THEWILL NEWSPAPER October 16, 2022

Years of

in

IS NOW WHOLLY DIGITAL

More often than not, a politician whose foundation is the corporate world is snubbed when he decides to run for public office. Many times, their attempt at running for such positions they wholeheartedly pursue in the hopes of making a change is crushed by the realities of what it really means to be a politician—especially in Nigeria. It tends to feel like they are being taught some kind of lesson... to show allegiance to party, people and the institution that is politics.

It never comes as a surprise to me. I have always said when asked about politics that the elites will hardly ever be successful at running for office. I think it starts even from Student Union Government back in university. Think about it, did you ever see any of your well-travelled, well-spoken candidates who ran for positions win? I know I didn’t see that happen. No matter how good they were, it always seemed as if the other candidate who sometimes did not make as much sense in his or her campaign, ended up winning.

You could say almost the same is true with Rivers State Gubernatorial candidate Tonye Patrick Cole. His first attempt at running for office saw him face all sorts of charges, including being disqualified for lack of merit. Thankfully, about two weeks ago, the Judiciary withdrew and discharged the case, giving him a clean bill. The question is, though, what happens now? Will he eventually win the race for Governor of Rivers State? Cole is confident that his party, APC, will win this time. And I can see why: He has spent a lot of time learning the ropes, visiting different communities and bonding with his people while truly dissecting how democracy works and, at the same time, understanding what the people of Rivers State, whether young or old, really want.

A couple of things stood out for me in this interview; one was his confidence about winning this time but what really struck a chord in me was when I asked what he would do if he lost. Without saying much, I’ll tell you this: He has it all figured out.

his interview about plans for the state and country on pages 8 through 10.

COVER

Political Parties in Crises

BY AMOS ESELE

Indication of how the Labour Party has transformed from being one of the smaller parties came to the fore last Friday as its leaders thrice postponed its National Working Committee meeting. The meeting, which was initially scheduled to take place at 2pm, was moved to 8pm and eventually held at 10 pm on that day.

Although the ratification of the Presidential Campaign Council list was the main agenda, chaos ensued after the public presentation of the PCC on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 generated protests from some stakeholders that LP leaders had to hold marathon meetings with the party’s allies all through Thursday, October 12, a day after the party unveiled its 1,234- member PPC in Abuja.

The party’s national headquarters in Abuja became a beehive of activities for aggrieved groups that kicked against the PCC list. As at Saturday morning, the party was still battling with the fallout of the event, THEWILL gathered.

Aggrieved groups like the National Consultative Forum (NCF) on the platform of the Third Force and many support groups were furious that those they label as “PDP and APC politicians,” have hijacked the party and put their friends in the list.

On Friday night, after the previous day's fence mending meeting with aggrieved groups, which stormed the Abuja office of Labour Party, the National Chairman, Julius Abure, party officials and union leaders had an interactive session with Peter Obi/Datti support groups at Barcelona Hotel, Wuse 11, Abuja.

THEWILL learnt that the occasion was well attended by support groups under the aegis of Conveners For New Nigeria (CNN). Present at the event was Barr. Emeka

Nwani, deputy National Coordinator, Movement For Change Worldwide (MFCW). Other dignitaries present at the meeting were Abure, DG presidential campaign Council; Dr Doyin Okukpe, Chairman, Campaign Council; Labour Party National Youth Leader, Comrade Anslem Eragbe; Barr Kenneth Okonkwo, Hilda Dokubo, Fred Amata and many others.

National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, thanked the support groups for their sustained commitment to the movement. He also apologised for any shortcomings that may have been experienced so far, especially with the released campaign list, and promised to rectify any anomaly.

He also tasked the support groups to double their efforts since the electioneering campaign has begun.

Thereafter, the National Working Committee (NCW) of the party went into a ‘stormy session,’ according to a dependable party source.

On the agenda for discussion, according to the source, was the move by the NCF to pass a vote of no confidence on the Campaign Director-General for “populating the PCC list with his political friends, excluding members of the party, the Obi/Datti movement and other groups.” On the other hand, many chairmen of state chapters of the party vowed not to accept state coordinators, considered “foreign to the party.”

Again, members of the NCW felt that except for the National Vice-Chairman of the party, who was made Zonal Coordinator South-South, no other member of the committee was accommodated in the list.”

They threatened not to support the PCC in their respective

states if they were not accommodated, said the source.

At the event, the NCW had to postpone the meeting to allow tempers to cool down. The members who reconvened on Friday night at 10pm to ratify the PCC list to accommodate all shades of interest argued and compared notes until far into early Saturday morning.

Contacted by THEWILL, the Chief Spokesperson, Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Yunusa Tanko, simply forwarded a short statement.

He said, “The Campaign Council in synergy with the Labour Party has noted all the issues raised on the Obi-Datti Campaign Council list released on October 12, 2022. We assure you that we will do the needful and an updated list will be released soon.”

Accordingly, Abure, after the NCW first session on Thursday announced the removal of the names of NLC president, Ayuba Waba and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, from the list and announced the party’s readiness to accommodate NCF, support groups in the lists before the inauguration of the council.

This story really sounds familiar if what has been happening in the two other major parties, APC and PDP, is taken into consideration.

Like LP, after the governing APC announced its 422-member PCC list, it was greeted by storm. The National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, faulted the composition and accused presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of running a one-man show.

To address the problem, Tinubu agreed to expand the PCC

...Political Parties in Crises

membership to 2,000. A recent meeting held to address the issue fell short of being a rescue mission. And because of that, the party has postponed the take-off of its campaign.

In addition, the party, according to sources, is jittery about the court ruling that nullified the candidacy of Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State in the recent poll on the grounds that his name was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the Governor Mai Buni-led Caretaker Committee which is unknown to the Constitution. If the Appeal Court and Supreme Court uphold the lower court’s ruling, all other candidates on the party’s ticket may well see their ambition stuck.

For the PDP, the fallout of the party’s presidential convention in June, 2022, its power sharing and zoning formula has plunged it into crisis, with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State leading four out of 14 governors on its platform as they remain adamant with their call for the resignation of National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, for peace to reign.

Ordinarily the LP, by name, manifesto and composition is populist. Obi’s entry into the party at the auspicious time of public desire for an alternative party has boosted its image, regardless of his mixed economic views. The PDP, which roots for a market run economy with strong private sector participation, is rightist, while APC with a similar platform modified by its social intervention programmes, is centreleft.

SAME OF THE SAME

The crises within these parties appear to be self-inflicted, which makes them look similar in a way that prompts the question whether they offer different choices to the voter.

A Nigerian professor of journalism at Kennesaw State University in the United States, Farooq Kperogi, does not think so. He reacted immediately when the LP unveiled its PCC list.

According to him, the recent Campaign Council list of the Labour Party is evidence that “the party’s candidate, Peter Obi, is no different from his counterparts, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (APC) and Atiku Abubakar (PDP).”

He said the LP candidate was just another establishment Nigerian politician, “who has neither the willingness nor the capacity to be the different and transformational leader that his supporters think he will be."

Kperogi stated further: “He’s merely riding on the crest of the wave of mass discontent with the status quo. The list isn’t just inexcusably insular (Igbo men are even state coordinators for Sokoto and Lagos!), it is also riddled with the type of embarrassing clerical errors and oversights that we’ve become accustomed to from Nigerian governments.

“He failed in that elementary duty–much like Buhari. That’s why former Defence spokesperson, John Enenche, who said two years ago that “videos of shootings in Lekki tollgate were photoshopped” was appointed to Obi’s presidential campaign council.

“The inclusion of Enenche on Obi’s campaign list is significant because the core of Obi’s youthful supporters who’re engaged because they’re enraged are drawn from #EndSARS agitators for whom the cover-up of the massacre of protesters in Lekki is a sore point.

“To put a denier of the mass massacre of their comrades in the campaign council of a candidate they support and campaign for, is both insensitive and disrespectful.

“And why does a campaign that is fueled by a desire for difference need nearly 1,300 people to sit in a council? That’s unwieldy. How is it different from APC and PDP?

“In fact, APC and PDP are better. APC’s initial list was just 422 and PDP’s was 520. If Obi’s presidential campaign council was going to be worse than APC’s and PDP’s, why did it take him so long to unveil it?''

A University of Nigeria, Nsukka Political Science Professor Emeritus, Uzodinma Nwala, disagrees with Kperogi. He told

THEWILL that it is too early to categorise and assess the party and its candidate soon after the composition of its PCC.

“Labour is populist and the APC and PDP are elitist. And in today’s Nigeria, it is better to have a populist than an elitist party. We who are patriots and observers should allow the party to correct its mistakes. It does not mean they are perfect.”

He said the socio-political and economic crisis facing the country in the forms of insecurity, poverty, corruption and ethnic mistrust was traceable to the policy choices of both parties, adding that Nigerians are now looking for a viable alternative to the PDP and APC during their tenure in office.

Dr Okupe failed to answer repeated calls to his phone on Friday.

Expectedly, Kola Ologbondiyan, member of the PDP presidential council thinks the perception of the crisis in the party is uninformed, saying it is the only party that has remained in existence among several others that were established at the same time.

Speaking with THEWILL, he said that all other parties that were formed at the same time with the PDP were either delisted by INEC or have merged with others under a new name.

“So it has the mechanism to resolve any crisis affecting it. The crisis in the party generated by the Wike led group would soon be resolved before the election next year,” he said.

The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr Felix Morka, failed to answer calls put to his phone.

One of the presidential council spokespersons of the party’s presidential campaign council and Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, SAN, who once warned his party about the legal implications of the Buni-led exco’s approval of party candidates for elections, however, stated that the party has nothing to fear about the court ruling on the candidacy of Governor Oyetola.

He said that apart from being status barred, the suit violates sections of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022. The party, he said, had faced a bigger crisis than the current one and resolved it amicably.

LIGHT AT END OF THE TUNNEL?

Partly fuelling the crises in the political parties is what a

“

For the APC, everything appears to be in a total lockdown. No definite time has been given for the release of the reworked PCC list. LP's major headache for now is the interest groups reactions to the composition of its PCC. The LP crisis may linger until the party inaugurates the revised PCC members as ratified at its NCW vigil meeting at the weekend

Professor of Government and Politics at the Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun State, Ayo Olukotun, refers to as the winner-takes-it-all mentality in Nigerian politics. Because of this reality, any member left out in the scheme of things would always protest, he told this newspaper in an interview. Therefore, the parties must at all times embrace inclusion in as democratic a manner as possible or else anything different would be seen as a job for the boys.

As agents of mobilisation, enlightenment and representation of the interests of their members and followers at the centre of power, they must also realise that they impact the larger society through democratic and value orientation, Prof Nwala said. With the crises ravaging them currently, the parties appear to be far from this ideal of civic responsibility.

For the PDP, there is yet to be light at the end of the tunnel as Wike, at a media parley in Port Harcourt on Friday, insisted that Ayu must go for peace to return to the party. How far the party would go to meet that demand is yet to be seen as its electioneering campaign team has since kicked off as planned.

Meanwhile, the party’s BoT has taken a middle ground position on the crisis in the party. On Friday, its Chairman, Adolphus Wabara reported on the outcome of the fence mending meeting it had with aggrieved members of the party, including the five governors. In its report, it stated that Ayu should agree to resign after the 2023 general election, asked members to desist from making further public statements against the party and urged the Chairman of the party’s Governors Forum to convene a meeting of the forum and brief members.

Responding to allegations of bribery made against him by Wike, Ayu denied collecting N1 billion from any presidential candidate but admitted that N100 million was donated to the party by a governor for the renovation of the party’s democratic institutes, adding that in December the party would release its audited account to show the money was judiciously used for the purpose.

A dependable party source said the party may ignore the Rivers governor if sufficient feedback shows that his threat and that of his team are sound and fury signifying nothing. This partly explains why Rivers State is on the campaign schedule as one of the last states to visit, in fact, in February 2023, the month of the election.

The permutation is that among the feuding five state governors, only Wike is not running for any post. And he is free to apply no brakes in his fight. Last week, he appointed about 50, 000 advisers and 359 liaison officers after which he signed an Executive Order that mandates political parties to pay the sum of N5 million before embarking on any campaign activity in the state.

For other members of his team, the game at home is different and therefore engages their attention. For instance, Samuel Ortom of Benue State is contesting as a senatorial candidate, just like his Enugu and Abia counterparts, Governor Ifeany Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, respectively.

Notably, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state is running for a second term. All four have no option than to campaign on the same ticket for their party in their respective states.

In the South-West, for example, the chairmen and secretaries of the PDP state chapters have since parted ways with Makinde on the 'Ayu must go' stand.

THEWILL also learnt that party campaign strategists are considering offering direct moral and financial support to all contestants on the platform of the party. That way, they think, the candidates would be well motivated to work for their success in the long run and safeguard the interest of the party. How that would work out is yet to be seen, meaning that there is no possible end to the crisis in the PDP.

For the APC, everything appears to be in a total lockdown. No definite time has been given for the release of the reworked PCC list. LP's major headache for now is the interest groups reactions to the composition of its PCC. The LP crisis may linger until the party inaugurates the revised PCC members as ratified at its NCW vigil meeting at the weekend.

Commuters Groan as Spaghetti Flyover Construction Hampers Movement

Over 1,000 commuters comprising trucks, buses and several cars were held up for several hours at the Odukpani Junction Flyover last Friday.

The junction is the spot where the Spaghetti Flyover, one of the signature projects of the state governor Professor Ben Ayade, is being constructed.

The Odukpani junction is one of the busiest roads in Cross River State and hundreds of vehicles ply the route, particularly trucks that transport limestone from quarries in Cross River to neighbouring states.

The idea of a Spaghetti Flyover is to ensure that passengers going to the northern part of the state have a seamless travel experience.

Similarly, trucks conveying limestone from the state also have a separate route while also providing routes for Akwa Ibom State-bound travellers.

However, last Friday commuters bemoaned their fate as construction work slowed down construction, coupled with the poor state of road leading to the junction, caused a massive holdup which stretched about 9 kilometres.

A commuter named, Abeng Elvin, called on the government to expedite action on the construction of the flyover to ameliorate the plight of travellers.

He said the government ought to have provided an alternative route to enable people to move freely in and out of the state as that is the only route into Calabar.

Also speaking, a motorist known Ante Edet wondered why the construction which started over two years ago has not reached an appreciable level.

"This project is very laudable and innovative, but the slow pace of construction is giving us a nightmare.

FG Working to Make Nigeria Irresistible Mining Destination — Minister

The Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, has said that the vision of the ministry is to make the mining sector attractive to foreign investors.

Saraki said this on Wednesday in Abuja, at the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers 21st Annual General Meeting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the meeting is “Sustainable Mining in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges”.

According to the minister, the theme is appropriate at a time when sustainable mining practice is a challenge in the country.

She said that the ministry was working to transform the Nigeria Minerals and Metals sector into an irresistible mining destination for global capital, attracting foreign direct investments to grow the sector to optimum level.

“Our confidence on the realisation of the above vision is predicated on Nigeria’s position as one of the largest economy in Africa.

“With a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 514.05 dollars, a population of over 213 million people, over 57 per cent economically active population is endowed with over 44 different minerals resources in commercial quantities,” she said.

She said that the Federal Government strategic policy direction on mining, focused on the some key priority areas, like:

“Streamlining application processes and significantly increasing private sector investment in mining,

“Ensuring orderly and efficient mining of the seven priority minerals in the mining roadmap (Coal, Bitumen, Limestone, Iron Ore, Barites, Gold and Lead/Zinc Ore and now Lithium)".

Traditional Ruler Charges FG, Ogun to Explore Tourism Potential

The traditional ruler of Lisa, a town in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, the Olu of Lisa, Oba Najeemden Oladele Odugbemi , has called on the Ogun State Government and the Federal Government to explore possible tourism potential of the abandoned Lisa Memorial Arcade where the bodies of the 117 passengers of the crashed Bellview Airlines Boeing 737-200 aircraft, Flight 210, on October 22, 2015, were interred.

The Lisa Memorial Arcade and Garden and other infrastructure constructed by government to immortalise the memories of the departed souls of the plane crash is now in a state of neglect.

Seventeen years after, weeds have taken over what could have been a monument for tourist attractions.

Speaking to THEWILL during a recent Community Development Day event at Lisa, Oba Odugbemi lamented that the vision of making the memorial arcade a befitting tourist centre has been abandoned after the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo left power.

“The vision of the former President Obasanjo is to create a befitting Aviation Park, a kind of Memorial Arcade capable of attracting tourists from across Nigeria and parts of the world. But, like other projects, the vision has been neglected. I believe, the government is a continuum, we look forward to Ogun State government to Ogun State Government to resuscitate this project,” the traditional ruler said. Appealing to the Ogun State Government and the Federal Government, he asked them to look into the possibility of developing Lisa Memorial Arcade into a monument, where visitors can explore the history behind the park with other associated cultural values for commercial values.

CSOs Empower Girls, Seek Abolition Of Harmful Practices

C

onnected Development (CODE), in collaboration with Ayamara Foundation on Friday called for abolition of harmful practices against girls as they empowered the girls with digital skills and other skills.

The civil society organisations, at a two-day capacity building for 50 girls in the Federal Capital Territory, said the move was to promote the inclusion of girls in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) academic discipline in Nigeria.

This, according to them, is to ensure that the girl-child is not left behind in fulfilling sustainable development goal (SDG) 4 –Education.

Mr Hamzat Lawal, A Malala Fund Global Education Champion and the Chief Executive Officer of Connected Development (CODE) said it was important to continue to engage girls to transfer knowledge and equip girls to become advocates.

Lawal said beyond that, there was need to give the girls knowledge around STEM, where we can have the next astronauts, the scientist, the next innovative ideas come from the girl –child.

“Education is a right and I want to hope that this kind of engagement will inspire the governments to one, increase budget allocation to the education sector, but also release these resources and use it judiciously.

“Today we have over 20 million out of school children, which over 50 per cent are girls, particularly in northern Nigeria, Nigeria cannot attain her full potentials if girls do not go to school and roam around the streets.

“It takes a minute to inspire a generation; I hope that this will inspire them and this memory and the moment we spent today will continue to push them to remain resilient, go to school, but most importantly, become a shining light of our country.

“Let girls be girls, let them not be housewives, my biggest challenge and the threat to our society is the fact that we are giving girls out in marriage; this is wrong.”

Lawal said although the country was faced with challenges of poverty, girls were not meant to be brides and citizens should desist from such acts.

“The fabric of society is demeaning, if girls continue to be brides ,then it means our children would end up in the streets, so let us allow girls to be girls so they can flourish and grow and in meet their full potential,” he said.

Lawal said that his work with Malala was focused on the grassroots, adding that the work started in the Northeast to end early child marriage, accelerate girl-child education and ensure that no girl was on the streets in the zone.

He expressed hope that this would be scaled up across the country though collaboration with other stakeholders especially the private sector because they have the immediate resources.

He said the group would also work with government to review existing laws and policies and advocate for the UBEC law which says compulsory nine years education to be changed to compulsory 12 years.

He said this was because most times girls in their senior secondary school dropout, but if a girl can attain senior secondary school, she would ensure that all her children would get to tertiary level.

Dr Stella Dorgu, the Chairman and Founder Ayamara Foundation, said the event was aimed at celebrating the girl-child in accordance to the UN’s directive.

Dorgu said this was because UN felt that the girl child needed to be buoyed in order for her to attain her full potential.

FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR

L-R: Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, during the swearing in of the new CJN in Abuja on October 12, 2022.

POLITICS

2023: Senators Who Will Not

BY AYO ESAN

The National Assembly is currently made up of 109 members. But, according to the list of candidates for the National Assembly election scheduled for February 2023 as released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on September 20, 2022, more than 50 of the lawmakers will definitely not return to their seats by June 2023 after the expiration of the 9th National Assembly.

Those whose names were not on the list and who will not return include members of the Senate aspiring to become governors of their states. Those who were not nominated by their political parties, especially those whose state governors are eyeing the Senate after completing two terms in office and wish to ‘retire’ in the Senate, as well as those who lost out to the internal bickering in the state chapters of their parties. About 58 senators fall into these three categories.

Senators that will not return include Ayo Akinyelure (Ondo Central); Nicholas Tofowomo (Ondo South); Tolu Odebiyi (Ogun West); Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South); Gershom Bassey (Cross River South); James Manager (Delta South); George Sekibo (Rivers East); Betty Apiafi (Rivers West); Albert Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East) and Chris Ekpenyong (Akwa Ibom North West). The likes of Rochas Okorocha (Imo West); Hadejia Ibrahim (Jigawa North East); Sankara Abubakar (Jigawa North West); Mohammed Nakudu (Jigawa South West); Bello Mandiya (Katsina South); Barkiya Kabir (Katsina Central); Lawali Anka (Zamfara West); Danjumah La’ah (Kaduna South); Moses Cleopas (Bayelsa Central); Mohammed Bulkachuwa (Bauchi North) and Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) will also not return to the Senate.

Senators who won’t make it back to the Senate Chambers are also given as Ahmad Lawan, (Yobe North); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun Central); Ajayi Boroffice (Ondo North); Rochas Okorocha (Imo West); Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege; Taraba Senator Emmanuel Bwacha; Kaduna Senator Uba San (Kaduna Central); Aishatu Dahiru of Adamawa; Teslim Folarin (Oyo North); Sandy Onor (Cross River Central).

Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North)

Nigeria’s Senate President, Ahmad Lawman’s hope of returning to the senate for a fifth consecutive term has been dashed. He has even accepted his fate as he said he will not be seeking reelection to the Senate after he agreed not to appeal a court ruling that nullified his candidacy.

The Federal High Court in Damaturu has recognised Bashir Machina as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District in the February 15, 2023 National Assembly election.

The court ordered the APC to transmit Machina’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the candidate.

Although Machina had won the APC senatorial primary, Lawan tried to usurp the ticket after he lost the presidential primary of the ruling party in June this year.

But after the court’s pronouncement which dashed his hope of returning to the senate in June next year, Lawan announced his decision not to appeal the ruling in a statement he signed.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that he would not appeal the judgement delivered on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 by the Federal High Court, Damaturu, in Yobe State with respect to the forthcoming Yobe North Senatorial District elections.

Lawan said in a statement that he personally signed .Titled, ‘Court Judgement on Yobe North Senatorial District Candidacy,’ the statement reads: “Nigeria’s Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, will not be seeking re-election to the Senate after he agreed not to appeal a court ruling that nullified his candidacy.

“The said judgement disqualifies my candidature and therefore my participation in the elections.

“After due consultations with my political associates, supporters and well-wishers, I have decided not to appeal against the judgement. I accept the judgement.

“At this juncture, I deem it appropriate to thank His Excellency, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam for the leadership role in the APC political family in Yobe State. I also thank His Excellency, Governor Mai

“

Mala Buni for the support and brotherhood.

“To my constituents, I thank you all for your unflinching support, loyalty and unreserved commitment to the course of building our people and Yobe North Senatorial District and indeed Yobe State. “I want to assure you that I will continue to serve you in my personal and any other capacity at all times.

“We journeyed together for a long time and this journey will remain a lifelong journey. It has been a wonderful relationship and it can only get stronger. I am indebted to you all. Alhamdulillah.”

Ahmad Lawan came fourth with 152 votes in the June 2022 presidential primary of the ruling APC.

Born on January 12, 1959, Lawan has served as the Senate President since 2019. He represents the Yobe North Senatorial District in the Senate as a member of the APC.

He holds a Bachelor's degree in Geography from the University of Maiduguri in 1984 and after university. He had his compulsory national service in Benue State before obtaining a Master's degree in Remote Sensing from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and a Doctorate degree in Remote Sensing/GIS from Granfield University in 1990.

Lawan was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 to represent the Bade/Jakusko Constituency as a member of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).

He was re-elected in 2003 before successfully running to become

Yobe North Senator in 2007. After being re-elected in 2011, 2015 and 2019, Lawan was elected the new Senate President with 79 votes cast to beat Senator Ali Ndume with 28 votes after the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly in 2019. It was his second attempt at becoming Senate President, with a notable failed run in 2015.

Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun Central)

Amosun is currently representing Ogun Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly. He had his first term when in April 2003, he was elected to the senatorial seat of Ogun Central Senatorial District. He lost the Ogun governorship election of 2007 on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, (ANPP) platform, as he was defeated by Gbenga Daniel.

Amosun was the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the April 2011 Ogun governorship election. He won the election by polling 377,489 votes. Adetunji Olurin of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 188,698 votes and Gboyega Isiaka of the PPN came third with 137,051 votes.

In 2015, Amosun contested for a second term as governor. On May 29, 2019 he handed over to another member from his political party, Dapo Abiodun after completing the constitutional maximum two terms of eight years as a governor. However, he was elected as the senator for the Ogun Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly the same year.

Amosun will not return to the Senate and he didn’t even aspire for it, having realised that he was not in good terms with Abiodun and the leadership of the party in Ogun.

Emmanuel Bwatcha (Taraba South)

Born in the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State,Emmanuel Bwacha is currently representing Taraba South in the Senate He has an Education Diploma in Public Administration from the University of Calabar. A public servant, he served as Commissioner of Agriculture for Taraba State between 1999 and 2003 in the Jolly Nyame’s administration.

Bwacha was elected to the House of Representatives for the Donga / Ussa / Takum Constituency, serving from May 2003 to May 2007. He was Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs. In the April 2007 elections he lost his bid for the Senate seat.

Nigeria’s Senate President, Ahmad Lawman’s hope of returning to the senate for a fifth consecutive term has been dashed

Amosun

Lawan

POLITICS

Return to Red Chamber

He was elected to the Senate for Taraba South Senatorial District of Taraba State in the 2011 general election. He was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP). He was re-elected under the same party in 2015. Bwacha was again declared the winner of 2019 general election inTaraba South Senatorial District.

Bwacha will not return to the Senate in 2023 because the governor of his state, Architect Darius Dickson Ishaku; who will round up his second term in May next year has taken the ticket for the district.

Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev (Benue North West)

Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev is the senator representing Benue North West in the Upper Legislative Chamber on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP). He defeated George Akume in the 2019 general election for the Benue North West Senatorial District by polling 157,726 votes to the Akume's 115,422.

Orker-Jev hails from Benue State and attended NKST Primary School from 1970 to 1976 and proceeded to Bristow Secondary School to obtain his West African Senior Certificate (WASC). He proceeded to the University of Jos in 1985 to Study Law and graduated in 1988 before he proceeded to the Nigeria Law School and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1989.

Orker-Jev will not return to the senate next year as his state governor, Samuel Ortom has been given the ticket for Benue North West and he will carry the banner of the PDP in the February 2023 election.

Rochas Okorocha (Imo West)

Born on September 22,1962, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha is the senator representing Imo West Senatorial District at the 9th National Assembly. He is also the former Governor of Imo State. Okorocha defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to run as an APGA governorship candidate in Imo in 2011.

On March 2, 2013, Rochas led a faction of the APGA to form the All Progressives Congress. He won the election as governor on the platform of the APC in 2015. He was later elected as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum.

Towards the end of his tenure, Okorocha picked his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, who was the Chief of Staff, as his candidate to run for the office of the governor under APC, but Uche Nwosu lost the party's governorship ticket to Senator Hope Uzodinma.

Uche Nwosu defected to the Action Alliance (AA) party after his loss and became their governorship flagbearer. He contested the senatorial ticket for the 9th National Assembly representing Imo West Senatorial Zone during the 2019 National Assembly elections and won.

Okorocha was sworn in on June 13, 2019 by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.

Under the auspices of the All Progressive Congress (APC), he contested for the seat of presidency in 2015. He declared his interest in the presidency again under the same umbrella in 2023 but lost.

There has been no love lost between Okorocha and his successor and fellow party man, Hope Uzodinma. Little wonder, he will not return to the Senate next year after scoring zero votes at the APC Presidential Primary earlier this year.

Kola Balogun (Oyo South)

Mohammed Kola Balogun is a senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District in Oyo State. He defeated the then Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi. in the 2019 general election.

Balogun had his primary education at Ratibu Muslim Primary School, Oluyoro, Ibadan. His secondary education was at St. Peters College, Abeokuta, Ogun State. He had his university degree at the North Texas State University, Denton, Texas.

H was out of favour with the incumbent governor of Oyo State and leader of his party in the state, Engr. Seyi Makinde. Makinde, has since replaced his candidature with his new ally, Chief Joseph Tegbe.

James Manager (Delta South)

James Manager is the senator representing Delta South Senatorial

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District of Delta State in the National Assembly . He became a Senator in 2003.

Manager was elected to the Senate on the Peoples Democratic ticket for the Delta South Senatorial District in 2003. He was appointed to the Works committee, Niger Delta committee and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters committee.

Manager successfully ran for re-election as Delta South Senator on the PDP platform in the April 2011 election. He unsuccessfully sought to be the next governor of Delta State after Okowa and will not return to the Senate in 2023.

Ovie Omo-Agege, Delta Central Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege was born on August 3, 1963, a lawyer and politician who is currently the Deputy President of the Senate. He is senator representing the Delta Central Senatorial District at the Senate.

He was first elected in 2015 into the 8th senate. Omo-Agege is from the Orogun clan of the Urhobo ethnic group in Ughelli

North Local Government Area of Delta State. He emerged the Deputy President of the Senate of the 9th National Assembly on June 11, 2019 after he defeated his rival, Ike Ekweremadu with a margin of 31 votes to win the second leadership position of the National Assembly.

Omo-Agege is the first senator from Delta State to emerge as Deputy Senate President.

Omo-Agege started out in politics by contesting for the ticket to be a representative at the Delta State House of Assembly under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, a ticket he lost in the party primaries. In 2003, former governor of Delta State, James Ibori appointed Omo-Agege as an executive assistant, a position he held for two years. He was later appointed as a commissioner for special duties by the governor. He ran for the office of the Governor of Delta State, but lost out at the Peoples Democratic Party's primaries to Emmanuel Uduaghan. He was appointed as the Secretary to State Government of Delta State by Governor James Ibori in 2007. He ran for Senate in 2015 under the platform of the Labour Party. He was elected as a senator representing Delta central senatorial district on March 28, 2015.

He defected from the Labour Party to All Progressives Congress (APC) on March 7, 2017. He was re-elected as the senator representing Delta Central in 2019 general elections.

Omo-Agege will not return to the senate because he is the APC Governorship Candidate for Delta State and will be on the ballot for the March, 2023 election.

Bello Mandiya (Katsina South)

Bello Mandiya is the current senator for the Katsina South Senatorial district. He was the former chief of staff to the Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari.

He attended the University of Lagos, Nigeria, from where he received his Bachelor degree in Mass Communication.

He had lost the senatorial ticket to the rivalry among the party leaders in his home state but despite rumour of him leaving the party, he has stayed put in the APC.

Okorocha

Omo-Agege

Orker-Jev will not return to the senate next year as his state governor, Samuel Ortom has been given the ticket for Benue North West and he will carry the banner of the PDP in the February 2023 election

PDP Will Come Together to Win 2023 Election –Olayinka

Hon. Lere Olayinka, a political communicator, public affairs analyst and media aide to former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose, is the PDP House of Representatives Candidate for Ijero/ Ekiti West/ Efon Constituency of Ekiti State. In this interview with AYO ESAN, he speaks on the forthcoming general election, the state of PDP in Nigeria and Ekiti State, among other issues of national importance. Excerpts:

What is the state of the PDP in Ekiti State?

For a party that lost a major election, it is expected that there will be issues here and there. So that party is going through some expected crisis, but we are pushing on. We are talking to ourselves, restoring confidence and trust, and I am sure that ultimately, we will all work together as one family. Also, those who left the party are coming back.

What is your reaction to the current crisis rocking the PDP at the national level?

There is really nothing unusual that is happening in the PDP at the national level. It is just a conflict of interest and I am sure the moment all interests are served, we will all come together and win together. Most importantly, politics in itself is about conflicts and conflict resolution. Other political parties are also facing theirs. For instance, why is the ruling APC going back and forth with its Presidential Campaign Council and the flag off of its campaign?

Is it not because some major stakeholders are aggrieved? Is the APC not also facing issues on its Muslim-Muslim ticket? Look at a small party like ADC, did the party not expel its presidential candidate? But I think Nigerians are more concerned about happenings in the PDP because the party is their only hope to rescue the country from APC terrible governance.

How optimistic are you that the PDP will win the next presidential election scheduled for February next year?

I am very optimistic. The mood of Nigerians is for an end to come for this rudderless APC government that has plunged the country into untold confusion. Apart from those who are directly eating from the APC government, I doubt if there is any Nigerian that is not tired of the party. Is it about a bag of rice that was N7,000 in 2015 and now N45,000? Is it about diesel that was below N150 per litre then that is now N800?

As at 2015 that APC took over, Naira to Dollar was N197, it is now over N740. So Nigerians want the country rescued from total collapse. Look at a state like Ekiti, the PDP-led Federal Government gave the state a university, Central Bank, Federal High Court, Appeal Court, etc. Now what has Ekiti State benefited from the APC government since 2015? As I speak, all the federal roads in the state have collapsed. Therefore Nigerians are desirous of a change that can, at least, return the country to how it was in 2015 and they know that only the PDP can achieve that.

You are contesting the Federal House of Representatives election next year. What informed your decision for this? The passion to serve the people and contribute to their well-being. Most importantly, I believe that I have paid my dues in the politics of Ekiti State and Nigeria in general. I also believe that I have the required experience and political exposure to impact positively on the people as a member of the House of Reps.

In the last 15 years, I have worked under two substantive governors, one acting governor and a minister. I was a media aide to Engr Segun Oni both as governor and as PDP National Vice Chairman (Southwest), I was media aide to Prince Dayo Adeyeye

when he was Minister of State for Works.

Under the government of Governor Ayo Fayose, I was in charge of the State Radio and Television stations as Director General. I was also in charge of public communications and new media for the government. Therefore, I am well equipped and the people of Ekiti State know who Lere Olayinka is.

They know that he will represent the people of Ekiti West, Efon and Ijero Local Governments well.

How optimistic are you of victory and what do you think will aid your victory?

I have a very good chance of winning and we will keep working to improve the chances. Like I said earlier, Nigerians look up to the PDP as the party that can rescue the country from going below the bottom. So I have two brands, PDP and myself. Lere Olayinka is a name that nearly everybody in Ekiti State can relate with. I doubt if there is a household in this State that you won't find at least, one person who have heard the name. And the name has never been associated with negativities.

On the other hand, my closest opponent, the APC candidate, will only be relying on his party and power of incumbency. I doubt if his name and personal identity can give him 20 votes.

Good enough, myself and the APC candidate both have yardsticks with which we can be measured. I have been in public office before and he was Governor Fayemi's Chief of Staff (CoS) for three and half years. People will ask him, as a former CoS, what did you do? How many people did you affect positively? On that pedestal, I stand far above him.

Then, on the scale of personal popularity, acceptability, and good

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There is really nothing unusual that is happening in the PDP at the national level. It is just a conflict of interest and I am sure the moment all interests are served, we will all come together and win together

relationship with the people, I am far ahead of other contenders.

If elected, what should the people of Ijero/ Ekiti West/ Efon Constituency be expecting from your representation?

Robust and developmental representation. We will bring our political network to bear and the voice of our people will be heard loud and clear. Most importantly, people will have free access such that they won't have to struggle to get my attention. As of now, my phone numbers are in the public domain, I pick all calls and that will not change. What our people desire is someone who will ensure that they are not shortchanged or neglected in the sharing of national benefits and with me, they can be sure that they will not be pushed aside.

Let me also say this, the incumbent member representing my Federal Constituency, Hon. Wumi Ogunlola has done well.

People are speaking well about her and despite that she is of the APC, I can't but commend her. She has laid precedence and I can assure that hers will be a child's play in terms of what I will do.

There is one fundamental issue that is dear to my heart. That is Ijero Local Government, one of the biggest in Ekiti State, with 12 wards, having only one state constituency. On paper, Ijero Local Government operates two State Constituencies but has one State House of Assembly member. We need to ask what went wrong and see how it can be resolved. By and large, what I promise is a brand new deal.

How will you advise the people of your federal Constituency as we are getting set for the 2023 elections?

They should be ready to use their votes to change governance in the country. They should be prepared to elect people they won't have to beg to see. They should not forget that we once had a Nigeria where rice was N7,000 per bag. They should remember that there was a time in the history of this State when they can move freely to anywhere in the State and at any time without fear of being kidnapped by terrorists. For instance, I remember leaving my hometown, Okemesi Ekiti in December 2007, at about 2am and drove to Ado Ekiti alone. That's when we still had a working country. Unlike now that people are being kidnapped in their farms.

They should also remember a government in this country that got our foreign debts paid, making us debt free. Someone was in charge of our country's Economic Council then. Today, Nigeria is owing over N40 trillion and the borrowing has not stopped.

The people must therefore have to put all sentiments aside and vote for the PDP from top to bottom so that the country can return to that era that it was moving from bottom to top.

Olayinka

Samdaddy, Ihedioha And Imo PDP’s Challenges POLITICS

AyuAnyanwu

BY SAMPSON UHUEGBU

Iam not a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) nor do I belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other political party. In fact, I am non-partisan.

Sometimes, we react to important issues that appear to have been relegated to the abyss of absurdity for the purpose of correcting societal ills.

Arguably, the PDP used to be a political party that people admired a lot. In those days when the Nigerian economy was booming, if you paid a visit to a member of the party holding a political appointment, you would surely come out with a heavy pocket.

It was a party to be reckoned with in terms of unity of purpose among its members and its strength was commendable.

The PDP believed in "giving". That was what made this party to hold power for 16 years before the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won the 2015 presidential election during which the then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan was defeated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, fondly called Samdaddy, are both PDP chieftains that I respect so much. The duo have contributed meaningfully to the party at the national level. It would therefore be an anomally if they dragged the platform (PDP) that made them what they are today in the mud.

Former Governor Ihedioha has built and sustained the party in Imo State, while forming alliances with relevant stakeholders in the party. He is a good party man and a competent administrator who understands leadership, followership and mentorship. Ihedioha has a high market value due to his outstanding performance as Governor of the state for seven (7) months. His performance in office still speaks volumes.

Also Anyanwu, who is the National Secretary of the party, is not a greenhorn in politics. Having once been the Chairman of Ikeduru Local Government Area, he represented the State Constituency in the Imo House of Assembly and that shows he is not a pushover in the system. He also represented Owerri Zone in the Senate.

Samdaddy and the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha have funded the PDP and made it a formidable platform in the state. Therefore seeing the former Governor and the PDP National secretary at

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Former Governor Ihedioha has built and sustained the party in Imo State, while forming alliances with relevant stakeholders in the party. He is a good party man and a competent administrator who understands leadership, followership and mentorship

loggerheads over who controls the party in Imo is uncalled for. This does not require them to dance naked in the market square over a governorship election that is still far away in 2023/2024.

Imo PDP has overcome the challenges of choosing its candidates in the presidential and national assembly elections. Uche Onyeaguocha (Imo West), Emmanuel Okewulonu (Okigwe Zone) and Jones Onyereri (Orlu) are the three senatorial candidates of Imo PDP.

Members of the party and its stakeholders should always think of ways to develop the state. The Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha was a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. Subsequently, he became Speaker and Governor before he was removed from office by the Supreme Court, while Sen. Samuel Anyanwu had held various elective positions in the party since 1999.

The rural areas in Imo are crying out for good roads, quality and affordable health service, rehabilitation of markets and school buildings, job opportunities for their unemployed University graduates, elimination of hunger and economic sabotage and

others. These are the things that should occupy the mind of a selfless leader who really wants to make a laudable impact if elected as Governor of the state. Politics of visionary leadership goes beyond knocking horns over big positions.

As a matter of fact, the PDP, Imo chapter, was a party for all before it was allowed to be hijacked by the forces that have torn it apart. The overall interests of the people of the state should ever be the priority of any governorship aspirant that wants the people's mandate.

It would amount to comic relief if the "soul" of one political party is being battled for by two big heads of same political units (Imo East Senatorial District) for the seat of Governorship in 2024. Despite the fact that power is not given, but taken; there are supposed to be orderliness and a high sense of responsibility considering the class of people involved.The stand-alone Imo Governorship poll is counting down. But it appears many aspirants are likely to eye the forthcoming poll because the party has thrown its Guber ticket open jettisoning the conventional zoning formula.

Indeed, Ihedioha and Samdaddy are known to be the most tactical politicians in Imo PDP. The duo talk a little, but plan big.They are strategists. Instead of shooting each other on the leg, they should package their grievances and move their party forward.

The horrible battle between these men visibly played out in the May 26, 2022 National Assembly primaries that took place at the Aladinma Shopping Mall, Owerri, where aspirants alleged that the results were manipulated. Samdaddy had projected his preferred candidates, while Ihedioha pushed for his men to be given tickets to seats in the state and national assemblies.

Imo PDP must put its house in order. The party has been rocked by an avoidable crisis that could have been amicably resolved by the leadership and the aggrieved members. The State Chairman of the party, Charles Ugwu, has never called spade a spade, as far as his position is concerned. Many members of the party have complained of not being carried along in the affairs of the party. The die is cast. Other political parties are strategising and restrategising to take over power from the ruling APC in the state. The political parties participating in the forthcoming polls are expected to remain formidable in their bid to be in the corridor of power.

•Sampson Uhuegbu is an Owerri based journalist.

Ihedioha

EDITORIAL

National Awards as Buhari's Parting Gift

President Muhammadu Buhari broke an all-time record, last week, when he gave Nigeria's national honours and awards to a large number of ''deserving Nationals and Non-Nationals,'' who, according to him, had “distinguished themselves in the service of the nation and humanity in accordance with the National Honours Act CAP N43 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.''

From the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) to the highest honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), a total number of 447 awardees were honoured at the colourful ceremony, which incidentally, is the last of such for the President before his exit in 2023.

The large number is arguably justified, given the fact that it was a roll-over of sorts because since the inception of the Buhari Administration in 2015, there has not been any investiture such as this, except the Special Investiture Ceremony in honour of Chief MKO Abiola, Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, whose investiture was specially done

to right the wrong done in the past and restore the sanctity of the nation's electoral process and democracy.

We sincerely agree with the established broad criteria for the awards. These include, but not limited to, consistent and meaningful participation in community and/or national development; rendering unsolicited, selfless and philanthropic services to humanity; outstanding sacrifice in the defence of a cause popularly adjudged to be positive, relevant and beneficial to the nation and community.

Other criteria include a distinct act of bravery in the protection and/or defence of national interest, public peace, safety of life and property; and remarkable achievement in any field of expertise where the person’s activities in that field have made significant contributions to the attainment of national goals and objectives, among others.

We are happy that Abdullahi Abubakar, an Imam in Barkin Ladi area of Plateau State was honoured. The Imam won the hearts of many Nigerians for his action in 2018 when he saved the lives of 262 Christians by hiding them in his mosque during a bandit attack as he knelt down in front of the armed bandits, pleading with them to leave.

Others honoured at the ceremony include Ms. Josephine Agu, an airport cleaner, who returned $12,200 found in a toilet at the Murtala Mohammed

International Airport, Lagos, as well as Ogbanago Muhammed Ibrahim, a bank security man, who found and returned $10,000. The award conferred posthumously on the late Dr Stella Adadevoh for putting her life on the line to save Nigeria from Ebola is also commendable.

Some other Nigerians, who cut across all strata of the society, as well as leading technocrats and bureaucrats in both the private and public sectors also made the list of awardees. Others, even in the armed forces, were also honoured posthumously.

While we commend the National Honours Award Committee for the painstaking effort in selecting the lucky recipients

from a total number of 5,000 entries received, we believe that some were deliberately denied the honour for clearly obvious reasons despite the outcry of some Nigerians against the apparent injustice.

Just as President Buhari stated at the ceremony that the awards are not in any way commemorative, we urge all Nigerians to be alive to their responsibility as patriotic citizens and always endeavour to do their best for the country. However, we frown at the obvious fact that some of the awards are simply ''gifts for the boys'' and mere rewards for political patronage. Some of those honoured at the occasion cannot be rightly said to have merited the honour bestowed on them in the real sense of it, just as a few Nigerians see the awards as just another bazaar.

A situation where Nigeria's national awards are given based on political leanings and other mundane reasons is highly condemnable and regrettable as this would be setting a very bad precedence.

We sincerely believe that despite "assuring" that he will continue to root out all forms of banditry, criminality, terrorism and insurgency in the country, a promise that has been very difficult for him to fulfill since 2015, the greatest parting gift Nigerians expect from Buhari is the fulfilment of his latest promise to hand over "a Nigeria that is free from insecurity to the next generation of leaders."

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Austyn Ogannah

A situation where Nigeria's national awards are given based on political leanings and other mundane reasons is highly condemnable and regrettable as this would be setting a very bad precedence

Why 2023 Population Census Must Be Postponed

BY MICHAEL OWHOKO

The results of census conducted in 1962, 1963, 1973, 1991 and 2006 were all marred by anomalies and controversies allegedly engendered by manipulation and falsification of figures. Without prejudice to the extent of preparations, has government genuinely evaluated reasons for dispute and rejection of past census results in Nigeria before proceeding to organise another headcount? Were there any lessons learnt from these disputes?

So far, all the contentious issues, which diminished and undermined the credibility of the previous exercises together with emerging fresh challenges, are still widespread.

Distrust induced by ethnic dominance, religious supremacy, nepotism, inappropriate political structure, dishonesty, insecurity, corruption, poverty and socio-economic uncertainty are still staring at us as monsters. Preconceived notion of increased revenue and political representation as basis for census rather than national planning and development, is another matter.

Without visible genuine efforts at resolving these hiccups, the National Population Commission (NPC) charged with the conduct of census, including collation and analysis of population data, has scheduled population census for April 2023, approximately a month after the 2023 general election holding between February and March. The National Council of State has also gone ahead to endorse the exercise without rigorous evaluation of potential exposures.

In the face of current realities devoid of an enabling environment, the timing is a miscalculation. The general election and census are both inflammable events, which should not be scheduled close to each other. More worrisome is the fact that nobody can predict the outcome of the 2023 general election, which may likely spill into the census period. From the body language of youths across the country who are major victims of years of misgovernance, it may not be business as usual. So, why schedule a census under this condition?

Perhaps, if the Federal Government had painstakingly carried out a risk assessment of the timing of both the election and census within the context of Nigeria’s sociological complex configuration, both exercises would have been staggered apart by a minimum of one year. No amount of risk mitigation strategy can contain associated emotions, particularly under a government that is challenged by trust deficit. Rather than resolve these flaws, the government is treading the same path, with the erroneous expectation of a

credible outcome.

In a multi-ethnic society like Nigeria where population census is used as a basis for revenue allocation, the stakes are high and so, citizens’ trust in government, as an unbiased umpire devoid of sectional leanings, must not be in doubt. Unfortunately, the distrust that characterised the previous failed exercises is popping up again. This is evident in the recent statement of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, when he advised NPC to “Be accurate and impartial. Declare what you capture. If the population of the state is less than 15 million, it is false and inaccurate. Do your work accurately.’’

By this declaration, Makinde has stirred up the hornet’s nest and ready to reject any figure that is less than 15 million for Oyo State. In the past, the Lagos State government rejected the 2006 census, while the Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze, said the exercise reduced the Igbo to a minority group, casting aspersion on the credibility of the whole exercise.

Besides, all over the world, peace is a sine qua non and a critical factor for the conduct of a successful population census. Currently, Nigeria lacks peace that is adequate enough to guarantee a free and fair census. Except to live in denial, the country is faced with unresolved and multifaceted crises.

Where is the peace when travel and movement of goods by road or rail across the country is threatened by insecurity and associated risks? Nigerians now invoke divine intervention for safe arrival at their destinations before embarking on a journey by road. Inadequate security cover to facilitate safe deployment of men and census materials to all the nooks and crannies of the country may hinder the exercise.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently admitted that insecurity was having a toll on data collection for field surveys. The Statistician-General of the Federation and CEO of NBS, Adeyemi Adeniran, disclosed this at a conference organized by National Statistical Association in Keffi, Nasarawa State, where he said that enumerators were unable to access certain parts of the country for data collection due to insecurity.

With this revelation, do we need a prophet to tell us that the 2023 population census cannot be achieved? In the absence of any hidden agenda and desperation of government to score a political point, the NPC knows that it is difficult to

Stealing The Nation

BY NNIMMO BASSEY

To say that Nigeria is being stolen is an understatement. It is a sordid situation. Shocking stories from the oil and gas sector continue to hit the news. Rather than being numbed by the monstrous pillaging of the nation, Nigerians should heed the wakeup call, especially in an election season.

By some deft choreography, the blame for the stealing and pollution in the oil field communities of the Niger Delta has been deflected to the poor communities. This devious deflection has been so successful that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which has the fingerprints of multinational oil companies all over it, criminalizes communities and holds them up as being responsible for interferences that may occur on oil facilities in their territories.

This is unambiguously read in Section 257 subsections 2 and 3 of the PIA. The same Act gives the oil companies the sole right of determining who a host community is and grudgingly accedes to extending a mere three percent of the companies’ operational cost to the communities. The meagre three percent is to be administered by a board dominated by the oil companies’ nominees for community projects. The same three percent, by the Act, is to be forfeited by the communities in the event of damage and sabotage to oil facilities or production.

At a time when the nation is in dire need of revenue and when she should be investing in renewable energy, 30 percent of the profit from oil enterprise is to be spent in futile search for new oil reserves.

With no divestment policy in place, polluting oil companies have “divested” from their onshore and other acreages, selling them off to their local cronies. By these moves, companies like Shell, Exxon, and Chevron plot to shrug off their historical and current despoliation of the Niger Delta environment. This they do knowing that the new “owners” would lift no finger to clean up the mess from the decrepit facilities and pipelines they are

inheriting.

Whenever there is an oil spill incident, fingers are pointed at amorphous third parties in what is popularly termed sabotage. Meanwhile, a well blowout like the one at Ororo-1 has been raging since April 2020 off the coast of Awoye in Ondo State with no respite in sight. The notorious blowout at Aiteo’s well 1 on Santa Barbara River in Nembe raged for six weeks in 2021, spewing probably over 500,000 barrels of crude oil onto the environment before it was stemmed. No cleanup has been carried out till date. We are a people fully at home with pollution!

Recent statements by those who should know better, suggest that between 400,000 and 1,000,000 barrels of crude oil are stolen daily. However, these are just recycled figures from years ago as in actuality, the nation does not have accurate figures of how much crude is pumped daily in the country. Not surprising. There is no agreement over how much refined petroleum products are imported into the country, making room for humongous petrol subsidies to be paid endlessly. The imaginary figures of stolen crude have been in circulation for years.

In 2012 the minister of finance under the President Jonathan administration had told the Financial Times of London that 400,000 barrels of crude oil was stolen daily. The current Minister of State for Petroleum Resources has recently quoted the same figures. A former governor of Delta State opined that as much oil as was officially exported was also being stolen. It has been known that crude oil is being stolen at industrial scale in the Niger Delta.

The narrative has been that the stealing is done by operators of illegal refineries. However, those refineries could not refine 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Clearly this is fiction. Those illegal refineries have thrived and become critical suppliers of

achieve a reliable census figure under the current security setting, as there is no magic that can contain insurgency in the troubled areas before commencement of census in April 2023.

Where is the peace when corruption of census process is fueled by subsisting economic, political and demographic interests. Some census officials are compromised in the course of gathering, collating, analysing and producing data on population. These officials are either bribed, intimidated or coerced to inflate or allocate numbers for ethnic advantage. This has been the trend in all the census conducted so far in Nigeria.

Where is the peace when the credibility and capacity of the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver on such an important project is smeared by skepticism induced by nepotism and presidential preferences, which have fragmented the country along ethnic and religious lines? Suspicion and lack of trust among citizens have deepened more than ever before.

Where is the peace when the country’s border with Niger Republic is opened and reinforced by policy of issuance of visa on arrival, allegedly aimed at bloating the Fulani population in Nigeria. Illegal aliens from Niger Republic enter the country unchecked, while some others are alleged to have obtained National Identification Number (NIN) from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to qualify them as citizens, thereby giving the North undue demographic advantage over the South.

Where is the peace when there is no grass root enlightenment campaign to draw attention to the exercise. Majority of Nigerians are unaware of a scheduled census for April next year due partly to lack of access to electricity, internet and other communication networks. How many Nigerians can confidently affirm that their households were enumerated during the last trial census conducted by NPC ahead of the main exercise? I am sure millions of Nigerians were not aware.

Where is the peace when enumerators are constrained by poor demographic maps caused by unreliable digital technology, including geographic information system (GIS), satellite and aerial photographs, cartography and geographical positioning system (GPS), resulting in inability to capture remote areas with difficult topography.

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

refined petroleum products in the country today as the four government owned refineries remain either comatose or on life support.

Meanwhile, the old but brand new Nigerian National Petroleum Company is staking its hope of meeting national petroleum products needs on a private refinery operating from an economic free zone. A zone which has been appropriately termed “enclaves of exception” in the book Enclaves of Exception: Special Economic Zones and Extractive Practices in Nigeria by Omolade Adunbi. In fact, we need to be told how the NNPC managed to pay for 20 percent shares in the Dangote refinery.

We have heard sordid tales and seen utterly despoiled environments, but the official declaration that a 4 kilometres pipeline was built in the ocean and illegally operated for 9 years without being detected deserves the NNLG literature prize. Who can explain how a pipeline of that length and quality could be installed without being detected? And how could it have been operated for nine whopping years without being detected? Not the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and its NNPC and the then DPR; not NOSDRA nor the transnational oil companies; not the Navy nor the Joint Military Task Force detected it? Certainly, half the story has not been told.

The immediate solution may well be to shut down the sector completely and spend some time in soul- searching and repentance. Does it not put a lie to official insistence that the petroleum sector is the lifeline of the nation’s economy? Or that the energy need of the nation would only be met by continued extraction of crude oil? The series of exposés we read these days, including that of the stealing of natural gas, clearly show that the nation faces a grave future and that something must be done immediately.

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

FBN Holdings Upscales Credit Expansion as Deposit Base Soars

BY SAM DIALA

FBN Holdings Plc, the parent company of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, has stepped up the tempo of credit expansion to support the economy; this is amid operating challenges that create risk-averse strategies.

Alongside, the group enjoys a bolstering confidence showcased in the significant rise in customer deposits.

The quick-paced credit and deposit expansion stems from the upswing in the company’s dramatic turnaround after a paled sojourn in trimmed fortune. The tier-one lender was also mired by a worrying spate of developments that touched on the heart of corporate governance and ownership control.

In the company’s interim half year report ending June 30, 2022, loans and advances were grown by 30.4 percent to N2.88 trillion from N2.21 trillion in the preceding period. By this it achieved tremendous growth in interest income to N226.35 billion from N161 billion in HY 2021, reflecting a rise of 40.6 percent. Further data mined from the report revealed that loans and advances for three years rose by a whopping 72.5 percent to N2.88 trillion from N1.67 trillion in HY 2019.

The company grew its deposit base by 19.5 percent to N5.84 trillion in the review period from N4.89 trillion in HY 2021; or 36.5 percent in three years from N3.48 trillion in HY

2019.

The jump in interest income reflects the gains of bold steps in providing credit to the economy, especially the real sector, as the country struggles with frightening inflation and unemployment rates, currently at 20.6 percent and 33 percent respectively, according to data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The bank also achieved massive results in debt recovery efforts after it suffered the pangs of huge non-performing loans for a long time.

The positive outcome reflected in the bottom-line. Profits which result from efficient management as a component of overall good corporate governance, recorded positive uptrend. In the review period, pre-tax profit jumped by 45.4 percent to N65.72 billion from N45.23 billion in HY 2021.

The attendant effect of efficient operations which shows in well-managed costs streams, resulted in a quantum leap in post-tax profit to N56.53 billion from N38 billion in the corresponding period, reflecting an increase of 48.7 percent.

“What you see are results of a well-managed bank. You can see the signs of efficiency and good corporate governance. I believe FBN Holdings will do better when the operating

Emefiele Woos Foreign Investors in Washington DC, Honoured For Digital Transformation

G

of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele

invited foreign investors to consider Nigeria and other countries in Africa as their choice investment destination, noting that business

in the continent

on the

The

spoke at an Awards ceremony where he received the EuroKnowledge

"Africa's Most Innovative Digital

N1.8bn Package: BPE Yet To Pay SAHCO Staff, 6 Years After

Continued from page 32

Sifax Group in 2009 and renamed Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc.

Before its privatisation, SAHCO was an arm of the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways.

After the failure of the bureau to comply with the 2016 judgment of the National Industrial Court, the court on June 7, 2022, reached an agreement with the BPE on how the redundancy packages should be paid to the beneficiaries.

A document obtained by THEWILL shows that both parties – former staff of SAHCO and BPE agreed that starting from March 10, 2022, all the verified beneficiaries should be paid within six months, which elapsed on September 10, 2022.

The ground handling staff, numbering 982, were eventually disengaged on May 28, 2010, less than a year after the Sifax Group acquired the company from the Federal Government.

According to the agreement reached between the new owners and the Federal Government, the affected staff were entitled to redundancy packages from the BPE.

The court had earlier approved the sum of N1.8 billion redundancy packages to the staff in 2016. The court declared that the disengagement of the former staff amounted to permanent loss of employment and therefore were entitled to the sum as a form of redundancy.

However, in a bid to ensure the payment of the sums to the beneficiaries, the unions of the former staff; National Union of Air Transport

“

After the failure of the bureau to comply with the 2016 judgment of the National Industrial Court, the court on June 7, 2022, reached an agreement with the BPE on how the redundancy packages should be paid to the beneficiaries

AVIATION/BANKING

FBN Holdings Upscales Credit Expansion as Deposit Base Soars

Continued from page 32

environment becomes less challenging,” said Sam Ndata, Doyen of the Stockbrokers and Director at UIDC Securities Limited. He told THEWILL that the half-year impressive performance shows that the bank is going to continue in the same trajectory in the next two quarters of the year.

“

Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), in a letter dated July 8, 2022 and signed by Comrade Ocheme Aba and Frances Akinjole, respectively, appealed to the BPE to comply with the court judgment by paying the redundancy packages to the former workers.

They also observed that the delay in complying with the court judgment was negatively affecting the staff who had been out of jobs for almost 20 years. But, the BPE in another document dated July 21, 2022 and signed by its Director-General, Alex Okoh, said that it was yet to secure the funds for the payment of the former staff.

The bureau, however, said it was “working assiduously” to secure the release of the funds and disbursed as contained in its agreement with the former staff. The document added: “Please, note that the verification exercise can only take place after the funds has been secured. Nevertheless, for the purpose of planning for a hitch-free exercise, we would like you to furnish us with the spread and location of the would-be beneficiaries.”

The former workers of the ground handling company had earlier in 2021 petitioned the National Assembly and the Ministry of Aviation over an alleged N1.8 billion severance benefit due to them from the handling company. The ex-workers, in a protest letter to the two institutions, alleged that the amount of money was what was calculated by the BPE when the former SAHCOL was acquired by Sifax Group in 2009.

The former workers, in a joint letter by their unions, NUATE and ATSSSAN, dated August 31,2021 and signed by Comrade Ocheme Aba, General Secretary (NUATE) and Comrade Frances Akinjole, Deputy General Secre¬tary (ATSSSAN), addressed to the Managing Director of SAHCO, had accused their former employer of withholding their redundant packages despite interventions from various quarters.

According to the unions, the BPE set up a committee to resolve the issue of redundant benefits to the 982 and turned in its report in February, 2020, stressing that the committee members, which consisted of all the parties to the issue, agreed on a negotiated settlement sum for the redundancy.

According to the letter, the committee further agreed that the BPE and SAHCO would be responsible for the payment of the severance packages, but regretted that both organisations since February, 2020, treated the issue with utmost levity.

The moderate increase in fee and commission income to N70.69 billion from N69 billion, or 2.5 percent was not sustained in the electronic banking fee which dropped to N25.53 billion from N28.81 billion in HY 2021. But the letter of credit commission and fee recorded a 28.5 percent increase to N11.51 billion from N8.96 billion in the corresponding period showing the high volume of foreign transactions for members of the public.

The 128-year-old institution, which is fast regaining its ‘lost’ frontline position in the financial services sector after a lull in top-grade activities, grew assets by 16.3 percent to N8.93 trillion from N7.68 trillion in the corresponding year. As at FY 2021, the assets rose by 60.7 percent in three years to N8.93 trillion from N5.56 trillion in FY2019. “First Bank is strong, it will always experience a moment of slowdown as a going concern amid challenges in the economy. The half-year result is quite impressive considering the recovery it has to pass through,” said Frank Ikekhide, a financial analyst. “It is evident that the bank will end strong this year. The halfyear result is indicative of that. With a strong management team, reputable corporate governance and consistency in quality service delivery, the stakeholders will be delighted with the performance of First Bank,” Ikekhide told THEWILL by telephone.

Commenting on the results, the bank’s Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Adesola Adeduntan, said, “Amidst a challenging operating and dynamic regulatory environment in the half year 2022, the commercial banking group remained focused on executing key initiatives to position the group for improved profitability in the full year 2022. Our half-year results further reinforced our drive towards our ‘Quantum Profitability Leap’ agenda.

“On the back of the impressive growth recorded in our top line, our profit before tax

recorded a strong growth of 40.0 percent year on year to N60.0 billion, whilst profit after tax also grew by 42.3 percent year on year to N53.3 billion as the bank continues to reap the dividends of the successful restructuring of our balance sheet and revamping of our risk management architecture.”

“We continue to record progress in driving down our nonperforming loan ratio which now stands at 5.4 percent at the end of H1 and we are on target to bring it within the regulatory limit of 5 percent by end of fullyear 2022.”

FBN Holdings received toprating during the third quarter of 2022. On September 16, Fitch Ratings announced the upgrade of FBN Holdings Plc’s (FBNH) and First Bank of Nigeria Ltd’s (FBN) Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to ‘B’ from ‘B‘, and according to the rating agency, the Outlooks are Stable. Fitch has also upgraded their Viability Ratings (VR) to ‘b’ from ‘b-‘.

It explained that the upgrade of the Long-Term IDRs follows that of the VRs, reflecting that corporate governance irregularities publicly raised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in April 2021, including two longstanding related-party exposures, have largely been addressed and therefore risks to capitalisation have receded, helped by strong internal capital generation since the irregularities were raised.

With strong management team, reputable corporate governance and consistency in quality service delivery, the stakeholders will be delighted with the performance of First Bank

Emefiele Woos Foreign Investors in Washington DC, Honoured For Digital Transformation

Transformation Governor of the Year Award" which was conferred on him by the FIN Banking on Emerging Markets Forum on the sidelines of the ongoing International Monetary Fund/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, USA.

Specifically, he listed countries that investors should consider to include Nigeria, Angola, South Africa and Egypt.

“Today, we talk about the frontier market and what I keep telling people is that as you continue thinking about growth opportunities in the world and you are looking at Africa, naturally you will have to think about some of the big economies in Africa.

“Nigeria, Angola, South Africa and Egypt are economies that you would need to think about. And I dare say these economies hold a lot of strong opportunities with opportunities for high yields and profitable projects and I can only seize this opportunity to encourage our friends in the foreign investment community to continue to take a look at Africa. Africa yearns for growth and development.

“We cannot do this alone; we will continue to need the support of the rest of the world. But I can assure all of us that as you do this, the opportunities are there and you will not regret taking the opportunities.

“The opportunities are there. I can only continue to say let’s give the support to Africa, let’s give the support to Nigeria. We should all continue to work together for the growth, not just for our individual

countries but for Africa as a whole,” the CBN governor added.

Dr. Emefiele dedicated the award to his colleagues at the CBN as well as other Nigerians that have supported the regulator's work.

“When your credentials and all you have done is being read out to the public, you begin to wonder how you managed to do all this. But what this does is to encourage you to do more.

“When we talk about the challenges that we are currently facing, I can tell you that it hasn’t been easy in the last eight and half years, where we have gone through two recessions.

“One between 2015 and 2016 and another short-lived one in the second and third quarter 2021 during the period of Covid-19.

“Usually as the Governor of a Central Bank of Nigeria, you never pray to go through a recession twice but we have managed to go through this with a lot of hard work and support from our colleagues at the CBN, all our departments and members of our monetary policy meeting. We really want to thank all of you.

“This award is not just for me, it is meant for all of us who have worked hard in the last eight and half years to keep Nigeria strong; to keep the Nigerian economy strong and going.”

Prior to receiving the award, THEWILL reported that Dr. Emefiele had multiple meetings with foreign investors on the sidelines of the IMF/ World Bank Annual Meetings.

Delta Air Lines Records Operating Revenue of $14bn

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

Delta Air Lines has reported financial results for the September quarter 2022 and provided its outlook for the December quarter 2022.

According to the September quarter 2022 Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial results, Delta Air Lines recorded operating revenue of $14.0 billion.

With operating income of $1.5 billion with an operating margin of 10.4 percent, earnings per share was $1.08.

It further indicated operating cash flow of $869 million; payments on debt and finance lease obligations of $1.8 billion and total debt and finance lease obligations of $23.2 billion at quarter end.

Also September quarter 2022 adjusted financial results showed operating revenue of $12.8 billion, 3 percent higher than September quarter 2019, including a $35 million impact from Hurricane Ian.

There was also operating income of $1.5 billion with an operating margin of 11.6 percent.

Earnings per share of $1.51, including a 3¢ impact from Hurricane Ian. This is in addition to $11.2 billion in liquidity and adjusted net debt of $20.5 billion at quarter.

Commenting on the results, Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive officer said "Thanks to the incredible work of our entire team, Delta delivered a strong September quarter with record quarterly revenues and a double-digit operating margin. The travel recovery continues as consumer spend shifts to experiences and demand improves in corporate and international,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive officer.

“In this environment, we expect December quarter revenue growth to accelerate versus 2019 with an operating margin of approximately 10 percent."

Telecom Infrastructure Critical to Successful 2023 Elections – Danbatta

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta has said telecom infrastructure is very critical to successful 2023 elections, therefore, every Nigerian in every community should join hands in protecting them for the benefit of the country.

Danbatta who was special guest at the 6th Edition of the Annual Conference of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos at the weekend, with focus on the forthcoming election, with Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in attendance, said with the planned transmission of election data and results riding on telecom infrastructure, there is need to ensure the fidelity of the transmission systems to enhance the credibility of such data.

“If telecom infrastructure is vandalised or damaged, it would create problem in the area of the data transmission during election; citizens will find it difficult to use their phones to seamlessly communicate and the journalists too might find it difficult in being able to access their web platforms to disseminate necessary information which members of the public require to make informed decisions at every point in time,” he said.

Danbatta recalled that over the years, the telecoms sector has continued to face destabilising situations arising from negative attitudes and actions of hostile communities; theft of diesel, batteries, and power generators from telecom base stations; digging up and cutting of fibre optic cables by construction workers; indiscriminate sealing/locking-up of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites by state governments, other governmental and community stakeholders; as well as other disruptive activities that must be decisively tackled.

He reiterated the importance of telecommunications in all aspects of our lives, including the forthcoming election and other national activities and programmes, and said that without telecom infrastructure, it will be difficult to communicate with family and friends over long distances or conducting banking, insurance, or accessing government and other social services, including education, entertainment, and other essentials services that enhance quality of life.

"This means that telecom infrastructure is important, and we must all ensure that we guard and protect those critical national infrastructure assets now, during the upcoming elections and thereafter. So, every citizen in Nigeria must take responsibility for the protection of telecom facilities for the benefits to all,” Danbatta said.

He enjoined GOCOP members to use their credible media platforms and enviable experiences to collaborate with the NCC in creating greater awareness and public enlightenment on the need to protect telecoms infrastructure.

At the event which was chaired by the Founder, Centre for Alternative Policy Perspectives and Strategy (CAPPS), Dr. Umar Ardo; with other personalities including former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase; Regional Director Ford Foundation, Dr. Chidi Aniagolu-Okoye; and distinguished members of GOCOP, most of who are senior media professionals, Danbatta commended GOCOP members for their contributions in the promotion of awareness of derivable benefits of ICT through their online platforms.

The Advisor, Euroknowledge, Mr. Andreas Deutschmann, presenting the Africa Most Innovative Digital Transformation Governor of the Year Award to the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, Washington DC, on Thursday, October 13, 2022, on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the IMF/World Bank Group holding in Washington DC.

No Solid Foundation For Economic Recovery Exists Under Buhari – Prof Irefin

Archbishop (Prof) David Irefin teaches at the Federal University Lokoja. He was once a teacher at the University of Maiduguri. In this interview with, ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, the Professor of Economics dwelt on a number of national issues, including the ASUU strike that lingered for eight months. Excerpts:

As a member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), what is your view on the recent registration of two parallel trade unions by the Federal Government to exist alongside ASUU in the nation’s universities?

I don't think multiplicity helps. When you bring in more unions, you bring more crises. I don't know where the members of the new trade unions are. It’s not that they already have members. That is being ignorant. Why not do the right thing? When I was a student here in Nigeria, there were Indians teaching in the universities. People came from all over the world to lecture here. Today, do you see foreigners in Nigerian universities? Let Buhari tell the whole world how many countries have students in Nigerian universities. Do we still run universities in Nigeria or mere local institutions? A university makes sense when it is universal, but Nigerian universities have the least universality!

You cannot even see any foreign teachers, it is time for Nigerians to know that the Government is misleading them. They should ask Chris Ngige how many foreign students are in Nigeria. Even the Niger Republic isn't sending anybody to Nigeria for education. Concerning the newly registered trade unions in question, where are their members? So teachers must become slaves? If somebody is not well fed, how can the person teach?

The Federal Government insists on no-work, no-pay. What's your take on this?

That policy is out of ignorance. These people don't even understand what is happening in the universities. Before we went on strike, most departments were at the verge of writing exams, some had almost rounded up their course outlines. If you refuse to pay the lecturers, how would that knowledge gap be breached? Some of us have not had our annual leave for six years now because of these challenges. But the President goes on leave. Teachers cannot go on leave as a result of the attitude of this government. We talk of negotiation, something that can be done in one day. They tell us there is no money to fund the universities but they have money to send their children abroad for their university education?

Many are wondering if strike is the only way to resolve trade union problems in our universities. What do you say?

I am not a proponent of strike. The Holy Spirit is against strike. The Gospel is against strike. But, when you oppress people to a certain level, what do you expect them to do? Look at the salaries we have been receiving since 2010, Buhari's IPPIS (Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System) reduced it by a hundred thousand naira. Even if you don't want to promote me, why should my salary be less than what I was earning in 2010?

If Nigerians know what this government is doing to education, the government will lose credibility. God is against strike and I do not support strike since I believe in God. However, I am not for oppression either. This government is oppressive. It is not people's government.

Stolen money is making people look proud. As a minister of the Federal Republic, you are a servant, not a boss. Go to Britain or Ghana; ministers know they are servants and behave as such. But look at the way Chris Ngige is behaving. In a sane society, Dr Ngige should have resigned; or asked to resign at least. The teachers have been over oppressed. Let the government recognise a million trade unions if it so desire. That is their business. Let us see how a hungry teacher will teach.

You have been a professor of economics for over 35 years, in what way do you think we are missing it in terms of economic management?

If you look at economic theories, there is no Macroeconomist that will advise you to be borrowing and borrowing. No way! We have a model of saving for

the rainy day. So in this context, you choose between balanced, deficit and surplus budgets. It is left for the individual presidents to choose which angle to operate from. Unfortunately, some have little or no idea in this selection process. You should not consume beyond what you can afford. There is no free lunch anywhere. In economics, before you would advise anyone to borrow, it means that the money is going to the productive sector. You can't say you are borrowing to pay salaries. If you do, how will you generate taxes, to pay off the indebtedness? It makes no sense.

Not long ago, the Chairman of the economic advisory team said we have not borrowed enough. As you can see, it is wrong to even appoint governors, lawyers into the economic team? Is that done in Ghana, UK, America … ? From the outset, Buhari has not laid a solid foundation for any economic recovery and we are not surprised. No one is surprised about what is happening; the worst is yet to happen because what is being borrowed is being stolen. You cannot say you are borrowing for infrastructure because we cannot see it. They have borrowed in trillions but the investments are nothing to write home about. Even on the railway, how many passengers are using it and at what cost? All these make no professional sense.

How do we sort ourselves out of this quagmire? You cannot separate these things from spiritualism. During Gowon’s era, money was everywhere. Even when Murtala Mohammed came on board, there was money. There was money during Sharagi’s era. I did my NYSC during Obasanjo’s time; my NYSC allowance was N180 per month. I was spending N30 per month and saving N150.

Our problems started when Obasanjo invited people and brought all kinds of demons and changed our national anthem to ‘Patriots’ and we began to have people of questionable characters everywhere. I have never seen a patriot who is a good person. These are those that have stolen our money. You want to be like that? Since that is what we wanted, criminals took over the government. Some spiritual leaders warned that Satan was coming to Nigeria, that criminals would take over the nation’s leadership and that people would suffer. They predicted that our currency would be worthless and that we will have a government but no governance.

We need people with humility and the fear of God. As soon as we can get people with humility such qualities, our problem is solved. When you disobey God, He allows the angels to punish you. When you see people saying they want to be President, it is not to come and help, but to steal. Those saying it is their turn or the turn of their tribe, it is all to take their own share of the national cake, not that they want to come and develop the place.

Can’t we have effective economic policies rather than relying on mere religious principles?

There is no county on earth without a crisis. That you are in a storey building and another person is in a bungalow doesn't mean you are not suffering. So the world is all suffering. If classroom teachings and theories are the solution, people should not be suffering. It is all about the economy everywhere. We must get it right because it is a spiritual thing. Economics teaches you to be greedy and selfish, but look at the Holy books, is greed a good thing, of course no. So until we are all elevated by God to the Everlasting Gospel, we will continue to have these problems. We talk about common resources, everything we have belong to us, so if it belongs to us, I know it must satisfy you and me. Even if conflict comes, we can deal with it. The Everlasting Gospel is needed to help our country.

Even if you don't want to promote me, why should my salary be less than what I was earning in 2010? If Nigerians know what this government is doing to education, the government will lose credibility

“

Irefin

ECONOMY

World Bank And Nigeria’s Push For Enabling Business Environment

BY MARCEL OKEKE

In its continued efforts at supporting the improvement of business environment in Nigeria, the World Bank recently approved a US$750 million International Development Association (IDA) credit to prop Nigeria’s State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme-for Results (PforR).

Nigerian Government’s SABER program seeks to build on the accomplishments of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) which was set up in 2016.

Building on the reforms of PEBEC, SABER seeks to accelerate the implementation of critical actions to improve the business environment in various states in Nigeria. According to the World Bank, SABER will prioritize critical measures and interventions, with a focus on accelerating targeted businessenabling environment reform actions at the state level.

Its focus is to strengthen the existing PEBEC subnational interventions by adding incentives such as results-based financing to the states as well as the delivery of wholesale technical assistance (TA) available to all states to fill up gaps in reform implementation.

The proposed operation is aligned with the World Bank Group’s Nigeria Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for financial year 2021-2025. The CPF reflects Nigeria’s aspiration for faster, more inclusive and sustained economic growth in the next decade to help the government in its aspiration to lift many people out of poverty.

This programme directly supports the CPF’s pillar of ‘promoting jobs and economic transformation and diversification and the related complementary priority of furthering business enabling reforms and promoting competitive clusters’.

SABER also aims to contribute to the related core objectives of increased access to reliable and sustainable power for households and firms and the development of digital infrastructure, platforms and skills in Nigeria.

SABER program documents show that the proposed initiative will focus on the following specific areas: Improved Land Administration and Land Investment Process. Under this Area, the Progam-for-Result (PforR) will support states to promote more transparency and accountability in land administration services; produce better quality data on land ownership and strengthen sustainability and transparency in the land acquisition procedures for large-scale agricultural investment. Expectedly, this will lead to states improving access to landbased investments and securing private investments that better meet socioeconomic objectives and are inclusive.

This is followed by improved Business Enabling Infrastructure. Under this, the PforR will support states to instil more transparency and accountability in resolving complaints with electricity distribution companies (DISCOs); identify and match off-grid demand clusters with off-grid electricity suppliers; support the full adoption by states of the new Right of Way (ROW) fees of 145 Naira per meter for broadband without reformulating them as new or increased charges; and adopt a wholesale access legal and regulatory framework, including having dominant providers provide transparent, cost-based, and non-discriminatory wholesale access.

All these will lead to states having a quicker resolution of customers’ complaints to DISCOs, greater off-grid demand being supplied by off-grid suppliers, and new routes with fibre optic cable for broadband deployed. The third area of focus speaks to increased sustainable large-scale investments. Under this, the PforR will support states to set up a public-privatepartnership (PPP) coordination unit to better identify, vet, and implement PPP projects; better manage PPP risks, especially fiscal commitments and contingent liabilities; establish a PPP Project Facilitation Fund; promote transparency of state incentive frameworks, and strengthen states’ investment promotion and investor aftercare capabilities. This will lead to states having a more effective and sustainable attraction and delivery of PPP transactions, stronger risk management, better provision of investor services by state investment promotion entities, and investors having greater access to available incentives.

Under the fourth focus area, enabled firm operations, the PforR

“

Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) as a veritable funding option for critical infrastructure at various tiers of Government, for instance, has hardly been adequately explored due to inherent lack of skills or political will

will support states in providing more transparent and predictable public services to investors; apply risk-based inspections and licensing approaches to businesses; rationalize inter-state fees and export procedures; adopt a presumptive turnover tax for small businesses and consolidate payment of key state and local government taxes and other fees and levies.

These are done through an e-platform which includes electronic notifications of outstanding payments and e-receipts; and establish special courts for smaller size commercial disputes and put in place practice directions to strengthen court practices and encourage alternative dispute resolution (ADR), while introducing automated case management systems in the courts.

This will lead to states achieving greater regulatory efficiency with lower compliance costs imposed on firms, less discretionary behaviour by state ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), improved domestic and external trade, and increased tax compliance by businesses. In the last focus areaworkers’ skills, the PforR will support states to develop a state talent pool available to hiring firms; conduct a skills gap audit; establish a skills development centre, and establish a digital lab

to support digital skills and entrepreneurship. This will lead states to develop greater talent and diversity available to firms.

The ‘weak link’ in all of these lofty ideals however is the notorious inefficiency in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), especially at state levels; and they, incidentally, form the pivot of the SABER PforR initiative.

No doubt that opaque and/or shoddy land administration as well as poor public service delivery at the subnational level has stymied the pace of economic development of the country. Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) as a veritable funding option for critical infrastructure at various tiers of Government, for instance, has hardly been adequately explored due to inherent lack of skills or political will. This is where urgent skills gap audit and appropriate measures to fill up any hiatus noticed is imperative for meaningful development.

However, the place and role of state governors (as chief executive officers) at the subnational level is even more critical to the successful implementation of the SABER PforR. The national ‘cake sharing’ penchant of the state governors and their apparent low premium on tangible development milestones could undermine the intendments of the lofty initiative.

This is especially of concern, now that most of the governors who should ‘preside over’ the implementation of the ‘great idea’ are on the last lap of their tenures in office. Nigeria is in the throes of a general election in early 2023, when many of the state governors will be vying for re-election or completing their last term. Either way, they pay scant or no attention to meaningful development issues; and the bureaucracy is understandably tied to the apron strings of the powers that be at all tiers of Government.

However, all these concerns pointedly underline the fact that the World Bank and other stakeholders should go beyond the ‘paper work’ and deploy effective implementation and monitoring mechanisms to see the initiatives to fruition. In truth, if the efforts of the President Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) have yielded the much-desired results, the crucial World Bank facility and the SABER P for R initiative would not have been necessary. Alas, however, useful lessons have been learned.

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

45 Years of CBN Intervention

CBN Interventions In Rivers And Bayelsa States

The

Real Sector Development Initiatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were introduced to stimulate and sustain growth in key sectors of the economy, revive moribund projects, empower the youth population, explore the untapped potential in 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.

There are 22,758 and 21,078 beneficiaries in Rivers and Bayelsa states respectively, which reflect the unwavering commitment of the CBN towards poverty alleviation, job and wealth creation and overall sustainable development. In this edition, we spotlight a few of the beneficiaries of CBN interventions in these states.

RIVERS STATE

Shinkwowitch Aluminium Roofing

The commitment of the CBN to reviving Nigeria’s health sector led to the formulation and implementation of the Health Sector Intervention Fund (HSIF). Under the CBN's HSIF, concessionary financing is offered to indigenous healthcare service providers and healthcare products manufacturers. The CBN, through its intervention in the health sector, hopes to improve access to quality healthcare services, improve quality of life for Nigerians and reduce medical tourism.

This strategic move of the Apex Bank, instantly garnered the attention of top and midlevel players in the Nigerian health industry, leading to the spontaneous development of the health sector in the immediate term.

One of the beneficiaries of the CBN'S HSIF in Rivers State is

Save-A-Life Medical Centre

Save-A-Life Medical Centre. The facility they accessed enabled the purchase of modern medical equipment and the employment of specialized medical personnel that provide wholistic treatments such as heart, kidney, spinal and orthopaedic procedures, neonatal intensive care management, and knee replacement surgeries.

They also offer services that border around infertility, prostate/ bladder and obesity/gastro conditions.

Nigerians, who formerly embarked on medical tourism, now have the option of receiving treatment of international standard at home

No. 36, Old Aba Road, Rumuokwurusi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is home to Shinkwowitch roof manufacturing factory owned by Mrs. Ehiok Henry, an industrious and tenacious woman who has made fame as one of the few females to have excelled in the industry.

She accessed the Agric-Business Small and Medium Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) loan which assisted the expansion of her business. The expansion enabled the purchase of raw materials which enhanced production capacity. The factory currently produces an average of two thousand, five hundred (2,500) roofing sheets per week compared to the previous production capacity of one thousand (1,000) roofing sheets per week.

Shinkwowitch Aluminium Roofing Factory now boasts of a staff strength of twenty(20) running through all facets of the production line.

Victory Wogu

INTERVENTION: Agric-Business/ Small And Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme

SECTOR: Small And Medium Enterprise

Victory is a young Nigerian poultry farmer and a beneficiary of the CBN's Agricbusiness Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) who resides at Gbel road, Nkpolu, PortHarcourt.

Accessing the AGSMEIS facility assisted him to purchase battery cages and also increase the number of

birds in his poultry farm from 350 to 1000. He was able to install a heating system to keep the birds warm and prevent avian respiratory diseases. The expansion necessitated the employment of more farm hands which increased his staff strength from two (2) to six (6). They are now well positioned to cater to the needs of their growing clientele.

INTERVENTION: Agric-Business /Small And Medium Enterprises Investment SCHEME:

INTERVENTION: Health Sector Intervention Fund (HSIF) SECTOR: Health

45 Years of CBN Intervention

BAYELSA STATE

Tobis Clinic And Consultants Akenfa,

Bayelsa MICHAEL ENEBELI

Michael, who was initially struggling with his printing business located at 296 Mbiama-Yenagoa Road, Bayelsa State could not believe his luck when he was informed that the AGSMEIS loan he applied for had been approved.

He immediately sprang into action and purchased printing equipment which include heat transfer, monogramming and embroidery machines which he now uses for commercial scale branding, and corporate advertising. He previously had only two staff but has had to increase his staff strength to six to enable him effectively run the business

Michael, is still reeling in excitement on the fact he has no “connection” but was able to access the intervention. He expresses his gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to

Ethel Daulambo

the Governor of the Central Bank for instituting schemes that cater to the needs of Nigerians in the Small and Medium Enterprise sector to earn a living and make progress.

Tobis

Through CBN'S

To support the expansion and increased patient

hired

medical

and currently has

The CBN's efforts in driving gender balance and female financial inclusion permeates its every activity including the provision of low-cost financing to SMEs. Nigeria abounds with female beneficiaries of the various interventions of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Mrs. Ethel Daulambo, an indigene of Bayelsa State, bears testament to this fact.

Ethel is a fashion designer who provides bespoke tailoring services to residents of Okutukutu in Bayelsa State. Accessing the AGSMEIS loan enabled the hiring of five additional staff, the purchase of more sewing equipment and the expansion of her business enabling her to effectively cater to her clientele.

She prides herself in being able to optimally care for her children and meet her financial commitments. She is grateful to the Federal Government and to the CBN for seeking out and empowering women like her to be able to provide for their families.

BATified

In this second edition of our series on celebrities canvassing support for the three major presidential candidates in the 2023 general election, SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN unveils a long list (too long to be published in this edition) of those who want the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to be elected as the next President of Nigeria:

CELEBRITIES IN SUPPORT OF BOLA AHMED TINUBU'S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY

Silva

Veteran actress Joke Silva has always supported the All Progressives Congress at the federal and state levels. After the party emerged victorious in the 2019 general election, she sent a congratulatory note to President Mohammadu Buhari, the National Leader of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the then National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Besides, both Tinubu and the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, are her benefactors. It is no surprise that she has to pledge her loyalty and support to the APC, which the two represents. Joke is the Chairman of the Creative and Entertainment Industry Committee of the Tinubu/Shettima Women Presidential Campaign Council. Her appointment has been greeted with mixed reactions by many who see the veteran actress as a role model.

Eniola Badmus

Zack Orji

Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus is arguably an ardent supporter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife Remi. She openly identifies and celebrates them at every given opportunity, not minding the attendant backlash and criticism that her endorsement of the APC presidential candidate may attract.

Ironically, Eniola’s best friend and colleague, Funke Akindele, is in the opposition camp as the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

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ollywood actor, Zack Orji, is a huge promoter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He made it clear that his support for the presidential flagbearer of APC is both experiential and personal. To him, Tinubu stands for equity, justice, fair play and national cohesion. Having lived in Lagos for over 40 years of his life, he considers Tinubu a chief crusader for democratic consolidation of the country.

The actor believes that Tinubu ran an inclusive government when he was Governor of Lagos State. He included people from different ethnic extraction into his executive council to run the affairs of the state.

Orij is convinced that BAT would turn the economy of the country around if given a chance to become President. The movie practitioner holds an important position in Tinubu's Presidential Campaign Council. He is the Director of the Southeast Zone under the Performing Arts Directorate. Ironically, his wife is an avowed supporter of Labour Party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Foluke Daramola

A

ctress Foluke Daramola's allegiance to Bola Ahmed Tinubu is more on a personal level. Their relationship dates back to her first marriage in 2005 to Tunde Sobowale, son of Professor Sobowale, a former Commissioner for Education in Lagos State during the period Tinubu was governor.

Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, were among dignitaries that graced Foluke's first marriage reception. Tinubu played the role of a father at her wedding as she had lost her biological father when she was a toddler. Oluremi was the mother of the day.

Foluke is on Tinubu's Presidential Campaign Council and is his media assistant in Lagos State. Also, some of her relatives are on the payroll of Tinubu and so she feels obliged to support his presidential ambition.

Ironically, her second husband, Kayode Salako's allegiance is to the Labour Party where he is the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the party.

Benedict Johnson

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ilm producer cum actor, Benedict Johnson publicly declared his love and endorsement for Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a viral video where he spoke his native Igbo language.

Johnson has since been telling whoever cares to listen that his choice candidate is the best man for the job. He revealed that the Igbos would suffer collectively for another eight years if they fail to vote for Tinubu. His utterance earned him huge criticism by other practitioners who insist he cannot be their mouthpiece.

He was rewarded by Tinubu for his show of support with a position in his Presidential Campaign Council list under the Performing Arts Directorate.

Singer Olawale Olofooro, otherwise known as Brymo, declared his support for Bola Tinubu on Twitter a few months ago. He is the one that gave Tinubu the appellation, 'City Boy'. The singer says he believes the APC flagbearer will lead the country to the Promised Land. He advised naysayers to stop judging the presidential candidate because of his age.

Nollywood practitioner, Rose Odika is unstable when it comes to who to endorse for the presidency of Nigeria. First, she openly endorsed Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State before the All Progressive Congress presidential primaries, but when he got trounced at the polls, she quickly switched allegiance to Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Rose Odika’s reason for endorsing Tinubu is the fact that many actors and actresses benefitted from the politician when he was the Governor of Lagos State. She believes that Tinubu will be able to replicate his achievements in Lagos at the federal. The lightcomplexioned actress is one of the members of the Creative and Entertainment Industry Committee of the Tinubu/Shettima Women's Campaign Team for the 2023 general election.

Freedom Atsepoyi

Social media influencer, Freedom Atsepoyi, also known as Mr Jollof, is one of the strongest supporters of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His Instagram page became a mini campaign ground a few months ago where he spoke well of his choice candidate. When an old video of him criticising Tinubu in 2020 for President Muhammadu Buhari's failure was dug up, he revealed that he was ignorant at the time it was shot, but now enlightened.

Unfortunately, he was disappointed that he wasn't rewarded with a position in Tinubu's Presidential Campaign Council. This made him delete all campaign materials of Tinubu from his Instagram post.

He has however not denounced his allegiance to the APC flagbearer.

Talented movie act, Mercy Johnson Okojie's name made it to Aisha Buhari's list for the Tinubu/Shettima Women Campaign Committee, but she has remained silent about it, unlike others who hailed their inclusion.

Her husband, Odianosen Okojie, is a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress. In May 2022, he won the ticket for the Federal House of Representatives, Esan North-East/ Esan Southeast Federal Constituency in Edo State.

Sola Salako-Ajulo

Human rights activist and founder of Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria, Sola SalakoAjulo, has been open with her campaign for a Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency. Following the video made by Tinubu to announce that he was hale and hearty and still in the presidential race, the activist took to Instagram to show her support for the presidential candidate, stating that Tinubu would not die anytime soon.

Leo Da-Silva

Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Babarinde Akinola Dasilva, otherwise known as Leo Da-Silva is one of the reality stars openly showing support for the APC and its presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Leo posted on his social media page a picture of his invite to the Tinubu Youth Summit which was held in commemoration of the politician's 70th birthday in March. The reality star was also one of the panelists at the event. The invite came as a surprise to many because Leo was part of the youths who protested against Police brutality and bad governance in 2021. He was dragged for his action.

Olawale Olofooro Mercy Johnson Okojie Gentle Jack Rose Odika

ollywood actor, Gentle Jack, shot a video in Igbo language to canvass support for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He was also among the delegates who went on a courtesy visit to the presidential candidate on behalf of the Ambassador of Voice of Change organisation. His action was criticised and he had to make another video where he appealed to Nigerians to stop abusing him because he is only exercising his constitutional right by supporting a candidate of his choice.

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Comfort Obamuyiwa

Comfort Obamuyiwa, Lagos socialite and the estranged wife of former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumsou, is a big supporter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The businesswoman is a member of Sanwoolu Ambassadors, a group working towards a better state and nation in general. She joined other members of the group last week to hold an Interdenominational prayer for the APC presidential candidate. She was also among the women who staged a rally in support of Tinubu.

Tai Elemonsho Okesanjo

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agos socialite and entrepreneur, Tai Okesanjo does not mince words when it comes to endorsing any political candidate. She is one of the most assertive entrepreneurs backing some candidates of the All Progressives Congress both at the federal and state levels. Her social media page is a mini campaign ground for her favourite politicians. She was part of the train that staged a 2 millionwomen solidarity walk for Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Ibrahim Shettima. She was also one of those who held an interdenominational prayer for the duo of Tinubu and Babajide Sanwo-olu last week.

Desmond Elliot Morayo Afolabi-Brown Eniola Ajao

Nollywood actor cum movie producer, Desmond Elliot, is not only a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress, but he is also a staunch supporter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu who he isn't ashamed to call his godfather.

Elliot believes that Tinubu has the capacity to perform in 2023. As a sign of his endorsement, the actor has several t-shirts and face caps with customised logos of Tinubu inscribed on them. He adorns those special t-shirts and caps anytime he is canvassing for support for the presidential candidate of his party. His social media is one of the campaign grounds for Tinubu ahead of the 2023 election.

Emma Ehumadu

Nollywood actor cum movie producer, Emma Ehumadu, also known as Emma Labista, is a proud supporter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The actor publicly endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress on his social media page.

He was also part of the crew who paid a courtesy visit to the politician a few months ago. He posted a video focused on his preferred presidential candidate to persuade his fans to support his ambition.

According to him, Tinubu understands the complicated nature of Nigeria and can move the nation forward. He claims Tinubu can replicate the success recorded during his days as the governor of Lagos State, if he is given the chance to rule the country. The actor, who has been hugely criticised for the video, has made it clear that his critics cannot be deter him from achieving his goal.

Israel Ogundipe

The General Overseer of Genesis Global Church, Prophet Israel Oladele, otherwise known as Genesis, has also given his nod to the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead the nation in 2023. The preacher made it known in one of his church services that he is supporting Tinubu because he is a Yoruba man.

The cleric who is unapologetic about his decision stated that if there is another Yoruba man contesting for the post, he would gladly support the person too. According to him, "I am not a bastard, I cannot be a Yoruba man and go and vote for Igbo. I am not afraid", he had told his congregation while endorsing Tinubu.

Morayo Afolabi-Brown, host of popular programme, Your View, is a member of the APC Women Presidential Campaign Media team. She made the announcement on her social media pages after she received an invitation to join the group. The media personality noted that the decision to serve in the APC-led group is very personal to her as she is ready to bring her experience in strategy to bear as she embarks on the journey.

Gbenga Adeyinka

Standup comedian and Master of Ceremony, Gbenga Adeyinka is one of the ardent followers and lovers of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His love for the Jagaban of Borgu dates back to when the latter was Governor of Lagos State. The humour merchant grew to become the official anchor of any event hosted by Tinubu's family. It is rare for the Tinubus to host an event and Adeyinka wouldn't be there. The comedian has been accused of receiving money in exchange for supporting Tinubu. He has had to clarify the misconception on several occasions and even threatened to report naysayers' Instagram pages for harassment because of the rain of abuses on him and his family.

Femi Adebayo

Like his father, Femi Adebayo is one of the actors canvassing support for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He was also involved in the viral endorsement video of Tinubu. Many were taken by surprise when they saw the talented actor in the video because he had always fraternised with members of the opposition People's Democratic Party. He was a Special Assistant on Arts, Culture and Tourism to the former PDP governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatal Ahmed in 2016.

When Femi signified interest to vie for a seat at the House of Representatives for Asa/ llorin West Constituency in Kwara State, he didn't indicate the platform he would be running under. But a close friend of the actor revealed that his interest was with the PDP. That seems to have changed now as Tinubu, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, is now his preferred presidential candidate.

The young Nollywood actress made a cameo in the viral video where some Nollywood actors endorsed Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The actress believes Tinubu's wealth of experience will greatly impact the economy of Nigeria and move the country forward. She was faulted for joining her colleagues in endorsing the APC presidential candidate. She was accused of having a tribalistic strategy that focuses on provoking people from the Southeast.

Shola Abina Faithia Balogun

Shola Abina, one of the daughters of veteran actor Jide Kosoko, is following in her father's footsteps in many ways. She is one of the Nollywood practitioners who have openly endorsed Tinubu's political ambition. She is also a member of the creative and entertainment industry committee of the Tinubu/Shettima women's campaign team for the 2023 general election.

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ust like her estranged husband, Saheed Balogun, Faithia Williams is also rooting for a Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency. One of the reasons Williams is supporting Tinubu is the fact that she claims he has the potential to transform the country. After publicly making her declaration for BAT, she was appointed on Tinubu's Presidential Campaign Council under the Performing Arts Directorate.

Additional reports by Ivory Ukonu

KOLA ABIOLA'S PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION SUFFERS SETBACK

The presidential ambition of Kola Abiola, first son of the late Chief M.K. O Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12 1993 presidential election, is in serious jeopardy, if a recent development in his party is anything to go by.

Kola, who was both in political and social oblivion for many years, had emerged from his cocoon to surprise everyone, first with his renewed interest in politics and later, declaring his intention to run for the number one political office in Nigeria on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

Kola decided to join the PRP

because according to him, its ideals are a reflection of what Nigerian democratic practices should be like. Expectedly, he emerged as the presidential candidate of the party after defeating three other unknown candidates.

Unfortunately, his joy is being cut short as one of the candidates, the only female presidential aspirant of the party, Madam Patience Ndidi Key, is challenging the result of its presidential primary.

Key is asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to nullify the poll. In an originating summons filed at

the court, she also seeks an order setting aside the declaration of Abiola as the winner of the presidential primary conducted on June 5 in Calabar, Cross Rivers State. No reason was given for her insistence to have the primary annulled. Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, who heard the case, has fixed November 8 to hear the suit challenging Abiola's emergence as PRP presidential candidate.

Adesuwa Ogoziee in Eye of The Storm

Popular Instagram auto dealer, Adesuwa Ogiozee, more popularly known as Renee, has the Federal Bureau of Investigation hot on her heels for alleged fraud- related offences.

THEWILL had exclusively reported about a year ago that Adesuwa, who helps Nigerian celebrities with vehicle purchases, was allegedly indicted in a federal court in New Mexico on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy. She was allegedly indicted alongside her

co-conspirators, Kayode Adeniyi, Olutayo Sunday Ogunlaja and two others. A grand jury had indicted them for an alleged wire fraud, including scamming a female victim resident in Albuquerque, New Mexico and fraudulently dispossessing her of the sum of $560,000.

FBI findings allegedly indicated that Adesuwa moved more than $3 million in suspicious transactions through her American bank accounts between August 2016 and September 2017.

She was arrested in September 2021 and on the 17th of the same month, she appeared in the Eastern District of Missouri and was released the same day on a $25,000 bond.

To keep prying eyes from getting details of the fraud charges, Adesuwa allegedly got the charging documents sealed in New Mexico and St. Louis. Her movement is alleged to be restricted as she is alleged to be under surveillance with electronic device monitoring systems.

The latest update on the case is that one of her co conspirators, Adeniyi, has been sentenced to three and half years’ imprisonment by a US

federal judge after he pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and fraud in connection with computers before the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.

Adesuwa’s trial date is expected to commence on February 6, 2023. However, she has denied ever participating in fraud and claims that she is being targeted because she is Nigerian.

She added that she got into trouble after selling a car for $12,000 to a customer in 2016. She also claimed that she had been cleared of any charges of fraud. According to her, she cannot be said to be fraudulent, having sold over 2,000 cars with only one customer having issues with her.

Adesuwa, who thinks herself as a hardworking person, is one of the most sought-after luxury car dealers based in the United States, provides services to many Nigerians back home, including celebrities via her various business concerns, such as Adesuwa Motors LLC, which she set up in 2014; Adesuwa Auto LLC, incorporated in 2016 and Renzee Logistics, established in 2017. She is said to be trustworthy among her returning clients who also recommend her services to new clients.

She recently purchased a black G-Wagon for Chioma Rowland on the orders of David Adeleke aka Davido.

Ooni of Ife’s Busiest Season

With all that has happened in the life of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, these past few weeks, it won’t be out of place to tag this period, ‘Ooni of Ife's busiest season’.

From replacing Naomi Silekunola, the mother of his heir apparent, with Mariam Anako, an executive with Nestoil Limited, in a simple ceremony, to marrying three other women in quick succession, it is indeed the season of the Ooni.

Shortly after marying Anako, his marriage to Dr Opeoluwa Elizabeth, a Scotland returnee and an IT executive, quietly took place at her parents' Magodo, Lagos residence. Two days after, he married a former beauty queen and fashion designer, Tobi Philips, a lady who once berated single ladies for dating married men, on October 9.

Then he married Princess Ashley Afolashade Folakemi Adegoke, a single mother of one who had thought that she would be the first among equals, on October 14. Whatever the position she holds now among the Ooni's wives, she is happy to have at least made the cut after many years of scheming to be an Olori. Marrying the traditional ruler is a dream come true for Ashley Afolashade who is a UKbased entrepreneur and owns a coffee franchise. She is also a philanthropist with a foundation named in memory of her late father, Prince Adegoke. On Tuesday October 11th, the Ooni took time off expanding his harem to receive a national

award conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari. He was conferred with the Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His 48th birthday party, which will take place on October 17, will be grand as the newly acquired wives will expectedly fall over themselves in a bid to prove how worthy he is to them via their individual styles of celebrating him. None is expected to be caught napping.

The birthday celebration is scheduled to take place in the ancient palace in Ile Ife. After the birthday celebration, the monarch will return to acquiring more wives. THEWILL reliably gathered that the Ooni plans to add two more women to his expanding harem; Ronke Ademiluyi, his longtime associate and the founder of Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) and Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN). Ooni's closeness to Ronke is such that he trusts the mother of one so much he put her in charge of the Queen Moremi Initiative and also made her the global ambassador of Adire Odua which she founded.

After he is done with the marital rites with Ronke, he plans to add a highly cerebral lady, in the person of Temitope Adesegun, a former personal assistant to the

late Princess Aderenle AdeniranOgunsanya, to his harem.

Temitope is said to hold degrees from prestigious institutions like Oxford University, Cambridge University, INSEAD Fontainebleau and Harvard University. To round up the celebrations, there is reportedly a grand wedding reception being planned in honour of Olori Mariam Ogunwusi nee Anako, perhaps to send a message and formally recognise her as the 'official Olori'.

The Ooni plans to take a breather from acquiring Oloris until such a time that he feels the need to once more expand his harem. Whoever says it isn't the Ooni's season clearly has to think again.

Fifi Umenyiora Discovers New Passion For Fashion

Fashionista and socialite, Fifi Umenyiora, has expanded her business interests to include fashion.

For many who do not know her, Fifi is the wife of Okwudili Umenyiora, businessman and owner of Dilly Motors.

He is an in-law to rapper, Naetochukwu Chikwe, aka Naeto C.

While his father was late Igwe John Umenyiora, the Ezedioramma 1 of Ogbunike, Anambra state, his mum is married to the owner of Germaine motors, Chief Jerry Chukwueke. His younger brother, Osi Umenyiora, plays with the NFL in the United States and he is married to 2011 winner of Miss Universe, Lelia Lopes. Fifi is now the Creative

Director of fashion outfit, Piillz and Poizn, a women’s wear brand. She recently made public her new found love when she showcased her designs at the Africa Fashion week London which took place about two weeks ago. One won't be surprised if she decides to take the bull by the horn and debut her own fashion line.

Before her new found love, Fifi ran a restaurant called Jamo Afrique, an Afro-Caribbean upscale restaurant in Lagos.

The serial entrepreneur has run the restaurant for six years. She also runs Buush Lounge. And while she is intent on nurturing her new passion, she has no intention of shutting down her other business ventures.

Abiola

Adeyeye

Ogoziee

Umenyiora

Embattled Lekki Garden boss, Dr Richard Nyong, has faced criticism, following the national honour conferred on him (Officer of the Order of Niger, OON). His past is back to haunt him. Many believe

Nyong has no business being a recipient of the national honour as he has not contributed anything notable to the development of Nigeria. Instead, he threw many families into mourning as a result of the death of some workers on his building site.

In 2016, a five-storey building caved in at Ikate Elegushi area of Lagos, leaving 34 people dead. The building located at Horizon 1, Lekki Gardens which was under construction, was part of the phase 3 project by the Lekki Garden Estate, which caved in after a heavy downpour.

Most workers who died in the building were reportedly waiting to collect their wages from the contractors. Some of them were said to have been owed up to N40,000. Nyong was arrested then but later granted bail.

It isn't the first time that the

Akwa Ibom State-born real estate mogul would be losing people on site. One of his staff, identified as Steven Magilo, reportedly died after falling off the eighth floor of a building under construction a few years ago.

The incident happened exactly at the Royal Palm Drive, Osborne Foreshore Estate Phase 2, Ikoyi, Lagos State. The 30-year-old was confirmed dead in a hospital within the vicinity. The incident was reported at the Dolphin Police Station but it was allegedly swept under the carpet. He was also dragged by 20 unit owners in the Horizon Premier-1 Estate in Lekki, Lagos before a Lagos high court over alleged distortion of the estate layout to build shops in the space originally meant for children playground, green area and recreation facilities. The claimants demanded an immediate reversion to the original layout in the 33-unit estate, while some subscribers also demanded compensation.

Faith Ezekiel, a former staff of the Omotosho Electric Energy Holding Company Limited, Ore, Ondo State, a company owned by billionaire businessman, Chief Adedeji Adeleke, father of singer, David Adeleke, otherwise known as Davido, has alleged that she was illegally sacked, maltreated, abducted and abandoned in an uncompleted building in Ede, Osun State by the chairman of the company.

Ezekiel claimed that she wasn't given a query or warning before she was unlawfully issued a termination letter. Stating further, she revealed that Adeleke was her benefactor. He had awarded her a scholarship that took care of her education from secondary school to tertiary level. She claimed that while waiting to proceed on national youth service, Adeleke invited her to join his company. She also pointed accusing fingers at the Managing Director of the company, Tokunbo Omidina and the Human Resource Manager, Bamiji Olapade who, she added, were acting on Adeleke’s directive.

Ezekiel alleged that both men informed her that Adeleke instructed them to abduct her. The Human Resource manager sent the sum of N25, 000 to her account and instructed her to go to Ogun State. When she got there, Omidina, called her again and asked her to head to Osun State as the person to receive her would be waiting for her. When she got to Osun, two men later came to meet her and took her to an abandoned building under the guise of taking her to Adeleke University, Ede. She was left in the building without food for seven days and was told that she would not be released unless Omidina instructed them to release her.

She revealed that had enjoyed a

robust relationship with Adeleke for years, but couldn't understand why she was maltreated by his workers. She did all she could to get across to her benefactor, but all phone calls and messages she sent to his phone were not responded to.

Ezekiel added that she rejected the termination letter because she couldn't reach Adeleke. Speaking on the development, Chief Adeleke denied inflicting pain on Ezekiel. He said that he never ordered her abduction.

Admitting that he was, indeed, Ezekiel's benefactor, Adeleke said he had decided to help her after a Seventh Day Adventist Church pastor introduced her as an orphan who needed help. Being a member of the church himself, he asked the pastor to enroll her at Babcock Secondary School after which he sponsored her to Babcock University and decided to help her further by offering her the job at his power plant. However, she was found guilty of professional misconduct, which eventually led to her being sacked from the company.

The industrialist alleged that while Ezekiel was in school, she was once suspended and later banned from the school dormitory because of her unruly behavior. She had to live with different people till she finished school. She continued with her recalcitrant attitude even when she started work.

She would fight her colleagues and bosses at work and even stay

back at home without reporting to duty, yet she was being a salary every month.

Omidina felt Ezekiel had a serious mental health challenge, which posed a risk to the multi billion naira investment and the workers as well. According to him, that was why he recommended that she should be sacked from the company. He had to approve her termination letter as the chairman of the company after going through her file. But she was paid three months’ salaries upfront after she was sacked from the company. The company through its Managing Director, Omidina, also exonerated the Chairman of the company, Adeleke, from Ezekiel's case. He stated that the chairman was not involved in the day-to-day running of the power plant as competent hands had been employed. It was also stated that Ezekiel was not abducted as she claimed. The matter is already in court.

Kafayat Oyetunji, one of the wives of the Ata-Oja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, is involved in a conflict with her estranged husband, Adekunle Oloki, over their daughter's custody and change of name.

Kafayat was married to Oloki and their union produced a girl, Nadirah. She had their daughter abroad before returning to Nigeria and ending her marriage a few years after.

Kafayat claimed that she left her marriage due to Oloki’s irresponsible behaviour towards her and their daughter. He allegedly abandoned his family for a long time, leaving only her to cater for the welfare of their daughter.

A few years after leaving her first marriage, she fell in love with the traditional ruler and got married to him. She took her daughter with her to live in the palace and changed her surname to Oyetunji, her new husband’s name. This did not go down well with Oloki, who decided to drag her to a District Customary Court in Osun State to fight for the custody of the girl.

Former Group Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank and Chairman of Inspiration FM, Erastus Akingbola, has allegedly laid off some of the workers at the Ibadan, Oyo State branch of the broadcast station.

It was gathered that more than 50 per cent of the workers were affected. The Programmes Department, Newsroom, Administrative Department, Marketing Department and Engineering Department were not left out in the mass sack. An officer in the Human Resource Department was allegedly sent from the Lagos branch of the broadcast medium to distribute termination of appointment letters to the parties affected.

Not fewer than 14 workers were allegedly shown the way out of the radio station. Some of the new workers who were poached from rival stations in January were axed by the management.

The affected workers, it was gathered, were allegedly owed a few months’ salaries.

According to sources, the mass retrenchment was due to the harsh economic climate in the country. This development is coming after some former workers of the station were alleged to be on the verge of taking the management to court over unremitted pension. Some of them were allegedly planning to take the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant authorities, just to get their entitlement from the station.

Olumide Aderinokun, husband of Stephanie Coker, has won a lawsuit instituted against him by Dada Kolawole, a PDP senatorial aspirant in Ogun Central Senatorial District.

The duo of Aderinokun and Kolawole had contested in the

PDP primary election in Ogun Central Senatorial District a few months ago. Aderinokun emerged the winner, but Kolawole took the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission to a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta to challenge the result of the election and Aderinokun's candidacy.

Kolawole urged the court to declare him the only duly nominated candidate of the PDP. However, while delivering his judgment, Justice Oguntoyinbo struck out the case, stating that the suit was not a competent one. The judge also said that the suit was not initiated in line with due process of the law. The originating summon was not properly and duly signed and initiated by a legal practitioner known to law. On that basis, the court struck out the suit. There has been jubilation in the camp of Aderinokun because of the court ruling.

SHOTS OF THE WEEK

U.S. Ambassador, Mary Beth Leonard (left) and Power Africa Coordinator, Mark Carrato, met to discuss the complexities of the Nigerian Energy Sector and how Power Africa is contributing to the Biden Administration climate agenda in Nigeria on October 14, 2022.

L– R: Chief Digital Officer, Nigerian Exchange Limited, (NGX), Dr. Olufemi Oyenuga; Head, Government Relations, NGX, Chalya Shagaya; Chairman, Association of Securities Dealing, Houses of Nigeria, (ASHON), Sam Onukwue; Executive Officer, NGX, Temi Popoola; United States Consul General, Lagos, Mr. Will Stevens; Divisional Head, Business Support Services, NGX, Mrs. Irene Robinson-Ayanwale; Economic Specialist, U.S. Consulate  General, Lagos, Mrs. Mayowa Obilade and Environment, Science, Technology & Health (ESTH) Specialist, U.S. Consulate, Lagos, Mr. Kenechukwu Onyeke, during a courtesy visit and Closing Gong Ceremony of the U.S. Consulate General to NGX in Lagos on October 14, 2022.

L-R: Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Slot Systems, Nnamdi Ezeigbo; Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Adia Sowho; CEO, Intelligra Group, Tayo Ogundipe; and GM, Fixed Broadband, MTN Nigeria, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka during the launch of the MTN Device Financing partnership, held at the MTN Nigeria Head Office on October 12,

Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Governor, Dr. Godwin Emefiele (middle); CBN Deputy Governor, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, (right) and Finance Minister, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, at the 2022 Annual Meetings of the IMF/World Bank in Washington DC, USA on October 12, 2022.

L-R: Chairman, SPE Nigeria Council, Prof. Olalekan Olafuyi; SPE Nigeria BOT Member, Olatunji Akinwunmi; President, SPE International, Kamel Ben-Naceur and MD/CEO Kenyon International, Marcel I. Amu, during

opening

ARTS

Romeo Oriogun Wins Nigeria Prize For Literature

Displacing the perennial contenders was how one caustic wit summed up the emergence of three young poets who made the shortlist of the Nigerian Prize for Literature sponsored by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas last September. Of course, the wag meant it as a light joke but nothing could be truer of the last three men – Romeo Oriogun, Soddiq Dzukoji and Su’eddie Agemah - standing in this year’s poetry competition by the gas company.

And now, Oriogun has won! The gas company received 287 entries from Nigerian poets home and abroad last February. With a panel of judges headed by Professor Emmanuel Egya Sule of African Literature and Cultural Studies at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai in Niger state – others are Toyin Adewale-Gabriel and Dike Chukwumerije – the list was pared down to 11 poets.

By the time the long list was published in July, there were nearly a half dozen poets who had been shortlisted for the same prize four years before, thus elicit ing the perennial contender's from the wag.

Though unavailable to receive the prize in person, (Oriogun lives in America where he has more freedom as an LGBT rights activist than his home country Nigeria where homophobia is rife) he linked up through ZOOM from where read his acceptance speech to the distinguished guests late on Friday night at Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island Lagos. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was a special guest at the event. He also presented the award to a representative of the winner.

With Oriogun’s win this year, it clearly says a lot about the direction Nigerian poetry is headed. In her citation for the winning entry Nomad, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chair of the Advisory board, said the collection “has a fresh language and a nostalgic engagement with the themes of exile and displacement.”

Judges, critics and literary aficionados all agree on the freshness of "language and nostalgic engagement with the themes of exile and displacement.” Writing in a special issue of Next Generation for Open Country magazine last February, for instance, Emmanuel Esomnofu let on how Oriogun “wrested poetry from pain.”

A cosseted progeny, Oriogun enjoyed the privileges of one born into such affluence. He was chauffeured to and from school. But then, his parents separated forcing him and his sibs to live with their father who denied them visits from their mother. He was six when his father died. His next destination was his mother Dorcas Osadiaye, who worked as a nurse. She also hawked garri in Benin where she lived with her own mother. Life was tougher than before such that Oriogun couldn’t pay for his WAEC enrolment fees.

If losing a supportive dad at six was bad enough, the death of his mother was an unexpected blow because he was about enrolling for his WAEC when she passed on. As Esomnofu wrote in his revelatory and well-written report, “his classmates crowd-funded to buy him forms for both exams. Later, after someone who borrowed from his mother paid back, he repaid his classmates’ money. The money went to helping another student who couldn’t afford exam registration.”

“I became very unruly,” Oriogun told the reporter of his mother’s passing. Mired in such gloom and for one so young, a female teacher in his school, Mrs. Uweni, sort of brought him back to life. She, according to Esomnofu, “introduced him to poetry. He read John Keats’ “Ode to the Nightingale.” He didn’t know that a nightingale was a bird but he imitated the poem and wrote his first, which he gifted to his teacher on her birthday.”

In his new discovery of English classics thanks to a caring tutor, Oriogun devoted more time to poetry like a monk will to his religious obligations. The new poet laureate had considered being a soldier and a lawyer. Drawn irresistibly to medicine, he applied to read same at University of Benin. They handed him pharmacy instead. He turned it down.

Still intent on medicine, Oriogun put in for JAMB the following year. But on the very day he was to write the exam, he wasn't in class among the university hopefuls in exam centres in Benin. He was elsewhere, a more intimate place – his mother’s grave.

“He had lived to make his father proud, then his mother, and now both of them were gone,” Esemnofu has written. “What am I doing this for?” he asked himself. He broke down and could not sit for the exam.”

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For now as an NLNG poet laureate, Oriogun seems to have shut up all his critics – especially for his sexual preference. But more important is that the judges of the Nigerian prize, as open-minded as any adjudicator of literary prizes in America or Europe, do not much care for the sexual orientation of competitors

From one teaching job to another, Oriogun left Benin for Ondo state where he worked with FRSC. It was while there that he witnessed firsthand the lynching of a gay man in 2016. That was it for him! Peripatetic from a young age, Oriogun was once again on the move – this time to Ghana, Europe and finally the United States where he currently lives. He has also been writing poetry, winning some poetry prizes along the way.

One of the frequent motifs in his poetry, according to the interviewer, is the water motif. Religion meant nothing to him at first. He turned to Olokun “the deity of the sea regarded in Benin traditional religion as the giver of wealth, health, and fertility. He would later call himself Son of Olokun, living the faith of the women who raised him. When he began writing poetry, water would be a motif.”

As any young and ambitious poet is wont to, Oriogun read poems, JP Clark’s "Streamside Exchange," strengthening the bond between him and the deity he served. He read many others as well. He also wrote and was maturing as he wrote and then finding his sweet spot at Ibadan, a city that, at one time in the sixties, seventies and eighties, had more poets than any other city in Nigeria.

“Ibadan was where Oriogun entered the Nigerian literary scene,” Esomnofu wrote in the publication. “At Artmosphere, a hotspot, he read a poem to an audience for the first time, and they “trashed” it—deservedly, he says. Another young writer, Olubunmi Familoni, walked up to him. “Don’t take any of these criticisms too hard, everyone wants you to grow,” he said. “Do you want to be ‘a poet from Nigeria’ or do you want to be ‘a Nigerian poet’?” The first, Familoni explained, was a poet who “claims local championships but wouldn’t do the work”; the other, a poet whose work speaks to the world. At the time, Oriogun had written only two poems. If I have to do this thing, I have to do it well, he thought.”

“At Artmosphere, also, he was introduced to the Facebook poetry scene, which was big at the time. From writing on Facebook, he picked up an extemporaneous approach: he writes the poem on the spot, in no more than 10 minutes, and he does not edit; although, he tells me, he is grateful to have had very good editors work with him.”

From those tentative steps at Atmosphere, he would soon establish himself as a poet to reckon with. "Burnt Men" was soon published, receiving rave reviews from fellow poets and a BrunelPrize for the 10 poems in the collection. Continuing in his report, Esomnofu notes that “when Oriogun won the Brunel Prize, with 10 poems from "Burnt Men," the judges described him as a “hugely talented, outstanding, and urgent new voice.” He became the prize’s first openly queer—bisexual—winner, and, even more significantly, the first openly queer Nigerian to win a major African prize. Then a tirade of attacks online and offline followed, spreading outside literary circles. Resistant to the sudden notability bestowed on an LGBTQ+ writer, some people claimed that he did not deserve it, swarmed his Facebook inbox with homophobic messages. People he considered friends, writers he supported and wrote with, joined the mob against him.”

For now as an NLNG poet laureate, Oriogun seems to have shut up all his critics – especially for his sexual preference. But more important is that the judges of the Nigerian prize, as open-minded as any adjudicator of literary prizes in America or Europe, do not much care for the sexual orientation of competitors.

One of Oriogun’s editors, Maneo Mohale, had all along known and recognised the genius in Nomad before the NLNG judges. “He punctures an insidious silence—one that would have us believe that queer African poetry does not exist, or that queer African poets are only imitating the West,” Mohale has written. “I think his work signals to younger generations that another world is possible, and that we can harness our various abilities to tell our own stories beautifully, dangerously, playfully, and in deep conversation with the past—as a way of ushering in a future where our humanity can be celebrated and honoured without compromise.”

Oriogun

MICHAEL JIMOH

SportsLive

Can NBBF Now Focus on The Game?

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

The wishes of basketball fans in the country for the excellence of Nigeria's male and female national teams, D'Tigers and D'Tigress, at both continental and international levels, which appeared to have been scuttled by the intermittent issues surrounding the leadership crises in the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), appear to now be a thing of the past. This is because last week, the Federal Government formally inaugurated the NBBF board, which was elected into their positions ten months ago at the Federation elections that held in Benin and where Musa Kida was re-elected as President. It was supposed to be the ultimate word in the leadership tussle at the Federation that had bedevilled basketball governance in the country over two election cycles.

The origin of the remote conflict that the Federation was desperate to put behind it can be putatively traced to issues of constitutional disparities in the lead up to the Federation's Elective Congress of October 30 last year. As THEWILL reported at the time, at the end of September 2021, when the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), working in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMYSD) gave the then quarrelsome factions of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) no fewer than 21 days within which to resolve their differences, ahead of a planned schedule for the belated Elective Congress into the sporting Board of the Federation, it was believed that a consensual position will be reached to allow the electoral process to progress without hiccups and, from that resolution, create a pathway towards internal cohesion that is focussed on advancing the objectives of the Federation for Basketball in the country.

Unfortunately, as the Federation approached the October 30 schedule for the Elective Congress, there were even darker clouds of uncertainty and broader issues of divisive matters that only served to worsen the internal wranglings of factions in the Federation and required the involvement of the Sports Ministry.

Sunday Dare, the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, brought the factions to the table to address the issues at stake and from this sitdown with the NOC President, Habu Gumel met with the NBBF parties at the minister's office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, a path towards a peaceful Congress was laid with a 21-day period granted to iron out all conflicting issues within its ranks ahead of the Congress. The cordial nature of the resolution gave the promise of consensus ahead of the Congress.

The factions on both sides of the NBBF leadership issue were Tijani Umar, a former NBBF President, and Kida, the immediate past chairman and the same one who was returned as President and inaugurated last week. It was at that meeting with the Ministry and the NOC that it was uncovered that the bone of contention was a constitutional dispute and why they were granted a 21-day period to afford the rival factions time to comb through the constitution and compile areas with grievances for each party and forward this compilation to the Ministry, who promised to work together with the NOC in finding a workable pathway that will bring an end to the wranglings and allow peace to reign in the Federation.

With the Congress near and the fractional issues behind them, the NBBF complied with their statutes, which were confirmed by FIBA, the world Basketball governing body, by instituting an Electoral Committee chaired by the respectable Dr Lanre Glover, a two-time Vice President of NOC, with the mind to proceed with the Congress accordingly. However, circumstances around the Congress took a turn for the worse when the very wranglings that prompted a 21-day postponement led to another intervention by the Ministry, which, on October 26, indefinitely suspended the Congress via a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ismaila Abubakar. But, the NBBF negated the claims in the press release, claiming that it amounted to "an usurpation of the powers of the NBBF Congress as enshrined in the NBBF Statutes."

A standoff was likely until the Congress blinked and yielded to the indefinite postponement from the Ministry after a virtual meeting of the involved parties on October 28. Kida decided to respect the position of the Ministry and allow a peaceful resolution of all the issues raised for credible elections to take place into the NBBF Board. A Communique issued by the Elective Congress

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affirmed that the NBBF had unanimously agreed to postpone the Elective Congress by a few weeks. When the elections finally held in January this year, in the presence of international observers, including FIBA representatives, Kida was re-elected as the president of the NBBF for a further four years. If that was all, it could have been manageable but Kida's victory was disputed by a different faction, led by Igoche Mark, who claimed to have won the NBBF presidency in a different election that took place on the same day, January 30, in Abuja. This sparked a dilemma that ultimately prevented the government from recognising any side as the legitimate sport's governing body.

Then, on Thursday, May 12, the FG unilaterally mandated the

Continued from Backpage

Time to Allow Diasporan Voting

by the Godwin Emefiele-led Central Bank of Nigeria. If we waited for the perfect conditions to start, we would not have come this far.

Besides, if countries on the con tinent, such as Benin Republic, Ghana, Angola, Kenya and South Africa, already operate diaspora voting in their elections, it is incon ceivable that there are some within our representatives that have not woken up to the entrenched need for Nigerians abroad to join the voting bloc. They cannot be disenfran

complete withdrawal of the Nigerian senior male and female basketball teams from all international competitions for a two-year period, effective immediately leaving the dedicated players in D'Tigers and D'Tigress teams incredulously astounded. The FG pointed to the internal wranglings in the NBBF as the basis for the decision and planned to set up an interim committee to monitor basketball leagues across the country with a view to developing the sport from the grassroots.

It as a shocking turn of events that left the fortunes of the best male and female teams in Africa hanging on the precipice of decline even as there was the very real possibility of further ban by the FIBA.

Indeed, FIBA's Head of Legal, Jaime Lamboy, in a letter addressed to Kida and dated May 18, clearly stated that there will be repercussions for the lateral withdrawal and government interference as Nigeria stood the risk of being suspended for violating Article 9.7, which carried the consequence of missing out on the 2024 Olympic Games as well as the 2025 World Championships for both men and women national teams.

Also, the IMC established to manage basketball for the period of the withdrawal was not charged to resolve the leadership wrangling, which was the source of the Federation's problems. Instead, Dr. Henry Nzekwu, Mr. Udon Ubon Humapwa, Mr. Frank Jitubhoh, Zenith Bank representative, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, Mr. Peter Nelson, Group Captain Rahinatu Garba, Aderemi Adewunmi, Oluchi Nzekwe, and Sani Adio (SAN) were tasked to devise programmes that will revitalise basketball inh free Nigeria at the grassroots level, resuscitate its dormant domestic leagues, and seek corporate sponsors to help the game grow. The threat of suspensions, the backlash from the unilateral withdrawal and popular opposition to the decision forced the FG to rethink the ban. By mid-August, the two-year withdrawal was revoked and the IMC dissolved.

However, the withdrawal order had already wrecked havoc in the six-week period it was in place. The most egregious of the fallout from the withdrawal was that FIBA had to fill the slot vacated by D’Tigress team by effect of the government's withdrawal and had replaced Nigeria with the Malian women’s team for the 2022 World Cup, putting all the efforts the ladies put into qualifying in vain. Added to the disillusionment of some of the D'Tigers players, who came into the Nigerian team from the NBA and who were fed up with the effects of the crisis at the Federation and stayed away from the team after the disappointment of the Olympics and a very deep existential crisis was brewing before the inauguration of the Kida-led Board last week.

The hope of basketball fans now is that the Federation, whose inaugurated members include Vice President Babatunde Ogunade, Secretary General Njoku Peter Abba Kaka, Professor Yakassai, Professor Adeyanju, Adamu Deshi, Ugo Udezue, Okoro Victor, Olumide Oyedeji, Suraju Yusuf, Felix Awogu and Sam Ahmedu will realise the enormity of the tasks ahead of them and sincerely dedicate themselves to the mandate of securing the country's leadership position in male and female basketball on the continent whilst competing favourably abroad.

chised at home and also be unable to vote in the countries where they are currently resident simply because the will to right this wrong is lacking on the part of the National Assembly. Their constitutional right to vote and be voted for cannot be removed for the sake of their current residen tial geolocation as some are even abroad on professional and career responsibilities, while some others are representing Nigeria in foreign missions.

Nigerians resident abroad are very

important stakeholders in the Nige rian project, hence it is not unusual to see politicians seeking elective office travel from country to coun try to engage them and solicit their support.

I would therefore expect this allimportant amendment to the consti tution to be made as soon as the next government settles in while we find an agreeable process to completely restructure the country in such a way that it encourages productivity and economic growth.

However, the withdrawal order had already wrecked havoc in the six-week period it was in place

Time to Allow Diasporan Voting

We

have to urgently rework or restructure our country in whole, if Nigeria is ever going to attain the fullness of its potentials. This process must correct this ugly anomaly, which does not allow Nigerian citizens resident abroad to vote in elections.

In March this year, the opportunity of a simple act of par liament to onboard no fewer than 17 million Diasporan Nigerians, whose contributions to the economy are not in doubt, into the voting bloc of the 2023 general election was lost when the members of the National Assembly voted against the bill proposing to allow Nigerians resi dent abroad, for professional and personal reasons, have a say in who presides over the government of the country whose passports they hold.

The March abortion of the push to have citizens resident abroad exercise their voting rights as Nigerians was truncated a second time for very silly reasons by some federal lawmakers who are obviously threatened by the significant impact the votes from the Diaspora could make in elections.

The first bid for Diasporan voting was in 2012 when Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who was representing the Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State and as Chair of the House Committee on Nigerians in the Diaspora at the time, led five other members of the Federal House of Representatives to sponsor a legislative bill that sought to amend the laws to grant Nigerians in the Diaspora the right to vote.

The six members did not get enough support to carry the bill beyond its presentation to the House and, conse quently, it went under and was never brought up for consideration.

Due to the fact that Dabiri-Erewa and her then col leagues were seeking a formal change to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, they were required to follow a process that is even more stringent than the require ments necessary for enacting ordinary legislation. A con stitutional bill will require the approval of the National Assembly and State Assemblies to become law.

The second attempt to craft a bill to conditionally consti tutionally allow Diaspora voting was shut down by both houses of the National Assembly at the Constitutional Amendment Review Session and the Bill could not prog ress to the third reading. This second bill - “Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for Diaspora Voting, and for related Matters" - proposed that two sections of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended), viz sections 77 (2) and 117 (2), be amended to allow Nigerians 18 years and above, and resident within and outside Nigeria to vote. For citizens abroad, the amendments required that they must hold a valid Nigerian international passport and must have lived in Nigeria for a period of at least five (5) years from a minimum age of ten (10) years old.

Persons living abroad must also be legally resident in the foreign country from which the person seeks to vote for at least 12 months. This was to scale over the only legal hurdle keeping Nigerians in the Diaspora from exercis ing their voting rights.

However, for the excuses of capacity and logistics, in the March seating of the National Assembly, the bill was overwhelmingly rejected when it was put to vote during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representa tives. Only 87 members of the National Assembly (29 Senators and 58 members of the House of Representa tives) voted in favour of the amendment out of the 390 federal lawmakers present at the plenary thus denying diasporan citizens the opportunity to participate in next year's general elections.

It was as though the members of the country's parlia ment have a disdain for our countrymen and women resident abroad and did not believe that they had a say in the governance of Nigeria despite their unquantifi able contribution to the country. This was exemplified in the utterances of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Was, who, while as an acting speaker two years ago, posed the rhetorical but headscratching query about Nigerians in the Diaspora: “What is their business (with Nigeria)? They can’t sit in their comfort zones and know what is happening in Nigeria.” What a dumb assumption from an equally dumb and uninformed fellow!

If anything, I can say for a fact that Nigerians living abroad are as enthusiastic as those residing in the coun try seeking a better nation where basic social needs are available for all. I would like to state emphatically that the majority of our people, including myself, resident abroad were forced out of the country because we were looking for a better life for ourselves, children and rela tives.

Nigerians in the Diaspora are naturally very proud, patri otic and purposeful. There is indisputable evidence that points to the very active roles they continue to play, in several aspects of the country's socio-economic, political and civic realities.

At different fora, Dabiri-Erewa, who is now in charge of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has credited the more than 17 million Nigerians across the various countries that they have settled in as remit ting in excess of USD25 billion annually to the Nigerian economy.

This remittance is the highest in sub-Saharan Africa and second only to Egypt on the continent as a whole. The bulk of these remittances go to relatives and families for their upkeep because they know that times are hard. The average citizen in the Diaspora is as up-to-date with the news back home and plays his or her role in contributing

to the welfare of their people and the progress of their societies as any average citizen in Nigeria.

Aside the fact of their remittances, their political aware ness cannot be further disputed when the reality of two recent movements are factored into the discourse. The 2020 ENDSARS Movement, more than any other before it, demonstrated how much the Nigerian in the Diaspora felt involved in events taking place across the political space at home.

From their pockets through crowdfunding, from their time through protesting abroad and at the country's embassies, from their resources through various other means, including social media activism, they contributed immensely to help the fight against the brutal antics of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and sup ported the demonstrations that demanded for the police unit to be proscribed.

Although they were far removed from the brutality that their compatriots witnessed daily and which was the driving force of the protests, they largely supported the protests and contributed to the lengths it went to register the grievances of the youths with the unit.

More recently, Nigerians in the Diaspora have entered into the fray of the campaign for the 2023 presidential election. Across the world, several groups of Nigerians, who are awake to their civic duties have sought to invite and query the intentions of candidates desiring to contest elections, especially at the Presidential level, to not only get answers to cogent questions on burning national issues, such as the economy, security, food availability, power generation, youth representation and responsible and responsive leadership, but to also get assurances from these candidates and to imprint their relevance in the process on the minds of these candidates and the general voting population of Nigeria.

Some have typically even invested in certain candidates with the promise to provide financial backing as the case may be. This is not possible without the mindset of knowing that one is a stakeholder and has a responsibil ity to ensure accountable governance. Why should they therefore be denied the power to join their countrymen in deciding their leaders and representatives?

The objection that Nigeria, which is still battling with as sociated in-country issues around voting that have made most previous elections to be characterised as neither free nor fair, cannot then assume that it can handle the logistics of voting from abroad with all its attendant is sues is a lazy argument of those who want a retention of this status quo.

As Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, the Chairman of the Indepen dent National Electoral Commission himself assured, the only hurdle to the rolling out of Diasporan voting was the amendment of the Electoral Act or the relevant section of the Nigerian Constitution to empower the Commission to begin to register voters from abroad, confirm their statuses, verify their details and accept their votes at the general polls, according to the enabling legislation.

He thought the amendment of the Electoral Act signed this year was going to address section 77(2), which dealt with the residency issue but it was not the case.

The strawman argument of Nigeria not being prepared for Diasporan voting falls on the evidence that many advances made in telecommunications and fintech were not considered possible in Nigeria for many reasons until they were done and today we are advancing steadily and making incremental progress to the point where telecom providers have been granted banking licences

Nigerians resident abroad are very important stakeholders in the Nigerian project, hence it is not unusual to see politicians seeking elective office travel from country to country to engage them and solicit their support