THEWILL NEWSPAPER, October 29, 2023 by THEWILL NEWSPAPER

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Access Corporation: Assets Soar by 43% on Strong Growth Trajectory

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OCTOBER 29, 2023 • VOL . 3 NO. 49

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PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION APPEAL

Reactions Trail Supreme Court Judgement • Ruling Ignites Calls For Electoral, Judicial Reforms, INEC Overhaul • Experts Frown at Courts Determining Elections Outcome • Confidence in INEC, Judiciary Falls to All-time Low Over Corruption • Future of Nigeria Bleak Without Restructuring – Southern/Middle Belt Leaders

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OCTOBER 29, 2023 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnews.com

IS NOW WHOLLY

Digital

Onah Nwachukwu Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN

t’s fashion season in Nigeria, that time of year when we go and watch designers showcase their new collections. Lagos Fashion Week starts the season, and every year, it’s something we look forward to. I must commend Ohimai Atafo of ATAFO; his offsite show was very entertaining. By the time you read this, we will be on the last day of the shows for Lagos Fashion Week and preparing for GTBank Fashion Weekend; it will be interesting to see what new silhouettes the designers will come up with this year. I’m particularly looking forward to the Sisiano show today; I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us. Enough about Fashion Week; let’s talk about what this week’s magazine has for you. I’m excited to announce that the content page is now interactive. This means you can click on any page title, which takes you to that page. Isn’t that cool? And now to our cove story. Kehinde Bankole is our cover talent; she stars in a new movie, Adire, which, from the interview, is a comedy. I will let you read more about the movie, which also premiers today on pages 8 through 10. Our fashion pages discuss bespoke clothing for men, emphasising different types of clothes that can be personalised for men. Go to pages 4 and 5 for this.

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Downtown Confidential highlights the role of music in sex on page 7 as we examine different genres of music and how to create a playlist for you and that special someone. If you have elderly parents, you’ll know how important it is to ensure that their space is comfortable, and that’s what our décor page focuses on, stressing how to create a safe and secure space for them. You’ll find that on page 11. Moat people like to drink wine, but how well do you know your wine? We tell you about different wines and how to pair them on page 13, while on page 16, our movie review page, we collate horror movies in anticipation of Halloween. Yes, we know it’s not our culture, but we made a list just for you. Until next week, enjoy your read.

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COVER

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION APPEAL

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he pains are real, even though losing and winning are inbuilt in any contest, not to talk of political contests in Nigeria that allow the winners to take

So, after the end of litigations on the outcome of the February 25 presidential poll at the Supreme Court on Thursday, October 26, 2023 with the affirmation of Bola Tinubu as President of Nigeria, the dismissal of the issue of 25 percent requirement for Abuja, as well as the claim that non-transmission of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission affected the outcome of the poll, the bile is still flowing, understandably. “We are still in shock about how everything came out at the Supreme Court,” Labour Party spokesman, Obiora Iloh, told THEWILL on Friday when he was asked what next after the apex court ruling and its impact on ongoing democratisation in the country. He continued, “We have just finished at the Supreme Court. It is our intention to spend time digest everything that transpired there. We would want to reflect on the events of the past few months as a political party and take THEWILLNEWS

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a stand. For now, what our National Chairman said on the apex court ruling will suffice until the party leaders come together and take a definite position.”

because it did not, “uphold the provisions of the law, instead it trashed the expectations of the majority of Nigerians who looked up to it as a temple of impartiality…”

Iloh’s counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Debo Olugunagba, said something slightly along the same line.

“If the verdict had been in their favour, the PDP and LP would have hailed the judiciary as the saviour of democracy,” said the spokesperson of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, Felix Morka, on Friday. “Nigeria is made up of 200 million people. Those who want to disagree will do so, but I think quite frankly that the courts of law have acquitted themselves well. INEC, they said, conducted the election under existing laws.”

“We will have to get a report of the court ruling before we take a decision on the way forward on the polity.” Even so, both political parties rejected the apex court ruling in strong words on that Thursday. LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, described the court's final ruling as a mark of institutional failure. “…Our institutions are not working and we may be sliding into dictatorship. It is very clear that the executive has hijacked both the judiciary and the legislature. This is so unfortunate for our democracy in Nigeria and it is even more for the people of Nigeria,” he said, among others. The PDP also disparaged the Supreme Court ruling

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Many party members and supporters have towed the lines of their party in their reactions, mostly on social media, though some PDP governors like Seyi Makinde of Oyo state and his Bayelsa counterpart, Diri Duoye, joined some of their APC counterparts to visit and congratulate President Tinubu on his victory in Aso Rock. For Professor of Political Economy at the Lagos State University, Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, the Supreme Court judgement is good for democracy.

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...Reactions Trail Supreme Court Judgement “The Supreme Court is good for democracy. The judiciary is the last resort in the operationalization of the rule of law,” he told THEWILL in a brief interview. Odion-Akhaine said that despite the opinion of bias alleged against the judiciary which are “ideas in the head of people,” the outcome, in his consideration, is the momentary “possibility within the ambit of the rule of law, adding that the “judiciary works with the grundnorm and not otherwise.” According to him, “public opinion matters. Wherever merit exists, it should not be discounted, but rather harnessed for the consolidation of our democracy.” IMPORT OF RULING FOR DEMOCRATISATION PROCESS Unlike previous elections in Nigeria, the 2023 general poll, with a reformed Electoral Act and young demographic, held a promise of real change for many seeking national cohesion amid separatist agitations and self-determination, worsened insecurity and mass poverty. The failure of INEC to conduct the poll according to its promised laid down criteria raised public suspicion of complicity with the establishment to hijack the poll. Thus, at the conclusion of the election and with INEC’s declaration of Tinubu as President, the three major political parties which shared the total votes of 21.87 million at 8.79 million by APC, 6.98 million by PDP and 6.1 million by LP finally got the law court to settle the matter, first through the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, on September 6, 2023 and finally at the Supreme Court on October 26, 2023. “Among others, not a few political watchers and legal pundits had believed that 25 per cent votes in the Federal Capital Territory was mandatory for a presidential candidate to be declared the winner, but the apex court had disagreed with this interpretation, ruling that Tinubu had, of legal fact, met the required threshold of winning 25 percent of the votes in two-thirds of 36 states and Abuja combined.” General Secretary of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said in a note to THEWILL, adding, “The new legal interpretation is now the law until the apex court says otherwise in a similar case in the future. We therefore congratulate the President and urge him to do justice to all Nigerians and leave a positive legacy as a unifier…” Expatiating on the import of the apex court ruling for the democratisation process, Professor OdionAkhaine, who is eyeing the governorship of Edo state in the forthcoming September 2024 poll, said that since democracy is a process, the Supreme Court judgement on the presidential election should enrich jurisprudence in Nigeria. According to him, “while the judiciary acts within the extant laws, some of the issues which have implications for electoral credibility can be inputted into the electoral reform process.” Human Rights lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, welcomed the judgement of the apex court but, however, expressed regrets that the country still has a long way to go in terms of conducting elections that meets the yearning of Nigerians for free choice and fairness. Speaking on national television on Friday, he said, “No doubt, the judgment of the Supreme Court ascended the electoral contest as far as the presidential election conducted in February this year is concerned, but for sure, it is not a judicial endorsement of the conduct of the election by INEC. “What I mean is that even with the judgment, it is very clear that Nigeria has a long way to go in terms of ensuring that credible elections are conducted, elections that will be devoid of acrimony, elections that all of us will be proud of, but we are still a long way from there even with the judgment.” MAJOR ISSUES RAISED BY PETITIONS AT THE LAW COURTS As identified by Professor Odion-Akaine, some of the crucial issues raised by the election petitions and which are crying for reforms were the sanctity of the votes cast at each election and the role INEC plays in the process

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and the polity. Others are the period of litigation and the involvement of the three, separate but mutually interdependent arms of government, namely the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, on Friday evening said that now that the Supreme Court had passed the final judgement on the 2023 presidential election last Thursday, there is urgent need to rejig the Judiciary, unbundle INEC and amend the laws governing the electoral umpire and devolution of power from the Federal Government to the states and local government councils. In the estimation of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, INEC has so serially bungled the election that it must be restricted from taking part in election petitions and to conduct elections only, with the mandate to transmit election electronically through a platform whose figures can be tendered in law courts in the place of human witnesses. He called on the Judicial Council of Nigeria to help strengthen the judiciary and encourage judges to pass judgement without fear of favour, while the National Assembly should consider amending the law so that election petitions must be concluded before the victor assumes office. “We need to strengthen the Judiciary, INEC and evolve a political culture that encourages citizenship and inclusive governance, but above all, we must devolve power from the centre to the units so that each state can use its resources for development rather than go every month to Abuja like a beggar, “ he said. Agbakoba submitted that the devolution of power from the Federal Government to the states would ensure proper balance, arguing that as presently constituted, the Nigerian centrifugal system confers weirdly power on the President to the disadvantage of the state governors and local government councils. “Power has to be restructured so that state governors should not be at the mercy of the President.” Agbakoba said. CNPP’s Chief Ezugwu agrees with Agbakoba on the need to amend the law to allow for the dispensation of election petitions before the declared winner assumes office.

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If we do not reform our electoral laws to make it mandatory for the courts to finish all petitions before the winners assume office, there will be no significant change, nobody appointed or whose appointment can be terminated by the victor would dare to overturn the election that his principal has won... Those who are benefitting from the rot in the system will kill and initiate change

“If we do not reform our electoral laws to make it mandatory for the laws courts to finish all petitions before the winners assume office, there will be no significant change, nobody appointed or whose appointment can be terminated by the victor would dare to overturn the election that his principal has won.” he said, adding, “Those who are benefitting from the rot in the system will kill and initiate change.” Morka agrees. “Our party remains committed to reforming our electoral process. The immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, did it and we will continue to do so to ensure the conduct of elections under the law,” he said. For President Tinubu, who welcomed the Supreme Court ruling with optimism about the future of the country, the “electoral jurisprudence and constitutional democracy are further consolidated and embedded more indelibly in our national identity…” Urging Nigerians to set aside any differences that divided them and close ranks in support of his administration because “we are all members of the same households,” he said the apex court judgement has energised him to deliver on good governance, service delivery that would meet and exceed the expectations of all Nigerians. Leaders and elders of a large section of the country, comprising the South-East, South-West, South-South, and Middle Belt geopolitical zones under the aegis of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum think that democracy as a government of the people, by the people and for the people may continue to elude the country if it was not restructured. In a communique issued on Friday after their meeting, the leaders in a meeting chaired by Chief Edwin Clark,and attended by the leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; President, Middle Belt Forum, Dr Pogu Bitrus; and, National Chairman, PANDEF, Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, called on the Federal Government to restructure the country immediately. They said, “Without restructuring, the future of Nigeria and democracy remain bleak. It must, therefore, be carried out immediately.” NEED FOR JUDICIAL REFORM The call for judicial reform as a way to improve and strengthen the rule of law and independence of the judicial arm of government in the country received a major boost last week. Retiring Justice Musa Dantijjo Mohammed in his speech delivered at the valedictory session held at the Supreme Court in Abuja on Friday, October 27, 2023 called for reform of the apex court as an institution. According to him, the statutory powers vested on the Chief Justice of Nigeria are enormous and are being abused. He said, “As presently structured, the CJN is Chairman of the National Judicial Council, NJC which oversees both the appointment and discipline of judges, he is equally chair of the Federal Justice Service Commission, FJSC, the National Judicial Institute, NJI, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee that appoints Senior Advocates of Nigeria. In my considered opinion, the oversight functions of these bodies should not rest on an individual.” He said that though the Constitution provides for the inclusion of the next most senior justice of the apex court as Deputy Chairman of the NJC, the “CJN does not consult his deputy on anything.” In the exercise of these powers, the CJN, he said, failed to fill the required vacancies of justices who have either died or retired, leaving only 10 out of the Constitutionally required 21 justices. Particularly hit by this deliberate omission are the Southeast and Northcentral, whose vacancies were created by the deaths of Justices from those geo-political zones. “To ensure justice and transparency in presidential appeals from the lower court, all geo-political zones are required to participate in the hearing. It is therefore dangerous for democracy and equity for two entire regions to be left out in the decisions that will affect the generality of Nigerians. This is not what the law envisages..” THEWILLNIEWS

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NEWS

L-R: Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun; his Kogi State counterpart, Alhaji Yahya Bello; President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during a congratulatory visit on the Supreme Court verdict over the Presidential Election Petitions, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on October 26, 2023.

Provide Solution to Flooding, Senate Tells FG

he Senate has urged the Federal Government to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to X-ray the recurring situation of flooding across the country, with a view to arriving at a lasting solution. The Senate’s resolution was sequel to a point of order moved by Sen. Adetokunbo Abiru (APCLagos) during a recent plenary. The motion is titled, ‘Flood Disaster in Ikosi-Isheri, Agboyi-Ketu and several other communities in Lagos and Ogun.’ The upper chamber also commiserated with the victims of the flood disaster and commended the governments of Lagos and Ogun States for their handling of the crisis occasioned by the flood disaster. It also directed its relevant committees to provide adequate funding for NIMET, Hydrological Agency of Nigeria and the River Basin Development Authorities to effectively carry out their responsibilities. Moving the motion, Abiru said that a number of communities close to the coast lines in Ikosi-Isheri and Agboyi-Ketu in Lagos and other communities in Ogun often experience flooding whenever the Oyan River dam is opened. “The recent release of water from the dam caused unimaginable havoc to residents’ properties and livelihoods, particularly on Tuesday, October24. “The residents of the areas have fled their homes and businesses, schools and worship centres have all shut down in the affected communities,” he said. The lawmaker further said that there is an urgent humanitarian crisis occasioned by the flood as those sacked by the flood are still hanging around with members of their families and friends,” he said. He, however, said that in response to the looming crisis, the governors of Lagos and Ogun and the Minister of Water Resources had intervened in their respective capacities. (NAN)

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Disaster Management: Lagos First Lady, Benue Assembly Clerics Proffer Ways of Advocates More Combating Depression Support For BSEMA BY AYO ESAN

he First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Claudiana Sanwo-Olu, has said that the issue of depression is quite alarming in recent times as it affects countless lives, saying all hands must be joined to combat the monster. Sanwo-Olu, who was speaking as Mother of the Day at this year's Annual Christian Leadership Empowerment Summit, an annual gathering of multi-dimensional ministers of the Gospel of Christ and their leaders across a broad spectrum of Nigerian Christianity in Lagos, said the church has a unique role to play in combating the depression epidemic. Represented by Mrs Deborah Suara, she said, "In these challenging times, it is crucial that we come together as a community and as Christians to support those who are suffering from depression and to foster an environment of understanding and healing. "Depression is a silent battle that many individuals face on a daily basis. It knows no boundaries, affecting people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life. It can be debilitating, isolating, and overwhelming. However, we believe that there is hope, and that hope can be found within the walls of the church. "The church has a unique role to play in combating the epidemic of depression, being a place of solace, a sanctuary where individuals can find comfort, guidance, and a sense of belonging. Within the church community, we have the opportunity to create a safe space for open conversations about mental health, destigmatizing depression, and encouraging individuals to seek help. "In view of this, we must combat this monster not only from the spiritual angle through prayers but also by offering medical assistance and counseling where necessary and by providing resources and trained professionals, we can offer a helping hand to those in need. "Through support groups, pastoral care, and prayer, we can offer a holistic approach to healing, addressing not only the emotional and psychological aspects of depression but also the spiritual well-being of individuals"..

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FROM GEORGE MARTINS, MAKURDI

he Benue State House of Assembly Committee on Rules and Business has advocated for more support to strengthen the capacity and operations of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) to manage the increasing spate of disasters in the state. Majority Leader and Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Saater Tiseer, who led members of the committee on oversight function to BSEMA headquarters in Makurdi, said the increasing incidents and complexity of disasters in the state made effective response necessary and it could only be achieved with proper investment in disaster management. Tiseer made this known while answering questions from Journalists on the aim of the visit, explaining that their visit to the agency was part of the Committee's oversight and familiarisation tour to appraise the performances and challenges facing it. He explained that the agency, which was created to operate directly under the Governor's Office, is funded by both government and private bodies to manage and mitigate emergency issues, reiterating the Committee's readiness to support BSEMA to be fast in early preparedness in handling such occurrences. The lawmaker commended the Acting Secretary of BSEMA, Sir James Iorpuu, for his bold steps in addressing some issues facing the agency within the few months he assumed office, including the ongoing Biometric Data Capturing to obtain verifiable data of Persons of Concern for proper planning, resettlement of IDPs, as well as setting the Local Emergency Management Agencies (LEMAs) to further improve disaster management in the State. The Ag. Executive Secretary, Sir James Iorpuu, in his brief reaction, appreciated the committee for the oversight visit, pointing out that the agency has continued to receive tremendous support and attention from the Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, in the delivery of its mandates. The statement signed by the Information Officer of BSEMA, Miss Charity Agber, quotes Sir Iorpuu as saying that the agency is fully back to serve the state under the Alia Administration.

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POLITICS

Off-Cycle Elections: Court Judgments, Violence on Front Burner BY AYO ESAN

ith two weeks to the three off-cycle governorship elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States, there are concerns over recent court judgments’ and threats of violence. THEWILL recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last week said that the spate of court judgments and orders on the nomination, substitution or disqualification of candidates, after all sensitive materials had been printed were interfering with its preparations for the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this during the quarterly meeting with political parties at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Yakubu also expressed concerns about the spate of violence in the three states, warning that free and fair elections are only possible in an atmosphere of peace. “The reprinting of the materials in compliance with court orders within a short period of time is not only expensive but the management of the process very challenging. Although the commission has already published the final list of candidates for the three states, four recent court orders have compelled us to review the list. “These changes have been reflected in the updated list of parties and candidates on our website. However, this decision is without prejudice to any pending appeal by the affected candidates or their political parties. “As electioneering campaigns continue to intensify,

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Yakubu also expressed concerns about the spate of violence in the three states, warning that free and fair elections are only possible in an atmosphere of peace

the commission reiterates its concern about the spate of violence in the three states involving parties and candidates. I wish to remind you as party leaders that free and fair elections are only possible in an atmosphere of peace,” he said.

of its preparations and that this is the first time the commission will be conducting three off-cycle governorship elections simultaneously across different geo-political zones. He said “This is made possible by the coincidence of the end of tenure of the current holders of the offices which fall within the constitutional timeframe of not earlier than 150 days or later than 30 days before the expiration of their terms of office as enshrined in Section 178(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)”. On the court judgements close to the election, INEC has officially removed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, and his deputy, Joshua Maciver, from the list of qualified candidates for the upcoming Governorship election in Bayelsa State. INEC ‘s position was in compliance with a court order which disqualifies Sylva as APC Candidate in the election . The Federal High Court, Abuja, on October 10, disqualified Sylva from participating in the state governorship election.

The INEC boss said the election is a process involving human beings as voters, election officials, observers and the media whose safety is of paramount concern to the commission.

Justice Donatus Okorowo, in the judgment, ruled that having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa, Sylva would breach the 1999 Constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

Yakubu noted that with just a little over two weeks to the election, INEC is at the concluding stages

The judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he won and was THEWILLNIEWS

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POLITICS

...Court Judgments, Violence on Front Burner

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sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state. Also, the Federal High Court, Owerri judicial division in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/35/2023 – PRP & Anor v. INEC, amongst others, equally ordered INEC to include the name of the PRP governorship candidate in the list of nominated candidates already published on the INEC website.

On the court judgements close to the election, INEC has officially removed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, and his deputy, Joshua Maciver, from the list of qualified candidates for the upcoming Governorship election in Bayelsa State

INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriarian-Anthony, confirmed in a statement that the Commission had published the list of candidates for the Bayelsa State Governorship Election on June 9, 2023, adhering to the provisions of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended). However, subsequent to this publication, INEC received a court order related to the nomination of the APC candidate for the 2023 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

Diri

“The court order, which led to the exclusion of Chief Timpire Sylva and Joshua Maciver, was issued under the provisions of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) . This section mandates INEC to enforce court orders without exception. But the APC has urged its members and supporters in Bayelsa State to remain calm, following the exclusion of its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, from the updated list of gubernatorial candidates for the November 11 governorship election released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The report stated, “The upcoming off-cycle elections are likely to be influenced by the issue of security, which is a major concern in the country.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described INEC’s action as “premature” and “preempting the outcome of the valid appeal in the matter.”

“The South-East region has experienced several security crises, with militia groups posing a significant threat to the socio-economic well-being of the area. The enforcement of the Monday seat-at-home by The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and unknown gunmen has further hampered economic activities.

Morka explained that Sylva was disqualified as the APC candidate by a High Court on October 9, but the party had promptly appealed the judgment and brought other processes seeking a stay of the judgment’s execution.

“Reports have indicated that 5 LGAs (Ehime/Mbano, Okigwe, Oru West, Oru East, and Orlu LGAs) in Imo State are hotspots for violence leading up to the 2023 general elections.

He also pointed out that the Court of Appeal had granted an order for an accelerated hearing of the matter, which is now fixed for a definite hearing on Friday, October 27.

“The secessionist group has also heightened the vulnerability of the state to armed violence, causing deaths and property damage, including attacks on state facilities, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission assets.

According to him, INEC is a party in the matter and has been served with all relevant filings and orders, adding that the commission’s decision to delist Sylva in the circumstances flies in the face of its established practice of awaiting the decisions of appellate courts before taking action that may be prejudicial to the interest of the appellants.

“In Imo State, there have been 12 reported cases of attacks and destruction of INEC’s assets and facilities, the highest in the country between 2019 and 2023. Other areas in the state, such as Orlu, Orsu, Ideato North and South, Okigwe, Oguta-Izombe, Njaba, Oru East and Oru West, have also been identified as security hotspots”.

He warned that removing Sylva from the list of governorship contestants in Bayelsa would foist a situation of helplessness on the appellate court, the candidate and the party should the appeal succeed. The APC spokesman, therefore, urged INEC to withdraw its amendment under reference. It would be recalled that the electioneering campaigns in the two states of Kogi and Imo have witnessed violence and this has made many to be scared of the situation as we approach the election. INEC has equally raised the alarm that the growing level of violence and insecurity in Imo and Kogi States, in particular, is not only “unacceptable, unnecessary and worrisome” but also capable of scaring potential voters. The INEC made its position known through the National Commissioner and member Information and Voter Education Committee, (IVEC), Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna. Haruna said: “We have gone so far with our preparedness for the off-cycle elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States. “The Commission is truly worried about the growing level of insecurity and violence in Kogi and Imo States. THEWILLNEWS

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However, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has said the military high command under his watch would never allow intimidation or any other act of violence in the November 11 governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa States.

This is unacceptable, unnecessary and most worrisome. “Campaigns in Kogi State have been violent and this is most unfortunate. Our political gladiators and indeed, all citizens, must work towards ensuring free, fair and credible elections. “It stands to reason that if this situation is allowed to continue, there is the likelihood that people will be afraid to come out to vote on the Election Day. “Already, INEC is having a shortfall in the number of adhoc staff needed to superintend over the forthcoming elections.” Also an election observer, Yiaga Africa, recently released a report tagged ‘Emerging Political and Security Trends in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States’, which showed insecurity topping other challenges before, during and after the elections

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Musa, who stated this at Defence Headquarters, Abuja, while playing host to the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, stressed that the military was wellprepared for the off-cycle elections in the three states, saying efforts have been put in place to ensure there is no violence before, during and after the exercise. Speaking during the visit, Musa told the gathering that the military will stop at nothing to ensure the polls in the three states are devoid of violence. “We are also prepared for the coming elections in the three states of Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa. I want to ensure that the elections go on democratically, without any fear or intimidation. “We don’t want any violence. I want to appeal to all stakeholders that it does nobody any good if anybody is killed because we have to go and vote. So, it is important that we all put hands on deck. We will make sure that the elections are free and they are peaceful so that the results can also bring out what people want,” he added.

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POLITICS NEWS

L-R: Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Muftwang ; President of World Food Prize Foundation, Amb. Terry Branstad and Vice President Kashim Shettima, during the World Food Prize International Dialogue in Des Moines , lowa , USA, on October 24, 2023.

Akpabio Elected Into Global Executive S/Court Judgment, Gumel Urges Nigerians to Join Tinubu For Committee of Inter-Parliamentary Union Victory For Democracy Renewed Hope Agenda H – Ex-Lawmaker

AYO ESAN

istory was on Friday made in far away oil rich country of Angola, when the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Leader of Nigeria's delegation to the 147th Inter-Parliamentary Union General Assembly in Luanda, Angola broke a 59 years old jinx, by being elected into the Executive Committee of the global parliamentary body. The last time a Nigerian was elected into the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Union was in 1964. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments founded in 1889, and dedicated to promoting peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue. It has grown over its 135 years into a truly global organization with 179 country members out of 193 countries in the world. The IPU facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable

development around the world.

A statement by the Special Assistant (Media/Communication) to the Senate President, Anietie Ekong said Senator Akpabio, was overwhelmingly voted for by delegates across the world to emerge as an Executive Committee member of the Parliamentary Union with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland for a three year mandate The 147th IPU Assembly was held in Luanda, Angola, from 21st to 27th October 2023 and hosted by the National Assembly of Angola.

The Union in the week long Assembly deliberated upon important issues affecting nations across the world and considered actions to strengthen trust between people and governance structures, to make public institutions more effective, accountable and representative and to better equip parliaments to address the multiple interconnected geo-political, economic and environmental crises facing the world.

NASS Promises Speedy Response to Petitions

he House Committee on Public Petitions has assured Nigerians of better days on its plan to respond speedily to public complaints. Chairman, Committee on Public Petitions, Mike Etaba, said this at a Strategy and Capacity Building retreat in Abuja The retreat was organised by Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), with support from European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria Programme Phase II. Etaba commended PLAC for the initiative, adding that the committee would do justice to Nigerians and make them understand how to resolve

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their complaints through the House of Representatives public petitions. “If you have any issue in respect of any kind of what you might be going through, what you need to do is to put up a petition to the House via the member representing you or submit it to the speaker’s office or my office. “We will transmit it to the House to take it to the floor and now you don’t need money to fund your petition.” Etaba said that the House Committee on Public Petitions was fully funded by the House of Representatives and the speaker was also working so hard to make sure that Nigerians got justice.

former House of Representatives member, Mr. Robinson Uwak, on Friday, described the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed President Bola Tinubu’s election as victory for democracy. Uwak stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja. According to him, the verdict is a victory for democracy, rule of law and order in the country. He also commended the legal team of Mr President for marshalling out sound legal arguments that eventually won the petitions brought against Tinubu and the Vice President Kashim Shettima. He said the victory had granted the opportunity to unify the country and advance the country’s progress and the dividends of the “Renewed Hope” agenda. “With the victory of President Tinubu, Nigerian democracy has been strengthened and made more vibrant for the good of all citizens,” he added. The ex-lawmaker, therefore, pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with the present administration “because I am confident in President Tinubu’s ability to turn around the fortunes of our nation for good.” The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uwak represented Oron, Mbo, Okobo, Ure-Offong/Oruko and Udung-Uko Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom at the 7th Assembly THEWILLNIEWS

he Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Abdullahi Gumel has called on Nigerians to join hands with President Bola Tinubu in actualising his Renewed Hope Agenda. Gumel said this in a statement in Abuja. The presidential aide, while congratulating Tinubu on his victory at the apex court, called on the opposition to work with the President in ensuring that Nigeria regained its position as the giant of Africa. “We believe that now that we have put all litigation election matters behind us, the opposition should join hands with the president in the spirit of the Renewed Hope, to give Nigerians good governance which is what the country needs at the moment,”he said. He said the victory would enable the president and his appointees to concentrate fully on governance. “We congratulate the President and ourselves as members of the present government on the Supreme Court judgment. “With this landslide judgment, the ministers and other appointees of government will now concentrate fully on delivering on the mandate of the present administration. “Nothing will distract us anymore because the Supreme Court is the last court of the land. “For democracy to strive, every candidate was given the opportunity to exhaust their complaints about the outcome of the election, now is time to face governance,” he said. Gumel added: “Now the President will concentrate on the Renewed Hope Agenda, which he already started since his swearing in. THEWILLNW

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OCTOBER 29, 2023 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnews.com

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

L-R: Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy; UN Women Country Representative, Mrs Beatrice Managing Editor, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Ephraims Sheyin (Right), receives the newly Eyong and Chief Child Protection Officer, UNICEF, Ibrahim Sesay, during a strategic workshop, organized appointed Managing Director of NAN, Malam Ali Mohammad Ali, as he assumes duty at the Agency’s by the Minister of Women Affairs in Abuja on October 25, 2023. Headquarters in Abuja on October 23, 2023.

L-R: Development Chef, Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Chef Mark Punshak; Association of Professional Chefs of L-R: Assistant Pastor in charge of Province 17, Pastor Olawale Akosile; Elder in RCCG, Pastor Jide Ayegbusi; Nigeria, Chef Belinda Esoimeime; Factory Manager, Nestlé Flowergate Factory, Isaac Elimbi; Business Convener, Christian Leadership Empowerment Summit, Pastor Adekunle Olusanya; Representative of Manager, Nestlé Professionals, Funmi Osineye and Desk Officer, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Lagos First Lady, Mrs Deborah Suara; Medical Director, New Haven Specialist Hospital Magodo Phase Board, Adedeji Ayoade, as Nestlé inspires the next generation of chefs in commemoration of the 1, Prof. Oyetunde Alagbe; and Keynote speaker, Bishop Femi Soneye during the Christian Leadership International Chef’s Day in Shagamu, Ogun State on October 20, 2023. Empowerment Summit in Lagos on October 25, 2023.

L-R: Executive Commissioner Operations, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dayo Obisan; L-R: Former EFCC Chairman, Hajia Farida Waziri; Lady Captain of the Golf Club, Mrs Folashade Olateju presenting WASRA Awards to Group CEO, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), Oscar N. Onyema, and Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, during the presentation of trophy at the closing OON, for his contribution and support in shaping the integration of capital markets in the region, at Eko ceremony of 2023 IBB Ladies Close Golf Championship in Abuja on October 21, 2023. Hotel in Lagos on October 26, 2023. THEWILLNEWS

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EDITORIAL

OCTOBER 29, 2023 WWW.THEWILLNEWS.COM

Time to Move Nigeria Forward Although congratulatory and goodwill messages of all kinds have been coming in for Tinubu, whose job is now "secured'' , at least , for the next four years, with solidarity visits in celebration of the victory at the Supreme Court, one important message that has been constant is the need to move Nigeria forward

ast Thursday's validation of the election of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 Presidential Election, Bola Tinubu, as the duly elected President of Nigeria by the Supreme Court has ended all controversies surrounding his earlier declaration and inauguration on May 29, 2023. Almost five months after his inauguration, President Tinubu can now settle down comfortably to face the business for which he was elected without any distraction whatsoever.

eight eight years by his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari.

While the presidential candidates of the two main opposition parties, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, respectively, seem to be moving on despite not being happy with the verdict and have apparently taken the judgment of the apex court in their strides, the onus now lies on the President to settle down to real governance as this is not the time for any politicking.

That message, more than before, becomes very important, especially now, given what most Nigerians are going through with economic and social hardships pervading the land as lack, deprivation, hunger and general insecurity, among other ills , have become the order of the day. The President, who has been struggling with policy somersault and inconsistencies since assuming office, now has to redouble his efforts and re-strategise to enable him clear the mess and heavy baggage left for him by Buhari's lacklustre leadership.

Without any iota of doubt, the experience of the past five months in the saddle must have been enough to show President Tinubu that the tasks ahead are truly enormous and very challenging . Great harm had been done to the economy and the entire facet of the Nigerian state in the past

NIGERIA BUREAU: 36AA Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja. Lagos, Nigeria. info@thewillnigeria.com / @THEWILLNG, +234 810 345 2286, +234 913 333 3888 EDITOR: Olaolu Olusina @OLUSINA LETTERS/OPINIONS: opinion.letters@thewillnews.com

The old General, who is now enjoying his retirement in Daura, Katsina State, left so much rot in the system, leaving Tinubu and his team with the onerous task of salvaging a very battered economy and a highly pillaged state. Although congratulatory and goodwill messages of all kinds have been coming in for Tinubu, whose job is now "secured'' , at least , for the next four years, with solidarity visits in celebration of the victory at the Supreme Court, one important message that has been constant is the need to move Nigeria forward.

The call by former President Goodluck Jonathan for Tinubu to rally political leaders together in the effort to move the country forward also stands out.

“We need to bring all our political leaders, including all our former presidents together. We will not be fighting; if top leaders continue fighting they will not suffer that much, but the downtrodden will suffer,'' Jonathan said, while speaking to journalists after visiting Tinubu, following the Supreme Court's dismissal of appeal against his emergence. He added, "Elections are over and we want to end that tension so we move forward.'' We commend Jonathan for his sincere and genuine advice and admonition which is devoid of any political coloration. This is what leadership is all about and exactly what the country needs now and we hope that President Tinubu will be further encouraged to continue with his all-inclusive approach to governance, instead of the divisive approach of his predecessor which unfortunately succeeded in creating animosity and discord in the country. We therefore call on Tinubu to see the validation of his election by the Supreme Court as the push to redouble his efforts to rebuild Nigeria from the mess on ground to a country that all Nigerians will be proud of. We also call on the opposition to sheath their sword and join the new movement to rebuild the country to the enviable state it should be and restore her glory as the pride of Africa.

THEWILL NEWSPAPER TEAM Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Business Editor – Sam Diala

Photo Editor – Peace Udugba

Austyn Ogannah

Copy Editor – Chux Ohai

Head, Graphics – Tosin Yusuph

Editor – Olaolu Olusina

Cartoon Editor – Victor Asowata

Deputy Editor – Amos Esele

Entertainment/Society Editor – Ivory Ukonu

Circulation Manager – Victor Nwokoh

Politics Editor – Ayo Esan

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Guest Art Director – Sunny Hughes

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OPINION

OCTOBER 29, 2023 WWW.THEWILLNEWS.COM

Israeli/Palestinian Conflict: Who is to Blame? BY SUNDAY ONYEMAECHI EZE

n October 7, the world woke up to a surprised and unprovoked attack on Israeli territory by the Palestinian-led Hamas group, resulting in the death of scores and destruction of properties. Hamas was said to have launched over 5,000 rocket-propelled attacks on Israel lasting several hours. Sources from Aljazeera quoted Mohammed Deif, head of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, as saying, “We announced the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and we announce that the first strike, which targeted enemy positions, airports and military fortifications exceeded 5,000 missiles and shells.”

THE ATTACK ON ISRAEL WAS A SURPRISE TO THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY AFTER MANY THOUGHT THE TWO NEIGHBOURS WERE BEGINNING TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH EACH OTHER. WHY IS IT DIFFICULT FOR THE WORLD TO FIND A LASTING SOLUTION TO THIS CONFLICT? THE UNENDING ISRAELI/ PALESTINIAN CONFLICT IS FUELLED BY THE BIAS AND HYPOCRISY OF THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY

At least 1,200 civilians were reported dead, many wounded, while 13 out of 150 Israelis held hostage have been killed by Hamas. Israel does not take any affront to its sovereignty or territorial integrity lightly. Therefore, it has swiftly retaliated with blistering aerial attacks on Gaza, preparatory for a ground assault. Israel is angry and nobody knows when this onslaught on Gaza will end. Responding to the unwarranted attacks, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed that, “Israel will take mighty vengeance against Hamas. This war will take time. It will be difficult.”

The attack on Israel was a surprise to the global community after many thought the two neighbours were beginning to learn how to live in peace with each other. Why is it difficult for the world to find a lasting solution to this conflict? The unending Israeli/Palestinian conflict is fuelled by the bias and hypocrisy of the global community. There is an already existing global political alignment on matters related to Israel/Palestine. America has never hidden her support for Israel. The Islamic Republic of Iran has risen up as the big brother of Palestine/Hamas. It is ridiculous that some religious leaders across both Christian and Islamic divides have made this conflict look like a religious war. Their followers have pitched tents with either side in complete ignorance of the crux of the matter.

The crisis is a war to claim territory. It is not based on religion. Land as a resource and historical ancestral affinity to both Israel and Palestine is at the heart of this conflict. Both have laid claims to ancestral ownership of the land. Humanity does not support injustice and subjugation. Therefore, the right of the Palestinian people to life and home is paramount. Israel also needs protection and a place called their own. Hamas should have allowed the sleeping dog to lie, by avoiding any provocative actions that could deepen the already existing animosity and fragile situation. Israel should understand that the generality of the Palestinian people are the underdog and it is not fair to kill a fly with a sledgehammer. Therefore, for calm and normalcy to return, the world should strongly impress it on both states to embrace peace and the United Nations prescribed 1947 two-nation states status. The world should take sides with humanity, stop alignment based on economic or political interest and discard spewing religious bigotry. The total population of Israel is 9.364m, equivalent to the population of Kaduna State in Nigeria, occupying a land mass of 22,145 sq. km [1], far less than Adamawa State of Nigeria with 36,917 sq. km [2]. Of the above population, 1.7m are Muslims representing 18 per cent, while Christians are just 185,000 equivalent to 1.9 per cent. Jewish religion adherents make up about 73.6 percent of the total population. From the above figures, it can be seen that Israeli Muslims outnumber Israeli Christians, while Jewish religious adherents take the lead. The Israeli Defence Force has an army of 169,500 (active personnel). Of this number, only 150 are Christians, while Muslims are 606, and the rest are Jewish Adherents. About 40 per cent of the population of Jerusalem are Palestinians. Therefore, if you think the fight between Israel and Palestine is a Christian/ Muslim war, you are dead wrong. As the war rages on, the world should bear in mind that the price of war is stewed with the blood of the innocent. In the end, it is the poor man, woman and children, who bear the brunt. The global politics of war is nothing but a business devoid of morality. Iran which is allegedly said to sponsor Hamas has an interest in protecting the people, same as America and the rest. Both try to sustain the war with their support and in the end, sell their arms and ammunition to both aggrieved parties, while the common man continues to suffer and die. It is observed that whenever it comes to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict people seem to express an understanding of fairness. Not genuine fairness in the right sense of it, but on account of religious beliefs separated by Christianity and Islam. We have refused to agree that no matter what we believe in, Abraham was the father of both Ishmael and Jacob – the symbols upon which the two religions are founded. Unfortunately, justice, equity and demand for a two-state solution have been swallowed by the opium of the masses and are activated based on the above factors. Who is to blame, Israel or Hamas? Those are the questions. • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze is a media and development communication specialist

Climate Reparations: Gordon Brown's Initiative And Resonance With Legacy of Slave Trade BY MAGNUS ONYIBE

n recent years, we’ve witnessed a striking increase in extreme weather events worldwide. We’ve observed snowfall in regions that were once considered desert landscapes. A notable example of this transformation unfolded in California, USA, where devastating wildfires and extensive flooding have left communities grappling with the consequences. On a global scale, our climate has undergone significant and unexpected shifts. It has become increasingly challenging to distinguish between the four distinct seasons of winter, spring, summer and autumn, which used to be easily identifiable markers of the passing year. This is primarily because these seasons have become less sharply defined, with overlapping occurrences that can lead to winter-like conditions during what should be the gentle embrace of spring and vice versa. These changes in our climate are not merely statistics or abstract data, they are very real and are profoundly impacting our lives and the environment we inhabit. As we bear witness to these transformations, it is clear that we must take collective action to understand, mitigate and adapt to the evolving climate, in order to ensure a better future for all. Climate change is universally acknowledged as the most significant issue of our time, and we stand at a pivotal moment in history. It becomes apparent when we observe the shifting weather patterns that imperil our food production and the rising sea levels that intensify the threat of catastrophic flooding. It’s crucial to recognise that the impacts of climate change extend globally and are of an unprecedented magnitude. Expert studies confirm that while climate change may not be entirely preventable, it can be mitigated. To avert the most severe repercussions, the world must strive to achieve “net zero” carbon emissions by 2050, or ideally even sooner. In essence, this means that we should balance the carbon emissions released into the atmosphere with the amount that is removed. At this juncture, I invite you to explore Gordon Brown’s innovative strategy to combat climate change, a topic expected to dominate discussions at the upcoming COP28 event, which is scheduled for next month in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

This warming trend has given rise to a multitude of extreme weather events, each unfolding in unique ways across different regions of the globe. Take, for instance, the devastating wildfire that recently swept through Maui, a picturesque tourist destination in Hawaii. Tragically, this inferno claimed the lives of 55 individuals. It is believed that the ferocity of this wildfire was stoked by the twin factors rising temperatures and CLIMATE CHANGE IS UNIVERSALLY of prolonged drought – clear manifestations of the impacts of ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE MOST climate change.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUE OF OUR TIME, AND WE STAND AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN HISTORY. IT BECOMES APPARENT WHEN WE OBSERVE THE SHIFTING WEATHER PATTERNS THAT IMPERIL OUR FOOD PRODUCTION AND THE RISING SEA LEVELS THAT INTENSIFY THE THREAT OF CATASTROPHIC FLOODING

Similarly, we witnessed a tropical storm wreaking havoc in California, an event so remarkable that scientists noted it as the first occurrence of its kind in 84 years. Furthermore, the recent flooding in New York City claimed the lives of approximately 13 residents. In the wake of these heartwrenching catastrophes, our collective response to the climate crisis has reached a new level of urgency, far surpassing the concern that prevailed just a decade ago. It is a stark reminder that the time for meaningful action is now, as our world

Before delving into the formula, it’s essential to first grasp the gravity of the climate change crisis that currently looms over our world. Understanding the scale of this challenge is crucial to appreciating why climate issues have taken centre stage, even overshadowing evolving conflicts in Europe (such as Russia/Ukraine) and the Middle East (like Israel/ Hamas). These conflicts have, in recent times, posed a significant threat to global peace.

grapples with the consequences of a changing climate.

Scientists are sounding a compelling alarm, emphasising the undeniable reality that our world has already experienced a warming of 1.1 degrees Celsius compared to the preindustrial era.

•Magnus Onyibe is a former Commissioner in Delta State.

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In an interesting twist of belief, it is widely held that Exxon Mobil’s internal research accurately foresaw the consequences of burning fossil fuels on our planet’s temperature. This belief, however, faces staunch denial from the oil and gas giant. •Continues online at www. thewillnews.com

OCTOBER 29, 2023 • VOL . 3 NO. 49 WWW.THEWILLNEWS.COM

MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR REFINERIES REPAIRS: SENATE’S PROBE SPARKS MOCKERY OF LAWMAKERS

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FMDQ Effects Name Change, Renames ‘NSOFF’ Product to ‘Cleared USD/NGN NDFs’ / PAGE 34

Onyema Recognised For West African Capital Market Impact / PAGE 34

EDITOR Sam Diala

Access Corporation: Assets Soar By 43% on Strong Growth Trajectory *ACCESS CORPORATION FUNDAMENTALS: HY 2023 (N'bn)* HY 2023

30TRN 20TRN 10TRN 5TRN 1TRN

6.7 trn

500BN

ccess Corporation added N6.40 Source; Company Report trillion to its assets in the nine months of the year, thereby growing its balance sheet by 43 percent as of September 30, 2023, according to its Q3 interim financial statement filed with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) last week. The Tier-1 financial services institution and Nigeria’s largest quoted company by assets posted a balance sheet of N21.33 trillion as of the third quarter (Q3) of 2023 compared to N14.95 trillion at December 31, 2022. The robust performance mirrors the group’s acceleration towards its 2023 targets as contained in its five-year strategic plan (20232027) unveiled in January this year; It also underlines its corporate strategies in forming a holco structure eighteen months ago (March 2022) during which the group has recorded enhanced expansion that would consolidate its grips on industry leadership as Nigeria’s largest quoted firm by assets. The growth trajectory seen in the reporting period hinges on the strong parameters which reflects in the topline and bottom line performance of the group. This was enhanced by the substantial foreign exchange gains that accrued to banks, following the devaluation of the naira in June 2023 when the multiple foreign exchange market was abolished to give way to a unified official forex window. The market witnessed a 67 percent depreciation of the local currency which traded N789.94 per dollar on the official window as against N476.67 per dollar on June 13, 2023 before the naira was floated the next day when it closed at N664.04 per dollar. Access Corporation posted profit before tax of N126.81 billion against N49.50 billion in Q3 2022, representing a 156.19 percent increase. This was driven by strong growth in interest income and foreign exchange gains. According to the group’s financial statements for Q3 2023, the company’s profit after tax (PAT) was N115.00 billion, a 138.27 per cent increase from the N48.26 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2022. This is amid increasing inflation which the economy continues

318.5 bn

244.3 bn

BY SAM DIALA

12.5 trn

135.4 bn

167.6 bn

100BN

940.31 bn

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20.8 trn

he decision by the Senate to investigate the humongous expenditures on fixing Nigeria’s dormant refineries, has added weight to concerns about the lawmakers’ indulgence in theatrical probes. The Senate on October 24 constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate all contracts estimated at over N11.35 trillion awarded for the rehabilitation of the four moribund refineries in the country. While presenting his motion, Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) averred that from 2010 till date, the Nigerian Government had spent N11.35 trillion on contracts to rehabilitate the four refineries, but they are still unproductive. “Between 2010 to date Nigeria is estimated to have spent N11.35 trillion (N11, 349, 583, 186, 313.40) excluding other cost in other currencies which include $592, 976, 050.00 dollar, 4, 877, 068.47 Euros and 3, 455, 656.93 Pounds, on renovation of refineries, yet they are unproductive,” he said. In a graphic details that elicited anger and disappointment, the lawmaker said: “Despite the moribund state of the four refineries, the operating costs of these refineries between 2010 and 2020 is estimated at N4.8 trillion Naira. The refineries are estimated to make a cumulative loss of N1.64 trillion, within four years. “Concerned that the Federal Government of Nigeria has carried out rehabilitation projects in Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) over a period of seven (7) years from 2013-2019 at an estimated cost of N12,161,237,811.61 only, in addition, on the 18th March 2021, a rehabilitation contract was executed between NNPC/PHRC and Tenenimont SPA at a Lump Sum of $1,397,000,000.00 only, about N75 billion naira amidst global public

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to struggle with. Headline inflation increased to 26.72% in September, representing a 0.92 per cent-point rise from the previous month’s 25.80 percent. This financial performance in Q3 2022 took the group’s pretax profit in the first nine months of 2023 to N250.444 billion, a whopping increase of 82.93 per cent from the N136.914 billion recorded in the first nine months of 2022. As of the end of Q3 2023, the group’s Fair value and foreign exchange gain stood at N122.555 billion, a 119.35 per cent increase from the previous quarter. The impressive performance comes on the heels of raging inflation among other economic headwinds which have business activities more challenging. Data from the recently released Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for September 2023 by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the inflation rate rose to an over 18-year high of 26.7 percent in September from 25.8 percent in the previous month. The surge in inflation is primarily attributed to the removal of petrol subsidies and the devaluation of the official exchange rate, both significantly impacting consumer prices. At the presentation of the five-year strategic plan in Lagos in January 2023, the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Access Corporation, Mr Herbert Wigwe, emphasised that its expansion programme would be driven by technological innovation. Apparently to maintain its industry leadership narrative. “By the end of 2027, we expect to be in at least 26 countries and in at least 3 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries supporting trade (in the United Kingdom, France & United States of America). “The customer acquisition drive to hit 100mn for the Retail Business by 2027 will continue, as we emigrate the majority of customers to digital platforms by 2027 across touch-points.” He added, “We want to be a global player with African heritage. We are a growth-oriented organisation and we will continue to invest in our people amid changes.”

OCTOBER 29, 2023 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnews.com

BUSINESS WEEKLY

...Assets Soar by 43% on Strong Growth Trajectory The growth trajectory seen in the reporting period hinges on the strong parameters which underlined topline and bottom line performance of the group

We had reported that in what looks like a drive on expansion cruise, the group has intensified its expansion strategy through the acquisition of whole or partial entities in banking, insurance, pension and payment services. Last July, Access Holdings Plc and Standard Chartered Bank announced that they had reached an agreement wherein its flagship subsidiary – Access Bank Plc – will acquire Standard Chartered’s subsaharan subsidiaries. Under this acquisition deal, Access Bank will purchase Standard Chartered’s shareholding in its subsidiaries located in Angola, Cameroon, Gambia, and Sierra

Leone. Additionally, Access Bank will also acquire Standard Chartered’s consumer, private, and business banking business in Tanzania. This followed Access Bank’s recent acquisition of a 51 percent majority equity stake in Finibanco Angola. Based on the company’s annual report, there are about 13 African subsidiaries with investment at a balance sheet value of about N273 billion as of December 31, 2022 The ‘new arrivals will join the many subsidiaries of the bank in the continent to consolidate towards achieving the target of the corporate strategic plan which was one of the reasons for transitioning to a Holco structure. The current share price of Access Holdings Plc is N16.95. The stock closed its last trading day (Friday, October 27, 2023) at N16.95 per share on the NGX. Access began the year with a share price of N8.50 and has since gained 99.4 per cent on that price valuation, ranking it 37th on the NGX in terms of year-to-date performance. Analysts believe that shareholders can be optimistic about Access Holdings knowing the stock has accrued 9 per cent over the past four-week period—18th best on NGX. Findings show that Access Holdings is the fourth most traded stock on the NGX over the past three months (Jul 31 - Oct 27, 2023). The stock has traded a total volume of 1.9 billion shares—in 26,938 deals—valued at N31.5 billion over the period, with an average of 30.2 million traded shares per session. A volume high of 113 million was achieved on September 25th, and a low of 6.02 million on August 9th for the same period. THEWILL recalls that Access Holdings Plc in April 2023 announced the completion of a $300 million capital investment into its flagship subsidiary, Access Bank Plc, the proceeds of which will supplement the capital needs of its African expansion strategy. The Investment, which was approved by the CBN, takes the form of a Tier 1 capital qualifying Mandatory Convertible Instrument and is expected to improve the Bank’s shareholders funds and total capital ratios. Commenting on the transaction, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, Group Chief Executive of Access Holdings said:

...Senate’s Probe Sparks Mockery of Lawmakers criticism. “Phase 1 of the Project is expected to be completed in 28 Months after the contract, Phase 2 within 24 months and Phase 3 within 44 months of execution. Despite this, the Port Harcourt “Refinery remains a money pit. Going by projections and representations from NNPCL the renovation works ought to be completed and operations of the Refinery commenced by June 2023. “Perturbed that in a bid to revitalize the Warri Refinery, the Federal Government has injected huge Public funds into revamping Warri Refinery & Petrochemical Company limited to the tune of over N28, 219, 110, 067.10 between 2014 and 2019.” The Senate, consequently, constituted the 7-member ad-hoc committee to investigate the matter and to submit their findings to the upper legislative chamber within four weeks – November 21, 2023. Disappointment, Rage Stakeholders and industry experts have expressed disappointment over the Senate’s latest outing in legislative frivolities called probe. An oil and gas business practitioner, Engr Canice Benjamin, advised the upper legislative chamber to settle down and enjoy their new SUVs cars gifted by the Federal Government instead of embarking on a “public, dance of shame”. Engr Benjamin recalled that the Senate had engaged in countless probes of the oil and gas industry as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) without producing any concrete result that can be identified as problemsolving. Mr Rufai Oseni, a presenter on the Arise Television News ‘The Morning Show’, described the exercise as one that will end the way of the notorious Senate probes of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Basket of probes The Senate in May 2020 set up a seven-member ad-hoc committee to probe the “financial recklessness” of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC. The committee was specifically asked to probe the IMC for allegedly squandering N40 billion in three months and seek account for other financial transactions within this period. The acting Managing Director of NNDC, Prof Daniel Pondei, who collapsed in the blare of the television camera while appearing at the Senate in August 2020, was rushed out of the venue of the investigative hearing. The then Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, now Senate President, however, stayed behind for the probe, which was eventually suspended after the incident. Akpabio’s revelation that the lawmakers were part of the financial rot in NDDC stirred controversies that diverted attention from the purpose of the probe. The exercise died a natural death. In another incident, the Senate on July 11, 2023 constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate the fuel subsidy regime of the NNPCL. This followed the adoption of a motion by Patrick Chinwuba (Imo) during plenary. The motion was tagged “Need to Investigate the Controversial Huge Expenditure on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) under the Subsidy/Under Recovery Regime by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).”

*Continues online at www. thewillnews.com

NDIC Commends Judiciary’s Understanding of Deposit Insurance

he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has commended the judiciary on its better understanding of the deposit insurance practice towards promoting stability of the nation’s financial system. NDIC Managing Director/Chief Executive, Bello Hassan, gave the commendation in his welcome address at the 2023 Sensitization Seminar, organized by the Corporation in partnership with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) for Judges of the Federal High Courts. The seminar, which was held in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, was themed: “Strengthening Depositors Confidence in Banks and Other Financial Institutions through Speedy Dispensation of Justice,” according to a statement yesterday by the NDIC Director, Communication & Public THEWILLNEWS

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Affairs, Bashir Nuhu, Mr. Hassan was quoted as saying that the overarching objective of the Deposit Insurance Scheme in Nigeria, is to protect depositors in the event of failure of the insured institutions, thereby engendering confidence and curtailing the incidence of bank runs in the system. He however noted that in carrying out its mandate efficiently, the Corporation requires an effective collaboration with the judiciary, in view of its critical role in resolving disputes that often arise from revocation of banking licenses, liquidation of failed banks and termination of liquidation activities. He noted that since inception, the Corporation has been confronted with many challenges such as misconception about its mandate and the basic principles of Deposit

Insurance. He therefore expressed gratitude that the seminar, organized in collaboration with the NJI, has resulted in a better understanding of the Corporation’s distinct roles by members of the Bar and the Bench as well as speedy dispensation of cases involving banks in-liquidation for the sake of financial system stability in Nigeria. To deepen knowledge of the Deposit Insurance practice and law, Hassan disclosed that papers presented at previous editions of the annual events have been published by the Corporation under the title: “Law and Practice of Deposit Insurance in Nigeria,” in two volumes. These will serve as a veritable reference material, as the publications are being distributed free of charge to stakeholders.

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BUSINESS NEWS

L-R: Special Guest/Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro; Host and President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Dr. Ken Opara; Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank PLC, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna; First Vice President of CIBN, Prof. Pius Olanrewaju and Past President, CIBN, Mr. Femi Ekundayo, during the investiture of Ogbonna as a Fellow of CIBN at the Fellowship Investiture ceremony in Lagos at the weekend.

Changan: Mikano Motors Reassures Geely Customers of Continued Support

FMDQ Effects Name Change, Renames ‘NSOFF’ Product to ‘Cleared USD/NGN NDFs’

n a recent market notice, the FMDQ Exchange has announced a significant change in the terminology used within the Nigerian Foreign Exchange (FX) market. The FMDQ informed all stakeholders in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange (FX) market of the revision of the name and all references to the Naira-Settled OTC FX Futures (“NSOFF”) product to Cleared Naira-Settled Non-Deliverable Forwards (Cleared USD/NGN NDFs). The NSOFF product is a bespoke non-deliverable forward contract with tenors between thirteen (13) and sixty (60) months traded bilaterally on FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited (FMDQ Exchange) and cleared by FMDQ Clear Limited (FMDQ Clear). The Exchange noted that the name change for the product aims to reflect the product’s features/characteristics better, as well as bring it in line with international standards, ensuring adequate delineation from the recently launched Naira-Settled ExchangeTraded FX Futures (NSEFF), which are standard FX Futures. “Consequently, the Exchange is updating all existing references to Naira-Settled OTC FX Futures across our systems and market documentation to reflect the new name – Cleared Naira-Settled Non-Deliverable Forwards. This change will immediately affect all subsequent reports and communications about the product,” FMDQ Exchange said. The change will also extend to future reports and communications related to the Nigerian FX market. This development is set to have a notable impact on how stakeholders in the FX market perceive and interact with this crucial segment of Nigeria’s financial ecosystem. Market participants, investors, exporters, and financial institutions will need to adapt to this new nomenclature as it becomes the standard terminology for referring to the FX market.

ikano Motors has reassured its Geely customers of continued state-ofthe-art after-sales support despite the review its relationship with Geely is currently undergoing following the addition of the Changan brand to its growing products line-up. Managing Director of Mikano Motors, Ralph Haidar, disclosed this in Lagos as he explained that the decision to take over the Changan franchise in Nigeria is not unconnected with Mikano Motors efforts at expanding its operations, and also to avail Nigerians opportunities to get a wide range of state-of-the-art vehicles at affordable prices. Mikano, according to Haidar, has future plans to bring in more brands to complement the existing lineup in order to grow its market share within the automotive market and provide Nigerians with premium and diverse options when selecting vehicles. He, however, reiterated that the three- year-long Mikano- Geely relationship is undergoing some reviews whilst emphasising that existing Geely customers would continue to enjoy adequate after-sales service from them. Haidar revealed that Mikano motors took on Changan because of its versatility and the latest technology it offers as well as its arrays of models that it has placed under Mikano motors in Nigeria. “Changan which is the number one selling auto brands in the Middle East, and the biggest export from China to Nigeria has given us more models to market here Nigeria. This means we have a diverse range of models from this top Chinese automaker to offer Nigerians. “It is the best brand in the Middle East and other regions, and has outstanding service in safety and innovation from its competitors. Changan is one of the top Chinese auto brands that is gaining immense popularity worldwide and is known for its value offering across automotive segments. “In the Chinese language, CHANG means 'lasting' and AN means 'safety.' Therefore, CHANGAN together represents the idea of “Lasting Safety”. It is one of the top four Automobile groups in China and the top selling domestic Chinese automobile brand. “Changan has a different range of models for various levels of customers, and robust financing agreements with banks that will make ownership of the cars smooth. It is currently the only brand in Nigeria that can cater for any organization or governmental body and or individual who wishes to buy a brand new, efficient, safe, stylish and affordable car that has earned the admiration of many customers internationally,” he added. Within two years of entering the auto business in Nigeria, Mikano has redefined the sector with its quality products and, after-sales back- up, making the brands they represent, the most sought after in the market presently. Mikano’s entry has also brought stiffer competition in the industry as well as the standards of vehicles.

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Onyema Recognised For West African Capital Market Impact

scar N. Onyema, OON, has been recognised by the West African Securities Regulators Association (WASRA) for his contribution and support in shaping the integration of capital markets in the region and for being the first Chairman of the West African Capital Markets Integration Council (WACMIC). Onyema was given the recognition at the recently completed West Africa Capital Market Conference held in Lagos on the 25th and 26th of October 2023. The Group CEO of NGX Group was the President of the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) between 2014 and 2018. During his tenure as the pioneer chairman of WACMIC, he led the design of the journey map for Phase 1 to 3 of capital markets regional integration. This period also saw the council securing funding partnership with African Development Bank (AfDB) for the project. The Phase 1 sponsorship access was implemented, and the first cross border transaction happened during his chairmanship. *Continues online at www. thewillnews.com THEWILLNIEWS

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BUSINESS INTERVIEW

NNPCL Has Shown Good Examples on Public-Private Partnership – Aduwo BY OLAOLU OLUSINA

The Permanent Representative of the Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity (CCDI) to ECOSOC /United Nations and Chairman, CSO-African Countries Group of World Bank, Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF), Mr. Olufemi Aduwo, who just returned from the World Bank/IMF Boards of Governors meeting in Morocco, speaks on some pressing issues concerning the Nigerian economy. Excerpts:

ow would you rate Nigeria's current debt status and to what extent has Nigeria's debt status hampered or accelerated growth? Since 2023 figures are fluctuating, let 2022 be our guide. As of 2022, Nigeria’s debt reached an all-time high of N77 trillion. Over the past decade, Nigeria has experienced a notable surge in its debt levels. The debt to GDP ratio has more than doubled from 17.7 per cent to 37.3 per cent in 2022 and over 80 per cent of the country’s revenue is being used to settle or service debt. Spending over 80 per cent on debt servicing leaves about 20 per cent of the country's revenue thinly spread across other sectors, such as health, education, security, roads and infrastructure, agriculture, social welfare, etc. While much academic research may argue that increased borrowing increases the GDP and household income, this is obviously not the case for Nigeria as it is clear from statistics and the faces of the masses that increasing government debt and loans have amounted to increasing poverty, which can only be attributed to the poor fiscal management in Nigeria. There are many factors fueling Nigeria’s debt crisis, the main one being fiscal mismanagement. The Nigerian government lacks fiscal discipline. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 clearly stated that the government at all levels might borrow only for “capital investment” and “human development”. This Act has been flouted over the years and efforts to amend some ambiguities in the Act have not succeeded over the years. For instance, the Act prescribes the inclusion of “borrowing for important reforms of major national importance”. This is ambiguous and most often abused. The terminology is vague and this increases the government’s borrowing power. The relevance of the Fiscal Responsibility Act is sabotaged by the lack of strict sanctions to enforce compliance. The Fiscal Responsibility Commission, just like other oversight agencies in Nigeria lacks sanction power and it is poorly supported. The existing fiscal structure in Nigeria somewhat promotes lack of accountability, transparency and corruption. For instance, government audit reports from the Auditor-General’s office are never made for public usage or access. Even the National Assembly and the Presidency over the years have ignored this lack of transparency in public reports. How do we fight corruption without public audit reports? The Fiscal Responsibility Act also requires that borrowed funds be managed in a separate account to allow for proper monitoring and a clean spell out of what the debts are used for. However, the norm has been to add the loans to the overall consolidated funds, without a clear public report on what capital projects are funded by the loans. It is sad that the only place where detailed progress reports of projects funded by loans, are the creditor websites, and never the Nigerian government or relevant MDAs public reports. Let me repeat, there is nothing wrong in borrowing if the conditionalities are okay and the purpose for investment. Borrowing to pay salaries is anathema.

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One of Nigeria's most concerning problems currently is the swift loss in value of the local currency. Is that a worry for the World Bank? Will the World Bank at some time in the future be willing to consider debt forgiveness for Nigeria and with what preconditions? The first reason, which is also the root cause of the naira depreciation, is that the supply of dollars into the economy has been declining, while demand for dollars remains relatively unchanged courtesy of the country's huge demand for dollars fuelled by dependence on imported goods for many economic activities. Foreign revenue generation is weak. Devaluation makes a domestic currency less expensive than other currencies, which has two main implications, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “First, devaluation

The World Bank is always available to provide advice and warning to developing countries on monetary policy and development related issues makes the country’s exports relatively less expensive for foreigners. Second, the devaluation makes foreign products relatively more expensive for domestic consumers, thus discouraging imports. This may help to increase the country’s exports and decrease imports, and may therefore help to reduce the current account deficit.” And in Nigeria’s specific case, the free float of the naira ended the Central Bank’s previous regime of foreign-exchange rationing for importers, which limited their capacities to obtain foreign currency, particularly to service their international debt and payment obligations. We note that most of the goods are imported. On Debt forgiveness, not only the World Bank and IMF Nigeria is indebted to, we borrow from China, London and Paris clubs as well. In 1999 when democracy returned to Nigeria, its total debts stood at $28.04 billion. The figure dropped to $2.1 billion on the famous debt relief secured by President Olusegun Obasanjo. It went up to $7.3 billion under Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. Under Buhari the figure has gone up by as much as over 400 per cent to $41.8 billion. In October 2005, Nigeria and the Paris Club announced a final agreement for debt relief worth $18 billion and an overall reduction of Nigeria’s debt stock by $30 billion. The deal was completed in April 2006 when Nigeria made the final payment and its books were cleared of Paris Club debt. I doubt if such grace would ever be available to us again, for many obvious reasons.

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What areas would the World Bank be willing to partner Nigeria to alleviate its myriad of economic challenges? The World Bank is always available to provide advice and warning to developing countries on monetary policy and development related issues. It’s left for us to accept or not. The bank provides low-interest loans, zero to low-interest credits, and grants to developing countries. These support a wide array of investments in such areas as education, health, public administration, infrastructure, financial and private sector development, agriculture, and environmental and natural resource management. Your organisation held a sideline session on Public Private Partnerships at the just concluded World Bank/IMF Boards of Governors meetings in Morocco. What were the highpoints of the event? Let me say this, any country that wants a robust economy and wants to create jobs must stay on top of its infrastructure and related services. But you and I know that the government simply cannot afford to finance all the infrastructure costs from the budget. That was the major reason why the session was held. The session was moderated by Imad Fakhoury, World Bank Director of infrastructure and PPPs and four renowned economists served in the panel of discussion. Because of the relevance of the topic, 340 guests from 84 countries were in attendance. During the session, attention was on the tax scheme. PPPs model was acceptable among others models, not only that it delivers, it reduces government borrowing. At the session, the NNPCL’s involvement in the tax scheme in Nigeria was x-rayed by the panelists and they all agreed that it would serve as catalyst to the economic growth and development, if red tapism did not creep into the financing arrangement. *Continues online at www. thewillnews.com

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SPECIAL REPORT

OCTOBER 29, 2023 WWW.THEWILLNEWS.COM

Nigerians by Birth, Nigeriens by Choice (I) ... How Conflict in Northwest Inspires Refugees 'Dual' Citizenship BY TUNDE OMOLEHIN, GUIDAN RUNJI, NIGER REPUBLIC/ SOKOTO, NIGERIA

ariam Abubakar, a mother of six is one of the thousands Nigerian Refugees from Sabon Birnin and Isa communities of Sokoto state who were seeking asylum after being displayed by armed groups mostly referred to as bandits.

eight persons while livestock were also stolen. Although Aishatu said both herself and other siblings escaped from the hands of terror bandits, her husband alongside able men in the community were unlucky as the gunmen did not spare their lives. "My husband was killed on the day we were attacked in Kumaro.

She lives in Guidan Kare, a settlement most dominated by most Nigerians who now see the francophone country as a second home due to relative peace.

"All our men were killed by the attackers. We escaped with my three children. In fact, we talked a long distance of kilometers before we arrived at the Nigerien borderline in the middle of the night. We are accommodated by some community leaders in some temporary refugee camps. When asked if there are plans to return back to their motherland (Nigeria), Mairo Ahmad, another Nigerian refugee at Tudun Sunnah village said she will prefer to live all her life in the francophone community.

Guidan Roujun, a suburb of Tahoua region, Niger Republic, where many Nigerians were currently hosted as refugees after fleeing their ancestral homes in Nigeria as a result of repeated attacks by armed groups operating within the Eastern part of Sokoto State. Since her community was sacked by armed bandits in 2021, the 30-year-old housewife from Gatawa in Sabon Birni local government area of Sokoto State has relocated to the community.

"They (armed bandits) have killed my siblings in Zango Mallam of Isa Local Government Area in Sokoto state. I was told my village head has been dethroned and replaced with a bandit by the warlord.

Mariam recalls how her hometown was invaded in 2021 by armed bandits where no fewer than twenty-five people were murdered while many others were abducted. According to her, living in Guidan Kare has brought her more peace of mind than her birthplace in Nigeria. "The day armed bandits ransacked our village in Gatawa, we fled without moving a piece of our belongings. There was no place to run for safety except leaving Nigeria territory.

Mariam, Nigerian Refugee taking asylum in Gidan Kare village Niger Republic. Credited: Tunde Omolehin/Niger Republic

"Currently, I have no place to go. I'm a bonafide citizen of Niger Republic. The citizens here are like my sisters and they have accepted us as citizens because we speak the same language and practice the same religion," the 27-years-old, mother of two told TheWill.

The Inter-Bond

"In fact, many people in the community who were mostly men were killed in the dawn attack. My husband narrowly escaped the bandits' brutal killing and is currently working as a security guard in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), she recounts.

"The Nigerien communities will have many reasons to accommodate any Nigerian within their neighboring communities because of their historical tiers”, says the District Head of Gwadabawa District, Alhaji Lawan Muhammadu Zayyanu.

Chased From The Motherland

Zayyanu traced the marital bond of the two countries to eighteen centuries when the famous Islamic jihadist Usmanu Dan Fodio migrated from Marata town in present Niger Republic to establish Sokoto caliphate in present -day Nigeria.

Mariam's story is not very different from Halima Umaru, a 35-yrs-old who was also forced to flee her home following a brutal attack on her community in Isa town, the headquarters of Isa local government of Sokoto' state.

“There is evidence of marital bond between the two countries and could be dated to eighteen centuries.

Unlike Mariam, Halima lost her husband and two other siblings in the attack. However, she was able to escape the scene alongside her four children.

"In fact, my kingdom, Gwadabawa district used to be the headquarters where the traditional head of Konni town in Niger Republic and its environs were crowned in those days. We are like citizens with dual nationalities,” the Monarch said in an interview.

The once-successful female farmer recounts how the conflict has made her forget her homeland in Nigeria after she finally found a comfort place in the Niger community. The mother of four said living in the francophone country has been a pleasure for her and her children. "We have been enjoying every basic thing in this community. We are treated like one, there is no any form of discrimination." She told TheWill. [She recalls how most of her compatriots moved into the community as refugees in 2021. “We were about eighty then, most of us were displaced by the bandits during one of their attacks on our communities. "But, to God be the glory, we are accommodated without any cause to regret living in our homeland. We are fed daily, given shelter and clothing. They are treating us like sisters with one love and affections.

Halima, a widow is one of the thousands Nigerian Refugees sojourning in the Niger Republic community. Credited: Tunde Omolehin/Niger Republic

Her account and that of Mariam were similar to Aishatu Kumaro, another Nigerian refugee and widow who hailed from Kumaro village in Sokoto State. Her place of birth in Kumaro has been under the attacks of armed bandits since 2018. She narrates how the village among others were currently under the reign of some bandit warlords. The recent attacks, according to TheWill a finding was recorded in late August this year. The attackers, suspected to be armed bandits had killed no fewer than

He reasons that such inter-bonds between citizens of the two countries may not be affected by conflicts or government policies from the two neighbouring countries. "I can say that this armed conflict confronting the border communities is an avenue for the people of Niger Republic to show love and affections for their neighboring Nigerian. They are only separated by the borderline but most of them have inter-relations. According to the monarch, communities within Niger Republic and Nigeria are bonded with the same language, religion and similarity in culture. “There are marital, social and economic relationships that have existed for centuries between the two countries. One can say this might be the reason why THEWILLNIEWS

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SPECIAL REPORT

... How Conflict in Northwest Inspires Refugees 'Dual' Citizenship "I decided to use my motorcycle for commercial purposes, especially most of our people that have crossed into Niger Republic communities," the 46-yrold told TheWill. Despite military operations within the border communities, residents say they experience more attacks and takeover of their communities by the bandits lords operating within the Eastern part of Sokoto and Zamfara states. "There have been significant efforts by the military to reduce the bandit ma attacks within our communities but as I am talking to you now, armed bandits are still in control of many villages in both Isa and Sabon Birnin," says a village head who pleaded to speak with TheWill on the condition of anonymity. "They have installed their traditional heads in those villages under them and leving the residents to pay monthly taxes either by cash, farm produce or livestocks. According to the source, "As I am speaking to you, there is no village heads or civilian leadership in Zango Mallam, Dankaka, Gamji, Dan gida, Kumaro, Dan Kura, Dan Kayludan Magana, Dana, Garije, Arage, Zangeraawa, Burtu, Suna, Katsaian Ille-kuda. They are under the control of some bandit leaders whom I won't mention." Aishatu, a Nigerian refugee and widow who hailed from Kumaro village in Sokoto State. Credited: Tunde Omolehin/Niger Republic

Who Are The Bandits?

business thrives within border communities," says the monarch. The Raging Conflict? Since 2019, more people have been internally displaced and crossed communal borders to communities within Niger Republic with families of victims fleeing relentless attacks by armed groups in the Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina states of Nigeria to take refuge in Nigeria's region.

Dr. Murtala Rufa'i, a lecturer at the department of History, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto traced the history of armed banditary Armed banditry in northwestern Nigeria to a product of an aged-long misrule, impunity and high-handedness on the part of state actors. He reveals how security agencies as well as foreign pastoralists have remained the main culprits in the escalating of the conflict which has spanned over a decade.

An infographic chart showing that most refugees

"The fundamental actors are of course the pastoral communities – they are a broad category of people that include the local pastoralist in Nigeria and migrant trans-human that came through the international borders," says Rufai, who authored a book that unveil Bandits warlords operating within Zamfara, one of the northwest states ravaged with banditary.

According to the United Nations Refugees, violence in parts of north-western Nigeria has forced the francophone country to host more than 200,000 Nigerian refugees, including more than 57,000 refugees from Northwest Nigeria in Maradi region and 15,000 in Tahoua region in late 2021. Bello Dan Hakimi, a commercial motorcyclist who once guided TheWill in a similar tour around communities affected by banditary attacks in 2021 shared a bitter experience after the armed group ransacked his community in February this year..

"These categories have played a very important role in the emergence and escalation of the violence in the first instance.

Bello was living apparently in abundance as a successful farmer at Dan Adua in Isa Local Government of Sokoto state. But all that changed, when his hometown came under heavy attack by some gunmen suspected to be armed bandits.

"And on the other side, we see the activities of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), secondly, we have seen an upshot of this vigilante group known as ‘Yansakee’ also operating differently across the northwestern part of the country.

"Many people were killed in the dawn attack on my village by these armed groups. Only a few of us who were men escaped the attack because it was a cruel one.

"Basically, these are two major principal actors when you look at the conflict on the surface. But, when you look at it deeply and widely, you see the traditional leaders playing a role; religion leaders also playing their own role; politicians also fueling the fire of armed banditry.

"We managed to escape and now take refuge at Guidan Runjin in Niger Republic before I later return to venture in commercial driving on hire purchase, " he recounts.

The academician also points out the roles played by the local miners and their foreign aliens, saying, "their access to ungoverned or under-governed spaces to many porous borders within the northwest states that resulted into the movement of small arms and lite weapons, all combined to the escalation of the conflict."

Presently, Bello's village had remained one of the abandoned communities in Isa local government council that have fallen under the control of these armed bandits owing to their proximity to Zamfara, another epicenter of banditary activities. "At the time, I was homeless because all my farm produce was looted by the armed bandits who invited our community.

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Google map taken on 15th October, 2023, showing Gwadabawa Kingdom with proximity borderline around communities in Niger Republic Credited: Tunde Omolehin/Google Map.

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•This reporting was completed with the support of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development and the Open Society Foundations.

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Meet Olasupo Olusi, the new MD/CEO of BoI

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ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY EDITOR Ivory Ukonu

ast week, President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of Dr Olasupo Olusi as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Industry for a term of four years in the first instance. Olusi’s appointment follows the voluntary resignation of the immediate past BoI MD/CEO, Olukayode Pitan. Ironically, his Continues on page 41

ADAOBI NWAKUCHE JOINS TRUSTVILLE INSURANCE BROKERS

arely three months after Adaobi Nwakuche left her very high-profile job as the MD/CEO of businessman, Tony Elumelu owned Heirs Insurance Limited, she has refused to allow the circumstances behind what led to her exit hold her down. Adaobi has moved on and joined Trustville Insurance Brokers where she hopes to put her skills to good use, as always. Adaobi, who is fondly referred to as the First Lady of Nigeria's insurance industry because of her sharp business acumen and far-reaching prominence in that sector. Her popularity also extends to the

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SURVIVING BREAST CANCER THEWILLNIEWS

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OCTOBER 29, 2023 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnews.com

ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY

Battling Breast Cancer to a Standstill October, the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, popularly known as Pink October, is a period for increasing awareness of the disease and raising funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. The campaign aims to promote screening and prevention of the disease, which affects one in eight women. The month features a number of campaigns and programmes conducted by groups ranging from breast cancer advocacy organisations to local community organisations and major retailers. The campaigns are aimed at supporting people diagnosed with breast cancer, educating people about breast cancer risk factors, stressing the importance of regular screening, starting at age 40 or an age that’s appropriate for your personal breast cancer risk, and fundraising for breast cancer research. In commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Ivory Ukonu takes a look at brave Nigerians who battled cancer and won.

Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu

Chinwe Omoaka-Godwin legal practitioner and wife of Godwin Omoaka, SAN, discovered she A had breast cancer through normal routine checks. A very close friend requested her company as she visited her radiologist to have her breast

checked. Chinwe also took the opportunity and got her breasts checked out, even though she had done a breast ultrasound and mammogram four months earlier, though in a different facility, and no lump was discovered. This time around, a suspicious lump was found in Chinwe’s breast. Further examination confirmed the lump was cancerous. She immediately left for the United Kingdom within a week of her diagnosis. After her surgery at The London Clinic, her histology result came out a week later with a fantastic prognosis. Luckily, she didn't have to go through chemotherapy as the disease was in its early stage, which is stage zero, where one's lymph nodes are clear. It had not spread to any part of her body. According to her, that was when she knew that one could have breast cancer and not go through all those harsh treatments for breast cancer and that early detection could save one's life. Surviving this life changing disease prompted Chinwe to set up Worthy Wellness Initiative, a foundation she runs to promote awareness of breast cancer and to help women, particularly the low-income women, with breast screening and awareness campaigns. Worthy Wellness Initiative advocates regular screening for breast cancer. It also ensures that women who are diagnosed with the disease have access to treatment and after care. It is the foundation's desire to help women diagnosed with breast cancer, with funding for treatment. Nevertheless, her foundation still supports breast cancer patients with the little fund that it is able to muster and it ensures they have access to good medical advice and treatment.

Lady of Ondo State, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, is a breast TwhenhecancerFirst survivor and has been for over 26 years. It all started in 1997 she was diagnosed at the age of 43. She had felt a lump in her

breast and immediately became scared it may turn out to be cancer. She kept the discovery to herself for almost one week until she was forced to do something about the lump after watching a television programme that stated, ‘this programme could save your life’. The programme was about an American woman who had breast cancer and survived it. The programme saved Mrs Akeredolu’s life. It focused on the American’s journey through breast cancer diagnosis and the treatment she received. She shared her experience during the programme, using the narrative to lift the spirit of those undergoing such an experience and she benefited from it. That was how she summoned the courage to go to hospital. As they say, the rest is history. The first treatment was radical mastectomy, which is the removal of the breast with the lump. This was in 1997. Her experience was one of shattering loneliness, unavailability of information and group support, coupled with the tight- lip syndrome and indifference surrounding the disease. The situation inspired her to do something that would bring about a positive and lasting change in the attitude of breast cancer victims and the Nigerian society towards breast cancer and sufferers. This prompted her to set up the Breast Cancer Symposium of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, BRECAN, with its major goal of sensitising the general public about the deadly disease by breaking down the wall of secrecy and stigmatisation associated with breast cancer. THEWILLNEWS

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Atinuke Lawal fight against cancer TSomeheis often unpredictable. people live to tell

the story, others are not so privileged. One of those that survived is Atinuke Lawal. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, she felt as if her life had ended, wondering what she did to have breast cancer. She tried several hospitals, but the results were the same. It was the beginning of her two-year ordeal with cancer and it came with so many different challenges. It was also about the same time when Ebola evaded Nigeria and everyone was scared to use the hospital. But for her determination to survive, Atinuke would have succumbed to the disease. Even though she discovered the lump was in its early stage, she lived in denial for almost two years which was more or less a time bomb waiting to explode. According to her, she met the wrong doctors, which made it difficult for her to make a decision about treatment and so she only had lumpectomy done without treatment. Exactly a year after the lumpectomy, the cancer came back. She tried to travel out for treatment, but she was denied visa several times. God kept her here in Nigeria, perhaps to give her a story to tell, despite the state of our health sector which included a high mortality rate. Atinuke was tested emotionally. The disease took her on an extraordinary journey, making her exhibit strength that she never knew she had. It made her to discover her purpose in life. Today she is cancer free and to this end, she set up Atinuke Cancer Foundation to advocate, create awareness, support patients and expose the scourge of cancer. She also set aside one day, which she aptly tagged 'Cancer Survivors' Day,' a special occasion dedicated to celebrating the strength, resilience and triumph of individuals who have overcome cancer. It is also a day to honour the courage and determination of cancer survivors, recognize their journey and offer support to those still battling cancer.

Eno Essien he is the Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Rheytrak Limited, a SCommunications Vehicle Tracking and Recovery company licensed by the Nigerian Commission (NCC), This makes her the first licensed

female to venture into this line of business and she excelled. While she was busy building her business and making an appreciable impact in the society, she was busy battling breast cancer. She had just turned 30 when she discovered she had cancer. She told her mum who asked her to leave as they didn't expect it to be cancer. But a few months after, while in the United Kingdom on holiday, she decided to do a routine checkup. Again, her mum told her not to do anything and just come back to Nigeria. But while discussing it with a family friend who is a surgeon, he encouraged her to get it removed and checked. That was how it was discovered to be cancerous. She left Nigeria within two weeks of the discovery to the UK, where she got a lumpectomy, six rounds of chemotherapy and 20 rounds of radiotherapy. She has been cancer free for about 11 years now. Although she did not set up a nongovernmental organisation, to help victims or survivors of cancer, what she does is to reach out to victims in her own personal capacity in hope that her own story will encourage them. She sometimes sits down in the hospital with these victims as they go through their chemotherapy treatments or their hospital appointments.

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OCTOBER 29, 2023 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnews.com

ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY

All You Need to Know About Breast Cancer BY IVORY UKONU

Prevention: How to reduce your risk • Limit alcohol intake. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit yourself to no more than one drink a day. • Don't smoke. • Control your weight • Be physically active. Exercise is as close to a silver bullet for good health as there is and women who are physically active for at least 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer. Regular exercise is also one of the best ways to help keep weight in check. • Breast-feed. The longer you breast-feed, the greater the protective effect.

he month of October is breast cancer awareness month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the necessary steps to detect the disease early. Breast cancer is the number one cancer killer of women world over. Late presentation of patients at advanced stages when little or no benefit can be derived from any form of therapy is the hallmark of breast cancer, particularly in Nigerian women. This is indeed a worrisome trend. It is our hope that this article will help increase the awareness of the deadly disease and also encourage someone to do what is necessary to stay alive.

• Limit dose and duration of hormone therapy. • Avoid exposure to radiation and environmental pollution, such as computerised tomography, high doses of radiation, exposure to the chemicals found in some workplaces, gasoline fumes and vehicle exhaust. • A low-fat diet appears to offer only a slight reduction in the risk of breast cancer. A healthy diet can help maintain a healthy weight, a key factor in breast cancer prevention.

What is breast cancer? It is a malignant cancerous growth that begins in the tissues of the breast. Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way. It is the most common cancer in women, but can also appear in men although not very common. And it kills more people annually than malaria, HIV/AIDS or any other known disease.

• Avoid birth control pills, particularly after age 35 • Avoid post-menopausal hormones • Find out your family history. You may be at high risk of breast cancer if you have a mother or sister who developed breast or ovarian cancer or male family members who developed breast or prostate cancer. A doctor or genetic counselor can help you understand your family history of the disease.

Causes of breast cancer There are many risk factors that have been associated with breast cancer: • Being a female is one of the factors that one can't really do much about. The chances of getting it increases with age; the older you get, the more chances of getting it.

Breast cancer by the numbers • 10 per cent - The five-year survival rate for breast cancer patients • 1 million new cases diagnosed globally • 400,000 annual deaths caused by cancer globally • 16 per cent of all cancer-related deaths in Nigeria is as a result of breast cancer • 4.4 million women living with cancer globally • 1 in 8 women affected during their lives • 55 per cent of breast cancer cases occur in developing countries.

• As with any other genetic disease, a history of breast cancer in close relatives, especially in mothers and siblings, has been associated with the risks of getting breast cancer. • Early onset of menstrual periods before the age of 12 years or reaching menopause after the age of 55 years has both been associated with risks of developing breast cancer. • Being overweight • Using hormone replacement therapy • Taking birth control pills • Alcohol • Not having children or having your first child after age 35 • Having dense breasts Signs and symptoms of breast cancer Do not ignore changes noticed around the breasts. Early detection and prompt treatment is the key to surviving this deadly disease. Some common signs to watch out for are: • A lump or area of thickened tissue in either breast • Discharge from either of your nipples which may be streaked with blood • A lump or swelling in either of your armpits • Change in the size or shape of one or both breasts • Dimpling on the skin of your breasts • A rash on or around your nipple • A change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast

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Masectomy on cancer survivor

• Pain in either of your breasts or armpits that is not related to your period Breast screening methods There are certain breast routine tests that should be carried out once a woman attains the age of 20 years and above. These tests should be recommended by your physician. Such routine tests include: • Breast self-examination • Mammogram • Ultrasound Scan • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MIR), a medical imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images of the organs and tissues in your body. • If you are between ages 20 and 39, get a clinical breast exam every three years. • If you are over 40 or older, get a mammogram and clinical breast exam every year. Diagnosis and treatment Surgery, radiation treatment and many new and advanced therapies are now available in the developed world and they have contributed to the good prognosis seen in the western world. Many patients now live longer, but the reverse is the case in our country. Access to care is limited and the majority of these advanced therapies are nowhere to be found.

Breast self examination THEWILLNIEWS

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OCTOBER 29, 2023 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnews.com

ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

ABISOYE FAGADE IS NEW AARE ASOJUOBA OF ARA KINGDOM

ver the weekend, businessman and politician, Abisoye Fagade was honoured with a chieftaincy title by Oba Dr Olubayo Adesola Windapo, the traditional ruler of Ara, a community in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State. Oba Windapo conferred the titles, Aare Asojuoba and Yeye Asojuoba, on Fagade and his wife, respectively. As Aare Asojuoba, Fagade is expected to champion the progress, unity and cultural preservation of Ara Kingdom. Following his conferment, he pledged to serve Ara kingdom with dedication and honor, empower the youth of the community, advance education, enhance healthcare, and promote the rich cultural heritage of his newfound home, Ara. After the traditional rites came time to host his guests who came from far and near to honour him with their presence Fagade at a reception party. Some of those who made it to the party were the immediate past Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed; film maker, Kunle Afolayan; businessman, Bashorun Akinwole; brand strategist and founder of Verdant Zeal, Kunle Olugbodi and several other VIPs. Beyond plying his trade via his Sodium Brand Solution

company, Fagade has tried unsuccessfully to win various elective political positions. He first tried to run for governor in his home state of Oyo on the platform of Alliance for Democracy, AD, a few years ago. He attributed his failure at the polls to discouragements from people who he claimed said he was too young to seek such an elective position. He made a second attempt in 2022 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. But midway into the campaigns, he quietly switched ambition, having foreseen that he stood no chance in the primaries, not to mention the polls. He then decided that running for the Senate to represent Oyo Central Senatorial District would be more like it. Perhaps, he may have been assured by the powers that be, that his victory at the National Assembly primary election and the eventual polls was a done deal. But minutes before the primary kicked off, he pulled out of the election, claiming lack of transparency in the process in favour of an 'unpopular' candidate to achieve a predetermined result. A golf enthusiast, the 49-year-old also has his business tentacles spread across the hospitality industry, oil and gas etc.

Continued from page 38

Meet Olasupo Olusi, the new MD/CEO of BoI appointment came just four days after he lost his mum to the cold hands of death. For many who do not know, beyond Olasupo's educational and professional qualifications which make him well able to head BoI, he is the son of Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, the Leader of the powerful Governance Advisory Council, (GAC ,) the apex leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos. GAC, the brainchild of Tinubu, is the highest decisionmaking body of the party in Lagos State. Nothing happens in the state without it being sanctioned by GAC. Even with Tinubu as president and Babajide Sanwo-Olu as governor, the council cannot unilaterally take any decision without the president's knowledge. An alumnus of Hull University, United Kingdom with a Master’s degree in International Money, Finance THEWILLNEWS

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and Investment, as well as a doctorate in Finance and Economics from Durham University, United Kingdom, in 2005, Olusi served as a World Bank economist and development finance expert over the past 20 years. Between 2011 and 2015, he served as the Economic Adviser to the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance. A prince like his father, he is the grandson of the late King Sanusi Olusi, a former Oba of Lagos. As the MD of BoI, Tinubu has tasked Olusi with the job of ensuring that Nigerians, who are operating all sizes of enterprises across the sectors, are given fair and equitable access to much-needed support to bolster employment generation and wealth creation amongst income groups in the country with special regard for lower-and-middle-income enterprise operators. THEWILLNEWS

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Adaobi Nwakuche Joins Trustville Insurance Brokers social circles, where she is one of the hottest and most eligible divorcees. A graduate of Government and Public Administration from the Abia State University with a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology and a PhD in Insurance, Risk Management and Corporate Governance, she has held sway both

in the insurance industry and on the social scene for the past 20 years without her popularity waning one bit. From her rookie days at Standard Alliance, she rose through the ladder of success plying her trade at Standard Assurance Company of Nigeria before moving on to Equity Assurance before berthing at HEIRS Insurance, her last place of work before Trustville.

Bola Tinubu Unveils Beauty SPA Onisiwo

AMINA ONISIWO BAGS POLITICAL APPOINTMENT

minat Ayeni Onisiwo, a popular sex therapist who sells 'kayanmata,' herbs or potions used by women in different forms as sex enhancers, vagina tighteners or aphrodisiacs in Nigeria via her company, Aminat Secrets, has been appointed senior legislative aide to Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin. A graduate of Psychology from the University of East London, United Kingdom, Amina once revealed in an interview that (recalling how she got into the business of selling kayanmata) when she returned to Nigeria after her studies in London, she heard all sorts of stories about failed marriages and relationships, coupled with the fact that she had a terrible relationship, she was introduced to kayanmata. Even though she didn’t have to use them eventually because her relationship was way beyond repair, she decided to give the products to some of her friends. Their response was amazing, and they wanted more of the products. In doing her research, she travelled to Sokoto State, Niger Republic, Senegal and other places where they make the best aphrodisiacs. After learning deeply about 'kayanmata,' she decided to have her own farm where she personally grows these herbs. Aminat says that a lot of women are frustrated in relationships that are beyond repair and they feel 'kayanmata' will help, which is why it is a lucrative business. But beyond that she counsels women about their attitude, being submissive and other factors, all of which have a role to play in the success of their relationships. She insists that her services are not fetish but offer ways of keeping a man.

Tinubu

ola, wife of Wale Tinubu, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc, has officially expnaded her tenetacles to the beauty world with the launch of Pier Harbour Spa, an exclusive luxury facility located in the heart of Lagos State. The opening of the spa, which had in attendance, beauty enthusiasts, socialites, celebrities, influencers and lifestyle connoisseurs, was in partnership with Apples and Oranges Total Body and Wellness Therapy, an already existing spa which is the first salon and spa in Nigeria that provides a one stop spa experience for the entire family. Despite her privileged

position as the wife of a rich and successful oil tycoon, Bola abhors the spotlight like a plaque. A successful corporate lawyer, she is known more as a child advocate, as she has developed a strong passion in helping sexually abused children through her foundation, the Cece Yara Foundation. To specifically help in the prevention of child sexual abuse in Nigeria, she opened the Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre, a state-of-the-art forensic centre for children who have experienced sexual abuse, in

Lagos. Seeing that she was passionate about child advocacy, she was appointed Chairman, Governing Council for the Office of the Public Defender, OPD, by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State. The OPD was established 20 years ago by Tinubu to provide legal aid and to safeguard the fundamental human rights of vulnerable persons, disadvantaged groups and indigent residents of Lagos State. Her appointment has been applauded by many who believe it was well deserved, especially given her commitment to the cause of the abused female members of the society.

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OCTOBER 29, 2023 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnews.com

ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

Funso Adegbola Celebrates Late Parents in Two Books

FOLORUNSHO ALAKIJA'S FAMFA HEAD OFFICE COMMISSIONED F

AMFA Oil’s Centre Point Building Project, owned by Nigeria’s richest woman, Folorunsho Alakija, has been finally commissioned. It was commissioned by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu, after five years of building it. The project, which cost $165 million about N165 billion to build, is an elegant project and architectural masterpiece. Aptly named Central Point Tower, the curvaceous 107m high skyscraper located in the Ikoyi area of Lagos, sits on a 5.695m² area of land and has a gross floor area of approximately 55,000m². It contains commercial spaces, owner-occupied office spaces, and a multipurpose hall, each with a dedicated well-appointed entrance Alakija on the ground floor. The building has a total of 20 floors plus basement with split-level carparks. Built by Julius Berger, the construction of the building was executed based on European standards. With business interests spanning many sectors including oil and gas, transportation and more, the story of Alakija who made it all the way to the top without a university education, is one of determination, resilience and commitment. Her fortune in the oil business started with much difficulties and challenges. It began when a friend of hers who she met on a plane asked if her partners could be of help to lift crude oil from Nigeria. Alakija set up a meeting with the then petroleum minister but was met with a reply that was discouraging when the minister told her that the government was only interested in being partners with those who were interested in investing in the country. She gave her friend the feedback and without an intention to invest in Nigeria, that window of opportunity was lost. However,

mere mention of it to one of her clients, late First lady, Maryam Babangida, in no time changed her fortunes. At first, all seemed to be going according to plan until it was discovered that the oil block given her was the farthest and was situated very far offshore in a place where other oil top shots refused to explore because there was barely enough technology to explore such depth at that time. The initial partners she had secured all left her thinking the oil block was of little or no value, but she was patient and calm in her resolve and it eventually paid off. Initially, the agreement was that she would hold 60 per cent of Famfa Oil’s worth, while the Federal Government held on to the remaining 40 per cent. However, the Federal Government claimed that holding such a stake would make her and her family earn about $10 million on a daily basis, the government thus reduced her stake to a paltry 10 per cent and she immediately sued the government. The ensuing legal battle lasted for a little over 12 years and the whole world believed it was sheer stupidity to sue the government and win, but Folorunsho Alakija and her husband weren’t deterred and this paid off when the court mandated that the government returned their stake to the initial 60 per cent. This is how she was able to reclaim what was rightfully hers and grow into the richest woman in Nigeria today. As at 2019, she was worth a staggering $2.1 billion, according to Forbes. Making her the fourth richest person in Nigeria and among the list of the wealthiest African women.

Furore Over Tinubu’s Last-Minute Withdrawal of Kashim Imam, Maryam Shetty's Appointments

resident Bola Tinubu’s decision to withdraw the appointment of Imam Kashim Imam, a 24-year-old first-class Mechanical Engineering graduate, as the Board Chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has raised a furore among some northerners. Tinubu had reconstituted the Governing Board and Management Imam team of FERMA for a renewable term of four years, naming Imam as the Board Chairman. Imam, the son of prominent Borno politician, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, who is interestingly, a close friend of Tinubu had gained attention for his academic achievements after his appointment, including a first-class

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Shetty Bachelor degree from the University of Brighton in the United Kindom and a Master’s degree from the same institution. But he had only completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in August 2022, prompting questions about his readiness for such a high-ranking government position, given his

supposed lack of work experience. Amid the criticism, Tinubu ordered the reversal of his appointment, without offering any explanation for his action. His reversal was met with criticism from some northerners who expressed their disappointment. They accused him of marginalising the north by withdrawing the appointments of not only Imam but also that of Maryam Shettima, aka Maryam Shetty, the Kano State ministerial nominee whose appointment was withdrawn just hours before her scheduled Senate screening. Not a few also voiced out their concerns about the President’s frequent reversal of policies, even before its implementation, and wondered if he is really the one in charge.

Peller

SHINA PELLER CONSOLIDATES ON NEWFOUND VENTURE

onths after his failed bid to return to the National Assembly, nightlife entrepreneur, Shina Peller has consolidated on his newfound venture luring investors to see the vast potential that Nigeria has to offer. Recall that THEWILL had reported that the son of the late famous magician, Professor Moshood Abiola Peller was named a member of the organising committee for the proposed Nigeria–Benin Investment Summit. The summit took place in Cotonou, the capital city of Benin Republic. Peller's role required him to coordinate and bring in businessmen and women from Nigeria to attend the event. The summit was aimed at providing a unique opportunity for researchers, policy makers and development practitioners from Nigeria, Benin Republic and other parts of Africa, to debate development and the policies required to eradicate poverty in the context of the Post 2015 Africa Developmental Agenda, in particular, with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Following the success of the summit, the former lawmaker has launched another bid to woo Turkish entrepreneurs and investors to engage in Nigeria’s growing market for a remarkable Return on Investment. He was a keynote speaker at the 2023 Mindshift Empowerment and Employment Initiative (MEEI)’s Turkey-Africa Entrepreneurship Conference held in Istanbul, Turkey where he spoke on the topic, 'The Power of Entrepreneurship, the Opportunities it holds and the remarkable potential that lies in the heart of Africa.' Peller told his attentive audience that Nigeria, with over 250 ethnic groups and local languages, represents the economic and cultural potential that exist across the African continent, adding that Nigeria is the gateway to Africa’s world of creativity and describing Nigerian entrepreneurs as vibrant, innovative problem-solvers. He therefore appealed to Turkish businessmen the importance of forming an alliance with Nigerian entrepreneurs to harness and explore the vibrancy and creativity, potential of the power of entrepreneurship in taking responsibility for problem-solving.

unso Adegbola, the first daughter of late Chief Bola and Justice Atinuke Ige, has launched two books in memory of her late illustrious parents. The books, 'He Gave Me Wings’ and ‘She Gave Me Roots’ were launched a few weeks ago. Adegbola, who is also the CEO of Vale College, one of the most prestigious colleges in Ibadan, Oyo State, put in black and white, some unforgettable memories about her late parents who Adegbola remained one of the most iconic Nigerian Oyo State, on December couples in history, in the 23, 2001 at the age of 71. books. Justice Atinuke Ige died on A former governor of old April 10, 2003 also at 71 of a Oyo state, Power Minister, broken heart, not long after Attorney-General of the the star witness in her late Federation and Minister of husband's trial recanted. The Justice, Bola Ige was shot murder of the late Cicero dead in his home in Ibadan, remains unsolved till date.

Oba Akinloye Celebrates 30 Years on The Throne

Akinloye

ba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye Sateru II, the Ojomu of Ajiranland in Eti Osa local government area of Lagos State, recently celebrated his 30th coronation anniversary. The auspicious event happened a few weeks after he celebrated his 82nd birthday. It was all pomp and circumstance as friends, family and royalty gathered at Ajiran town in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, to celebrate him and for being able to

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remain on the throne for 30 years. The traditional ruler was crowned as the 14th Ojomu of Ajiran land on October 23, 1993. Highlighting his achievements in the last 30 years during the celebration, Oba Akinloye noted that impactful progress has been recorded between 2018 when he marked his 25th year on the throne and five years after. Besides the construction of school buildings and a primary health centre which was built by Total Energy Limited, he claims that Ajiran his community has been transformed from a marshy riverine community into a real estate haven boasting of eye-catching luxurious apartment buildings, peaceful and conducive environment. Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, was on hand to provide music at the ceremony which had representation from the Lagos State governor, several monarchs from communities and kingdoms in the state as well as dignitaries. THEWILLNEWS

OCTOBER 29, 2023 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnews.com

ENTERTAINMENT &SOCIETY WEEKLY STORIES BY IVORY UKONU

BISHOP OYEDEPO’S SON, ISAAC, RESIGNS FROM WINNERS CHAPEL P

astor Isaac Oyedepo, the second son of Bishop Olaniyi Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, a.k.a Winners Chapel, has resigned from the ministry after 16 years. Isaac who was recently appointed as the Global Youth Pastor of the church is set to begin his own ministry. The 38-year-old attended Oral Robert University in Tulsa Oklahoma, USA. He started his ministry as pastor-incharge of the Winners Chapel International in South Africa. He later became the resident pastor of the Living Faith Church, Lokogoma, Abuja and after four years was transferred to the Maryland, United States branch of the Living Faith Church, which is located at 4380 Forbes Boulevard in Lanham, Maryland. Isaac has also led the church’s evangelistic and missionary efforts across the world alongside his older brother, David Oyedepo Jr. He has made significant achievements in his ministry. He has impacted the lives of many people across the world through his preaching, teaching and healing ministry. His sermons are known for their simplicity and depth, and they have helped many people understand the word of God better. A revivalist, Isaac is happily married to his heartthrob, Ayomitide nee Omogbadegun, a certified and gifted coach who teaches how to naturally deal with diabetes,

Oyedepo blood pressure and health issues in general. He was ordained pastor by American evangelist Kenneth Copeland in 2007 alongside his older brother, David Jnr.

Rita Dominic Now in Charge of Miss Nigeria Beauty Pageant N ollywood actress, Rita Dominic has taken over the planning and organisation of the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant, an annual pageant showcasing positive attributes of Nigerian women from her husband, Fidelis Anosike. Anosike is the founder of Folio Media Group, a multimedia company which owns daily Times Nigeria and is the organiser of Miss Nigeria, an annual pageant showcasing positive attributes of Nigerian women. After 16 years of organising the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant, Folio Communications is passing the torch to The Audrey Silva Company (TASC), which is owned by actress Rita Dominic and film director Mildred Okwo. The actress stated that her 25 years of experience in film production within the entertainment industry have equipped her with the skills and knowledge necessary to undertake the Miss Nigeria task. “The Miss Nigeria Pageant is a true representation of One Nigeria. The platform has over the years

turn. We have to do this DNA test. There will be no peace for the wicked. And mind you all, this would have been a thing of the past, if this man didn’t come back into my life in 2016 to finish what he and his children started. “My supposed father’s favourite phrase is ‘you have to take care of your father o, you have to take care of your father o. So he can always pray for you. Bro, I don’t have and by the way I don’t even owe you a WAEC certificate. And if my money is equal to your prayers then you’re a fraudulent father. I always knew the part of him being a fraud though. I am finally asking for DNA.”

Miss Nigeria.” Anosike while congratulating Rita said, “Who better to take it to the next level than my delectable wife Rita Dominic and The Audrey Silva Company, I am confident that she will take the pageant higher to the pride of Nigeria,” he said. “We welcome the Audrey Silva company into the Miss Nigeria 1957 partnership with great expectation which will be for the Miss Nigeria platform to transition into an empowerment trust for young Nigerian women.”

TONTO DIKEH DUMPS ADC, DEFECTS TO APC

Cynthia Morgan Accuses Father of Paternity Fraud igerian dancehall artist, Cynthia Morgan, has revealed that her halfsiblings used her for sexual experimentation. She also demanded a deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA test to confirm her biological dad. The singer expressed doubts about her paternity due to the way she was treated at home. She claimed that when she was 14 yearsold, her half-siblings started using her for sexual experiments. They allegedly stopped after she told her mother, but she was bullied for Morgan telling. She also bemoaned her father’s attitude of entitlement, saying that only a fraudulent father would instruct his kids to take care of him before he prayed for them. igerian actor, model, and She wrote, “I was 14 when I lost television presenter, Gideon my virginity in my father’s house Okeke has said that he was because my half-sister and halfblacklisted by filmmakers for five years. brother decided to use me for a According to him, he was blacklisted by sexual experiment. This shit went a certain movie company for five years on for months till I was able to tell my mum and they started bullying because he tried to set a standard for himself. me in school and telling their He wrote; “Adversity is good. I thank friends not to befriend me and God for everything I had to go through always pick on me so they would to get back here. In the centre of my beat me. spot,” he wrote. “I went through all of this as a “I am thankful for being blacklisted by teenager, now it’s their father’s

Dominic

empowered young women from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions,” Rita said. “I am proud of what my husband, Mr Fidelis Anosike, founder of Folio Communications and Publisher of Daily Times newspaper has done with the brand for 16 long years. I am pleased to announce that he is handing over the reins to me and partnering with TASC. “I believe I have acquired the skills and knowledge suitable for this partnership. I have been on board with him for a couple of years watching and learning from him and others. I look forward to the next phase of

Dikeh

onto Dikeh, the former Nollywood star, has officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. Tonto who was the deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the 2023 governorship election in Rivers, was unveiled by the ruling party on Monday.

She was unveiled as a member of APC by Mary Alile, the party’s national women leader, and Duro Mesekoat, the deputy national publicity secretary, at the APC national secretariat in Abuja. The ruling party also confirmed the development via its official X handle alongside photos of the actress’ unveiling. The development came after Tonto and Tonte Ibraye, the governorship candidate of the ADC in Rivers, lost the state election earlier in the year. In 2020, Tonto opened up about her plans to go into politics. “I do know that I’m going to be a senator. I think the position is going to climb up. Being a governor, I do not know. But I don’t see anything past me. Anything I put my mind to…,” she had said. "I can do it. I’m in the process; I’ve started. I’ve been watching the grounds. I’m not going to be identifying with any political party at the moment until 2023. I got so detached from Nollywood. I can’t remember one out of the bag. It’s not my reality anymore. I don’t go back to rewatch my movies because I’m not Nollywood oriented anymore. I won’t say I’ve grown bigger than Nollywood. My dreams have rather grown bigger than Nollywood. I’ve rejected movie roles and I still do. I’m one artist who don’t like to be stereotyped.”

Nollywood Blacklisted me For Five Years – Gideon Okeke

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a certain movie company. Five years it took, not 1 film I made. Ntooor! Good for me. My crime? I dared to set a standard for myself. SMH. I am thankful for my practiced faith in God and myself. I am thankful that my (then) adversaries know how to recite the words of Psalm 23. “I am thankful for adversity because through the fire, Now I shine like a diamond. Adversity. It is gonna make you roar like a lion, just so you can be the lamb that you truly are. The Lord

is my shepherd. And I have never lacked. You will never miss me again. Somebody said I fell off. But I am still thankful I did, JOE.” In 2020, Okeke narrated how an unnamed woman threatened to frustrate his acting career and he wanted to quit acting due to illtreatment from actors in the industry. The actor also questioned the actions of Nollywood producers on the case of the ailing actor John Ikechukwu Okafor.

Okeke

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FEATURES

Gumi’s God-given Right to Rule By Michael Jimoh

t is impossible to think of Sheik Dr. Ahmad Gumi without the image of the mullahs of Iran coming to mind. Despite their sectarian differences (Gumi is Sunni while the Ayatollahs are Shia) the similarities are striking nonetheless. With vast and flowing beards reminiscent of prophets straight out of the OT, they live, eat, sleep and swear by the name of the holy one himself, Prophet Mohammed. Most of all is their God-given right to rule, to deliberate on everything from mode of worship to dressing, consumables and much else.

day of a bath, the navel is not hidden.” His eyebrows drawn together in fury and frustration about the very unpresidential appointment of an infidel to a job that should rightly belong to a Muslim, Gumi’s mailed fist came by way of that public pronouncement addressed to the presidency in particular and Nigerians in general. If President Tinubu fails to remove Wike as FCT minister, there would be trouble not only for the Southern Christian minister but for the president himself. And one of the consequences of such refusal, Gumi pronounced almost like a fatwa (another shared trait with the Iranian mullahs) would be denial of a second term to Tinubu.

Starting from the ’79 Islamic Revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran has remained a theocracy guided by an Islamic Constitution. The religious leaders headed by the Supreme leader (Ayatollah) choose those in leadership positions. Though Nigeria isn’t a theocracy like Iran, religious leaders like Gumi would want only Muslims to be in charge of some sensitive positions. That, in his view, is the only way Muslim faithful will be assured of safety.

Hardly had the worshippers put on their footwear when criticism followed Gumi’s pronouncement. “Gumi’s attacks were unprovoked, malicious, inciting and a deliberate misinterpretation of our history,” thundered the North East Consolidated Peoples Forum (NCPF) via a statement through their spokesman Alhaji Abba Liman. Gumi’s sermon in the mosque was coming from “misguided elements and their sponsors in order to cause disaffection and disunity in the country.” The speech “does not represent the collective view and interest of the North, and certainly not Nigeria’s interest.”

Lacking what should be exemplary selfrestraint in a religious leader (think of the Dalai Lama whose bearing in words and deeds remain unimpeachable), Gumi has been feeling quite antsy since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Barrister Nyesom Wike Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in August. The appointment itself may have irked Gumi privately. For him, Wike’s appointment is nothing more than a desecration of the holy seat which only Muslims like Gumi should occupy. But the cleric had no opportunity to bare his mind until mid-October after Michael Freeman, Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria paid a courtesy call on Wike in his office in Abuja. It was simply unbearable. The Muslim scholar could no longer keep his cool because what had been simmering privately erupted in a public rage against the perceived Christian enemies of his beloved religion. In a 14-minute tirade recorded on video in a mosque, Gumi let his mind be known promptly. Because of the on-going war between Israel and Palestine, Gumi interpreted the Israeli envoy’s visit to Wike as some kind of tacit support for Israel which he mistook for a Christian nation. (Gumi is in good company with another religious leader Pastor Enoch Adeboye of Redeemed Christian Church of God who supported Israel early in the conflict in his misguided notion that the tiny Middle East country is a Christian nation.) Equally galling to the Islamic cleric is the safety of Muslims in the FCT if there was any collaboration with the Israelis. “The Minister of the FCT is a Satanic person,” Gumi said in a packed mosque. “I said it before when he was appointed and some people were grumbling. He has gone and brought the Israeli Ambassador, that’s what someone sent and I am yet to watch it. But what is confirmed is he said

Comprising of eminent northern individuals of both sexes, NCPF declared

they will collaborate with the Israelis on Abuja's security issues. Abuja will now become an extension of Tel Aviv and when they see anyone with a beard like us, they will say it is Bin Laden and we will be killed.” "If Israelis enter this country,” Gumi went on, “there will be a clandestine operation against any outspoken Islamic cleric; we have seen the signs. Why was Sheikh Jaafar killed? May his soul rest in peace. Why did they kill Sheikh Albani? You can see how they are killing; there's a hit list and we have known this for long. Why am I walking with the police? You didn't see me with police during Buhari's government, despite my disagreement with them. It is because of this threat that we applied for police protection and they gave us. Even if the President doesn't like me, he has to give me police protection or else he will be held responsible for my life. "For you to understand, they will bring the MOSSAD into our country. Because of this, Tinubu should know that we know their plan, he must choose. He should remove the Minister of Abuja; if not, we will collide with him. On the

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His eyebrows drawn together in fury and frustration about the very un-presidential appointment of an infidel to a job that should rightly belong to a Muslim, Gumi’s mailed fist came by way of that public pronouncement addressed to the presidency in particular and Nigerians in general

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...Right to Rule that “we totally condemn such unprovoked divisive statements from a divisive element who is seeking to destabilize the peace and unity of our dear county, Nigeria, for selfish reasons. The utterance is toxic and it should not be accepted by any decent and sound-minded person who loves peace and our Nigeria.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his patriotism and political will in appointing a Southerner, the former Governor of Rivers State, as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory after over four decades. It is needful that all patriots and true lovers of the nation, particularly of northern extraction, without equivocation, denounce the dangerous diatribes of Sheikh Gumi and those of his likes, in the national interest.”

A day before, Yekeen Nabena, former deputy national publicity secretary of All Progressives Congress thought Gumi had gone too far with his unprovoked attack on Wike, declaring that “some Northerners’ sense of entitlement is not only dividing the nation but making them see Southerners as inferior to them in a country where everyone is supposed to have equal rights. The people of Niger Delta and Southerners in general will no longer fold their arms while the likes of Sheik Gumi spit on their faces irrespective of political or religious beliefs.”

The MBF also spoke against Gumi. Publicity Secretary of MBF Dr. Pogu Bitrus, began by saying that MBF “would have ignored Gumi’s outburst but for the following cancerous interpretations deducible from the said video clips from other clerics also rendered in Hausa. Gumi’s vulgarity is not just insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians, but a further display of the despicable arrogance associated with Gumi’s Fulani stock who have used state power to capture, manipulate and enthrone themselves over Nigeria and its resources.

“My intervention in the recent controversial statement is not about the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike alone, it is about the rights of the Niger Delta people and the Southerners in general,” Nabena said in his response to Gumi. “At this stage, we expect all the voices of reason to speak out because the sense of entitlement of the likes of Sheik Gumi is becoming more satanic.

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“How can you justify the rationale behind some Northerners heading some positions that are naturally meant for the people of Niger Delta and the South? Up till date, a Northerner is still the GMD of NNPCL. If religious and ethnic bigots like Gumi and others are saying a Southern Christian, especially from the oilrich Niger Delta, cannot hold the positions of FCT Ministry and the Senate President, we demand explanations on what qualifies a Northern Muslim in the leadership of agencies like NIMASA, NNPCL, NPDC, NLNG, NPA, and so on.”

Lacking what should be exemplary self-restraint in a religious leader (think of the Dalai Lama whose bearing in words and deeds remain unimpeachable), Gumi has been feeling quite antsy since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Barrister Nyesom Wike Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in August

All through last week, several other organisations pitched in their response to Gumi. Among them was the Pan Niger Delta Forum and Middle Belt Forum. National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF Dr. Ken Robinson, described Gumi’s divisive statement as “most unfortunate,” especially “when every well-meaning Nigerian should be concerned about the stability, peace, and unity of the country, the likes of Sheikh Gumi are further stoking the embers of discord, certainly, intended to exacerbate tension in the country. It’s utterly despicable that a so-called cleric would fashion himself into a shameless promoter of parochialism and acrimony. “We consider the call for the removal of Chief Nyesom Wike as Minister of FCT, and indeed, any other Niger Deltan, based on wild predispositions, as an indirect poke at the people of the Niger Delta region, and the South-Southgeopolitical zone, in particular, to catechize our stake in the Nigerian state.

of the Niger Delta region, where Nyesom Wike comes from.”

“Perhaps, it is necessary to underscore some unadorned facts Sheikh Gumi is pretending to overlook. Abuja is the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria and not a sectional capital; more so, it (FCT) was developed and continues to be developed with, mainly, the oil and gas resources

Any Nigerian from any of the regions, Robinson suggested, can be appointed to the position of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, noting that Wike is the FCT’s 17th Minister “but only the second Southerner to hold the position in the FCT’s 47-year history…We commend

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“We repeat that history is unequivocal that at no time were the Fulani aborigines (original inhabitants) of the FCT. This is documented and established by all verified historical narrations. We unambiguously condemn the messages contained in these trending video clips calling for the sack of Barr Nyesom Wike as the FCT Minister on account of his faith or where he hails from.” One of the most incisive comments on the Gumi faux pas came late last week from Azu Ishiekwene, editor-in-chief of Leadership newspaper. Headlined “Gumi’s extremism shames decency,” Isheikwene wrote thusly: “His attack came from a much deeper place: resentment that Tinubu who emerged president by the grace of the North had the effrontery to bring an “intruder” into a “sacred ground,” without the approval of the Landlord. This brazen sense of entitlement dressed up as a “religious wrong”, offends decency. It’s unacceptable. Abuja does not need to be saved from Wike. It is against people like Gumi that the capital and the country must now defend itself. The original builders of this place did not conceive of it as the Boys Quarters of one tribe, religion or ethnic group. It was precisely because of this sort of complication which Lagos presented, apart from it becoming a concrete jungle that Abuja was conceived of as the new frontier of national unity.” In the on-going face-off between Wike and Gumi so far, the minister has won all the rounds in the public space. Gumi’s own kin has denied and denounced him. Wike’s own people have stood gallantly behind him. Still, some recall that Wike’s support for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in December 2022 may have provoked Gumi’s explosive pronouncement. “I don’t see any problem with Muslim-Muslim ticket, Christian-Christian or Muslim-Christian tickets,” Wike said in an interview before the presidential elections. “Is that our problem? What we need is synergy among ourselves, among the three arms of government as I am doing in Rivers state now to be able to move our country forward. It’s not about money or resources but how well and careful we are in delivering to our people.”

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Challenges, Positives For Nigeria's Super Falcons in Olympic Qualification BY JUDE OBAFEMI

igeria's senior women's football team appears once again to be hamstrung by the jinx of not making it to the Olympics. The Super Falcons were held to a 1-1 draw by Ethiopia in the first leg of their CAF Women's Olympic qualification match at the Addis Ababa Stadium on Wednesday last week. It was a disappointing result, especially on the back of the team's impressive outing at the FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand between July and August this year.

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The Super Falcons must strive to ensure that failure to qualify for the Olympics is a thing of the past

Oshoala

waldrum

The Addis Ababa match was Nigeria's first competitive game since their quarter-final exit on penalties to England at the World Cup. The Super Falcons, who are ranked 32nd in the world, were expected to dominate their opponents, who are ranked 124th. Yet, they found it hard to break down the resilient Ethiopians. Ethiopia impressively took a shock lead in the fifth minute when Birkie Amare scored from a corner kick from the left. The goal exposed deficiencies in the Nigerian defence, as Amare was left unmarked in the box. The Super Falcons tried to respond after going behind early, but they were frustrated by the organised Ethiopian defence and goalkeeper throughout the first half. Nigeria's captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who plays for Spanish club Atletico Madrid, scored the equaliser in the 49th minute with a stunning long-range strike that left the Ethiopian keeper helpless. Ajibade was one of the few bright spots for Nigeria, as she showed her leadership and

quality throughout the game. However, Nigeria could not find a winner, despite creating some chances in the second half. Gift Monday had a shot blocked in the 27th minute, while Ifeoma Onumonu had a goal disallowed for offside in the 92nd minute after substitute Ngozi Okobi set her through on goal. The result leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg in Nigeria next week. The winner of the tie will advance to the final round of the CAF Olympic qualification, where they will face either Cameroon or Uganda for a spot in the next round of qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Why did the Super Falcons, widely regarded as the best women's football team in Africa, having won nine out of 11 African Women's Championships, struggle against Ethiopia? It is even more eyebrow-raising how a team that also made good work of their time at the World Cup this year, becoming one of the African teams to make it to the quarter-finals, where they lost only on penalties to England. Why then was their performance against Ethiopia far from impressive? The analysis of the match cleared showed that the team lacked cohesion, creativity, and there was an urgency in their play that affected keeping possession of the ball. There is also the high altitude of Addis Ababa to consider, which could affect players not accustomed to playing at such heights. Some of the players who starred at the World Cup failed to replicate their form against Ethiopia. Asisat Oshoala, who is the most decorated African player and who stars impressively at Barcelona, was largely anonymous against Ethiopia. She was profligate with the chances that came her way, including a one-on-one with the goalkeeper before the shot wildly off target. She was rightly substituted with debutant Esther Ajakaye in the 80th minute after an ineffective performance. Chiamaka Nnadozie, despite not being the captain, put up

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...Super Falcons in Olympic Qualification Coach Randy Waldrum was also absent from the match due to his commitments with the University of Pittsburgh women's team in the United States. This likely affected Nigeria's coordination and tactical preparation. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) may need to review Waldrum's contract to ensure more focus on the Super Falcons. Despite their disappointing performance, there were some positives for Nigeria. Ajibade was undoubtedly Nigeria's best player on the day. She scored a superb goal and showed her versatility by playing in different positions. Ajibade started as a winger, then moved to central midfield, and finally played as a striker. Her leadership, technical quality and attacking threat will be crucial for Nigeria in the second leg. Ajibade is only 21 years old but has already established herself as one of Nigeria's most important players.

Ajibade

Still, the Super Falcons will have to raise their game significantly in the second leg against Ethiopia. They will need better concentration and organisation defensively to contain Ethiopia's counters and set pieces. Waldrum, upon his return, will have to improve Nigeria's midfield structure and ball circulation. The team needs to keep possession better and supply the likes of Oshoala and Ajibade in dangerous areas consistently. The experienced players must also step up and produce their best in the second leg. Their quality and decision making in all departments of the game, defence, midfield and attack, will be key.

a strong display as the goalkeeper, making crucial saves and only conceding a goal due to a goalmouth scramble. The defensive line, including Tosin Demehin and Akudo Ogbonna, had a shaky game. Michelle Alozie's energetic effort on the left side did not make a significant impact, while Nicole Payne's return was uneventful. In midfield, Peace Efih excelled in a defensive role, Toni Payne had a solid performance, and the captain Ajibade scored a spectacular goal and pressed effectively. Upfront, Gift Monday was aggressive but could not find the net, and Uchenna Kanu had a poor game, being involved in the opposition's goal.

Nigeria should also use their home advantage well by playing with more pace, urgency and directness in their attack. The support of the home crowd could provide an extra lift if Nigeria plays at a high tempo. Bringing on substitutes like Ajakaye earlier in the match could inject additional energy in attack, if Oshoala continues her blunt form. Tactically, Nigeria may need to press higher up the pitch to pen Ethiopia in their own half.

take qualification for granted. Ethiopia has proven they can threaten Nigeria's Olympic dreams. With the right preparation, motivation and tactics, the Super Falcons are capable of overturning this first leg deficit on home soil. However, they will need to showcase the qualities of African champions versus Ethiopia to avoid a demoralising early impediment against Olympic contention.

If they can tighten up defensively and find their attacking rhythm, Nigeria should still have enough quality to progress to the next round. Yet, they cannot

There have been arguments online that some of the public spat around the issues of match bonuses between the players and coaching staff, on one side, and the NFF, on the other, may have affected performance. The issue of unpaid match bonuses and allowances has been an ongoing challenge for Nigeria's women's national team. The players have often protested delayed or missing payments from the NFF. While the grievances of the players are understandable, the non-payment of bonuses also highlights broader issues affecting women's football development in Nigeria and Africa.

Continued from Back Page

Dear President Tinubu, It's Now Time to Govern - No More Excuses

Tinubu has to strengthen the security forces, equip them with modern weapons and technology, improve their welfare and morale, enhance intelligence gathering and sharing, foster dialogue and reconciliation, and address the root causes of insecurity such as poverty, unemployment, inequality and injustice. The president must again look into state policing. Policing has to be localised to effectively check crime. Other key areas that require the President's attention are electricity and healthcare, amongst others. Nigeria has one of the lowest per capita electricity consumption rates in the world. The country's power sector is plagued by inadequate generation, transmission and distribution capacity, frequent outages and blackouts, high losses and inefficiencies, low tariffs and revenue collection, vandalism and sabotage, and poor governance and regulation. The lack of reliable and affordable power supply has hampered industrialization, productivity, innovation and growth. While the government is facing these challenges, it will require checks. With the Supreme Court judgement the role of checking the Tinubu government falls on Obi and Atiku as the leaders of the opposition. They have to accept the verdict as the final arbiter of the electoral dispute, respect the rule of law and the constitution of Nigeria. However, this does not mean that they have to abandon their principles or their followers. It will be their responsibility to hold Tinubu accountable for his actions or inactions. They have to criticise his policies or programmes that are detrimental to the nation or its people. They have to offer alternative solutions or perspectives that are constructive or beneficial without the bile of negative politics and the angst of payback. They have to play the role of an opposition that is patriotic, but without the bitterness of partisanship. They THEWILLNEWS

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Onumonu

Another positive was goalkeeper Nnadozie, who made some important saves to keep Nigeria in the game. She showed confidence and composure despite Nigeria's defensive struggles. The 22-year-old continues to demonstrate her wealth of quality between the sticks as she does at the club level for Paris FC.

have to cooperate with Tinubu on issues of national importance or consensus even as they oppose him on issues of disagreement or divergence. It will behove them to compete with him on issues of choice or preference. Their role calls for responsible opposition that is democratic to ensure the government of the day does not become dictatorial. They themselves will have to respect the rights and freedoms of Tinubu and his supporters, while seeking to protect their own rights and freedoms from Tinubu's abuse or infringement. In all of these, the goal is to abide by the rules and regulations of the electoral system and the constitution of the country. This means it is their right to be opposition, but without desperation. They have to learn from their mistakes or failures in the past elections, improve their strategies or tactics for future elections and mobilise their supporters accordingly while seeking to attract new ones for future elections. In the end, we must all realise that the Supreme Court judgement has set a clear direction for Nigeria's political future. It has given Tinubu a mandate to govern Nigeria for the next four years. It has given Obi and Atiku a mandate to oppose Tinubu for the next four years. The judgement has also given Nigerians a mandate to hold Tinubu accountable for his governance. It has given Nigerians a mandate to hold Obi and Atiku accountable for their opposition. The judgement has also given Nigerians a mandate to participate in Nigeria's political process. Now, it is time for the hard work of moving Nigeria forward. We are yearning for a productive country just like we had in the 60s and 70s. Nigerians deserve nothing less. On your marks …

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The NFF has claimed that funds for the women's bonuses at this year's World Cup have not come from FIFA and that when they receive them, the players will be duly paid. Indeed, inadequate funding and sponsorship for the women's game contributes to the inability of the Federation to always fulfil bonus obligations on schedule. Unfortunately, women's football still lacks the commercial revenue and government support that the men's game enjoys in Nigeria. However, the Federation also has a duty to the players to be transparent and proactive on bonus matters. Better communication and accountability from the NFF would help build trust with the Super Falcons. The truth is that these ladies deserve fair compensation for their efforts and achievements for the country. There are also wider concerns that unpaid bonuses attract negative publicity that damages the image of the Super Falcons and slows the progress of the women's game. Issues with bonuses risk overshadowing the team's historic achievements. Still, player protests could also be counterproductive if bonuses become the squad's main focus. Football authorities argue that training boycotts and distractions over pay could affect the team’s performance and results. Striking a balance between justified player grievances and the big picture growth of the game will require good faith efforts on all sides. The NFF and its sponsors must prioritise investments in the women's league and youth development. Meanwhile, the players should not allow external issues to affect their performance as they remain role models and ambassadors for women's football in Africa. They must strive to ensure that failure to qualify for the Olympics is a thing of the past.

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Dear President Tinubu, It's Now Time to Govern - No More Excuses T

he Supreme Court of Nigeria has finally put an end to the legal battle over the presidential election of 2023. It has officially drawn to a conclusion the electoral process for that particular poll. The apex court upheld the victory of Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over his challengers, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The court dismissed the petitions filed by Obi and Atiku, who both alleged that the election was marred by irregularities, violence and fraud. The judgement has been welcomed by President Tinubu, his party and his supporters, who celebrated their triumph as a validation of their mandate and a victory for democracy. The President thanked Nigerians for their trust and confidence in him and pledged to work for the unity, peace and progress of the country. He also extended a hand of friendship to his opponents and urged them to join him in the task of nation-building. However, the judgement has been met with disappointment and dismay by Obi and Atiku, their supporters and Nigerians who did not vote for the President, who rejected the verdict as a subversion of the will of the people. Notwithstanding, the Supreme Court judgement has thus brought to a close one of the most contentious and prolonged electoral disputes in Nigeria's history that went as far as District courts in the US. It has also set the stage for a new phase in the country's political landscape, where Tinubu will have to face the daunting challenges of governance, while Obi and Atiku will have to play the role of opposition. Indeed, President Tinubu's victory at the Supreme Court does not mean that he can rest on his laurels or take the people's mandate for granted. Plus, there is definitely no time to gloat. On the contrary, it means that he has to work harder and smarter to deliver on his campaign promises and meet the expectations of all Nigerians. He has to prove that he is not only a successful politician, with a history in Lagos State, but also an effective leader with the capacity to lead a country as diverse and fractious as Nigeria with a chronic and perennial economic problem. It will be obvious to the President by now that he inherited a country facing a myriad of problems that are threatening its stability, security and development. He must therefore train all his focus and the weight of talent at his disposal to dealing with hydra headed problems that have made the people poorer and wiped out hundreds of billions of naira in wealth. The Naira has been on a downward spiral against major currencies for several years. The exchange rate has

reached an all-time low of over NGN1000 per Dollar, making imports more expensive and exports less competitive. This has resulted in even more inflation, unemployment, poverty and hardship for millions of Nigerians. Tinubu has to find ways to stabilise the Naira, boost foreign reserves, diversify the economy and encourage local production. In tandem with that, his government will have to deal with foreign earnings shortages. The scarcity of dollars in the country has been worsened by the decline in oil revenues, which account for over 90 per cent of Nigeria's foreign exchange earnings. Incessant domestic sabotage by bad actors in collaboration with government agents, has reduced Nigeria's income from oil exports. This has affected the ability of the government to fund its budget, pay its debts and meet its obligations. Tinubu has to find alternative sources of revenue, cut wasteful spending, improve fiscal discipline and transparency, and attract quick

foreign investments while working hard to increase oil production to shore up dollar availability. Increasing local fuel production must be the priority of the president and ensuring that all key major federal government owned roads are repaired as a matter of urgency to ease transportation of goods. I was shocked to hear that it takes more than a week for a truck to get to Kano from Lagos because bad roads. This should not be happening. Despite previously being Africa's largest oil producer, Nigeria, which has been overtaken by Angola, still relies heavily on importing refined petroleum products for domestic consumption. This is because all four of our refineries are not operational due to poor maintenance, sabotage, mismanagement and corruption. The importation of fuel consumes a huge chunk of Nigeria's foreign exchange earnings, exposes the country to global price fluctuations and creates opportunities for smuggling and subsidy fraud. Tinubu has to revive the refineries, support private sector involvement in refining, as I have always advocated, reduce fuel importation and permanently stop subsidy, while promoting alternative sources of energy. This will mean effecting a prudent and purposeful stoppage of oil theft. Nigeria loses billions of dollars every year to oil theft or illegal bunkering. This is a criminal activity that involves tapping into pipelines or wells to syphon crude oil or refined products for sale in local or international markets. In some cases it involves illegally loading crude from the main terminals and not reporting it with the activate connivance of rogue oil company employees, security personnel and officials from the regulator agencies. Oil theft causes environmental damage, pipeline explosions, revenue loss, security threats and social unrest. Tinubu has to crack down on oil thieves, prosecute offenders, protect pipelines and wells, enhance surveillance and monitoring and collaborate with neighbouring countries to curb cross-border smuggling. Related to this issue is the responsibility of this government to improve security. We are currently grappling with various forms of insecurity that pose serious challenges to our peace and stability as a country. These include terrorism by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), banditry and kidnapping by armed groups, communal clashes and farmer-herder conflicts, unknown gunmen, secessionist agitations and militancy in the Niger Delta, and cultism and gang violence in urban areas. These security threats have claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions of people, affected farmers, destroyed property and infrastructure, and disrupted economic and social activities. Continues on Page 47

Indeed, President Tinubu's victory at the Supreme Court does not mean that he can rest on his laurels or take the people's mandate for granted. Plus, there is definitely no time to gloat. On the contrary, it means that he has to work harder and smarter to deliver on his campaign promises and meet the expectations of all Nigerians PAGE 48

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