THEWILL NEWSPAPER November 20, 2022

Afenifere, Ohanaeze in Eye of The Storm

45 Years of Impactful Scheme

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 Akwa Ibom and Cross River (in South-South) showcase in this edition

I’m not one of the many people who are crazy about football, and not for the reason you may suspect— she’s a typical girly woman. No. It’s because I can’t handle the suspense that comes with the game. Yes, most others are competitive, and there is also an adrenaline rush from cheering for your favourite team, but with football, it’s different. It almost feels like a life-and-death situation.

As a young girl, I didn’t mind watching football with my dad, but all that changed one day in the 90s when we watched a match( I can’t for the love of me remember what game it was), but we missed a penalty and as such the game. I still remember the tension and passion with which we cheered. When we lost the penalty kick and, as a result, the game, I wept like a baby and have never watched another match since then. It was too much for my teenage heart to bear.

Yes, I have become so detached towards the game that I refuse to listen to or read anything associated with it. Decades later, while having a TOC meeting with my team for this issue you read, I asked if we knew which players would represent Nigeria at the World Cup, and they responded with, “Editor, we are out; we lost months ago to Ghana.” “Oh, no,” I said, and immediately those emotions from when I was a teenager began rushing back up to the surface, reminding me why I stopped watching the game of soccer. I wasn’t about to go there. “We’ll do a piece about the Ghanaian players, then,” I said, quickly moving on to the next idea.

It’s safe to say I will not be watching the World Cup, but I will cheer Ghana on ‘in spirit.’ Wishing them Good luck!

It was International Men’s Day yesterday, and with the World Cup, this week’s issue is dedicated to our male readers. For those with facial hair, we let you in on the difference between beard oil and beard balm and why you need them. Don’t miss the fashion pages and Downtown Confidential; you’ll love them.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa +2349088352246

Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA

2023: Afenifere, Ohanaeze in Eye of The Storm

BY AMOS ESELE

Former President Olusegun Obansajo was so irritated by what he called the undue interference of socio-cultural organisations in the political affairs of the country during his eightyear tenure that he openly called for their ban, describing them as meddlesome organisations.

Although he persisted in his opinion after leaving office, he appeared to have had a second thought in the intervening years about the groups, namely the Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which attacked him fiercely for calling for their proscription then.

On September 14, 2020, 15 years after he left office, Obasanjo held a two-day meeting with the groups, including new ones, such as the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Northern Leaders Forum (NLF), with the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi and his Sokoto and Kebbi counterparts, who are Chairmen of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum and the All Progressives Congress Governors Forum in attendance.

The agenda of the meeting, however, was the parlous nature of the country.

“This is the kind of meetings and issues of national

importance that should be the focus of these socialpolitical and cultural organisations and not overt political participation which erodes their influence over the generality of their people.” said Martins Ori, a veteran political journalist and Editor-in Chief of a South-East-based regional newspaper, New Oriental, in a chat with THEWILL on Friday. “Partisanship would always reduce them in the estimation of their people.”

For him, politics should be a backdoor involvement for the organisations, even during intense political activities like electioneering.

Spokesperson for Afenifere, Mr Sola Ebisomi, disagreed vehemently.

“We are the owners of Nigeria,” he told this newspaper at the weekend. “By we, I mean Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, PANDEF, Middle Belt Forum and Arewa Consultative Forum. The reason is because the fundamental basis of Nigeria’s existence is ethnic nationality.”

But isn’t this the very reason, because of the fiery nature of politics, socio-political organisations should go above partisan politics, particularly in a multi-ethnic country like Nigeria?, he was asked.

“No,” he said, voice rising, “We are not politicians, who speak the language of power alone. We are champions of justice, equity and fairness.”

Then asked if the difference may be on what mode of operations the organisations should adopt to remain neutral in their operations, he replied, unrelenting, “ it is the politicians who come seeking our endorsements, we don’t need endorsements of political parties. They need us to be relevant.”

THE PROBLEM

Endorsements for relevance may be the Catch-22 situation here, particularly during the political era when politicians and their parties needed every and any form of support to beat their rivals every inch the way. But the group endorsements sought by politicians are for their symbolic nature in a country still to achieve some appreciable level of scientific and technological development, which broaden the mental horizon of the citizenry.

The fact that the most relevant of the organisations come from the three dominant ethnic groups –Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa-Fulani – speaks volumes about the assumed importance of these organisations, reasoned Chief Willy Ezugwu, General Secretary of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP).

Afenifere, Ohanaeze in Eye of The Storm

He said, “It is difficult to shut them out of politics totally because of the way politicians have run our country, very badly. Why I agree they should speak and act on the side of the general good of the country, they cannot help speaking up most times because we have over the years politicised things in the country.”

Yet, beside their symbolic importance, it is doubtful if the groupings have any solid relevance or whether their endorsements carry weight. For example, all the major and minor aforementioned groups endorsed the candidacy of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the opposition PDP. He lost the election to incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Dramatically, incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan lost the landmark presidential polls in 2015 despite getting the support of the groups, with the exception of ACF.

AFENIFERE

For Afenifere, the story has been a stark reality. Since the first republic when, “Awolowo ran against Tafawa Balewa in the First Republic, to Awolowo versus Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic, to Obasanjo versus Olu Falae in the Fourth Republic in 1999, to Obasanjo versus Muhammadu Buhari in 2003, to Umar Yar’Adua versus Buhari in 2007, to Goodluck Jonathan versus Buhari in 2011, to Goodluck Jonathan versus Buhari in 2015, to Buhari versus Atiku Abubakar in 2019, “the story has been the same. None of its candidates has won any election.

In fact, the organisation since its establishment over 70 years ago as a political movement for the welfare of the people of the current Southwest has weathered many political storms and intrigues from within and without that it has ended up a shadow of its former vibrant self today.

The uproar that greeted Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s October 16, 2022 visit to Pa Reuben Fasoranti for the endorsement of his presidential ambition marked a major milestone in Afenifere’s chequered political history. The accompanying quarrel between former leader Pa Fasoranti and Acting leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo and the ensuing controversy once again raised the civic importance of the organization.

Tinubu’s visit, it turned out, had followed the Adebanjo led- Afenifere’s public endorsement of the candidacy of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, for the 2023 polls on the basis of its perceived fairness and equity. But the very thing it was running away from by that endorsement caught up with it; ethnic support for the son of the soil.

OHANAEZE NDIGBO

Just when the Afenifere controversy was fading out of the public space, Ohanaeze Ndigbo last week took the centre-stage, following the perceived anti-Obi statement by Professor Charles Soludo, governor of Anambra State.

In reaction to the cyber-bullying over his statement in a television interview in which he alluded that Obi’s investment in Anambra State was worthless, Soludo issued a lengthy statement in which he claimed Obi would not win the 2023 presidential election. The reaction from Obi’s supporters and kinsmen alike,

was instantaneous. Majority called for the governor’s head, his office and questioned his reasoning.

Ohanaeze’s reaction was instant and acerbic.

Mr Okechukwu Isiguzoro, in a signed statement as Secretary –General of Ohanaeze, lampooned Governor Soludo and called him names rather than react to the issues on competence, due process raised in the statement.

Isiguzoro threatened that the social-cultural group would mobilise for the governor’s impeachment in addition to dragging him before two deities in Igbo land. Although the apex Igbo social-cultural group has since denied authorising the threats, there is no gainsaying the bitter position it had taken in the matter. What is even more amazing is that Isiguzoro who issued the statement has been reportedly stripped of his office as Chairman of Ndigbo Youth Council since 2020. Yet, he is still around in the group’s name.

The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor, refused to make any detailed statement on the matter and also about the real role expected of the organisation, when THEWILL spoke to him at the weekend.

“We have since made our position on the 2023 general election clear and it is public knowledge,” he answered tersely.

He drew blanks when he was prompted further on the real role of the group, at least, in accordance with its objective as a pan Igbo socio-cultural organisation when it was founded by Professor Ben Nwabueze, a constitutional lawyer, in 1976, to represent the interests of all Igbo communities within and outside Nigeria.

Representing the interest of Igbos within and outside Igboland is why, for instance, the core five Igbo states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo are the financing states of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Igbo indigenous communities in Rivers, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Kogi and Benue states are also covered under its umbrella.

Indeed, the structure of the organization ensures that Rivers and Delta states produce the Vice President General of the organisation alongside a core Igbo state of Ebonyi, while others like Enugu, Abia, Anambra have only state presidents.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo has derailed from its core objectives by dabbling into politics. It ought to be and should be a socio-cultural pathfinder,'' Martins maintained. ‘'It should work with the many organisations in Igbo land to maintain the equity and dignity of everybody in the Igbo land. In politics, it should play an advisory role. Take the current case between Governor Soludo and Obi. It should be neutral and be the arbiter, not taking sides.”

He pointed to the recent ACF’s denial of its rumoured endorsement of Atiku Abubakar as candidate of the North because “it is not in the character of the North to engage in counterproductive sectional politics,” according to its Chairman, Coordinating Committee, Musa Salihu Getso.

Another challenge facing these organisations is the method of leadership recruitment. Politically exposed persons at times take up leadership positions in these organisations, making it hard for them to steer clear of partisanship.

Former Minister of Communication, Nnia Nwodo, is the immediate past President-General of Ohanaeze. Today, he is a member of the Presidential Campaign Council of PDP. This is as the current Acting leader of Afenifere, Adebanjo, is one of the oldest Awoists still around.

WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE

Given the often negative impact of ethnic, religious and monetary fault lines on the polity, Martins suggested that the groups should be more inclusive in their operations to make them effective for all seasons.

“Ndigbo has been shouting about marginalisation since 1966. What has Ohanaeze Ndigbo done to influence change since it was founded? For instance, there are currently 16 security chiefs in Nigeria. None is Igbo. The current administration has established seven universities with none in Igbo land. In Igboland, there is a prevailing incidence of kidnapping, robbery.

What is Ohanaeze doing about them.? These are key issues it should direct its attention to, working with many groups in Igboland to address.

Afenifere’s Ebisemi agreed, though with reluctance.

“It is the circumstances in the country that determines the relevance of any government. The election in 2023 will determine the existence of Nigeria. People have been questioning why another Fulani man should succeed another one in 2023. When the agitation for power shift to the South started, we asked what part of the South should power go to, given that President Olusegun Obasanjo, who ruled for eight years, comes from the southwest. That is why Afenifere took the position that it should go to the Southeast for justice and fairness. When the people clamour for something, they look up to socio-political organisations like ours to speak up on their behalf,” Ebisemi said.

“We are not politicians, who speak the language of power alone. We are champions of justice, equity and fairness... it is the politicians who come seeking our endorsements, we don’t need endorsements of political parties. They need us to be relevant

C’River: APC, Ayade Lose 300 Supporters to PDP in Obudu

The Cross River State chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has welcomed 300 new members who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ipoun Ward in Obudu, Cross River State.

Ipoun Ward in Obudu is the political ward of the Cross River State governor Prof Ben Ayade and the defection rally coincided with the Ipoun New Yam Festival, which was organised by the leadership of the People's Democratic Party in Ipoun.

Speaking while receiving the defectors, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Venatius Ikem, said the future was very bright for the people of Ipoun.

Ikem added, "It is the PDP that elevated our brother to his present position and if he has forgotten, his brothers and sisters here have not.

"You wish he could touch us better than this. Nevertheless, we are moving forward and not backward in Ipoun. Today, we say goodbye to a bad thing. There is a future for Ipoun. It is very bright and that is what I stand to guarantee.

"When your brother left, some of you stood back. Let nobody intimidate you as we are the foundation in this ward", he said.

Welcoming the defectors, the state party Chairman said the PDP values membership, would live by its values

and also integrate the people.

The PDP Chapter Chairman for Obudu, Francis Atsua, said they decided to use one stone to kill two birds through the event.

"They invited us in the name of a new Yam Festival and so we decided to use one stone to kill two birds. This is the governor's ward and this is purely a PDP affair. 300 people from the APC defected to the PDP today. All they are enjoying in this ward is courtesy of the PDP," he said.

Hon. Prisca Abetianbe, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, said they had come to confess, repent and the day is very significant.

"We are here to confess, repent and are very happy for this is a very significant day. Ipoun wants good governance, we say God fearing leaders in the PDP and many other good things and we are happy to be part of this," she said.

Earlier in his welcome address, Dr. Undie Ugar said they had put the party back on track in Ipoun.

He said they hoped to have a bigger celebration with their son as governor, but that had not been the case.

He however promised that they would achieve their aim by being united.

He assured that the PDP is alive and vibrant in Ipoun and he is looking forward to celebrating bigger success come 2023.

I'll Reduce Poverty, Insecurity – Obi

The presidential candidate of Labour Party in next year's general election, Mr Peter Obi, has cautioned the people of Benue State against voting candidates that have nothing to offer. He gave the assurance of his readiness to reduce poverty and insecurity, if voted into power.

Addressing his supporters in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State on Friday, Mr Obi also reiterated his call on Benue people to vote for only candidate

like him who they know would deliver on the promises.

"Vote for a person who know you and know your pains. There is poverty and suffering in the country. I'm committed to reducing them to the lowest minimum. Together, we could have a Benue that will be secured where farmers could go to their farms and produce without any fear."

He said he wanted a Benue State where children would be in school and internally displaced camps closed.

Depression is Silent Killer People Avoid to Talk About – Don

Professor Adeyinka Adekoya has described depression as a silent killer that people avoid to talk about, especially in Nigeria.

He also said a cursory look at our media reports has revealed that there is an upsurge in the cases of depression manifestation such as suicide and inflicting of harm on another party.

Adekoya who said this while delivering his speech as the Chairman of the launching of a book “ God’s Answer to Depression” written by Pastor Adekunle Olusanya in Lagos cited a recent obnoxious case of a father who broke the right arm of an eight weeks old baby leading to eventual amputation of the arm.

He said coming at a time that there is upsurge in cases of depression, the book could not have come at a better time than now saying that the author has through the book helped Nigerians on how to get out of depression.

Adekoya said though there are many books already on the subject in the market but said that he has not come across any book that has provided a solution to the problem through spiritual and Bible as done in ‘God ‘s Answer to Depression’.

Also speaking while reviewing the book, the Dean, College of Leadership Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Professor Charles Ogbulogo said the author provides guidelines on how to overcome depression including Assertion, Exercise and Nutrition.

He said the book also reveals great insights on the understanding of the purpose of creation for man, how God answers prayers and the power of prayer in dealing with depression.

“We learn from the author that depression is not demographic-sensitive, that there are also timeless and universal therapies. The starting point is to think great thoughts about God and our relationship with Him. We need to think good thoughts towards others.

“The author presented his treaties as a teacher. He re-emphasised critical points on how to defeat depression. These include deep breathing, realism, meditations, faith, fellowship, moderation, and understanding being selective in association, creative relationship and accountability”, Ogbulogo said.

APC Primary: Benue Group Warns Against Attempt to Circumvent Justice

FROM GEORGE MARTINS, MAKURDI

Agroup known as the Benue Coalition for Democracy (BCD) has said that it received with shock and suspicion, the news of the sudden postponement of the Federal High Court’s judgment in the case instituted by former Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), challenging the APC governorship primary election in Benue State, which produced Fr Hyacinth Alia as the party's candidate.

According to the group, as a prodemocracy organisation in pursuit of justice in all electoral matters across all political parties, it viewed the postponement of the judgment as a calculated attempt by the APC to buy more time to mount pressure on the judiciary to circumvent justice in their favour.

"This move must be resisted by all lovers of democracy and justice to protect the integrity of the judiciary and our electoral system".

In a statement in Makurdi, the BCD Coordinator, Mr Aloysius Gbakaan, said they wondered why a court would schedule a date to deliver a judgment but on the scheduled date, come up with a claim that the judgment was not ready and could not communicate a new date to the parties.

"The Benue Coalition for Democracy is aware that a former Senator from Benue state through Mr Akutah, a member of the APC in Benue State and a staff in the Federal Ministry of Justice have been making concerted efforts to allegedly manipulate the court judgment".

"We however, reaffirm our confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the ordinary Nigerian, and we remain firmly optimistic that the judiciary will serve justice in the matter without the fear of intimidation or victimisation as this is the only way to strengthen our judicial and electoral systems".

The group therefore, charged the judiciary to remain impartial and not compromise to pervert the course of justice; saying it expect a new date for judgment on the Benue governorship suit to be fixed quickly and the verdict passed.

It cautioned APC leaders in Benue and those aiding them from the presidency to desist from putting pressure on the judiciary over the law suit in question and allow justice to prevail.

The BCD also commended Nigeria's former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation, Michael Aondokaa (SAN), for taking the noble path of seeking justice in the court of competent jurisdiction to deepen democracy in the country.

Mr Gbakaan noted that democracy thrives when citizens comply with the rule of law and the judiciary upholds its integrity, assuring that as partners in the sustenance of democratic culture, the group have confident that the judiciary will vindicate itself as a hallowed institution.

L-R: Lagos State PDP Governorship candidate, Mr. Jide Adediran (Jandor): Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Isa Mustapha and PDP Presidential Campaign Chairman/ Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Udon Emmanuel during Atiku’s engagement with the Nigeria Guild of Editors at Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on November 17, 2022.

Photo: Peace Udugba.

FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR BY AYO ESAN

POLITICS

2023: Election Expenditure Limit And INEC’s Monitoring Role

Yakubu Bawa

One of the major challenges facing the Nigerian Electoral System is that it is highly monetised. As a result, many qualified Nigerians avoid joining in the struggle for political positions in the country. In fact, it has been said that to run for election in Nigeria one must be stupendously rich or have a rich godfather who will be ready to fund his ambition.

Although the electoral laws had tried over the years to correct this flaw in the electoral system by placing limitations on the amount of money that must be spent by individual candidates and the political parties in an election. It has been observed, however, that candidates and political parties do not adhere to the laid down rules on spending.

In the new Electoral Law, signed early in 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari, the legislators did an upward review of the amount of election expenses for the various positions and that of political parties. This review drew some criticism from many Nigerians who believed that the legislators were not sensitive to the poverty pervading the land in their review.

Many watchers of political developments in the country also believe that the amount is humongous and that it has taken elections beyond the reach of the average Nigerian.

Some political analysts believe that the previous ceilings in the Electoral Act 2010 have become grossly unrealistic, given the fact that it was done over 10 years ago and they support the review because of inflationary trends and the devaluation of the naira, which have seriously weakened the purchasing power of the nation’s currency.

They also cited the extension of the time-frame for electioneering from the initial 90 days to 150 days to the 2023 general election (Section 94(1) as one of the reasons why they are backing the

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upward review of the new ceiling on campaign expenditure.

Many Nigerians are indifferent because they know that no matter the limitation placed on campaign expenditure by the law, politicians and political parties will not comply with it, just like they have done in the past.

Another worrying aspect has been the violation of the Electoral Act by political parties in the area of audited accounts. The political parties have over the years refused to submit their audited accounts

to INEC as directed by the Electoral Act.

Perhaps as a result of this, INEC, only a few days ago, warned political parties against flouting the rule on campaign expenses, saying it would sanction defaulters.

INEC made this known through its Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

Bello said the commission was making efforts to ensure the smooth conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections in the FCT and all over the country.

“We have to observe campaign expenditure, this is very important and it is for political parties. We will host political parties in a conference to lecture them on political campaigns and spending during campaigns because there are lots of rules and guidelines guiding their campaign expenditures.

“I wish to inform you that there are laws and ethics governing our monitoring of political parties and these are guided by the Electoral Act, Police Act, INEC’s regulations and guidelines among others.

“There is a code of conduct for media regulations and political parties. They provide sanctions in the event of a breach,” he said.

Bello, therefore, advised all political parties, partners and those who will participate in the elections, including the press to take note of the provisions.

The new Electoral Act 2022 spells out campaign finance ceilings

Some political analysts believe that the previous ceilings in the Electoral Act 2010 have become grossly unrealistic, given the fact that it was done over 10 years ago and they support the review because of inflationary trends

www.thewillnigeria.com

POLITICS

...Election Expenditure Limit And INEC’s Monitoring Role

and penalties for the violators of the ceilings. The campaign finance is two-fold. There is the one for the candidates and another for the political parties.

Section 88 of the new Electoral Act places limitation of election expenses on candidates. Sub (2) says the maximum expenditure to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential election shall not exceed N5bn. This was formerly pegged at N1bn.

Sub-Section 3, placed the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate in respect of governorship election not to exceed N1bn. This used to be N200m;

The Electoral Act also states that the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate, in respect of Senatorial and House of Representatives seats shall not exceed N100m and N70m, respectively. Before it used to be N40m and N20m respectively.

Sub-Section 5 states that in the case of a State House of Assembly election, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate shall not exceed N30m. It used to be N10m until the passing of the new electoral act.

Furthermore, subsection (6) says, “In the case of a chairmanship election to an Area Council, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate shall not exceed N30m (Used to be N10m) sub. (7) says in the case of Councillorship election to an Area Council, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate shall not exceed N5m. (Used to be N1m) and subsection (8) says no individual or other entity shall donate to a candidate more than N50m. (Formerly Ne1m).

The implication of the 2022 elctoral act is that candidates and political parties are allowed to spend more than they used to do. It should however be noted that it is not compulsory that all the contestants must spend up to the ceiling.

The law has also permitted those candidates who may find it difficult to raise money for their electioneering project, to engage in crowdfunding. This is done when a contestant who has rich friends, gets a donation from his friends.

The fact that individuals can now donate N50m in support of their preferred candidates has also made fundraising for political campaigns easier.

Section 95 (2) of the new Act has also stated that state apparatus (money, vehicles, personnel, aircraft, public buildings) including the media shall not be employed to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election. This is perhaps meant to caution the incumbent President, Governors and local government chairmen from using their positions for an undue advantage over other candidates in an election.

The penalties for breach of the limitation are contained in Section, 88 (9) of the Act, “A candidate who knowingly acts in contravention of this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of 1% of the amount permitted as the limit of campaign expenditure under this Act or imprisonment for a term not more than 12 months or both.”

Sub-section (10) says, “Any individual who knowingly acts in contravention of subsection (9) is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N500, 000 or imprisonment for a term of nine months or both.” While sub. (11) says “An accountant who falsifies, or conspires or aids a candidate to forge or falsify a document relating to his expenditure at an election or receipt or donation for the election or in any way aids and abets the contravention of the provisions of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N3, 000,000 or imprisonment for a term of three years or both.”

For the political parties, the Act in s.89 (2) says that election expenses incurred by a political party for the management or the conduct of an election shall be determined by the Commission (i.e. INEC) in consultation with the political parties.

Section 90(3) says “A political party shall not accept any monetary or other contribution which is more than N50, 000,000 unless it can identify the source of the money or other contribution to the Commission.” This is from N100, 000 prescribed in s. 93(3) of EA 2010. The implication of this is that a lot of monies from anonymous sources could be mobilised to fund political parties in Nigeria.

The political parties according to the new Electoral Act are expected to file three reports to the election management bodies, i.e. INEC. The first is the annual report. S. 86. (1) of the Act says “Every political party shall submit to the Commission a detailed annual

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statement of assets and liabilities and analysis of its sources of funds and other assets, together with a statement of its expenditure including hard and soft copy of its list of members or in such a form as the Commission may require”.

It would also be recalled that sourcing funds for elections has been a major issue in the country.

In September this year, a group acting under the auspices of the Tinubu-Shettima Connect accused Peter Obi and the Labour Party of violating the provisions of the Electoral Act by engaging in the raising of funds from abroad through unknown sources, warning that there is a dire consequence for such action.

The group called on INEC to, without delay, stop Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, from contesting the 2023 presidential election.

The group also threatened to commence legal action against Obi, his running mate and INEC, as well as to prevent the Labour Party from participating in the 2023 presidential election for engaging in activities that contravene the Electoral Act 2022.

In a statement signed by its convener, Adebanjo Moyosore, the group said it was illegal to raise campaign funds outside Nigeria through unknown sources or unidentified groups.

This development came on the heels of the inauguration of an 11man Diaspora Committee to organise fund-raising activities, among others, by the National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja.

The inauguration also came a day after the party’s Diaspora support groups pledged to crowdfund $150m and N100bn for Obi’s campaign.

Moyosore said the inauguration of a Diaspora committee by the leadership of Labour Party to gather campaign funds from Nigerians in the Diaspora for Obi’s presidential campaign was not only illegal but also criminal.

He said it was “a matter of great public concern as the country has moved from its old practice with INEC trying to bring perfection to the electoral process, unfortunately a few individuals who think they can get away with deliberate act to undermine the electoral law of the land, have already started making sinister moves even when the campaigns are yet to begin in earnest.

“Section 85 of the Electoral Act has clearly explained this. Also, Section 85 (a) (b) provides that any political party that: “(a) holds or possesses any fund outside Nigeria in contravention of section 225 (3) (a) of the Constitution, commits an offence, and shall on conviction forfeit the funds or assets purchased with such funds to the Commission and in addition may be liable to a fine of at least N5,000,000; or “(b) retains any fund or other asset remitted to it from outside Nigeria in contravention of section 225 (3) (a) of the Constitution commits an offence and shall on conviction forfeit the funds or assets to the Commission and in addition may be liable to a fine of at l Also, citing a provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Adebanjo said the law forbids possession of funds by the candidate or political party from overseas.

He said: “Section 225 (2) (3) (4) (a) (b) & (5) of the Constitution provides that: “225(2) Every political party shall submit to the Independent National Electoral Commission a detailed annual statement and analysis of its sources of funds and other assets together with a similar statement of its expenditure in such form as the Commission may require.

“225(3) No political party shall –“(a) hold or possess any funds or other assets outside Nigeria; or “(b) be entitled to retain any funds or assets remitted or sent to it from outside Nigeria.

” 225(4) Any funds or other assets remitted or sent to a political party from outside Nigeria shall be paid over or transferred to the Commission within twenty-one days of its receipt with such information as the Commission may require.”

He noted that the development was worrisome, especially at a time like this when the country’s anti-graft agencies were battling with money laundering from criminal syndicates and traffickers.

It would also be recalled that the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Barrister Julius Abure, while inaugurating an 11-member committee to steer its Diaspora activities to be able to harness the political fortunes of Nigerians in the Diaspora for the Labour Party, said the committee would, among other things, source funding to prosecute the 2023 presidential target of the Labour Party and its candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.

Abure mandated the committee to ensure that it was accountable to Nigerians as he said the candidate they are projecting for the number one job in the country had inspired a movement of Nigerians who want to take their country back and accountability remained the watchword.

Meanwhile, the LP Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi responded to the accusations made by the APC chieftain, Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla, who claimed he was organising a Diaspora group to raise funds from Nigerians living abroad for election campaigns, saying his recent trip abroad was not a fundraising mission but a trip to sensitise and carry along Nigerians abroad on his upcoming agenda of rebuilding the country.

Speaking with THEWILL, Sesan Laoye, a public affairs analyst based in Abuja, said the Electoral Act 2022 has done well over the limitation to election campaign by the candidates and parties.

He also welcomes the INEC’s resolve to monitor the candidates and the parties concerning their expenses in the process of the next year’s election.

“But INEC is like a dog that can only bark but cannot bite. INEC cannot arrest offenders who broke the law on the limitation to election expenses. I will rather advise the INEC to work hand in hand with the Police and the Economic and Financial Commission, (EFCC) to get the culprits to book”.

As the parties kick off their campaign and with less than 100 days before the general election takes place next year, we will wait and see how effectively the INEC can monitor electioneering expenditure and how it will bring defaulters to book.

The law has also permitted those candidates who may find it difficult to raise money for their electioneering project, to engage in crowdfunding

Baba

POLITICS INTERVIEW

2023: PDP Will Form Government of National Unity – Atiku

Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was at the Nigerian Guild of Editors Forum last Wednesday. In an interactive session with journalists on the occasion, he speaks on restructuring, his plan to unify the country, solution to the current insecurity among other issues of national importance.

AYO ESAN brings the excerpts:

The economy of the country is bad. Many Nigerians are even finding it difficult to have meals in a day. If you become the president, how will you handle the economy differently?

Basically I intend to continue with the economic policies we embarked on between 1999 and 2007. Liberalizing the economy for private sectors to create wealth. Liberalising the economy is broad. Empowering the private sector is broad, and of course, continuing with the privatisation of our public enterprises. In other words, we will create a more private sector-driven economy.

If you look at the greatest economies of the World, you would find out that governments have invariably little to do with the economy. They allow the private sector to play its role. And you can see the prosperity and the developments that the private sector has brought about in those places.

If you see the amount of work the government has to do in this country like say, building and rebuilding our ports, constructing our railways lines, building our highways , the amount of money involved, let me borrow Dokpesi’s word , the humongous amount that is required . The money that the government doesn’t have. Rather than borrowing money to build roads and Bridges I would rather concession most of these to the private sector and give them tax grace, invest and get back their money and bring more developments and have jobs for the younger ones. This is what I would do.

You are known as a unifier. What plan do you have to unite all Nigerians and make them to see themselves as one people and one nation with one destiny?

You are asking what plan I have to unite Nigerians. I have answered that question before. In 1999 all the two major political parties had southern candidates. This is because when we rose from the Constitutional Conference of 1994, we all agreed that our next president must come from the South, irrespective of whichever party he belongs to. And we conceded the presidency to the South.

Therefore we had two presidential candidates from the South, Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae. After the elections because the country was divided between the North and the South. We said to avoid division; we said we were going to have a government of national unity. Although PDP won overwhelmingly, we brought in members of the Alliance for Democracy and All Peoples Party as ministers. So with that move, the country immediately became one. That provided peace and stability that we have. Then we embarked on a number of reforms to make sure we provided the people of this country the good government they required.

So this is what I intend to do is that the PDP will form a government of national unity. We will bring members of the opposition who would have lost into government and then, of course, we will move on from there. This is one of the ways to unify this country and we will now begin to move.

Today, we have 17 heads of various security agencies. All of them come from the North; I will not do that. I will make sure that every geopolitical zone is represented in these security outfits. This is also another way you can unify this country and give every part of this country a sense of belonging.

What will you do about the insecurity in the country if you come to power?

Atiku

There will be more votes, more equipment and more training. By the time you double the strength of the Nigeria Police Force, maybe you will be talking of about 700,000 or so. You will have reduced unemployment. So, we will extend that operation to the Armed Forces. By the time you finish doing that, you will find that you would have taken more than one million people out of the unemployment market.

Then, of course, there is the issue of devolution of power and issue of state police. That I will tackle when I talk about the issue of restructuring.

What are you going to do to ensure more women inclusion in governance?

We would have more women in our administration. We did that between1999 and 2007. If you do your research, you would see that our government has the highest; I mean the PDP had the highest number of women in government. This I promise we will continue and we will do, at least 30 per cent.

There is this crisis in your party that involves five state governors. We know you cannot just jettison these governors.

“

We will bring members of the opposition who would have lost into government and then, of course, we will move on from there. This is one of the ways to unify this country and we will now begin to move

What are you doing to ensure you reconcile with them and free the party from the current crisis?

I can assure you that talks are ongoing and I believe we are going to reconcile. It is a family issue and we are taking it as such. We are talking to ourselves. And I believe we will resolve the issue.

You have been talking about restructuring. Are you still standing on it? Are you going to allow the states and the regions to control their own resources when you become president?

“It is rather unfortunate that a section of the media reported my remarks at an event yesterday, which casts doubts on my readiness to implement my restructuring agenda.

“Let me, therefore, use the opportunity of this gathering today with the gatekeepers of the Nigerian media to say that my restructuring agenda is intact and it will be implemented from my first day in office.

I have assembled a team of constitutional lawyers, I told them to give me a proposal on legislation which I can immediately present to the National Assembly on Day One after assuming office to facilitate the necessary amendments to the constitution to ensure restructuring.

“Already, I have received a report from a team of constitutional law experts, which I assembled to look into our constitution and highlight areas where there are items that can be moved to the concurrent and residual lists of the constitution.

I have a copy of the legislation, but I cannot share it with you. I want you to know that amending the constitution requires the Executive, the National Assembly and the state assemblies. It is a whole process.

Let me tell you that I will start work on the implementation of that report from my very first day in office, if I am elected president next year.

You also asked what type of restructuring? Of course, when we say devolution of power, obviously devolution of powers must go hand in hand with a measure of resource control. So it is just logical if your interest is in resource control. Then the powers will be devolved to states and local governments areas.

2023: Catholic Church Tasks FG on Violent-Free Elections

The Catholic Church has tasked the Federal Government to provide enabling environment for citizens to exercise their franchise in 2023, devoid of violence, intimidation, vote buying and vote selling.

This is contained in a communique issued at the end of the church’s 3rd National Pastoral Congress held in Benin.

The communique was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by Padre Mike-Nsikak Umoh, the National Director of Social Communications, on Thursday in Abuja.

“These electoral anomalies harm the democratic process as they contribute to depriving citizens the freedom to make informed choices at elections, by making the process less credible,” it added.

Police Beef up Security Around INEC Office in Kwara

Security has been beefed-up around the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Kwara to protect the facility from attack.

The deployment was in response to calls by INEC for the police to protect its offices nationwide in view of recent attacks and destruction of election materials in some states.

The Kwara Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Attahiru Madami, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin that it was important to prevent any attempt to undermine security around INEC offices.

He expressed confidence that the police would deliver on its mandate of providing a safe and enabling environment for the conduct of the 2023 general elections.

Madami therefore warned miscreants and political thugs to steer clear of INEC facilities.

He said that the commission also partnered the state Fire Service to train

its staff on fire fighting methods and precautions.

The REC added that the bushes around the office have been cleared to avoid bush burning that could trigger a fire outbreak.

On the voters register, Madami urged the public to check their names on the INEC portal and make sure it was written correctly.

According to him, persons caught with double registration would be made to pay a N1 million fine or go to jail, if prosecuted.

“Our Biometric Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) device is one man, one vote and anybody caught with double registration would go to jail or pay a N1 million fine.

“Members of the National Youth Service Corps will be trained on how to use the BVAS before the election,” Madami said.

He stated that the era of rigging elections was over because of the use of BVAS.

Group Lauds Kalu For Mobilising Support For Tinubu in South-East

Agroup, Tinubu Support Organization (TSO), has commended Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu for mobilising support for the actualization of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s presidency in the zone.

Mr. Franklin Ebere-Njoku, SouthEast Zonal Coordinator, Tinubu Support Organization (TSO), made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

Ebere-Njoku described Kalu as a detribalised Nigerian, mobiliser and a visionary leader with enviable leadership qualities.

He called on well meaning people of the South-East to join hands with the support group in electing Tinubu as President come 2023.

The TSO Zonal Coordinator, who

reassured Kalu of the group’s determination to ensure the election of Tinubu, said they had the network and capacity to do it.

“We are hundred per cent committed to Tinubu’s course and we have the spread and capacity to win the SouthEast.

“We are gaining ground and winning more people who truly appreciate the leadership track records of Tinubu,” he said.

Ebere-Njoku solicited for continuous support and collaboration with Kalu and other stakeholders in the SouthEast to attain the desired victory.

He said that the group would not lose focus in the pursuit of its mandate, which is providing quality leadership which Tinubu represents.

2023:

Come Out And Cast Your Vote, Group Urges Women

The Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) has called on the eligible women in the country to come out and cast their votes in the 2023 general elections.

The Chief Executive Officer of NWTF, Mrs Mufuliat Fijabi, made the call on Thursday during the Voter Education Sensitisation Market Outreach organised in conjunction with the European Union (EU) in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign is targeted at increased sensitisation on the active participation of women in all governance processes and, in particular, their roles in the 2023 general elections.

According to Fijabi, it cannot be denied that the democracy practised in Nigeria has not been encouraging.

“For Nigerian women especially, democracy is moving backward, with the dwindling number of women in governance in Nigeria which is alarming.

“However, not voting will only worsen the situation, hence, the reason why we are here today to encourage you to be active participants in the forthcoming elections through the power of your PVC (permanent voter’s card),” she said.

She said it is the duty of the women to make informed decisions as responsible citizens and vote for the best candidate from the people who have declared their interest to lead.

“With the new Electoral Act, and if we do our part, it will not be long before the electoral system improves,” she said.

Fijabi, who said that election day is not a public holiday to rest, said it is the day to take part in the decisions that will guide the country.

“The truth is that, there can be no change without us playing our part as the electorate who can vote and be voted for,” she said. According to her, Nigeria desperately needs more women in government.

“The fresh approach to leadership that women would bring could be the best hope of improving citizens’ quality of life.

“Voting is a constitutional right which we are privileged to have. We should accept it, and exercise it as our right.

It also urged the government to provide adequate security to enable citizens to come out and exercise their franchise.

The church advised citizens to vote candidates of credibility and integrity who have demonstrated the capacity to pilot the affairs of the nation in a responsible and corrupt-free manner.

It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the electoral process “is just, transparent, open, free, fair and credible”.

“INEC, as a genuine umpire, must be neutral and objective and not favour any parties but apply the laws and principles to all in a fair and equitable manner,” it added.

The communique said campaigns should be idea-based devoid of bitterness and unhealthy rivalry.

“Political candidates for the election should avail citizens of their electoral manifestoes including strategies for achieving set goals and objectives.

“It is hoped that political office holders would support their manifestoes with strategies to achieve set targets and actually pursue those goals when elected to office.”

The church reminded Nigerians to hold political office holders accountable.

“On this, Civil Society Organisations should play active roles through advocacy and enlightenment,” it added.

The church expressed concern over the bad shape of the economy, including high cost of energy and staple foods amidst decline in the purchasing power of citizens.

“Government should devise a strategy that makes fuel and other petroleum products available, accessible and affordable,” it added.

It described the new government policy of Naira redesign aimed at curbing inflation and fighting corruption and terrorism, as a lofty idea.

It, however, said that the Naira redesign alone would not provide the needed reprieve for the economy and address the hydra-headed problems of corruption and terrorism.

The church therefore said, “the redesigned naira must be accompanied by strong institutional frameworks and laws.

“Such as an effective policing system, tracking and timely prosecution of corrupt persons and strengthening the security agencies to properly police Nigeria’s borders to prevent the influx of armed bandits from other countries.”

L-R: Chairman Panel Review Meeting on Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali; Èkìtì State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; and Representative of the Minister of Environment, Dr. Musa Gashau; during a Panel review meeting on Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), of the Integrated Agriculture Project, within Iyemero Agricultural Growth Corridor in Ikole Local Government Area, Ekiti State.

www.thewillnigeria.com

FOR THE RECORD

University Of Ibadan Offered Me Apprenticeship Beyond Classroom Academic Exercises

BY KINGSLEY OBIORA

"Good morning your royalties and eminences, the Chancellor, the Pro-Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor, other principal officers of the university, my colleagues from the Central Bank of Nigeria, distinguished guests, graduands, current students, ladies, and gentlemen.

I am truly honoured to be here today, amongst this august assembly. Indeed, I am flattered to be deemed worthy to give a commencement speech at the 74th Foundational Day and Convocation ceremonies of the University of Ibadan; an indisputably esteemed, prestigious, and foremost ivory tower. To be honest, the University of Ibadan is not just the premier university in Nigeria, but the foremost and the most prominent in our sub-region. I wish to commend the management of the University of Ibadan for ensuring that the institution continues to improve and evolve with time.

Since inception, commemorating the Founders’ Day with insightful discourses has become a revered annual ritual of this legendary institution. And as such, I consider myself privileged for the opportunity bestowed on me today; especially as I speak, in my own alma mater, to an audience comprising eminent personalities and renowned academics, including my own teachers.

I also want to specially recognise two of my friends and brothers who are here today: Prof. Musibau Adetunji Babatunde who was my Senior in the postgraduate Programmes here and is now the Honorable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning here in Oyo State, and Prof. Eze Nwokocha who was my next door neighbor in Awolowo Hall, and is now the Dean of the Faculty of The Social Sciences in this University. I am grateful for their friendship and mentorship.

This University means so much to me because the seven years I spent here were without a doubt some of the best and most consequential years of my life! It was in those seven years that I hastened my search for purpose and direction in life, I deepened my curiosity in Economics, got exposed to some of the most brilliant economic thinkers Africa had to offer, and grew in humble confidence that I could compete favourably against students of economics from any other University in the world, including Harvard, Cambridge or Princeton

I also sincerely thank the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, for his kind invitation to this event and for allowing me no choice but to accept his invitation. In fact, many times when we spoke on this matter, he would subtly remind me that my certificate was awarded based on character and learning! I fully understood what he meant by that! I most respectfully appreciate the Senate and Governing Council of this institution, and I acknowledge every single person in the university community. Above all, I congratulate this year’s graduating class, whose fantastic accomplishment I fully recognise and fervently commend.

"Being here today brings back so many pleasant memories of the seven years I spent in this university, from registering for a Masters’ Degree in Economics in the year 2000 to graduating with a Doctorate degree in the same field in 2007. This University means so much to me because the seven years I spent here were without a doubt some of the best and most consequential years of my life! It was in those seven years that I hastened my search for purpose and direction in life, I deepened my curiosity in Economics, got exposed to some of the most brilliant economic thinkers Africa had to offer, and grew in humble confidence that I could compete favourably against students of economics from any other University in the world, including Harvard, Cambridge or Princeton.

"But this University offered me an apprenticeship beyond classroom academic exercises. It was here that I laid the foundations of impactful and practical working experience right here at the Centre for Econometric and Allied Research, I gained lifelong friends and mentors many of who are right here in this auditorium, I married my beloved wife after a 10-year courtship, and in two quick successions, I got employed by two international economic organizations, thereby escaping poverty by God’s grace! That formative period here still truly holds some of the fondest and tenderest memories for me.

"I still recall vividly my journey to the University of Ibadan, an institution I had always viewed in awe from my distant upbringing in Delta and Edo States. After my first degree at the University of Benin, a reputable institution in its own right, providence brought me to Ibadan to serve our fatherland in the NYSC programme. You see, God has a way of aligning our ways and ordering our steps, even when we are oblivious of His divine intentions for us. I was posted to the National Centre for Economic Management and Administration

(NCEMA) in Old Bodija for my primary assignment. This first cognate experience in practical economics turned out to be one of my many blessings in my future academic pursuits.

"When I arrived the Department of Economics here, the first thing that left me speechless and in awe was the rich collection of professors in both the Department itself, and the faculty in general, and most were names that were globally recognised with journal articles or international writings that some of my previous lecturers either quoted or referenced. So you can imagine how shocked I was to be strolling down the hallway of offices in the Department and just seeing these names on the doorposts and wondering, is this real? Are they truly in existence? Would these professors open the door and step out so I can see them? I realised, at that moment, that I had, as a matter of fact, arrived at the El Dorado of economics studies on the continent. How proud I became to be accepted as an apprentice under their erudite guidance.

"When I finally saw these men and women, what struck me more was no longer their indisputable academic accomplishments. What struck me more was their dedication to teaching, their insistence on further learning, and their willingness to help shape our futures. Indeed, their gentle but purposeful nudges in the right direction were vital in who I have become today, and to them all, I am eternally grateful.

"To all those graduating today, I commend the hard work that you exercised to get to this point. It is a wonderful achievement to complete your degree and, today, you deserve to celebrate this feat. Your educational curricula, the training you have undergone, the socalled fire you have passed through were all lined up to help you prepare you for today’s world.

"Some of you may already have fathomed a reasonable idea of your next few steps in life while many others are simply unsure of the outlook. In whichever category you belong, I most certainly wish and believe that you all have bright futures. But that future has to be shaped by none other than you. As Malcolm X once said, the future belongs to those who prepare for it today.

"Yet, if there is one word that can adequately characterize the global economy in the last 2.5 years, and seems to be lurking around in our future, it would be the word ''Crisis ``! Indeed, the title of this year’s IMF Annual Report is “Crisis Upon Crisis”! In the last 2.5 years, the world has dealt with, or is still dealing with a pandemic, an avoidable war in the heart of Europe, unprecedented consumer prices, and a historic level of hunger across a larger swath of the world.

"With 635 million infections and 6.6 million deaths worldwide, the once-in-a-lifetime COVID-19 pandemic quickly metamorphosed from a public health crisis to a global economic crisis as people’s lives and livelihoods were significantly affected. For policymakers, the response to this pandemic was to take extraordinary expansionary policy actions to shield households and businesses from the worst economic effects of the lockdowns, disruptions and deaths. In fact, the G20 economies alone spent over $14 trillion dollars on recovery packages in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Although this was vital, such additional spending meant that many countries faced even more constrained fiscal space and burgeoning public debt. Global borrowing increased by 28 percentage points to 256 percent of GDP in 2020. As of today, government or public debt now represents slightly over 40 percent of total global debt, the highest it has been in 60 years. As the world economy grapples with these realities, we have also seen inflationary pressures not only at record levels but becoming somewhat entrenched in people’s expectations.

"This inflationary trend reflects 4 major factors: a.Energy and food price increases aggravated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

b.Rebalancing of demand in favour of services, that are usually more expensive; and c. Tight labour market reflecting several factors possibly including reluctance to return to pre-pandemic work styles or places.

d.Continuing lockdowns in critical Chinese cities, leading to disruptions in global value chains exacerbated by internal misalignments in their Property and Power sectors. In fact, to understand the enormity of China’s housing market problem, China’s so-called “Ghost Cities” have a total of over 65 million empty apartments, enough to accommodate the entire population of France.

"Even before the war, global food prices were already at near record highs, numbers that were unprecedented since the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization began keeping records in 1960. But the Russia- Ukraine conflict made matters significantly worse because Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of food and energy products. During the 2020/21 harvest season, Russia produced/ exported 7.8 percent of global cereals while Ukraine accounted for 11.3 percent of cereals to the world. Both countries account for 30 percent of global wheat exports, with Russia representing 20 percent and Ukraine representing 10 percent, making them the first and fifth largest wheat exporters in the world.

•Dr. Kingsley Obiora, Deputy Governor (Economic Policy), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), delivered this as the Commencement Speech at the 2022 Convocation & Foundation Day Ceremonies of the University of Ibadan on Tuesday ,15 November 2022.

*Continues online at www. thewillnigeria.com

Obiora

Wanted: Trust Fund For Nigeria’s Sport Heroes

Atimely gesture by the Lagos State Government may have brought some relief to ailing former Green Eagles star, Henry Nwosu, members of his family and millions of football fans who have watched with anxiety as his health worsened by the day.

As of last Tuesday, news reports indicated that Nwosu, who was the youngest member of Nigeria’s 1980 African Cup of Nations winning team, would be heading to Lagos for more advanced medical attention, courtesy of the Lagos State Government which offered to take care of his treatment in a specialist hospital.

Nwosu’s former Green Eagles team mate and legendary football player, Segun Odegbami, had raised the alarm over his worsening health condition, promptly drawing the attention of some state governments, individuals and organisations with a view to stirring them into action.

In a statement issued last Monday, Odegbami painted a distressing picture of Nwosu’s condition and literally screamed for urgent proactive measures to save the latter’s life. According to him, Nwosu could no longer sit or eat unaided and was suffering from memory loss.

News reports claimed that Nwosu was virtually tottering between life and death, he was constantly in pain and

hardly able to talk audibly as his health deteriorated further. The overall impression was that his condition had approached a point at which something had to be done urgently to save his life. It was that bad.

Before responses began to pour in, the erstwhile national football star had been on admission at the Asaba General Hospital in Delta State, bedridden for the most part of the six weeks and broke, having spent all his savings on treatment without positive results.

Although the Delta State Government undertook to settle his medical bills, the reality on the ground was that Nwosu, who not only played for the Green Eagles but also coached some of Nigeria’s national teams, was in a precarious situation unless something was done urgently to save him.

So far, there have been reactions to the call to help revive the football hero’s health. According to reports, a telecommunication company and businessman, Femi Otedola, have indicated interest in the matter. So did the Old Boys Association of Nwosu’s alma mater, St Finbarr’s College in Lagos and the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN).

A former Captain of the Green Eagles and Coach of the Super Eagles, Christian Chukwu, had a similar experience in 2019. He, too, was down with an undisclosed ailment in Enugu and languishing for want of proper medical attention until a patron of the Enugu Rangers Football Club

Players Association, Bensom Ejindu, raised the alarm on his condition.

At a point, when it seemed that no help was coming, Otedola graciously stepped in and facilitated Chukwu’s trip to a specialist hospital in London, England for treatment of his health condition, with a muchneeded donation of $50,000.

The businessman’s participation in the rescue effort did not stop there; he personally paid a visit to the hospital to ensure that Chukwu’s treatment went according to plan.

These cases involving Henry Nwosu and Christian Chukwu expose a lack of planning for a sustainable welfare programme for Nigeria’s sports heroes. We affirm that like other citizens of this country, our sports heroes and heroines have a right to live in relatively good health, more so, after serving their country meritoriously.

A former Captain of the Green Eagles and Coach of the Super Eagles, Christian Chukwu, had a similar experience in 2019. He, too, was down with an undisclosed ailment in Enugu and languishing for want of proper medical attention until a patron of the Enugu Rangers Football Club Players Association, Bensom Ejindu, raised the alarm on his condition

With regard to national football players, who have distinguished themselves on the pitch in the service of the country, we believe that a holistic approach to player welfare benefits the well-being of the players themselves and can influence the perception of sport as a whole and its subsequent power to be a vehicle for positive societal change.

Indeed, what it will require to guarantee adequate healthcare and welfare for the country’s sports heroes and heroines after retirement is for government, corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals, who are not really in short supply, to pool resources together and set up a trust fund or some other related financial facility that will cater to their health needs and welfare.

We call on the relevant government agencies, private organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to do everything possible to bring Nwosu back to good health.

THEWILL NEWSPAPER • www.thewillnigeria.com

Tyranny of The Vocal Minority

BY FREDERICK NWABUFO

It must be their way or the highway to hell. These are intellectual indigents who have secured residence on different social media platforms. They maul and bludgeon anyone who differs from the herd. According to them, death is the penalty for differing. But this insidious mob can have their say; they cannot have their way.

While Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has steadied his campaign on critical issues – economy, security, education, healthcare and the like – some other presidential candidates have been dutiful in advancing hate and fake news.

It is dispiriting that some young people enlist themselves into morbid mobs to tear down divergent voices for some assumed political messiahs. Patriotism is defined by the choice of a candidate, and not by allegiance to national ideals. It is very unfortunate.

Youth unemployment should be a critical issue this season. The current unemployment rate is put at 33 percent. It is really concerning. There is no doubt that this is a vector of a spectrum of social anomalies. With a youth population of over 120 million, it is imperative that young people are at the heart of policymaking in Nigeria.

In his Action Plan titled ‘Renewed Hope’, Tinubu delineated seminal elements to harnessing youth potential. He says, as president, the youth will not be exploited to do the bidding of the government. He says his administration will aim to cut the youth unemployment rate in half within four years through entrepreneurship and job creation as well as through social and political empowerment.

On the entrepreneurship and job creation plank, Tinubu says his government will work with the CBN to develop

suitable incentives to encourage commercial banks to target low-cost loans towards a given quota of youthled enterprises. He says commercial banks will also be encouraged to ensure their loan application processes are simplified and give greater priority to young people with marketable ideas, and that federally owned and affiliated banking institutions will immediately be mandated to develop similar schemes for young entrepreneurs.

The APC presidential candidate says there will be an increase in intergenerational, business mentoring and cooperation with two million volunteer entrepreneurs and professionals across the nation committed to working with the youth to find employment, hone job skills and create businesses.

This is clearly a plan and an antiserum to the contagion of youth restiveness and delinquency. It is disturbing that young people on the internet resort to promoting ethnic and religious prejudices, and passing sentences, threats, and curses on those whose political choice is at variance with their preference.

Concerning are the chronic onslaughts by supporters of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), against citizens from the south-east, who do not support his bid. They threaten to cause harm, curse and use every vile instrument in Frankenstein’s toolbox to drive fear and intimidate differing voices. Such hate and prejudice should not be found among well-meaning citizens.

Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, became a casualty of the Obi Red Army when he only confirmed the obvious. In an interview in 2018, Peter Obi claimed he invested $20 million in International Breweries on behalf of Anambra state while he was governor. This is a company he has an interest in.

But, Soludo said Peter Obi’s purported investments in Anambra are worth next to nothing.

He said: “I think there was something I read about somebody speculating about whatever investment. With what I’ve seen today, the value of those investments is worth next to nothing. So, let’s leave that aside.’’

It is disturbing that despite the promise of issue-based campaigns by contending political parties, the entire political expedition is dissolving into a free-for-all with divisive methods, slander and fake news deployed, particularly by opposing parties.

The rippling of a fake statement purportedly emanating from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alleging a probe of Tinubu is a clear breach of the sanctity of the campaigns. Although INEC quickly torpedoed the fake statement, the attempt underscores the predatory and sinister complexion of our politics.

As I often say, if we divide the country during the campaigns, we will have to live with the consequences of presiding over a divided people. If the purpose of seeking power is for the good of all, then we must begin by keeping the campaigns clean. What is the good of power when the next government will spend the next four years struggling to mend fences and manage diversity without success? We will only be reinventing a parlous wheel. If we sow hate during the campaigns, we will reap hate afterwards. The travails of the past years should teach us not to make campaigns about ethnic and religious prejudices, threats, curses, slander, and fake news.

The parties going down this scorched and serpentine path must beat a retreat.

•Nwabufo is a writer and journalist

PDP, Furious Five And Dark Clouds

BY MAGNUS ONYIBE

Iam of the conviction that no pundit had envisaged that the current chasm in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would grow from a mere rift into a crisis of the monumental dimension that it has assumed.

Usually, after party primaries that are often rancorous, after being bitterly fought, healing balms are applied on bruised egos. But it would appear as if the PDP has been bucking the trend since 2011 after Goodluck Jonathan won the presidency and the aggrieved members broke ranks with the leadership of the party resulting in the trouncing of the party in 2015.

The assertion above is underscored by the fact that the level of attrition and acrimony currently existing in the main opposition party was uncommon in the history of Nigerian politics until it popped up in the PDP between 2011 and 2015.

That is when a coalition of five (5) opposition parties: CPC, ACN, ANPP and APGA, including a splinter group from the ruling party that branded itself nPDP in cahoots with the opposition party, unseated then ruling PDP from Aso Rock Villa seat of presidential power.

Although, in 2019, the party managed to remain together after the primaries held in Portharcourt, Rivers State, where the Governor, Nyesom Wike, who became the chief financier of the party, was doggedly fighting for the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal, current Governor of Sokoto State, as the party’s presidential flag bearer in a fierce contest that was eventually won by the current presidential candidate of the party, Turaki Atiku Abubakar (aided by the infamous ‘Kaduna mafia’), the fractured bones and cracked skulls from that epic dwell were quickly mended.

Curiously, the fallout from the party’s primaries in 2019 was not allowed to metastasize in the manner that the 2023 general elections primaries for the party to recruit political leaders in the next election have been allowed to degenerate into a very dangerous dimension.

So, what is going on, and better still, what political fundamentals and dynamics are currently in play or might have gone askew?

Is the fact that five (5) opposition parties collapsing into one party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to oust the thenruling party in 2015, and currently another five (5) furious

Governors are badly jeopardising the chances of the PDP returning to Aso Rock Villa in 2023 an ominous sign?

And is the constant occurrence of the number five (5) in the misfortune of PDP a significant malaise?

If it is, would the building of a coalition of opposition political forces featuring Musa Kwakwanso’s New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Chukwuma Soludo’s All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dumebi Kachikwu’s Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), Omoyele Sowore’s African Action Congress (AAC), and Adewole Adebayo’s Social Democratic Party(SDP) or even Chris Okotie’s Fresh Democratic Party (FDP), be the cure or panacea to the PDP bogey or jinx with the number five (5)?

For instance, I believe that Dr Kwakwanso’s NNPP is open for dialogue towards reaching an agreement for a coalition. The fact that his party actually initially negotiated with the Labour Party, LP to join forces but could not get to a yes, and a recent comment by the Presidential candidate of the party that becoming president of Nigeria is not a do-or-die affair to him, l am inclined to believe that he may be open to negotiation. And why not?

NNPP has been recently revealed as fielding the next highest number of candidates for all the political offices after the ruling APC and main opposition, PDP. It is clear to even the uninitiated in politics that both the party and its presidential candidate have zero chance of taking over Aso Rock Villa after president Mohammadu Buhari exits office on May 29, 2023.

That is quite unlike the LP, who despite all the odds stacked against it, which makes its ambition to be the party calling the shots from the presidential Villa in 2023 more like a vaulting ambition than a realisable one, Kwakwanso with his NNPP is obviously not deluding himself or fantasising about succeeding President Buhari in Aso Rock Villa.

Before proceeding further, l would like to crave the indulgence of readers to allow me to deviate a bit to extol the virtues of Peter Obi and his team that infused life into the political gravebound LP until about six (6)months ago, when it evolved into a high flying political party.

I would also like to credit him for igniting the interest of

erstwhile politically dormant youths, who were at best engaged as political thugs.

Today, the youths surge in politics ignited by Obi has generated over ten (10) million new voters, which is a significant addition to the number of registered voters in Nigeria, which was only a little above eighty (80) million in 2019, and which is currently ninety-three (93) million that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has informed us would be expected to cast their ballots to determine who our next set of political leaders would be from 2023.

Of course, giving credit to Obi’s movement for rallying our youth force is not discountenancing, the critical role played by the National Assembly, NASS and the Presidency, in the electoral reform exercise carried out in 2022 via the new electoral act 2022, which has codified the introduction of the use of electronic transfer of election results to INEC database from the polling booths, and the use of Electronic Biometric Verification System, BVAS, etc, all of which have played critical roles in bringing fidelity into the electoral process, hence more Nigerians decided to take the civic responsibility of voting more seriously.

Also, it must be put on record that it is Obi and LP that have pioneered in Nigeria (in the course of this election season), the concept of party members collectively funding it via donations and contributions from members and wellwishers.

Before now, it was an anathema that members that are non-government appointees would be funding a party over a long period. The alternative used to be that money bags would form and fund the party. If it fails to make a significant impact in producing a president, governors, or members of the legislature in a relatively short period, soon after its formation, it gets atrophied largely due to a lack of funding.

So, traditionally sustainable funding for parties comes from the coffers of government via its appointees into public trust positions and money bags/godfathers, not party members. In fact, the tradition is that party supporters expect and receive money from politicians seeking to get elected into public offices.

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

BY SAM DIALA

Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) accumulated a total debt of N5.28 trillion in seven years of President Muhammadu Buhari administration: from 2015 to 2022. This amount, which comprises domestic and external debts, represents a 220 percent increase from N1.65 trillion collectively owed by the sub-nationals in 2015.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) which published these figures in its latest report on “Nigeria’s Total Public Debt as at June 30, 2022” also showed in another report that the subnationals achieved a total internally generated revenue (IGR) of N1.90 trillion as of H1 2022. Although the IGR performance was a remarkable improvement compared with N612.67 billion recorded in 2015, representing a 210.5 percent increase, analysts express concern about the huge debt profile of the sub-nationals against their lean revenues.

“There are genuine reasons to worry. The states keep piling debts while their revenues are not showing commensurate improvement. Furthermore, the consistent decline in the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) remittance, which is a major source of revenue for the three tiers of government, underlines a healthy fiscal condition and signals danger ahead,” said Daramola Olaleye, a financial management expert.

Olaleye’s views are not out of place: The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited has made zero remittance to FAAC since January 2022. This was due to dwindling oil revenue triggered by a slump in Nigeria’s

production level. The country has witnessed unprecedented levels of crude oil theft and pipeline destruction in recent times which culminated in severe fiscal challenges for the nation. Additionally, money earned from residual oil export is spent on humongous petrol subsidy that sucks up the revenue. This sad development has worsened the financial condition of the sub-nationals battling to remain afloat amid high inflation, steep devaluation of the naira and rising unemployment rate. Consequently, the states battle to pay salaries, backlog of pensions and meet other governance commitments.

A recent 2022 Nigerian Sub-National Salary Survey by BudgIT, a Nigerian civil tech organisation, identified 12 out of the 36 states in the country that owe their civil servants at least one month’s salary as at July 31, 2022.

The states are Abia, Imo, Cross Rivers, Taraba, Adamawa, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Kogi.

The report also showed that of the above-mentioned states, Imo, Cross Rivers, Adamawa, Abia and Edo have the most miserable Nigerians as their cost of living has surged amid record-high unemployment, making them poorer.

“We conducted this empirical survey to spotlight and identify state governments that have consistently failed to meet the essential requirement of governance and employee compensation, thereby subjecting their workers to unpaid labour and harsh living conditions,” BudgIT said. Economic analysts posit that

t was a moment of jubilation and thankfulness as winners of the 12th edition of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Foundation Secondary School Essay Competition were announced at a special event held in the bank’s head office in Lagos.

Students of select schools were invited alongside institutions whose students emerged winners in different categories of the award. Parents and media representatives

Alawuba

Oniha

IFC, Microsoft Tackle Africa's Food, Security Challenges

agribusinesses.

The partnership makes digital tools and training resources more accessible to smallscale farmers and agriculture-linked small businesses.

The United Nations identifies Zero Hunger as one of its Sustainable Development Goals. This goal seeks to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

In a session during Adaptation and Agriculture Day at COP27 in Egypt, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Microsoft through its Africa Transformation Office (ATO) showcased their partnership to support digital transformation in Africa’s agriculture sector to support the achievement of this goal. The partnership is delivering digital agriculture products that support African agribusinesses to strengthen food security and develop greater resilience against climate change.

Agriculture contributes about 25 percent of Africa’s GDP and 70 percent of its employment. However, supply chains of many agribusinesses in Africa are fragmented and suffer from poor information flows. Additionally, many farmers rely on traditional agronomic practices and technologies that are under increasing pressure from climate-related shocks. Digital technology can improve the operation of key supply chains in the food system through greater agricultural efficiencies, improved business practices, traceability, food safety and

The partnership is delivering digital agriculture products that support African agribusinesses to strengthen food security and develop greater resilience against

access to finance.

Through the partnership, digital tools such as Microsoft’s AgBot and Community Training applications are integrated with IFC’s Agribusiness Leadership Program to provide better information, newer technologies, and management capacity training to agribusinesses, farmers and cooperatives.

“Digital technology can improve the operation of key supply chains in the food system by boosting production, improving business practices, promoting traceability and increasing access to finance. However, the use of digital tools in Africa’s agriculture sector remains limited, often because of infrastructure, affordability, awareness, and regulatory issues,” said Henrik Elschner Pedersen, IFC’s Director for Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services in Africa. “IFC and Microsoft are working together to change this so more agricultural players in Africa can leverage the power of the digital economy.”

Current research estimates that smallholder farmers account for 80 percent of the farming community, with an estimated 33 million smallholder farmers, but they are often hard to reach, residing in remote areas, and lack access to skills, knowledge and agricultural support services.

“The changing climate presents new future opportunities for farmers in relation to emerging markets for carbon credits, Regenerative Agriculture, and the application of ‘Nature-based Services’. However, these new opportunities need to be underpinned by robust management and reporting systems. These are precisely the systems that are supported by the new suite of digital tools,” says Kunle Awosika, Managing Director for Microsoft ATO.

The package of digital tools provides users with the opportunity to upskill in areas such as more productive climate-smart farming practices and the application of ‘farming as a business’. The digital tools delivered through the partnership are leveraging Microsoft’s agritech chatbot known as the AgBot, which provides extension and advisory services to smallholder farmers using either feature phones or smartphones, via SMS, WhatsApp and Telegram. The AgBot provides a key platform that farmers can use to access information such as weather alerts, crop advisories, pest diagnosis, and market prices.

www.thewillnigeria.com

ICT/FINANCE

States in Trouble Over N5.28trn Debt Under Buhari

Continued from page 32 people being owed salaries might see themselves plunged into higher incidence of poverty because they will struggle to pay for the basic needs of life. It is devastating at a time the states undergo sustained increase in the prices of commodities and services.

The survey also highlighted that Abia State currently owes its state tertiary institution workers six months’ salary, while Ebonyi has not paid its pensioners in the last six months. Secretariat workers in Taraba, reportedly, complained of irregular salary payments for up to six months. Similarly, lecturers at state tertiary institutions and midwives in the state-owned hospital in Ondo State have not been paid a dime in the last four months.

The report further showed that health institution workers in Abia have not been paid salaries in the last 10 months. “These are signs of hard times ahead as the states battle to repay and service their debts amid low revenue inflow”, Olaleye said.

The federal government has serviced domestic debt with N1.33 trillion in the first half of 2022, a 43 per cent Year-on-Year (YoY) increase from N935.46 billion reported in the first half of 2021. Data from DMO further showed that domestic debt service was at N2.05 trillion in 2021, a 10.8 percent increase from N1.85 trillion in 2020. This suggests that the states will be spending a huge chunk of their resources on debt servicing.

The Federal Government’s move to commence the deduction of a N614 billion bailout fund, which it gave to 35 states of the federation, was greeted with protest by the governors who said it would create severe financial hardship for them. The government had extended the conditional budget support facility to the 35 states through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to help them pay their workers’ salary and settle their pension obligations.

The then Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, said the governors demanded a reconciliation of accounts between the federal and state governments before repaying the bailout fund granted them. The reconciliation, the governors argued, would allow the states to deduct the debts the federal government owed states as a result of the repair of federal roads undertaken by the state governments in their domains.

Given the prevailing realities, the measure could only provide a temporary relief as the federal government battles with dwindling oil revenue which has lingered over time.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Timipre Sylva, disclosed in August 2022 that the country lost 400,000

“

barrels of crude daily via oil theft. Nigeria’s oil production slumped by 28 million barrels between January and July 2022, threatening the Federal Government’s N9.37 trillion oil and gas revenue target by the end of the year.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, blamed oil production shutins due to pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and high petrol subsidy cost. These have compounded the financial woes of the sub-nationals which depend largely on the monthly FAAC receipts to fund their budgets and other commitments.

“This is why the states are in trouble now and should be prepared for greater trouble in the days ahead because the ‘free lunch is over’ and the chicken has come home to roost”, said Reuben Omokhodion, Management Consultant, in a note to THEWILL. The finance expert noted that while the FAAC proceeds have been relatively buoyant amid NNPC’s zero remittance since January 2022, the citizens will be bearing additional burden of increased taxes without knowing it, thereby making them poorer.

No fewer than 133 million Nigerians, representing 63 per cent of the population, are currently living in multi-dimensional poverty, the NBS has disclosed.

According to the Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2022 Survey, which was released last week by the statistical agency, there are high deprivations in sanitation, access to healthcare, food insecurity, and housing.

The report shows that poverty is higher in the rural areas where 72 per cent of the people are poor, compared to 42 per cent in the urban areas. It stated that about 70 per cent of Nigerians live in rural areas, yet these areas are home to 80 percent of poor people.

climate change

Economic analysts posit that people being owed salaries might see themselves plunged into higher incidence of poverty because they will struggle to pay for the basic needs of life

Ecstasy as Winners Emerge in UBA School Essay Competition

also witnessed the grand ceremony held in the bank’s event hall.

For the 12th edition of its annual essay competition among secondary school students in Nigeria, the UBA Foundation asked participants to write on the topic: “ASUU strike has often cost Nigerian students time. Advise governments on how they can reach an agreement with ASUU to improve tertiary education in the nation.”

At the end of the evaluation, a 15-year-old student of the Federal Government Girls College, Ikot-Obio Itong, Akwa-Ibom State, Usongubong Paul, was ranked first, scoring 69 per cent. She was rewarded with a scholarship worth N5 million, and received a laptop, among other gifts.

Princess Sholabomi, 15, of Value Spring College, Lagos, was ranked second scoring 65.5 per cent, and was rewarded with N3,000,000 educational grant and a laptop; while the third prize of N2,500,000 and a laptop was won by another 15-year old student- Sharon Nwajiaku of Ota Total Academy, Ogun State.

The other nine finalists, which included only one boy, Daniel Idom, also received laptops, among other consolation prizes.

Miss Usongobong, who was accompanied to the event by a member of the school’s multimedia team, Akanyere Chigozie, said she was excited by the feat, saying she never expected she could go that far in the competition.

She said: “I am so grateful to the UBA Foundation for this great opportunity. It has helped me to believe in myself and bolstered my confidence. This scholarship will go a long way towards assisting in my dream to become an ophthalmologist. This opportunity has changed my life.”

The bank’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, said the institution

remains vested in the African youth, describing them as the future of the continent.

He said: “As a bank, we are interested in empowering our youth, and to do this, we must educate them, through efforts such as these. The truth is that we are launching these programmes in all the 20 countries where UBA has presence. Already, some of these countries have started. I was in Sierra Leone a few weeks ago where the NEC was held, and I was really encouraged by the enthusiasm and participation. Since we at UBA know that our future lies with our kids, they will take Africa to the world where it needs to be.”

In its report presented during the grand finale of the competition at the headquarters of the financial institution in Lagos, the fourmember panel of judges said a good number of scripts out of about 5,000 received, lamented the strike by the lecturers.

The report was read on behalf of the panel by a Professor of English Literature at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Asabe Kabir. Other members include Emmanuel Omobowale, Ini Uko and Samuel Onuigbo, all professors from various universities.

According to Mrs Asabe, the judges were excited about the topic, saying they had thought its liberality ought to “have given the students independent reasoning to express new ideas broadmindedly with unadulterated points, devoid of much plagiarism as have been observed in previous years, especially from those who would soon join the university system.”

Meanwhile, out of the almost 5,000 entries, Mrs Asabe said 12 were able to proceed to the next stage by writing on another topic: “Nigeria and the Brain Drain: The Interface between a Better Life and a Loss of Fortunes”.

NCC Commends Ondo Govt Broadband Plan Through Odua Infraco

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has commended the Government of Ondo State for its commitment to deployment of broadband infrastructure through the Odua Infraco, urging other states to come on board the efforts to make the service available to their citizens.

A delegation of Ondo State, led by the Chairman of Ondo State Information Technology Agency, SITA, Mr. Olumbe Akinkugbe, had visited the Commission to seek advice on the best ways to enjoy seamless deployment of broadband in the state, taking a cue from the recent Broadband Technical Awareness Forum (BTAF) organized for State Governors in Abuja by the Commission.

Director Legal and Regulatory Services of the Commission, Miss Josephine Amuwa, who received the delegation on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, commended the visitors for their timely pursuit of the programme and assured them of Commission’s commitment to achieving milestones in Broadband Infrastructure deployment in the State.

“We consider the meeting a watershed in our efforts at transforming Nigeria into a major digital hub in Africa, through transforming all the states of the Federation. We are particularly elated by the fact that your request for this engagement came on the heels of the Broadband Technical Awareness Forum (BTAF) organized by the Commission, for which we received a very positive scorecard from you,” she said.

Amuwa listed the challenges impeding the progress of Broadband Infrastructure deployment to include Right-of-Way issues; indiscriminate charges and levies; hostilities by local communities; among others.

Consequently, a tripartite committee to discuss the Ondo State Government plan with the Odua Infraco, and the Commission, was set up to discuss and harness mutual benefits; and to recommend the best ways to drive the actualization of such mutual benefits to the nation, the State and citizens. The committee is to report to the Ondo State Executive Council through NCC’s EVC on monthly basis

The collaboration particularly targets how to use Information Communication Technology (ICT) to deliver more government services and simplify government operations.

United Nations Releases US$10.5m For Nigeria Flood Response

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

The United Nations on Friday released a total of US$10.5 million from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF) and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to provide assistance to people affected and left vulnerable by floods across Nigeria, including those in northeast Nigeria who are already ravaged by conflict.

A $5 million NHF allocation will provide much needed water, sanitation, health care, shelter and non-food items support to over 264,000 people in the states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY), covered by the Humanitarian Response Plan 2022, who are reeling from the combined impact of floods, protracted conflict, rising hunger and a cholera outbreak.

The NHF funds will complement a $5.5 million CERF rapid response allocation for the states most affected by flooding in Nigeria that will help provide clean water, sanitation, hygiene, emergency shelter and health care assistance for 495,000 people in Anambra, Bayelsa, Kogi, and Niger states. The funds will also help recovery in these states. The allocation will complement ongoing response efforts by the Government of Nigeria and the Nigerian Red Cross/Red Crescent.

“In my visits to Anambra, Adamawa and Bayelsa, I met and spoke with people who are struggling to put food on the table and to get clean water to drink. Many have no shelter and have lost all their possessions and livelihoods,” said Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale.

“What I saw in Bayelsa, which was essentially cut off from the rest of the country, with homes and fields underwater and some people still sleeping on boats, reminded me of the images coming of out of Pakistan several weeks ago.”

According to the latest data by national authorities, flooding since July has affected more than 4.4 million people across Nigeria. Over 2.4 million people are displaced, about half of them in Bayelsa alone (1.2 million). More than 660 people have lost their lives.

The floods have also damaged over 650,000 hectares of farmland across the country.

“The massive destruction to food crops will have implications on food security in the immediate term,” said Mr. Schmale.

“As flood waters recede, the most urgent priority is to help affected people get back to what is left of their homes and to regain lost assets and livelihoods. Farmers for example, will require seeds and other agricultural support.”

More than 19.5 million people in Nigeria were already facing severe food insecurity before the floods, according to the 2022 Cadre Harmonisé food security and nutrition assessment.

As discussions at the Climate Change Conference (COP 27) in Egypt draw to a close, the flooding in Nigeria is yet another reminder that climate change has a devastating impact on already poor and vulnerable people and will continue to determine their ability to survive unless urgent action is taken.

The CERF rapid response allocation for the Flood Response outside the BAY states is the second rapid response allocation this year.

In May and September, CERF released $10 million and $15 million, respectively, to support the food insecurity and nutrition response in north-east Nigeria.

L–R: Head X-Academy, Nigerian Exchange Limited, Ms. Ugochi Obi; Head, Listing Regulation, NGX Regulation Limited, Mr. Godstime Iwenekhai; Sustainability, Nigeria & Pan Africa, Dangote Cement Plc, Dr. Igazeuma Okoroba, General Manager and Director, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Mr. Douglas Kativu during a capacity building session in sustainability reporting and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) disclosures for listed corporates organized by NGX, GRI, NGX RegCo in Lagos on November 18,2022.

Photo: Peace Udugba.

What comes to mind anytime this company called NSITF (National Social Insurance Trust Fund) comes up in the news? Fraud. That’s right. The key news that stems out of that organization is all about embezzlement and mismanagement. The latest bad news – after some calm – was that an official of the organization claimed that receipts and documents for several years may have been eaten up by termites as they were stored in some container outside their premises.

The amount in contention was N17.85 billion. This statement was of course slightly sensationalized by the media and became another embarrassment for the government at large, to the extent that NSITF had to take out pages in the newspapers to explain what its official meant and so on.

However, people have become tired of these explanations and a permanent gorge seem to have evolved into a chasm between the leaders and the led, the government and the people. I was therefore miffed when sometime last year, I received a letter from the NSITF saying they intend to come and inspect my books in my small company.

Indeed, it was the first time any agency would come inspecting –apart from our regulator of course. Why would NSITF come to disturb me in my office? I wasn’t even happy paying them, but I’m being forced to do so statutorily. Apart from NSITF, yearly, I make payments to Industrial Training Fund (ITF), remit to Pension Fund Administrators for staff, obtain a certificate from the National Pensions Commission (PENCOM), and of course pay company income and personal income taxes. All the works.

So, I wrote back to NSITF that as much as they wish to inspect our books for compliance and propriety, I was also interested in getting explanations for some of the egregious waste of the monies we had been paying them in 16 years of our operations. I itemized some of the scandals in the newspapers about the fund as follows:

1. Ministry accuses NSITF Management of N3.4 Billion Fraud (Premium Times, July 4, 2020)

2. Fraud: FG Uncovers N62.555 Billion Unaccounted for in NSITF (Nairametrics July 19. 2018)

3. Reps to Prove N2.3 Billion NSITF Fraud (The Nation December 18, 2019)

4. FG Inaugurates Panel to Probe Alleged Fraud against NSITF MD, Others (Thisday July 16, 2020)

5. N6.4bn NSITF Fraud: Ubani Withdraws Suretyship of Olejeme, Blasts Magu (DailyPost April 17, 2021)

6. Another Alleged N48bn Fraud Scandal at NSITF (National Daily, July 22, 2020)

7. Alleged N18bn Fraud: EFCC Arraigns ex-NSITF Boss, 4 Others. (Blueprint. Nov 27, 2017)

It was the most I could get in a quick Google search. Paying hardearned money to NSITF felt very much like dumping money in the ocean or setting money on fire. Perhaps worse. I couldn’t get it out of my mind that I was paying some lucky civil servant, labour union leader, or political appointee to continue to build his/her misguided empire. The last 5 management teams of this organization have been dismissed in ignominy with serious allegations of fraud. Perhaps more. The Somefun-led management alleged bullying by the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, but I’m not sure it was able to prove its own fidelity.

It had to be ejected. These are people appointed by the sitting president or vice president of the Federal Republic. Every year or two, it’s about huge billions getting missing. I am personally traumatized and I’m sure it’s the same for all Nigerians, especially people who run companies and adhere to the statutory requirement of paying to NSITF.

Of course, the NSITF rep that came to my office merely pleaded with me that he was not a management staff and that all the ‘stealing’ happened at the ‘top’ in their office. He didn’t deny that he worked in a place riddled with corruption, theft, and wanton stealing. Honestly, I appreciated his honesty.

He sort of pities us the players. I think more players should ask NSITF more questions because we cannot just be dumping money into a blast furnace every year. And NSITF should know that it has quite a nerve asking to come and inspect the books of companies given its own sordid records which needs to be repaired from within.

And so, the other day I was discussing this with a friend, and he said to me that NSITF is meant to be our own DOLE (Department of Labour and Employment) in the UK. Everyone knows that in the UK, able-bodied men till tomorrow queue up in the labour department to collect cash for survival. That is called ‘queueing for the dole’. Whereas we have been forced lately – especially by

Ngige

wabba

COVID19 – to set up several ‘conditional cash transfer’ schemes with varying levels of efficiency and accountability, we do not yet have a well-established system like the United Kingdom. The question is also whether we need and want any of such.

If the UK has achieved a lot over the centuries, we haven’t done much here, and there are myriads of opportunities for work in a developing nation such as ours. Yet, it is worth investigating whether NSITF was conceived initially with the intention of being our own DOLE and backing up people who lost their jobs or who don’t have one. Why the name SOCIAL INSURANCE TRUST FUND? It must mean that this agency of government was intended to anchor social insurance in a big way.

How then did NSITF a place that only caters for ‘injuries sustained on the job’? People who say we have all the agencies we need in Nigeria, to function like those countries that our young – and not-so-young – are ;japaing’ to today, are very correct. If we check very carefully, all the great ideas are here. But we have a way of ensuring that good ideas don’t work or become liabilities unto the system.

Why create a Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs when we have NSITF? Why is NSITF under the Ministry of Labour? Perhaps

it is an idea muted by Labour leaders. All the same, rather than this current status where the organization is adrift, claiming to pay people who sustained accidents on the job (not those who die, mind you), effectively narrowing its scope and responsibility and becoming a slush fund for labour leaders and politicians alike, on the sweat of innocent companies who pay yearly, the next government should notice this organization as a very likely catalyst for great impact on the people. I don’t run a factory. People don’t get injured in my office. The NSITF does not cover injuries OUTSIDE the office. But I pay. And so do hundreds of thousands of organizations.

Why? Someone should compare the collections against their payout of liabilities and we will see that the margin is as wide as the Atlantic Ocean. Personally, I want to say that private companies do not have so much money to waste on NSITF. Nigerian companies need to be encouraged to pay statutory taxes and other dues properly. Agencies such as the NSITF have so far been a source of discouragement in that regard. Accountability is very paramount.

The scope of NSITF should be very national. Its purview should be every Nigerian suffering everywhere. Imagine that the country is submerged in floods now and not a word from a SOCIAL INSURANCE TRUST FUND. A fund into which – like the TETFUND – Nigerian companies pay incredible amounts of money waiting to be embezzled! We can see the impact of TETFUND in our tertiary institutions can’t we? Where is the impact of NSITF?

This is not acceptable. I believe that indeed, the process of reviewing and resetting the raison d’etre of this fund should start now. And no crazy labour leader should stand in the way. It is a national fund, not a receptacle for collection of labour dues. Labour leaders can continue to become billionaires on those other funds within their purview from their members. The injustice and corruption that has become NSITF must stop immediately. The next government, please take copious notes. In the United Kingdom that I am used to, it is the contribution of ‘NI’ – National Insurance – that is used for the many big interventions – health, education, unemployment benefits – that our people now run to, embarrassingly plonking their extended families along and further damaging the sullied image of Nigeria. I can’t blame most of them. It’s the slackness over here.

•Fasua, an Economist and Businessman, is the founder/CEO, Global Analytics Consulting Ltd.

“

BY TOPE FASUA

45 Years of CBN Intervention

Cbn InterventIons In AkwA Ibom And Cross rIver stAtes

The development initiatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was introduced to stimulate and sustain growth in key sectors of the economy, revive moribund projects, empower the youth population, explore the untapped potential in the various economic landscapes and enhance foreign exchange inflow. These interventions have significantly contributed to the overall growth of the Nigerian economy. From the provision of loans at concessionary rates to cushioning the dastardly effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, these initiatives originally designed to address issues surrounding core sectors of the economy, have now become a lifeline for most Nigerians.

The CBN undertakes these developmental functions to facilitate a seamless attainment of its objectives.

AKWA IBOM STATE

Located in Southern Nigeria, Akwa Ibom state is home to vibrant and industrious Nigerians who are predominantly civil servants. The main economic activities in the region include fishing (for riverine and coastal dwellers), farming (mostly for upland dwellers), trading, and artisanship.

To support the economic activities in the state, the CBN has financed approximately 22,585 projects which has had a direct impact on poverty reduction, job creation and improved standards of living.

Name: Wilson Aniekan Mfon

Intervention: Targeted Credit Facility

Sector: SME (Fashion and Design) Location:

Wilson Aniekan Mfon is a young Nigerian fashion designer. He has always been passionate about creating uniquely designed pieces for his clients but was constrained by finance. He accessed a loan through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Targeted Credit Facility, which he utilized in acquiring more sewing machines. This enabled him increase the number of tailors employed by him. Upscaling his business has enabled him meet clients demands and take up more share of the available market. According to him, accessing the loan empowered him to add the production of children’s apparel to the adult line.

Mr Wilson Mfon is grateful to the Central Bank of Nigeria for the opportunity the Targeted Credit Facility has afforded him to expand his business.

Name: Premier Medical Services Intervention: Health Sector Intervention Fund Facility (HSIF) Sector: Health Location: No 3, High Tension Lane, Uyo, Akwa Ibom

Premier Medical Services Hospital is a medical establishment whose objective is ensuring its clients have access to qualitative and affordable healthcare without having to leave the shores of the country. This objective has come closer to being attained through the facility they were able to access under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Health sector Intervention Fund (HSIF).

Accessing the facility, has enabled the hospital to procure (3) units of dialysis machines and associated accessories, which has enabled it cater to the needs of its patients requiring kidney dialysis.

A total of 120 medical personnel, including 40 ad-hoc staff, are gainfully employed by the hospital. The immediate community has been positively impacted through employment and direct access to affordable and qualitative healthcare services

Intervention:

Sector: SME

Location: Nwaiba Road Uyo

Mr. David Daniel Inuayen owns an enterprise which deals in the processing and packaging of table water. He accessed a facility under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Agribusiness Small & Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS).

The facility has greatly boosted the company’s working capital, enabling the company to expand and employ more workers. He has acquired a larger shop with enough space for storage. His output has increased tremendously. He is excited about the opportunity afforded him by the loan and appreciates the Bankers committee and CBN.

Name: David Daniel Inuayen

Agribusiness Small & Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS)

45 Years of CBN Intervention

CROSS RIVER

Cross River is a coastal state in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria and is 20,156 Kilometers in size. It is an agrarian state with fishing, oil palm, cocoa, rubber, and cassava being the commodities mostly produced. The state also has a thriving service industry.

The access to affordable finance is a major factor to innovation and development to any economy. In Cross River state, the Central Bank of Nigeria has financed about 22,585 projects, some of which are highlighted below.

Intervention:

Sector: SME

Location: Ndjahasang St. Off Atimbo Road, Calabar.

Divine Essien Oku, is a young Cross- Riverian whose dream has always been to be self-employed. In pursuit of this dream, he enrolled in a fashion- designing school and excelled in his training. He thereafter set up a shop, where he soon acquired a good number of clients. He accessed the AGSMEIS loan, an intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2020, and the facility enabled him further actualize his dream. He was able to procure several industrial machines, weaving machines and other equipment required for the business. He was also able to employ additional tailors, acquired more space for his workshop and got a showroom.

Mr. Oku’s enterprise is thriving, and he appreciates the Bankers committee and the CBN for establishing this initiative.

Name: Arubah Specialist Hospital

Intervention: Health Sector Intervention Fund (HSIF) Sector: Health Location: Nsefik Eyo layout, off Marian Road, Calabar, Cross River.

Arubah Specialist Hospital accessed a facility under the Health Sector Intervention Fund. The facility was used for the procurement a 32 slide CT Scan equipment, a generator, dental chair, refurbishment of the dental suite and operating theatre. The hospital employed 14 additional staff as a result of the upgrade of the facility.

The management of the Centre expressed their sincere gratitude to the CBN for the timely intervention in the health sector.

Divine Essien Oku, is a young Cross- Riverian whose dream has always been to be self-employed. In pursuit of this dream, he enrolled in a fashion- designing school and excelled in his training. He thereafter set up a shop, where he soon acquired a good number of clients. He accessed the AGSMEIS loan, an intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2020, and the facility enabled him further actualize his dream. He was able to procure several industrial machines, weaving machines and other equipment required for the business. He was also able to employ additional tailors, acquired more space for his workshop and got a showroom.

Mr. Oku’s enterprise is thriving, and he appreciates the Bankers committee and the CBN for establishing this initiative.

Name: Rose Eyo Ojomu

Intervention: Agribusiness Small &Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) Sector: SME Location: Calabar, Cross River

Mrs. Rose Eyo Ojomu is a young hardworking lady with passion for entrepreneurship. After engaging in several business ventures in the past, in 2019 she decided to engage in fruit- juicing. She accessed the AGSMEIS loan shortly after, which enabled her to acquire up-to-date juicing machines, leading to the doubling of her output.

The increased capacity of output enabled Mrs. Ojomu increase her staff strength from 4 to 12.

She is grateful to the Bank for the loan which has helped her add value to family, community and state.

THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA

Name: Divine Essien Oku

Agribusiness Small & Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS)

Name: Bakor Medical Center

Intervention: Health Sector Intervention Fund (HSIF)

Sector: Health

Location: By Murtala Mohammed Highway, Calabar, Cross River.

NOVEMBER 20 - NOVEMBER 26, 2022

NOVEMBER 20 - NOVEMBER 26, 2022

THEWILL NEWSPAPER • www.thewillnigeria.com

THEWILL NEWSPAPER • www.thewillnigeria.com

As Nigeria celebrates National Day of Twins, SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN writes on twins who have made their mark in the entertainment industry

TWINS MAKING THEIR MARKS IN NIGERIA'S ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

Peter And Paul Okoye Taiwo And Kehinde Bankole

Chidinma And Chidiebere Aneke

Sensational

singing twins, Paul and Peter Okoye, otherwise known as PSquare, are the most popular Nigerian twins in the entertainment industry, no doubt. The identical twins have made a mark in the entertainment industry and they are not ready to stop anytime soon. They started their musical journey in secondary school as members of the Music and Drama Club before enrolling in a music school where they honed their skills and learnt to play different musical instruments. The twins formed an acapella group made of four people who were also dancers and they performed in schools and other functions. They later formed their own group known as Double P before renaming it PSquare. The duo came into the limelight after winning Grab Da Mic competition in 2001 and rose to become one of the most sought-after musicians in Nigeria with several hit songs.

In 2017, the twins had a misunderstanding and afterwards, went their separate ways. The news of their breakup left millions of music fans shocked. Many were heartbroken and they prayed to witness the return of the PSquare.

The breakup of the musical group was due to a dispute within the family, which lasted four years. Each of the twins pursued unsuccessful solo singing careers while they were separated. In 2021, they decided to put aside their differences and reunited.

Peter, also known as Mr P, is married to Lola Omotayo and their union is blessed with two children. While Paul, a.k.a Rudeboy, was married to Anita with three children before their marriage packed up as a result of alleged infidelity.

Taiwo

and Kehinde Bankole have also made their marks in entertainment. Although they made different career choices, they are doing quite well. Kehinde made her debut in the 2003 Miss Commonwealth Nigeria beauty pageant. She also contested in the Most Beautiful in Nigeria beauty contest in 2009 while still a Nollywood actress. Unfortunately she did not win in both pageants. She did win the Revelation of the Year Award as a film maker in 2009. As an actress, she has appeared in some highly rated movies over the years. She was one of the most visible faces in Wale Adenuga’s Super Story TV drama series for some years. Kehinde also tried some hosting gigs before taking a bow to concentrate fully on her acting career. Taiwo, on the other hand, runs a hospitality business and has handled some notable entertainment events. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Strictly Events and drink companies, Drinks r Us and Chapmanners. She is also a brand influencer like her twin sister.

Nollywood’s

identical twins, Chidinma and Chidiebere Aneke, also known as the Aneke Twins, are the most visible female twins in the entertainment industry. The duo made their Nollywood debut in 1999 in a movie titled, Ebuka, but came into the limelight after featuring in Desperate Twins Chidinma studied Banking and Finance, while Chidiebere studied Mass Communication at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Apart from their acting career, the beautiful twins are also entrepreneurs. They own a fashion and design outfit, A&T Designs and a unisex clothing line for lovers of fashion. They also own an online hair retail business.

Blair And Clinton Roberts

Blair and Clinton, also known as DNA twins, came into the limelight after participating in Glo X Factor Season 2 in 2013. They were also contestants on The Voice Nigeria. The two were kidnapped in 2017 on their way to Lagos from Abuja where they went to see their mother. The Ekeson bus conveying them was attacked by their abductors who demanded a ransom of N10 million. They were eventually set free, but nobody knows whether the ransom was paid or not before their release. Later, they were signed on to Michael Collins Ajereh aka Don Jazzy’s Mavin Record label. They recorded and released a few songs and had a collaboration with Mayowa Adewale, otherwise known as Mayorkun, before quitting the music label.

THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA

Tracy And Treasure Daniel Mary And Joseph Lazarus

Taiwo And Kehinde Adesina

Tracy and Treasure Daniel, also known as Golden Girls, made their debut as teenage actresses in Divine Twins – a movie produced in 2007. They have acted alongside seasoned A-list actors, such as Zack Orji, Patience Ozokwo, Pete Edochie and a host of other Nollywood acts. Aside from film acting, the twins are also entrepreneurs. They co-own a skincare, hair, afrocentric and pop culture clothing brand, which are all strictly online businesses. The twins are among entertainers who ventured into e-commerce early before it became a fad. The duo relocated to the United States but their joint business is still functional. Tracy was the first to get married in 2012 to a rich Indian expatriate in Ebonyi State. However, the marriage crashed three years later because of the interference of her husband’ ex-partner. Her twin sister, Treasure, got engaged to her American born lover, Michael Richardson in 2020. Richardson engaged her in Calabasas, California and the two walked down the aisle in 2021. Their union is blessed with a beautiful baby girl.

Eniola And Ololade Ajao

Nollywood

actress, Mary Lazarus is a twin, but most of her fans were not aware until she posted some pictures of her twin brother and herself to mark their birthday a few months ago. Mary started out as a model in 2002 before making her debut in the movie industry in 2009 in a movie titled, Waiting Years. The graduate of Geography from University of Ibadan has since featured in several movies.

Mary’s twin brother, Joseph, is also an actor, but he is not as active in the movie industry as her. He has appeared some movies and made an impact in Nollywood as well. Aside from film acting, he is also an entrepreneur. Joseph got married in 2018 and welcomed his first child, a girl in 2020.

Elozonam And Kanso Ogbolu

Many people are not aware that Big Brother Naija alumni Elozonam has a twin brother. The Delta State born came into the limelight after participating in the Big Brother Naija Season four in 2019. He is an actor, music artist and voice over artist. His twin brother, Kanso is also a movie maker, animator and writer.

Eku And Kessiana Edewor

Taiwo

and Kehinde Adesina are another set of identical twins that the entertainment industry is blessed with. The Abeokuta, Ogun State-born twins are Nollywood actors who have pitched their tents in the Yoruba genre of the industry. They attended University of Ado-Ekiti where Taiwo studied Business Administration while his twin brother, Kehinde studied Geology. The script writers and movie producers have a couple of movies to their credit, their acting prowess earned them an ENYA award as the best new Actors of the year in 2019.

Taiwo And Kehinde Aromokan

Nollywood

actress, Taiwo Aromokan and her sister, Kehinde, both live abroad.

Eniola

Ajao and her twin sister, Ololade Busari, are miles apart in terms of career choice and temperament. Eniola showed interest in acting from her secondary school days when she was the leader of a drama group, but her professional career started in 2004 and she has made her mark as a result of her dynamism and versatility in the make-believe world.

She is also a producer and script writer. She recently launched her clothing line, Fashion Conclusion, where she sells luxury clothing and accessories. The actress took her fans by surprise when she unveiled her son, who turned 20 years earlier this year. She had him before she found fame and she successfully kept it a top secret for two decades. Her look-alike twin sister, Lolade who is social media shy, is a quiet woman. She got married in 2012 to Kehinde Busari, a video and photo production expert who works at Star TV Network. Their union is blessed with two daughters, unlike her sister who is an entertainer, Lolade is an entrepreneur.

Eku started her career as a model, but she is best known for her work as the hostess of entertainment television programme, 53 Extra on African Magic. When she relocated to Nigeria, she worked at her mother’s restaurant, the Chardonnay restaurant and bar before pitching her tent in the media and later in the movie industry.

She welcomed her first baby in 2016 with Chini Odogwu, son of wealthy businessman Sunny Odogwu. Chini is a photographer and entrepreneur. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Wellbrook Studio, the two did not get married but are happily co-parenting their child together. Her twin sister, Kessaina is an interior décor expert and furniture designer. Unlike her sister, she is happily married to Jide Odunsi.

Before they left Nigeria, Taiwo was a seasoned actress in Nollywood before she left her flourishing acting career for the proverbial greener pastures a few years ago. She is currently a health care practitioner.

Taiwo was romantically involved with her colleague, Odunlade Adekola, before she eventually got married to her Netherlandsbased husband, Olayemi Abimbola, in 2012. The marriage crashed when she discovered that her husband was married to a white woman abroad and already had two children. However, she welcomed a set of twins, Jasmine and Jade before her marriage packed up. Her twin sister, Kehinde got engaged to her Texas-based Engineer lover in 2018 and married him in 2019 in the United States.

Eku and Kessiana Edewor are identical twins born to a British father and Nigerian mother. They were born in Nigeria but later travelled abroad to study when they were 13 years-old.

8 and won the competition. His twin brother, Christian is a digital creator and entrepreneur. He owns Lotus Athleisure, a fitness wear company.

The twins married two identical ladies, Mary and Martha a few years ago and they all live under the same roof. While Anthonio married Mary, Andre married Martha.

The singers were once accused by John Asiemo, also known as Daddy Showkey of neglecting their mother for 17 years and also abandoning her on her sick bed. Their mother, who was admitted to Igando General Hospital for a while, died of depression and heartbreak. Andre also lost his better half a few months ago, but the details of what led to her death was not revealed.

Taiwo and Kehinde Otolorin, also known as Taiwo and Kenny Blaq, are both comedians.

Kenny Blaq is into standup comedy while Taiwo is a skit maker. Kenny started his comedy career in 2008 and he has performed at numerous comedy events. Aside from stand-up comedy, he is also a talented singer and often blends his jokes with sonorous music. His twin sister, Taiwo, started content creation about three year ago and she has grown her fan base to an enviable height.

Moyin and Doyin Oladimeji, also known as Twinz Love, are popular skit makers known for their mischievous ways of pranking their mother in skits. The Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State born entertainers are the first children of their parents but were raised by only their mother, Adeyinka Adedimeji. The two undergraduate students of the University of Ibadan are also entrepreneurs. They are into logistic business, baking and sale of beauty products. The twins once accused their estranged father of abandonment while they were young. They made the allegation when their father tried to contact them after they launched into the limelight. Their father in turn accused their mother of being wayward which was one of the reasons he dumped her. While responding to the allegation, their mother revealed her husband left her when she gave birth to the twins and she had to beg at the hospital gate to pay their medical bills when they were hospitalised.

Hassana

and Husaina Abdullahi are both Kannywood actresses. They started their career by first appearing in music videos before venturing into acting in 2014. Unlike some twins who have remained inseparable, the duo attended different tertiary institutions. Hassana attended Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal studies where she bagged a Diploma while Husaina attended Kano State College of Hygiene for her Diploma programme.

Simon, also known as Mc Tagwaye is a comedian, actor and compere. He started comedy in 2015 after President Mohammadu Buhari was sworn in as the president of Nigeria. His close resemblance to the President makes him mimic his mannerism and speech in a comic way. The graduate of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University is from Anambra State, but he was raised in Katsina State and can speak Hausa fluently. Many people often take him for a northerner because of his intonation and proficiency in Hausa language. He is married to Hauwa, daughter of Maryam Uwais Mohammed, a Special Adviser to President Buhari on Social Investment. His twin brother, Prince Ingawa, is an actor and businessman. He is also a contractor and imports mobile phone parts.

Obinna

They had a brief spell in the movie industry.

Additional information by Ivory Ukonu.

Gospel music singing duo, Anthonio Akpos Dixon and Andre Andros Dixon, also known as Mamuzee twins are known for their creative musical videos and promotion of African culture and attire. They started out with secular music before transiting to the gospel music genre. The duo are from Bayelsa State but were born and bred in Ghana before their mother relocated to Nigeria.

Taiwo and Kehinde Oshadipe, otherwise known as The Oshadipe Twins, were both multi-talented twins who made their marks in gospel music and the movie industry until death took away Taiwo. The deceased suffered from lupus, a disease that affects the human immune system. She died in 2013, about half a year after she gave birth to a male child. Popularly known as the shining stars of the African music industry, the natives of Akungba Akoko in Ondo State, had three albums to their credit when Taiwo was still alive. They started singing in church and were formerly called ‘The Angelic Voices’ but later settled for the Oshadipe twins when it was time for their debut album. While they were active in the music industry, they performed on the same stage with notable artists, both local and international, such as Michael Bolton, Angie Stone, King Sunny Ade, Evang. Ebenezer Obey, Tope Alabi, Sammy Okposo, Lara George etc.

The duo of Christopher and Christian Okagbue are the sons of the late Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Highness, Obi Ofala Okagbue. They are siblings to former beauty queen, Sandra Okagbue and former Big Brother Naija housemate, Bella Okagbue. Chris, as he is fondly called, launched into the limelight with his modeling career at the age of 17 when he appeared in TV commercials of multinational companies like MTN, Cadbury and Coca-Cola. He won several awards as a model before veering into acting. In 2011, he contested for the Gulder Ultimate Search season

STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

It has taken almost three years for this to come to fruition, but barring any unforeseeable circumstance, the number of airlines juggling for space in Nigeria's skies would increase by one with the entrance of Rano Air. The airline is owned by Kano-born business mogul and oil magnate, Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, otherwise known as A.A.

Rano is eager to see his airline begin to fly passengers to various destinations before the year runs out. The journey, which began in late 2019 with N500 million pumped into it, however, experienced some unavoidable hiccups along the line, including difficulty in getting the Air Transport Licence, which was initially applied for in 2020 to operate scheduled and non-scheduled passenger and cargo services within and outside Nigeria.

In November 2020, the company advertised for key personnel, including engineers. Unfortunately the dream to begin flying that year did not happen. The licence may have been granted to Rano as it recently acquired four EMB145LRs aircraft to boost its fleet.

Ironically, findings reveal that four E145LRs aircrafts were deregistered from the US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) aircraft registry on February 23, 2022, for export to Nigeria.

The aircrafts are alleged to be the ones bought by Rano Air, which has its headquarters in Kano State.

A successful businessman, Auwal Rano is the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of A.A. Rano Group is made up of Rano Oil and Gas companies, Nicabon Petroleum, Dan Kano Oil and Chemicals, A.A Rano LPG, Ibal Petroleum da kuma Centra Oil limited company.

He also owns A.A Rano Transport and A.A Rano Farms. He started out running an ice block and groundnut oil business including other local items but seeing how lucrative the oil and gas business is, he abandoned his ice block and groundnut oil business for it in 1994 and shortly after, floated his first petrol station in Kano and later, Zaria. Rano owns and operates an oil depot in Ijegun area of Lagos State that can store

about 60 million litres of fuel, which is then distributed to his manor houses and sold to other traders. In 2015, he delved into Liquefied Petroleum Gas, in 2015 with outlets in Lagos and plans to own a mega plant in Kano. He owns a truck garage in Ogere, Ogun State as well as about 350 trucks capacity truck garage in Ore, Ondo State.

He is the founder of the Islamic Darul Sunnah, located in Kano. At this centre, Islamic education is being taught, including seminars and programmes on Islam. He is also a philanthropist and distributes a portion of his wealth via his foundation, A.A Rano Foundation, a foundation that supports students with tuition fees, uplifts public schools and pays patients the cost of treatment or surgery. During Ramadan every year, he lowers the price of oil at his petrol stations for the benefit of the ordinary Nigerian.

Bolarinwa, Ogra, Ajomale-McWord Make Under-40 List of 100 Most Influential People of African Decent

Aisha Raheem Bolarinwa, Experience Founder and Vision Director of Farmz2U, a food and agricultural technology startup that helps farmers farm better using data; O'Tega Ogra, the Group Head/ GM, Brands and Corporate Communications at BUA Group and Kola Aina, Chair, Federation of African Law Student and the Founding Partner at Ventures Platform, a venture capital fund firm, were among 13 Nigerians who made it to the Global Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) 2022 edition.

A global civil society initiative in support of the UN International Decade for people of African descent under 40, MIPAD identifies and recognises outstanding individuals worldwide across the four core categories of politics and governance, business and entrepreneurship, media and

entertainment, activism and humanitarian endeavour.

The 2022 list was released during the MIPAD 2022 Recognition Week, following the opening of the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City in the United States of America.

Kamil Olufowobi, Chief Executive Officer of MIPAD reiterates that the recognition is not an award show but a recognition platform of the positive contributions of people of African descent under 40 years of age. Other Nigerians who made the list include:

AbdulJabar Oyekan, co-founder of Yahshud; Akah Nnani, Actor & TV-Host; Jeremiah Ogbodo, celebrity stylist and reality TV star; Ayotunde Fabamwo, Director, House of Twitch; Efa Iwara, Actor; Emmanuel Nwobodo; Muhammad Suleiman, National Youth Leader, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Omawunmi Ogbe Managing

Partner, GLG Communications; Prince Deji Ajomale-McWord, Secretary General of the World Sports Tourism Council, and Tari Taylaur, Politician, Youth Party Nigeria.

The Diaspora-based Nigerians on the list include Angelica Nwandu, the founder of the Shade Room (USA); Damola Adamolekun, first Black CEO of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro; Efe Ukala (USA), Founder, ImpactHER; Evana Oli (USA), Co-Founder, Beautiful Curly Me; Francesca Uriri, Global DEI Communications at Meta (USA); Tara Peaches Enahoro (USA) is an Entertainment Law Attorney. Damilare Ogunleye, Co-founder of FoodLama, a $1 billion food chain (UK); Linda Ayoola, Head of Africa and Services at Apple (UK), Oluwatobi Aigbogun (UK), Visionary at Global Citizen and Raphael Sofoluke who is the Founder and CEO of UK Black Business Show, UK Black Business Week.

Asue Ighodalo has bowed out of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), a private sector led think-tank which he chaired for about three years. His tenure officially came to an end on November 14th during the 28th summit of the group themed, ‘2023 and Beyond: Priorities for Shared Prosperity’.

In his place, the board of directors of the NESG elected Niyi Yusuf as the chairman of the group. Yusuf who was Ighodalo's first vice-chairman is the managing partner at Verraki Africa.

He was a former country managing director at Accenture and had previously worked at Arthur Anderson and JKK.

Yusuf has reportedly been instrumental in building the infrastructure needed for the Nigerian banking sector, including the platforms for Interswitch, CRC Credit Bureau, and Shared Services.

He will be supported to run the organisation by the Board's 1st Vice Chairman, Osagie Okunbor, the Chairman of Shell companies in Nigeria; Boye Olusanya, GMD/CEO Flour Mills of Nigeria as 2nd Vice Chairman and Amina Maina, Group COO MRS as 3rd Vice Chairman.

Ighodalo believes that Yusuf has what it takes to advance Nigeria's economic reforms

under the leadership of NESG. During his time as chairman, Ighodalo provided continuity to the strategic growth and development of the NESG. His engagement with the NESG, which spans almost 20 years, saw him being active in the policy commissions and also led the central organising committee to deliver NES 10.

An older brother to popular cleric and socialite, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, the head pastor of Trinity House Church, Ighodalo is a legal practitioner and the founding partner of the law firm of Banwo-and Ighodalo, a corporate and commercial law practice in Nigeria specialising in advising major corporations on corporate finance, capital markets, energy and natural resources, mergers and acquisitions, banking and securitisation and project finance.

He is also the Chairman of Sterling Bank, a director in Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority and a member of the board of Dangote Group. The 63-year-old is married to Ifeyinwa, CEO, DO.II Designs and Chairman, Board of Trustees Women in Business (WIMBIZ).

Many years after he exited full time pen-to-paper journalism, one of the earliest pioneers of the soft sell genre in Nigeria, Femi Akintunde-Johnson, otherwise known as FAJ, is back in the media.

The seasoned journalist and publisher who celebrated his 60th birthday last year with a colloquium and the public presentation of four books, on Saturday, November 19, 2022, debuted his radio show.

Christened The Vintage Talk Show with FAJ, it is an exciting, informative, attention-grabbing show broadcast on Top Radio 90.9 FM.

The uncensored, talk programme aired between 7 – 9 am WAT.

A phone-in show, it aims to capture varied attention that engages listeners' attention simultaneously on social media platforms, with banter laced with music and humour.

The multi segment talk show comprises breezy

presentation, live interviews on poignant topical issues including governance, entertainment, youths, sports, technology, arts, and other social issues.

There will also be a segment where the audience gets to ask FAJ some poignant questions.

FAJ will be combining the rigours of running his show with his job as the Chief Coach at Basic Skills Academy, a media/ communication strategy training model as well as being the national coordinator of Music and Entertainment Gospel Awards (MEGA). Running a radio programme now seems to be the favourite pastime of publishers in the soft sell genre as Seye Kehinde, the publisher of the longest running soft sell magazine, City People, debuted his half hour radio programme on Fresh 105.3 FM a few weeks ago.

Rano

Ogra Aina Bolarinwa

Ighodalo

Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kwara State and a former senate president of alongside his sister, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, the Minister of State, Mines and Steel development, have put their differences aside to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of their father, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki.

The duo have not been on good terms for a while now.

It all started in 2011 when Gbemisola would have become Nigeria’s first female Governor, but her brother had directly opposed

her by supporting Abdulfathai Ahmed’s political ambition.

Despite the fact that she was her late father’s preferred candidate in the state’s governorship election under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party. Bukola had disclosed that it was morally wrong for his blood sister to succeed him in office as governor. A Lagos-based cleric, Sheikh Sulaiman Farooq Onikijipa, tried to step into the rivalry of the Saraki siblings then, however, the result was not totally positive. In 2018, Gbemisola indicated her

Osilama Ozekhome, one of the sons of human rights

and

Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, got

in a traditional

held last week. The event took place at the Maitama residence of the bride’s parents, Dr and Mrs Patrick Onyechi in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The event was well attended by politicians, legal luminaries, traditional rulers and other dignitaries. It was a celebration of culture and cultural display as most guests adorned Igbo cultural attires and beads to felicitate with the constitutional lawyer who is also a great orator.

The colour of the day was lemon green which guests present adhered to. The groom is the fifth of seven children of the erudite lawyer. He graduated from Plymouth University in the United Kingdom at the youthful age of 20. He then proceeded to Law School, Abuja before he started practicing. His bride, Ngozi Onyechi, is also a lawyer.

An oil and gas magnate, Prince Ademola Oluponle has been elected as the 16th Aree of Iree Land in Osun State after four years after the stool became vacant due to the death of Oba Jimoh Olayonu who was from Olaro ruling house.

After the death of the monarch, five ruling houses namely, Oyekunle, Oyetite, Iyaola, Ojo and Olubonku lay claims to the stool. However, a prince from Iyaola, Alhaji Lasisi Ayinde Lawal took the kingmakers and the other ruling houses to the State High Court, Oshogbo. He claimed that it was the turn of his ruling house to produce the next king.

Adewale Aladejana, also known as Wale Jana, the Chief Executive Officer of Sapphire Scent seems to have forgotten his travails and returned to business after he was arrested and arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for fraud.

The agency had arraigned Wale Jana, before a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged fraud by obtaining the sum of N12 million under false pretense. Specifically, he allegedly collected the sum of N12 million from potential investors in his company, with a promise of turnover in six months, without offering any profit or returning the invested funds to his investors.

Wale Jana, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges. He was granted bail in the sum of N4m and two sureties in like sum. The embattled entrepreneur is back to business and seeking more clients. He has been advertising his range of perfumes, books and wrist watches

and even bagged an award from African Fashion and Arts Award, AFAA as the Luxury brand personality of the year. In addition to his perfume business, the father of three has added match making to his profile. Many single ladies and guys now troop to his Instagram page to seek eligible life partners. He has been uploading their profiles while advising those interested to send him direct messages on the app.

desire to contest for the Kwara Central Senatorial District, the same constituency where her brother was representing in the Senate at that time, an act which further compounded their rivalry. Well the duo this past week, put aside their differences to organise the 10th Memorial Anniversary prayer of their late father which was held at Ilorin Juma’at Central Mosque, Ilorin, Kwara State. They cheerfully embraced each other as they got to the venue and jointly welcomed guests to the event. They also sat next to each other.

Iyaola was the third ruling house in the chieftaincy Declaration of Aree of Iree. They were supposed to produce the king after Olayonu’s predecessor, Oba Michael Omotosho of the Oyetite ruling house died in 2003. They were unable to produce a candidate. The next two ruling houses, Ojo and Olubonko were also unable to produce a king. The third, fourth and five ruling houses thereafter had a misunderstanding and were unable to settle for a candidate so the sixth ruling house, Olaro produced Olayonu who became the king.

While the case was in court, another ruling house, Olubonku claimed another ruling house had produced the king more than once so they should be given the chance to rule as well.

However, in its ruling, Justice Jide Falola of the State High Court, Oshogbo pronounced Iyaola, Olabonku, Oyetite and Oyekun as the ruling houses eligible to produce a candidate to fill the stool.

When it was time for the selection process, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy title, Adebayo Adeleke appointed Iyalode of Iree, Serifat Adebayo as member of the town’s kingmaker. Others frowned at it stating that the commissioner wanted to put his anointed candidate on the stool. The court cases and kingmaker’s case dragged on for four years before 11 aspirants signified interest and Oluponle emerged the winner. The king-elect is the Chief Executive Officer of Arise and Shine Energy limited, a firm into oil and gas business.

Honourable Gbenga Makanjuola, the Kwara State People’s Democratic Party’s deputy governorship candidate for 2023 general election has bagged a chieftaincy title. Makanjuola, was made the Atunluse of Obbo-Aiyegunle in Ekiti Local Government of Kwara State.

The politician was honoured by the traditional ruler of ObboAiyegunle, His Royal Highness, Oba Dr Samuel Adelodun, the

Owalobo of Obbo Ayegunle. Hon. Makanjuola was honoured for his good works and impactful contributions to human capital and infrastructural development of the community. The installation ceremony took place during the 4th Obbo-Aiyegunle day last week. The ceremony was graced by party stalwarts, dignitaries from all works of life and traditional rulers.

Makanjuola was a former House of Representative member under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP representing Ekiti /Isin/ Oke Ero/Irepodun Federal Constituency. He served as Deputy Chief of Staff to former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki in the 8th National Assembly.

He contested for the PDP’s senatorial ticket for Kwara South and lost a few years ago but was lucky to emerge the deputy governor candidate for his party ahead of the 2023 general election. Three candidates were nominated but Makanjuola emerged the choice candidate among the three.

activist

Senior

married

ceremony

Ozekhome

Adejana

Sataki

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SHOTS OF THE WEEK

Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]

L-R: Chairman of the occasion, Damion Olarenwaju Adesuyi; Prof. Adeyinka Adekoya; Author, Pastor Adekunle Olusanya and Book Reviewer, Prof. Charles Ogbulogo, during the public presentation of the book titled. "God's Answer to Depression" held at NECA House, Ikeja, Lagos on November 17, 2022.

Magnus Onyibe (right); in an embrace with Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United State of America, (middle) and his wife Melania Trump, in the background, during the wedding ceremony between Tiffany Trump and Micheal Boulos in Mar-a- Lago, Palm Beach, Florida on November 12, 2022.

L-R: Group Managing Director, Nigeria New Globe, Mrs. Omowale David-Ashiru; Secretary, Universal Basic Education, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi; Executive Director, Arc Light Foundation, Ms. Abisola Obasanya and Regional Operations Director, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Thankgod Otorkpa during the 28th National Economic Summit with the theme ‘2023 and Beyond’ in Abuja on November 15, 2022.

Founder, Potters Wheel Foundation, Mr. Godsown Onuzurike; First Lady, Enugu State, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi; NB manager, (Ama), NB Plc, Engr. Peter Ani and Corporate Affairs Manager (East), NB, Plc, Mrs. Joy Egolum at the NB’s Youth Empowerment graduation in Enugu on November 13, 2022.

L-R: Secretary General, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Mr Zurab Pololikashvili; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu during a courtesy visit to the Governor in Lagos on November 14, 2022.

L-R: Head of Counselling and Rehabilitation, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking, Mrs. Kehinde Akomolafe; Corporate Affairs Director, NB Plc, Mrs. Sade Morgan; Director Administration and Finance, Mrs. Omolola Oluwatoyin and the Hakimi of Galadimawa, Chief Musa Barde, during the graduation ceremony of  2022 Nigerian Breweries Plc Youth Empowerment Programme held in Abuja on November 16, 2022.

www.thewillnigeria.com

COMING BACK TO THEIR ROOTS

For three days beginning from Thursday November 24, 100 poets, dancers, novelists, painters and filmmakers from all over the world will converge in Lagos for the famous Ake Arts & Book Festival. With the exception of a few, nearly all of them are Africans, some based outside the continent, thus inspiring the theme “Homecoming.” Michael Jimoh reports

For a class of professionals who work in solitude, nothing presents a better opportunity for that outdoorsy feeling than meeting and reaching out to colleagues at book fairs and festivals. Having spent much of their time in the privacy of their studies stringing words together like termites in the mating season, hoping to make sense of ideas, creative types often look forward to that carnival-like ambience full of comradely backslappings and ‘long time no sees.’

There is the Edinburgh Book Festival, for instance, where, along with the grand ideas proposed and discussed by guests, an unfeasible amount of alcohol drains down thousands of gullets. The Zimbabwe International Book Fair had its own share of impressive writers who visited annually until 1995. In that year as a special guest, Robert Mugabe, a Jesuit-trained scholar and former president, launched what the organisers called “a virulent attack on homosexuals.”

They quickly moved the fair farther south first, to Johannesburg and, finally, to Cape Town Book Fair. Thankfully, Ake Festival has not had a Mugabe showing some presidential muscle. Ever since it began in 2012 in a southwestern town in Nigeria where Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka had his formative years, the book fair has had a smooth run. And then, Covid-19 made things worse, denying the creative community all over the world the very communal gathering they would have most cherished.

Now, with Ake Festival scheduled for this Thursday in Lagos, writers and many more in the artistic community are sure to get their groove back. For one, they will all meet in person, post-pandemic. Two, there have never been so many of them invited all at once in previous festivals. And then, the theme of the festival, “Homecoming,” seems just apt enough.

Nothing could be more apt for the tenth edition of a festival that has drawn attendees from America, Asia and Europe. It has been said that two or so writers have even made it from down under in Australia in previous fairs.

For this edition, there is something close to a world register, though, most of the invited writers are from Africa, some of them teaching in American and European universities, many more residing in the continent. “Our African roots influence our Art and our creative expression,” says Lola Shoneyin-Soyinka, Director of Book Buzz Foundation and organizer of Ake Festival. “As we migrate and settle around the globe however, these bonds may weaken with time. This makes the ritual of homecoming particularly significant; it is a response to a centripetal force calling

us home to experience the regenerative power of our ancestral roots.”

Coming home to “experience the regenerative power of our ancestral roots” will be authors like EC Osondu, Ade Bantu, Emanuel Owusu-Bonsu, Diyabanza Kiabanzawoko Emery, Angela Makholwa, Abiola Sobo, Abdulkareem Baba Aminu, Fatouma Sissi Ngom, Femi Fawehinmi, just to name a few of the 100 invited artists.

One of the most noticeable accomplishments of Ake Festival is the organiser's ability to bring together some of the brightest and promising writers from the African continent together. In one interview, ShoneyinSoyinka herself gave a hint of what inspired her: “I felt there was a need for African and Black authors to have open and honest conversations about the experience of Blackness. About how they saw the world but to an audience that almost automatically and instinctively had context.

“As a writer myself, when The Secret Wives of Baba Segi came out, I would travel far and wide doing interviews and talks to mainly white audiences. Sometimes you get these questions about the oppressive elements of your culture. I often worried there wouldn’t be time to provide context and also discuss the positive sides of the culture. I wanted to curate a festival where the audience would be largely Black. When artists, writers and creatives come to Ake and speak to the audience they don’t need to explain the context, they just get it. This allows them to get into the real nitty-gritty of what their work of art means, what their hopes are and about what that piece of art can do in the world.”

As one of the most important book fairs in Africa for now, the literati and cognoscenti will be only too eager to learn from the dozens of writers, painters and sculptors when they listen to them or visit their stand starting from this Thursday.

Another reason for Ake, Shoneyin-Soyinka once conceded to an interviewer, “is about keeping your eyes open about what Black people are writing and creating around the world and the African continent throughout the year. I keep in touch with publishers and agents and create a list and book them for the festival as early as possible.”

How true! When THEWILL spoke with Shoneyin-Soyinka last Friday afternoon, she politely declined an interview, however brief it may be. There just wasn’t enough time. As the arrowhead of the Festival, she was up and doing, making sure everything went well, from scheduled flights to hotel accommodation and much else for the hundred or more guests expected from across the world.

Such logistics, as anyone would imagine,

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cost some bricks of cash. The World Bank and the British Council have been sponsors of two or so editions. Now, Sterling Bank is taking up the bill for Ake Festival 2022 just as the bank has done in the last two, thus sustaining the founder’s dream of staying on course. The biggest funder, she has said “is Sterling Bank in Nigeria. That, for me, has been the biggest shift. People are now waking up to the importance and value of culture. Sterling Bank really embraced what we are doing and I’m so happy that they have stuck with me on this journey.”

And for keeping her dream of a culture cum book fair in Nigeria alive. “I always knew what I wanted to do, but over the years the dream has grown. So, when you have a dream, leave space for it to grow, because it might grow in directions you didn’t imagine to begin with.”

Coming home to “experience the regenerative power of our ancestral roots” will be authors like EC Osondu, Ade Bantu, Emanuel Owusu-Bonsu, Diyabanza Kiabanzawoko Emery, Angela Makholwa, Abiola Sobo, Abdulkareem Baba Aminu, Fatouma Sissi Ngom, Femi Fawehinmi, just to name a few of the 100 invited artists

Shoneyin

SportsLive

Qatar 2022: Celebration of Football Excellence

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

There may not be as much fanfare in the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup back home in Nigeria, especially as the Super Eagles failed to scale the Ghanaian hurdle in the qualifying series. The World Cup frequently gave Nigerian football supporters an avenue to momentarily put their sorrows, agony and frustrations aside and celebrate football because their appetites for joy, excitement, and exhilaration have been stifled by poor governance in the country. But even that avenue is now a victim of the poor management that has plagued the nation.

The Super Eagles' starting lineup was unable to secure the ticket to Qatar due to years of our nation's leadership being provided by a cast of mediocre "leaders" rather than our first-11.

Unlike what obtained in the past in the weeks leading to the World Cup, this year, sports-related brands are less active as a result of the absence of the Super Eagles in Qatar. In addition to the muted ambience, Nigeria will lose some bragging rights on the continent in footballrelated debates, which tend to trend on social media in the heat of the global football fiesta.

In its place, football fans in Nigeria will shift attention to their favourite club football players and possibly give their support to other African countries representing the continent in Qatar. A side effect of not qualifying is that the Super Eagles will drop further when the next set of ranking is announced. Nigeria has already slipped two spots, from the rank of 30 in March—after failing to qualify for the World Cup—to a rank of 32 in October. And the World Cup has not yet begun.

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Beyond Nigeria's World Cup absence, there are other factors that have particularly made this year's edition different for many fans, many national teams and many players. When the ceremony takes off on November 20, it will be taking place right in the middle of football seasons across the globe.

Indeed, some players have had to make appearances for their clubs in as little as six days before the kickoff of the tournament itself, which is not a usual schedule for the World Cup. Yet, this is the situation for Qatar and part of the concessions FIFA had to make to allow for Qatar to host so that players, teams and fans can participate under the manageably sweltering conditions of the Gulf state while avoiding the unbearable scorching Qatar summer. Indeed, Gianni Infantino and his team of managers have had to bend over backwards in different ways to look past the negatives and focus solely on the football and organise a tournament worthy of its name.

Still, even if it cannot be overlooked that Qatar 2022 continues to be mired in controversy, scandal, scrutiny, and tragedy, the fact remains that the biggest reward in international men's football is on the line and all the hullabaloo aside, Qatar is ready to host a World Cup for which it has spared no expense.

At the last count, it was reported that the oil-rich country had invested nothing less than $220 billion getting ready to host the world, which severely dwarfs the $11.6bn Russia spent in the preceding edition.

This is primed to be a special edition of the World Cup in many ways. It is the last 32-team edition of the competition because the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico,and Canada, will witness an increase in the number of participating countries to 48. The size of the field and the structure may be commonplace and familiar, but given the odd factors at play and the typical upsets of every World Cup, the upcoming weeks may be full of surprising twists,

Football fans in Nigeria will shift attention to their favourite club football players and possibly give their support to other African countries representing the continent in Qatar

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unlikely runs, and early departure surprises. This is also the first-ever World Cup in the Middle East, in the global event's 92-year history, will be the culmination of the wider region’s grand ambitions in the world of sports. Qatar and its wealthy neighbours have plowed billions of dollars into major European football clubs, the region will host four Formula 1 races in 2023 and the Saudi-backed LIV tour aims to dominate professional golf.

The first global spectacle open to spectators since COVID-19 restrictions shut out fans from international events like the Olympic Games, it is expected to deliver a record revenue for FIFA that will top the roughly $5.4 billion that the 2018 World Cup in Russia generated for the governing body. About 3.6 billion watched the last World Cup and billions are set to tune in to this edition.

What is going to be peculiar about Qatar is that, unlike other World Cup editions where venues were typically spread across multiple cities and required some considerable travel to get from one to the other, all games will be played within 31 miles of Doha’s main Corniche, and this can allow fans multiple games on a single day helped by the linked public transit system, Qatar's new metro and a fleet of electric buses.

The fans have shown readiness to be part of the football fiesta. By the middle of October, almost all the available seats of about 3 million had been sold. Beside Qatar residents, who were some of the first to snap up tickets, according to FIFA, top buyers have come from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, enthused about the World Cup in their region. There has been a good number of ticket sales in the US, Mexico, Britain, France, Argentina, Brazil and Germany as these traditional homes of ardent football watchers have notched up the numbers of those ready to be there live in Doha and follow the events in person. Unfortunately, COVID-19 restrictions have worked to keep fans in China away from in-person presence in Qatar meaning those interested will have to follow via other means.

The shocking winners of the bid to host the 2022 World Cup have spent some of the $220 billion chest to get the eight hosting stadia ready to welcome competing teams and their fans for the tournament. Of the eight, seven were freshly built while one was refurbished. The rest of the money was spent in turning a space-challenged country like Qatar into a World Cup host country.

The money went into transportation, hospitality, telecommunications and security infrastructure, including $36 billion on that new metro system for greater Doha, a new airport, extensive road construction, and an insufficient number of over 100 hotels, among other expenses. It meant that non-traditional accommodation including cruise ships, desert camps and serviced apartments will be used to accommodate fans. Still, the country faces a race against time to have all the hotels and accommodation spaces ready in time for kickoff according to some reports on their state of their preparedness.

Even if travel between the stadia will not be too distant, accommodation for fans in far-flung neighborhoods had led to questions about how much fans will enjoy the experience. Answers will be available in good time but Qatar is doing all it can to make up for the gap. Arrangements have been concluded with other cities in the Middle East to allow for 100 daily return flights

Continued from Back Page

between those locations and Doha so that fans can decide to stay outside the tiny Gulf state and still not miss their matches at the World Cup. For instance, they can decide to stay in Dubai, with its more lenient dress code and party culture, and do a 55-minute trip to Qatar when required for the football.

The question many will ask is what will be the longterm benefits for the expense Qatar has incurred so far. There’s the standard claim that this mega event will be watched by billions of people worldwide, and it will put Qatar on the proverbial world map, eventually boosting

tourism, foreign trade and investment. Perhaps it will also give Qatar a more significant role in geopolitics as a soft-power move but that is a projection that has pros and cons and the negativity that has followed the treatment of migrant workers, the country's poor human rights records and overt homophobia may not pay dividends enough to consider hosting the World Cup a proper investment. But, time will be the best judge of that.

Meanwhile, ahead of Sunday's kickoff, there will be notable absences in Qatar apart from Nigeria, which will make it an even more muted celebration of football. Italy, the European champions will be missing as their failed to qualify and there will be no Federico Chiesa, Marco Verratti and Giorgio Chiellini to light up the big stage in Qatar.

Sweden will be absent, too, after a quarter-final finish in Russia in 2018. It means that 40-year-old AC Milan forward, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has now likely played his final World Cup match just as the absence of Egypt will mean no World Cup for Mohamed Salah.

Countries like Scotland and Ukraine will also miss out and Arsenal fans will not be able to celebrate Oleksandr Zinchenko on the world stage. Colombia is also not at Qatar and Luis Diaz, James Rodriguez and Davinson Sanchez miss out as do Chileans Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal because Chile did not qualify for the event. Peru and New Zealand also failed to make the cut.

Then, injuries have been responsible for keeping some players, whose countries qualified, from joining their squads to Qatar. Previously, these players will have had several weeks to recover prior to the commencement of the World Cup tournament, but with Qatar 2022 smack in November, in the middle of the regular season, there is no time between the break from club football and the start of the World Cup. This was particularly the situation that Senegal faced with Sadio Mane's injury situation and why he was ultimately dropped from the Qatar squad list.

The list of notable names on the injury watchlist who, like Mane, will miss Qatar include French players Presnel Kimpembe, Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante, Mike Maignan and Christopher Nkunku. Others are Timo Werner (Germany), Florian Wirtz (Germany), Diogo Jota (Portugal), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands), Alexis Saelemaekers (Belgium), Diego Carlos (Brazil), Arthur Melo (Brazil), Ben Chilwell (England), Reece James (England), Jesus 'Tecatito' Corona (Mexico), Marco Reus (Germany), Giovani Lo Celso (Argentina), Nicolas Gonzalez (Argentina), Joaquin Correa (Argentina) and Amine Harit (Morocco).

Qatar will have the attention of the world when hostilities kick off on Sunday and they have shown they have what it takes to host the best celebration of football they can host.

It will begin with an opening ceremony that will put a display of Qatar's culture on the big stage before Ecuador take on the host nation at the Al-Bayt stadium. That Group A fixture will be the first chance for many to see Qatar in action. From then on, it will be football fireworks until one team triumphs to lift up the World Cup at the Lusail Stadium on December 18. One can only hazard a guess at which country that will be.

2023 Elections: The Jonathan Example, Leadership And Electoral Violence

In 2008, when Arizona senator John Mc Cain was campaigning for the presidency of the US, he defended Barack Obama, his opponent, in the face of constituents spouting racist conspiracies about the then-senator from Illinois. At a town hall meeting in Lakeville, Minnesota, a woman said to McCain: “I can’t trust Obama. I have read about him, and he’s not, um, he’s an Arab,” Without letting her go further, McCain grabbed the mi crophone from her and said, in very clear terms: “No, ma’am. He’s a decent family man [and] citizen that just I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that’s what the campaign’s all about. He’s not [an Arab].”

Such an example is what politics should be about, a difference of perspective on

the issues that concern the voters without any hatred for the opponent to the point of wishing them harm or talking about them in bad faith enough for supporters to believe they have a duty to their prin cipals to visit violence on the opposition.

We have seen that in many States of the Federation, opposition parties are not al lowed to put up posters or billboards and when they do, the posters are destroyed. Such violation of decency is inimical to peace and a sane society. And, the buck stops on the table of political leaders and the leading candidates.

Violence before, during, and after elec tions is prohibited under national law and under the Electoral Act. Nigerian politi cians and their proxies know they must refrain from engaging and promoting

violence, but the reality is that they view politics as a life-or-death struggle. They have transformed politics into an enter prise of criminality where one must speak and act violently to get their objective. The political profiteers and their agents believe that politics is a zero-sum game. The language of the politicians and the actions of their supporters, along with the fact that the police and other security forces are failing the populace, serve as further evidence, we have a duty to call to order all those who are actively or pas sively supporting violence.

It is yet another reason to campaign for the strengthening of our institutions. The daredevilry of many political jobbers, who perpetuate criminality and violence, is

borne out of the confidence that they can get away with murder. Literally. Scarcely has anyone been brought to book for vio lent conduct or rhetoric around elections and political campaigns. There is there fore no deterrent to dissuade those who partake or promote electoral violence. Without empowering the relevant agen cies to deal properly with defaulters, there will be little to no difference in subse quent elections. The violence we have witnessed so far is disturbing enough. But, without strong institutions, from the police to the electoral bodies, carrying their duties accordingly with the back ing of the law, and the political leaders working in tandem with the dictates of the Peace Accord, we might be in for a lot worse.

THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA

2023 Elections: The Jonathan Example, Leadership And Electoral Violence

In January 2014, as the political bigwigs were horse-trading and plotting their power play for the general election scheduled for the following year, the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, was inspired to publicly state that no Nigerian should kill or maim himself or herself because of what was at the time his presumed second term ambition for 2015.

Without mincing words, Jonathan said: “Any ambition I have at any time is not worth the blood of Nigerians.” He added that he would “never, ever expect a Nigerian to spill a drop of his blood because Goodluck Jonathan has some ambitions."

To further drive home the point he was mak ing, the President, who was speaking at a special church service to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, in the Abuja Diocese of the Methodist Church, said: "Nigerians should always preach peace and unity in all their engagements. This is the only way the country will achieve greatness. Sometimes I get wor ried and embarrassed when I hear provocative statements that come from very senior citizens; people that ordinarily will be perceived as senior citizens, who ordinarily should know that the unity of this country is more important than the interests of any individual or a group of individuals. And that the peace of Nigeria is more important than any interest of individuals or group of individuals. Some people even encourage young people to take arms and fight themselves.

“I always say as a politician that I pray all politicians should know that there will be no nation if we kill our selves. If you want people to come out and vote, why do you threaten them? If you threaten people they will stay in their houses and how will you win election?

“In an occasion like this, we should also admonish ourselves that we should preach peace and unity in all our conversations. If we do that all our problems will be resolved, our security issues will be resolved. If all of us collectively talk about the unity of this country, about peace in this country, then our country will progress and move in the direction we want the country to move.”

Jonathan did not stop at admonishments, however. He put his words to practice when the results of the elections were announced. There was, at the time, heightened tensions founded on violent rhetoric from the opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, who in a 2011 address, where he spoke in Hausa while addressing members of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) from Niger State, who paid him a courtesy visit in Kaduna, warned that the 2015 elections would be bloody if the elections were not transparent.

Without elaboration, Buhari had said what translated to: “God willing, by 2015, something will happen. They either conduct a free and fair election or they go a very disgrace ful way. If what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.’’

If anything, Jonathan wanted to avoid bloodshed. There fore, while a mild drama was ensuring at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) election result col lation centre in Abuja with the former Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Elder Godsday Orubebe, an agent of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega of compromise, Jonathan put a call through to Buhari to congratulate him, even before the results from Borno were announced.

Buhari was already leading with 14,932,385 votes to Jonathan's 12,638,310 and Jonathan, against the feeling of most people in his own party, called to say congratu

lations at 5:15pm on March 31, 2015. That singular act saved lives that could have been lost, if the results were contested and violence broke out like wildfire across the country along tribal and religious lines. But, Jonathan had committed to peace and he was not going to walk back on his words.

This sense of responsibility appears to have been lost between 2015 and today and it has left me enervated and worried. As has been the recent practice, on September 29, under the auspices of the National Peace Commit tee (NPC) led by General Abdulsalami Abukakar and the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the presidential candidates of all political parties and the chairmen of their parties signed a Peace Accord, com mitting themselves to a peaceful campaign for the 2023 elections.

In attendance were the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, who was represented by his running mate, Kashim Shettima, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Others were Omoyele Sowore of African Action Congress, Hamzat Al-Mustapha of Ac tion Alliance, Sunday Adenuga of Boot Party and the only female candidate in the race, Chichi Ojei of Allied People’s Movement (APM). Christopher Imumolen of the Accord Party; Yabagi Sani of Action Democratic Party, Dumebi Kachikwu of African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Dan Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party also signed the pact.

At that signing ceremony, which was attended by key figures in corporate Nigeria including Alhaji Aliko Dan gote and Mr. Femi Otedola, and other leaders such as the Sultan of Sokoto, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Sam Amuka Pemu and retired Justice Roseline Ukeje, the chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yabagi Sani, who is also the candidate of ADP, reiterated that the candidates are committed to peaceful, free, fair and credible elec tions.

Meanwhile, in his welcome remarks, the NPC chair man and former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, admonished the candidates to ensure civil and decent campaigns, saying: “I call on politicians to address issues that are fundamental to Nigerians. We want to promote respect and tolerance of difference. We want to ensure that there is civility and decency in public discourse. Therefore, on behalf of Nigerians, I am appealing to all political parties, party chairmen, candidates and their spokespersons, please, a campaign based on issues that are of significant concern to Nigerians. Please, avoid the

spread of fake news and personal attacks. You must comply with the spirit of electoral laws."

If the candidates heard, events in the days that followed demonstrated that they may not have passed that message on to their parties and to their supporters. In the wake of that ceremony, the political space has been beset by reports of violence, intolerance, hate speech, foul language, vitriol, abuse, harassment and bad faith politick ing.

Supporters of Peter Obi, a candidate for the La bour Party, were brutalised in Lagos in October. They were assaulted by thugs affiliated with an opposition political party after they were accused of carrying Peter Obi's flags through Oshodi in Lagos. Despite an attempt to burn them alive, they managed to escape with their lives. Joshua Alamu, who took part in a campaign to raise awareness of Peter Obi's cause in Nasarawa State, was also attacked. He wound up at the medical centre. The Labour Party was forced to make a statement in which they pleaded for their supporters' safety.

At Enugwu-Ukwu in the Njikoka LGA of Anambra State, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party, who represents Anambra South in the National Assembly and is running for a second term, was also ambushed and attacked while some of his aides were killed. Also, at a recent rally in Kaduna, the PDP experienced its share of the violence when its supporters were beaten. According to reports, thugs broke into the rally's location and began assaulting attendees. Atiku and Senator Bukola Saraki, a former Senate president, both denounced the violence, which witnessed the use of machetes.

Worried about the spate of violence, INEC chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu warned parties and their supporters to concentrate on the issues and avoid personal assaults on one another, calling the development alarming. In addition to being in violation of the Electoral Act of 2022, he pointed out that the violent acts also undermined the voluntary adherence of all political parties and candidates to the word and spirit of the Peace Accord.

It did little to change the status quo. The PDP candidate in Lagos State has had to cry out that agents of the ruling APC were out to get him. The convoy of PDP candidate for governor, Olajide Adediran and his running mate Funke Akindele was attacked recently in the Badagry Local Government area of Lagos State around the Ikoga Junc tion neighbourhood. Members of the entourage and some journalists sustained injuries in the attack.

After the PDP held its campaign in the state on November 9, thugs once more ambushed the presidential candidate's convoy in Maiduguri. Although it is unclear which party the attackers represent, it was claimed that they were recruited by the opposing political party to cause disrup tions.

These violent acts must not be allowed to continue before we create a monstrosity that will consume us all. The responsibility to rein in this thuggery lies with the leader ship of the political parties and the candidates that will fly the flag of the party at next year's elections.

We have seen the Labour Party presidential candidate tweet to his supporters to formally ask them to allow him respond to verbal attacks on his candidacy and person rather than engage in vitriol that can engender violence. That is an example of leading the push for a peaceful electioneering campaign.

Nigerian politicians and their proxies know they must refrain from engaging and promoting violence, but the reality is that they view politics as a life-or-death struggle. They have transformed politics into an enterprise of criminality where one must speak and act violently to get their objective.”