THEWILL NEWSPAPER May 28, 2023

New Dawn For

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Intervention Fund, created in 1977 to stimulate growth in key sectors of the economy, has proved a success story among the states and the FCT, as Zamfara State (in North-West) showcases in this edition

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

New Dawn For Nigeria?

BY AMOS ESELE

The drama that played out at the Supreme Court in Abuja at Friday's hearing of the suit on double registration against the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shetimma, showed part of the unfolding challenges of apathy and indifference that may confront the incoming President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration.

Lawyers, clients, party leaders within the court premises and thousands of supporters many kilometres away were full of expectations that the ongoing processes to inaugurate the new administration would not only be thwarted but another candidate sworn-in after the court ruling.

Yet, the Electoral Act is very clear on the matter. Even so, expectations die hard.

Although the apex court dismissed the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar's suit on double registration, the opposition is still full of expectations.

THEWILL recalls that the PDP filed its suit on July 28, 2022, to challenge the validity of the Tinubu/Shettima ticket in the 2023 presidential election, which makes it a pre-election matter and therefore in violation of provisions of the Electoral Act.

But the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has the same suit, filed after the election and therefore fulfills

the same provision of the Electoral Act.

Justice Adamu Jauro, who read the judgement, stated that the PDP acted as a meddlesome interloper and a busy body as the matter was an internal affair of the APC and awarded N5 million cost against the PDP.

Section 134 (a) of Electoral Act, 2022 deals with nonqualification of candidates and double registration.

According to the section, the conditions for challenging non-qualification or double nomination of a candidate by a person within the party that nominated the candidate and a person from another political party are clearly spelt out with the words, "pre-election matter" and "post- election matter".

Only members of political parties can challenge double registration under "Pre-Election matter," because it is at that time an internal affair of the party that nominated the candidate.

The Supreme Court was therefore correct to throw out Atiku's suit.

LP's suit on the matter is yet to be heard, meaning that Shettima's non-qualification will still be revisited by the Supreme Court, meaning it is not over for VP-elect Shetimma.

Although on that same Thursday, Buhari bestowed the highest national honours of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR and Grand Commander of the Order of Niger, GCON, on President-elect Tinubu and his vice, Shettima, respectively, and handed over the instruments of office to Tinubu, awaiting the formal swearing-into office tomorrow, Monday 29, it is unclear whether the darks clouds overhanging the Presidency have abated.

TROUBLE AHEAD

Interestingly, a day before the Supreme Court ruling which cleared the way for Tinubu's inauguration with Shettima, an edition of a Channels TV programme, Politics Today, had offered some interesting insights into the prevailing political tension in the country since the outcome of the February 25, 2023 General Election. Anchorman Seun Okinbaloye had invited two personalities to the one-hour programme.

The first to appear was the Women’s Leader of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, Mrs. Betty Edu. Edu spoke glowingly of how the new administration would improve on the achievements of the outgoing Muhammadu Buhari administration in areas, such as insecurity, “which was drastically improved after all the local government areas that Boko Haram terrorised in Borno State were liberated.”

...New Dawn For Nigeria?

She, however drew blank and her smiled turned wry when Okinbaloye drew her attention to the insecurity in virtually all four of the seven North-West states of Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina and Kebbi, noting that rampant kidnapping and general insecurity nationwide had made road travel a nightmare for Nigerians.

After Edu left the studio, a former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Mukhtar Shagari, appeared. When he was asked what he would like to see the incoming government do differently, he sighed, crossed his hands across his midriff and looked his host in the eye.

“Wait until the Supreme Court Judgment tomorrow (Friday) on the double registration suit against the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima,” he said, but went on to oblige his questionnaire with some suggestions.

The salient picture, as captured by Shagari and Edu, are the two opposing challenges that will trouble the incoming Bola Tinubu Administration. On the one hand, the outgoing government will leave behind some challenging social and economic issues in the areas of insecurity, the economy with mounting debts, poverty, corruption and politics with self-interested politicians and political parties. On the other hand, there are pervasive doubts over the court cases.

BOOBY TRAPS

The last-minute appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari, less than a week to the inauguration of his successor, Tinubu, has raised some eyebrows.

Last Thursday, President Buhari approved the appointment of Garzali Abubakar as the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund as well as the Chairman and members of the Board of the fund.

Those appointed include Aduke Hussain as Chairman, Hussaini Mohammed (North Central Representative), Mohammed Umar (North West Representative), Abdulsalam Ahmed (North East Representative), Stella Uzokwe (South East Representative), Stephen Ikata (South-South Representative) and Olufunlayo Oluwole Faloye (South West Representative).

Also appointed was the retiring Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police, Garba Baba Umar, as a Senior Security Adviser on International Police Cooperation and Counterterrorism in the office of the Minister of Police Affairs.

Others are Dr. Olushola Odusanya as the DirectorGeneral/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM).

Other appointments were also made in the top echelon of the aviation industry, including NAMA, NCAA, FAAN, etc. They were announced this week too.

Also, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, also inaugurated the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), on May 25 headed by Dr Abdulhakeem Mobolaji Abdullateef, Mrs. Yasmine Zabatt Amin Dalhatu, North-West, Mr. Simon Ogie Dada, South-South and Mr. Abimbola Olasure, South-West.

The management team is Managing Director (MD), BelloHassan; Mrs Emily Osuji, Executive Director (Corporate Services), Mustapha M. Ibrahim (Executive Director Operations).

The decision to also end fuel subsidies towards the end of his tenure is also seen as a booby trap for the incoming Tinubu administration. . After describing the subsidies as a fraud before he was first elected in 2015 and saying he would discard it, Buhari has not and has instead passed on the effective removal of the controversial fraudulent scheme to Tinubu.

HUGE DEBTS

The recent request for an $800 million World Bank loan by the administration in its twilight days looked like a deliberate act to sustain the template of borrowing that has raised the debts that would be left behind for the incoming administration to $77 trillion according to the Debt Management Office, DMO. Some of the loans were even spent before seeking approval like the N23.7 trillion that caused an uproar in the Senate when President Buhari requested for delayed approval in January and many Senators had to accuse him of violating the constitution. The aforementioned appointments like the huge debts

look like bobby traps for the incoming administration. “The man who is leaving office is entrenching his people in the bureaucracy in a way that would make changes look like an ethnic cleansing,” a professor of Political Economy at the Lagos State University (LASU), Sylvester Odion, told THEWILL.

“Nigeria is a very complex country. So the new president would need wisdom and adherence to provisions of the Constitution. For example, Section 14 on Federal Character Principle seeks that appointments be made in a way that addresses social justice and ethnic groups do not feel marginalised.”

AREAS BEGGING FOR ATTENTION: ECONOMY, INSECURITY

A Federal Government and World Bank-sponsored study that found out that 153 million Nigerians are “multidimensionally poor,” shows that the economic policies of the outgoing administration were counterproductive to the well-being of more than 85 per cent 200 million Nigerians. Corruption, apathy and crime can only thrive in such an economy, posing a huge challenge to the incoming administration. Stakeholders think the government must hit the ground running to address the mounting poverty and associated issues.

In a report made available to THEWILL and meant to set agenda for the incoming administration, Professor Odion, alongside Debo Adeniran and Professor Akarueze, on the platform of the Think-Tank for Democracy, urged President-elect Tinubu to prepare to do battle with the economy, democratic reforms, human rights and foreign policy.

Both Adeniran and Akarueze argue that as a consumer nation whose economy is externally oriented and its link to the international political economy is crude oil export, elite conspiracy will continue to foster mind-boggling oil theft alongside the so-called oil subsidy that has been a ripoff of the national resources to the gross impoverishment of the Nigerian people.

“There seems to be no end to this national robbery. The outgoing president is securing $800 million with the concurrence of a rubber-stamp National Assembly ostensibly to cushion the effect of the eventual removal of the said oil subsidy,'' they maintained, adding that the said

Oil-subsidy remains a national scam that requires political will to stop.

“The incoming President must repudiate the World Bank loan as it is a parting gift for the out-going administration with a consequent deepening of our debt profile.”

For insecurity, experts have, at every juncture of heightened incidences of kidnapping and terrorism, called for the rejigging of the security architecture, manpower training in intelligence gathering and improved welfare for the security personnel - police and armed forces - in the country. It is expected that the new administration will implement these recommendations and address separatist tendencies in many parts of the country.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE

The Nigerian citizenry must be ready to defend democracy as the past eight years of maladministration under Buhari has showed that government has to be put on its toes for the system to work for the good of all

Taking an informed perspective on the issue, Mr Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who said he is not very optimistic about the incoming Tinubu administration, submitted that the success of the incoming administration rests with what Nigerians should do in their respective capacities to compel the government to respect their rights. Nigeria, he said, has one of the best human rights laws in the world but on paper.

Speaking as a guest at a recent colloquium on Entrenching Democracy in Nigeria, the Bola Tinubu Government, attended by THEWILL, he said Nigeria has very comprehensive human rights laws that are more modern than what obtains in America and the United Kingdom. But the extent to which the citizens are aware of these laws so that the laws can be enforced, is another question.

“So our job is already cut out for us as a people. What we need to do is to demand for our rights. We must know our rights and fight for them. So that the President who knows the rule of law, who is committed to democracy and rule of law will be forced to act accordingly.

“We have the fundamental rights that are entrenched in Chapter 4 of the Constitution. We have always had the Bill of Rights since 1960. It was in Chapter 3 of the 1979 Constitution: Right to life; right to dignity; right to liberty; right or property; freedom of association; freedom of association; freedom of religion and so on,” Falana said.

MEDIA

There is anxiety in the media circle that the incoming administration may not improve on the poor media relation of the outgoing administration. As one of the very few professional organisations given a constitutional role to hold the government accountable to the people, the media is still operating in shackles, especially with the non-compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, FOI, by government agencies.

Tinubu appeared to have copied the same path toed by President Buhari during electioneering. Like Buhari, he was selective in his media relations and appearances. He refused to appear for debates with other candidates, his media aides engaged in media war with media outfits they considered opposed to their principals and openly stated that the media was hostile to Tinubu.

As president, Buhari ran an administration that virtually kept the media at arms -length. Under the administration, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, NBC, would be remembered for imposing arbitrary monetary fines on radio and televisions stations for infringing broadcasting codes until a court ruled against it on the ground that it cannot be an accuser and judge in its case without giving the accused right of appeal. Also in bad taste was the government 7- month ban of Twitter on the flimsy excuse that the president’s view was deleted and his account suspended for views expressed against the Southeast people considered offensive by the micro- blogging outfit.

At a point, the National Assembly under the guidance of the Ministry of Information, wanted to regulate the media through the review of law governing the Nigeria Press Organisation, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, NBC and online media but was resisted by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, the Nigeria Guild of Editors and Newspapers Proprietors Organisation, NPAN.

Continues on Page 7

The man who is leaving office is entrenching his people in the bureaucracy in a way that would make changes look like an ethnic cleansing,” a professor of Political Economy at the Lagos State University (LASU), Sylvester Odion, told THEWILL “Nigeria is a very complex country. So the new president would need wisdom and adherence to provisions of the Constitution. For example, Section 14 on Federal Character Principle seeks that appointments be made in a way that addresses social justice and ethnic groups do not feel marginalised

Illegal Logging Exacerbating Insecurity in C'River, NGO Tells Gov-Elect

ANon governmental organisation,

"We The People '' has informed the Cross River State Governor-elect, Senator Bassey Out, that the activities of illegal loggers is exacerbating insecurity in the state.

The leader of the organisation, Ken Henshaw, made this known in Calabar through an open letter sent to the governor-elect on strategies for protecting the Cross River forests and reversing the negative trends.

Henshaw faulted the present moratorium on deforestation in the state instituted in 2008 saying the policy has failed in protecting the state's forests.

"In several communities, loggers and timber dealers establish their trading posts close to the forest and form trade unions to regulate the business.

"Illegal trade in timber has excerbated insecurity in the state and the state has seen the emergence of an armed cartel of "Crossers" take responsibility for arranging consignments of timber from the forest and conveying them to designated destinations outside the state.

"Your Excellency, recall that in 2008,

Support Umo Eno to Serve Akwa Ibom Better – Ndueso Essien

arising from an environmental summit, the Cross River State government instituted a moratorium on the forest specifically targeting loggers. However, despite the moratorium, the spate of deforestation has rather intensified. At the moment, logging activities have taken more alarming and sinister dimension in the state.

"As responsible civil society organisations, and expert in forest management, we are confident that under your leadership and given the political will, the escalating threat of deforestation as well as the gals and challenges associated with existing government responses can be fixed.

“Your Excellency, as you assume office on the 29 May, 2023 and deliver on your inaugural address to the people of Cross River State, it will be a great opportunity to read the "riot act"to those destroying the forests, and clearly state your preference for preserving the Cross River forests," he said.

The state's forest reserves has declined at an alarming rate and in a recent report titled Vanishing Reserves, it was revealed that over 28 per cent forest cover of the state has been depleted.

Tinubu’s Inauguration: FG Declares Monday Public Holiday

The Federal Government has declared Monday, 29th May 2023, as a public holiday.

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday, by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Shuiab Belgore.

Aregbesola said the decision is to allow Nigerians to commemorate the inauguration of the nation’s 16th democratically elected President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He charged Nigerians to shun any form of violence and other untoward acts.

“The Minister felicitates with all Nigerians on the momentous occasion, commending them for their faith in democracy as expressed in the nationwide election that produced the President and his Deputy being inaugurated and indeed, in all elections across the nation “Democracy anywhere is an unfinished business and the only way it can keep developing and serve its end of being the vehicle to good governance and the welfare of all the people is by adhering to its tenets of rule of law, support for democratic institutions, promotion of free and responsible press and advancement of the frontiers of freedom for all the people” the statement said.

Aformer minister, Chief Ndueso Essien, has called on the people of Akwa Ibom State, to give the incoming governor, Pastor Umo Eno, the necessary support to serve the state better.

Chief Essien said that the kind of distraction faced by the incumbent governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, at the inception of his administration in 2015 should be avoided at all cost.

The senior citizen made the appeal in an exclusive interaction with THEWILL in his county home, Eket, noted that governor Emmanuel would have done better during his eight years administration, if not for excessive distractions arising from: Court cases and other attention diverting issues he went through.

He said that despite the myriads of challenges facing the governor, Udom Emmanuel was able to accomplish a lot more than was expected of him.

"In the last tenure, when the distraction had died, he has been able to do a lot of projects, particularly in the area of infrastructure. Hev has built many standard and good quality roads.

"I don't think there is any state in the country that has the quality and length of roads or the roads network that we have in Akwa Ibom. I give him kudos for that.

"What of the development of the airport?

On Friday, the MRO, the new smart administrative building among other completed facilities will be commissioned at the airport, I cannot count but I can say that governor Udom Emmanuel has done well in his eight years administration", the PDP stakeholder stated.

He added, "I want to urge that when the next administration comes, let us try and reduce the level of distractions because Udom Emmanuel could not achieve much on industrialisation because of excessive distraction.”

Continued from Page 6

A democracy in which free flow of information and knowledge is impeded and government appointees and elected officers are not held accountable would abridge the institutions and participation of the people. The incoming administration must therefore discard the anti-media stand of the outgoing administration.

Reacting to this development, President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr Mustapha Isah, told THEWILL that the media must be allowed a fair space to carry out their constitutional role. He said for a start, the incoming government must implement the FOI Act in words and deeds because the media is the barometer of the people without which governance may be impracticable.

“They must be ready to answer our questions in record time and not for appointees to be issuing press statements or else they will face the consequences. Government will come and go as the Buhari administration is going and the media remains,” Isah said.

TINUBU PROMISES BETTER DAYS

In his address on the day of his investiture with the GCFR, Tinubu promised to make Nigeria work for everybody. He said, “The people have put their trust in us. You have done your part Mr. President. Now, that great duty descends on me. I understand the meaning of the honor given to me today and of the task that awaits.

“I must run this race and must do it well. On security, the economy, agriculture, jobs, education, health and power and in all other sectors, we must make headway. The people deserve no less. In this, I shall disappoint neither them nor you, Mr. President,” he assured.

The President-elect recognised that though Nigeria’s path may not always be smooth, he expressed faith in the country’s purpose and collective ability to overcome challenges.

“Our way shall not always be smooth. Yet, we are imbued with faith in our purpose and a firm belief in our collective ability to overcome the challenges that confront us," he maintained.

Speaking on Friday, at the Public Lecture and Jumat Prayer held at the National Mosque in Abuja, as part of the 2023 Presidential Inauguration programme of events, Tinubu also highlighted the urgent need to end the multiple foreign currency exchange rates.

Represented at the event by the Vice President-elect, Shettima, Tinubu appealed to Nigerians to stand with the government as it would be working to deconstruct the maze of challenges facing the nation, warning that the take-off point might be rough.

His words: “Tinubu is a fair-minded person. He will do justice to Nigerians, irrespective of affiliation with political parties, religious and tribal background. We are united by our common heritage of poverty and insecurity among others. This is the time for all of us to coalesce into a single force.

“Ours is a great nation, waiting to unleash its great potential to the world. China was once called a sleeping giant, but today, China has woken up. Nigeria needs to wake up. We are calling on all of you to pray for us for God’s guidance. I want to assure you that Tinubu will hit the ground.''

President Muhammadu Buhari (right); Chief of Staff to the outgoing President, Ibrahim Gambari {left}, conducts President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, (middle), round the State House, in Abuja on May 26, 2023.

FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR

FROM UDEME UTIP, UYO

U.S. Consulate Supports Morgan State University Choir’s Tour of Nigeria

The Morgan State University Choir, one of America’s most prestigious university choral ensembles, will travel to Nigeria from May 29-31 to share their talents in a cultural exchange of song, music and riveting vocal performances. The tour will include performances at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos (May 29); Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State (May 30); and Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre (May 31).

Consumer Rights Group Raises Alarm on Losses to Imported Energy Drink Trade

Aconsumer rights protection group, Concerned Consumers (CC) has alerted relevant authorities and the general public on the compelling urgency to stop importation of energy drinks into the country.

Reeling out figures to support their call for a ban on imported energy drink brands, the CC Convener and CoConvener, Messrs Olufemi Odebunmi, Convener and Rufai Rimi respectively argued that over 300,000 Nigerians would have been fully and gainfully employed if the market was allowed to grow indigenously. They estimated that an average number of between 1,800 and 2,000 containers of energy drinks are imported into the country annually. With each container consisting of 2,600 cases, at the going price of between N18,000 and N20,000 per case, the estimated loss to the country is over N104 billion annually.

Bemoaning the unpalatable effects of the imported energy drink, the CC officials said if the trade continues unchecked, it will lead to closure of local industries leading to massive loss of jobs, increase in the high rate of unemployment and scarcity of the much-needed foreign exchange, allowing the Naira to further depreciated.

They queried the continuous exclusion of imported energy drinks from Import Prohibition List (Trade), describing it as "a case of healthy and unhealthy drinks branded together."

In a statement titled, 'The Importation of Energy Drinks into Nigeria Despite the Proven Health Hazards and the Various Ban on Imported Juices,' addressed to heads of relevant agencies of government, a copy of which was seen by the media, Odebunmi and Rimi stated, "If fruit juice in retail packs are banned, then energy drinks ought to be banned, ought to have been banned and should be now be included not excluded from the Import Prohibition List as its exclusion is actually inimical to the

local industry growth and to the health of the citizenry including financially with the engagement of scarce Dollars in the pursuit of such Importation."

The CC officials drew attention to a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance on March 20, 2015 titled Import Prohibition List (Trade) Annex III which states goods and products whose importation into Nigeria are prohibited.

"Curiously, fruit juice in retail packs were banned along with water, mineral water, aerated water containing added sugar or sweetening matter flavoured, other non-alcoholic beverages and beer and stout and the only exception was energy or health drinks."

According to the CC officials, "We are amazed that our health and regulatory and standard organizations are still allowing imported energy drinks into the country even after the debilitating nature of the damage to our health from these imported energy drinks and most importantly, why would it be exempt along with health drinks?"

Messrs Odebunmi and Rimi argued that "Part of the interest of import prohibition is to lead eventually to local production of same, which can be seen from the burgeoning fruit juice industry in Nigeria which has grown in leaps and bounds from 2015, following its import prohibition, whereas, there are actually a few multi-national companies in Nigeria who have now engaged in local production of energy drinks but alas, they are considered inferior and therefore suffer poor and very low patronage in comparison with the imported ones that leads one to ask when is Nigeria going to protect its territory and its citizenry?"

Energy drinks fall into the category of ready-to-drink fruit juice, which importation of same in whatsoever mode and means remains banned in Nigeria since 2003.

FRSC Deploys 365 Personnel, 40 Patrol Vehicles, 15 Bikes, 10 Trucks For Tinubu's Inauguration

The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dauda Ali Biu, has ordered the deployment of 365 personnel, 40 patrol vehicles, 15 bikes and 10 tow trucks, to ensure safety of road users and ease of movement along all routes leading to the venue of the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday, May 29, 2023.

In addition, the Corps also deployed 155 traffic cones, 15 ambulances, 84 patrolites and a number of reflective tapes.

A statement by the Assistant Corps Marshal, Bisi Kazeem, Corps Public Education Officer, said the Corps Marshal, directed the personnel deployed to collaborate with the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), as well as other security organisations detailed for the national assignment.

“He, therefore, called on road users to comply with restrictions of movement around areas cordoned off by security operatives so as to allow for a seamless inauguration programme”, Kazeem stated. Areas to be cordoned for diversion of traffic include Goodluck Jonathan Expressway by Court of Appeal, Deeper Life Junction, Bond/Total Filling Station, Federal Capital Development Authority Junction, Finance Junction by ECOWAS, Ministry of Women Affairs junction, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Eagle Square (Phase 1&2).

Others are Kur Mohammed Road/National Mosque, Abia House junction, NITEL Junction by Ademola Adetokunbo street, Gama Junction/Transcorp, Bayelsa House by Federal High Court, Aso Drive, CEDDI Plaza, NNPC Twin Towers, as well as NNPC/NBS.

“The Corps personnel will also play an active role in piloting dignitaries from the following locations; Old Parade Ground – Eagle Square, International Conference Centre, Eagle Square, and Eagle Square Pavilion.

The choir, led by its director, Dr. Eric Conway, will deliver a lively mix of gospel songs and a repertoire of African and American songs, particularly African-American spirituals, which have roots in West African music traditions.

U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer, Joe Kruzich, explained that the Morgan State University Choir’s visit to Nigeria will contribute to strengthening the bonds of friendship and collaboration through music and arts, offering an opportunity for the Nigerian public to interact directly with American students and faculty and learn about academic experiences in the United States.

Kruzich stated that the burgeoning ties between the United States and Nigeria are extended through institutions like Morgan State University and other historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States, which have continued to serve as home for international students seeking education in the United States, including many from Nigeria.

“We are thrilled to support the upcoming visit of Morgan State University Choir to Nigeria. The United States and Nigeria have many common interests, especially in areas as diverse as music, film and the arts through which we create dialogue and exchange. The role of music in diplomacy cannot be overemphasized, especially with its emphasis on free expression, creativity and collaborative teamwork,” he added.

The Morgan State University Choir is currently traveling across West Africa as part of a four-country tour of Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria. The choir is notable for performing to sold-out halls and wide critical acclaim. Director of Music, Eric Conway, has led this esteemed choir through performances throughout the United States and globally for nearly 20 years singing for presidents and world leaders.

Morgan State University Choir during a public performance.

SHOTS OF THE WEEK

Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]

L-R: Chief of Staff to the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Ovie Agas; Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige and Imo State Governor,

L-R: Chairman, Project Implementation Committee at the Event, Prof. Robinson Ejilah; Host Project Manager, Nenis Engineering Limited, Engr. Osazoduwa Agboneni; Dean College of Engineering, Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Engr. Dr. Yakub Bankole; Specialties, Expert in Engineering Design, AutoCAD, MicroStation, Engr. Ijachi Ega and Engineering Specialist at Afic-DeCam Engineering, Engr. Azuka Francis, during Codes and Standards Development Workshop on Safe Automotive Practice in Nigeria, held at LASUSTECH, in Lagos on May 23, 2023.

L-R: Independent Non-Executive Director, Access Holdings Plc, Fatimah Bello-Ismail; Non-Executive Director, Roosevelt Ogbonna; Group Chief Executive, Herbert Wigwe; Chairman, Bababode Osunkoya and Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, during the 1st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Access Holdings Plc, in Lagos on May 24, 2023.

Pioneer

Conference of Speakers and Heads of African

(CoSAP)/Speaker, Nigerian House

Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (right), handing over instruments of office to Speaker, Parliament of Ghana, Hon. Alban Bagbin (left), during the handing over ceremony of the headship of the Conference of Speakers and Heads of African Parliaments (CoSAP) at the National Assembly, Abuja on May 25, 2023.

THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA

Speaker,

Parliaments

of Representatives,

Sen. Hope Uzodinma, during the commissioning of the Second Niger Bridge in Anambra State on May 23, 2023.

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Senate President, Sen. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan; President/ Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote; President Muhammadu Buhari, cutting the tape; President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe; APC Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun and Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects & Portfolio Development, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, at the commissioning of Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos on May 22, 2023.

L R: Executive Director, Technical, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr. Joseph Oladokun; Group Chairman, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi; Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer, Tribune Newspaper, Mr. Edward Dickson and MD/CEO, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr. Femi Asenuga, during the visit of Tribune's Management Team to Mutual Benefits, in Lagos on 24, 2023.

POLITICS

Kalu, Izunaso, Yari Adamant, Battle Akpabio For Senate Presidency

BY AYO ESAN

The ruling All Progressives Congress’s failure to resolve the issue of consensus arrangement in choosing the leadership of the 10th National Assembly may be the first hurdle to be scaled by the incoming Bola Tinubu Administration.

Although many political analysts believe that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, will help to find a solution to the problem, all attempts to persuade aspirants for leadership positions in the National Assembly, who rejected the party’s zoning arrangement, to back down on their agitation failed to yield positive results.

It would be recalled that the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, told the agitating aspirants that the party would have to wait for Tinubu’s input before reviewing the zoning and consensus arrangements.

So, unless there is an agreement by all the candidates later to toe the party line, with less than two weeks to the inauguration of the 10th Senate, the APC may face a repeat of what happened in 2015 when Senator Bukola Saraki, with support from the main opposition party, the PDP, emerged as Senate President instead of Senator Ahmad Lawan who was the APC’s choice.

The APC has picked former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as its preferred Senate President and Senator Barau Jibrin from Kano as Deputy Senate President.

But the APC’s position has been rejected by some aspirants, including the current Senate Chief Whip and former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu; former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Abdualzeez

Yari, Senator Mohammed Musa Sani from Niger State, and Senator Osita Izunaso from Imo State.

These senators have vowed to trudge on and realize their ambition. If the party fails to agree and these aspiring leaders of the 10th Senate go for election on inauguration day, how will they fare? One fact is that most of these aspirants were at one time or the other

members of the PDP and they will have to struggle to get the support of the PDP, as well as the other members of the opposition, in the election. This may result in a crisis within the ruling party and if not well handled, it may spell doom for the party.

Godswill Akpabio

Godswill Akpabio, who was a former Senate Minority Leader on the platform of the PDP before defecting to the ruling APC, is the choice of the President-elect and the APC for the position of Senate President. He therefore leads the pack among the aspirants for the number one seat in the Senate.

Akpabio and the Stability Group have also been on the roads in the past weeks trying to get the endorsement of fellow senators and leaders of thought in the country in order to realise his ambition of leading the next Senate.

The manner of his choice by Tinubu as the party’s choice for the position of Senate President is quite understandable to the political analysts. They cited his withdrawal for Tinubu during the APC presidential primary election.

Aside that, the APC has made a comparable good showing in the South-South where Akpabio comes from, particularly in the presidential election, in which analysts had initially predicted a landslide for the Labour Party (L.P).

The APC not only won a senatorial seat in Akwa Ibom, but also won in Cross Rivers and Edo States.

Continues on Page 11

But the APC’s position has been rejected by some aspirants, including the current Senate Chief Whip and former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu; former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Abdualzeez Yari, Senator Mohammed Musa Sani from Niger State, and Senator Osita Izunaso from Imo State

Akpabio

Izunaso

...Battle Akpabio For Senate Presidency

Continued from Page 10

Akpabio, with his long time and experience in politics, has built political relationships and a network that transcends party lines and this may come handy for him when the election to pick the next Senate President comes up on the floor of the Senate in a few days.

He has also solidified his position in the party enough to win Tinubu’s support for the coveted position of Senate President.

Little wonder the group known as Arewa Professionals in the United Kingdom (AP-UK) has backed Akpabio’s ambition and described Abdulazeez Yari’s aspiration as selfish and greedy.

A statement issued by the 654-member Arewa thinktank and signed by its President, Mr Yunana Shibkau, expressed reservations on Yari’s aspiration for the office of Senate President.

In the statement, Shibkau called on Senator Yari to drop his ambition and accept the position of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has adopted Senator Godswill Akpabio as the next Senate President.

Shibkau, who was a Special Assistant to former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Sani Yerima, between 2001 and 2003, said it is common knowledge that the basis for any viable democracy, especially in a diverse and complex country like Nigeria, is fair and equitable sharing of critical political offices.

"It will therefore be in the best interest of the nation and our democracy to ensure that the next Senate President of Nigeria in 2023 emerges from the South as agreed upon by the APC leadership.

"We want to remind these disgruntled senators that the North had the country's President for eight years, as well as the Senate President. In the spirit of oneness, the next Senate President should come from the South.

“We have uncovered a grand design and a dangerous plot by some disgruntled and uncivilised politicians from the North to destabilise the incoming administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is a warning to those politicians that we will mobilise discerning northern youths against them.

"We need a Senate President that possesses instinct, diligence and national interest, a refusal to be bound by the parochial concerns of one's own personal gain, unfortunately all these are lacking in Yari and fully possessed by Akpabio.

"At this moment in our nation, the 10th Senate President should be a person representing known schools of thought on societal transformation. He should be a person who can express ideas with a sound understanding of the various differences in the various aspects of economic, political and social life", the group said in the statement.

Shibkau said that the leadership of the Senate requires intellectual disposition and sagacity to be in a position to come up with and discuss solutions to various national problems.

"The Senate President should be able to provide solutions to the upsurge in insecurity and disunity, growing inflation and unemployment, providing alternatives to borrowing for developments whilst paying up overdue debts", he added.

However, Akpabio is facing charges from the Economic and financial Crimes Commission(EFCC). He has been on the radar of the EFCC for a long time for allegations dating back to his time as governor.

Orji Uzor Kalu

Orji Uzor Kalu, a former Governor of Abia State, is a force to reckon with in the ruling APC. He is also the current Chief Whip in the Senate. Although he comes from a region dominated by the opposition, he has not only been the face of APC in the region but also went on to build strong relationships in the party, becoming a close ally of outgoing Senate President Ahmed Lawan.

Many watchers of political developments in the country believe the South-East deserves to produce the next Senate President and Kalu should be the man from the region for the position. Kalu, as a Christian, they argued, would balance the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.

While Orji Kalu is influential within the party, particularly in the legislature, he is burdened by the weight of corruption cases and allegations that hang around his neck.

Osita Izunaso

Senator Osita Izunaso is a Christian from the SouthEast. He also possesses the requisite experience, being a ranking senator.

Political analysts believe that unlike Akpabio and Kalu, Izunaso has a clean record, with regard to the issue of corruption.

This Imo West lawmaker has paid his dues in the APC. He was a member of the merger committee that mid-wived APC and became the founding National Organising Secretary. He has the best and most robust understanding of the National Assembly, having served as an aide to both presiding officers of the assembly before being elected into both the green and red chambers.

The only disadvantaged for Izunaso is that he is contesting against big names that have been dominant in the nation’s political and legislative landscape in the past four years.

Senator Sani Musa

He is a two-term Senator from Niger State in the NorthCentral geopolitical zone, a sub-region that is also accusing the APC of marginalisation in the current zoning formula.

However, Musa, being a Muslim like the Presidentelect and Vice President-elect, enjoys tremendous support from his party members.

However, the North-Central, where he comes from, has been subsumed by its close alliance with the far North.

The North-central seems to have been forgotten in the scheme of things and Sani Musa, who has enjoyed a good stay in the National Assembly as the current Chairman of the Senate Services Committee, wields great influence within the red chamber, even vying for the position of party chairman in 2022 before stepping down for the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, in compliance with the party’s directive.

Abdulazeez Yari

Yari is a former Governor of Zamfara State and he was instrumental to the formation of the APC. In 2015, he became the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

We want to remind these disgruntled senators that the North had the country's President for eight years, as well as the Senate President

Kalu Yari Musa

POLITICS

Mutfwang: Receipt And Burden of Power

BY UKANDI ODEY

This Monday, anxiety and expectations will come to a head in Plateau State as power changes hands from outgoing Governor Simon Lalong of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Governor-elect Caleb Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in what many have described as a historic handshake of “their excellencies.”

The Simon Bako Lalong Administration has been in charge for an eight-year-long season of anxious moments for Plateau citizens and their cherished values. The assessment of Lalong by the average Plateau resident as he fades out of power is that he spent his tenure playing to the tendentious and predatory gallery of the northern establishment and did very little to protect and secure the Plateau heritage, thereby leaving the state vulnerable, while its traditional aggressor from the North loomed large in a determined effort to destabilise the state and displace its people.

Although Lalong’s supporters claim that his tenure restored peace in Plateau, the greater truth is that he created the Peace Building Agency and left it manacled and disabled through lack of funding.

Another truth is that Lalong’s era was characterised by sporadic attacks on the natives, especially in local government areas like Bassa, Riyom, Jos South, Jos North, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Kanam, Wase and most recently, Mangu that is still traumatised by a recent genocide.

Under Lalong, there were recurrent cases of land grabbing and displacement of people from their ancestral homes; there was food insecurity because farmers could no longer attend to their livelihood as herdsmen attackers were lurking around and seemingly on the prowl; there was a flounder in tourism inflow because of growing insecurity and urban crimes and terrorism on the one hand, and the lack of concentration on urban governance resulting in decaying and dilapidated social infrastructures, with Jos, the State capital degenerating into the abysmal and unenviable status of one of the dirtiest destinations in the country based on contemporary assessment, on the other hand.

May 29 comes with great expectations. There is understandable euphoria and feeling of elation among people in Plateau that tomorrow’s receipt of power by Barrister Caleb Mutfwang is a whole package of positives and desirables. it is a renaissance; the coming of a brilliant light after a great darkness; a kind of liberation and return of the natives; a restoration day coming with a restoration regime; and, ultimately, a day that bears the date of a people with their destiny!

The Transition Implementation Committee has announced a detailed programme for the handover ceremony; major highlights indicate a cream of visitors and cultural distances and displays. A member of the Committee has actually noted that the mood of people in the state and their expectations will make the celebration resonate and reverberate beyond the shores of the state – far more than the spontaneous celebrations that swept through the State following the outcome and announcement of the gubernatorial election result on March 20, 2023!

But, herein, too, lies the burden of power for His Excellency, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang. These great expectations, of course, translate as matters of urgent public interest, and constitute what the new administration should prioritise if it must stay in synch with popular yearnings and aspirations.

Last weeks’ nocturnal invasion and attack on 26 villages in Mangu Local Government Area, in which more than 100 people were killed in cold blood, has again underscored the urgency of strengthening security arrangements and network in the State.

The Mutfwang administration must move beyond the lame efforts of his predecessor to secure the state, the land and the farms by putting measures in place to protect and reassure farmers of safety while in their farms, and end the so-called farmers-herders clash. Another popular expectation as the government unfolds is the imperative of resettling and restoring displaced natives to their ancestral homes. This

inevitably translates as recovering land and territories from aggressors and grabbers, implementing the antiland grabbing law, and strengthening security presence especially in the rural areas to deal with cases of migrant usurpers infiltrating rural settings in the state with terrorist intent. There is, thus, the urgent need to revive and reinvigorate the Operation Rainbow as an intervening local security outfit.

The Lalong administration, for curious politics and political reasons, stalemated the growth and operations of the outfit, and used lack of funding to ensure that it remained moribund and desolate throughout its tenure.

Jos, the state capital, is in the worst of forms – arguably, in its history. From worsening environmental sanitation situation, to public infrastructure in a state of disrepair, to crime and insecurity, the capital needs a quick and special intervention to revamp its status as a state capital and tourism destination. The face of Jos city is a slur, no thanks to street trading and street traders who have ensured that the city centre is without plan, always

rowdy, a traffic impasse in the day, a criminal’s den in the night, and a vulnerable area in terms of security control and enforcement. For security and standards of civilization, there is need to restore orderliness in the city by ensuring that those who function within its space conform to the necessary laws relating to parking of vehicle, hawking, street trading, and illegal motor parks.

In the past five months, residents of Jos, the state capital, have been grappling with acute water scarcity. Tardiness in the state Ministry of Water Resources, allegedly, has put innocent residents in the hellish situation of sourcing water from unhygienic sources. It will bring much relief to homes if water supply is restored within the first two weeks as the Caleb Mutfwang administration takes off.

Sequel to the foregoing is the need for deliberate effort to be made immediately to return civil servants in the state to work. The workers have been on strike to press for their emoluments in the past two weeks. The incoming administration needs the civil service to be in place for the smooth take off of its programmes and implementation of its policies. Governor Mutfwang is expected to personally meet with the leadership of the organised labour to strike a deal that will end the industrial action with the assurance that their grievances will be addressed immediately.

There are some critical roads and streets within Jos that need to be completed and opened to public use, or refurbished as the rains intensify. These streets that need upgrading abound in the Jos metropolis, especially around the business nerve-centre.

Many consider it a fair way to the start if the new administration gives consideration to this area which the Lalong administration ignored after repeated annual budget capturing.

It is in the same manner that internal revenue options are expected to be duly and maximally explored to enable the administration harness the bountiful endowments of the Plateau space, including solid minerals mining and processing of agricultural products.

From celebration of great expectations to the receipt and burden of power, Plateau welcomes His Excellency, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang!

May 29 comes with great expectations. There is understandable euphoria and feeling of elation among people in Plateau that tomorrow’s receipt of power by Barrister Caleb Mutfwang is a whole package of positives and desirables

Lalong

Mutfwang

President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Muhammadu Buhari, during investiture of national honours and official handover of transition documents ceremony, held at the State House Abuja on May 25, 2023.

Don’t Blackmail Tinubu Over NASS Offices, OPC Warns Northern Politicians

The Pan –Yoruba Group, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has warned those it described as selfserving Northern politicians against blackmailing President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the filling of posts in the Tenth National Assembly and the Executive, saying that doing so would overheat the polity unnecessarily and spell doom for the country.

OPC President, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi, made the submission in a statement signed by the Secretary, Bunmi Fasehun. Instead, OPC urged the Northern politicians threatening fire and brimstones over dividing political offices to turn their attention to the genocide in Benue and Plateau states, stop the killings and bring lasting peace to the people there.

According to Afolabi, inflammatory and provocative utterances being made by these few individuals from the North insisting on commandeering principal offices in the National Assembly were clear indications that they had a sense of entitlement and monopoly over the emergence of Tinubu as President in the February 2023 elections.

Afolabi said: “We want to advise that Tinubu should not be subjected to blackmail by any region over the distribution of legislative and executive offices. There is no single geo-political region where Tinubu scored zero votes; so he was fundamentally elected by all sections of Nigeria, North, South, East and West. He belongs to everybody.

“All regions and religions enjoy equal stakes in the President-Elect. His loyalty must be to all Nigerians and not to any one region or religion.

“It is very funny, curious and contradictory that those who failed to raise a voice to demand equity for other regions when President Muhammadu Buhari was indulging in lopsided appointments and pushing sectional agendas are the ones now clamouring

CACOL Cautions

FG, Outgoing Govs on Award of Last Minute Contracts

AYO ESAN

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, (CACOL), has expressed reservations at the flagrant manner outgoing administration both at the federal and the state levels are awarding contracts, making appointments into sensitive positions and presenting supplementary budgets even at the eve of the expiration of their tenure of office.

to monopolise positions and offices once more.

“We cannot forget that since 1999, these same people dominated every occupant of the post of President, from Olusegun Obasanjo to Umar Yar’Adua, to Goodluck Jonathan to Muhammadu Buhari. This led these leaders to derail. With Tinubu, it cannot be business as usual.

“It is time for these selfish Northern individuals to release the levers of power and let the occupant of Aso Rock to equally dispense the dividends of democracy so that the entire country will enjoy equity, justice and development.

“Tinubu should not forget that even those who did not vote for him still add great value in terms of the natural resources they contribute to the national treasury.

“The President-Elect must realise that he is inheriting a badly divided country that needs urgent healing from insurgency, insecurity and underdevelopment.

“In this regard, we shall challenge those who are concerned about sharing the spoils of office to urgently fashion out the means to stop the current killing of innocent citizens in Benue and Plateau states and bring the killers to justice.

“OPC shall leave the job of judging Buhari and past administrations to history. But the incoming government has the responsibility to steer the country and the people from the errors of this current government. Tinubu’s failure in this urgent task of forging national unity and economic prosperity means the country might just be doomed –God forbid.

“In line with the direction given by OPC’s late Founder, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, and other visionary national leaders, our organisation shall continue to insist that Nigerians needs to urgently convene a Sovereign National Conference that will fashion out a roadmap for the citizens to live together within one country and under one flag based on peace, equity and justice.

First Ladies Deserve Vehicles, Other Privileges after Vacating Office – Aisha Buhari

Nigeria First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has called for the application of certain privileges akin to the provision of vehicles, sponsored medical treatments and provision of some stipends, among others that are due to former Presidents, to wives of Presidents as against the existing position.

The outgoing First Lady said first ladies deserved these privileges just like their husbands or Presidents in office and out of office because when the pressure comes, nobody wants to know whether you are out of the villa or not.

She spoke at the launching of a book in Abuja authored by the President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Vickie Anwuli Irabor, titled, “The Journey of a Military Wife” Explaining why the privileges should be extended to first ladies, Mrs Buhari said, “I married my husband as the wife of a former president. I am going in a few days as a wife of a former president a second time.

“They should consider us as former first ladies. They should incorporate the first ladies; give us some privileges that we deserve as first ladies, not just the former presidents”.

In a release issued and signed by CACOL’s Director of Administration and Programmes, Tola Oresanwo on behalf of the organisation’s Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, he stated, “We cannot but add our voice to condemn the recent actions taken by the outgoing administrations at the federal and states level concerning last minute rush to award contracts, sign new laws, and make appointments into key positions while they are packing their bags and baggage.

“We have noticed that this precedent was set by the President, Muhammadu Buhari who until now is still awarding contracts and making new appointments into some federal parastatals even at the twilight of his tenures. Most of the affected governors perhaps took the cue from President Muhammadu Buhari in his decision to take an $800 million loan from the World Bank to hand out in paltry doles to some poor Nigerians as a cushion against the impacts of the planned removal of subsidy for premium motor spirit (petrol) from June.

“On the 10 of May, the federal government, rising from its weekly executive council meeting, announced the award of multimillion naira contracts for various ministries. The meeting approved a total of N327.34 billion for the ministries of transportation, sports, aviation, federal capital territory and for other works including Ogoni projects, IRS building in Abuja and Port Harcourt.

“We have heard how some outgoing state governors are now enmeshed in this last minute rush to award contracts and sign new bills into law. Recently, outgoing Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku, made the headline news. First, he was reported to have approved N2 billion for the purchase of cars for himself and his deputy. As if that was not enough, the outgoing governor rushed to commission an uncompleted 500 units housing estate he started in 2017.

“Also from Delta State came the news that the outgoing governor Ifeanyi Okowa recently presented a N71 billion supplementary budget to the State House of Assembly. Mr Okowa sent the budget 14 days before the expiration of his two terms tenure. The supplementary budget was made up of N5.6 billion in recurrent expenditure and N65.5 billion in capital expenditure. The Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi’s also justified his own decision to seek a N33 billion loan to complete pending projects. Senatorelect and Sokoto State outgoing governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has also allegedly made appointments and approvals of huge sums of money after the general elections.

In April, he gave approval for contract variation in sums amounting to N7 billion and has also appointed 23 new permanent secretaries and 15 director-generals in the state.

AYO ESAN

L-R: Wife of President-elect, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu:

End of an Inglorious Era

Nigerians will surely heave a sigh of great relief on Monday, May 29, 2023, as the eightyear tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari comes to an inglorious end. For the ex-General, who took over the reins of power from former President Goodluck Jonathan on May 29, 2015, with tremendous goodwill and great expectations from Nigerians, and served a two-term tenure of four years each, the total failure that his administration later turned out to be is too glaring for all to see.

Little wonder the President, who brought Nigeria to her lowest ebb in history, is in a hurry to leave the Aso Villa. He has also warned that he would not want to be disturbed in his cattle farm in Daura, Katsina State, after his exit, otherwise, Niger Republic would give him all the cover he needs, knowing full well that his past will always haunt him.

However, Nigerians are not really surprised by this declaration from a leader who seems to be basking in self-delusion and vainglory of the highest order. Despite the monumental failure of his administration, he still believes that he has done his best for Nigeria.

Buhari should be told that there cannot be any hiding place for him when the time to account for his actions and inactions while in power comes as he would be fished out from wherever he might be.

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]

While it took the old General quite awhile to constitute his cabinet at inception in 2015, his choice of ministers later turned into a monumental disaster as most of them were not in tune with the reality on ground. Apart from just a few, Buhari surrounded himself with arrogant bedfellows and sycophants who would rather do the bidding of their master than respect the wishes of the long-suffering masses for good governance. It was no surprise that propaganda and blatant lies became the order of the day with a cacophony of voices over simple government policies.

The recent embarrassing confession of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, that he knew nothing about education when he was given the appointment, is just one of the many cases of dysfunctional and lopsided appointments made by Buhari. The rot in the education sector and the shabby treatment of university lecturers throughout the eight-year tenure of Buhari is not therefore surprising. Nigerian students would not forget the Buhari era in a hurry for the pains and frustrations inflicted on them by the nonchalance of his administration to their plight. Only last week, junior ministers in his government could no longer hold their peace as they told Nigerians that they were just figure heads in the administration as their offices had no constitutional backing. Like rebels, they threw caution to the winds and busted the long-time in-house politics of the Buhari administration to the chagrin of many Nigerians. Yet, instead of pulling out honorably,

they shamelessly chose to stay put till the end of the most clueless administration in the chequered history of Nigeria only to cry wolf at the end.

An administration that confidently chose the anticorruption crusade as its mantra upon assumption of office also derailed totally with so much disappointment to end up as one of the most corrupt administrations in the history of Nigeria. Allegations of massive looting and re-looting of recovered loot rocked the administration to its foundation and the Accountant-General of

the Federation (AGF) under the watch of our dear "mai gaskiya'' got his fingers burnt with massive looting of the nation's treasury.

Hiding under the provision of the much-needed infrastructure during his tenure, which he keeps flaunting to high heavens till his last day in office, Buhari turned Nigeria into a debtor country and the world's poverty capital with so much suffering and lamentation.

Nigerians however wonder the cost at which the much-hyped infrastructure was delivered, more so, as the contracts for the so-called infrastructure were mostly jerked up by corrupt officials of his administration. There is no doubting the fact that the experience of most Nigerians under the inglorious era of the Buhari presidency was largely unpleasant with the youth, whom he described as lazy, suffering the most. Massive layoffs were common as the economy went into a permanent coma till date. Insecurity continued unabated and life in Nigeria became so miserable and cheap.

We therefore call on the incoming president, Bola Tinubu, whose inauguration comes up on Monday, May 29, to live up to the expectations of Nigerians and renew the hope that has been dashed by his predecessor in the past eight years to restore the glory of Nigeria. While we wish President Buhari goodluck as he takes a bow on Monday, we have no doubt that most Nigerians would be happy for the good riddance to the bad rubbish that his administration has become.

The recent embarrassing confession of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, that he knew nothing about education when he was given the appointment, is just one of the many cases of dysfunctional and lopsided appointments made by Buhari

OPINION

Dangote Refinery as Best Kept Secret

BY MAGNUS ONYIBE

Hitherto, Nigeria had been known as a net exporter of crude oil and a perpetual importer of refined petroleum products.

As we all know crude or raw products are sold for very little while processed or finished products attract high price. That is the logic behind my book that is in the pipeline titled: “Africa Exporting Wealth, Importing Poverty.”

So the kernel of the message in my forthcoming book is that when we export raw materials such as cocoa seeds and crude oil from Nigeria to Europe or anywhere in the world ,we are exporting wealth,and when we import processed cocoa based beverages and refined petroleum products from abroad ,we are importing poverty.

That is simply because trade and economics dynamics dictate that raw materials which are real wealth cost less while processed materials attract costs that are multiple times,even as much as ten (10) folds more than the value of the raw materials. The same principle applies to gas , gold, iron ore

That inequality of value in raw materials endemic in Africa is largely responsible for Nigeria and indeed Africa being occupiers of the bottom rung of the ladder of prosperous countries in the world.

Worse still, apart from the raw materials that we export which attract minuscule price as proceeds, when we export basic raw materials,we are also exporting jobs because it is the factories overseas that process the finished goods that would be providing jobs for youths of those countries at the expense of our army of unemployed youths.

That is one of the reasons thar our youths are literally wasting away in our country that is the origin of the raw materials that should have been processed at home to earn more income from overseas buyers.

Arising from the picture painted above ,it was gratifying to me that Dangote refinery would be processing Nigerian crude oil into petrol which fits smugly into my desire to see a situation whereby our country would be adding value to raw materials by processing them at home before exporting the same products abroad with a view to earning higher income that would improve the balance of trade between Nigeria and her various trading partners around the world thus engendering prosperity for our people that would enable us move from the bottom to higher levels in the perking order in the comity of nations in the world.

That is as opposed to just exporting raw materials which has been the lot of our country since Britain colonized her,following the partitioning of Africa during the Berlin conference of 1884 whereby European countries shared Africa amongst themselves and the European country currently know as the United Kingdom,UK started exploiting Nigeria for her raw materials.

So, to me, the commissioning of Dangote refinery is significant in a personal way. For that reason,

Dangote refinery will be a strong reference point in my aforementioned book which is focused on why and how Nigeria and indeed Africa should add value to their natural produce that colonialists used to term cash crops and solid minerals,that were the main reasons that they targeted and literally raped our country and continent after a long period of pillaging her assets including human beings as slaves shipped to sugar plantations in the Caribbean and cotton farms in the Americas.

According to records, the exploitation started a couple of millennium ago via the arrival of missionaries on our shores ostensibly to spread the gospel of God. Thereafter,it expanded into slave trade across the Atlantic Ocean. Subsequently, the extraction of the natural resources that abound in our country and continent became the colonialists new mission.

Having a Dangote refinery in Nigeria that would be reversing the ugly trend of Africa and Nigeria being net exporter of primary produce by exporting refined petroleum instead of crude oil,in a very elaborate way is very significant and heart warming to me and l guess to other patriotic Nigerians and indeed Africans.

Simply put and hypothetically, imagine that Nigeria was earning ten ($10) billion in crude oil sales annually. By exporting refined petroleum products through Dangote refinery of which the value would increase at least ten (10) folds,the value of the crude oil refined in Nigeria into petrol would amount to about one hundred (100) billion dollars. Won’t that be the long sought golden age for Nigeria?

Having said that, at this juncture, it is appropriate to point out that when l raised the issue about the outgoing government not laying out any frame work for post petrol subsidy regime in my article titled: “Elections 2023,Bruised Political Parties And Crushed Nigerians”published in my column way back in March,l had no idea that Dangote refinery would be coming on stream so soon, and it was the fall back position by government.

Here is how l raised my concern: “But up till now, there is no framework or plan on how the effect of the subsidy on the masses would be mitigated through policies and programs that would bring human face to the end of petrol subsidy regime which Nigerians actually desire”.

Amazingly that concern was addressed by the just commissioned Dangote refinery and petrochemical plant that has a production capacity for processing 650 million liters of petroleum products and 900,000 polypropylene daily.

As the refinery that is touted as the largest single train petrol refinery anywhere in the world is being onboarded, Nigeria’s and Nigerian’s perennial battle with insufficient quantity and ineffective distribution of petroleum products that have had debilitating effect on the masses,appear to be in the process of being consigned to the past.

Since a song and dance had not been made about the development until a couple of days ago that the humungous complex got commissioned as the outgoing administration prepares to hand over the baton of leadership to a new pair of hands ,it would appear as if it is the best kept secret.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, could not contain his enthusiasm about the commissioning of the plant as he gushed about being vindicated in the investment of the CBN funds (via NNPC 20 per cent equity holding) in the monumental project despite skepticism from potential investors and financial institutions from the advanced economies of the Western world, such as JP Morgan, etc.

Overwhelmed by excitement, the apex bank helmsman who was over the moon that the construction of the petroleum processing project has finally come into fruition under his watch revealed that about 70 per cent of the loan for Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals plant had been repaid even before the refinery commenced operation.

Mr Emefiele acknowledged that the revelation was against the wish of the promoter of the project, Aliko Dangote whose personal style is to understate his financial prowess. So,he might have been flustered by the exposition.But in the spirit of the momentous and joyous occasion and since it is in positive light, the self-effacing Dangote Industries Chairman, Aliko Dangote must have accepted the ‘expo’ (a colloquial tag for a leaked information) hence there has not been any rebuttal.

If indeed only 30 per cent of the principal loan is outstanding (and the apex bank governor should know that since CBN invested about N125b for 20 per cent stake) it would be such a cheerful and extraordinary development.

My bullishness about the new refinery in lagos stems from the fact that by establishing the monumental refinery, Dangote group has effectively taken over the function typically reserved for and undertaken mainly by sovereign governments owing to the sheer size of capitalization and coordination required.

Indeed, it is unprecedented that a local private entrepreneur would embark on a humongous investment of up to the tune of $18.5 billion in infrastructural service such as the biggest single train refinery in the world that has the capacity to produce 300,000,000 barrels of PMS daily which is way more than the demand of Nigerian petroleum products consumers.

What the apex bank helmsman’s revelation simply implies is that only 30 per cent of the $18.5 billion dollars loan is outstanding before the cost is paid up for the gigantic complex that would have a multiplier effect, not only on Nigerian economy but also that of the African continent, particularly the west African sub region which has been a ready and steady market for smuggled petrol out of Nigeria. •Onyibe,an entrepreneur, public policy analyst, author and democracy advocate, sent this piece from Lagos.

Between Tinubu And The Insidious Rebels

BY UTHMAN SHODIPE-DOSUNMU

Even as the D-Day beckons, as the majority of the Nigerian people are prepared for the new dawn, embracing the democratic reality, there is yyet an insidious and even treasonous trooping from the desperate , peripheral losers of the February 25th Presidential election who are bent , although fruitlessly, on halting the democratic growth. Not content with the present proceedings at the Tribunal, they are now loosened in a thousand reckless conspiratorial tactics to savage the May 29th handover date and bestir upon us all an unstable and unconstitutional regime of a muddled, frightening vacuum, which is fraught with anarchical provocations and the dark emblem of a new goon squad without accountability.

Surely this destructive apparition they are conjuring will not and cannot come to fruition. It is an Ends-man game, the gambler’s futile last throw of the dice, flinging all assets into a scorched earth madness: “ If I can’t have it may the nation tumble down. “ It will never happen.

This destructive withdrawal has gone from the rent-a-crowd protest march to the treasonous diatribes by the Mauritanian holdout , the sponsored divisive reportage and commentaries from hack, oafish scribblers, the angry ill-digested poutings

masking as patriotism, the furious , rambling stampede across the world pretending a pursuit of justice .

They are throwing virtually everything at the truth in stubborn idiocy to hinder the sacrosanct May 29th handover date. Factionalized and dissolved into a welter of confusion and increasing muddle , the ragtag oppositional nuisance are now pitted against themselves in the open friction of the absurd. There is no longer a pretense to civility among this broken , disgruntled lot. There is no tempting about the rule of law, no intimation of graduated orderly society. The losers grim fixity is about disintegration and anarchical sway. It is as if they are deluded into victorious triumph which has not been thwarted by democratic regimen, they thus flail angrily on all winds, challenging everyone and the heavens for their forfeiture.

They have now reached a cul de sac, the inhibitory wall that terminates their delusional platform. Let them be roused from their suspended animation that the election has been won and lost, that we now have a valid President -Elect in the person of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu whom the all-knowing Providence has thrust upon the acme of the Nigerian leadership, who has been certified to govern this nation by the whim of Heaven that none can challenge.

As for the pestiferous old Lagos gadfly and his co-travellers who are permanently latched to negative anchor, indifferent to reconciliatory embrace, sworn to a divisive articulation, they have failed.

We are aware that these characters are still huddling, scouring in the dark places, scheming in desperate malady to insert the destabilisation discord in this infant democracy. Their blind fixity is ruin and confusion, the thwarting of the democratic paces. But they doth lie.

This nation is being renewed and moving towards a rebirth predicated on equitable governance, on fairness, on truth and the national growth. The journey begins anew on May 29. Join the healing and the restoration of the national renewal. Join the rectification of the ills of old and the mending of the broken places. Genuine salvation beckons, only if we are committed to the ramparts of the truth and the bulwark of the national salvage. Nigeria must survive as an indivisible entity of national accommodating largeness, pivoted on all the ingredients of democratic fairness.

•Mr Shodipe-Dosunmu is the Director-General of Patriots Roundtable.

16 New Govs to Inherit N2.9trn Debt on Inauguration

BY SAM DIALA

Sixteen (16) first-term governors will be confronted with a total debt of N2.9 trillion, bequeathed to them by their predecessors, as they assume office on May 29, 2023. The amount comprises total domestic debt of N2.2 trillion and $1.6 billion external debt as of December 31, 2022, according to data by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

The external portion was converted to naira using an exchange rate of N465/US$1 to arrive at N753 billion. With the exception of the South-West, all the geo-political zones were represented in the humongous debt accumulation by the states where first-term governors are assuming office under a new political dispensation.

Three states in the South-East where new governors are coming on board include Abia with a domestic debt of N103.8 billion and external debt of $94.3 million. The new governor is Alex Otti of the Labour Party.

Ebonyi, where Nwifuru Francis Ogbonnau of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will assume office on May 19, has a total domestic debt of N76.5 billion and external debt of $58.6 million.

Its sister state, Enugu, where Peter Mba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will become the new occupant of Government House, is saddled with a domestic debt of N91.9 billion and $120.9 million foreign debt.

Electric Mass Transit Buses: Oando, LAMATA Revolution in Lagos

Oando Clean Energy Limited (OCEL), in partnership with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), last Tuesday commenced operations of its electric mass transit buses at the Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL) Head Office, Ilupeju, Lagos.

A statement released by Oando

said the initiative was aimed at transitioning the Lagos State public transport system through the development of a pathway to a carbon-free mobility ecosystem within the state.

It noted that the buses would provide a viable, competitive and environmentally friendly

Continues on page 33

The South-South has four states in the league – Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta and Rivers.

Akwa Ibom, with Eno Umo Bassey of the PDP as the new governor, has a domestic debt of N219.3 billion and $44.9 million external debt; while Cross River has $209.6 million external debt – the second highest among the 16 states, and N197.3 billion domestic debt. Its new governor is Otu Bassey Edet of the APC.

Delta, where Oborevwori Orohwedor of the PDP is succeeding Ifeanyi Okowa as governor, has accumulated domestic debt of N304.3 billion – the highest among the 16 affected states and an external debt of $59.9 million.

Data by the DMO showed that the incoming Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara (PDP), will be confronted with a domestic debt of N225.6 billion and the external component of $87.2 million to battle with as he assumes office on May 29.

Three North-West states in the league of first-term governors include Jigawa which has a domestic debt of N44 billion and external debt of $27 million, with Namadi Umar Alhaji of the APC, as its new governor, while Katsina is carrying a domestic debt of N62.4 billion and $573.8 million external debt – the highest among the 16 states. The new governor is Umaru Dikko Radda of the APC.

Continues on page 33

MORE INSIDE

‘Africa Holds World’s Future Talent Pool’

Shareholders Applaud Access Corporation For N46.21bn Dividend

The shareholders of Access Holdings Plc on Wednesday approved the board’s N46.209 billion final dividend payout for the year ended December 31, 2022, amounting to N1.30 final dividend payout per share

NUPRC Issues New Laws to Regulate Nigeria’s Oil Sector

PAGE 34 PAGE 34

They gave their approval at the Pan-African financial institution’s first annual general meeting (AGM) held in Lagos. This was in addition to the payment of the interim dividend of 20 kobo per ordinary share at mid-year.

Continues on page 34

Wigwe

Oniha

MOTORING/FINANCE

Electric Mass Transit Buses: Oando, LAMATA Revolution in Lagos

Continued from page 32

16 New Govs to Inherit N2.9trn Debt on Inauguration

Continued from page 32

Kano new governor, Yusuf Abba Kabir also of the APC will be confronted with N122.4 billion and $100 million domestic and external debts respectively as he assumes office on May 29.

In North-Central zone, the new governor of Niger state, Mohammed Umaru Bago of APC will be inheriting a domestic debt of N95.6 billion and external debt of $69.3 million, while Mutfwang Caleb Manasseh of the PDP will take over the reins of power in Plateau where he will be welcomed with N149 billion and $32.4 million domestic and external debts respectively.

“

alternative to the current internal combustion engine mass transit buses.

The Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, highlighted the importance of publicprivate-partnerships.

“This initiative is a major aspect of our vision for transportation in Lagos State, we are desirous of having a clean and efficient transportation system. Today’s event is proof of our desire to involve the private sector in our activities to give the average Lagosian the ability to meet their mobility needs,”

Akinajo said.

She explained that LAMATA is a multi-fuel transport regulatory agency for Lagos, hence the partnership with OCEL for the use of buses in passenger operations.

“From LAMATA’s perspective, we are open to doing business with the private sector whilst ensuring that these partners are aligned with the vision of Lagos state.

“I am elated that in just over a year that Oando Clean Energy came to us to discuss the possibility of working with us in the deployment of electric buses, we have signed an MoU with a key deliverable being the implementation of a PoC that would allow us finally include electric buses in our ecosystem,” she said.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Lagos State, Olalere Odusote, said, “We had identified transportation as a major

cause of pollutants and health problems in the State. For us, this initiative is another step we’re taking as a Government to ensure we clean up the environment in addition to ongoing initiatives in the energy sector.”

In recognition of the urgent need for electric vehicles to address transportation’s 62 per cent contribution to Nigeria’s GHG emissions, the President/CEO of OCEL, Ainojie Irune, said, “This is an opportunity for us to revolutionize mobility in our country as well as build local capacity for the renewable and clean energy ecosystem. Whilst today these buses have come from across the world, in the very near future they will be produced here in Nigeria.

“In the very near future, we will have a multitude of locally trained engineers who are capable of operating, maintaining, and servicing these buses and other renewable energy assets. We see these buses as a first step. This PoC facilitates the collection of the first sets of data points to support the development and deployment of EV for municipal and public transport on the continent.”

“Our ambition together with Lagos State, is to set our sights on the future and chart a path to follow. We have worked tirelessly to get here, and we are confident that the steps we are taking, which I must reiterate would not have been possible without the support of Lagos state, LAMATA, LBSL, Primero, and His Excellency, the Governor, who saw the vision and imperative of committing to this journey.”

Mr Irune added that the company is committed to the success of the initiative and plans to expand its services through partnerships with leading players in the global renewable energy space.

He said: “We believe that these electric vehicles have the potential to transform the transportation sector in Nigeria and provide a sustainable solution for the country’s growing population.”

Also speaking, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-olu, represented by the Commissioner of Transport, Frederick Oladeinde, said, “We are here today to write the script for a new future.”

He explained that there is abundant evidence that shows that human activities have been the main drivers of climate change primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.

‘This situation has given rise to affirmative actions by world leaders and environmentalists to act fast to save our world. Lagos is the only state in Nigeria that has prepared and initiated the execution of a climate action plan.

Alia Hyacinth Iormem, who will be succeeding Samuel Ortom in Benue, will battle with N141.3 billion domestic debt and $30 million external debt.

The new governor of the NorthEast state of Taraba, Kefas Agbu of the PDP, has N88 billion domestic debt and $46.5 million external debt to battle with on assumption of office.

The others are Sokoto and Zamfara in the North-West.

Aliyu Ahmed Sokoto of APC will be confronted with a domestic debt of N90.6 billion and $$36.6 million external debt in Sokoto, while his Zamfara counterpart, Dauda Lawal of the PDP, will embrace N112.2 billion domestic and $28.9 million external debts.

The new governors will join their old counterparts to battle with the slide in economic fortune as the country’s GDP declined to 2.3 percent in the first quarter of 2013.

The bane of Nigeria’s economy is largely low productivity. The economy lacks adequate production base characterised by negative investment and export, which makes the country hugely import dependent, with Nigeria wearing the toga of the world’s headquarter of poverty.

The DMO disclosed in March 2023 that Nigeria’s debt profile as of December 31, 2022 was N46.25 trillion or $103.1 billion. The amount comprises the debt of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the subnational governments.

“Total Public Debt Stock consisting of the Domestic and External Debt Stocks of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the subnational governments (the 36 State Governments and the Federal Capital Territory) was N46.25 trillion or $103.1 billion. The comparative figure for December 31, 2021, is N39.5 trillion or $95.77 billion.

“In terms of composition, Total

Domestic Debt Stock was N27.55 trillion ($61.42 billion) while total external debt stock was N18.7 trillion ($41.6 billion),” the DMO said in a statement on March 31, 2023.”

It further stated that the reasons for the increase in the total public debt stock were new borrowings by the Federal Government and subnational governments, primarily, to fund budget deficits and execute projects. With a weak economic base, servicing the debts becomes burdensome to the governments which have to sacrifice critical infrastructure to service loans.

The World Bank disclosed last April that Nigeria spent 96.3 percent of its 2022 revenue on servicing its debts.

The bank further stated that Nigeria's fiscal position deteriorated in 2022, leaving the cost of the petrol subsidy to increase from 0.7 percent to 2.3 percent of GDP.

This is affecting the finance of the states which largely depend on the proceeds from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) to pay salaries amid meagre internally generated revenue (IGR) to survive.

With inflation rate at 22.2 percent as of April 2023, driven largely by high cost of food, and GDP slowing down to 3.1 percent in the first quarter of 2023, as published by NBS, the economy of the states is not likely to wear a healthy outlook.

The states must restructure their public finance ecosystem to eliminate waste, ensure prudent management of resources, create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and generate employment, boost tax revenue and curb insecurity.

In the very near future, we will have a multitude of locally trained engineers who are capable of operating, maintaining, and servicing these buses and other renewable energy assets

Sixteen (16) firstterm governors will be confronted with a total debt of N2.9 trillion, bequeathed to them by their predecessors, as they assume office on May 29, 2023

Holds World’s Future Talent Pool’

Africa, with its diverse cultures and people, has much to offer the world of work. In addition, the agility, resilience, and creativity of Africans, as well as their appetite to contribute to the global economy, make them the perfect choice for businesses looking to grow and expand their services on the continent and further afield.

This was the view of human resources experts at the recent panel discussion of Mondelēz International (parent company of Cadbury Nigeria Plc), and Top Employers’ Institute. Both Mondelēz South Africa and Cadbury Nigeria are certified as Top Employers in Africa.

Speaking at the event, Njabulo Mashigo, Human Resources Director of Vodacom South Africa, said Africa’s demographic dividend and diversity is key to developing a global talent pool for the future.

Mashigo added: “Africa’s demographic dividend places it at an advantage. With a massive pool of diverse and talented young people, businesses are spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting and developing the leaders of tomorrow.

Continued from page 32

Shareholders

Applaud

Access Corporation For N46.21bn Dividend

Speaking at the meeting, the president of the Pragmatic Shareholders Association, Bisi Bakare, commended the management for growing gross earnings above the N1 trillion mark and maintaining dividend payout, stressing the group’s expansion in total assets.

She acknowledged the decline in the cost-to-income ratio to 57.9 percent in 2022 from 58.8 percent in 2021 amid macroeconomic challenges, urging the management to maintain effective management over the rising inflation rate.

Speaking, the group chairman of Access Holdings, Bababode Osunkoya, said 2022 was a year of unprecedented challenges for Access Holdings and for society more broadly.

According to him, as a company, we continued to demonstrate our resilience, our ability, and our commitment to support customers, clients, and wider stakeholders in ever-changing economic conditions.

“In January 2023, we began the implementation of another five-year strategy, which we shared with the investment community and stakeholders.

A key aspect of our intent over the next five years is to become a top-five financial

Issues New Laws to Regulate Nigeria’s Oil Sector

services provider in Africa by 2027.

“We will build a large, diversified company by consolidating our wholesale franchise and embedding ourselves firmly in the retail market. This strategy will be digitally-led, customer-focused, and supported by various collaborations with reputable fintech companies to deliver a deeply entrenched retail footprint and payment business.”

The Group Chief Executive of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, said: “As the institution has transitioned to a holding company to capture the opportunities the African market provides, the company’s ambitions will be supported by seven key enablers (customer experience, digital and technology, data and analytics, risk, ESG, people and culture, and brand and communication).

“These enablers will ensure Access executes seamlessly to become one of the top five financial services institutions on the African continent by the end of the strategic cycle in terms of revenues, asset base, and on a balanced scorecard basis.

“The proven success of our business model gives us a strong foundation upon which we can build the best open financial services platform and set new ambitions, which we unveiled at our Investor Day in January 2023.”

Equities Market Gains N4bn in 3rd Week of May

Equities market closed with N28.9 trillion market capitalization as of Friday, May 26, as against N28.5 trillion it recorded on the first trading day on Monday, May 22, adding N5 billion in value.

At the end of the last weekday of trading on the NGX, a total of 461,783,662 shares in 6,520 deals, corresponding to a market value of NGN 7,667,053,091.32, were traded.

Compared with the previous NGX trading day (Thursday, May 25), today's data shows 22% improvement in volume, 16% decline in turnover, but 11% improvement in deals. The current market capitalization of the Nigerian Stock Exchange is NGN 28.9 trillion.

In the aggregate, 118 NGX listed equities participated in trading, ending with 42 gainers and 12 losers. National Salt Company led the gainers with 10% share price appreciation closing at NGN 15.40 per share, followed by Conoil (+9.98%), N.E.M. Insurance Company (+9.95%) and FTN Cocoa Processors (+9.68%). On the losing side, Sovereign Trust Insurance came out last with an end-of-day price depreciation of 7.69% at NGN 0.36 per share, followed by Mutual Benefits Assurance (-5.56%), Nigerian Exchange Group (-4.04%) and Royal Exchange (-4%). United Bank for Africa recorded the highest volume of 59.4 million traded shares, followed by Access Holdings (51.5m), Zenith Bank (50m) and Guaranty Trust Holding (41m).

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) said it has issued seven new regulations aimed at providing a regulatory environment that assures efficiency, predictability, clarity and effectiveness to the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

NUPRC Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Mr Komolafe said the new regulations were signed and issued at the commission’s headquarters in a ceremony witnessed by Ogonnaya Orji, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in Abuja.

He said these bring to twelve (12) the number of regulations so far concluded and issued by the commission in line with its mandate as prescribed by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.

“All the 12 regulations and others to be finalized soon would serve as the key regulatory tools to be deployed by the commission in the discharge of its statutory functions under the PIA regime.

“Eighteen regulations were initially identified as a priority. Issuing the regulations represents a significant milestone achievement for the commission in its continued stride towards the attainment of the goals of the PIA and the reformation of the upstream petroleum sector,” he said.

He listed the seven new regulations to include, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum measurement regulations 2023, Production Curtailment and domestic crude oil supply obligation regulations 2023, Frontier basins exploration fund administration regulations 2023, and the Nigeria Upstream Decommissioning and abandonment regulations 2023.

Others are Significant crude oil and Gas discovery regulations 2023, Gas flaring, Venting and methane emission (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) regulations 2023 and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Unitization regulations, 2023.

Mr Komolafe noted that five regulations were successfully gazetted into law between June and October 2022.

“All the regulations are revolutionary and aimed at providing a regulatory environment that assures efficiency, predictability, clarity, and effectiveness to the industry in the discharge of the commission’s mandate.

“Corporates, governments and educational institutions need to work collaboratively to develop the skills needed to take the continent forward.”

Keshnie Martin, Head of Human Resources at Accenture, Africa agreed stating that “Young talent in Africa exists. It just needs opportunities and investment to flourish.” In addition, Martin said Africa’s diversity affords it a competitive edge in respect of the global economy.

“Not only is the continent developing pockets of technological excellence and innovation, but its agricultural capital has the potential to help address food insecurity worldwide,” said Cebile Xulu, People Lead, Sub-Saharan Africa at Mondelēz International.

Sadly, much of Africa’s talent leaves the continent to pursue opportunities elsewhere. The reasons for this vary, from safety and security concerns to political instability, and better prospects for education elsewhere. Many do, however, make their way back to the continent, bringing with them new skills and expertise.

Panelists suggested a “best of both worlds” approach, with the emphasis on sharing, not competing. They interrogated how to approach skills transfer in a mutually beneficial way by exporting African talent to the rest of the world, but also learning from other more developed markets to nurture local talent that is retained on the continent. This can be through the many multinationals that establish offices in Africa.

“While they might bring global talent to the continent when they start out, it is important that they ensure skills transfer to local talent within a stipulated time frame and put succession plans for local talent in place for a more sustainable approach,” suggested Martin.

Panelists also touched on ways of accommodating the younger generation in the workplace, suggesting that leadership structures be more agile and consider their preference for hybrid work, “gig” or project work, and side hustles.

Xulu emphasised that “Young people want to be acknowledged and heard. Their career trajectories are made up of shorter tenures than traditional roles. They also want to make meaningful contributions to their workplaces. As such, leaders need to embrace their differences and adjust their leadership styles to make the most of this young workforces’ desire to do good.”

‘Africa

NUPRC

L-R: Head of Strategy, 7Even Interactive Ltd, Obasi Samuel; Marketing Manager, Mainstream Business,Grand Oak Limited, Gbemileke Lawal;  Director, Mainstream Business, Grand Oak Limited , Olofin Olubusuyi; Lead Account Management, 7Even Interactive Ltd, Gloria Emeh and Senior Brand Manager, Schnapps, Grand Oak lLmited, Adebowale Bojuwade,  at  the media briefing on SEAMAN'S SCHNAPPS “Unlock Your Blessings'' campaign in Lagos on May 24, 2023.

52% of Nigerian Professionals Want to Quit Their Jobs, Relocate Abroad

According to a recent survey by Phillips Consulting, over half (52%) of Nigerian professionals are considering leaving their current jobs and moving abroad within a year. The Talent Management Report, “A New World Order: Shifting Paradigms in Addressing the Brain Drain,” was presented during the quarterly meetup of the Nigerian Human Resources Directors Network in Lagos.

Finance & Insurance, Professional Services, Education, Healthcare, and IT will be the hardest-hit professions. Nearly 50% of employees working in these fields are considering leaving.

Elumelu’s HH Capital Buys Additional 19.34m Units of Shares in UBA Plc

HH Capital Limited, a Company founded by the Board Chairman of UBA Plc Mr. Tony Elumelu has acquired additional 19.338,220 million shares worth N162.44 million in the company.

This was contained in a notice of share dealing by an insider to the Nigerian Exchange Limited.

The acquisition of 19,338,220 million shares represents 0.06% of the company’s total outstanding shares of the company.

With the acquisition, HH Capital has increased its number of shares from 140,843,816 units of shares as of December 31, 2022, to 230,182, 036 units.

HH Capital Limited had earlier acquired an additional 70 million shares worth N560 million in the company, representing 0.2% of the company’s total outstanding shares of the company.

Elumelu’s indirect holdings now stand at 2,275,272,404 units of shares, from 2,185,934,184 as of December 31, 2022, while his direct holdings remained at 194,669,555 units of shares.

The notice signed by Bili A. Odum, Group Company Secretary/Legal Counsel indicated that HH Capital Limited on May 24th, 2023, purchased 19,338,220 units of UBA Plc at an average price of N8.40 per share valued at N162,441,048 million.

According to details of the transactions made available by NGX Limited, Elumelu owns the investment as an indirect shareholding through HH Capital Limited.

Elumelu who remained the Pan African bank’s single largest shareholder, now accounts for about 7.22% of its total shareholding structure.

UBA closed its last trading day on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at N8.75 per share on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX), recording a 0.6% gain over its previous closing price of N8.70. United Bank for Africa began the year with a share price of N7.60 and has since gained 15.1% on the price valuation

United Bank for Africa says that it recorded N201 billion profit before tax in its 2022 financial period.

The bank disclosed this in a statement on its audited financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2022. It said, “Despite the highly challenging

global economic and business environment, UBA recorded a laudable profit before tax, with a 31.2% growth, to close the year under review at N200.8 billion, rising from N153.01bn recorded at the end of the 2021 financial year; while profit after tax grew by 43.5% to N170.2bn in 2022, compared to N118.7 billion recorded the year before.

“Consequently, UBA Group shareholders’ funds rose to N922.1 billion, as of December 2022, achieving an impressive growth by 14.6%, compared to the prior year.”

The gross earnings rose significantly to N853.2 billion from N660.2 billion recorded at the end of the 2021 financial year, representing a strong 29.2% growth.

UBA a recorded 47.5 per cent growth in gross earnings from N183.9 billion in March 2022 to N271.2bn in the first quarter of 2023.

According to its Q1 unaudited results earlier released to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), UBA recorded remarkable growth across all its major income lines. Its Interest Income rose from N125.9bn as at March 2022 and grew by 53.4% to N191.9bn by March 2023.

UBA’s Operating Income rose by 39.6% to N175.7bn from N125.9bn year on year.

The group then recorded a rise in its Profit Before Tax (PBT) by 38.2% to N61.4bn in Q1 2023 from N44.5bn in Q1 2022. Its Profit After Tax (PAT) rose from N41.5bn to N53.6bn, a 29.1% growth rate.

Commenting on the result, UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oliver Alawuba, said despite the high inflationary and challenging global environment, UBA was able to leverage the uptick in interest rates and improved digital offerings among others

He said, “We have continued to record improved gains in our customer acquisition and retention strategies across our countries of presence, evident in the 10.5% growth in customer deposits to N8.6 trillion from N7.8trn at the end of 2022 financial year.

“For 2023, we remain committed to improving the group’s performance as we strategically position our entities to take advantage of emerging developments within their jurisdictions and across the globe.

Prices Cooking Gas, Kerosene Rise in April Amid Surge in Inflation Rate

As Nigeria’s inflation rate maintains an upward trend, hitting 22.2 percent in April, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says prices of basic energy sources –cooking gas and kerosene - also increased during the period.

The average price of refilling a five-kilogramme cylinder of cooking gas rose by 22.15 per cent year-on-year in Apri, the bureau said in its “Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) Price Watch” for April 2023 released on Friday.

The NBS said the average retail price for refilling a 5 kg cylinder of cooking gas increased by 0.69 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N4,610.48 recorded in March 2023 to N4,642.27 in April 2023.

But the price rose by 22.15 per cent from N3,800.47 in April 2022, the bureau said.

The report said Kwara recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5 kg cooking gas at N5,000.00, followed by Abuja at N4,965.15, and Kaduna at N4,960.80.

It added that Rivers recorded the lowest price at N4,250.00, followed by Enugu and Anambra at N4,252.51 and N4,256.14 respectively.

The report said the North-Central recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 5 kg cylinder of cooking gas at N4,893.67, followed by the North-West at N4,693.76, while the SouthEast recorded the lowest at N4,461.65.

The report also showed that the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cooking gas increased by 0.59 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N10,262.56 in March 2023 to N10,323.33 in April 2023.

On a year-on-year basis, the bureau said this rose by 26.44 per cent from N8,164.37 in April 2022.

In state profile analysis, Jigawa recorded the highest average retail price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas at N11,312.50, followed by Cross River at N10,907.15 and Akwa Ibom at N10,900.00.

The lowest average price was recorded in Ebonyi at N9,600.25, followed by Yobe and Gombe at N9,800.00 and N9,801.47 respectively.

The NBS said the South-South recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas at N10,595.96, followed by the North-West at N10,409.16, while the North-East recorded the lowest price at N9,921.94.

According to the report, Nigerian businesses face numerous challenges in the post-pandemic world, such as market uncertainty, inflation, digitisation acceleration, changes in consumer behaviour, increased operational expenses, and complexity. But employee retention and brain drain prevention are today’s most pressing issues.

Before the Ukraine crisis, the Nigerian economy faced multiple challenges, including unemployment, a weak currency, and insecurity. The situation has exacerbated the high cost of living and affected employees’ finances and purchasing power.

Research findings show that 90% of Nigerians who have faced an increased cost of living are cutting their spending on essential and non-essential items. This has resulted in financial stress, decreased purchasing power, lower job satisfaction, and higher job mobility and migration rates.

Consequently, employees now channel their efforts toward increasing their revenue streams, improving economic stability, and enhancing their standard of living. To achieve these objectives, many are creating a ‘side hustle,’ finding betterpaying jobs, or relocating abroad. As a result, the attrition rate across key sectors has increased significantly.

As labour shortages continue to rise globally, there is intense competition for talent, especially in low-to-middle-skilled occupations.

Employees are resigning or migrating for a mix of issues, some of which are within an organisation’s direct control, while others are not. The findings reveal that Nigerian professionals looking to migrate prefer Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States as their top three destinations. The reasons for planning to migrate vary, with respondents citing factors such as seeking better-paid jobs, less toxic work cultures, a desire to work from home, and concerns about the country’s economy and insecurity.

According to Phillips Consulting, 88% of individuals who plan to quit their jobs within a year are millennials and Gen Z. This demographic shift could lead to a significant loss of skilled workers, which may negatively affect critical industries and the economy.

Moreover, this demographic includes young professionals with valuable skills and extensive education, making them highly desirable in the global job market.

L-R: Head of IT Operations, Airtel Nigeria, Adebanjo Adeola; Head of Information Security & Business Continuity (IT CISO), Airtel Nigeria, Joy Omoruku; Director, Information and Technology, Airtel Nigeria, Seun Solanke; Principal, Kuramo Senior College, Abdulwahab Babatunde Lawal and Head of Project Release Management, Airtel Nigeria, Akinkunle Oyafajo, during the presentation of Routers to Kuramo College in Victoria Island, Lagos, on May 24, 2023.

The Economist’s Doing Business Ranking: Whither Nigeria?

them. Teams of peace missions from WHO, the UN, EU and other humanitarian organizations have either been scared away or had some of their key personnel killed by the marauders.

Even with all these, the legal environment of business in Nigeria is also nothing to write home about; our judicial system and its processes are a nightmare to foreign investors. Terms of (contractual) agreements are usually observed more in breach, even when so-called top public officials are party to the deals.

This habit of reneging on original contractual agreements had in the past got the fingers of well-meaning and reputable investors burnt. The case of Virgin Atlantic Airlines comes to mind: when, against the original intendments of the Airline to become Nigeria’s National Carrier, the officialdom in Nigeria at every step of the way frustrated the deal and rendered it ‘stillborn.’

Other major global investors have been similarly frustrated out of the country—and they relocated their investments to calmer and more rewarding jurisdictions. The ‘trapped’ revenues of many foreign airlines in Nigeria in the past couple of years does not augur well in attracting investment to Nigeria.

Millions of dollars of these airlines have since been due for repatriation to their (home) headquarters, but Nigeria’s foreign exchange shortage and its management could not meet the needs of the airlines. Indeed, many of those airlines have since ceased flights to Nigeria—and shot down their businesses here!

BY MARCEL OKEKE

The Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) of the London-based The Economist magazine has just published “assessing the best countries for doing business”, in order to “discover which countries have climbed or fallen in our ranking.”

Unsurprisingly, no African country featured among the “Top 10 geographies by business environment score” that is topped by Singapore (with a score of 8.70 out of 10), followed by Canada (8.45), Denmark (8.45) and USA (8.37). Switzerland, Sweden, Hong Kong, Germany, New Zealand and Finland followed in that order respectively, among the top 10.

According to the EIU report, Middle East and Africa (MEA) is the lowest-ranking region. It said the ranking for the MEA region continues to be weighed down by poor governance and endemic insecurity, including the spill-over from the conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya, alongside political unrest in a number of countries, including Iraq and Lebanon.

The EIU further said that cuts in capital spending in the context of post-pandemic fiscal tightening have constrained the region’s macroeconomic score, adding “but on the positive side, this has pushed countries to support business-friendly reforms, such as improved frameworks for public-private partnerships and foreign investment.”

The EIU noted, “Israel and Gulf states are the highestranked countries in the region, with the latter’s scores improving in recent years in line with rising oil prices and growing absorptive capacity for new investments.”

The EIU went further to say that Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE will improve further in 2023-2027, adding that both the Middle East and Africa “typically suffer from weak corporate governance and regulation as well as poorly trained labour forces” and, in countries such as Angola, Nigeria and Gulf states, “overreliance on hydrocarbons.”

Overall, the EIU declared: “No countries in MEA saw improvements in our ranking of the scale recorded in order regions in the world.”

Notwithstanding whatever biases went into the EIU’s assessment and ranking of the global ease of doing business, the verdict or placement of Nigeria and the rest of African countries is not far from reality. The world is a ‘global village’ and whatever is going on within the domestic economy of any nation is ‘open’ to the rest of the world.

Propaganda apart, astute investors (local and foreign) see through the veil of ‘marketing gimmicks’ to know where and when to invest, safely and profitably. And as the EIU pointed out, most swathes of African countries (and the Middle East) are either directly immersed in interminable internecine wars or are neighbours to many warring nations—and bear the spill-over effects of these conflicts.

In Nigeria, in the past one decade or so, insecurity in the land has assumed an existential threat, so much so that many notable multinational organizations have had to relocate to the country’s more serene neighbouring nations. As EIU put it: “poor governance and endemic insecurity, including the spill-over from the conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya” all foul up business environments.

Specifically, in the past couple of months, Nigeria and other African countries have been preoccupied with ways and means of evacuating hundreds of thousands of their citizens that got ‘trapped’ in the civil war-torn Libya. When all diplomatic entreaties and manoeuvres failed, it cost Nigeria enormously to fly home all its nationals via airports in Egypt and other neighbouring nations.

In point of fact the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Nigeria today is very widespread and harbour millions of ‘homeless’ citizens. These IDP residents were chased out of their ancestral homes by marauders: gun-wielding herdsmen, ISWAP warlords, terrorists (in various guises), kidnappers for ransom, armed bandits, ‘unknown’ gunmen, ritualists, name

It is pertinent to reckon that the EIU’s ranking criteria are not outlandish, but they are based on indices that any disciplined polity can apply and the world will certainly reckon with it. For instance, the EIU considers the political environment; but unfortunately, in the past two years or so, Nigeria’s political atmosphere has remained palpably charged and turbulent due to planned elections. Unsurprisingly, the elections came and turned out very controversial, and the outcome now riddled with petitions and lawsuits across the land.

Another criterion considered by the EIU is the macroeconomic environment. In truth, Nigeria’s macro-economy has been practically in tatters in recent years: virtually every indicator is moving in the reverse direction.

Specifically, inflation had gone haywire—standing at a 17year high of 22.22 per cent at end-April 2023; exchange rate of the naira against the dollar has gotten to a pitiable state that (in the parallel market) N1,000 can only get one dollar. Public debt (outstanding) is conservatively put at about N77 trillion; while almost 100 per cent of Government revenue now goes to servicing the loans. Unemployment (especially of youths) is in the region of 45 per cent—and now stoking all manner of social ills and upheavals. EIU also considers policy towards private enterprise and competition in its rankings; but neither does Nigeria fare better in these regards.

The multiplicity of taxes and policy somersaults in Nigeria are a dread to most private sector operators. Indeed, at the very local level, many companies have had to flee from Lagos to Ogun and other states because of these anti-business policies in the metropolitan state of Lagos.

It must also be said that the state of infrastructure (which the EIU also considered) in Nigeria is not in the best shape to be an attraction to serious investors—local or foreign. If anything, they have for years been in very dilapidated shape. Investors normally have to build their roads, dig their ‘bore holes’ for water supply, buy and install generators as their power source, arrange and maintain private security outfits, etc.

Red tapes at the sea-, airports and land borders (routes) are points of frustration for importers and exporters. The situation has since been such that most genuine importers now route their cargoes through the ports of Nigeria’s neighbouring countries.

So, whither Nigeria in this 21st century business environment scale? As it is, a number of internal and external factors have conspired to de-industrialize the country; it is becoming increasingly difficult for existing businesses to thrive and too harsh and unsafe for potential ones to establish. Nigeria really needs to be pulled back from the precipice!

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

Notwithstanding whatever biases went into the EIU’s assessment and ranking of the global ease of doing business, the verdict or placement of Nigeria and the rest of African countries is not far from reality

46 Years of CBN Intervention

CBN INTERVENTION IN ZAMFARA STATE

The real-sector development initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was introduced to stimulate and sustain growth in key sectors of the economy, revive moribund industries, empower the youth population, explore the untapped potentials in various economic landscapes and enhance foreign exchange inflow.

These initiatives have significantly contributed to the overall growth of the Nigerian economy. From the provision of loans at concessionary rates to cushioning the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, these initiatives,

Name: Magaji Memorial Farms

Intervention: Commercial Agriculrtural Credit Scheme (CACS)

Sector: Agriculture

originally designed to address issues surrounding core sectors of the economy, have now become a lifeline for most Nigerians.

To show its unwavering commitment towards poverty alleviation, job and wealth creation and to bring sustainable development, the Central Bank of Nigeria has provided funds for affordable loans to individuals and businesses in Zamfara State and has financed 55,250 projects so far.

Below are testimonials from some beneficiaries.

The Central Bank of Nigeria prioritizes access to credit facilities to womenfolk, to engender female participation in the MSMEs.

Magaji

Memorial Farms is located in Rawayya village, along Gusau-Kaura Namado road, Zamfara State. Prior to accessing a loan facility under the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS), the farm had 35,000 birds and 320 units of battery cages. It also had 41 staff, comprised of eight poultry specialists and 33 farm assistants.

Accessing the funds enabled the farm to acquire an additional 23,000 birds and 180 battery cages. The loan brought about an expansion of farm, which spurred an increase in daily production capacity from 1,000 to 2,000 crates of eggs and a concurrent increase in staff strength from 41 to 66.

With the CBN’s intervention, Magaji Memorial Farms has become better equipped to cater for the poultry needs of Rawayya and neighbouring villages, while improving the livelihoods of the community members through provision of employment.

Name: Hajiya Sa’adiya Royal Standard

Intervention: Agri-Business Small And Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS)

Sector: MSME

Hajiya Sa’adiya Kabiru Dankande, the creative mind behind Royal Standard Tailoring, accessed a credit facility under the CBN Agri-business Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme. The funds she accessed enabled her to procure tailoring equipment, including two industrial and six non-industrial sewing machines, two phoenix embroidery machines, a weaving machine and a stoning machine.

The upgrade, enabled by the CBN-AgSMEIS loan, increased the capacity of the business and necessitated the employment of 7 additional staff. A part of the loan was used to set up Royal Standard Tailoring Training School, where young girls in the community are taught skills required to succeed as fashion designers.

Consequent upon the intervention of the CBN, the idea of Royal Standard Tailoring was realized on a scale that ensured skill acquisition and business and wealth creation.

Name: Nuhu Ibrahim Inuwa

Intervention: Agri-Business Small And Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS)

Sector: MSME

Mr. Nuhu attributes the success of his business to the intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Name: Tukur Sulaiman (YK Tech Computers) Intervention: Targeted Credit Facility (TCF)

Sector: MSME

The Central Bank of Nigeria introduced the Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) as a channel to provide concessionary loans to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on households and businesses. YK Tech Computers, a small information and technology outlet, owned by Mr. Tukur Sulaiman, all but collapsed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By accessing the Targeted Credit Facility, Mr. Tukur expanded his business by opening shops at two new locations. He also increased the number of computers in his shops from two to seven; and purchased two mobile devices for NIMC and BVN enrolment.

Mr. Tukur stated that he accessed the loan purely on merit and without any “connections”, declaring that the loan was extremely helpful as the funds came at a period it was most needed.

Mr. Nuhu Ibrahim has his poultry farm located at Samaru area of Gusau in Zamfara State. He accessed the Agri-business Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme loan, which enabled him to purchase 900 birds and 10 battery cages, resulting in a daily output of 21 crates of egg. To meet up with the demands of business, Mr. Nuhu increased his staffing from two to eight.

Elegushi of Ikate-Elegushi

Ooni of Ife Emir of Zazzau

Olu of Warri

Oniru of Iruland

In a world where tradition meets modernity, a new set of monarchs have emerged, captivating hearts and minds with their youthful energy, impressive pedigrees, impeccable style and unwavering commitment to their ancestral heritage. These 21st century traditional rulers are breaking the mold, redefining what it means to be a king in the modern era.

SHADE

WESLEY-

METIBOGUN writes on a few popular, young and stylish traditional rulers in Nigeria.

STYLISH TRADITIONAL RULERS IN NIGERIA

OBA SAHEED ELEGUSHI OBA ABDULRASHEED AKANBI

EMIR AHMAD BAMALI

His Royal Highness, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi (Kusenla III) of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom is unarguably, one of the most stylish traditional rulers in Nigeria. He ascended the throne when he was 34 years old in 2010, succeeding his late father, Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi (Kusenla II), who died at the age of 69. Before taking over the throne, he was a personal assistant and senior special assistant to two former state governors, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola.

A man of class who doesn't stick to convention, he wears both traditional and foreign attires elegantly and complements them with colourful beads. His stylish elegance is also noticeable in his choice of cars, as his garage parades luxury automobiles from Rolls-Royce Phantom, Maybach 600 and 1967 Vintage Cadillac DeVille.

An educated traditional ruler, Oba Elegushi has two Master’s degrees in Economics and Public Administration. He could also pass for the most sociable monarch in Lagos State as he attends social functions regularly as a pastime. He is a friend to many entertainers.

Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo in Osun State, more popularly known as Emperor Telu, might be a controversial personality, but he is a stylish and sociable 21st century monarch. He became a traditional ruler at 48 in 2015. The monarch, who was formerly based in Canada before he was crowned king, has a high taste for fashion, cars and other good things of life. He fancies flowing robes (agbada) of different colours which he always compliments with beaded caps that sit perfectly on his head. The king is also a lover of exotic sunglasses. His fashion sense has been a subject of controversy in his kingdom as he often dresses like northern emirs, despite the fact that he is a Yoruba traditional ruler. Oba Akanbi's uniqueness lies in his ability to speak four languages, Yoruba, English, Deutsche (German), and French. Being a lover of expensive cars, his garage boasts of exotic cars from Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster, Innoson IVM, Mercedes-Benz 4Matic and other automobiles.

former

graduate

Bello University Zaria

the

a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from the same institution. He is the first Emir from the Mallawa Ruling House to be enthroned in a century after the dethronement of his grandfather, Emir Alu Dan Sidi in 1920. He took over Zazzau kingdom after the death of Alhaji Shehu Idris in 2020. Bamali was the Permanent Commissioner in the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission before he became an Emir. The Emir of Zazzau is perhaps the only Northern traditional ruler who has just one wife.

OBA BABARINDE SALIU

Oba Babatunde Saliu, the paramount ruler of Oworonshoki kingdom, ascended the throne after the death of his father, Oba Bashir Saliu, who passed away after a brief illness in London in 2021. The king is a younger brother to Nurudeen Saliu, the former husband of Nigeria female drummer, Aralola Olamuyiwa. With two bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and international Affairs respectively, Oba Saliu is on the verge of completing a PhD programme at the University of Lagos. The royal father was a big player in the political sphere before becoming a paramount ruler. He was elected as Vice Chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area in 2005. In 2019, he contested for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Kosofe Constituency 1. He once served as Special Assistant to the former Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) on Waterfront Infrastructural Development from 2012 – 2015 and he served as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on land matters. The traditional ruler enjoys wearing both native and dignified casuals as occasions demand.

Former diplomat turned monarch, Ahmad Bamali is the Emir of Zazzau, Zaria, Kaduna State. He is a lawyer and a

banker. The Law

from

Ahmadu

also holds

OBI NDUKA EZEAGUNNA HRM OGIAME ATUWATSE III OBI BENJAMIN IKENCHUKWU

The traditional ruler of Issele-Ukwu kingdom in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, His Highness, Agbogidi Olome Obi Nduka Ezeagwuna is blessed with good looks which he easily compliments with a great fashion sense. Obi Ezeagunna ascended the throne after the death of his father when he was just 22 years-old. While he was still an undergraduate at the University of Ibadan, a regent held forte in the palace till he finished schooling and resumed his royal duties. As one of the stylish eastern monarchs the country is blessed with, Obi Ezeagunna wears white traditional regalia which he spices up with red caps.

KING SHADRACK EREBULU ADOU

The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko became a traditional ruler in 2021, succeeding his father, Ogiame Atuwatse II, the 20th Olu of Warri. The youthful, innovative and dynamic man became king when he was 37 years-old. An oil and gas business mogul, he owned and operated Noble Energy Ltd, Corral Curators Ltd and was also on the board of several companies, including Ocean Marine Security Ltd, Gulf of Guinea Ltd and Vessellink Nigeria Limited. The monarch is an avid sports fan and he played football for Case Western Reserve University’s Soccer Team when he was in school. He also loves hiking, swimming, kayaking, basketball,and American football. He likes to spice up his traditional attires, which are usually in white and red with heavy coral beads.

OBA ADEYEYE ENITAN OGUNWUSI

His Royal Highness, Obi Benjamin Ikenchukwu, the Dein of Agbor, is another modern traditional ruler with class and panache. He made the Guinness World Record in 1980 after ascending the throne at the age of 2. His father had died unexpectedly, thereby making him the youngest person to rule a kingdom. Little Benjamin Ikenchukwu was flown to the United Kingdom in 1981 where he lived for about 20 years and was educated, while a regent held the throne on his behalf until he returned in 2021. When it comes to fashion, the traditional ruler cannot be shoved aside as he often appears radiant in traditional flowing attire of different colours, with his head warmer to compliment his attire. The Dein of Agbor is also a lover of wristwatches, coral beads and sunglasses.

OBA ABDULWASIU OMOGBOLAHAN LAWAL

His Royal Highness, King Shadrack

Erebulu Adou, the Peremobowei of Kabowei kingdom in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State was 28 years-old when his father, Major Meshack Erebulu Adou died in 2015. He is blessed with intelligence, unassuming nature and disarming looks. A graduate of law from the Delta State University, he worked with a law firm in Warri and was also a supervisory councillor for works in Patani LGA before he was installed as a traditional ruler. Since he took over the kingship of the community, his focus has been on the security of Kabowei kingdom, education of the youths, both Western and vocational training, empowerment of market women and the welfare and development of his people generally.

Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II is the 51st Ooni of Ife. He ascended the throne in 2015, succeeding Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the 50th Ooni of Ife. The Ooni who is regarded as the spiritual leader of the Yoruba people, is saddled with the responsibility of making supplications to God on behalf of his people. A fashionable and trendy king, although he is always seen in white attires which he compliments with his matching white cap and white staff of office, he sometimes changes the colour of his staff and cap to sky blue or red. Since he ascended the Ife throne, the traditional ruler has never been seen in public without the customary coral beads on his neck and his wrists. Oba Adeyeye is the only monarch in Nigeria who got married to six women in quick succession.

His Highness, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II, the 15th Oniru of Iruland ascended the throne in 2020 after the death of Oba Idowu Oniru, Akiogun II. Before taking over the leadership of Iru kingdom, Oba Gbolahan was a police officer, though he voluntarily left the force in 2008 to work with the Lagos State Government. He was an Aide-decamp to the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He later became a Commissioner for Agriculture in Lagos State under the Babatunde Raji Fashola Administration in the state.

Oba Oniru is also a traditional ruler with style and class which is evident in his dress sense. He often appears in public in agbada robes with matching pairs of shoes, cap and accessories. He holds a Master’s degree in Violence, Conflict and Development from the University of London.

Oba Gbolahan Lawal has also undergone a series of professional courses. This has helped him in the administration of Iru land. His passion for luxury cars also shows how stylish and modern he is. He owns a Rolls Royce Cullinan and other expensive cars.

OBI CHUKWUKA NOAH AKAEZE HRH AZAOKU CHUKWUDINIGBO AGWUNA

OBA OF BENIN, HRM EWUARE II

The circumstances that led to the enthronement of Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze 1 as the Obi of UbuluUkwu kingdom in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State were not pleasant. Chukwuka Noah Akaeze ascended the throne after his father, Obi Edward Ofulue III, was kidnapped and gruesomely murdered in 2016. He was just 17 years-old at the time. However, he was flown abroad to study Law at the University of Exeter, while his uncle held the fort in his absence. Despite his youthfulness, Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze has been able to display a high level of intelligence in handling the affairs of his community.

OBA OLUFOLARIN OGUNSANWO

His Serene Highness, Chukwudinigbo Agwuna, Igwe Mkpume Engwu-Ukwu of Anambra State is the son of His Serene Majesty, Osita Agwuna Eze EnugwuUkwu Na Igwe Umunri who died in 2007 after ruling for 50 years.

Aside being a traditional ruler, the wealthy mogul and cultural aficionado is the Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of Mkpume Global Services. The oil and gas business tycoon also sits atop other business chains.

Igwe Engwu-Ukwu has carved a niche for himself in terms of his fashion game, most of his traditional attires are made from leopard print while his shawls are made from animal skin.

OBA ALEXANDER MACGREGOR

Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, the Alara of Ilara Epe kingdom in Lagos became a king in 2020 after the demise of Oba Akeem Okunola Adesanya II, who died in 2018 after spending 58 years on the throne.

The royal father is a graduate of Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University. He also has two Master’s degrees in Economics and Public Administration from the University of Lagos and the Lagos State University, respectively.

The monarch, who was a former Chairman of Lagos State Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) might have left the LIRS in unpleasant circumstances as he was accused of fraud, but he was later vindicated before he was chosen to become a monarch. However, his reign in IIara has been a very productive one. The town has witnessed a lot of growth and development since he took over the mantle of leadership.

Oba Alexander MacGregor, the Olu of Ilawo, was a chief in Ilawo before his emergence as the king of the town. He is the great–great grandson of his imperial majesty, Late Oba Ademiluyi Ajagun the 48th Ooni of Ile ife. MacGregor has an impressive pedigree that most traditional rulers don’t possess. He was a distinguished professor of bio-pharmaceutics and founder cum president of the Toronto Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology (TIPT), Canada Postgraduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Technology and Research. He was appointed in 2001 by the Government of the People's republic of China, as an International Expert Advisor in the field of Pharmaceutical Technology and Research. His inventions have led to groundbreaking new therapeutic drugs for the treatment of cancer, management of diabetes, systemic infections and post-operative pain. Aside from his impressive pedigree as a traditional ruler, he is also a man of style, Though he keeps it simple in his matching Agbada, cap and beads.

The royal father of Benin kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II took over the stool of the ancient Benin kingdom in 2016. He is the 39th Oba to grace the royal throne.

Born, Eheneden Erediauwa, but started bearing Ewuare II after becoming Oba of Benin. The highly educated monarch is a graduate of Economics from the University of Wales, United Kingdom. He also has a Master of Public Administration degree from Rutgers University Graduate School, New Jersey, USA.

The highly revered king was an ambassador before he was crowned. He served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Sweden, the Republic of Finland, and Italy, with accreditation to Norway and Angola.

He was also a big player in the oil and gas business, construction and agro-allied industries before taking over the throne of Benin kingdom. His unweaving belief in education made him establish the South Point Royal School, Benin, a primary educational institution for children in Benin City.

The Oba of Benin values the historical and spiritual relevance of the arts to the modern Benin kingdom. His firm belief in the historical arts of his kingdom made him clamour vehemently for the reparation of stolen artefacts from the empire by the British during colonialism. His efforts were rewarded when some of the stolen artefacts were returned to Nigeria.

He also wrote a book, ‘The Red Book: The Benin Monarchy’ to further play his role in placing the history of Benin Kingdom in the right perspective. The book entails the works of anthropologists, historians, sociologists, writers, and analysts.

STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

DIGNITARIES ABSENT AS AMBODE THROWS PARTY FOR MOM

Life is indeed fickle. One minute, one’s office or residence is besieged by visitors, who go to great lengths to seek all kinds of favour as a result of the position one occupies and the next moment, one is abandoned to paddle his canoe all by himself without as much as a whisper. This was the position that a former Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, found himself last week when he threw a party to usher his mother, Madam Christianah Oluleye Ambode, into the 90s club.

The high and mighty, many of who would have jostled to be seen with him at the event when he was governor, were nowhere to be found. Not even the Ilara of Epe, Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, whose domain the party held, showed up for

him.

However, the presence of white cap chiefs from some royal domains helped to spice up things. Not caring a hoot, the former number one man in the state joyfully led his siblings to host guests who turned up for the event.

The day began with a thanksgiving service at St. Michael Anglican Church, Epe. This was followed shortly by a reception party which took place at a venue close to the church. On hand to entertain guests at the reception was Emmanuel Edunjobi, more popularly known as Emma Oh My God. Ambode had emerged from hibernation after his ouster from Alausa, penultimate week, when he was one of the special guests of honour at the book launch of Steve Ayorinde who served as his Commissioner of Information.

Fred Amata Absent as Son Ties The Knot

Last week, Oreva, the only son of Nollywood veteran, Fred Amata and media personality, Agatha, the founder of Rave TV, Lagos and Trend FM, Asaba, tied the knot in a very simple ceremony with his American girlfriend, Katherine, in New York.

The groom’s father was conspicuously absent at the event, leaving Agatha to play his role. The young couple exchanged marriage vows in the presence of a priest and thereafter, a reception followed. The relationship between Agatha and Fred has been quite a rocky one since

they went their separate ways in 2005. The two products of their union lived with Agatha after their marriage collapsed, with the latter taking care of their upkeep. While both of them have remained single, Fred however fathered a child with former beauty queen and actress, Ibinabo Fiberesinma.

HERBERT WIGWE UNVEILS PRIVATE UNIVERSITY

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, has joined the ranks of banking chiefs who have veered into the education sector. Recall that the former managing director and co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTCO), Tayo Aderinokun had floated Day Waterman College, located in Ogun State before he passed on. Similarly, Jim Ovia, founder and chairman of Zenith Bank, floated James Hope College in the Lekki area of Lagos State. Likewise the late Oba Oladele Olashore, founder of defunct Leads Merchant Bank, who floated Olashore International School in Osun State. Following in their footsteps, but a notch higher, Wigwe decided that owning a university would be more like it and has commenced setting it up when he recently laid its foundation. Situated in Isiokpo area of Rivers State, his home state, the institution will be called Wigwe University and will focus on grooming fearless generations of youths. The institution is expected to have 60 per cent Nigerian academic lecturers and 40 per cent foreign lecturers. There are plans to have students of the institution spend one year of their academic period on exchange in foreign schools in order for them to gain international exposure.

Aisha Binani Floats

Airline

Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, popularly known as Aisha Binani, has joined the growing list of Nigerians venturing into the aviation business. The former governorship aspirant in Adamawa State, who is a close friend of the outgoing First lady, Aisha Buhari, has taken delivery of an Embraer aircraft with Binani boldly emblazoned on it in preparation for the take-off of her airline, Binani Air. This makes her the first woman in Nigeria to establish a fullfledged airline. With more aircrafts still expected, the airline, with headquarters in Adamawa State, is poised to fly the Yola-Lagos, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, Kano, Gombe, and Bauchi routes, among others. Binani Air has been in the offing since 2020. It has already secured counter spaces in some airports with their banners fully displayed.

The politician, who was a senator before she began to

eye the Adamawa Government House, is an entrepreneur and founder of the Binani Group of Companies. The company, which is a diversified business conglomerate, has tentacles spread into pharmaceuticals, property, oil and gas, construction, publishing, telecommunications, and banking. The 51-year-old is married to Professor Ahmed Modibbo, an educator and historian.

Rift Between Kadiri, Ogun Assembly Assumes Another

Dimension

With less than 24 hours to the handover ceremony for a new administration to begin, the Ogun State House of Assembly and its reinstated deputy speaker, Dare Kadiri are yet to settle their differences. This has resulted in Kadiri’s arrest on allegations of public disturbance and his subsequent arraignment.

THEWILL had earlier reported how the lawmaker resumed hostility with his colleagues after his suspension was nullified by a High Court in Abeokuta.

Kadiri who represents Ijebu North Constituency 2 at the Assembly was removed from his position and suspended over allegations of insubordination to the office of the Speaker, abuse of office and alleged attempted

murder in his constituency. Not only did the court rule that his removal was an abuse of power and office, the court further ordered that all emoluments due to him since his suspension, be paid by the state House of Assembly.

On his return to reclaim his seat, following the court verdict, the House accused Kadiri of desecrating the Assembly by invading it with thugs, instead of following due process to reclaim his seat and serving the Assembly a copy of the judgement reinstating him. The embattled lawmaker denied the accusation. Despite his explanation, he was not allowed to enter the Assembly building as the house clerk insisted that he must present the court order which reinstated him before he would be allowed in as a member. But during the week, the 54-yearold lawmaker took laws into his hands and blocked the gate of the Assembly complex over the refusal of the authorities to allow him back in the house despite the court ruling.

The lawmaker was invited by the Commissioner of Police to the police headquarters and told to write a statement. He was later arrested there, detained and arraigned before a Magistrate Court on a two-count charge of threat to lives and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

Wigwe

Ambode

Binani

Kadiri

Guest and the Amatas

STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN

Kareem Adepoju Accuses

Tunde Kelani of Cheating

was that there were other expenses that had to be settled, but he was not convinced. He was directed to meet the accountant of the company for subsequent payment. However, they didn’t disclose the actual amount that was made.

Why Morayo Afolabi-Brown Won’t Forget Late Subomi

Veteran Nollywood actor in the Yoruba genre, Kareem Adepoju, also known as Baba Wande, has accused iconic movie producer, Tunde Kelani, of cheating him of the proceeds of their jointly produced movie, ‘Ti Oluwa ni IIe’. The movie, written by Adepoju and directed by Tunde Kelani, was released in 1993 through Mainframe Films and Television Productions, Kelani’s production company. It was the latter’s debut as a film director.

Baba Wande alleged that Kelani had not been sharing the proceeds from the movie with him. He revealed that he wrote the script and invited

Kelani, who promised to turn the script into a movie. Kelani provided all the equipment and the financial strength to produce the movie, while Baba Wande was responsible for providing the costumes, actors and actresses who featured in the movie.

The duo agreed to split proceeds from the movie, with Kelani taking 70 per cent, while Baba Wande settled for 30 per cent. The first proceeds from their effort was N180,000, but Baba Wande was given only N15,000 from the money as against the 30 per cent they had earlier agreed on. The actor revealed that the only excuse he was given

Due to the popularity and the applause the movie received, fans requested for a sequel of the movie. But because of the way he was treated, Baba Wande claimed he lost interest in releasing a sequel of the movie. After so much pestering from his fans, he decided to produce part two and three of the movie. They both wrote part two and three of the movie which they produced. However, he didn't go to Kelani to demand for anything and the movie producer also didn't give him any share from the movie.

The veteran actor alleged that Kelani has been the only one enjoying the reward of their sweat and labour. Despite the fact that he has been advised to seek redress in court, the actor revealed he would not because Kelani is his friend. Responding to Baba Wande's accusations, Kelani said, "He is my friend, he is my brother, we are family. I can call him at anytime, I am not going to say anything for social media or newspaper".

Lara Fashola Bags Chieftaincy Title

Maritime legal luminary cum activist, Dr Lara Fashola, has been installed as the Iyalaje of Okeluse in Ondo State by His Highness, Oba Oloyede Adeyoba Adekoya, the paramount of Okeluse Kingdom. The ceremony took place last week. Yeye Fashola was chosen because of her love for tradition and the fact that she is a sustainer of cultural heritage in Nigeria who has undergone several rites of passages, as a Muslim, Christian and as a priestess of the god of Olokun.

Being a priestess of Olokun, the deity of wealth, it is believed that the deity will extend its wealth and

Host of morning show, 'Your View' on Television Continental, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, will not forget late Otunba Subomi Balogun in a hurry. Otunba Balogun, founder of First City Merchant Bank, FCMB, died two weeks ago in London, United Kingdom. The late philanthropist was a good friend of AfolabiBrown's father, Alao AkaBashorun, a legal luminary and civil society leader. When Aka-Bashorun suffered a stroke, his speech was impaired. One of the people who offered him shoulders to lean on morally and financially was Otunba Balogun. He would abandon his work and visit his friend and contemporary. Each time he paid the family a visit on a Sunday, Otunba Balogun

would hang around outside the Bashoruns’ residence till they returned from church so that he could have access to his friend.

Although Aka-Bashorun was so ill he couldn't speak, Balogun would sit with him and have a one-way conversation for a few minutes before taking his leave. When leaving the house, he made sure to leave some money and other gifts for his friend's upkeep and that of his family. He kept repeating the gesture until Aka-Bashorun bowed to the ailment.

The TV host paid glowing tribute to the late philanthropist while showering encomium on him for his good deeds, She also comforted the family he left behind.

Afolabi-Brown

Dele Momodu Nominated For Drum Festival Award

Aare Dele Momodu, the Chairman of Ovation Media Group, has been nominated for the Drum Festival Award. The award ceremony will take place in Toronto, Canada in a couple of weeks.

The Drum Festival Award celebrates campaigns, people and companies driving innovation, creativity, and excellence around

the world. Chief Momodu was nominated for the award in recognition of his contributions to the growth and development of print and digital journalism in Nigeria. The media mogul, who is also a former presidential aspirant, has been flying the flag of transparent, unbiased, neutral and undiluted news reportage since the establishment of his media company.

prosperity to the Okeluse kingdom through the amiable woman. Her impact in sustaining the rich heritage of different ethnic groups was recognised by the traditional ruler which is also part of the reasons for giving her one of the highest-ranking titles in the kingdom.

Yeye Lara as the Convener of the Olokun Festival is a cultural ambassador with the African Union Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), the Grand Matron of the Southern Youth Association of Nigeria and YOMAFA, which recognizes Yoruba sons and daughters making strides in different spheres of life.

Kate Adepegba Joins Diamond Jubilee Club

Veteran Nollywood actress, Kate Adepegba has joined the 60s club. The talented movie star had a photo shoot to mark her arrival to the club, while thanking God for the grace to hit the milestone. Many of her colleagues have been urging her

to roll out the drums to mark her new age, but the actress has not been keen on throwing a party.

Adepegba is one of the most decent and calm actresses the industry is blessed with. Her acting career started over four decades ago in the television

series 'Village Headmaster'. She has remained committed to the acting profession since then. She acted as Folake, one of the dutiful girls who served as an apprentice in Sisi Clara’s shop in the ‘Village Headmaster’. The thespian, who has been looking younger than her age, attributes her youthful looks to peace of mind, the fact that she has a very small circle of friends, not stressing herself beyond her limits, eating what she pleases and resting.

THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA

Kelani

Adepoju

Momodu

Fashola

Adepegba

Is Cost of Running Nigerian Democracy Too Expensive?

In or out of office, Nigerian politicians seem to always be in clover, getting the best of both worlds. From the president and his vice down to governors and their deputies, federal and state legislators, ministers, commissioners and even special advisers, the treatment is the same – they are pampered like royalty. Now on their way out, nothing suggests the royal treat will discontinue. If anything, it has been ramped up, considering the jumbo severance package for the departing public office holders. Michael Jimoh reports.

Nigerian politicians are one of the most coddled lot in the world. In office they earn far higher than their counterparts in other democracies. Out of it (as many of them will be from tomorrow May 29) their severance packages will be paid as and when due, to borrow a phrase common with civil servants. And that includes I00 percent basic salaries for governors and their deputies for life, marques of their choice to be changed every three years, mansions in choice locations anywhere in Nigeria, a retinue of domestic staff and several other perks – all of that for doing nothing!

And now, Nigerians are wondering if the politicians deserve such humongous severance pay at all, especially in the face of crippling economic conditions they are burdened with. For others, it shows that democracy can be quite an expensive business.

A summary of the severance packages for the political office holders, according to a Punch report, may cost “the country about N63.45bn.” The list includes President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, governors and their deputies, ministers, commissioners, national, state assembly members and special advisers. Special assistants, the newspaper stated, are not included.

Sourced from the website of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission, Punch gave a blow-by-blow account of the exact sum due to each of the office holders. Of the total amount, the Federal Government will pay N3.39bn while the states will pay about 20 times that amount: N60.06bn.

Continuing, the newspaper reported that the severance package is “separate from other financial packages which may be in place as retirement benefits or pensions for some of the political office holders.”

The departing politicians will not be the only beneficiaries of the bumper package. Even past rulers are not left out. Among those that will be paid are “former Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Heads of State, Chiefs of General Staff, retired heads of service, permanent secretaries, as well as retired heads of government agencies and parastatals in the 2023 fiscal year.”

The estimated total is N13.81bn and former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo will benefit from the largesse.

“Also expected to benefit from the windfall are ex-military Heads of State, General Yakubu Gowon and General Abdusalami Abubakar, as well as a former dictator and self-styled military President, General Ibrahim Babangida and a former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.). “As stipulated by RMAFAC, the President will get a severance pay of N10.54m, which is 300 per cent of his annual basic salary, while Vice-President Osinbajo will receive N9.09m. The eight special advisers in the Presidency are expected to get N5.83m each, totalling N46.64m. There are 44 ministers under Buhari, consisting of 27 federal ministers and 17 ministers of state.

“While each minister is entitled to N6.08m, each minister of state is entitled to N5.87m. In total, they would get N258.08m, with ministers getting N164.16m and ministers of states receiving N93.92m.”

With these various payments to past Nigerian rulers and political office holders, one is forcibly reminded of the famous quip by H. L. Mencken on democracy. “Democracy,” the inimitable American scholar once mused, “is the theory that the common people know what they want and they deserve to get it good and hard.”

Nigerian politicians, it now seems, have never had it so good at the expense of the “common people” who are on the receiving end of democracy, getting it “hard.”

Of course, the humongous severance pay has raised concern from Nigerians. Among these lot is Joel Akinola. He is chairman Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ekiti State Branch. In his view, it is wrong to pay such outrageous sums to the departing politicians and political office holders. “It is unfair,” Akinola is quoted as saying. “I see that kind of a move as selfish,

It is unfair,” Akinola is quoted as saying. “I see that kind of a move as selfish, inconsiderate and inhuman if people who had worked meritoriously for 35 years are being owed pensions and gratuities of less than N3m for over 10 years whereas people who served in a political appointment for just four or eight years are being paid humongous amounts

...Nigerian Democracy Too Expensive? FEATURES

inconsiderate and inhuman if people who had worked meritoriously for 35 years are being owed pensions and gratuities of less than N3m for over 10 years whereas people who served in a political appointment for just four or eight years are being paid humongous amounts.”

Akinola pointedly noted that the beneficiaries “have not come to serve us but to rip us off of our benefits. When they are in power, they are heavily paid; they have access to all the benefits – free feeding, free transport, free medicare, free everything, and when they are leaving, they are going with humongous amount as severance allowance.

“I think it is very unfair to leave the poor ones who really did the job unpaid. God does not support this kind of treatment. It is ungodly and should be condemned. I want to appeal to them that they should do the needful concerning pensioners and pay them their dues so that they can put their body and soul together.”

For him, such payments to politicians are illegal because is not in the Nigerian Constitution therefore amounting to “double pay,” insisting that it is “an abuse of power, abuse of privilege.”

For Akinola’s counterpart in Benue state, Mike Vembe, it smacks of selfishness on the politician’s part, “selfish people who do not consider the welfare of their citizens, especially senior citizens…It is a terrible matter if such a huge amount of money is proposed, not to talk of paying it. It is like looking at some people as if they are nothing, you cannot pay them, let them go and die but to themselves, there is no problem.’’

Renowned economist and CEO of Financial Derivatives, Bismarck Rewane thinks that the government should show as much concern for the lawmakers as well as for pensioners. “You know the price of democracy; the government should spend more money on both the pensioners and also the lawmakers. They should pay everybody both the lawmakers and pensioners, not paying one and leaving the other.”

Dr. Muda Yusuf CEO Centre for the Promotion of the Private Sector and onetime DG Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry agrees with Rewane for equitable payment of severance packages to the pols and pensioners.

"I think whatever proposal on pension should be sensitive to the prevailing economic conditions. It should be sensitive to the sensibility of Nigerians, particularly the pensioners because this service is less than 10 years. Some of them have served 10 years while some have a maximum of eight years. Whether that one now qualifies for such a severance package, I think, is something that we can interrogate. This is because the whole essence of pension, even in public service, one must have served for a reasonable length of time such as pensioners who have spent 20-35 years for you to be entitled to pension and, in any case, most of the pensions we have these days are contributory.’’

Pampering those in leadership positions is hardly a novel phenom in the world. Far back in time, long before Christ, the scripture tells us of the Israelites’ distrust of the priestly class. A heady and murmurous race, as Dryden described them, the Israelites approached Prophet Samuel to appoint a king for them. The prophet himself was becoming senile and his children were becoming unruly and laws unto themselves.

After consulting God, Samuel grudgingly acquiesced, reminding the Israelites that they will become more

or less serfs under the new monarch. “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants.

"He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

Of course, the Israelites got their wish and, as the prophet presciently predicted, their punishment too. Like the Israelites of old though under different circumstances and after suffering for so long under military dictatorships, Nigerians insisted they had had enough. “Never again,” they chorused from the rooftops. “We want democracy.”

True to their wish, General Abdusalami Abubakar obliged them and so blew the whistle for the current dispensation to begin in earnest in 1998. It has turned out to be quite an expensive experiment, as narrated by Karl Meier in his book This House Has Fallen: Midnight in Nigeria.

In the very first chapter, the British journalist elaborated on the cost of the democratic process put in place by the departing military brass, starting from the handover day at Eagle Square Abuja in 1999. “The outgoing information minister, John Nwodo,

resorted to the role of traditional praise singer in a speech on Abubakar's career, describing him as "a soldier's soldier," a man of vision. Nwodo neglected to mention that Abubakar had held the third most powerful position in the Abacha regime when all the nastiness occurred. Missing too was any allusion to the unexplained decrease, of at least $3 billion in less than six months, in foreign exchange reserves.

"Given the short time frame, that drop would have made even the notoriously larcenous Abacha catch his breath. Nothing was said about the disastrous state of the economy that Abubakar was handing over to the civilians, a fact that led the more cynical observers to suggest that the military was deliberately attempting to undermine the new civilian order before it even started: coup by bankruptcy, so to speak.

“For the moment, all that was forgiven for the simple fact that Abubakar was about to leave office peacefully, and in Nigeria, and sadly much of the rest of Africa, such a thing was cause for jubilation. To honor his departure, the military was determined to put on quite a show, and a very high-priced one at that. Estimates of the construction cost of Eagle Square ran at about $30 million, and the bill for the fireworks display the night before was believed to be close to $5 million. In the distance sat the green domed building of the new bicameral National Assembly, built by a company owned by Abacha's Lebanese business partners, the Chagoury brothers, at a cost of some $65 million. Nigerian democracy can be an expensive business.” Almost a quarter century after, it is hard to prove the journalist wrong.

“Renowned economist and CEO of Financial Derivatives, Bismarck Rewane thinks that the government should show as much concern for the lawmakers as well as pensioners. “You know the price of democracy; the government should spend more money on both the pensioners and also the lawmakers. They should pay everybody both the lawmakers and pensioners, not paying one and leaving the other

Awoniyi's Remarkable Strides And Nottingham Forest's EPL Survival

The survival of the English Premier League side, Nottingham Forest, in the top flight of English football in the concluding part of the 2022/2023 campaign owes much to the particularly timely goalscoring involvement of Taiwo Awoniyi. Since his arrival from Union Berlin in the Bundesliga, Awoniyi's remarkable performances have played a pivotal role in securing Forest's coveted position among the Premier League elite for the 2023/2024 season.

Forest were initially staring at the imminent threat of relegation, but they found their salvation in Awoniyi's sublime performances during the final month of the campaign. His extraordinary ability to find the back of the net resulted in five crucial goals in just three games, earning seven valuable points out of a possible nine. These remarkable achievements solidified Forest's place among the top teams in the league keeping them up for another 38 matches of elite English football and all the benefits that accrues from that.

The heroics of the 25-year-old in keeping Forest up began with a thrilling brace in their captivating 4-3 victory over fellow strugglers and the now-relegated Southampton.

The Nigerian forward was able to accomplish all these despite also being sidelined for approximately two months due to a groin injury

BY JUDE OBAFEMI Awoniyi

...Strides And Nottingham Forest's EPL Survival

This match marked the first instance where the striker scored twice in a single English Premier League match since his active participation in English football after arriving the previous summer. His unwavering determination showcased his rising star status and pointer as to what was to come from his boots before the end of the season.

Continuing this scintillating form, Awoniyi secured another impactful brace during the crucial 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It was a performance that solidified his reputation as a potent goal-scoring threat and showcased his ability to perform against top-level opposition, even under extreme pressure.

Although they were pivotal goals, Awoniyi's four goals in two matches for Nottingham Forest did not guarantee the East Midlands club a place in next season's EPL class of Premiership teams. Indeed, their top-flight status was hanging in the balance as they went to the Emirates to take on title hopefuls Arsenal. It was there that, against the expectations of pundits and the forecasts of bookies, Awoniyi displayed a lethal touch of brilliance by scoring the decisive winning goal in their triumph on the road against Arsenal. This monumental victory, achieved through the Nigerian's unwavering commitment and extraordinary skill, ensured Forest's survival for another season in the prestigious EPL.

Awoniyi's accomplishments for Forest concludes the first chapter of his long-awaited dream of playing in the EPL, which he finally realised when he moved from Union Berlin before the start of thus concluding season. He ought to have started this stage of his career earlier at Liverpool, but after signing a contract with the club in 2015, he encountered some challenges due to work permit issues, leading to multiple loan spells in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

Despite Awoniyi’s potential, he was unable to feature even once for Liverpool all the time he was there. Eventually, after six frustrating years, he received his work permit in the 2020/2021 season. Unfortunately, by that time, Liverpool could not find a place for him in their squad and ultimately sold him to Union Berlin, where he had impressed on loan the previous season.

Awoniyi made an immediate impact in the Bundesliga, becoming a regular starter for Union Berlin. In 28 games, he showcased his goal-scoring ability and playmaking skills, recording an impressive tally of 14 goals and 14 assists. His performances caught the attention of EPL clubs, and he remained determined to return to England, citing family and football reasons for his desire to play in the EPL. Awoniyi's consistency and impressive form earned him a dream-come-true move back to England, joining Nottingham Forest for the 2022/2023 season.

Nottingham Forest, known for their competitive spirit, showcased their potential with a successful FA Cup run, defeating Leicester City and Mikel Arteta's Arsenal before narrowly losing to Liverpool in the quarter-finals. The team's strong performance generated momentum that carried them to success in the Championship, culminating

Continued from Back Page

generated excitement among Nigerian fans.

Awoniyi's exceptional form not only propelled Steve Cooper's team out of the bottom three but ensured that Southampton, Leicester, and Everton were incapable of finding any opportunity to overtake them. His form at the end of the season saw Awoniyi emerge as one of the most efficient forwards this season, currently boasting the sixthhighest conversion rate. With a remarkable rate of 24.2 percent, as reported by Whoscored.com, he ranks only behind five other players in the league. All of this despite limited starts and minutes on the field, with just 16 starts and 1,322 minutes. Erling Haaland holds the highest conversion rate, an impressive 31.3 percent. In second place is Newcastle's Callum Wilson with a conversion rate of 26.2 percent. Man City's Phil Foden closely follows with a rate of 25.6 percent. Newcastle's Alexander Isak boasts a conversion rate of 24.4 percent, while Liverpool's Roberto Firmino trails slightly behind at 24.3 percent.

Furthermore, Awoniyi achieved a historic milestone by scoring goals in three consecutive league games. It meant that he joined an exclusive group of players

Wanted: Urgent Review of Nigeria’s Electoral Law

Although legal representatives of presidential candidates Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar firmly believe that the court still retains the authority to overturn the election outcome, even after Tinubu's inauguration, it is not a practice that serves the country effectively. It perpetuates the notion that the inauguration is merely a ceremonial event and does not bind the court, which truly underlines the significance of the ongoing legal proceedings.

Still, the protests against the inauguration did not abate as a result. A significant challenge in addressing the protests lies in the absence of a specific legal framework explicitly stating that persons with ongoing court cases should not be sworn into office.

Despite the concerns and criticism, the lack of a definitive provision hinders the prevention of winners from assuming office before the resolution of legal disputes. That is why I insist that to effectively address this issue,

Nigeria needs to undertake a constitutional review and amend its constitution and electoral act. Incorporating provisions that stipulate the completion of the judicial intervention before the swearing-in can occur would provide a clear legal basis for ensuring justice, fairness, and the rule of law in the inauguration process. An amendment to the constitution and electoral act that allows the electoral commission conduct elections early to give time for all legal disputes to be resolved before May 29 can strengthen the democratic processes and ensure that only legitimate winners take the oath of office.

This constitutional review should aim to establish clear guidelines, provisions, and safeguards that promote justice, fairness, and transparency in the inauguration process. Only through such reforms can Nigeria progress towards a more inclusive, accountable, and democratic society.

who have achieved this feat for Nottingham Forest. Previously, only Dougie Freedman and Danilo had done this. Freedman achieved the feat during the 1998/1999 season, while Danilo matched it in the current season. Awoniyi's goal against Arsenal therefore also cemented his place in the club's history. The Nigerian forward was able to accomplish all these despite also being sidelined for approximately two months due to a groin injury. But, Awoniyi made a successful comeback for Nottingham Forest, and throughout the season, showcased his abilities in 25 league appearances, contributing 10 goals and one assist for Cooper's team.

As incredible a footballer as he is, Awoniyi's impact extends beyond the football pitch. His generosity and dedication to the community have earned him admiration and gratitude. Joshua Yisa, the Kwara state coordinator for school sports, commended Awoniyi for sponsoring the construction of a football dressing room at Sheikh Abdulkadir College in Ilorin, Kwara state. The improved facilities will benefit numerous youths, providing them with better opportunities to pursue their dreams through sports.

Awoniyi's role in launching the 'Never Stop Dreaming Cup 2023,' a prestigious football tournament involving 26 academies across the state, was also recognized. Yisa praised Awoniyi for positively influencing the lives of young individuals and nurturing their dreams through sports.

There is a lot that can be said in adulation of the striker. Awoniyi's awe-inspiring contributions were acknowledged by the Nottingham Forest club management, who took to their official Twitter account to honour their prodigious marksman. They highlighted his exceptional achievement of scoring more Premier League goals in the month of May than any other player in the club, accomplishing this remarkable feat in just three matches that more or less secured their EPL survival. Indeed, Awoniyi's former club, Union Berlin, did not hold back in showering praise on him for his exceptional performances at Forest. During his time in Germany, Awoniyi scored 21 goals and provided five assists in 64 appearances, contributing significantly to Union Berlin's qualification for the Europa League. Berlin acknowledged his impact on social media, hailing him as a "big player for big moments." He has shown this at Nottingham Forest, leaving an indelible sense of gratitude in the club's grateful fans. His exceptional goal-scoring ability, historic achievements, community contributions, and recognition from his former club showcase his immense impact both on and off the pitch.

As Nottingham Forest secured their place in the Premier League for another season, Awoniyi's performances have been instrumental in their fight for survival. His dedication to improving the lives of young individuals through sports further cements his status as a remarkable athlete and community champion.

Wanted: Urgent Review of Nigeria’s Electoral Law

The ongoing legal challenges to the outcome of the 2023 General Election in the country have raised concerns regarding the legitimacy of the winners as they are sworn into office, leaving many to ponder whether a review of the constitution and electoral law is not necessary to fix this.

This issue has sparked widespread criticism and raised significant concerns about the legitimacy of the May 29 inauguration for the swearing-in of state governors, their deputies, as well as the President and Vice President, while cases remain unresolved in the courts. The winners of the legislative elections are also caught up in the web.

While the concerns have a basis for legitimacy, the fact remains that there is a constitutional lacuna for handling a case where the tenure of one President or governor runs out and another cannot take charge on the basis of unresolved electoral disputes. This is where Nigeria's political state finds itself and it is a crisis that could have been avoided ab initio.

To prevent such a situation in the future, it is crucial that all legal challenges of the process and results of elections are wrapped up before inauguration. This argument is supported by recent events, including civil society protests, multiple petitions before election petition tribunals and security measures surrounding the election disputes. I believe that by prioritising a constitutional review, Nigeria can uphold the unequivocal status of the duly elected leader and maintain the stability of its democratic system.

The most poignant basis that underlines the need for ensuring the legitimacy of an elected official by inauguration is to ensure that Nigeria avoids scenes of such protests as have been witnessed recently. The most significant of these took place when a coalition of civil society groups staged a protest at the Appeal Court in Abuja, urging the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal to halt the inauguration of the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, basing their demand on the need to resolve the court cases challenging his victory before he is sworn-in.

The protesters highlighted the potential implications of unresolved legal challenges on the legitimacy of the President-Elect. Their protests were a clear indication that there are doubts among sections of the public regarding the electoral process. Additionally, the commencement of the pre-hearing sessions at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal sheds light on the gravity of the legal challenges to the presidential election results. Petitions filed by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), the two main opposition candidates, seek to nullify Tinubu's victory. These petitions are not isolated incidents but represent a broader sentiment of dissatisfaction with the election outcome.

The existence of multiple petitions from various political parties underscores the significance of conducting a comprehensive review to address all legal challenges and ensure a fair and conclusive resolution. By resolving these disputes promptly and transparently before May 29, Nigeria can bolster public trust in the electoral process and strengthen the democratic institutions.

Dr Adah Obekpa, a Nigerian medical practitioner residing in the United States, recently filed a suit to delay the scheduled presidential inauguration on May 29. His lawsuit adds complexity to Nigeria's political landscape and introduces the possibility of disrupting the democratic process should the justices agree to grant his prayers. Obekpa's appeal is based on allegations of being

failure to win at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in Abuja, the country's capital.

The interpretation of this constitutional provision has been subject to debate, underscoring the need for a comprehensive review of the constitution to clarify and resolve such contentious issues, even if the resolution of some of the present legal challenges will offer further clarity of this requirement.

Nigeria's history of prolonged military rule and electoral violence necessitates a clear and unambiguous resolution to prevent any further constitutional crisis. A constitutional review will enable the country to update its laws and ensure that they align with the evolving needs and aspirations of its citizens.

It is not doing the legitimacy of the next administration a world of good that it carries this baggage of suspicious victory to power, given every other challenge with which it will be tasked from day one. This underscores the extreme necessity to completely exhaust all legal challenges in time for inauguration. By addressing all pending legal issues before the inauguration, Nigeria can ensure the unambiguous status of the duly elected leader, restore faith in the democratic process and maintain stability within the country.

A constitutional review will safeguard the integrity of the democratic system, protect the rights of citizens and uphold the principles of justice and fairness. It is an essential step toward ensuring a more transparent and accountable governance framework in Nigeria. By embarking on this review, Nigeria can set an example for other nations facing similar challenges and strengthen its democratic foundations for the benefit of its people and the overall progress of the nation. Our African neighbours Kenyan successfully upturned the results of elections held on August 8 at the country's Supreme Court by September 5. In less than one month last year, the challenges were completed and a judgement delivered in the country's highest court sitting as the final and sole judicial arbiter of presidential election disputes.

unlawfully excluded from the 2011 general election, claiming that he was unjustly stopped from participating as the potential presidential candidate of the African Renaissance Party (ARP) and highlighting the precedence set by the Amaechi vs Omehia case. By resolving long-standing legal disputes and ensuring the timely conclusion of such cases before inauguration day, Nigeria can demonstrate its commitment to upholding the rule of law and the principles of democracy.

Aside from the legal challenge instituted by the opponents of the President-elect at the tribunal, a request made to the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to halt the inauguration of the President-Elect further deepens the debate regarding the interpretation of constitutional provisions. The request was made by five Nigerians to the Federal High Court in Abuja. The petition argues that Bola Tinubu's declaration as the president-elect was unconstitutional due to his alleged

It is therefore most imperative that Nigeria conducts a comprehensive constitutional review for this to happen expeditiously as possible before inauguration. This review would address the existing legal challenges before the presidential inauguration takes place, ensuring a fair and conclusive resolution. By prioritising constitutional reforms, Nigeria can uphold the unequivocal status of the duly elected leader and maintain the stability and credibility of its democratic system.

The act of pronouncing a candidate as winner of an election, with all the pomp and pageantry of the inauguration, while the result is still being challenged, lacks logical coherence and undermines the integrity of the electoral process. We must do better than this and stop this merry-go-round of producing winners whose mandates are overshadowed by pending court cases. This does not bode well for the system as it often elevates presumed winners that do not enjoy the support and regard of the people, ultimately weakening the democratic fabric of the nation.

Continues on Page 47

A constitutional review will safeguard the integrity of the democratic system, protect the rights of citizens and uphold the principles of justice and fairness. It is an essential step toward ensuring a more transparent and accountable governance framework in Nigeria