCT described Bello as an enigma.

”He is a wonderful man who worked hard to make INEC FCT what it is today.

Bello is a Godly person who believes in what the Holy books says and stands by it, regardless of the circumstances on ground.

“When you come across him the first time, you will say this man is just strict and unnecessarily efusy but he is actually kind, caring, intelligent and sound.

“He can recall things that happened so many years ago to the last detail and he is very articulate, he can talk on any subject matter at anytime,” she said.

“However, with the advent of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) these faceless individuals can no longer vote,” he said.

Mr. Ben Igbakpa (PDP-Delta) also alleged that palm kernels were used to thumbprint during registration and voting.

He claimed that such fictitious registrations contributed to the state of the voter register.

The lawmakers recommended that names of individuals who didn’t vote in two election cycles back to back should be deleted from the register, while they should be made to register again in future elections.

In his ruling, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Wase mandated the House Committee on Electoral Matters to ensure compliance.

Akande-Sadipe’s candidacy has already generated buzz among her supporters, who see her as a trailblazer for women in politics and a voice for accountability and professionalism in government. The general feeling is that females at the National Assembly and state Assemblies are under-represented across the country hence there is need for some gender sensitivity by considering socio-cultural norms and discriminations.

This will acknowledge the different rights, roles and responsibilities of women and men in the 10th National Assembly and State Assemblies.

This call across the nation is not a call for undue advantage for females but for consideration of qualified females.

President Muhammadu Buhari receives in audience former Minister for Niger Delta, Sen Godswill Akpabio, as he presents his Senator -Elect certificate to the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on April 30, 2023.

AYO ESAN

EDITORIAL

Lessons From Sudan

The scary tales of woe and the agonising experiences of Nigerian students recently evacuated from war-torn Sudan are sad reminders of what their compatriots experienced in Ukraine last year. One year after, Ukraine is still at war with Russia and there is no end in sight yet.

While Ukraine, a European country, is unfortunate to be under constant bombing from Russia, a super-power, Sudan, sadly, has embarked on a self-destructive and senseless war because of the selfish interests of its leaders. Yet the so-called African leaders, who have also failed woefully in their countries, could not offer any help now as they have left the Sudanese to their fate.

Barely a month after the commencement of hostilities in the African country, Khartoum, its capital, has been totally destroyed as the two factions in the crisis shamelessly embarked on a movie-like show as they openly compete in the total annihilation and destruction of their own country.

Sadly many foreigners, including Nigerians, who had been living peacefully in the country, had to flee in the face of the raging crossfire between the warring parties in the battle for the control of the country. Some, who were

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]

unfortunate to be caught up in the melee, had sad stories to tell as many foreigners were allegedly killed on the streets of Khartoum by some hoodlums in official uniform. While the western countries wasted no time in evacuating their nationals from Sudan immediately the war broke out, the Nigerian authorities were foot-dragging until it became almost too late. Instead of the Federal Government and the state governments, who had students on scholarships in Sudan, to act fast and save their citizens, unnecessary protocol and official bureaucracy succeeded in putting the lives of the stranded Nigerians at great risk.

It is so unfortunate that the same experience the Ukraine returnees were subjected to was also replayed here with the returnees from Sudan. What would have been a straight journey down from Sudan to Nigeria sadly turned into another "Isrealites journey" for the troubled Nigerians who were initially taken to Egypt with all the risks, danger and humiliation before being brought back to Nigeria.

Some others had to be ferried from the Port of Sudan to Saudi Arabia before their evacuation by air back to Nigeria. Unfortunately, all the sad experiences and agonising tales are sometimes the price to pay for a clueless leadership which does not place much value on the lives

and welfare of its citizens wherever they are in the world.

The need for the Nigerian leadership to do all it can to provide the enabling environment for the citizens to thrive in every area of their lives, therefore, becomes paramount. If education in Nigeria remains top notch as it used to be in the 1970s and ‘80s, Nigerian students will not have any reason to be trooping outside the country the way they are doing now only to be crying and

begging to be evacuated from Ukraine, Sudan and other dangerous zones in the world. We really commend the efforts of some good Nigerian corporate bodies and organisations who have been consistent in providing succour to ameliorate the plight of the returnees. Air Peace stands out of the pack for its continued support to evacuating Nigerians from South Africa during the xenopbobic attacks two years ago through its recent assistance to the Federal Government in bringing back the Sudan returnees from Egypt to Nigeria.

We also give kudos to Dangote Foundation and MTN Nigeria for the continued support to the returnees over the years as we call on others to emulate the good examples in their CSR policy.

We only hope those in positions of authority will continue to do the needful and, in good time too, to prevent the ugly situations that keep occurring with stranded Nigerians abroad, especially when they find themselves in crises situations as we had in South Africa, Ukraine and now Sudan. The Federal Government owes it a paramount duty to protect the lives of Nigerians wherever they might be in the world as we leave the crooked government officials who always want to profit from the misfortunes of their endangered compatriots to their conscience.

We only hope those in positions of authority would continue to do the needful, and in good time too, to prevent the ugly situations that keep occurring with stranded Nigerians abroad, especially when they find themselves in crises situations as we had in South Africa, Ukraine and now Sudan

With President-Elect Tinubu, South-East Needs Tact, Not Threats

BY FREDRICK NWABUFO

In the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, I raised a stumper in a column – "If Peter Obi fails, as he certainly would, what next for the southeast?" It was with sincere contemplation and unaffected judgement that I probed the immanent misfortunes of the southeast as fashioned by a star-crossed quest.

I had advised we deploy tact with dispatch and divest our support by adopting President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as our candidate. I also suggested that we should not go all head, body and soul into Obi's expedition and that we should cast off the straitjacket of emotions and embrace political realism.

But I believe at the time it was too difficult to surrender emotion to reason under a charged cumulus of propaganda, anger, and native sentiments. Other factors from a persecutory complex were at play as well, I know. Today, we are here. The reality some never wished for is undisguisedly evident. Managing the reality of Asiwaju Tinubu's presidency with solemn acquiescence is necessary for those who are too unnerved to reckon.

Damian Okeke-Ogene, vice president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, was reported to have emptied his bowels of venom on the president-elect, for purportedly not including an individual of southeast extraction in his transition/inauguration committee.

He was reported to have said: "Igbophobia is in his (Tinubu) veins and by not including Igbo people in the handover committee, he is only trying to reopen old wounds. He inherited the hatred (Muhammadu) Buhari has against Igbo, especially when the president-elect said he will continue from where the incumbent president stopped. He said he will continue with Buhari’s policies, and our question is, what is he continuing? Is it to continue

the marginalisation of a particular ethnic group?”

This is overwhelmingly ludicrous. It is disappointing for an elder to be so afflicted by hate and prejudice. I am of the view this unconscionable outburst betrays a cavernous agenda by a few.

Is this a taste of what to expect from this social taxon in the next four years? Ethnic recriminations, discordance, suspicions, and accusations? Is it appropriate to situate the current disillusionment of the youth on the turf of hate fed to them by the older phylum?

The resort to caterwauling and ethnic Trumpism to stir sectional angst and dander by a few Igbo leaders is disheartening, condemnable, and injudicious. It will achieve nothing but create a chasm between the incoming government and the Southeast. They must desist for the good of the zone.

The Tinubu administration is yet to take off, but cries and allegations of exclusion and marginalisation are splintering the air. All for a government that is yet to berth. This is disturbing. It smacks of a deeper class conspiracy robbed in patriotic perturbations.

Are these leaders afraid of their own excision from the table of serviced interest and compromise? Are they seeking to drive their own agenda baked into the people's fears and concerns? Are they fighting for their own survival by kindling the ethnic cauldron? Are they in a war of personal interest against the collective?

Some of these Igbo leaders invested their loyalty in one party for 16 years, leading the people by the neck in their shadowing of political spoils, with no nameable benefit for the zone. It was all self-aggrandisement and material accumulation for self and self only.

When tact and inter-ethnic cooperation are expected, this smattering number of leaders are issuing threats and provoking ethnic collisions. Who does that wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo speak for?

I believe elders should know better and do better. They should guide and counsel the youth given to destructive proclivities and not become the soundboard for juvenile prejudices. If elders are seized by the same lurgy plaguing the young, then we have a serious problem on our hands.

Let me make it clear that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is peopled by distinguished leaders who will not offer themselves to contemptible pursuits, propaganda and schismatic crusades. Men of strong character and uncommon pedigree exist within Ohanaeze. But the capricious voice of only a negligible, but blighted section seems to be loudest.

It is important to establish that the views of this minor cream in Ohanaeze do not represent the thinking, wishes and opinions of many people of Igbo patrimony. I believe we should by now have learnt from the perils of political naivety and unrequited loyalty. Therefore, we must deploy tact, affability, comradeship, and compromise in whatever we are seeking in Nigeria. Holding out a hand of fellowship is not a weakness, but percipience; it shows strength of character and patriotism.

We must put an end to that which divides us and support the administration of President-elect Tinubu to succeed for the sake of Nigeria, and where criticisms are necessary, they should be constructive and not imbued with atavistic undertones.

•Mr Nwabufo is a writer and journalist

Mike Adenuga Jnr: The Man Who Can Give The Moon

BY MAGNUS ONYIBE

In the past one year or thereabouts , l have been trying to recover from the shock of the jaw dropping gift that l had received from Chief Mike Adenuga Jnr,who is one of Africa’s foremost entrepreneurs and one of Nigeria’s most illustrious sons, that for lack of a better nomenclature,l would like to also refer to as the ‘Philanthropist -General’ of our time.

As he clocked 70 years on Saturday, 29 April,2023,ceaseless tributes to the man of the people and of all times, have been flowing in torrents from all over the world and from all strata of society. They include those from very consequential leaders of strategic countries of the world,ranging from the president of our country, Nigeria, as well as current and past presidents of neighboring countries such as Ghana and Benin to the current prime minister of the second richest country in Europe,France as well as numerous employees of his business conglomerate spread across the African continent and beyond.

It is remarkable that all the soul stirring tributes extolling the enthralling virtues of the most effable and humane man that l have ever come across are from both the high and mighty as well as the plebeians in Nigeria,African society and the world at large.

Let us also keep in mind that there are legions of indigent folks who are not privileged to have access to mass media platforms to share their own stories that would melt the heart of even Lucifer himself,about how Chief Mike Adenuga Jnr’s uncommon philanthropic gestures have redefined their lives.

That indicates that the GLOBACOM founder and chairman for whom the entire world is clinking glasses in celebration of his moving to the seventh (7th) floor of life (70th birthday),has a knack for touching lives from the top of the echelons of society to the bottom of the rung.

So in the light of the above reality,it would be unwise or remiss of me to go on a rehash of the Globacom founders tough, instructive and inspiring journey to wealth which has been the subject of a handful of case studies in entrepreneurship conducted in a variety of institutions of higher learning across the world.

All that needs to be said about how Chief Adenuga Jnr did not ‘bury his talent’ a metaphor lifted from the Holy Bible that Mr Segun Adeniyi, Thisday newspaper Editorial Board chairman, leveraged to illustrate the entrepreneurial prowess of the man that many refer to as the ‘Spirit of Africa’, did justice to the tycoon’s accomplishments as a quintessential business and jobs creator .

For those who may not be familiar with the bible narrative about the Talent,it is about how a wealthy man that gave his servants Talents (funds) when he was going on a long journey. While some of the servants invested their Talents and earned profit which they handed to their master upon his return,a particular one buried the talent allocated to him instead of generating more income with it.

Disappointed in the servant that buried the Talent entrusted in his care,in anger the master took the Talent off him and gave it to the servants that multiplied their Talents through enterprise.

Clearly, the analogy above is very apt because Chief Mike Adenuga Jnr has not only by dint of hard work multiplied the Talents allocated to him,a feat which has already been put on display in the effusive outpouring of encomiums on the man that personifies the concept of honest hard work and reward; he has also been a very generous giver to his compatriots in all spheres of life and all strata of society.

Perhaps, his attitude of being a very cheerful giver is in fulfillment of the doctrine or mythology in Christendom that wealthy people are custodians of God given wealth which they are supposed to use to lift the less privileged.

How many affluent people in the world have such a noble mindset ?

In my reckoning, Chief Mike Adenuga is the type of man,who if he had the moon,can give it out in philanthropy to any man/woman who needs and deserves it,irrespective of tribe,tongue or creed.

Hence in my tribute to the shy and at the same time bold like a bull wealth creator, who prefers not to be talked about. l am concentrating on his somewhat understated acts of kindness and generosity to society as a whole and to individuals- both

the affluent and indigent- in measures that appear to dwarf his financial wealth,even though he is stupendously rich. Ordinarily, what the wealthy are used to or are required to give out in philanthropy is a fraction of their riches. But the myriads of testimonies about his large heartedness , the quantum of what Chief Adenuga gives and the burgeoning number of his benefactors appear to be so gargantuan,that it is difficult for some close followers of his philanthropic gestures not to assume that he gives his all. One unique thing about his giving is that it is not just to his family members or people with similar business interests who have potential values that he would harness in the future. But, as l found out, his humanitarianism is multifaceted and multidimensional because his mission/ goal is to affect humanity positively without frills. That reality is underscored by the fact that if life serves a compatriot lemon and Chief Adenuga is in a position to help, he will facilitate the process of the victim turning the lemon into lemonade.

And there are multiplicity of instances that he played such roles especially in the lives of our compatriots in the sports and creative as well as performing arts worlds which are too numerous to be listed in this piece.

As my good friend Bashorun Dele momodu,Thisday newspaper columnist and Ovation magazine publisher, noted in his tribute to the business colossus and humble owner of GLO telecommunications and Conoil Producing, who also has significant stakes in major banking, real estate and construction concerns ,Chief Mike Adenuga Jnr, in just a space of one year he was gifted two premium cars - Audi A8L and Range Rover worth N85million, amongst other goodies.

Who does that for someone who is not his father or mother,siblings or business facilitators/collaborators?

• Onyibe is an entrepreneur and public policy analyst.

*Continues online at www. thewillnews.com

Cashless Policy: Nigerian Banks, FAAC, Amass N135.56trn in Q1

BY SAM DIALA

Nigeria’s deposit money banks and other financial institutions, together with the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), raked in N135.56 trillion from electronic payment transactions in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023 as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intensifies the cashless policy implementation.

According to the Nigeria-Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), commercial banks and other financial institutions generated N135.52 trillion from electronic payment transactions in Q1 this year.

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

Also, the financial services institutions recorded a 984 per- cent increase in the volume of e-payment transactions, as they rose to 4.7 billion during the reporting period, up from 433.4 million volume achieved in the first quarter of 2022.

In the same trajectory, the federal, state and local governments pooled N40 billion from Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) during the period. The EMTL was a component of the monthly FAAC allocations of N750.17 billion, N722,67 billion and N722.67 billion in January, February and March 2023 respectively.

The EMTL which was introduced in 2020, provides for a singular and one-off levy of N50 on the recipient of any electronic receipts or transfers of N10,000 or above. For equivalent receipts or transfers carried out in other currencies, the levy will be charged at the

Controversy Over AMCON’s Status as Airlines Turnaround Manager

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

The President and CEO of Sabre West Africa, Dr Gabriel Olowo, has faulted the status of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) as a turnaround manager of airlines in the country.

Dr Olowo, who also doubles as

the President of Aviation Round Table Safety Initiative ( ART), said it was a misplaced judgment to put AMCON as a turnaround manager of an airline, stressing that the corporation was set up to collect debts of banks.

Olowo made his thoughts known

Continues on page 33

exchange rates determined by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The NIBSS stated that N42.42 trillion worth of e-payment transactions were made in January this year while the value dropped in February by 4.3 percent to N40.6 trillion before ascending to N54.5 trillion in March – the highest e-payment transaction value during the three months under review.

Report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated that FAAC received N37.91 billion, N11.64 billion and N14.48 billion as EMTL in January, February and March respectively during the year.

The 298 per cent year-on-year increase in the value of electronic payment transactions and 984 per cent increase in volume were significantly driven by the CBN’s Naira redesign policy which sparked preference to alternative payment systems.

THEWILL had reported that the Naira crisis arising from the currency redesign policy of the CBN created a huge boost to financial inclusion as more Nigerians besieged the e-payment channels.

Many Nigerians, including business entities, were increasingly embracing the use of electronic payment platforms amid cashin-hand challenges in the implementation of the Naira re-design policy of the federal government.

As the banks ran out of cash and their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) not dispensing the new notes as directed by the authorities, Nigerians had run into severe difficulties with socio-economic activities greatly challenged. This sparked demonstrations and

MORE INSIDE

Continues on page 33

Access Bank Gets Approval For Acquisition of Finibanco Angola

PAGE 34

Nigeria: Food Prices Maintain Upward Trend – NBS Group Wants Transparency on E-Customs $3.1bn Project

PAGE 34

Access Holdings, yesterday, said its subsidiary, Access Bank Plc, has received regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Angola for the acquisition of a majority equity stake in Finibanco, an Angolan Bank.

This was disclosed by the Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, in a filing to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

Access Bank had in October last year expressed

Continues on page 34

Emefiele

Controversy Over AMCON’s Status as Airlines Turnaround Manager

Continued from page 32

AVIATION/FINANCE

Continued from page 32

riots in some states as the cash crisis bit harder.

This newspaper reported that in order to meet their daily needs such as feeding, transportation and communication, a large number of Nigerians had moved to digital transactions and alternative payment platforms. The micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) operators also besieged the electronic payment options in order to remain in business.

Industry stakeholders observed that an unintended (positive) outcome of the ‘bad’ scenario is the boost in the nation’s financial inclusion scheme – National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NIFS) as more people embrace the digital transaction options.

while responding to questions about the aviation industry in Lagos recently. He said, "From day one, it was a misplaced judgment to put AMCON as a turnaround manager of an airline. AMCON was set up to collect debts of banks. If you are to collect debts, how can you turn the business around? If you have to collect debts in the US, that is Chapter 11 of Bankruptcy. I don’t know whether we have that in Nigeria, but if you are declared bankrupt, that means debt is set aside".

"Bankruptcy does not mean that you are dead. It means that you set the debts aside. You are to pump in fresh funds and resuscitate the business. When the business comes back alive after some years, you can now begin to service these debts. That is what they call turnaround, but to ask AMCON to come and turnaround and at the same time, pay the airline debts, that is the consequence that you are seeing".

Scoring AMCON low, in terms of changing the fortunes of the airlines under their receivership, Olowo noted, "They have not been able to deliver the airline of your dream, nor have they been able to sufficiently pay the banks’ debts. I flew on one of the airlines under AMCON receivership one day en-route to Ghana, but I won’t mention the name of the airline. Onboard, I was able to meet a senior official of AMCON and I asked if that was the standard they came here to deliver because I saw wires that can short-circuit and could cause fire breakout inside aircraft. That is safety measure and somebody is doing oversight on that airline".

On the controversies trailing the issuance of Air Operator Cer¬tificate (AOC) to NG Eagle by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Olowo said the regulato¬ry agency was on the right track with the issuance of the certifi¬cate to the new owners.

According to him, since AM¬CON had decided to trade its right on the airline to another investor, NCAA could not stop the new owner from going

ahead with the AOC processes.

Besides, Olowo rated the Presi¬dent Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in aviation low, saying his administration scored just 40 per ¬cent. He pointed out that upon assuming office in 2015, the Federal Government through Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation, had promised to deliver six road maps for the industry, but decried that most of the government’s programmes remained unclear eight years later.

“In the last eight years, the agenda set was very clear. What we did at Aviation Round Table (ART) is that we tried to measure their performance with indices of our breakfast meetings. We took topics on each of the six road maps, but we focused on about four of them. For instance, we did some things on the national carrier. We recommended options to the national carrier.

“We focused on airport con¬cession, hub creation and how to finance airport. We focused on maintenance facilities, training and manpower development, corporate governance. We shout¬ed on the appointment of board members for agencies, which is at the prerogative of the minister, according to the Acts setting up the agencies.

“By the time we appraised all the indices, we tried to tick any of our voices that were hearkened to, but regrettably, those voices went down into the drains. All the efforts of eight years, I think we scored the government about 40 percent performance. We ex¬pected government to have done at least 60 percent and leave the rest to politics.”

Speaking on the rising number of airports in the country, Dr Olowo queried the motive behind the proliferation of state owned airports in Nigeria, especially the haste to commission incomplete infrastructure calling on state governments to focus on other things and leave aviation be.

He stated that state governments building more under the guise of security landing is just a farce as the country already has good alternate airports for security landings.

Olowo, in his submission, said, “State airports are not necessary, maybe they are good politics, but they are bad economics. The only viable airport we have in Nigeria is MMA, which is feeding the rest, including Abuja. Go and check the books of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). So, how can you start an airport in the name of security landing?

There are good alternatives to all the airports in Nigeria right now that you can go within 10 to 15 minutes if you need an alternative. Must you start a new airport because of an alternative?

The NIFS, which had experienced sluggish performance despite several measures by the CBN to re-tune its mechanism had, by the Naira crisis, assumed tremendous expansion: The banks were recording increasing number of account opening, digital applications (Apps) enrolment and funds transfer – beyond what they had recorded in the past.

A Professor of Financial Economics at the University of Lagos, Ndubuisi Nwokoma, had observed that the Naira re-design policy would impact significantly on the nation’s cashless policy and change the culture of carrying cash about. He stated that many Nigerians “down the ladder” are now moving towards digital transactions including the commercial vehicle operators, petty traders and pepper sellers in the market.

“This policy has been able to help us to push for having a cashless economy. This is something we have to acknowledge. This policy may not solve all the problems of the CBN, but it has encouraged people to embrace the cashless economy. Those in the lower rung of the society can transact their businesses – use the services of commercial buses, buy pepper, buy yam, buy tomatoes in the market”, said Nwokoma, on a national television programme.

The NIBSS in a recent report stated that the Naira scarcity emanating from the CBN’s redesign and cash withdrawal policy pushed Point of Sales (POS) transactions to N807.16 billion in January 2023.

The NIBSS which monitors cashless transactions through the Nigeria Instant Payment (NIP) System and POS terminals stated that total NIP transactions for January rose by 45.52 per cent year-on-year from N26.65 trillion as of January 2022 to N38.77 trillion as of January 2023.

In order to improve the performance of the e-payment system, the CBN has put measures in place to tackle threats to the payment system in order to advance the cashless policy and deepen financial inclusion.

The Governor, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this in his address at the recent seminar for Finance Correspondents and Business Editors in Calabar, Cross River State capital.

Emefiele, who was represented by the CBN Director, Monetary Policy,

Dr Mahmoud Hassan, said the Bank was not unaware of the challenges confronting it in implementing the various payment systems.

He identified the challenges to include weak social infrastructure, activities of unlicensed entities, and cyber threats and fraud.

He noted that effective operation of payment platforms is highly reliant on stable telecommunication networks and power infrastructure.

He, however, lamented that “these are currently not optimal in Nigeria, thus, impacting the stability and resilience of the payment system”.

According to him, some entities have continued to exploit access to information technology to engage in regulated activities without the appropriate licences and authorisation.

He noted that the activities of fraudsters continue to threaten the resilience of the payment platforms, adding that the confidence of the public is impacted by the unwholesome activities.

“However, the collaborative effort between the Central Bank of Nigeria and other players in the industry is helping to curtail the nefarious activities of these fraudsters,” he said. Emefiele enumerated measures adopted by the bank to counter identified challenges to the payments system initiatives.

He said, “In response to the challenges posed by cyber threats, the CBN has put the following initiatives in place:

The Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF), which consists of all relevant stakeholders, to proactively address challenges and safeguard the integrity of the e-payment channels.”

Under this measure, he added, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, mandatory for any entity that processes, stores/saves or transmits payment card data has been put in place.

“Also the Financial Industry Cybersecurity Fusion Centre serves as a sectoral Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) for the Nigerian Financial Services Industry," he said.

Other Initiatives against cybersecurity and fraud in Nigeria include: Cybercrime Acts' enacted in 2021 to address National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy.

There are good alternatives to all the airports in Nigeria right now that you can go within 10 to 15 minutes if you need an alternative

In order to improve the performance of the e-payment system, the CBN has put measures in place to tackle threats to the payment system in order to advance the cashless policy and deepen financial inclusion

Cashless Policy: Nigerian Banks, FAAC, Amass N135.56trn in Q1

African Airlines Record Cargo Volume Decline by 6.2% in March

African airlines saw cargo volumes decrease by 6.2% in March 2023 compared to March 2022.

This was an improvement in performance compared to the previous month.

While Africa to Asia routes experienced significant cargo demand growth in March, capacity was 4.1% below March 2022 levels. These figures were contained in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) analysis of supply and demand for air cargo transport globally and by region. It is based on traffic and capacity in March 2023 vs March 2022.

IATA equally released data for March 2023 global air cargo markets showing a continued decline against previous year’s demand performance. This trend began in March 2022.

Access Bank Gets Approval For Acquisition of Finibanco Angola

an interest to buy an equity stake of 51% in Finibanco, a full-service commercial bank with over 20 branches and around $300 million in total assets in Angola.

The bank said the transaction would be executed through the purchase of existing shares owned by Montepio — the holding company for Banco Montepio, one of Portugal’s commercial banks.

xplaining further, Ekwochi said Access Bank intends to acquire a total shareholding of over 80% at the end of the transaction, by buying additional shares from minority shareholders.

He said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had approved the transaction, while the bank awaits approval of the Angolan counterpart authority in the coming days.

This, he said, “would complete the requirements for regulatory approvals for the transaction, enabling the bank to initiate completion of other customary conditions precedents to

close the transaction.”

“The bank has also signed agreements with minority shareholders of Finibanco Angola S.A. who have expressed an interest to sell their shares concurrently and targets to attain a total shareholding above 80 percent in Finibanco Angola S.A. at the completion of the transaction,” the statement reads.

Commenting on the development, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, was quoted as saying that Access is pleased to be well-positioned to “join the select league of banks providing high-value financial services to high-growth businesses and the rising consumer sector in Angola.”

“The bank brings a lot of value-add and expertise that will act as a positive catalyst to foster greater innovation and promote the deepening of the financial sector in Angola, while complementing our strategic growth objectives in the broader SADC region,” he said.

Investors Gain N33.7bn in Week Ended May 5

Investors in Nigeria’s equities market gained N33.7 billion as the first trading week of May 2023 ended on a positive note.

The NGX All-Share Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 0.12% to close the week at 52,465.31 and N28.568 trillion respectively, This was against the 52,403.51 and N28,533 trillion respectively recorded in the previous week.

The Market opened for four trading days kast week as the Federal Government of Nigeria declared Monday 1st May, 2023 as Public Holidays to mark the Workers’ Day celebration.

A total turnover of 2.973 billion shares worth N22.828 billion in 23,765 deals was traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 14.029 billion shares valued at N59.007 billion that

Nigeria: Food Prices Maintain Upward Trend – NBS

Selected Food Price Watch for March 2023 shows that the average price of 1kg of Beef (boneless) stood at N2,479.61 in March 2023. This indicates a rise in price by 25.05% on a year-on-year basis from the price recorded in March 2022 (N1,982.92) and a 1.38% rise in price on a month-on-month basis from N2,445.96 in February 2023.

The average price of 1kg of Tomato increased by 13.81% on a year-on-year basis from N409.96 in March 2022 to N466.60 in March 2023. On a month-on-month basis, the average price of this item declined by 0.32% in March 2023.

Also, the average price of 1kg of Beans brown (sold loose) rose by 13.13% on a year-on-year basis from N527.66 in March 2022 to N596.96 in March 2023.

On a month-on -month basis, it increased by 0.47% from N594.15 in February 2023. Similarly, the average price of 1kg of Onion bulb rose by 17.37% on a year-on-year basis from N378.59 in March 2022 to N444.37 in March 2023.

exchanged hands last week in 24,048 deals.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.458 billion shares valued at N14.082 billion traded in 13,115 deals; thus contributing 49.04% and 61.69% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with 1.254 billion shares worth N3.123 billion in 1,662 deals.

The third place was the Consumer Goods Industry, with a turnover of 71.425 million shares worth N1.468 billion in 3,177 deals. Trading in the top three equities namely Transnational Corporation Plc, Access Holdings Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc, (measured by volume) accounted for 2.074 billion shares worth N11.297 billion in 5,966 deals, contributing 69.76% and 49.49% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

On a month-on-month basis, it declined by 1.27% from its value in February 2023. The average price of 1kg of Yam tuber rose by 25.30% on a year-on-year basis from N353.56 in March 2022 to N443.02 in March 2023.

On a month-on -month basis, it increased by 1.51% from N436.41 in February 2023. In addition, the average price of Vegetable oil (1 bottle, specify bottle) stood at N1,220.62 in March 2023, showing an increase of 25.80% from N970.29 in March 2022.

On a month-on-month basis, this rose by 2.00% from N1,196.68 in February 2023. On state profile analysis, the highest average price of 1kg of Beef (boneless) in March 2023 was recorded in Anambra with N3,107.44, while the lowest was recorded in Kogi with N1,778.00.

For Tomatoes, Edo recorded the highest price with N901.23, while Kogi recorded the least with N196.41. The price of beans brown (sold loose) was highest in Ebonyi with N906.00, while Kebbi recorded the lowest with N352.70. Cross River state recorded the highest average price of 1kg of Onion bulb with N981.86, while Taraba recorded the lowest with N205.50.

Global demand, measured in cargo tonnekilometers (CTKs), fell 7.7% compared to March 2022 (-8.1% for international operations).

This was a slight improvement over the previous February’s performance (-9.4%) and half the rate of annual decline seen in January and December (-16.8% and -15.6% respectively).

At this point, it is unclear if this is a potentially modest start of an improvement trend or the upside of market volatility. Irrespective of this, March performance slipped back into negative territory compared to preCOVID levels (-8.1%).

Capacity (measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers, ACTK) was up 9.9% compared to March 2022. The strong uptick in ACTKs reflects the addition of belly capacity as the passenger side of the business continues to recover.

According to IATA several factors in the operating environment should be noted and they include:: even with record low unemployment rates, the global economy continues to decelerate due to a combination of factors such as tightening global financial conditions, high levels of global debt, and supply chain problems including those linked to the war in Ukraine; In line with the weakening global trade, the Purchasing Manager Indices (PMIs) for new export orders at the global level remained below the 50-critical line for a full year as of March. China’s PMI retreated to below the 50-mark in March, following a slight improvement observed in February.

Others are the fact that the PMI for supplier delivery times indicates high inventory levels, which tends to have a negative impact on air cargo.

Commenting, IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh said “Air cargo had a volatile first quarter. In March, overall demand slipped back below pre-COVID-19 levels and most of the indicators for the fundamental drivers of air cargo demand are weak or weakening. While the trading environment is tough, there is some good news.

“Airlines are getting help in managing through the volatility with yields that have remained high and fuel prices that have moderated from exceptionally high levels. Looking ahead, with inflation reducing in G7 countries policy makers are expected to ease economic cooling measures and that would stimulate demand”.

Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, flanked by the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Dr. Ebenezer

Onyeagwu (left) and the Company Secretary, Mr. Micheal Otu (right) during the bank’s 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held virtually from the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on May 3, 2023.

Continued from page 32

L-R: Marketing Manager, Airtel Nigeria, Ismail Adeshina; second runner-up, Akueme John-Paul; star-prize winner, Airtel TV Skit-Maker Competition, Qudus Shokunbi; first runner-up, Mathias Saidu; Partnership and Intervention Manager, Del-York Creative Academy, Halima Alawiye and Managing Partner, Covenant Entertainment Services and Nollywood actor, Deyemi Okanlawon, during the prize presentation to the winners of the competition at Airtel Headquarters in Lagos on May 3, 2023.

Labour Ministry, NUC, ITF Laud Julius Berger Scholarship Initiative

The Federal Ministry of Labour, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Industrial Trust Fund (ITF) have applauded the Julius Berger women empowerment scholarship scheme.

Julius Berger women empowerment scholarship scheme is an initiative to develop the capacities of Nigerian womenfolk by awarding scholarships to females engineering students to assist the actualisation of their quest for university degrees in their chosen engineering fields.

Speaking at an award event recently held in Abuja, the National Universities Commission (NUC), through the representative of the Executive Secretary, Mr. Boniface Odey, commended the initiative by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

Mr Odey, who is a personnel of the NUC’s Directorate of Students Affairs said, “as a regulatory agency that is charged with the responsibility of ensuring qualiquality university education in Nigeria, we appreciate this laudable initiative of female scholarship awards by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to deserving students in our Universities”. Odey added that the initiative will also serve as an encouragement to aspiring female Nigerians who may erroneously think that engineering is majorly a course for their male counterparts. “I want to commend Julius Berger for giving back to Nigerians in this laudable way. Over time, I've realized that the company is noted for its track record in holistic service covering planning, design, engineering construction and maintenance of infrastructures”, he added

Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Daju Kachollom, said, “over the years, Julius Berger has been in the forefront of development of this country through its activities in the construction industry. It has reduced unemployment by providing direct and indirect jobs to thousands of Nigerians and other foreign nationals”.

Global Food Prices Rose in April – FAO

Global food commodity prices rose in April for the first time in one year, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has said.

The rise was led by a steep increase in the sugar price index, along with an upturn in the meat price index, according to details highlighted in the Food Price Index report released on Friday.

The index tracks the international prices of the most commonly traded food commodities.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 127.2 points in April 2023, up 0.8 points (0.6 per cent) from March and standing 31.2 points (19.7 per cent) below its value in April 2022l.

“The slight rebound in April was led by a steep increase in the sugar price index, along with an upturn in the meat price index, while the cereals, dairy and vegetable oil price indices continued to drop,” it said.

The report said the FAO Meat Price Index averaged 114.5 points in April, up 1.5 points (1.3 per cent) from March and standing 7.4 points (6.1 per cent) below its value in the corresponding month last year.

Kachollom added that "this scholarship, which is given to female students will no doubt bridge the gender gap in the Nigerian engineering work space in the near future, because these females will graduate to take up jobs and leadership positions in the society.”

Noting that Women represent half of the population in most societies and should therefore, have every opportunity to be the best versions of themselves at all times, the Permanent Secretary projected that Better results will mean increased well-being for both men and women, and the creation of a more socially just and sustainable Nigerian society.

Julius Berger Executive Director, Administration, Alhaji Zubairu Ibrahim Bayi in his speech, emphasised the important place of women in national development.

According to Bayi, "It is generally recognized that when a woman is educated and empowered, her organization or employers, her family and her community are placed on a veritable pedestal of real development.”

He added, “This is even as her country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) becomes increased and enhanced.”

Bayi further said that it is in Julius Berger’s recognition of the above strategic reality that the company actively celebrates the International Women’s Day as part of JBN’s annual calendared activities.

"Our company, however, seeks to move beyond just mounting podiums to celebrate the International Women’s Day. Julius Berger seeks to further enhance the company’s and country’s productivity by proactively taking initiatives to develop the capacities of the Nigerian woman, by creating a level playing ground for women and indeed the girl child. To give effect to the above objective, the company has decided on the scholarship scheme to assist women in the technical disciplines”, Bayi stated.

Group Wants Transparency on E-Customs $3.1bn Project

The Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations in Nigeria (FONGON) has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to come clean on the Nigeria Customs Modernisation Project, known as the E-Customs Project, worth $3.1 billion, which was recently re-awarded by the Federal Government to a different company despite a subsisting court order.

The E-Customs Project is a public-privatepartnership concession aimed at easing the cost of doing business, boosting revenue, enhancing productivity and security as well as stopping arbitrariness in income assessment.

FONGON asked President Buhari to stop the hasty attempt to access hundreds of billions of Naira from the Comprehensive Import Service Scheme/Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme, CISS/NESS, accounts of the Customs Service by Trade Modernisation Project Limited.

The National Coordinator, FONGON, Wole Badmus, at a press conference in Abuja, said: “President Muhammadu Buhari must come clean on this by informing Nigerians if Hameed Ali has his consent to hijack a project in favour of Trade Modernisation Project, a company registered in April, 2022, and which never participated in the negotiations on E-Customs Modernisation Project which started as far back as 2015.”

Badmus also alleged that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has already written to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning requesting, the new concessionaire, Trade Modernisation Project to be included on the payment platform to commence draw down on the CISS/NESS accounts in clear violation of the Presidential directive.

“The clear implication is that the so-called new concessionaire will make no investment but depend on the CISS/NESS account,” the Organization said.

FONGON recalled that the DG ICRC in a letter to the Chief of Staff to the President dated May 22, 2019, provided a succinct framework and financial plan for the project, saying: “The Private partners to the project will raise the required financing for the project through contributions from the Promoters Equity, Loans and Vendor Financing from all Original Equipment Manufacturers including Huawei.

In April, it said the international price quotations for pig meat rose the most on increased import purchases by Asian countries and the continued supply limitations in several leading exporters due to high production costs and animal health issues.

In the meantime, the report said world poultry meat prices rebounded, following nine months of continuous declines, as import demand increased from Asia, while supply limitations arising from widespread avian influenza outbreaks continued in many regions.

TEXEM Advert

“International bovine meat prices also increased, in response to a decline in cattle supplies for slaughter, especially in the United States of America. Meanwhile, ovine meat prices remained largely stable, as elevated export availability from Oceania nearly matched increased imports by Asian and Middle Eastern countries,” it said. According to the report, the FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 149.4 points in April, up 22.4 points (17.6 per cent) from March, marking the third consecutive monthly increase and reaching its highest level since October 2011.

It said the hike in prices was mostly related to heightened concerns over tighter global availability in the 2022/23 season after further downward revisions to the production forecasts for India and China, along with lower-than-earlier-expected outputs in Thailand and the European Union.

“Despite the positive outlook for the 2023 sugarcane crops in Brazil, the slow start of the harvest due to above-average rains provided additional support to prices.

“Higher international crude oil prices and the strengthening of the Brazilian real against the United States dollar also contributed to the overall increase in world sugar prices,” the report said.

The report said the FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index averaged 130.0 points in April, down 1.8 points (1.3 per cent) from March, marking the fifth consecutive monthly decline.

It added that the continued decrease of the price index reflected the combined effect of stable world palm oil prices and lower soy, rapeseed and sunflower oil quotations.

*Continues online at www. thewillnews.com *Continues online at www. thewillnews.com

Photo: Peace Udugba.

Nigerian Economy: Fresh Agenda For New Beginning

affected the people’s lifestyle and value system.

It also caused a distortion of the structure of the country’s economy and led to utter negligence or outright abandonment of some sectors of the economy. Conspicuous consumption, ostentatious lifestyle, high taste for foreign goods, renter engagements and preference for white collar jobs suddenly became the order of the day.

Unarguably, before the oil “shock”, agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy -- providing massive employment, food security, so much export earnings; and also accounting for the highest proportion of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

As the petrodollar-induced lifestyle got ingrained among practically all strata of the Nigerian society, the economy sharply got stratified into oil and non-oil sectors. However, the reality is worrisome that of almost 20 sectors identified by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), only the oil sector still accounts for over fifty per cent of (public) Government revenue and more than eighty per cent of its foreign exchange earnings, yearly.

This ‘disproportionate’ dependence on crude oil revenue to the neglect of other sectors has come to tie the fortunes of the Nigerian economy to the vicissitudes of the hydrocarbon trade, politics and diplomacy in the global marketplace. It has become compelling, no doubt, to diversify the public sector revenue sources (especially foreign exchange) not only to sustainably stabilise Nigeria’s macro-economy but also to attain reasonable growth and development in a record time. Here, the example of the RT200 billion non-oil export proceeds repatriation initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (begun in February 2022) becomes most fitting and timely.

Specifically, the “Race to US$200 Billion in FX Repatriation”, according to the CBN, “is a set of policies, plans and programmes for non-oil exports that will enable us to attain our lofty yet attainable goal of US$200 billion in FX repatriation exclusively from non-oil exports, over the next 3-5 years.” Several incentives and guidelines have since been issued by the apex bank in this regard; with some good results already recorded.

Diversification of the economy at this time will also entail massive production and deliberate “value addition” locally, of a number of items the continued importation of which has been gulping available scanty public funds.

BY MARCEL OKEKE

In a matter of days, the Muhammadu Buhari Administration will hand over to a ‘brand new’ government. By implication, the control of the economy, warts and all, will have to change hands. It is therefore most auspicious to proffer some roadmap, pathways and specific agenda for the new government, come May 29, 2023. Unarguably, the Nigerian economy has not been in good shape in the past few years due to a litany of external and internal factors. This reality makes it extremely imperative that certain economic policies and programmes in some specific sectors must hallmark the take-off of the new administration.

Uppermost among such crucial decisions must be the demonstration of the political will to decisively deal with the fuel subsidy conundrum. In the past couple of years, lingering indecision about the subsidy has caused incalculable damage to the Nigerian economy.

The Buhari administration has only deployed prevarications in all that pertained to the dubious and wasteful subsidy regime. Yet, trillions of Naira have been sunk into the opaque scheme -- all heightening public angst and opprobrium against the government. Since the root of fuel subsidy and its ballooning to what it is today is well known, the solution to the incubus is surely attainable.

In truth, Nigeria’s one hundred per cent dependence on imported refined petroleum products is neither necessary nor sustainable. After all, there was a time when many (publicly owned) refineries were functioning optimally in the country. Therefore the subsisting scenario where no refinery is functioning locally is totally unacceptable and counterproductive. The status quo has literally put Nigeria between Scylla and Charybdis: removal of fuel subsidy will surely come with huge socio-political and economic costs – including likely unrests, riots and other upheavals.

Retaining the subsidy also has unfathomable negative consequences. Any initiative therefore to deal with the fuel subsidy crisis must include having many local functional refineries in place. This could entail the rehabilitation or privatisation of the existing (but dormant) refineries as

well as building of privately-owned ones. This is why the current palliatives (increasing salary of civil servants and some ‘transfer payments’ to some poor citizens) by the outgoing administration are not only inadequate but also inappropriate.

Rather than address the root of the fuel subsidy debacle, these initiatives are merely ad hoc, panicky and diversionary. If (and when) fuel subsidy is effectively addressed, the ruinous and interminable import-dependency of Nigeria also must be tackled.

For too long, Nigeria has been carrying the unenviable toga of a mono product economy. The “oil shock” in 1973, when members of the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) imposed sanctions on many developed countries – shot up oil prices through the roof.

It is on record that the price of crude oil between 1973 and 1974 (when the sanctions ended) rose by more than 300 per cent. And so, Nigeria, a member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since 1971 -became a beneficiary of the windfall in petrodollars and ‘easy money.’ Although this development provided so much petrodollar for massive infrastructural development so soon after the civil war in 1970, it unwittingly negatively

In this regard, agriculture must be re-prioritised to attain the badly needed food security (food for Nigerians from Nigeria). This will also ensure that many crops among them are of such quantity and high standard to get exported and earn reasonable foreign exchange.

Today, food shortage (scarcity) and high prices remain the core driver of the persisting runaway inflation in the land (standing at 22% at end-March 2023). Indeed, the latest NBS report on food shows that in the past five years (20182022), Nigeria spent a humongous sum of N6.7 trillion on agricultural imports, accounting for 7.6 per cent of total imports of N89.2 trillion recorded during the period. However, diversification drive for Nigeria will not necessarily exclude oil and gas sector development; rather, resource use optimisation and investment-friendly policies should be made to rule in the sector.

Really, the hydrocarbon business, in spite of the raging ‘energy conversion’ and renewable energy ‘fad’, will still remain worthwhile for some more years. The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021) now in place can still be fine-tuned to truly incentivize investment and fresh investors to the oil and gas business.

Similar attention should also be paid to so many other solid/liquid mineral resources largely yet unexploited. In the new economic agenda, the perennial challenge of power (electricity supply) must be tackled head-on with utmost urgency.

For too long, epileptic power supply (or even absence of power) has either cost businesses fortunes or made them close shop. Interestingly, the NDP 2021-2025 says “the generation capacity of the 23 Thermal operating plants in the country is expected to produce 25,000 Megawatts of electricity by 2025. Renewable energy will take up to 23 per cent of total electricity share, up from 13 per cent. By 2025, meter penetration in Nigeria is expected to be 100 per cent.”

If this is realised, a critical infrastructure for proper diversification of the Nigerian economy will be in place and the ease of doing business will improve.

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

It has become compelling, no doubt, to diversify the public sector revenue sources (especially foreign exchange) not only to sustainably stabilise Nigeria’s macro-economy but also to attain reasonable growth and development in a record time

SHOTS OF THE WEEK

Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]

L-R: Specialist, Enterprise Sales Academy, MTN Group, Nakitha Legodi; Managing Executive, LRMG, Joyce Lebelo; Senior Manager, Enterprise Business, North, MTN Nigeria, Aawal Abdullahi; Senior Manager, Strategic Accounts, MTN Nigeria, Febisola Oyeniyi and Senior Manager, Sales Operations, MTN Group, Francis Tembo, at the MTN Academy Training held at Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on April 26, 2023.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), Temi Popoola;President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Oluwole Adeosun; Director, NGX, Mr. Yomi Adeyemi and  Group Chairman, NGX Group, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, during a physical Closing Gong Ceremony to commemorate the return to full physical trading and honour Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) for their sustained contribution to the capital market in Lagos on May 2, 2023.

L-R: Former Governor of Ekiti State, Engr. Segun Oni: Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji and Mrs Olukemi Oni during Governor Oyebanji’s visit to Segun Oni’s country home in Ifaki-Ekiti on May 1, 2023.

L-R: Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and Mr. Christian Udechukwu  during his  swerning -in as Commissioner for Industry in Owerri, Anambra State on May 3, 2023.

L-R: Pa Emmauel Igbinowhwo; Managing Director, Imose Mobile Technologies, Osayi Izedonmwen; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie; Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa and Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa-Oviawe, at the commissioning of the Imose tablet Production Center, at the Benin Technical School, in Egor Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State on May 2, 2023.

L-R: President, High-Tech Centre for Nigerian Women and Youth, and Vice Chair, TTSWG Board, Dr. Wunmi Hassan; Chief Technical Officer, Intercellular Nigeria Plc, Engr. Mohammed Abdu-Waya, Sustainability and ESG, IHS Towers Nigeria, Suleman Ibrahim; Member, TTSWG Board, Mrs. Iklimatu Ramallan; CoFounder, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, Dr. Chris Uwaje and, Lead Consultant, TTSWG Secretariat, Bekeme Olowola at the TTSWG quarterly board meeting held in Lagos on May 3, 2023.

Aloma Isaac Jr, popularly known as Zicsaloma, speaks with SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN about his skit-making career, endorsement deal and other issues. Excerpts:

I WANT TO START MAKING FILMS – ALOMA ISAAC

You signed an endorsement deal with an automobile company a few months ago. How does it feel starting the year in a positive way?

I definitely feel blessed. I also hope that this year, I will get more of those juicy deals. 2022 was definitely a great year for me. I was able to complete more projects and achieve more. Starting with a deal in 2023 shows that the year will definitely be better.

A lot of people believed you bought a new car when you announced your endorsement deal. Is the car part of the deal? Yes. The car was part of the deal.

How did your journey into the entertainment industry begin?

Zics Aloma started from the church as a choir boy. It started with singing at the Chapel of Redemption, Imande, Kaduna. I am from Abia state. I was in the children’s church choir. I had felt that I could sing. I was about eight years-old at the time. From there, I joined the youth choir and later the adult choir before I started pursuing music fully. I went for several auditions before I made it to ' The Voice Nigeria', a singing competition in reality show.

It was after my exit from 'The Voice Nigeria' that I started doing comedy. I did not even plan it; it was spontaneous. One day my mom brought out her old caps from the store. I just put one of them on my head and crossed a wrapper over my body, I did a selfie video and started talking and posted it on Facebook and the video started going viral. People started sharing it and they asked me to shoot more videos. Before you know it, I started posting on Instagram.

How long did it take before you got your big break?

I had been going for music auditions since 2010. I think my first music audition was for 'Glo Naija Sings'. I can't even count how many cities I travelled to for auditions in the past. On some occasions I had to sleep outside because I had nowhere to stay. So calculate from 2010 to 2020, during the lockdown.

Are there goals that you couldn't fulfill last year?

Yes, one or two goals.

What do you plan to achieve with your career in 2023?

In want to start making my own movies. I want people to see me doing greater things than comedy skits.

You mimic women a lot in your skit. Is it right to say that it’s your mother that you mimic with those female characters? Not really. I am just generally a very observant person. I could go to a place for one day and mimic the whole place as if I’ve been living there for a long time. When I started, I noticed that people didn’t really like my male characters. They preferred the female ones. Maybe it was because I started ranting on Facebook wearing my mother’s cap or maybe because I am more dramatic. Even on Tik Tok, if I make a skit, it doesn’t trend as much as I would have loved it to trend, but the female skit trends more. Of course, I’ve been around ladies more. When I was in the university, there were more ladies in my department. At least, 90 percent of students were ladies.

You complained about the activities of hoodlums while shooting last year. How were you able to cope with their disturbance?

It was hard but we were able to find a way out. Most times, you have to end up negotiating a payment with them so your equipment would not end up being destroyed or something worse.

What do you think can be done to curtail their excesses?

I think there should be laws against such behavior. Artistes should be able to move around freely and do their stuff without fear of molestation. You can't just walk up to people when they are filming and demand money from them by force. It is barbaric.

A lot of people believe the content creation industry is a place to acquire quick wealth because of the way skit makers display their wealth on social media. What's your take on this?

It seems so because people just focus on the result of several years of hard work. People should read about the process of many content creators. Nothing good comes easy without hard work, creativity, strategy, etc.

Most skit makers are doing well, but many don’t believe that the flashy possessions they display on social media are from the proceeds from their skit making alone. What do you think?

I can only speak for myself first, though I know some other skit makers who are working genuinely to make a living.

I’m an Instagram comedian and that is what pays my bills. However, I have plans for other businesses and I have investments in real estate. I saw many comments from doubting Thomases when I bought my house and posted it on Instagram. It is very funny that people think that way.

It is also painful that some of the comments were from young people. People don’t think that young people can make money in a legitimate way and that is very disheartening. The Internet has much potential.

I have endorsements and I run adverts for some notable brands. Online platforms also pay me. There was a time I was living in a one-room apartment and in less than six months, I was able to buy a duplex in Ajah, Lagos State. Owning a house is very essential because everyone knows the stress of paying house rent in Lagos. Also, landlord palaver is an unpalatable experience. I know how it is living in a one-room apartment with the owner constantly breathing down one’s neck. They all didn’t come overnight, like I told you. I was once lining up to contest in singing competitions. Those were my days of little beginning. I was once a lecturer, too. None of those critics said anything when I was struggling. I became successful because I worked hard. I shot content for years without being recognised until it got to a point where my content

started going viral.

You said you were once a lecturer. Any regrets for quitting your job for content creation?

Yes, I was a lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic on part time basis. I had started to shoot skits then, but I was not so serious about it. I later quit my job for skit making. And I have no regrets at all. That was one of the best decisions of my life.

When are you going to put your singing skill into full use?

I will definitely drop a song very soon. So just watch out.

You were studying for a Master’s degree and a PhD some time ago. In what discipline did you put in for both programmes?

I had to quit studying because of entertainment. I was a jack-of-alltrades at that time and working as a teacher was paying my bills. But I had to be at the top of my game. As I blew up in the comedy industry, I definitely had to quit school because I could no longer concentrate on that. I was simultaneously running a postgraduate diploma in education and A Master’s in Literature.

Do you see yourself using any of the certificates in future?

Yes. I still plan to set up my own school in future.

Do you think skit-making will soon overshadow standup comedy?

I think it has already. The world is more on the Internet than anywhere else.

Isaac

Isaac

STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

AUSTYN OGANNAH FETES DIGNITARIES AT MOTHER'S BURIAL

Stanley Uzochukwu, Ayanda Carter in Cat And Mouse Game

Details have emerged as to why the highly anticipated luxury hotel being erected by serial entrepreneur, Stanley Uzochukwu, which was billed to be commissioned mid last year, did not happen.

Last weekend, the Oganah family of Ogbe-Obi, OnichaUgbo of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, led by Austyn Ogannah, the Publisher/ CEO and Editor-in-Chief of THEWILL Newspaper and Downtown Magazine threw a befitting funeral ceremony to bid their matriarch, Ezinne Princess Roseline Obiajulu Oganah a final goodbye. It was mixed emotions for the family. While on one hand, they were joyous she lived a good and fulfilled life, having passed on at the ripe old age of 83, they were on the other hand, sad that the late octogenarian who was a rallying point for the family was no more. The funeral ceremony kicked off with a wake/vigil mass on the evening of Thursday March 27, at All Saints Catholic Church, OnichaUgbo, Aniocha North, Delta State. The following day, Friday March

28, there was a brief lying-in-state before a funeral mass which was also held at the same church. Interment followed immediately after at the family residence at Ishiekpe Quarters, Isele-Uku, Onicha-Ugbo. The bereaved family contracted Apams Funeral Homes, one of the foremost funeral homes operating in the South East and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT to handle the burial process. Reception followed immediately after at Austyn's country home where he feted dignitaries from all walks of life such as Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher/ CEO and Editor-in-Chief, ThisDay Newspaper and founder, ARISE TV; Olumide Akpata, the immediate past president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA; Kingsley Obiora, Deputy Governor in charge of Economic Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria; Chiedu Ebie, a former

Secretary to Delta State Government; Ayodele Aminu, Managing Director, New Telegraph Newspaper; Charles Aigbe, Deputy Vice President, Community Relations at HEIRS Oil and Gas; Emem Usoro, Executive Director, Northern Nigeria, UBA; Chalya Shagaya, Editor-at-Large, THEWILL DOWNTOWN Magazine; Adejare Adegbenro, businessman and philanthropist etc. Highly sought after Godbless and Eboni Band were on hand to entertain guests. Late Princess Oganah who passed on, on Monday, February 20, 2023, was a senior civil service official for many years as a secondary school Vice Principal in the Delta State Civil Service. She is survived by her children - Austyn Ogannah, Uche Maidoh, Prince Tony Oganah, Dr. Beatrice Oganah-Ikunjeyo, Dr. Pamela Irabor, Prince Alfred Oganah and several grandchildren.

Aig-Imoukhuede

Uzochukwu, the face behind Stanel Group, had hoped to expand his business empire to include a Five-Star hotel named Stanel Luxury Hotel, no thanks to an interior designer who succeeded in throwing a spanner in the works. Located in Lagos Island, the hotel had been operating on a very low scale. Requiring expansion and mind-blowing designing of the interior, Stanley contracted a lady named Ayanda Carter, a supposedly gifted South African-born design and architecture guru of Mozambican descent, who is based in Nigeria, for the job.

Carter runs a boutique interior design firm. She was perhaps chosen for the job based on her background as a recipient of the 'Best Interior Design Studio in Nigeria’ Award. They both signed a deal of N24 million for her services. This was in December 2019.

Most people may not be aware that when the former Group Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, handed over to his then deputy, Herbert Wigwe, before leaving the bank, he kept busy running his other businesses and then he wrote a book entitled, 'Leaving the Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa.'

The book has been shortlisted for the BCA Award in the African Business Book of the Year category, an annual writing contest aimed at spotlighting African business stories. This is achieved by bringing together the top-tier in African publishing and the business world to celebrate stories that are changing the business landscape and also celebrate the authors and publishers behind the books.

The winner of the competition will be announced at an award ceremony billed to hold at The Africa Centre, London, on May 19, 2023. The winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up will receive a cash prize of $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500, respectively. The BCA Award, organised by The Business Council in Africa in partnership with Brand Communications and 'African Business Magazine', is divided into different categories, some of which include Business Strategy, Behavioural Science and Psychology, Industry specific books, Economics, Growth Markets, and Historical books on the above. The book which is marketed by Rovingheights Limited has sold about 10,000 copies in the last 12 months.

for her services totalled N38 million. She ended up only shipping in goods of inferior quality in 12, 40-foot containers, a far cry from what was agreed on. She collected all that money upfront and converted it to her personal use.

Unable to provide a cogent reason for reneging on the agreement, Carter threatened to abandon and sabotage the work. She eventually stopped taking calls, stopped supervising the project and behaved in a manner that caused Uzochukwu to lose more money. Without warning, she made a report to the police alleging that he threatened her. The police invited her to Abuja for questioning, but upon investigation, the truth of the matter began to unravel. A case with Criminal Charge No: CR/102/2023 was instituted against her by the InspectorGeneral of Police at an Upper Area Court in Abuja.

Three years later, she was yet to complete her part of the deal despite receiving full payment for her services, including flight ticket and all bills for accommodation and logistics, to the tune of N7 million, as well as an extra N7 million to enable her to bring in some people to Nigeria to take measurements of where the goods she was contracted to produce were to be fixed.

The total expenses on Carter

Carter was charged with criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal intimidation, contrary to Section 312, 322, and 397 of the Panel Code Act, and she was remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre. After six days in detention, she was granted a bail bond of N100 million and one surety who must be a public servant from Grade Level 13 and above. The judge also ordered her to submit her passport to the registry, as she is not a Nigerian, to prevent her from running to her country after completing her bail condition.

AIG-IMOUKHUEDE'S BOOK SHORTLISTED FOR BCA AWARD

Uzochukwu Carter

Ebie, Usoro, Obaigbena, Ogannah, Shagaya and Aminu. Photo: Peace Udugba

L-R: Prince Austyn Ogannah and Deputy Governor, CBN, Dr. Kingsley Obiora.

L-R: Kolawole Ogunbanjo, Adejare Adegbenro, Olumide Akpata, Patrick Osu and Abdul Imoyo.

STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

Gboyega Adefarati Reclaims Mandate

Gboyega Adefarati, son of a former Governor of Ondo State, Adebayo Adefarati, is a happy man at the moment, having gone through a lot to successfully reclaim his mandate. He has been given his Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, two months after winning the 2023 National Assembly Election to represent Akoko South East/South West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Recall that THEWILL had reported that Adefarati won the House of Representatives seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He polled 25,872 votes to beat his closest rival, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who scored 18,403 votes.

Adefarati’s joy was cut short after INEC excluded his name from the published list of the House of Representatives members-elect from Ondo State. The electoral body, while stating the reason behind the delisting, cited a February 17 court order which nullified the party’s primary that produced him as the candidate for the constituency. Segun Ategbole and John Adanike, aspirants in the primary election of the party, in 2022, had approached the court, alleging infractions in the voting exercise. They also sought to be declared winners in their separate suits.

Also, Ogunleye Teloye, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)’s candidate for the seat,

in 2022, approached the court with an originating summons. Ogunleye asked the court to disqualify the APC from participating in the election over the party’s failure to conduct a primary election 180 days before the parliamentary poll.

However, T.B. Adegoke, the presiding judge, held that the APC had no candidate for the National Assembly election, pointing out that the party did not hold a valid primary election.

Adegoke, who cited the 180-day window as provided in the electoral act 2022, restrained the APC from conducting any fresh primary poll. The judge also restrained INEC from accepting the names of Ategbole and Adanike, or any name from APC, just as she prohibited Adefarati from parading himself as the candidate of APC for the February 25 election.

Following the development, Adefarati approached the Appeal Court to challenge the decision. The Appeal Court overruled the lower court in a unanimous judgement stressing that it lacked jurisdiction adding that the originating summon was not properly signed. His victory has now been recognised and he was presented with a Certificate of Return during the week by INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, at the commission's

Where is Rotimi Akeredolu?

National Headquarters, Abuja. This was not Adefarati's first rodeo in politics. He had contested for the same seat twice, first on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in 2011 and on the platform of APC in 2015. But he lost on both occasions. He was appointed by President Musa Yar’dua as a Board Member of the National Institute of Hotel and Tourism between 2009 - 2011. He was also the coordinator for Akeredolu Campaign Organisation for Akoko South-East/West Federal Constituency in the 2012 Governorship Election and Director-General, Ondo North Senatorial District, Akeredolu Campaign Platform, 2016 and later, commissioner for Agriculture.

Oti Ikomi Lands Juicy Deal With Proton Energy

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Bank, now founder and Vice Chairman of Proton Energy Ltd, a leading Nigerian based Independent Power Plant (IPP) developer with a focus to develop and operate power plants across Nigeria and subsequently in Sub Saharan Africa, has recorded a major win with his energy company. He recently signed a $250 million gas

supply deal with some heavyweights for the long-term supply of gas for the production of 500mw of power. These heavyweights include Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Total Energies, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC) and the Gas Aggregation Company Nigeria Limited (GACN).

The agreement was for Proton Energy to supply natural gas for the 150 MW first phase of the Proton Delta Sunrise project located in Sapele, Delta State. Proton Energy is sponsoring the development of three new gas powered power plants in support of the development of the Nigeria power sector and to assist in meeting the growing energy needs of the citizens of Nigeria.

In the next five years it hopes to have an installed capacity of 1,500 MW.

Apart from the first phase of 150mw supply of electrons to the national grid, the second phase is expected to add a further 350 MW and if all goes well, the first phase will reach commercial operation in 2025 and

In Ondo State, everyone is pretty worried about the whereabouts of their governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN. Seven days after his annual leave ended, he is yet to officially resume duty. Akeredolu commenced what he described as the first installment of his 2023 annual leave on April 3, 2023. The leave which saw him transfer power to his Deputy Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for 15 days through a letter to the State House of Assembly and addressed to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun. The letter also stated that the governor’s leave would start from Monday April 3 and end on Tuesday, April 23, 2023, both days inclusive, meaning he would be back at by Wednesday, April 26. Akeredolu and his wife, Betty, celebrated their 42nd marriage anniversary on April 18, 2023. So Akeredolu who embarked on his leave accompanied by his wife, had ample time to celebrate their anniversary away from the public glare. The governor was scheduled to resume duties on Wednesday,

April 26, 2023, but he is yet to do so and no one can explain why.

During the Workers’ Day celebration in the state, Governor Akeredolu was represented where he was awarded the 'Most Workers’ Friendly Governor' under the umbrella of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). The award was presented to him in appreciation of his immense contribution and unflinching support to the welfare of workers in the state, according to the NLC Chairman, Comrade Victor Oladele Amoko and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Clement Fatuase.

It is on record that the governor has not been enjoying the best of health, which is evident in his frail looks. Earlier in the year, he had addressed insinuations that he was afflicted with a lifethreatening ailment. But he told his critics that his health had not in

Akeredolu

any way affected his performance in his office. Similarly, his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, once said that although Akeredolu had a health challenge, he had received treatment and was recuperating speedily.

Olori Ronke

Ogunwusi Hosts Royal Queens Conference

Queens Conference in Nigeria and it was organised by her Queen Moremi Ajasoro Initiative in conjunction with Olori Janet Afolabi Foundation.

deliver the much-needed reliable incremental power megawatts to the national grid. The project is expected to enhance industrialisation, business and job growth in the country as well as the host communities. This would in the long run, help to lay the foundations, in the medium term, for an era characterised by the supply of reliable and affordable electricity to the general populace and dramatically improve standards of living, catalyse economic growth and help transition Nigeria into an upper middle-income economy.

Nigeria currently scores low on major indices tracking the supply of reliable electricity to its population and the agreement is in line with the government's twin objectives of accelerating the development of a robust electricity sector and better utilising its gas endowment.

Ikomi who is married to socialite and popular fashion designer, Abby Ikomi, has a record of performance and experience covering over 30 African countries and dating back to his days in banking, retail and IT and spanning Citibank, Standard Bank of South Africa, Ecobank Transnational Inc, Eastman Kodak, Unilever. He holds a master’s degree in industrial engineering from State University of New York and is a member of Tau Beta Pi – American National Engineering Honor Society and Omega Rho –International Operations Research Honor Society.

Olori Ronke Ademilyi Ogunwusi, founder of Africa Fashion Week London, Nigeria and Brazil and one of the newly wedded wives of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, recently played host to about 120 queens of traditional kingdoms across Nigeria at the palace of the Ooni. It was the first ever Royal

Olori Janet, queen of Apomu Kingdom, is a CNN award winning journalist and publisher. She revealed that she agreed to partner with Olori Ronke because she believed that a queen is not meant to just be a decorative piece by her husband's side but to work with him toward the development of the kingdom and its people.

The conference was themed, 'The Impact of Oloris (Royal Queens) In National Development.' The

event, which coincided with the Black Women’s History Month, saw participants share ideas on the impact of royal queens in their kingdoms and national development.

Olori Janet, who was a keynote speaker at the conference, highlighted the many challenges facing various communities, how their husbands (traditional rulers) have been at the forefront of solving those problems, but most importantly, giving a clarion call for her fellow queens to rise and support their husbands by identifying major challenges in their domains and strategising on how to solve them. Olori Janet expressed the opinion that if royal queens could initiate meaningful projects in their respective communities, the impact would easily be felt at the national level.

Teniola Kashamu

Ties The Knot

Teniola Kashamu, a niece to late Senator Buruji Kashamu and one of the most soughtafter makeup artists and businesswomen in the country, has been taken off the single girls' club. She got married in a very intimate ceremony which was a fusion of the traditional engagement, Nikai ceremony and reception.

The exquisite party, which had some of the most important people on the social, business and political scene in attendance, held at Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos. Teniola whose husband is a very unassuming young man named Jeffery Chigbata, who is a graduate of Harvard Business School, operates in the corporate sector.

THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA

Adefarati

Afolabi & Ogunwusi

Ikomi

The Chigbatas

STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN

MOHAMMED PATE ELECTED INTO AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS, SCIENCE

Dr Mohammed Pate, a former Minister of State for Health in the Goodluck Jonathan Administration, has been elected into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Pate was among the 269 outstanding individuals recently announced as fellows of the prestigious academy.

David Oxtoby, who is the Academy President and Nancy Andrews, Chair of the Board of Directors both announced the 2023 list of recipients of the honours.

The new recipients will be inducted on September 29 and a formal ceremony will take place on September 30. Pate, a professor of Public Health Leadership in the Department of Global Health and Population at

Asue Ighodalo is New Chairman of Nigerian Breweries

Harvard University, was elected for his outstanding contributions to knowledge production and humanity. He has had a distinguished career in public service in Nigeria as Chief Executive of National Primary Health Agency and later as Minister of State for Health from where he proceeded to join the World Bank. His global reputation as a professor of repute in Public Health has continued to bring honour and prestige to Nigeria.

In 2021, Pate became a Julio Frenk Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership at Harvard University and was later appointed in 2023 the Chief Executive Officer of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance which works to provide vaccines in low income countries.

Criticism Trails Olori Atuwatse's Inclusion in Oborevwori’s Transmission Committee

Afew days ago, the Delta State Governor-elect, Sheriff Oborevwori, announced a list of people who would make up his transition committee.

An 88- man transition committee was set up in preparation for the inauguration of the governor, which will take place on May 29.

Olori Ivie Atuwatse, wife of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, Oba Tsola Emiko was among the transition committee members.

Shortly after the list emerged, criticism started trailing the list. It was alleged that Olori Atuwatse had started taking part in partisan politics. The queen was criticised for hobnobbing with politicians instead of facing the affairs of the Warri kingdom.

Critics claimed that her desire to be involved in politics started when she was appointed member of the High Level Advisory Committee (HLAC) on Women Economic Empowerment and Gender in Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari However, the National Publicity Secretary of Itsekiri Consultative Congress

(ICC), Comrade Edema Collins Oritsetimeyin has responded to the criticism.

According to him, Olori Atuwatse III is not involved in partisan politics. She has never sought political patronage or validation from any political party or government, but she is not averse to working with any duly elected government either at the State, Federal level, or Nations of the world on areas of qualitative education.

Oritsetimeyin added that the queen's competence in improving quality education made her work with the Lagos State Government and recently got her appointed into the Federal Government agency on education and currently working with the Finnish Government on Education.

He stressed that the Delta State Governor-elect saw Olori Atuwatse’s sterling quality and considered it an honour to have her as a member of the transition committee probably with the aim that it will avail her the opportunity to make impute especially on areas of quality education, in the state education curriculum when the Governor-elect assumes office.

OBA SAHEED ELEGUSHI DONATES CENTRE TO LASU

Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla III of Ikate Elegushi kingdom in Lagos State has donated a Centre for Lagos Studies to the Lagos State University.

The royal father in his efforts to bridge the misinformation gap about the history of Lagos, gave the centre in commemoration of the 13th anniversary of his reign as the king of Egushi Kingdom.

The centre would serve as a platform for research and reference in Lagos studies. This development came as a result of the inadequate knowledge of historical evolution, as well as the transformational history of the major groups in Lagos state despite the plethora of literature among migrants and settlers in the state. The centre will also correct the erroneous viewpoint that Lagos is no man’s land. During the recently concluded election, the phrase "Gbogbo wa la leko"(Lagos is no man's land) came up to fuel ethnic bigotry among some of the governorship candidates in the state. The centre will correct the erroneous assertion and bring people to know the true history, culture, geographical location and socio-economic activities of the people of Lagos across all the five divisions.

Oba Elegushi took over the kingship stool in 2010 as the 21st Elegushi after the demise of his father, Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi, Kusenla II who breathed his last in November, 2009 at the age of 69. Since his son took over the throne, Ikate Kingdom has witnessed notable progress particularly in the areas of education, healthcare and infrastructure.

Lawyer and founding partner of Banwo and Ighodalo, Asue Ighodalo has been appointed as the new nonexecutive Chairman, Nigerian Breweries Plc. Ighodalo, who is the immediate past chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, will resume his official duty as the non-executive chairman in May. His appointment was made at a board meeting held in April in line with the company’s succession plan. This development came after the retirement of Kolawole Jamodu, the former chairman of Nigerian Breweries. l The astute lawyer joined the board of the largest brewing company in Nigeria in 2022. With more than 35 years of experience as a legal luminary and a leading figure in corporate Nigeria. Ighodalo who is elder brother to the founder of Trinity House Church, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, sits on the boards of other reputable organizations including, Sterling Bank Plc. and Levene Energy Group and also Okomu Oil Palm Plc. He spent five years as the chairman of NESG before

bowing out in November 2022, at the end of the 28th summit of the group. His wife, Ifeyinwa, has since been gushing over her husband of 33 years for the laudable feat. She took to social media to celebrate him while calling him her chair. She also listed the number of companies he sits atop as the chairman. The news about Ighodalo's new role coincided with their 33 years wedding anniversary which made the delectable woman shower praises and prayers on him.

Seyi Adisa Selected For Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellowship

Honourable Seyi Adisa, a former Principal Private Secretary to the immediate past Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the lawmaker representing Afijio Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, has been named as one of the 22 young African leaders selected for the 2023 Archbishop Tutu leadership fellowship. The lawmaker was selected among over three hundred and eighty nominations of

outstanding personalities across Africa, including Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellowship is dedicated to identifying, nurturing and equipping Africa’s future leaders with experiences, insights, and tools so that Africanled solutions are developed to address Africa’s challenges. The Institute provides a platform for diverse young African leaders to network, and engage in peer-to-peer learning and cross-border collaborations. Adisa was selected in recognition of his quality leadership style, his contribution to the inclusion and participation of young people in politics and governance. The lawmaker has a track record of active involvement in creating programs to drive youth participation in politics, youth empowerment through skill acquisition, sports, leadership development and ICT, with a view to developing young Nigerian leaders.

Elegushi

Ighodalo

Adisa

Atuwatse

STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN

ALEXANDER MACGREGOR RECEIVES STAFF OF OFFICE

Alexander Olusegun

MacGregor, the Orile-IIawo oba-elect, has been presented with a staff of office as the new Olu of Orile-IIawo, in Ogun State by Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The official installation and presentation of staff of office took place last week and the governor was represented by Ganiyu Hamzat, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy titles. Orile Ilawo stool became vacant in December 2021 when the first traditional ruler, Oba Oladipo Aina, passed on.

A few months after his demise, Prof Olusegun Macgregor was announced as the elected Olu of Orile Ilawo Alagbagba, in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Five people had contested for the stool but MacGregor had the highest numbers of votes while emerging as the choice candidate. However, a 16-month tussle ensued which prevented MacGregor from taking over the throne as the king. Critics alleged that the oba-elect was not from a royal family, adding that the traditional Ifa oracle did not choose him. They urged the Ogun State Government not to confirm him as the next Oba.

In an open letter, Chief Olabanji Olaogun, who claimed to be

representing Ilawo Council of Chiefs, to Governor Abiodun, alleged that MacGregor tried to force himself on the council by manipulating the executive and judicial processes. He added that the process of nomination and selection of Macgregor contravened the native law, the custom, and the applicable chief’s law of Ogun state 2021.

Olaogun also claimed that the oba-elect was not from a royal family and the oracle did not select him. However, the Ilawo Council of Chiefs denied Olaogun’s claims, stating that he was not part of the council chiefs.

MacGregor also made it known that there was no existing ruling house in the community, adding that the Orile-Ilawo stool was a creation of the government and not an ancestral one.

Another chief, Abraham Adebayo Soyoye, who is the Balogun of Orile-IIawo, accused MacGregor of threatening the lives of people in Ilawo community with the use

Adelowo Adimula Calls For Dethronement of Traditional Ruler

Prince Adelowo Adimula, one of those contesting the kingship stool in Ota, Odo-owa, Kwara State has called for the dethronement of Oba Joshua Adeyemi Adimula, the Oloota of Odo-owa. Oba Adimula had emerged the king-elect after the demise of Oba Adeyemi Emmanuel Morontade in 2014.

In a letter addressed to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Prince Adimula called for the dethronement of Oba Joshua Adimula as the Oloota of OdoOwa. He accused the traditional ruler of insatiable desire for land grabbing, which has made development in the community difficult.

The letter also stated that the king's reign had been characterised by riots and violence resulting in loss of lives within the community.

Prince Adimula also claimed that majority of the titled chiefs in the community no longer regarded the Oba as the ruler and those who dared to speak out against his misrule were publicly flogged and paraded half-naked or had their valuable properties destroyed.

of thugs and different armed securities, who threatened to set on fire on his house and that of another chief. However, MacGregor distanced himself from the planned attack on anyone in the community. He urged the aggrieved chiefs to always bear in mind that posterity will not forgive whoever goes about blackmailing the Ilawo stool just to achieve their personal aggrandizement. Some members of the community had to stage a peaceful protest in support of the king elect while urging the state governor to act swiftly in crowning him to prevent breakdown of law and order in the community.

Danjuma Donates Hostel in Wife's Name

Former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen.

Theophilus Danjuma (retired) has donated a female hostel to the University of Benin. The state-of-the-art building was donated in his wife, Daisy Danjuma’s name.

The hostel, which is a storey building, is located at the Ugbowo campus of the institution. It has a capacity to house about 500 students.

The generous donation is part of Danjumas’ philanthropy and desire to always uplift the downtrodden in the society and Nigeria as a whole.

The astute businessman has been committed to improving the quality of life

of Nigerians, by supporting health and education interventions. His charity works are carried out through his Non-Governmental Organization, Theophilus Danjuma Foundation, which caters for the needs of millions of underprivileged in the society. While unveiling the new building, his delectable wife, Senator Daisy Danjuma also laid the foundation of another hostel for female students. This development came after an inferno gutted the female hostel at the University a few weeks ago where properties and other valuables were lost.

Adimula was just trying to lay claims to the throne, which he had earlier rejected. According to him, upon the demise of his predecessor, the Odo-Owa community shortlisted and arrived at three names who were nominated for appointment to the vacant stool: Prince Adelowo Adimula, Prince Joshua Adeyemi Adimula and Prince (Prof.) Abiodun Adimula.

Prince Adimula, being the first on the list, was contacted to be appointed as the Oloota of Odo-Owa, but he declined the nomination based on spiritual considerations that he had a revelation that it was not the will of God for him to be appointed as the Oloota of Odo-Owa. He informed the community that they were at liberty to choose any other suitable candidate either from the list presented or from any other source. And he pledged his support and loyalty to whoever was eventually picked for the stool.

in active farming to support, supplement and enhance his income to be able to meet the needs and obligations of his family.

Oba Adimula was accused of flogging a high chief, Jimoh Peter Omotosho, the Asalu of Odo-Owa, who dared to challenge him about his attitude. He sent hoodlums after him and ensured the chief was dealt with.

The traditional ruler was charged with cornering and diverting the monthly stipends from Oke-Ero Traditional Council, which was meant for his high chiefs, to his pocket.

The Oba was also said to have accused the Iwarefa (kingmakers) and Alafin Defendants Union, ADU of being behind the kidnapping of some residents of the community. Responding to the allegations, the traditional ruler stated that Prince

Being the second on the list, Oba Adimula was appointed as the Oloota of Odo-Owa. He offered a hand of friendship to Prince Adimula and made efforts to see him, but the prince deliberately made himself unavailable and incommunicado.

The traditional ruler accused the Prince of sponsoring a series of attacks, character assassination and sponsored series of press conferences, newspaper publications and adverts, aimed at downgrading, denigrating and pulling him down.

The royal father denied cornering and diverting the monthly stipends from Oke-Ero Traditional Council to his pocket, adding that he was satisfied and content with the little he was earning monthly. He revealed that he engaged

On the allegation of having a great appetite for land-grabbing, the king labeled the accusation as very spurious, ridiculous and unfounded. He denied being a land-grabber. He revealed that the land which he built his personal house on in Odo-Owa was bought several years before he was enthroned as the Oloota of OdoOwa,. He added that he has never taken anybody’s land. He made it known that his reign had been peaceful, eventful and development-driven, despite the strenuous but futile efforts of his petitioners. The traditional ruler added that his town has witnessed rapid infrastructural, socio economic, cultural and political development in his seven years of reign which is unparalleled in the annals of its history.

The royal father also denied flogging Chief Omotosho, the Asalu of Odo-Owa. He called the allegation part of a deliberate campaign of calumny sponsored against him recklessly by the petitioner.

Foundation Marks 16th Anniversary of Pastor Asuquo Mfon’s Death

Pastor Eskor Mfon foundation has marked the 16th year death anniversary of the reverend man of God, Pastor Asuquo Ernest Mfon, more popularly known as Pastor Eskor Mfon.

The clergy died in 2007 as a result of a long battle with cancer.

An Instagram live chat series tagged, ‘The Impact of One Life, Pastor Eskor Mfon legacy' took place last week. Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, founder and presiding pastor of Trinity House Church, was the moderator of the series while two other guest speakers, Pastor Ben Akabueze and Funmi Bucknor were guest

speakers. Eskor Mfon was the Senior Pastor of the City of David, Provincial Pastor of Lagos Province 4 and Head of Apapa Family in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) until his death 16 years ago. He was responsible for establishing City of David on Victoria Island in 1996, which has risen to be one of the largest and fastest growing parishes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Pastor Bimpe Mfon, wife of the deceased, set up the foundation in honour of her late husband in April 2009 to sustain the legacies of her husband who died at the age of 54.

THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA

Adimula

Eskor

Macgregor

Danjuma

Bandits Are Back And Bolder

For an appreciable period during the currency swap from February to April, there was a drastic reduction in crime across the country. Pickpockets went on recess. Burglars didn’t dare break into houses because there was nothing to steal. Bandits and terrorists even had a harder time of it. Reason? No cash for ransom, period. So, they stayed in their dens, hideouts bemoaning their fate, cursing PMB and CBN governor Godwin Emefiele for putting a cog in the wheel of their money-making machine. Now, they are back and bolder, rampaging through dozens of communities in Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Taraba and Zamfara as if the lull during the Naira swap for two months galvanised them to double down in their criminal escapades. THEWILL considers some recent incidents of abductions and killings. Michael Jimoh reports…

Career criminals used to say money is the root of all action. In the lingo of the underworld, it means that nothing much happens without money to be made at the end of the day. If you have to stick out your neck in any criminal enterprise – a bank heist, say, burglary, or an abduction, there has to be some pile to be made for your troubles.

But for once in the history of banditry, the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari took the bread out of their mouth with the currency swap policy initiated and implemented by CBN governor Godwin Emefiele. It was a hard and unexpected blow to the bandits.

True, Nigerians complained bitterly about the Naira redesign from old to new ones. The old ones were no longer legal tender at the time and the earlier you took them to the bank in exchange for new ones, the better for you. But the new ones were scarcer to get, resulting in the sharp drop of the naira in circulation.

It is also true that sometime in early February, soon after the naira swap exercise began, one Kachalla Baleri, a notorious bandit, displayed denominations of the new notes like a drunk out of kilter. Along with members of his gang, they made a video showing off the notes mostly in N1, 000 and N200 bills, chest-thumping at the same time they already had in their possession millions and millions of the new notes while ordinary folk were cash-strapped.

“They redesigned the naira, poor innocent people don’t even know about it,” Baleri spoke in Hausa

in the video. “Some don’t even own up to N10, 000. He has to wake up early in the morning to go and hustle. What of those who have millions in the cities? You see, it is between them. The money they are saying people are changing, we that are in the bush are changing it, some people who are in the cities haven’t even received it.”

Continuing in a gloating manner, Baleri thundered: “But you see, the people they are referring to as terrorists have hold of the money. This is the new N1, 000 note; this is the new N200 note. We are just showing them a little of what we have. We have plenty of sacks of the new money, and only Allah knows the amount of the new notes that we have.”

Baleri’s was a premature boast because Nigerians didn’t get to read or hear of any more abductions for the period the currency swap lasted. From the criminal’s point of view, there’s no point storming a village in the dead of night looking for human victims that won’t bring in cash. It was not worth the trouble.

Against that backdrop, the bandits hung up their guns and remained unmentioned in the front pages for that period of time. It was as if nothing like banditry ever took place in the entire country. But then, the cash squeeze was becoming unbearable to ordinary Nigerians. Banks had no money to pay millions of depositors across the country. PoS operators charged astronomical fees in return for paltry sums.

Of course, there were the lengthy queues in banks

and PoS centres where, because of time spent to collect money, Nigerians began to drop dead in their numbers. A woman or two gave birth in one or two such serpentine lines. A man went stark naked in a banking hall in Lagos. A headstrong and impatient lot, Nigerians began to grumble, which soon rose to a national murmur. There were two persons to

Career criminals used to say money is the root of all action. In the lingo of the underworld, it means that nothing much happens without money to be made at the end of the day. If you have to stick out your neck in any criminal enterprise – a bank heist, say, burglary, or an abduction, there has to be some pile to be made for your troubles

...Back And Bolder FEATURES

blame for all this: PMB and CBN governor Emefiele. Harassed thus, PMB promptly tendered an apology to Nigerians on account of the hardship caused by the Naira redesign policy. “I apologise to you for the hardship caused by the change of the naira,” Buhari said during a campaign for Uba Sani as governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna state. “It was done to boost the economy of the country, not to cause hardship to anybody.”

With that, the Naira redesign policy soon became history and a new date fixed for December when the old notes would have been mopped up from circulation. If Nigerians were happy at the presidential apology, it goes without saying that bandits would have been happier. The Naira redesign policy took them out of business and rendered them redundant. Now, with money in circulation, they oiled and took up their guns once again.

Back to Business

It would have seemed like an April Fools’ Day to residents of eight communities in Mashegu local council of Niger state when bandits attacked them on April 1st. But it was for real. Reported in the papers on April 2nd, the villagers were surprised by bandits who ransacked the communities.

Speaking of the raids, chairman of the council, Hon. Umar Jibrin Igede said seven of the eight communities have been deserted because of the attacks. Kulho, Sahon Rami and Tashan were specifically targeted by the bandits.

He stated that seven of the communities in the local government have been deserted as a result of incessant attacks from the bandits. “A total of 26 persons have so far been abducted from the affected communities," Igede said, "while seven others were killed by the notorious armed bandits in their renewed onslaught against the residents of the local government."

The renewed attacks by the terrorists, Igede continued, “is posing a serious security threat to the villagers as the attacks of these armed bandits in Mashegu is becoming unbearable and we need serious assistance from the relevant security agencies to come to our rescue.”

Still in Niger state but this time in the FCT, there were reports late last April that 29 persons in Kwali local government area were abducted by bandits. In the words of Daniel Ishaku, an aide to the council boss, the locals were attending a local ceremony when the bandits suddenly showed up guns blazing.

“They took people from the playground and then went into the houses and took some people,” said Ishaku. “They entered the bush with the people they carried walking on foot.”

Some victims, it was reported, escaped from their abductors.

Up north, the bandits were also hard at work, especially in Zamfara state described by security experts as “one of the epicentres of criminality in the country with armed men raiding vilages.”

In a recent attack last month, for instance, the bandits killed at least 35 people in five communities. The village head was among those annihilated. Babban Baye, Daki Takwas, Kadaddaba, Rafin Gero and Wanu were raided leading to the death of the head of Wanu.

Shawwal Aliyu, a youth leader of Anka told reporters the attackers targeted the communities because of their closeness. “You know the communities are very close,” Aliyu said. “When they stormed Wanu, they went straight to the traditional ruler’s house where some residents had also gathered and they started shooting sporadically. It’s possible that he (villàge head) was not the reason for the attack because they were just shooting while people continued running. It was in the evening that the dead bodies were gathered.”

“Those who escaped the bandits’ attack ran to Anka in the evening and despite that the villagers called security agents several times while they were being attacked, 15 people were killed just like that yesterday (Thursday).”

Barely a week after the attacks, Nigerians began to call out PMB once again, laying the blame squarely at the presidential doorstep. The irony of it all is that no one commended the president all through the ‘dry period’ for the bandits, a period of unavailable

cash thus reducing cases of banditry in Nigeria. With the return of the bandits and terrorists, Nigerians have once again turned their attention to the presidency. Publicity secretary of the African Action Congress, Femi Adeyeye pointedly observed that the AAC “is once again saddened by violent crimes and killings that have characterized the Buhari regime. It’s so sad that these terrorist attacks have so become a norm in our space that these killings no longer make headlines in our tabloids.

"One is also forced to ask why this torrent of attacks that seem to have subsided some weeks ago, just suddenly resumed after the elections. The Buhari regime has a lot of explanations to give. Just yesterday, 80 children were reported to have been kidnapped by terrorists in Tsafe Local Government of Zamfara State. Needless to say is the increasing number of school children in the nets of bandits.

"The killings in Benue seem to have resumed as hundreds of people have been killed and displaced by different grades of assailants who operate with little or no resistance from security agents.

"Between Monday and Wednesday, no fewer than 52 people have been killed by suspected killer herders in separate attacks on two communities in Otukpo and Apa LGAs of Benue State. We as a party find it embarrassing that till this moment, there has been no reasonable response from security agencies in the country. Neither has there been any decisive action from those who promised to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.”

Some daring bandits have also raided communities in Taraba state, prompting a youth leader Ure Danjuma to seek the assistance of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, National Emergency Management Agency, Nigeria Border Community Development Agency and North East Development Commission.

“What is happening in Takum and Ussa Local Government Areas and Yangtu Special Development Area is not farmers-herders attacks and reprisal attacks or search for missing cows,” Danjuma said. “It is a large-scale invasion of an innocent group of people by a set of bandits who are nothing other than terrorists.”

The situation for residents of those communities is “horrific and pathetic” because men, women and children have lost their lives in the process. ”The situation on ground requires large-scale humanitarian support for the displaced persons,” Danjuma went on. “Unless the Nigerian government rises to this occasion, more villages will be destroyed, more people will die, more children will become orphans and many more people will be displaced.”

With just about three weeks to go in the Buhari Administration, observers are worried that his government might not be able to do much in tackling a renewed surge in insecurity in places affected. Some even make the case that while the Naira redesign contained and checked the excesses of bandits for the period it lasted, blaming the Presidency now for the recent attacks by bandits is misplaced. In their view, it was the same Nigerians who asked that money in circulation should be increased to ease the suffering of the masses.

With the country awash in old and new Naira notes, you can say that from their moments of inactivity between February and April, the criminals now have something to kidnap and kill for.

With country awash in old and new Naira notes, you can say that from their moments of inactivity between February and April, the criminals now have to something to kidnap and kill for

SportsLive

Who is Dozy Mmobuosi?

BY JUDE

On Wednesday, April 26, the news broke that the proposed £115 million takeover of Sheffield United by Nigerian businessman, Dozy Mmobuosi, was in serious doubt, based on reports that his relationship with current owner, Prince Abdullah, had collapsed.

This came after Mmobuosi had paid about £9 million to the cash-strapped club since November, with the expectation that his buy-out would be completed early in 2023. However, a breakdown in his relationship with Prince Abdullah threw the entire deal into jeopardy.

Mmobuosi and Prince Abdullah had initially agreed on a deal worth £115m in November 2022, with Mmobuosi immediately transferring £1 million as proof of his intentions. However, there have been delays in the deal being ratified and the relationship between the two businessmen deteriorated over that period.

Consequently, Prince Abdullah was reported to be open to alternative offers for the club, which has since won promotion back into the English Premier League. With top-flight English football next season, the club's value is likely to soar and it was not long before rumours began to spread that the Nigerian tech entrepreneur had withdrawn his bid to take the reins of the club from the hands of the Prince, believing that it was impossible to revive the deal on the good faith agreement between both men and the initial investments already made by Mmobuosi.

However, on Saturday, April 29, Mmobuosi quelled these rumours by insisting that the deal was still in place and that nothing could be farther from the truth in the stories making the rounds that he had pulled out.

In his Twitter post, Mmobuosi wrote: "I wish to state categorically that I have not withdrawn my bid to acquire Sheffield United Football Club. Beyond the £8.85M GBP paid to United World, I will continue to work with the experts and professionals I hired to buy the club. Earlier today I had positive and

constructive conversations with the club's chairman Yusuf Giansiracusa and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Bettis and I will continue to do so. This is my commitment to the fans of Sheffield United, and I look forward to reaching a positive outcome."

With this assurance, it appears the world needs to get ready to witness the historic emergence of the first Black majority owner of an English Premier League club. It therefore bears asking, who is Mmobuosi, how did he come this far and what are the sources of his livelihood that provide him with the wherewithal to support himself, his business interests and a resourceguzzling EPL club? THEWILL supplies some answers to these queries.

The 43-year-old Mmobuosi made a name for himself as a tech innovator and investor with a mission to improve the lives of people in Africa. The billionaire, who has described himself as driven by a purpose to see the Africa he dreams of being realised within his lifetime, believes that every penny he invests should be utilised to improve the lives of Africans.

Based on this foundational set of principles, Mmobuosi has established several businesses, marked by strong

financial performances, at the heart of which his business philosophy of creating products and solutions that solve issues remain entrenched. One of his businesses is Tingo Mobile, an Agri-Fintech company that aims to transform rural farming and provide solutions for financial inclusion.

Tingo Mobile offers mobile devices through a unique leasing programme that removes the upfront cost burden for lower-income, rural communities to access technology. Embedded within these devices is Nwassa Market, Africa’s leading digital agriculture ecosystem that empowers rural farmers and agri-businesses.

The 43-year-old Mmobuosi made a name for himself as a tech innovator and investor with a mission to improve the lives of people in Africa

OBAFEMI

Mmobuosi

Who is Dozy Mmobuosi?

Tingo Mobile also offers a cashless payment solution called Tingo Pay, which is efficient and effective for individuals and SMEs.

The core of the Tingo business is innovative technology which Mmobuosi believes has the potential to transform every sector.

The thrust of his business direction however is that technology must be developed and implemented in a considered way that makes it accessible for those often outpriced by products that are developed to serve first world customers.

As a result, he has targeted the agro-industry which can fulfil the entrepreneur's objective to transform rural farming and provide solutions for financial inclusion with his Agri-Fintech company. However, according to him, some of the biggest challenges he has faced in Africa include corruption, high cost of securing capital, and poor regulations and government policies. However, he is determined to break barriers to ensure success for the customers he serves while maintaining reliability and delivering on promises.

In June last year, the Nigerian entrepreneur demonstrated the reach of his philanthropist side when he launched a $10 million initiative aimed at providing free mobile prostate cancer screening services across Nigeria.

The programme, which is being run through the Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation, seeks to address the high prevalence of prostate cancer in Nigeria, which is a leading cause of cancer deaths in men in the country and was responsible for the death of his father. The $10m fund was to build mobile screening infrastructure, including the procurement of luxury buses, which will be used for the mobility of the screenings across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The programme involves over 100 medical practitioners and 4,000 medical professional volunteers, targeting men aged 45 and over, who are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

The initiative, endorsed by the Nigerian Medical Association and Rotary Club, received support from a range of stakeholders, including a number of celebrities who attended the launch event in Lagos. The programme is being organised by his foundation, The Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation. It was founded by Mmobuosi in December 2021 with a noble mission

Continued from Back Page

of promoting the progress of Africa and creating an environment where Africans can thrive. Their core areas of focus are Healthcare, Education, Entrepreneurship, Information Technology development as well as building partnerships through sports and other philanthropic activities. As it considers equity to be of utmost importance, the foundation operates a rural-urban approach in the execution of all their projects while favouring long-term strategies that are both flexible and adaptive to new trends.

The foundation concentrates most of its work in rural areas where a lot of assistance in the identified areas above is needed and because it enables them to assist high numbers of people in hardship or poverty. One way it aims to tackle these problems is by categorising them with the following key areas of Entrepreneurship, Technology Skills, Health Care, Education and Partnership Development, which involves building partnerships through sports and other philanthropic activities, such as it did with the Pre-season Super Cup of the Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL at the beginning of this current abridged season.

For the inaugural edition, which involved the traditional four clubs of the NPFL namely Shooting Stars Sports Club, Enugu Rangers, Enyimba and the newly promoted Bendel Insurance, the foundation offered an unprecedented N100m prize money for the competition, which the Shooting Stars FC took home by winning the first edition.

As part of the tech entrepreneur it aims to completely revolutionise the NPFL, the foundation announced another expanded edition, which he called the Dozy

The Allen Onyema And Air Peace Example

Muhammed International Airport Lagos at 15:10 hrs on May 2, 2023 to reach Egypt in time for the evacuation exercise.

Onyema, who could have been put off by the ethnic profiling of his group, instead demonstrated his altruism and patriotism by offering to airlift Nigerians from Sudan, a country in the midst of war, for free. He requested that the Federal Government assist in getting them to a neighbouring country since the Sudanese airspace is temporarily closed for civil aviation, which necessitated the bus ride to Egypt.

Onyema stated that he felt compelled to help, since Nigeria could not afford to lose her citizens in that country. He reiterated that urgent action was necessary and that everything should not be left for the government alone. This is the behaviour I want to commend and uphold as exemplary for the rest of the country.

While these two examples of coming to the aid of fellow countrymen and women in need of evacuation from troubled spots across international boundaries

stand out, Onyema has also displayed such uncommon sense of patriotic reasonability in other instances. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some of his aircraft were employed for the repatriation of Nigerians from various countries. The airline had also operated evacuation flights during the Ukraine-Russia crisis in 2022. He has shown to be a Nigerian devoid of tribalistic sentiments and patriotic to the core, even at his own expense, without counting the cost.

It was painful to read on Friday last week that the actions of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, which disrupted the airline’s operations on Wednesday, while it was in the thick of airlifting Nigerians evacuated from Sudan, cost the company over N700 million. Whatever their grievances, I suggest they find an amicable resolution that will not make the airline incur further losses given the philanthropic antecedents of the Chairman.

Allen Onyema is indeed a true Nigerian patriot with a large heart who has demonstrated his love for fellow citizens and the country.

Mmobuosi Super Cup Football Tournament. This time around, it will involve 12 top teams from the league. The total prize pool for the event is a record-breaking N1.2 billion, with the winning team expected to take home N1 billion and the runners-up receiving N200 million.

As before, he aims is to increase the level of football in Nigeria by allowing teams to invest more resources in players, facilities, and infrastructure. This, in turn, will attract top talent to the league, and enhance the overall standard of football in the country.

The difference between his ambitions for the NPFL and for Sheffield United is that he plans to finance the latter deal on his own and, as mentioned earlier, Mmobuosi has already put money down to demonstrate his seriousness. In an interview with the Cable News Network (CNN), Mmobuosi revealed that he had plans to involve fans on the board and introduce diversity to the club. He said that his goal was to bring in the best people to run the club and deliver results, but that diversity would be a key pillar for him. Part of the suspicions of Mmobuosi's capacity to run the English club came from his inability to get his aviation company off the ground and it came up in the CNN programme.

Mmobuosi laughed off the concerns and explained that it was true that he had ambitions to invest in the aviation sector in Africa and established Tingo Airlines Ltd (UK) in 2019 to operate flights between Europe and Africa. However, due to COVID-19, which made it overly onerous to get operative, he redirected resources towards Tingo Mobile. Still desirous to get into aviation, in 2020, Mmobuosi entered into a Joint Venture and Mutual Cooperation Agreement (JVMC) with OmniBlu Aviation Limited and incorporated a Joint Venture Company (JVCo) called Omni-Tingo Aviation Services Limited. The JVCo is funded by Mmobuosi's family office and will operate flights under Omni-Blu Aviation licences. Despite the pandemic, the JVCo has made progress, including the purchase of a helicopter and the completion of a transaction for a Challenger 605 Business Jet. The JVCo is also negotiating leases for several regional jets to commence domestic and regional flight operations in Nigeria and across the region.

As Mmobuosi persists in his desire to take control of Sheffield, his drive and push to promote fintech, Africa's agro-development, health philanthropy, growth of the NPFL and all the other concerns he is promoting, it is hoped that he will scale through the English Football League (EFL) owners' and directors' test to make him the first Black majority owner of an EPL club. His story points to the fact that he is an entrepreneur worthy of emulation based on many points of his background and mostly because he believes that Africa is a vast continent of innovators and entrepreneurs who understand the nuance and unique challenges facing the continent.

The Allen Onyema And Air Peace Example

Between September 1 and 5, 2019, the South African city of Johannesburg experienced a series of xenophobic riots that claimed the lives of at least seven people. The riots, which were specifically directed at foreign nationals from other African countries, resulted in significant property damage and destruction targeted at these nationals. The destruction wrought by this unrest triggered retaliatory actions by rioters in other African nations against South African brands. It was déjà vu for the Rainbow Nation as evidenced by the report of the South African Institute of Race Relations which stated that the riots shared similarities in nature and origin with the 2008 xenophobic riots that also occurred in Johannesburg.

After what seemed like a brief lull, the riots resumed in Johannesburg on September 8. This time, rioters marched on the central business district, looted shops and called for foreigners to leave the country. It was given an even more sinister effect by the violence which had a significant impact on the local economy and further strained diplomatic relations between South Africa and other African countries.

While the attacks targeted foreign nationals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Malawi, among others, Nigerian-owned businesses and individuals appeared to bear the brunt of the violence, with much of the looting and destruction of property aimed at Nigerian business interests.

The reasons behind the specific targeting of Nigerian businesses were not entirely clear, but it was likely due to several factors. One of these factors was the long-standing tension between Nigerians and South Africans over issues such as immigration policies and competition for jobs and resources.

There was the perception that the Nigerians were relatively wealthy and successful, compared to other African migrants in South Africa. This perception may have fueled resentment among some South Africans who feel left behind by the country's economic progress.

The truth was that not all South Africans supported the xenophobic violence nor held negative views of Nigerians or other African migrants and many of them spoke out against xenophobia, calling for greater unity and tolerance among all Africans.

Yet, it was clear that Nigerians in the line of fire had to be lifted out of the fray. With the Nigerian government handicapped without a national carrier, the bill to rescue fellow citizens was voluntarily picked up by a private citizen: Allen Onyema, the Chairman of Air Peace. The flag carrier and largest airline in Nigeria responded by offering a free evacuation service to Nigerian nationals who were willing to return home. The evacuation plan, however, was initially delayed due to a lack of proper documentation for beneficiaries.

The Nigerian authorities in South Africa intervened and arranged temporary travel certificates for most of those who had offered to return home. In addition to Air Peace’s offer, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari announced that his government had made arrangements for the immediate voluntary evacuation of all Nigerians.

Following the successful issuance of travel certificates, scores of Nigerian nationals, numbering about 300, flew out of South Africa on Air Peace's aircraft. Some of the evacuees expressed relief at being able

to return home alive, while others bemoaned the incidents that led to the xenophobic attacks.

The response of the Air Peace chairman to the crisis exemplifies the type of leadership that we need to cultivate in Nigeria. Onyema, a private citizen, recog-

to be cut off, as if it deleted a history of excellence of the Rhodes-Vivour name that went back generations in Lagos State.

It is an alarming example of how some Nigerians support disenfranchisement of non-indigenes in Lagos. It is a dangerous and divisive rhetoric. It was also principally targeted at those of South Eastern extraction, many of whom were victims of the election violence that the state witnessed.

Still, it was worth knowing that, as pronounced as it seemed to be online, only a small section of the state pursued this profiling and xenophobia. The good people of the state, for the most part, remained welcoming of the diversity and embracing nature of Lagos.

No doubt, the government also has a crucial role to play in fostering national unity, but national cohesion through citizen action sends a clear message of support and solidarity to Nigerian citizens and can help to ease tensions and build trust in one another. It helps to negate ethnic divisions and focuses attention on our common identity as Nigerians.

The actions of Onyema in response to the 2019 crisis, which provided an excellent example of what can be achieved when we take responsibility as capable citizens, was not a one-off as recent events demonstrated.

Last month, an armed conflict erupted between rival factions of the military government of Sudan. By April 15, clashes had broken out in western Sudan, the capital city of Khartoum, and in the Darfur region. Within 10 days, at least 559 people have been reported killed and over 4,000 others injured.

nised the urgent need to evacuate Nigerian citizens caught in the crossfire of the xenophobic violence. He stepped up to the plate, put his business in action and offered a free evacuation service to Nigerian nationals who were willing to return home.

This selfless act of kindness underscores the importance of unity and solidarity in the face of crisis. It shows that we can rise above ethnic, religious and socio-economic differences to support each other as a nation.

As a nation, we must encourage and support more of these initiatives from the private sector, particularly among the wealthy and influential members of society.

Nigeria had its share of ethnic profiling and xenophobia recently in and around the period of the last general election between February and March.

It was evidenced by the promotion of a pure Lagos that excludes non-Yorubas and attempted to further polarise and exclude a perceived "other" in the state, with the tendency of reprisals in other parts of the country.

The candidacy of Mr Gbadegbo Rhodes-Vivour was one of the issues that some people had against nonindigenes in Lagos. It was so disgustingly toxic that some actors in the xenophobic acts went as far as throwing his Igbo name, Chinedu, at him as if it were an accusation of wrongdoing. It was as if that meant he was the “other”, an outcast, an infection that ought

The fighting began with attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on key government sites, leading to airstrikes, artillery, and gunfire across Sudan, including in Khartoum. Both the RSF leader, Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo and Sudan's de facto leader and army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the principal characters in the conflict, claimed control of several key government sites, including the general military headquarters, the Presidential Palace, Khartoum International Airport, Burhan's official residence, and the SNBC headquarters.

The conflict between the two generals has pushed Sudan to the brink of renewed civil war and has been described as a "burgeoning civil war." Once again, Nigerians were caught in the centre of a conflict they had no part in and were desperately in need of evacuation assistance.

As he had done in 2019, Onyema again stood up to be the citizen of exemplary conduct, offering his services for any Nigerian, who had made the arduous journey from Sudan to Egypt by bus, wishing to return to the safety of their country.

On May 5, Air Peace successfully evacuated 277 Nigerians from Egypt. For their comforts, the airline utilised one of its wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft, with registration number 5N-BVE, to operate the evacuation flight which arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at approximately 23:00 hrs on May 4. The aircraft had departed from Murtala Continues on Page 47

This selfless act of kindness underscores the importance of unity and solidarity in the face of crisis. It shows that we can rise above ethnic, religious and socio-economic differences to support each other as a nation