2023: www.thewillnigeria.com THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA PAGE 16 ‘Access Nigeria’BankingSustainableLeadingBankin PAGE 16 *APC Dominance in Northwest Shaky *Atiku's Growing Influence, Major Concern *No Cause For Alarm – Ruling Party is MostFashion’sReveredMiddleperson Price: N250 SEPTEMBER 04 - SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 • VOL . 2 NO. 36 … pages 29-30 WHERE ARE THE WRITER POLITICIANS IN NIGERIA? Panic in Tinubu’s Camp OverBuhari's Waning Influence Q2 GDP: DBN’s Support SectorSMEsProspectsHoldsForinRealGrowth LAOYENIKKI SNATCHA& Finding Love a Second Time PAGE 22
It’s much like what our cover personality this week speaks about. Many busy women seek stylists’ services for several reasons, ranging from leaving a marriage to holding a new position in a job and, as such, need to look the part.
I like to think of stylists as wardrobe psychologists; they guide you towards the answers you seek when expressing who you are with your clothes. Although, as with psychologists, not everyone needs one, those who know when they do immediately seek help. That’s precisely what Veronica Ebie does for the clients that she styles; she takes the stress of figuring out how to dress off your back, so you have one less thing to worry about in your most likely very busy life. Who wouldn’t want that? I certainly do. Until next week, enjoy your read. Onah Nwachukwu Editor, THEWILL @onahluciaaDOWNTOWN +2349088352246
SEPTEMBER 04 - SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 THEWILL NEWSPAPER www.thewillnigeria.com THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA IS WHOLLYNOWDIGITAL is MiddlepersonMostFashion’sRevered Say Hello GrammytoAwardNominee RamadanHydratedToFruitsHelpYouStayThis THIS SOUND CONNOISSEUR WAS BORN FOR MUSIC AppearanceSpectrumAustismDisorder5EasyStepstoReduceTheofDarkCirclesDiscoverTheHealingPowerOfSoundBathsWhatYouShouldKnowAboutBye-ByeRacoonEyes Pressure?Under New Edition Available Every Sunday @ 6am Nigerian Time Scan the QR Code to Download current edition Scan The QR Code to Read on Website Or Visit www. thewilldowntown.com Scan The QR Code to Read on Issuu @insignamediaOshalusiKolaPhoto:Makeup:Zaron
Ihave often been of the school of thought that simplicity is the key to elegance. Yet, another part of me tends to want to be dramatic with my wardrobe and, from time to time, go for pieces that don’t necessarily match my personality. It’s almost the same when it comes to colours. I started being in love with red, and I gravitated more towards burnt orange and green as I grew older. Or so I thought until my page planner from an old job said, “You like the colour blue.” I instantly corrected him, saying, ‘No! I like burnt orange, white and green.’ He responded, “You wear blue three out of five days at work, every week. I returned to my wardrobe and realised he was right; my workwear came in blue and cream or white, but my casual outfits were burnt orange, green, and some whites. At that point, I sought the help of a friend and stylist. She made me understand that I had compartmentalised my life and subconsciously picked blue every time I shopped for office wear and, for relaxed outings, chose those other colours. We began reorganising my wardrobe colour choices to suit colours and silhouettes that I loved, reflecting who I had become in my professional life, an Editor-in-Chief, yet complimenting the person I was at that stage in my personal life.
SEPTEMBER 04 - SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
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Panic in Tinubu’s Camp Over Buhari's Waning Influence
President Muhammadu Buhari, despite promising to work for the party, appears to be undecided, no thanks to fallouts from the June 6, 2022 presidential convention.
Those few days of political maneuvering actually polarised the party into two hostile camps.
the committee on the face are three crucial challenges.
SEPTEMBER 04 - SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 THEWILL NEWSPAPER • www.thewillnigeria.com PAGE 7THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA
BY AMOS ESELE WITH TUNDE IMOLEHIN IN SOKOTO
*APC Dominance in Northwest Shaky *Atiku's Growing Influence, Major Concern *No Cause For Alarm – Ruling Party 2023:
“I was in Dawakin-Kudu Local Government Area in Kano State last week and I could not see any of Tinubu’s campaign posters.
“The president has not been disposed to Tinubu from day one in office, treating him and his associates badly. Look at the way the Federal Government is handling the ASUU matter for instance and some policies that make Nigerians feel undisposed to the party makes you wonder whether they really want the candidate to win.
COVER
THEWILL recalled that the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, who was ceded a 40-day executive power to oversee the processes toward holding the presidential convention, had publicly declared Lawan’s consensus candidature only for 13 out of the 19 governors from the North to vote against it in favour of Tinubu, whose claim to the ticket, had added insult to injury.
BEGINNING OF THE PROBLEM
“President Buhari has said he would work for the party’s victory, though, his popularity in the North is a far cry from what it was between 2003 and 2015 when most of those who won elections rode to victory on his popularity.
Roughly three weeks to the official kick-off of electioneering campaigns on September 28, 2022, the Presidential Campaign Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is in a panic mode. The North, where the party's electoral fortunes rest, with majority governors and a huge voting population, is shaky, causing the committee to rethink its strategy and take a firm stand on issues that would resonate with the people across social Starringstrata.
THEWILL has learned that the defeat of the party’s consensus candidate, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, still hurts as Buhari is said not to be doing enough in selling the candidacy of Tinubu to his northern folk.
“It is too early to say these things. Campaign has not started and campaign is not conducted on social media. I read a report that one of the presidential candidates went to a state and was booed, but his party has explained that it was not so.
Kawu said, “President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed to lead the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (ABAT) APC presidential campaign. That was announced a couple of weeks ago. The statistics we have show that the most enthusiastic support base for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket is actually the North.”
However, the Acting Coordinator of Asiwaju Volunteers in Sokoto State, a support group on the platform of APC, Dr Yakubu Meccido, said no amount of tribal and religious sentiment would stop the party from winning the 2023 presidential election.
"We saw this as one of the major attributes of being a good leader and a way of payback.nThat is why we felt he should be supported to a higher political level. We have been working tirelessly to canvas votes for his candidature among our women folk.
Impeccable sources in the North also said that the loss of APC’s grip on the grassroots through the President’s waning infuence and popularity brings the next challenge causing panic in the Tinubu camp. Kano, which is reputed for turning in massive and decisive votes in millions, for the ruling party, is far from being certain for the APC at the moment.
SENTIMENTS AT THE GRASSROOTS
President Buhari has said he would work for the party’s victory, though, his popularity in the North is a far cry from what it was between 2003 and 2015 when most of those who won elections rode to victory on his “Ipopularity.wasinDawakin-Kudu Local Government Area in Kano State last week and I could not see any of Tinubu’s campaign posters “
For elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, Second republic Political Adviser to President Shehu Shagari, though the APC may be faulted on so many grounds during its seven years in office, its elite still dominate things in the North to give Tinubu a brighter chance vis-à-vis other candidates.
Our correspondent reports that such concerns expressed by political pundits, party supporters and religious leaders across the northern states were hinged on religion, health and ethnic sentiments.
A viral video authored by a Kaduna-based Islamic preacher, Sheikh Ibrahim Aliyu Kaduna, speaks to the rising sentiments among the electorate. In the video, the Sheikh had faulted the northern elite for betraying what he called the North’s political interest by working for the emergence of the APC standard bearer.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, an APC governor, was very cautious in his optimism last Friday.
Also, former military leaders, Ibrahim Babangida, Aliyu Gusau and Abdusallami Abubakar, are believed to be leading the mobilisation for Atiku.
A Kaduna-based politician and Women Leader of the party, Hon. Hadiza Ladi Yahuza, said the bloc votes needed for the party’s presidential candidate will be coming from the northern electorate.
ATIKU'S GROWING INFLUENCE/ ACCEPTABILITY THEWILL also gathered that the growing influence and acceptability of the PDP Presidential candiate, Atiku Abubakar, in the North is already making the Tinubu Campaign team jittery. THEWILL authoritatively gathered that Buhari's people are defecting from the APC to the PDP. His relative in the House of Representatives, Fatuhu Mohammed, representing Daura/Sandamu/ Maiadua Federal Constituency of Katsina State, has defected to PDP just as the Senator representing his constituency,Katsina North, Senator Ahmed Baba- Kaita, has also defected to PDP. Only last week, some 19,500 APC members in same Katsina North Senatorial District, defected enmasse to PDP. This, amongst many other underhand happenings in the APC in the north, is believed to be scaring Tinubu and his campaign, a development that made the Presidency to issue a statement affirming that Buhari will work for Tinubu.
"But our leaders have decided to choose otherwise by ensuring the emergence of a particular candidate,” Sheikh Ibramin laments in Hausa, apparently referring to Tinubu.
“I am not saying the party is not popular as the governor whose deputy is the candidate would want to work for the party’s victory. I am saying that Tinubu must begin to distance himself from Buhari’s policies and if they do not work hard, they know what will happen to them,” a seasoned journalist from the North, who craved anonymity, told THEWILL on Friday.
...Panic In Tinubu’s Camp Over Buhari's Waning Influence
The cleric, in a 3-minute clip, which was obtained by THEWILL, told his congregation what good Muslim faithful should look out for in electing a leader.
TOO EARLY TO PREDICT – NASARAWA GOVERNOR
He said, "We have deployed grassroots politicians who believe in detribalised politics. Honestly speaking, as far as we are concerned in Sokoto, we don't think of religious or tribal beliefs when it comes to playing politics. This has been our stance in the past elections and this forthcoming general election wouldn't be an exception."
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With the insecurity question, mixed reactions have continued to trail the level of acceptance of Tinubu among the northern electorate, ahead of the general elections.
“APC has been in power for seven years. It does appear that Tinubu still has the support of the majority of the state governors in the North and where he comes from, the SouthWest. These are two views anybody can see for themselves. I am just a human being and you are entitled to your opinion.”
He added that the region would never play politics based on religious inclination, saying that Tinubu would get “at least 80 percent of e northern votes."
It is too early for anybody to say this candidate is going to win and that one is going to lose. Let the campaign start and we will see,” he said.
BUHARI'S WANING INFLUENCE
Added to this, is former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau’s recent defection, first from the APC to NNPP and now to PDP, after holding failed talks with Tinubu. The massive reception to welcome Shekarau back to the PDP in Kano is already a cause for concern in the Tinubu camp. This is believed to have greatly affected the party’s grip on Kano, now considered a three-pronged party affair ahead of the 2023 general election, with Shekarau, former Kano governor and NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwakwanso and his Kwankwasiyya Movement sharing the state with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje with a possible ripple effect across the North-West states of Jigawa, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi.
Emphasising that he was no party man but entitled to give his candid opinion, he told THEWILL that the majority of the state governors on the platform of the governing party are still with Tinubu.
She described Tinubu as a frontline politician who has been building human capacity in politics.
Also, Bayo Onanuga, Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Organisation, could not be reached as his telephone line did not go through when THEWILL called on However,Friday. the Deputy Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, told THEWILL that the party was holding on to its base in the North and any story to the contrary was untrue.
"I also know the efforts made by the Northern Senators' Forum headed by distinguished Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko. These are the frontier in this journey and I know that with their support, experience and guidance, APC will become victorious in the general election," Yahuza told THEWILL.
He said, “In the North, people are very unhappy about the insecurity, which has defied solutions. And that will affect the chances of the APC in the North. In the North-West, the problem is banditry and kidnapping. In the Northeast, the lingering challenge posed by Boko Haram still persists.”
The third challenge facing the Tinubu group, THEWILL gathered, is the prevailing sentiments among the grassroots, which, for the first time in a long time, are finding it hard to follow the elite as in the past. Media Adviser to Senator Shekarau, Malam Sule Yau, told THEWILL that the three –pronged problem of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism and the general feeling of insecurity in the North has created a great roadblock for the APC, an assessment that made his boss to reject going back to the party and defect to the PDP.
To make a statement of the party’s firm grip on the state, Tinubu had held a pre-presidential convention outing there with fanfare. Former Representative, Abdulmumin Jibril, an erstwhile Tinubu campaign coordinator in the North, who gathered 1,000 Imams to pray for Tinubu’s success at the polls, has also defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
"I would like to state that the northern elite have betrayed us. Before you choose a leader, you must look for three qualities which dwell on sound health, devotion in Islam and being a trustworthy person.
"We have gone through very transparent primaries and came up with very competent, experienced and acceptable candidates. We have the united front of our Governors' Forum to work for the victory of our presidential candidate is an added advantage.
NO CAUSE FOR ALARM – APC Attempts to reach the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr Felix Morka, failed as he was unreachable.
Mohammed said.
“A strong civil service is required for the implementation of the policies and programmes of government for the social economic development of the state.
“It is for this reason that government used merit in the appointment of permanent secretaries.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday felicitated its vice presidential candidate for 2023,Sen. Kashim Shettima ,on his 56th birth anniversary.
He said the Borno Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) had deployed 35 environmental workers to facilitate effective supervision and conduct of the “Theexercise.total direct beneficiaries of the project is 735 with over 100,000 indirect beneficiaries across the three selected communities..
The project, he said would control flood, clear waste, enhance sanitation as well as improve the social and economic wellbeing of the Accordingpeople.to him, the organisation has cleared over 125 kilometers of drain in the communities under the 2019 and 2021 exercises. (NAN)
to the party, the former twoterm governor of Borno, is a key asset needed for the important task of achieving a harmonious and prosperous Nigeria.
“This initiative has brought about remarkable improvement in the service delivery in the state,” he said.
“As a former governor, senator and banker, Shettima’s administrative and professional accomplishments have set him apart. “He is eminently capable and ready for the job of running mate to our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the upcoming 2023 general elections, “As he marks his 56th birthday anniversary, we pray that God grants Sen. Shettima wisdom and many more healthy years in service of our country and humanity,” it said.
Flood: ICRC Engages 700 Youths For Drain Clearance in Borno
It said Shettima, through his progressive politics, had made friends across all the country’s geo-political and religious Accordingdivides.
L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, meets with the Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris, at the White House in Washington D.C., USA on September 2, 2022.
Mohammed, who lauded the judiciary for effective service delivery, also applauded the organised labour for its cordial relationship with the state government as well as making sure that neither the government nor the labour force was shortchanged.
“So far, I want to confess that I have seen improved productivity in the service because of the calibre of the permanent secretaries we have,”
"Beyond this, he has assisted hundreds with payment of their WAEC and JAMB registration fees, as well as providing bursary to indigent students that are in various higher institutions across the "Simplycountry.
Mohammed urged the permanent secretaries to continue to do their best in the discharge of their responsibilities by being upright and dedicated to duties.
Jarigbe's Projects Spread Across 54 Wards in C’River North – Group
The Convener of the group, Jimmy Aninege and the Secretary, Ben Abang, said the group had resolved to mobilise funds to advance the re-election of HeJarigbe.noted that beyond influencing people-oriented projects across the senatorial districts, the lawmaker had empowered thousands of people in the district with scholarship awards and jobs, among others.
The party, in a statement issued by Mr Felix Morka, its National Publicity Secretary in Abuja ,described Shettima as a bridge builder and patriot.
He added that the civil service had come to a level where the state government was including it in whatever it was doing.
He said that the mobilisation of funds and canvassers that would campaign across the five local government areas of the Cross River North Senatorial District was meant to ensure that the re-election bid of Jarigbe did not fail. He added that it was their own way of appreciating the senator who has contributed in no small measure to the development of the senatorial district.
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GintoPresentsMohammedCarsPermSecsBauchi
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other beneficiaries of the cars were the judicial officers with six cars as well as the Bauchi State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) which received four of the Speakingvehicles.during the presentation, the governor said that the vehicles were meant to assist the beneficiaries in the discharge of their official responsibilities and also to serve as a catalyst for improved productivity for the benefits of the citizens of the state.
This is contained in a statement by Mr Musa Aliyu, Project Field Officer, Cash-for-Work project, on Friday in Maiduguri. He said the organisation had engaged the youths for desilt exercise at Bulumkutu, Dala and Bulabulin communities in Maiduguri and Jere Local Government Areas of the state.
ov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State on Friday presented 32 new Suzuki Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to 22 Permanent Secretaries in the state.
In his vote of thanks, Alhaji Yahuza Haruna, the state Head of Civil Service, appreciated the state governor for the ‘kind gesture’ and bringing the muchneeded intervention into the civil Heservice.assured that the civil service would put in its best to help the administration achieve more in the Hestate. however, reminded all the beneficiaries of the vehicles that to whom much is given, much is expected. (NAN)
“The objective is to support and create temporary employment opportunities in the communities by engaging the most vulnerable to conduct of desilt exercise, and earn an income to enable them to cater for their needs,” he said.
The Coalition 4 Good Governance in Cross River State, a sociopolitical group, has lauded the impactful representation of Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe in the National TheAssembly.group said that Jarigbe, who represents Cross River North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, had projects spread across the 54 Wards in the district and five local government areas of the state.
Aninege attributed Jarigbe's empowerment programme to the reason why there is a reduction in the crime rate in the senatorial. "This empowerment programme has benefitted hundreds of people who he (Jarigbe) assisted with federal jobs and thousands of others who have benefitted from scholarship awards at primary, secondary and tertiary education levels.
put, Senator Jarigbe has shown capacity to deliver even at his youthful age. He was the first individual in Cross River North to swing into action, following the outbreak of COVID-19, by providing hand sanitisers, face masks and hand-gloves for his constituents.
FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR
APC Celebrates Shettima at 56 T he International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it has engaged 700 youths for conduct of drain clearance exercise to control perennial flood in Borno.
"Jarigbe supplied palliatives (food items) to the Leprosy Hospital in Ogoja during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are indeed happy and ready to provide this assistance for him to continue providing that good governance that the senatorial district has long yearned for," he stated.
Former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, last Monday returned to the PDP in what political analysts described as a vital instrument in the 2023 general election.
POLITICS
Shekarau dumped the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was welcomed to the latter by its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other leaders of the PDP, including former Vice President, Namadi Sambo; National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu; Deputy National Chairman, Illiya Damagum; Governor of Sokoto State and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal; Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku; former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; former governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna; and former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, among Speakingothers at the ceremony organised to welcome him to the PDP, Shekarau stated that he joined the PDP along with his supporters and promised to deliver the state to the party in 2023.
The struggle for the control of Kano therefore remains very important to all the major presidential candidates.
Analysts believe that what PDP must do now is to go all out to secure the North for Atiku and turn the regions controlled by other presidential candidates into the battlefield. The party’s inroad in Kano may be part of a bigger picture, which may leave the governing APC worried.
Many leaders of the party from the South were at first opposed to the decision to field a northerner in the person of Atiku, despite the fact that another northerner was already enjoying two terms at the helm of the country, but those rooting for a presidential candidate from the North triumphed in the end.
Before Shekarau’s defection, Atiku Abubakar seemed to have been schemed out of contention in the state. The NNPP seemed to have the upper hand, with two former governors of the state running its affairs. The APC is the governing party in the state and the incumbent Governor Abdullahi Ganduje is a close ally of the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The question one needs to ask is this: Can Shekarau deliver Kano State to the PDP? Can he walk the talk? How capable is he to deliver the state that also has another former state governor, Kwankwaso, as the presidential candidate of the NNPP and the incumbent Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in the ruling APC.
The Emir of Kano, Late Alhaji Ado Bayero, conferred on him the title of Sardauna of Kano, now of the leading emirate councilors.
So looking at this background, one will realise that Shekarau’s movement to the PDP has also given the party a stake in Kano’s electoral configuration. That the next presidential election will be a keenly contested one between the APC and the PDP, is admitting the obvious. APC currently controls four of the five states with the most registered voters. They are Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina States, while Rivers State, which is under the control of the PDP is looking shaky due to a crisis arising from the manner the with which the party picked its vice presidential candidate. Can Shekarau deliver Kano State to the PDP? Can he walk the talk?
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It would also be recalled that immediately Shekarau showed signs of pulling out of the NNPP, the leadership of the APC also held talks with him on the possibility of joining their party, but in the end, Shekarau refused their entreaties and joined the PDP.
He is reputed to have large followings in Kano State even after he left office as the governor.
Shekarau’s Defection to PDP And Political Implications
BY AYO ESAN Shekarau
Still unresolved, the crisis has pitted an aggrieved Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State against the party and Atiku. It is feared that it might affect the performance of the PDP in Rivers as rival political parties appear to be subtly making overtures to Shekarau’sWike.
While welcoming him, Atiku expressed the belief that Shekarau would help the PDP to remove the governing All Proressives Congress (APC) from power. Okowa hailed Shekarau’s decision to join the PDP and expressed delight that the party was “working to build stronger alliances with capable leaders, ahead of the 2023 general election.”
With Shekarau now in its fold, the PDP has started the journey to victory in the 2023 general election on a solid note. First, the defection has reduced the influence of the NNPP in Kano nay the North, a region considered as its strong hold.
Born November 5, 1955, Shekarau is, no doubt, an experienced grassroots politician. He was a former Minister of Education and two-term governor of Kano State. He was elected in April 2003 and re-elected in April 2007. He was one of the candidates who aspired to become president in the 2011 presidential election, which was eventually won by Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP. He was the driving force behind the creation of the local religious police, the "Hisbah Guard", which enforces Sharia Law in Kano. Shekarau initiated some large scale development projects in Kano. He also hosted some world leaders like the former German Chancellor Schroeder and Prince Charles, among others.
However, it would be recalled that Shekarau had already made a move to the PDP when he dumped the APC in 2014, a few months before the 2015 general election. His movement could not bring the desired change as the party’s candidate and incumbent President; Goodluck Jonathan polled 215,799 votes while Buhari polled 1,903,999 votes in Kano state. Political Implication of Shekarau’s defection Kano is one of the three states with the highest numbers of registered voters. The others are which Lagos and Kaduna. In fact, with 6, 026,850 registered voters, Kano is second to Lagos which has 7,155,920 registered voters.
return to the PDP has given the opposition the opportunity to put itself out there as a serious contender for the 2023 presidential election. Before the PDP presidential primary, the majority of the party’s leaders believed that in order to win the majority of votes in the North, they needed to field a northerner as presidential candidate. So it would not be out of place to say that the joy expressed by the leadership when Shekarau decided to pitch his tent with the PDP was justified.
However, with the NNPP also holding political heavyweights, Kano’s votes can be considered as uncertain for any political party.
Announcing his defection, Shekarau had said, “I, Ibrahim Shekarau, hereby inform you that from Monday, August 29, 2022, my supporters and I have dumped the NNPP and joined the PDP,” he said.
How capable is he to deliver the state that also has another former state governor, Kwankwaso, as the presidential candidate of the NNPP and the incumbent Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in the ruling APC “
“How can the national chairman, the candidate and the chairman of the BOT all come from the North. What will the South say to its people?”
George expressed the opinion that occupation of key party offices only by the North, a position corroborated by the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, is not in tandem with the founding principle of the party, which was based on regional Speakingbalancing.inPortHarcourt,
Also an ally of Wike and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, said Ayu won his position on the basis of the PDP constitution and knows the right thing to do to save the party.
“Yes, the children brought you to be chairman of the party. The children brought you from the gutter to make you chairman. Ayu, you were impeached as Senate President. You were sacked by Obasanjo during his administration. Arrogance cannot take you anywhere. Now, we have seen that you don’t want the party to win the election. We will help you,” Wike addressed Ayu.
“If others had left the party in 2007 like Ayu did, will there be a PDP for him to preside over with an aura of arrogance as he is doing? PDP was formed in 1998 and as at that time, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State would be 32 years. So in the estimation of Ayu, a 32 year-old man is a kid?
The crisis rocking the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is getting messy as the party’s National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, who is at the centre of the crisis, has said that those who were calling for his resignation were still children when he and other persons founded the party.
I stood for election and I was voted for by Nigerians
It would be recalled that at a recent London meeting with PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, Wike and his supporters insisted on Ayu’s resignation from office and a commitment that Atiku will serve for only one term if he emerges president.
According to him, what Wike is asking for is the right thing, in the interest of justice, peace and unity of the party.
Was he not just 40 years-old? Was he not a Minister at 44? Did he not also come back to be minister at 57? So when he was Senate
Continues on page 13
POLITICS
The altercation between Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Ayu may clearly aggravate the crisis currently rocking the party. It may elongate the crisis further, rather than cooling it, with a few days left to the September 28 date for the kick-off of Presidential /National Assembly campaigns.
He warned that if Ayu refuses to resign, it may cost the PDP the 2023 presidential election.
“You can imagine what power can do. You can imagine how ingratitude — how people can be ingrates in their lives. I thought that as the chairman of a political party who wants to win elections, your business is to bring peace to your party, not to divide your party. Your business is not to show arrogance to your party.
Other state governors in Wike’s camp demanding Ayu’s resignation are Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom of Benue and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia). The governors argue that since the presidential candidate of the party is from the North, the National Chairman cannot come from the same region.
A socio-political group, the One Nigeria Movement (ONM) has said that it is uncharitable and the height of arrogance for the PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to describe those calling for his resignation as people who were children when the party was being formed.
“I don’t know why it is difficult for him to make the sacrifice that the PDP needs now to move forward.”
According to a statement on Wednesday, by its ConvenerGeneral, Ahmed Sodiq-Mugoro and Secretary, Babatunde Aliyu, ONM, the group described Ayu as a father who left his house and abandoned his children only to come back years after and be claiming authority over the house that the children he abandoned prevented from collapsing.
Wike, Ayu Face-off Deepens PDP Crisis
Wike and his camp want a southerner as party chairman since the party’s presidential candidate is from the North, as stated in the party’s constitutional provision on power rotation.
Also beyond the Wike group, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George had also called for Ayu’s resignation to ensure the balancing of party offices along the North-South divide.
Nwuke said, “There are over 40 million youths, who are going to vote in the 2023 election and those are the people Ayu is calling children. It means that children will vote in this election and children may punish people like him for not keeping to the rules of “Itengagement.isamazingthat a national chairman of a political party, such as the PDP, will make such an unguarded comment. It is a shame. It shows how power-drunk some of these people are. “Now, Ayu claims that he won an election. Nobody is going to argue with that. He won on the basis of the party’s constitution. What does the constitution say? I think Ayu is just trying to be clever by half. He won on the basis of power rotation.”
According to him, now that there is a northern presidential candidate, the only reasonable thing to do is that the constitution recognises the fact that when the presidency is in the North, the chairmanship will be in the South.
The group said it was funny that the same Ayu, who abandoned PDP for Action Congress (AC) in 2007 and worked against the PDP, can still refer to himself as founding father of the party.
I was elected as PDP national chairman for a four-year term and I have spent up to one year. So the call for my resignation is uncalled for. The election of Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate cannot affect my election as national chairman, even if the candidate is from Benue State.
Rivers State capital, on Thursday, George said it was unfair for the National Chairman, [presidential candidate and Chairman BoT of the PDP to be from the same Heregion.said the right thing to do is for Ayu to vacate his seat before election campaigns begin, as it will not be right to go into the campaigns with a divided house.
“It is very unfortunate that the national chairman of an opposition party can sound this arrogant. The current situation in the party has only brought to the fore the fact that these spent forces, who hitherto were in political dungeons and were suddenly resuscitated, are full of envy of those who brought them to power.
“
BY AYO ESAN
Also a close associate of Wike told THEWILL , on the condition of anonymity, that the PDP national chairman had before now agreed to step down from office if the presidential candidate of the party emerged from the North.
Ayu has said that he will not resign his position because he sees no reason for him to do so. He reiterated his resolve not to resign but serve out his four-year tenure, saying that Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as presidential candidate does not affect his position as National Chairman of the party.
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Ayu Wike
Speaking last Thursday at the inauguration of roads in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Wike said those who Ayu described as children were the ones who made him chairman of the party.
Wike had earlier said that the PDP won’t get votes from Rivers State without a clear reward. His group has criticised Ayu over his comments, telling him to respect the party’s constitution on power rotation and stop being power-drunk.
“As at 1992, when Ayu was Senate President, how old was he?
What Tinubu has done to nonYoruba speaking people in Lagos will be in his advantage. Look at the state cabinet, we have Igbo, we have Hausa and representatives of other people from the North-Central . I am from the North-Central. So you can see that Tinubu doesn’t discriminate against anybody or tribe.
Senator Bola Tinubu’s emergence as the presidential candidate of the APC is the best thing to have happened not only to the party but also the country. If you are talking about anybody who can make a positive impact in politics and governance, Asiwaju Tinubu is the one.
Let us look at the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the APC. What do you think his candidacy portends for Nigeria?
POLITICS INTERVIEW
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has done tremendously well. I believe that when you are doing what you should do for the common man, God will reward you. People are willing to vote for him.
So Tinubu, who is our candidate, will enjoy tremendous support across the nooks and crannies of the country. Don’t judge our chances by what recently happened in Osun State. That is just an exemption. We are going to coast home to victory in North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-West, South-East and South-South. We are going to win. So no other candidate can match Tinubu. How solid is APC in Lagos State as you prepare for the general election? We are doing well. For instance, I am one of the leaders of the ethnic nationalities in the party. I have been with Asiwaju for the past 15 years. In my hometown, they only believe in APC, nothing more and no other party.
One of your members in APC, Dr Jide Adediran (Jandor), is now the governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State and he is boasting that the PDP will win the governorship race . What is your reaction to that? Jandor cannot win the election. You are just overrating him. What is his strength? He doesn’t have any strength. He is just like one councillor in APC and he moved away. He cannot deliver any vote. You will see it and I am assuring you that the PDP cannot make any impact in the forthcoming governorship election in Lagos State.
The North-Central people in Lagos State will give block Kpatako
PDP leadership in Lagos State are boasting that they will win all elections in the state. How do you see their threat?
votes to Tinubu and Governor Sanwo-Olu. We have been doing it in the past. We will still do it again. We are working and we know what we are doing. Please forget the noise on social media. We are going to win the Ourelection.partyleaders should unite. There is no party that doesn’t go through a crisis, but when it arises, we should settle it peacefully. The reconciliation committee is doing well to bring unity to the party. This is the month we are waiting for, the month of the beginning of the campaigns. What is your advice to INEC as we get set for the forthcoming elections?
Alhaji Mohammed Kpatako is a member of the Lagos State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is also the Chairman, North Central Community in Lagos State. In this interview with AYO ESAN, he speaks on the issues as they affect Lagos and the country as a whole. Excerpts:
Nigerians Should Elect Tinubu For Better Life – Kpatako
If you look at Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP, how optimistic are you that Tinubu will win the presidential election come February next year? Election time is getting near. If you took a closer look at politics in the country, you would discover that victory is a done deal for the APC, by the Grace of God. I hope you remember that the APC is the ruling party in the country.
For me, the emergence of Asiwaju as the presidential candidate of the APC is a positive development for the country. The country needs his experience and we believe that he can deliver the country from the multifaceted problems facing it at the moment. There was a day he came to address us in Lagos, that was before the primary, and he assured us that by the Grace of God, he would get there and God would see him through. We are happy about his emergence and we thank God for that. What Tinubu has done in Lagos is a testimony to what he will do at the national level if he is elected. Thank God, Lagos is cosmopolitan. To some of us, none of the other aspirants are close to him in terms of achievements.
Honestly, the PDP cannot win an election in Lagos. The structure of APC in Lagos is well founded and with what we have been able to put together since 1999, PDP cannot match us. What we have, they don’t have “
Governor Sanwo- Olu has also got a second term ticket. What are you people doing towards ensuring that he secures a second term in office?
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As the leader of the North-Central group in Lagos APC. How are you carrying them along and what role are they playing in the progress of Lagos APC?
Let them do the election right. We are not soliciting for their support, but they should be impartial and live up to their name by being truly independent.
You know we have different tribes in the North-Central. We have Nupe, Igala, Tiv, Idoma and so on. Initially when we came on board, we came on board as one tribe, Nupe. When Fashola came on board in 2007 we now invited other tribes into our fold, Igala and Ebira, among others. But today, the North-Central is now the largest platform among ethnic nationalities in the Lagos APC. You know we also have the Igbo Community and the Arewa Community in the party.
He has emerged as the APC presidential candidate and we thank God for that. Though as human beings we have different opinions on issues and everybody is free to express his opinion, but the majority of the members of the APC are happy that Tinubu has secured the party’s ticket and they are waiting for Election Day when they will elect him.
Honestly, the PDP cannot win an election in Lagos. The structure of APC in Lagos is well founded and with what we have been able to put together since 1999, PDP cannot match us. What we have, they don’t have.
President at 40, was he called a kid? Was he a kid when he was a minister at 44?
L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Erelu bisi Fayemi; Chief of Staff to the Governor/ Celebrant, Mr Tolu Ibitola and his wife, Mrs Bolanle Ibitola, during a thanksgiving service to mark Tolu Ibitola’s 40th birthday in Ado-Ekiti August 28,2022.
He stressed that even if the presidential candidate had come from his native Benue State, it still would not have affected his tenure in Heoffice.said, “I stood for election and I won the election and I am fixing the party. I have not stolen anything. I have not committed any offence. We will not allow one person to come and spoil the party for us with frivolous calls and conditions.
The friction between Atiku and Wike started shortly after the former picked Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate over the Rivers State governor, who was said to have the backing of most party leaders and a committee that was set up to screen those picked for the post of vice presidential Thecandidate.lingering crisis has rendered the birthing of the PDP Presidential Council, ahead of the commencement of presidential campaigns on September 28, impossible.
Fayemi, at the Town Hall meeting, took the listeners down the memory lane; sharing how the GBV response programmes and law started in Ekiti and grew to the point where it was institutionalised.
“The party has enjoyed overwhelming support from Nigerians across the world and even non Nigerians alike.
She said the VAPP/GBV Prohibition Law is now established as a comprehensive legal framework that protects women and promotes a culture where women could live freely and safely.
“To us, elders like Ayu, who look down on the people around them, as if they are his children, are not fit to be at the helm of affairs of reasonable people and we blame the likes of Governor Wike for bringing him out of his farm where he was already living as a retired politician and made him PDP chairman,” the group said.
He said, “I have the honour to inaugurate the committee we have put in place on Diaspora.
He urged the committee to carry out their duties in good faith without fear or favour, be transparent and accountable.
Amadichi said that 2023 is a special election year because it is an election that all Nigerians both home and in Diaspora are fully involved in to see the birth of a new nation .
She said that the violence negatively impacted women’s health and the general well-being, adding it also has negative effects on the country’s political and socioeconomic development. “The objectives of Stop-VAWIP campaign are to raise awareness about the harmful effects of violence against women in politics and engage relevant stakeholders to mitigate it.
“It is also to encourage women to actively participate in the electoral processes and to track and respond to cases of violence against women in politics during election period,” she said.
...Face-off Deepens PDP Crisis
Mr. Chibuike Amadichi, Chairman, Diaspora Committee ,thanked the party for the privilege to lead the committee.
“I was elected as PDP national chairman for a four-year term and I have spent up to one year. So the call for my resignation is uncalled for. The election of Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate cannot affect my election as national chairman, even if the candidate is from Benue State. I stood for election and I was voted for by Nigerians.”
The governor vowed that no amount of money or threat to his life would make him to betray his people, adding that he would stand by his actions.
The situation has also caused confusion and created divisions within key party organs and groups, including the National Working Committee (NWC), Board of Trustees (BoT), the Governors’ Forum and state chapters of the party.
“This has resulted in a situation where there is clamour for the party to establish chapters across the world.
However, Ayu while featuring on BBC Hausa Service last Wednesday, rebuffed calls for his resignation, declaring that Atiku’s candidacy did not in any way affect him as the national chairman of the PDP.
Wike had however declared that unless Rivers State is rewarded just like Adamawa, Benue and Delta States, the party should not expect votes from the people of the state.
” There has also been the clamour of people who want to contribute to the growth and development of the party, arising from this course, are the necessity to have these activities coordinated.”
POLITICS
The governor said, “Nobody should come and deceive you. No amount of social media war can solve any problem. Anybody who wants our vote must tell us what is there for us. Our votes are no longer for dash. Our votes are for you to tell us what you will do for us.
W
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When we started the PDP all those ones were children; they were not there. We will not allow one person to become a spoiler. This is our country, so all that is expected of us is to fix the country, provide security and dividends of democracy when we take over power in 2023.”
But on their return to the country, Wike has continued to make comments, which indicate that the misunderstanding between both camps had not been resolved.
Asked about the condition put forward by Wike’s camp for his resignation, among others, Ayu said, “All that he is doing does not affect me because I know I am fixing the party. I am doing
“So, if you have given to Adamawa, Benue and Delta, why can’t you give to Rivers? Won’t you give to Rivers? Is it just to come and collect the votes?
He added that the committee would also recommend to the national chairman the creation of Diaspora chapters and monitor their activities.
ife of the Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, has decried the various forms of violence and dimensions against women in Nigeria politics, saying it called for concern.
It would be recalled that a peace meeting was recently held in London between Wike and Atiku Abubakar.
ational Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Julius Abure, inaugurated an 11-man committee to drive the party’s Diaspora movement.
“You know the god of confusion will put confusion in them. They think that they are doing (bad to) Rivers State, but they are doing themselves. They will see confusion from now till the end until they withdraw and understand that there is no road there,” he said.
NEWS
Continued from page 11
The governor’s wife promised to enhance women’s active participation in politics and the electoral processes by mitigating effect of violence against women in politics in all its forms in the state. According to her, some of them are, but not limited to physical, economic, emotional, sexual, and other forms of violence.
Fayemi spoke during a live Radio programme, organised by the Stop Violence Against Women in Politics (Stop-VAWIP) and Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development (BIGIF) monitored in AdoBIGIFEkiti. is an NGO, committed to empowering women, youths and children to ensure equal access to sustainable livelihood through the provision of care and support services, education, referral, resource mobilisation, human rights promotion, social inclusion, youths development and women empowerment.
Abure said that the party therefore, decided to put up the committee made of 11 distinguished Nigerians to drive the process.
The chairman said the committee would organise fund-raising activities among others.
Fayemi’s Wife Calls For More Women Participation in Politics
While advising Atiku to dissociate himself from the offensive and insulting statement of Ayu, the ONM, said it was either Atiku dissociate himself or be seen as someone who also sees even a 50 years-old Nigerian as a kid, just like Ayu.
my work diligently. I have not committed any offence. I have not stolen any money. So there is no reason for my resignation.
Abure, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja said that the move was to strengthen collaboration among people and galvanise support for the party ahead of 2023 general elections .
2023: LP Inaugurates 11-Man NCommitteeDiaspora
Deputy
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Austyn Ogannah Editor – Olaolu Olusina Editor – Amos Esele Politics Editor – Ayo Esan Business Editor – Sam Diala Copy Editor – Chux Ohai Cartoon Editor – Victor Asowata Entertainment/Society Editor – Ivory Ukonu Photo Editor – Peace Udugba Head, Graphics – Tosin Yusuph Circulation Manager – Victor Nwokoh Theft And Presidency’s Voice of Whistleblower
Speaking on national television late last month, the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, disclosed that the Federal Government would soon reveal the identities of highprofile individuals behind crude oil theft in the country.
Oil
There are reports of government officials, security agencies and powerful Nigerians colluding with communities to perpetrate the crime of oil theft. Such reported complicity is apparent in the failure of the Nigerian authorities to effectively intercept and arrest criminal tankers and their crew who successfully enter the Nigerian waters, load and depart with huge volumes of stolen Recently,crude.
EDITORIAL
Nigeria Bureau: 36AA Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja. Lagos, Nigeria. info@thewillnigeria.com / @ THEWILLNG, +234 810 345 2286, +234 913 333 3888.
Reacting to government workers’ request for a pay increase amid rising cost of living, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed concern that Nigeria is unable to meet some of its financial obligations to its citizens due to revenue shortage. He noted that Nigeria lost $1 billion in revenue during the first quarter of this year due to large-scale crude oil theft which has escalated its revenue shortage challenge. With these revelations, the same government behaved as if it had attained its wits’ end, and is now discovering those behind the dastardly act.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, said the country suffered a monthly loss of N1.9billion to crude oil theft.
Nigeria depends on crude oil for most of its revenue. The country is currently in dire financial straits and suffering massive revenue shortfalls. It is also faced with mounting debts of over N40 trillion and spends almost all of its revenue on debt servicing and repayment
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“I am hopeful that in the next few days, the office of the national security adviser will be presenting to the nation – the big men – who are promoters of this kind of business as they are being caught and illegal refineries are being bombed out”, Garba said.
04 - SEPTEMBER
At the peak of the syndicated crude oil thievery, which has become a deep, hemorrhageaching to the economy, the Presidency appears to be playing the Whistleblower by telling bewildered Nigerians that it would “soon” expose those behind the heinous crime that has been there for a long time.
Crude oil theft, which has been going on for many years, has assumed a worrisome dimension to the extent that Nigeria can no longer meet its OPEC quota. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, confirmed that the country loses 400,000 barrels of crude daily via oil theft. At the 2023-2035 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper presentation recently, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, reported that Nigeria’s oil production slumped by 28 million barrels between January and July 2022, thereby threatening the Federal Government’s N9.37 trillion oil and gas revenue target by the end of the year. She blamed oil production shut-ins due to pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and high petrol subsidy cost.
It is a national embarrassment that a nation superintended by the President and Commander-InChief of the Armed Forces, who also doubles as the Minister of Petroleum, would sound so evasive. The statement smacks of failure of Ifgovernance.thegovernment knows the perpetrators of this massive economic sabotage, why wait for the ceremony of exposing them “soon”? What else are the responsibilities of the government if it cannot offer protection to lives and property and ensure that every threat to the nation’s economic mainstay is effectively dealt with? What is the purpose of this Whistleblower attitude and what will Nigerians do to those behind the oil theft when their identities are exposed?
13 Nigerian Navy personnel were court-martialed in Lagos for allegedly conniving with crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals, among other maritime infractions. Those facing the Naval Court Martial include some officers who allegedly connived with people from some oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta, including traditional leaders, to engage in crude oil theft. This has led to the allegations that the federal government knows those behind the oil Whentheft.President Muhammadu Buhari took over in 2015, he insisted that it was a shame that regional warlords were the ones protecting the assets when Nigeria has a capable military. He went after those handling a surveillance contract under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and disbanded them. Ironically, the same regional warlords are being contracted to play the same role of protecting the nation’s pipelines from where the crude oil is siphoned. This shocking development underscores the massive sleaze in our nation’s oil and gas sector under the APC-controlled government led by President Buhari who announced corruption fight as a major plank of its administration in 2015. Nigeria depends on crude oil for most of its revenue. The country is currently in dire financial straits and suffering massive revenue shortfalls. It is also faced with mounting debts of over N40 trillion and spends almost all of its revenue on debt servicing and repayment. The President must therefore wake up to this monstrous threat to the nation’s survival. We agree with the view that the President needs to shake up the security forces, the state oil company, the NNPC Limited, the regulators, the statutory maritime agencies, and the intelligence services. Reports have for years confirmed this high level of treachery among these institutions and persons. Government should engage the services of the communities in a proper manner to secure the pipelines and other Tofacilities.prevaricate over the challenge with a ceremonial declaration of intention to expose those behind the crime is, to us, an unnecessary stance of an official Whistleblower. Expose the culprits and have them punished if they are found guilty.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
EDITOR: Olaolu Olusina @OLUSINA [Letters/Opinions: opinion.letters@thewillnigeria.com]
As always, both sides end up making whatever concessions they can for students to return to classes. Not any longer. The current strike, which dates back to this year’s St Valentine’s Day, has proved that different. To the extent that it has now transmuted to indefinite from its monthly rollovers. What with the government team playing Tom and Jerry with TheASUU.last effort chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff appears to be the last straw. From buck passing between the education and labour ministries, it has come to a point where the Federal Government may have to set up a taskforce for the engagement, making many to wonder what other duties the two ministers concerned are occupied with. Like many have been left to wonder, if they cannot sit down with ASUU, then they are technically unfit for the lofty posts they occupy.
Locally, for instance, the architects of our independence from Britain had to pay dearly for it while they laboured. Not minding that Zikism didn’t tolerate any manner of jingoism, some of them ended up on the black book side of the colonialists. Only that, given the pervading circumstances, most ended up unsung.
In these days of our one-week-one-trouble subsistence as a nation, the debacle has merged with the rest to arrive at the most inauspicious of conclusions. Like the strike being left to linger because our government officials consider our local universities - state and federal – to be quacks. Only that they appear to be bent on driving them underground.
What is it about agbado, by the way? When Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said Nigerians would not have to import food because Agbado, Cassava, Ewa and Garri are produced locally, I believe he did not expect his candid intervention on food sufficiency for Nigeria to be the fodder for uppity memes.
OPINION
To everyday Nigerians, Agbado is a staple food, which they live on, but to this stuck-up class, it is not sexy. They would rather like to have conversations on pizza, burger, lasagne, and all other acquired foreign junk.
Is Agbado on trial? A stranger to Nigerian political constructs may think that it is a serial killer on the loose. In fact, it has become one of the most noised words in this election season. If it is not sprinkled into any political conversation like a smorgasbord of veggies, it is chopped up and spiced into snooty memes.
After all, not a week passes without the social media being swamped with pictures of family reunions abroad as their children graduate from well-funded schools abroad. This, coupled with the haste with which the government catches cold whenever the airlines sneeze, has made the assurance But,double.even if he is not a supporter of the English football club, Liverpool, Osodeke will never walk alone. There are many like him who attended our federal universities when they still stood up to the name. Yes, and some of us want that privilege attained by our offsprings.
Also, his passport photo may not be donning any of our devalued currencies yet. Yes, no news media can muster the gravitas to make him their Man of The Year. But despite the agony, he is surely stepping into the shoes.
BY FREDRICK NWABUFO
Ever since, the Buhari government has not let him drop the cup in which the contents of the post were handed over to him by Biodun Ogunyemi, a professor of education at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye. Indeed, the man has been sitting on that literary keg of gunpowder often read of in tales. All on account of an agreement reached between the union and the government in 1990. A throw-up dating back to the days on the post of the late Festus Iyayi (19871990), Atahiru Jega (1990-94) and Assisi Asobie (1994-2000).
BY ISIDORE EMEKA UZOATU Agbado as Political Identity
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In fact, agriculture has been a centre-piece of Nigeria’s policy thrust since the 1960s.
Identifying with Agbado is nothing to be mortified about.
It rings a bell for the masses. It represents food on their table and escape from the quotidian realm of hunger.
A bit on agbado. Nigeria's maize production was at its highest, since 1960, in 2021, according to the US Department of Agriculture. The rise was due to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s halting of forex for maize importation. Maize is a cash crop, a raw material for lots of our products. In processed form, it is consumed like pap, cornflakes, custard, etc. And about 60 percent of agbado produced in the country is used as poultry feed. Agbado is considered as the most consumed staple food in Nigeria. According to Babbangona (an NGO which specialises in agriculture), an IITA Nigeria Food Consumption and Nutrition Survey conducted in 2003 showed that it is the most consumed staple food in about 20 per cent of households, followed by cassava – 16.5 per cent, rice – 11.9 per cent and cowpea grain –Events in Nigeria end up unfolding at such dizzying pace that oftentimes it gets hazy to recount them, like in pre-electioneering times when they appear in a perpetual fast-forward mode so much so that the present never makes any meaning till it acquires the cutting edge of Littleage.
Ditto those that suffered inconveniences that ranged from incarceration to exile while seeing to the birth of our present Asdemocracy.itturned out, only a few of them lived to reap the harvest of their toil. Not when mere charlatans jumped aboard as the going got good, reaping where they never cultivated, let alone sowed.
11.8 per cent. Also, it said that agriculture contributed 22.35 percent of Nigeria’s total GDP between January and March 2021, increasing nearly one percentage point over the same period in 2020. Agbado alone accounts for 5.88 percent of Nigeria’s agricultural GDP. Nigeria is the largest producer of agbado in Africa, with over 33 million tons, followed by South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia. So, why would anyone mock this elixir of the masses? Mocking agbado or anyone speaking on its pride of place is tantamount to mocking millions of Nigeria who live on the staple food. Beyond being a favourite snack, it has morphed into some sort of political identity. Post a photo of yourself snacking on roast corn on social media and you will be summarily sentenced as a supporter of Tinubu. The supporters and admirers of the Jagaban of Borgu are now identified by what they choose to snack on. If you share a photo of yourself masticating agbado, then you must be a Tinubu boy. Such interesting times. Well, it is a good badge to wear. Agbado is a healthy snack and a nutritious one, too. Coincidentally, it is the symbol of one of the parties (ANPP), which merged with the ACN, ANPP and CPC to form the APC. So, it is all in order.
wonder then that our national anthem has space only for the labours of our heroes past. Meanwhile, their presentday counterparts are left to wallow in the odium attracted by their nascent efforts. Embroiled in the struggle, they are even considered enemies. All the best intentions they harbour for the country are misconstrued for misdemeanours aimed at damaging the nation. If care is not taken, they will end up on the wrong side of history. But not until in the denouement, when the benefits of their efforts and sacrifice comes clear.
We must talk about feeding the nation.
•Nwabufo is a writer and journalist.
The country's agriculture blueprint includes policies grounded in surplus extraction and export adaptation in 1963; the National Accelerated Food Production Programme (NAAP) in 1972 by the General Yakubu Gowon-led government; Operation Feed the Nation in 1976 by General Olusegun Obasanjo’s government; a Green Revolution in 1980 by the Shehu Shagari Administration; Goodluck Jonathan's Growth Enhancement Scheme, which revolutionised Nigeria's agriculture value chains under the then Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina; and President Muhammadu Buhari’s more recent follow-up on rice production as a centre-piece of economic growth. Agriculture provides employment for 35 percent of Nigeria’s population, according to the World Bank. It is a principal contributor to the local economy. Nigeria is blessed with about 70.8m hectares of arable land, but the country is yet to actualise its full potential in agriculture. So, it makes sense that a presidential candidate is speaking on Nigeria’s food security with some gravitas. Any government that fails to plan on agriculture and food security will have a crisis in its hands.
There is no doubt that in today’s Nigeria, a hero here may be a zero elsewhere. Yet, at the end of the day, names must remain that will at the dawn of time stand up to that unique line of our anthem. After all, it is the tender palm frond that ends up forming the thick ramparts of the barn. Without much prevarication, let me take the bull by the horn and hazard a nomination. Now, even in the Big Brother house, this must be followed through by a vote. However, since ours is an open house, it may be difficult to follow up on its outcome. But, nonetheless, the truth must be told. My nominee for a present-day hero is none other than the current President of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU), Prof Victor Emmanuel Osodeke, a soil scientist at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (MOUA), Umudike, Abia State, he assumed the hot seat in May, 2021.
In a country where people struggle to feed, it is a show of synoptic ignorance to mock agbado, cassava, ewa and dodo. These are Nigerian staple foods. In policymaking, addressing hunger is pivotal. Governments have fallen over scarcity and high cost of bread. Foodology is at the nucleus of existence. Over the years, Nigerian Governments have designed different policies to ensure food security for the country.
Prof. Osodeke And Agonies of Our Heroes Present
And, like life promises aplenty, these contemporary bugaboos end up lining up with their ancient counterparts. Only then will monuments be named after them. With the possible return of history to schools curricula, they will then be studied by posterity for lives well spent.
A universal example worldwide remains the late Nelson Mandela of South Africa. Called all kinds of names by his traducers, he ended up in jail for nothing other than his beliefs. Yet heemerged, after a 27-year stint therein – mostly in solitary confinement and hard labour – to liberate his country from apartheid. Today, Nigeria boasts many contemporary heroes. However, their enumeration is bound to be problematic by half, I dare add. Like in any annotation of such magnitude, a damn lot of extenuating circumstances must arise. All the more so, given the intense groupings we have all been compartmentalised in presently by bad governance.
Thus, the man is only at the butt of the government’s attack on account of his office being acontinuum. A development the government only acknowledges in the territory of infrastructure like the 2nd Niger Bridge and the KadunaZaria rail project. which they inherited with the ASUU Muchagreement.unlike his predecessors, Osodeke has not had anything close to a respite ever since he assumed the office. Suddenly, strikes are no sooner called off as soon as the employer and employee agree at the negotiation table.
His effort with his team may yet be unrecognisable now.
Backward integration is a practice where companies are encouraged to cultivate their own raw materials locally and purchase from their local suppliers or establish farms to grow produce for their factories. The government put the measure in place to save foreign exchange, create jobs, boost productivity and grow the GDP. The FMCG firms wholly embraced the scheme and the result has been satisfactory.
The SME operators who keyed into the initiative, especially those in agribusiness and transportation, have also benefited immensely through the support of the manufacturing firms.
Support imperative
Campina WAMCO Nigeria has developed its local raw milk sourcing, an initiative that has provided a source of sustained income to almost 2,000 farmers (including 900 women). Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc has invested in local farms and other agricultural projects to cultivate raw materials for most of its processes.
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For instance, under the backward integration initiative, Nestlé Nigeria established a project that engages 5,000 smallholder farmers for the supply of raw materials for its agro-business operations. Nigerian breweries have stepped up production of sorghum and cassava to boost local raw material supply for its plants using local Frieslandfarmers.
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Cadbury Nigeria established a cocoa processing plant in Ondo. The government has also benefited by way of tax revenue, employment generation and technology.
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espite the Federal Government's recent release of $265 million of foreign airlines' trapped funds in the country, there is an indication that Nigeria and other African countries are still withholding over $550 million that is yet to be repatriated by these Whileairlines.morethan $200m, which is part of the foreign airlines' funds, is still blocked in Nigeria, $100 million is still in Zimbabwe,
‘Access Bank Leading Sustainable Banking in Nigeria’ Okpanachi
$96 million in Algeria, Eritrea and Ethiopia BY ANTHONY AWUNOR
Access Bank PLC has said it is at the forefront of Sustainable Banking in Nigeria, noting that it has created indelible footprints in that area. The bank’s deputy managing director, Ms. Chizoba Okolie, disclosed this at the Sustainable Banking Roundtable organised in Abuja.
Wigwe
T
he financing and capacity building support offered by the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will enable the operators to step up their activities in the real sector value-chain. This is more significant in the backward integration scheme where SMEs have played active roles to support the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) firms which are currently challenged as reports have shown.
Fresh $550m Foreign Airlines' Trapped Funds Uncovered
blocked
B C DA 0 1 20 50 100 GROWTHE (N’trn) Source: NBS Q2 2014 Q2 2015 Q2 2016 Q2 2017 Q2 2018A B C D E B C DA 0 1 20 50 100 E (%)CONTRIBUTIONGDP(%) %23.78 %1.30 %1.58 trn41.6 AGRIC. GDP PERFORMANCE FROM Q2 2018 – Q2 2022 Q2 GDP: DBN’s Support Holds Prospects For SMEs in Real Sector Growth PAGE 18 PAGE 19 MORE INSIDE FMDQ Exchange Admits N2bn Accelerex SPV PLC Bond First Bank Car,CustomersRewardsWithTVsinVervePromoFinale
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However, the FMCG firms are facing challenges occasioned by high operating costs, depreciation of the Naira, multiple taxes, insecurity and lingering infrastructure deficit. They are also yet to fully recover from the COVID-19 impact and the huge losses they incurred during the 15-month border closure. This affected the manufacturing firms that rely on the SMEs as part of their engagement in the backward integration policy to feed their plants.
For instance, data from the half year reports of 10 major FMCG firms showed that they collectively recorded 48 percent increase in the raw materials (with consumables) segment of their Cost of Sales from N531.67 billion in HY 2021 to N786.88 billion in HY 2022. The FMCG firms surveyed include Nigerian Breweries, Nestle Nigeria, Unilever Nigeria, Cadbury Nigeria and Nigeria Flour Mills. Others are Guinness Nigeria, Dangote Sugar, International Breweries, Champion Breweries and PZ Cussons – all quoted on The Nigerian “TheExchange.companies are facing very challenging times especially in terms of raw materials and other major inputs. Many of the small business suppliers, especially those in agribusiness, have abandoned their farms due to insecurity. They cannot easily transport the little they are able to produce as a result of bad roads and endless extortion by security agents and local government revenue officials.
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In all Bilateral Air Services Agreements, an Article in the agreement, tagged transfer of earnings, clearly states, “Each designated airline shall have the right to convert and remit to its country on demand, local revenues in excess of sums locally disbursed. Conversion and remittance shall be permitted without delay in accordance with the prevailing foreign exchange regulations”.
DBN to do more Experts believe that DBN should step up its support to enable the SMEs to play a more active role in the value chain ecosystem.
“I know Development Bank of Nigeria focuses on SMEs financing and it has played this role effectively. This is the time to do more given the present economic realities. They can raise the capital base, if necessary, to enable the bank to play a greater role in the backward integration scheme”, Yusuf, immediate past DirectorGeneral of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told THWELL in a phone chat.
Kadiri expressed optimism that the intervention of DBN would boost SMEs’ performance towards the recovery of the FMCG firms from the COVID-19 impact and to cope with prevailing economic headwinds. Kadiri told THEWILL last week that both the manufacturing firms and the SMEs will benefit from the measure.
Q2 GDP: DBN’s Support Holds Prospects for SMEs in Real Sector Growth Sirika
He said “It has become imperative for us to pull resources together and channel collaborative efforts towards building the capacity of the MSME as a way of revitalising their operations to address the challenge of access to finance. This will guarantee their growth and boost the economic potentials of this critical sub-sector.”
"If you remember, when this government first came into power in 2015 and early 2016, there was the same case of about $600 million, which through the efforts of the minister ensured that the funds were released to the airlines. Unfortunately, about six or seven years later, we found ourselves in the same conundrum. But I know all efforts are being made at the high level to settle this," Nuhu Hesaid.pointed out that the NCAA could not possibly force any airline to operate in Nigeria, adding that they can always encourage them.
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Industry experts are, however, not pleased with the appalling handling of the accumulated foreign airline funds trapped in Nigerian banks due to the non-allocation of forex to these airlines.
"We can talk to them, but it is up to the airlines to decide the number of frequencies and where they operate. If the passenger load is not there, you cannot force them to operate. If they believe they have other difficulties and challenges that affect their operations in certain airports, it is their decision. We cannot force or manipulate any airline to operate in Nigeria. We can only encourage them."
Inrespectively.terms of contribution to GDP, Agriculture has recorded mixed performance. The sector’s contribution to GDP in Q2 2018 was 22.86 percent but dropped slightly to 22.82 percent in Q2 2019. Thereafter, the sector’s contribution to GDP jumped to 24.65 percent in Q2 2020 before plummeting to 23.78 percent and 23.24 percent in Q2 2021 and Q2 2022 respectively.
"Without it, airlines cannot afford to serve those countries. This will be detrimental to the people and businesses that depend on the market connectivity that those airlines provide," Alawadhi Nonetheless,said.IATA strongly believes that the release of blocked funds, with assurances and safeguards to prevent a recurrence, will persuade affected carriers to continue serving Nigeria. Commenting on the trapped funds, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt Musa Nuhu, has said that airlines are businesses like any other business that investors make money, stressing that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) arrangement empower the airlines to repatriate their funds without Duehindrance.tothe forex challenges facing Nigeria, Nuhu noted that the funds accumulated and became very high.
I Developmentknow Bank of Nigeria focuses on SMEs financing and it has played this role effectively. This is the time to do more given the present economic realities
At a recent media parley, managing director/CEO, Tony Okpanachi, disclosed that DBN had disbursed a total of N482 billion to more than 208,000 MSMEs since inception. He noted that the Bank’s profitability has also remained resilient despite the challenging environment and the impact of COVID-19. Profit before tax and profit after tax stood at N22.7 billion and N15.7 billion respectively, translating to return on assets and return on equity of 4.8% and 12.8% respectively for 2021 which was our last audited financial period. Earlier at the Bank’s Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) summit hosted in Kano in June 2022, Okpanachi, reiterated the commitment of DBN to its mandate of providing access to finance to small businesses in Nigeria.
The CEO, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, applauds the role of DBN in developing the SMEs which constitute the engine of the economy. He urged the DBN to do more at this time and suggested that the development bank be recapitalized, if it is necessary, to enable it to play a bigger role in providing financing and capacity building to the SMEs.
On the release of $265 million by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the NCAA boss said, "It is a welcome development that CBN had released a significant amount of these funds and going forward, I know the Hon. Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Finance and the CBN Governor are still working to ensure that the balance of the funds are released to the airlines and a mechanism is developed to avoid the repeat of this.
In his reaction, Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President, Africa and Middle-East, said IATA had welcomed the Nigerian Government’s release of $265m blocked funds. He said that the body would continue to engage Nigeria on expediting the release of the remaining funds, so that airlines can continue providing the connectivity that the country requires without disrupting and harming its economy and jobs. He admonished other countries in Africa blocking the repatriation of foreign airlines’ funds, to follow Nigeria’s example and release the money in their possession.
Speaking on the possibility of releasing the remaining trapped funds, the DG explained, "I don’t have the slighted idea. My prayer is that it should be released like yesterday. Nigeria currently has some challenges with the issue of foreign exchange, but we hope it is released as soon as possible so that normal services can resume and not be interrupted. Nigerians travel a lot and air transport is critical for the economy of our country. So, we hope these funds are paid as soon as possible".
“The companies would not easily procure from abroad due to the high exchange rate. Coupled with high inflation rate, the firms have tough survival chances and that is why the raw material segments of their Cost of Sales is very high,” said Kennedy Kadiri, an entrepreneur who operates commercial farming and transportation. The reports showed that only Unilever recorded a decrease in cost of materials while Nigerian Breweries, Dangote Sugar, Nigerian Flour Mills and International Breweries recorded the highest input cost.
According to NBS, small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria have contributed about 48 per cent of the national GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in the last five years. With a total number of about 17.4 million, they account for about 50 per cent of industrial jobs and nearly 90 per cent of the manufacturing sector.
Part of what triggered the blocked funds, according to them, was the lack of capacity to compete, which would have reduced the remittance volume. $550m Foreign Airlines' Trapped Funds Uncovered
Okpanachi said the summit was one of DBN’s stakeholder engagement strategies aimed at creating awareness around its mandate of providing access to finance, capacity building, and partial credit guarantees to the MSMEs in Nigeria. “This is important because they play a crucial role in accelerating economic growth through poverty alleviation, job, and wealth creation,” he said. Experts say the DBN interventions will not only widen credit access for SMEs, but also help to promote financial inclusion of small businesses which generate added value and create jobs, a major challenge in the Nigeria economy.
These experts, acting under the aegis of the Aviation Round Table, therefore opined that international trade is bound by agreements, which are sacrosanct and respected, insisting that Nigeria cannot do otherwise if they crave the attention of investors in the aviation sector.
AVIATION/INDUSTRY
Furthermore, agriculture has recorded a decline both in growth and contribution to GDP, in recent years, according to data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Agriculture has recorded a consistent GDP decline since Q2 2019 when it grew by 1.79 percent against 1.19 percent in the corresponding year. Thereafter, it recorded a decline of 1.58 percent, 1.30 percent and 1.20 percent in Q2 2020, Q2 2021 and Q2 2022
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While there are still more than $200m of airlines funds still blocked in Nigeria, $100 million is still being blocked in Zimbabwe, $96 million in Algeria while Eritrea and Ethiopia are still withholding $79 million and 75 million respectively are withholding $79 million and $75 million, Therespectively.International Air Transport Association (IATA), which released the figures, recently commended Nigeria for the decision to release the airlines’ funds that it was withholding.
The Federal Government of Nigeria inaugurated the DBN in March 2015, to alleviate financing constraints faced by SMEs.
*Continues online at www. thewillnigeria.com
“The sum of N400,469,663,160.14 as the gross Domestic Crude Oil and Gas revenue for the month of July 2022,” the report reads.
“The impact of vandalism of infrastructure is felt by all in the quality of services rendered, as it results in increasing drop calls, data and Internet connectivity disruptions, aborted and undelivered short messaging services (SMS), as well as countless failed calls”, he said.
Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, who disclosed this at the 2022 edition of Youth Civil Society and Stakeholders Summit (YCSSS), which took place midweek at the Army Resource Centre, Abuja, expressed worry over how the incidents have continued to affect the Quality of Experience, (QoE), of consumers, and called for concerted efforts by the members of the public, and security agencies, to stem the tide.
“Undoubtedly the financial sector has a clear role to play in all these and all key stakeholders need to join them to achieve the desired Theoutcomes.”DMD said that the round table was particularly important at a time when the Nigerian sustainable banking principles were undergoing a revisit by CBN. The bank chief said that Access Bank’s commitment to sustainability has yielded great benefits, adding, “we have made significant progress in embedding sustainability as a core of our business decisions, operations and “Therebypractices. impacting lives positively now and in the future.
Petrol Subsidy Payments Months
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Over 50,000 ReportedInfrastructureTelecomDestructionin5YearsO
The figures showed that the country has paid N2.04 trillion to offset subsidy payments in the 7-month period — while the payment of N1.04 trillion has been carried forward.
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“We also work with United Nations Environment Programme Finance institute and other leading banks as the only west African banks to develop the principles for responsible banking “The principles serve as the global standard of benchmark for banking decisions to form responsive financial institutions.
In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Aisha Mahmood, noted that since the adoption of the Nigerian sustainability banking principles, Nigerian financial institutions have been integrating economic and social framework to manage risks and opportunities in their business processes and Sheactivities.said, “The adoption of these iconic certification standards will go a long way in helping us in shaping that process.”
FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited has announced the admission for listing on its platform, the Accelerex SPV PLC N2.28 billion Series 1 Fixed Rate Bond under its N20.00 billion Bond Issuance AccelerexProgramme.SPV PLC (the “Issuer”) is a special purpose funding vehicle established by Global Accelerex Limited to raise capital from the debt markets through the listing of debt securities. Global Accelerex Limited is a provider of electronic payment and business management solutions in Nigeria and is certified by the Central Bank of Nigeria as a Payment Terminal Service Provider and Payment Solution Service Provider, to deliver innovative technology solutions in a secure and reliable manner to businesses and consumers across channels.
It, however, raked in N400.47 billion as gross domestic crude oil and gas revenue — 10.07 percent below petrol subsidy payment in the same month.
The NCC‘s Chief Executive Officer said that, considering the well-known fact that the ability to connect and communicate is fundamental to human existence, improvement in businesses processes, government services, education, as well as social and family networking through seamless connections, every community should get involved in protecting the critical infrastructure that makes these services “Therefore,possible. as a community, you are expected to report cases of vandalism of telecoms infrastructure to the nearest law enforcement agencies such as the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and also share adequate information received from NCC with your family, friends, and neighbours.
Manager, Nestlé Professional, Nigeria, Funmi Osineye (left), with winners of Association of Caterers and Food Vendors, during a Maggi cooking competition in Ibadan, Oyo State, on August 31, 2022.
“Serving as Africa’s consultative leader will galvanize five Nigerian banks and their CEOs to become signatories to the principles “We also work with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance institute and other leading banks as the only west African bank to develop the principles for responsible banking. The principle serves as the global standard of benchmark for banking decisions to form responsive financial Accordinginstitutions.” to her, to achieve the overall global development agenda, “Getting financing right and sustainable banking is very critical. In fact without this the global community will not be able to meet the development goals by The2030.”DMD added, “It is common knowledge that the two tax of global financial assets has been estimated to a total of $303billion.
The company said in its monthly presentation to the federation account allocation committee (FAAC) meeting on August 24th, 2022.
She explained that the CBN was reviewing the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principle which has been implemented for over a decade to align with global best practices.
In Nigeria our sustainable development effort has cut across a wide range of sectors, from the health and educational sector to strengthening the vocational skills that are bound in Nigeria.”
According to her, “Creating a society where sustainable development lies at its core has become a priority for us at Access “WeBank.initiated and led development of Nigerian society Banking principles, a set of nine principles approved by the CBN to guide the Nigerian Banking industry to embed sustainability in their business operations and practices.
For the seventh month in a row, the company also failed to make remittances into the federation account owing to huge subsidy payments.
The month’s zero remittance came despite the potential to boost revenue with an average oil price of $111/barrel and 1.08 million barrels per day (bpd) oil output.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says it deducted N448.78 billion in July to cater for subsidy payments.
Danbatta, who spoke through the Head, Corporate Communication Unit of the Commission, Mrs. Nnena Ukoha, said the negative impacts of incessant vandalism of telecom equipment, evidenced in fibre cuts, theft of telecom facilities like generators at sites, vandalism of base stations, among other vices, have become a major burden on the service providers, while telecom consumers have continued to suffer unwarranted disruptions of their hard-earned services.
Hit N2.04tr in Seven
Over the months, the NNPC has deducted funds meant to be remitted to the federation account (FAAC) to cover for petrol subsidy, resulting in zero revenue remittances January, February and March 2022, petrol subsidy payments gulped N210.38 billion, N219.78 billion, and N245.77 billion. In April, May and June, the country spent N271 billion, N327.07 billion and N319.18 billion, respectively.
The proceeds generated from the Accelerex SPV PLC Series 1 Bond, which is sponsored by FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited (Lead Sponsor), Greenwich Merchant Bank Limited and Renaissance Securities (Nigeria) Limited – all Registration Member (Listings) of the Exchange, will be used by the Issuer to fund the purchase of terminals across Nigeria and offset the costs of the Company’s capital expenditure, amongst Inothers.support of its mandate to align the Nigerian debt markets with international best practices and standards, FMDQ Exchange will continue to provide a dynamic and innovative platform for capital formation, offering institutions the support required to impact their businesses, sectors and the overall economy.
‘Access Bank Leading Sustainable Banking in Nigeria’
ver 50,000 cases of major destruction to telecom infrastructure and facilities have been reported across the country in the past five years, raising alarm over the implication of these incidents to the quality of telecommunications services in Nigeria.
He further said that the agency in the state was ensuring compliance, monitoring of facilities, mining, base metal facilities and sanitation activities.
First Bank of Nigeria has rounded off its Verve Card campaign designed to reward customers for their continued usage of the Verve debit Card, with the presentation of a brand new car to the star prize winner as well as 32 inches LED Televisions to other customers at the grand finale of the Thepromo.promo which was to end in March had been extended till July 1, 2022, to allow more customers to benefit from the promo.
The Group Executive, E-Business & Retail Products at the Grand Prize Presentation of a Brand New Car at the just concluded FirstBank Verve Card National Consumer Promo said: “We initiated the 14-week promo in partnership with Verve to run through the first 2 quarters of 2022 to reward our Verve Card customers for their continued usage and adoption of the card for various digitally driven transactions. It is worthy of note that FirstBank’s Verve debit Cards make up a notable percentage of the industry’s base. Hence, this Promo is aimed at appreciating our cardholders.
mission to continue to provide the best financial services possible through our versatile products, services and initiatives at FirstBank. We would also continue to engage in the right collaborations that will put our customers First, Wealways.thank our partners at Verve, our regulators, our staff and all stakeholders for a successful consumer promotion cycle, whilst we congratulate all our winners too. We are certain that you would continue to use your FirstBank Verve card for your transactions”.
The Deputy General Manager, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), Olumide Olaniyan, said the agency was proposing to establish more stations across the country to further monitor air quality.
Stakeholders Decry Activities
Equities Market Loses N56bn in August
“We arrange mediation meetings to address community crises and currently, we have an issue of mining that almost led to the cancellation of the annual Osun Osogbo festival in August.
The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.017 billion shares valued at N5.685 billion traded in 10,107 deals; thus contributing 85.09% and 43.99% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
For bonds, a total of 28,192 units valued at N27.904 million were traded this week in 11 deals compared with a total of 17,470 units valued at N18.192 million transacted last week 15
Mr Oyewole called for improvement on the regulation of industry activities, as well as emissions into the environment.
To win a 32 inches LED TV, FirstBank had said customers must perform at least four transactions weekly, while a customer must carry out 16 transactions during promo period to qualify for the star prize.
For exchange-traded products (ETP) a total of 7,811 units valued at 837,295.25 were traded this week in 25 deals compared with a total of 6,968 units valued at N894,205.74 transacted last week in 17 deals.
“We have nine clarity devices and 27 Purple Air sensors connected to us asides those connected to other individuals across the country,” he said.
The star prize winner, Olakunle Animashun, a businessman and CEO of Kawal Nigeria Limited said: “This car is still a surprise to me, I did not expect it. Initially, when someone called me from FirstBank, that I won a car, I thought it was a scam, the person said it was FirstBank verve promo, my wife urged me to go there and when I went there they congratulated me saying I have won a car. I didn’t believe it until when I got here today, until I saw the car and the key was handed over to me. I thank Firstbank and verve for this opportunity given to me, may God be with them”.
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), government agencies and stakeholders have decried human activities that contribute to environmental abuse, especially poor air quality across the country.
The high point of the event saw the presentation of a star prize of a brand new 2022 Suzuki S-Presso car to Mr. Olakunle Animashun a businessman and CEO of Kawal Nigeria Limited and 32 inches LED Television to other winners in different categories
“If we don’t control pollution, we are in a dangerous situation that will be affecting us,” he Thesaid. Osun Coordinator, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Chukwunweizu Maike, said that the agency has up to 34 regulations.
Mrs Olaniyan said that continuous pollution of the environment causes climate change, while it affects the health of humans.
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EnvironmentalPromotingAbuse
Mr Rabiu said that the sensors were primarily to aid research on air quality which should improve a habitable environment for Thehumans.director said that the centre has several air monitors across the country.
Thedeals.NGX All-Share Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 0.73% to close the week at 50,045.83 and N26.994 trillion respectively. Similarly, all other indices finished higher with the exception of NGXGrowth Index which depreciated by 0.51% while, the NGX ASeM and NGX Sovereign Bond indices closed flat.
We have given out over N50 million worth of prizes to 2,631 customers including the grand prize of a brand-new car to be given out today. Other prizes given out during the promo were: N50,000, N20,000 and N10,000 Cash Prizes, N10,000 worth of airtime; power generating sets, refrigerator, cooking gas and television sets. We are excited at the response of customers to the promo and encourage the continued usage of the verve card as it is a card offering that promotes safe, convenient and rewarding digital banking service to Itcustomers.isour
She recalled that according to the World Meteorological Organisation, Nigeria was ranked one of the worst polluted countries in Africa.
First Bank Rewards Customers With Car, TVs in Verve Promo Finale
The Provost, College of Science and Engineering, Osun State University, Israel Oyewole, drew the attention of agencies and the government to air pollution, as well as the need to address issues on bush burning.
The ICT Industry followed with 37.063 million shares worth N4.575 billion in 1,996 deals. The third place was the Consumer Goods Industry, with a turnover of 35.184 million shares worth N1.209 billion in 2,471 deals.
They condemned this act on Friday at the close of the international conference organised by Centre for Atmospheric Research, an activity centre of NASRDA, in collaboration with Osun State University and Penn State University, USA.
“Mining in Osun was getting higher and we are currently investigating ground and surface water pollution, particularly where we have the mining companies in Ilesha and Ile-Ife axis. “Once we are done with the investigation, some of these companies may be sealed or will be made to face the right penalty,’’ Mr Maike said.
L-R: Senior Manager, Group Fintech, MoMo PSB, Margaret Kabwongera; Chief Executive Officer, MoMo PSB, Usoro Usoro; Nigerian Actress and Comedienne, Anita Asuoha AKA, Real Warri Pikin and General Manager, MoMo PSB, Elsa Muzzolini at the unveiling of Real Warri Pikin as the first-ever MoMo PSB Ambassador, at the MoMo PSB Headquarters in Lagos on August 30, 2022.
Trading in the top three equities namely Sterling Bank Plc., Fidelity Bank Plc and Access Holdings Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 540.056 million shares worth N1.499 billion in 2,179 deals, contributing 45.18% and 11.60% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
The Director, Centre for Atmospheric Research, Babatunde Rabiu, said the centre in the past few years had positioned air quality sensors across different locations of the country.
Nigeria’s equities market closed in August with a loss of N56 billion as the bearish trend which started in May continued to reconstruct the trading outcomes after market capitalization peaked at N29 trillion in May. Trading on the last day, August 31, closed at N26.88 trillion and All-Share Index of 49,950.32 as against N26.93 trillion and All-Share Index of 49,836.51 the market recorded at the close of trading on August 1. For the last week of August, a total turnover of 1.195 billion shares worth N12.924 billion in 19,305 deals was traded this week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 914.443 million shares valued at N15.263 billion that exchanged hands last week in 18,021 deals.
The conference which lasted from Monday to Friday focused on COVID-19, Air Quality and Environment, with the theme “Fighting Pollution: A Silent Threat to our Existence.’’
Mr Maike said the regulations include regulation on air pollution, vehicular emission, ozone layer, surface and ground water pollution, among others.
“ FINANCE
The recalcitrance or negligence of the CBN in not attending to the ‘cries’ and petitions of the behemoth foreign airlines for so long that their well-earned (ticket) incomes were trapped owing to ‘paucity’ of foreign exchange, has pushed them (the airlines) to the wall, practically. Many of them have irreversibly decided to turn their backs on Nigeria; others have opted to render only ‘skeletal services’ in Indeed,Nigeria.soon after the announcement of the ‘dole’ from the apex bank to foreign airlines, the United States’ longest serving operator in Nigeria, Delta Airlines, revealed that it will from October 4, 2022, suspend flight operations between JFK Airport, New York and Lagos. The airline which resumed operations on its Lagos—Atlanta route barely two years ago, on September 9, 2020, said in a statement that the “route suspension” was to fit into “the current demand environment.”
•Okeke is an economist, sustainability expert and business strategy consultant
The pronouncements of the Minister of Finance to the effect that the country would borrow about twelve trillion naira in running the 2023 budget further underlines the grim fiscal outlook of Nigeria. The Minister, Zainab Ahmed who spoke while presenting the 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Policy Papers to the Finance Committee of the Federal House of Representatives in Abuja also bemoaned the crippling effect of fuel subsidy on Government finances.
Unsurprisingly, several days after the airlines’ pyrrhic victory of “release” of part of their funds by the CBN, none has announced a reversal or suspension of their earlier decision to quit Nigeria or cut their flight rounds into the country. For instance, the Dubai-based Emirate Airline had made public its decision to “suspend” flights to Nigeria, effective from September 2022. Emirate is yet to rescind or reverse this decision. It will be recalled that the UAE leading airline got to the ineluctable decision after it literally went ‘through hell’ in seeking for ways and means to get the appropriate authorities in Nigeria to help it retrieve its US$85 million trapped revenue. Emirate Airline had said in a statement that it “has tried every avenue to address our ongoing challenges in repatriating funds from Nigeria, and we have made considerable efforts to initiate dialogue with the relevant authorities for their urgent intervention to help find a viable solution”. The international carrier said “regrettably there has been no progress. Therefore, Emirates has taken the difficult decision to suspend all flights to and from Nigeria, effective September 1, 2022, to limit further losses and impact on our operational costs that continue to accumulate in the Likemarket.”the Emirate Airline, the British Airways has already reduced its flight frequencies to Nigeria, as the airline informed its customers recently of an “imminent hike in its flight tickets.” In fact, Turkish Airlines and British Airways have said they would no longer issue tickets to passengers in naira. Both airlines said in separate messages recently that (their) Nigerian passengers can only pay for tickets in US dollars. Although these airlines may not have implemented their dollar policy to the letter owing to legal tender and sovereignty issues, their new ticket sales approaches and methods have obviously posed more hardship and restrictions to Nigerian travellers/air
Thus,passengers.Nigerian
The question again rebounds: what impact will the “released” fund by the apex bank to the thoroughly frustrated airlines make? Is the money ‘big’ enough to hold them back to continue their normal businesses in Nigeria?
Given that, at present, there are more than twenty-five international airlines operating in Nigeria and the about half a billion dollar trapped fund, will the “released” sum not make only a thin spread among them (the airlines)? Is the apex bank in a position to confidently assure the airlines when next it would give them another tranche of the trapped funds? It is very doubtful!
Also, the controversial oil subsidy maintained by the Federal Government, and which guzzles trillions of naira — keeps draining the public purse to no end. At the same time, Nigeria is already in a serious external debt trap; and so, debt servicing obligation has become a proverbial sword of Damocles on the neck of the country. This situation has gotten so bad that Government revenue is no longer sufficient to service the public debt, as relevant official records show.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) widely publicised “release” of the sum of US$265 million, out of about half a billion US dollars trapped funds of foreign airlines in Nigeria, definitely raises many questions. The “release” of the fund which was announced on Friday August 26, 2022, could best be described as ‘too little too late’, given the fact that the pittance “released” by the apex bank, came after much harm had been done to the global image and economy of Nigeria.
CBN: Release of $265m
In the end, has the CBN’s last minute “release” of a tranche of the long-trapped funds further put the airlines between Scylla and Charybdis? Will the continued stay in Nigeria not get these airlines into having more of their funds trapped? Will their immediate exit, on the other hand, not expose a good chunk of their remaining funds to being ‘blocked’ for much longer. So, what next?
Although these airlines may not have implemented their dollar policy to the letter owing to legal tender and sovereignty issues, their new ticket sales approaches and methods have obviously posed more hardship and restrictions to Nigerian travellers/air passengers BY MARCEL OKEKE to Foreign Airlines And Matters Arising
Emefiele
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customers of these airlines have been exposed to motley hardships and frustration, and not a few of them now resort to flight take-offs from neighbouring countries like Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo, among Again,others. it should be noted that before the CBN’s intervention with the US$265 million “release”, the global body of the airlines—the International Air Transportation Association (IATA)—had itself announced the frustration of these foreign airlines over their inability to repatriate trapped ticket revenues totalling about US$465 million as of July 2022. This showed a US$14 million increase from what the sum was in May, 2022—meaning that the amount kept rising day by day. Therefore, with the “release” of barely half of the entire trapped fund after extreme frustrations and near-hopelessness, are the airlines motivated to continue ‘business as usual?’ In real terms, which airline gets what portion of the “released” foreign exchange (dollars)?
Or, will they still pull out and focus on getting their entire trapped funds out of the country? However, Nigeria is in a fiscal tenterhook; and there is no easy way out.
All these questions are germane and critical, in view of the worsening foreign exchange scarcity in Nigeria. And the end to it is not foreseeable. Forex inflow from oil sales (Nigeria’s economic mainstay) is under a serious threat by the weird phenomenon of oil theft — an organised criminality that ensures a huge volume of Nigeria’s crude oil is illegally sold by some gangs with the collusion of unscrupulous officials in public places.
If it took all the troubles for just half the ‘blocked’ sum to be “released”, who knows when next another ‘crumb’ shall be “released”? The UAE flag carrier—the Emirates Airline—practically explored all channels to retrieve its trapped US$85 million to no avail, according to the statement announcing its proposed suspension of flights into Nigeria. But how much of the “released” sum will accrue to the Dubai-based airline?
L-R: APC National Leader and Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the celebrant and Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah; former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu during a fundraising for the proposed Kukah Centre, in commemoration of his 70th birthday in Sokoto on August 31, 2022. Members of the Rotary Club of Port-Harcourt Cosmopolitan cutting their cake during the installation of the 6th President, Rtn Izobe Spiff, in Port-Harcourt on September 1, 2022.
OF THE WEEK
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN (right), in handshake with President of the World Bank Group, David Malpass, at the World Bank HQ in Washington D.C., USA. September 1, 2022.
L-R: Chairman of African Industries Group, Mr. Raj Gupta, receiving a souvenir from Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Abeokuta on August 28, 2022.
SHOTS Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]
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L-R: General Manager, Corporate Affairs, MTN Nigeria, Omasan Ogisi; Equipment grant recipients, Abisola Bakare; Abidoye Olanrewaju, and Senior Manager, Regional Coordination, Network Group, MTN Nigeria, David Melaiye, presenting the equipment grant to participants at the MTN Foundation ICT & Business Skills training at MTN head office in Lagos on August 26, 2022.
L-R: Governor, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Nigeria, Engr. Saliu Lawal; President, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engr. Ali Rabiu; President, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Engr. Rasheed Hassan; Engr. Aishatu Aliyu Umar; President–Elect, ASCE, Engr. Austin Odibi, during the Vision 2025 Conference in Lagos on August 29, 2022.
SEPTEMBER 04 - SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 THEWILL NEWSPAPER • www.thewillnigeria.com PAGE 22 THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG THEWILLNIGERIA SEPTEMBER 04 - SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 THEWILL NEWSPAPER • www.thewillnigeria.com PAGE 22-27 LAOYENIKKI SNATCHA& Finding Love a Second Time
Congratulations!
Adekunle “Snatcha” Adeyoola and I have been friends for over 20 years. We worked on many projects including the single from my first album, Taka Sufe and the two of us also headlined The Experience Concert in 2009 as performing artistes. Ironically, our first marriages were held in the same year, 2011. I supported his marriage which took place in the United Kingdom in November and he came back to Nigeria to attend mine in December that year, but life happened. I went through a divorce and he lost his first wife to cancer. Like we both say, God literally threw us at each other, when we weren’t even looking. Yes, God decided to settle the solitary Nikki and Snatcha in one family, just like the scripture in Psalms 68:6 says. I was just being the caring friend out on holidays in the United Kingdom and the COVID- 19 lockdown got me stuck in that country for seven months. I decided to spend the time, dropping in to check on Snatcha, who had lost his Adeyoola
Nigerian singer, Nike Adeyoola, otherwise known as Nikki Laoye, is excited to have found love again a few years after her first marriage was dissolved. She speaks with SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN about her new home, career and relocation to the United Kingdom Adeyoola
None at all. There have been lots of love and great acceptance from our families. They literally pushed us to each other, wondering why we both couldn’t see the love and potential staring right back at us. Our mothers are excited to see their children happy again and our siblings are overjoyed. His sisters literally helped him to choose the engagement ring and co-planned the proposal with him. We share a beautiful bond with each other’s families and we are just blessed to have their unending support.
Funny enough, I have always been open minded when it comes to my relationships. If the man has children from a previous marriage or relationship, it would never bother me and neither would it be a game changer. My major concern was just making sure this was the right step for me to take. After my divorce, I had always asked God, where do you want me to serve next and I told him that I wouldn’t move if he doesn’t give me the go ahead on my next relationship. And voila, the next man came rolling up with four children. “Ahhh! God, is this really you?” I had to check well with him too. It was such an important step in my life, I couldn’t take it casually. I had to pray about it and be sure this was what God wanted for me and he confirmed it with some soothing words, “Nikki, help me take care of my son and his four children and I will take care of you”. That was all I needed to hear and God took care of the Godrest. has added more to me as I am now the wife of an amazing man and the bonus mum of four adorable children. Their biological mum, Jennifer, was a wonderful angel and I am honoured to continue her legacy and wishes for these children as well.
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Did you experience any form of rejection or hesitation from your respective families, based on your past marriages?
How have you been coping with the task of caring for your step-children? Moving from being a single lady to a bonus mum of four children was quite a transition and a beautiful new beginning. My life has changed obviously as I have to balance my work, being a wife and taking care of the children. For example, I have always been a late owl, working all night but now, I have to go to bed early so I can get up at 7am for school runs. That is one of the many changes I had to make, but it is totally worth it. The Fantastic 4, as we call them, are amazing, respectful, helpful, caring children and they make it so easy for me. My husband is also an amazing supportive partner and we make a great team raising the children together. wife at the time and help out with his four children as much as I could, especially in the lockdown season. I even had plans to relocate to the United States as I had a job offer waiting for me out there, but God had other plans. He wanted us to build a loving home for these kids and also become a great team for his kingdom. We didn’t know how much we needed each other until God opened our eyes beyond our friendship and we are forever grateful to our Father who brought us together. We had to allow ourselves to fall in love again and move forward into a new beginning with each other. We call it “The Remix of a Lifetime.”
A lot of ladies are usually reluctant to marry men with children from a previous marriage or relationship. How easy was it to make such a decision?
How does it feel falling in love and getting married again after so many years? It certainly feels great to fall in love and get married again, especially as a matured single in her 40s. Finding love again after a divorce can be quite difficult because you have to heal first, fight your fears, let go of them and just trust God completely again for a new beginning. I wanted to get it right and I thank God for being the merciful Father that he is because he gave me a second chance of a lifetime with my best friend, Adekunle Adeyoola aka Snatcha.
How would you describe the experience so far?
It’s truly the best decision I have ever made. I can say that it is an experience of a lifetime already. The truth is we both have been on quite an emotional rollercoaster ride in our different life journeys and right now, we are in the same place. We just want to love and be loved. That is all we do. Every day we are intentional about how we express our love to each other in our words, actions and how we deal with issues, our home and children.
Snatcha was a good friend of yours before he became your husband. How did the friendship start and metamorphosed into marriage?
FINDING LOVE AFTER DIVORCE CAN BE DIFFICULT – NIKKI LAOYE
advice on important topics regarding love, relationships and blended family Life. And we also share moments with our kids, the Fantastic 4, bringing laughs and educational material to our fan-mily. So I would say my hands are very full at the moment because the work continues.
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What about your Angel 4 life Foundation?
Now that you have a full house, are you planning to have more children?
The work at my foundation has never stopped since its inception in 2010. We are daily providing support, care, counselling and resources to people with disabilities and children with cancer, all thanks to our donors and partners who have stood by us over the years. The needs and assistance required by our beneficiaries have tripled since the COVID -19 Lockdown and we keep working hard to provide the empowerment and support they need. We are certainly grateful to our partners such as DJ Cuppy and her Cuppy Foundation; Bisi and her Enable Africa Project, Yemi Alade, Tosin Babs-Ajose and all our kind donors and sponsors who have stood by us over the years and as they continuously provide support for our beneficiaries.
You were busy with other things while in Nigeria, as an editor and your work with Wahala Media, GirlsRockAfrica. What keeps you busy in the UK nowadays?
We will cross that bridge when we get there. For now, we are focusing more on adjusting as a new family together in the UK.
How are you going to combine music, motherhood and other things you do together?
It is all about planning, scheduling and organising my time between my family and work. It can definitely get overwhelming sometimes, but I am taking my time to build a sustainable working routine for myself so I don’t burn out as well.
Relocating abroad definitely will affect your music career. How are you going to handle that? Relocating abroad doesn’t affect my musical career in the Nigeria at all, especially now that the recent pandemic situation has changed the dynamics of how things are done globally these days. Everything has gone virtual. So no matter where I am in the world, I still communicate virtually with my fans in Nigeria and I can even set up virtual concerts, which are now the norm. My relocation simply enhances my career because it opens me up to a wider fan base in the UK and Europe as a whole.
Since music runs in the family, are you looking at collaborating with Snatcha and possibly with his singing partner, Sokleva? I actually have a single I recorded in collaboration with the two of them as Rooftop MCs called Taka Sufe. The song also featured my older brother, Femi Laoye, aka Rap2Sai. We recorded and shot the music video in 2009 and the song won a couple of awards. It was also one of the first Nigerian videos ever aired on BET. The song is a major classic single from my album collection and still a major favourite of my fans. I still perform the song till date. Of course, I look forward to collaborating on more songs with the Rooftop MCs. Snatcha and I also just released a new Afrobeat single called I DO, produced by Egarboi and it is becoming a love anthem already. The song is special to us and it is certainly the perfect expression of our love and commitment to one another and we pray that it further re-ignites the passion and love in all the relationships and marriages that connect to the song. Adeyoola The Adeyoolas We didn’t know how much we needed each other until God opened our eyes beyond our friendship and we are forever grateful to our Father who brought us together. We had to allow ourselves to fall in love again and move forward into a new beginning with each other “
The work never stopped, though I am in another country. I still run everything from the UK. I am creating a new schedule for my online radio show, Girls Rock with Nikki Laoye, while working as an Editor for popular music website, NotJustOk.Com as well as running Angel 4 Life Foundation. Being the Project Manager of Wahala Media Entertainment and sorting out my clients as a beauty entrepreneur with my organic hair care line, Fine Woman by Nikki Laoye. I am also the co-host of Meet The Snatchas Podcast with my husband. It’s a relationship/family podcast where we share our personal truths, opinions and Did you encounter any form of challenge before the children willingly accepted you as their mother? I encountered no challenges at all. They already knew me and loved me as their fun-loving Aunty Nikki and when things got serious between Snatcha and I, he actually talked to them and asked for their blessing before he proposed. And they excitedly asked to be part of the proposal plans. Also, at that time, our three-yearold son, Rain, had started calling me mummy. He just got up one day, stopped calling me aunty and switched to mummy all by himself. Then Zion, our six-year-old daughter went to meet her dad one morning and said, “Daddy is it okay for me to call aunty “mummy?” I remember her older sister, Trinity who is seven ran upstairs to tell me because I wasn’t there when Zion asked and Trinity told me “Aunty, guess what happened? Zion went to ask daddy if she can call you Soonmummy!”enough, they all started calling me mummy. We never told them to do that; they just did it at their own pace. It was so touching because to me, it meant “we accept you as our new mom”. We have an amazing bond and I’m somewhere between big sister and mummy to them because I am firm yet very playful and I understand their language. It has just been a blessing and of course, my husband, Snatcha, also made the transition very easy by helping me to understand what it is like to be a mum here in the United Kingdom and how it is different from Nigeria in terms of how you train and discipline them here. It’s been a beautiful experience indeed.
I would advise them all by saying “Go for it”Everyone deserves to be happy and to find love again. Forgive yourself and forgive everyone who might have hurt you. Let go of your fears, heal thyself, learn from your mistakes, work at becoming a better version of yourself and just trust God completely to give you the gift of the right man or woman, who will be the blessing from God that will make your life rich and add no sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). That’s all Snatcha and I did and that’s what we asked God for and He gave it to us. And after that, we had to allow ourselves to fall in love again and move forward into a new beginning. You have to do the same for yourself and when you finally find that new love of your life, be Intentional about everything in your relationship. Give 100%, communicate endlessly, be Kind and sensitive to one another. It’s never too late to start again because true Love awaits.
What advice do you have for ladies and men who are looking at a second chance at the marriage institution?
Eye
The young lad, Subomi, has chosen a career in music and recently released his first single, Which Type Of Woman, which is already being embraced by music enthusiasts. This therefore makes him the first Okoya scion to chart a career in the music industry. The video of the single which is a fusion of afro beat tunes and percussion beats was reportedly shot at The Dorchester, United Kingdom. Hopefully, like David Adeleke aka Davido, Subomi’s musical career will grow beyond the point where he would just be viewed as another rich kid who has the means to buy his way into the entertainment industry, but one who would be recognised for his pure talent.
The
Samusideen Babafemi Sarumi, founder of luxury car mart, 606 Auto Limited and entertainment companies, 606 Music Limited and Splash Off Entertainment Limited, was in a celebratory mood this past week. Sarumi, who also operates DNA Night club in Lagos, gathered a few celebrities, close associates and friends and hosted them as he turned a year older. The classy party, which was held at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, was a quiet affair as he reportedly swore his invited guests and the event planner to secrecy. The decor was reminiscent of an enchanting fairy tale situation. Acrobatic dancers were flown in to delight guests with their energetic Todisplays.keepguests entertained, the celebrant got comedian, Justine Nuagbe aka Ushbebe and media personality, Toke Makinwa to steer proceedings at the party. Sarumi also used the occasion of the party to subtly reveal that he would soon be unveiled as the Aare Amuludun 1 of Lagos, a chieftaincy title bestowed on him by a Lagos monarch, with a massive party to follow suit. He however kept the details of the unveiling to himself. Popular within the entertainment, society and business space, it hasn’t all been rosy for the Lagos State indigene who had a run in with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in November 2019. He was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on felony to commit money laundering to the tune of N209 million. Before then, he had earlier been arraigned by the EFCC for allegedly being involved in cyberfraud. He was also alleged to have taken possession of eight vehicles valued at N135 million and a boat valued at N104 million, which were reasonably suspected to be part of proceeds of organised crimes across the world, all of which he pleaded not guilty to. Well obviously, he was let off the hook which perhaps explains why he had cause to celebrate and why he will soon be confered with a chieftaincy title.
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuiike Amaechi, has obviously moved on from his defeat at the presidential primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress where he came a distant second and has his eyes set on conquering new heights. The former two-time governor of Rivers State recently graduated with a degree in Law from Baze University, Abuja, an institution that is fast becoming the choice university for Abuja-based politicians and busy company executives for degree acquisition. What is more, there must be something about their Law programme that attracts this group of people to apply to study law there. What with the likes of Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and former aviation minister, Osita Chidoka, among several others, who got their law degrees there in recent times. While the aforementioned feel the need to acquire law degrees, to boost their political profiles, it is not yet certain to what use Amaechi plans to put his law degree to, considering that he is no longer playing any active or significant role in this forthcomingdispensationpoliticalorintheone.
Okoya
RAZAK OKOYA’S SON, INDUSTRYJOINSSUBOMIMUSIC
From all indications, it looks like there will no longer be thorns and spikes on the road leading to Alausa, the seat of government in Lagos State for Gbadebo Vivour-Rhodes as the national leadership of the Labour Party has ended the controversy surrounding who the authentic governorship candidate in the state will be. During the week, the youthful politician was presented with a certificate of return thus making him the authentic gubernatorial candidate for the state.
Vivour-Rhodes
Sam in of Storm Over His Zuga Coin Zuga
Zuga
STORIES BY IVORY UKONU Businessman and industrialist, Chief Razak Akanni Okoya, has joined the league of prominent Nigerians whose children have refused to follow the conventional way of following in the family tradition of either building a professional career or joining the family business. His second child and first son with his youngest wife, Shade Okoya, early enough, has clearly charted a new course for himself and has no interest in joining the family business or taking up a profession in any blue chip company, at least for now.
Rotimi Amaechi Bags Law Degree From Abuja Varsity
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Bishop Sam Zuga, the General Overseer and founder of House of Joy Ministry, has been battling to save his reputation and that of his business enterprise, Zuga Coin, a Nigerian cryptocurrency, following reports that Zuga Coin and all that it represents is allegedly fraudulent. Recently, some users and merchants of Zuga Coin have been battling challenges relating to their inability to withdraw their digital assets. Hence, industry critics believed that the digital currency should be avoided by all means. Those who are well versed in the business of cryptocurrencies have advised that investors need to think twice before committing financially to Zuga Coin, saying that they risk losing their investment if they commit to it. These critics also claim that Zuga Coin is not yet an authority and is not supported by any of the giants in the cryptocurrency exchange platforms like Binance, coin base, and Huobi Global. While a few unpopular exchange platforms support Zuga Coin, one of the platforms made it clear that users might not be able to trade Zuga Coin for other coins. Another worrisome thing about the coin is its price. Most cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, Ethereum, dogecoin, and others start below $1 and grew over the years to what it is today. Zuga Coin started at a very ridiculous price of nearly $50,000. Over time, it has dropped in value and at another time, rose again to almost N66,000,000, far ahead of Bitcoin the premier cryptocurrency and the world’s most recognised, at N17,000,000. Despite this huge breakthrough the coin, critics allege, is still not recognized, not even at the national level, a huge discouragement for investors and crypto traders, they insist. Reacting to claims that his Zuga Coin isn’t a profitable venture but one fraught with suspicious motives, the cleric cum entrepreneur has not only expressed his displeasure but his disgust while describing his critics as ignorants, whom he alleged were desperate to tarnish his image and that of his project. According to Bishop Zuga, who is the first professor of Digital Economy, the only challenge his Zuga Coin is facing is lack of knowledge from users, adding that anyone can withdraw conveniently if the people that are withdrawing are less than the people who are depositing. He claims that no system can survive if what is going out is more than what is coming in. While explaining how the Samzuga ecosystem works and why some holders may be having problems withdrawing, he said that merchants can transfer money from the merchant area of the merchant app to the merchants wallet and from there to P2P (a situation that allows peers to buy and sell digital currency without a third party) conveniently. But despite his explanations, not a few Nigerians already have their mind set on what they think of his Zuga Coin. Launched in September 2020, it is one of the first African crypto-currencies to be tracked on the global market after reportedly meeting global standards in December 2020. Zuga says he created the coin to rebuild Africa’s dying economy and plans to veer towards equity and investment funding specifically for the African government instead of China.
THEWILL had earlier reported that the ambition of Vivour-Rhodes, a former staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party, to occupy the seat of power in Lagos State was fraught with controversy. Ifagbami Awamaridi, the embattled state chairman and governorship candidate of the party, had insisted that he remained the chairman and governorship candidate of the party, having won the primaries earlier conducted and his name published by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Not long afterward, a substitution primary was conducted with VivourRhodes emerging winner after polling 111 votes to defeat Moshood Salvador, a former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who got 102 votes. A substitution primary is conducted if the candidate for an elective position withdraws from the race, becomes incapacitated or dies before the election. Unfortunately, the outcome of the substitution primary and the manner it was conducted did not go down well with a few people. First, Salvador rejected the outcome of the election, alleging that some delegates who voted were not meant to participate in the Secondly,primary. the party’s deputy chairman said Awamaridi had written formally that he was withdrawing from the race, claiming that he was a placeholder for the party’s governorship candidate slot which necessitated the substitution primary. But Awamaridi rejected the claim that he had withdrawn from the race, adding that he had sworn an affidavit of non-withdrawal before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Besides, he is still very much alive and not dead. The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Abayomi Arabambi, insists that Rhodes-Vivour is the authentic governorship candidate of the party as Awamaridi was just a placeholder. He noted that the party had concluded all necessary documentation with INEC regarding Vivour-Rhodes and that the party had zero tolerance for the unscrupulous and dubious politics that Awamaridi was allegedly exhibiting. According to him, for a candidate for election to emerge in a political party, the candidate has to go through a constitutional process and the emergence of Rhodes-Vivour as the 2023 Lagos state governorship candidate of the LP followed all necessary laws, regulations and guidelines as provided in the party’s Constitution, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and INEC guidelines. Awamaridi, he said, was the chairman of the party’s Lagos state Caretaker Committee at one point, and was made a placeholder for the governorship primary election. The placeholder status given to Awamaridi was one from which he formally tendered his official resignation which he (Arabambi) claims he has a copy of, was willfully, voluntarily and clearly signed and tendered by Awamaridi. Arabambi therefore urged Awamaridi to stop parading himself as the chairman and governorship candidate of the party in the state and should seek redress in court if he feels cheated. Young, vibrant and charismatic, Rhodes-Vivour began his political journey in 2016 when he contested for the position of Chairman, Ikeja Local Government Area on the platform of KOWA Party. When that didn’t work, he joined the PDP in 2017 and in 2019, emerged the PDP Senatorial candidate representing Lagos West District. He lost out to the eventual winner, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, who is struggling to represent the people of Yewa, Ogun State in the Rhodes-VivourSenate.challenged the results of the election at the Election Petition Tribunal based on widespread targeted violence in PDP strongholds. Unfortunately, the tribunal upheld that Adeola was the winner. He had also signified his interest to occupy the seat of power in Lagos State. Unfortunately, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran aka Jandor, trounced him at the poll. He took his defeat graciously and had hoped that he would perhaps be picked as Jandor’s deputy from the line up of aspirants. But that was not to be as Jandor instead picked a political neophyte in the person of actress and movie producer, Funke Akindele. That was the cue he needed to switch camps which he did to the Labour Party.
ACRIMONY BURIED AS LP PRESENTS CERTIFICATE OF RETURN TO GBADEBO VIVOUR-RHODES
Amaechi Sarumi Samusideen Sarumi Adds Another Year, Reveals New Chieftaincy Title
STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN
Dupe Ogunlesi Clocks 70
Tributes and congratulatory messages have since been pouring in for the accountant turned entrepreneur. Unlike her husband, Lanre who is a social bird, the business woman prefers the introverted lifestyle and quietly manning her upscale store which boasts of all home wares and bespoke furnishing. Her journey into the entrepreneurial world started when her first daughter wanted to get married and needed to stock her new home. Having searched almost everywhere in Lagos State, she could not get a luxury store to buy the home essentials she desperately needed. After the wedding, Ogunlesi decided to replicate a lifestyle store that would meet the needs of a woman of class. She has built the brand for almost three decades and is still counting.Ogunlesi
The leadership tussle between Oba Adebayo Awoseyila, the traditional ruler of Ikole -Ekiti in Ekiti State and Chief Alayode Olanipekun, the Eleese of Ilara in Ikole-Ekiti has finally been resolved. The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Bisi Egbeyemi, had to step in to caution the warring parties. The tussle started after the Eleese of Ikole Ekiti, Chief Olanipekun, who is a Quarter Chief and should be under the leadership of the Elekole of Ikole Ekiti, Oba Awoseyila, refused to acknowledge the traditional ruler as his superior. The two titled rulers had to drag each other to a High Court in Ekiti State to resolve their conflict. The court finally acknowledged Awoseyila as the superior and asked Olanipekun to submit to his authority. However, Olanipekun would have none of that. He started parading himself as a traditional ruler and exercised authority in the capacity of a monarch despite the fact that he is a Quarter Chief. He also continued to ignore the directives of Awoseyila, his superior. Oba Awoseyila had to consult the Alamo in Council, the kingmakers in the community over Olanipekun’s behaviour. He accused Olanipekun of insubordination, abuse of office and abandoning of his traditional duties. When Olanipekun refused to turn a new leaf, the Alamo in Council gave Awoseyila the go ahead to appoint another chief to occupy Olanipekun’s seat. The timely intervention of Egbeyemi, the deputy governor of the state, stopped Olanipekun’s removal as Eleese of IIara in Ikole-Ekiti. Egbeyemi was also able to resolve the age long dispute between the two traditional rulers.
Benjamin Joseph Benjamin Returns, Stars in Mo Abudu’s New movie
Actor cum voice over artist, Joseph Benjamin seems to have returned to the Nigerian movie scene a few years after relocating abroad in search of the proverbial greener pastures. The actor had left the shores of Nigeria in 2016 in search of a better life. After relocating, he registered at the Nevada Bridge Production company, a top production outfit in America just to fit into the movie industry abroad. He featured in a Hollywood series, Green Leaf before pitching his tent in the music industry. He became a devoted Christian and added motivational speaking to his Benjaminresume. also became a constant worshipper in his church where he serves in the music department. He shifted his attention away from the movie industry which launched him into the limelight to his new found love for music. He released a soul lifting debut single titled, I pour my love which received so much streaming, massive airplay and accolades from music lovers who heard the Thoughsong. it wasn’t his first leap at music, in 2016, he released a single titled Joy but it wasn’t as successful as his second effort, I pour my love which caught the fancy of the Christian community. The accolades the Kogi state born artiste received with his music career made many believe he had moved on and was not thinking of paying Nollywood a visit again. However, he returned a few months ago and appeared in Mosunmola Abudu’s flick, Her Perfect Life The actor stayed after shooting the movie just to clinch more roles in the make believe industry and seems not to be willing to travel abroad again.
Celebrated female drummer, Aralolu Olumuyiwa, a.k.a Ara, has opened up on the rumour that she is one of the concubines of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. It was alleged that the mother of one is one of the many ladies warming the bed of the traditional ruler. Her alleged romance started even before Olori Wuraola, one of the estranged wives of the traditional ruler became the wife of Ooni of Ife. She was rumoured to be the king’s choice before Olori Wuraola came to the picture in 2016. She was said to have gone on several trips with the Ooni so that they could be close to each Itother.was alleged that one of the reasons Ara was appointed as a cultural ambassador in 2016 by the African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) was so she would be close to her lover. Being a custodian of African tradition, any of the ambassadors of the AWIEF usually work with the Ooni to propagate the African Duringculture.her reign as a cultural ambassador, Olumuyiwa worked with the Ooni and even represented him at different events on several occasions. Her ambassadorial role brought them closer such that the female drummer was practically living in Ile-Ife. Many misconstrued their closeness to that of a traditionalaswasOloriwereHowever,relationship.romantictheyshockedafterWuraolaintroducedthewifeoftherulerbecause they were expecting the artiste to occupy the Despiteposition.the fact that the queen had settled in the palace, Olumuyiwa was still rumoured to have continued her romantic dalliance with the king. At a point, when the tale became unbearable, she had to relinquish her title as a cultural ambassador so that peace could reign. When the queen’s position became vacant again in 2017, she was seen as a possible replacement for the highly exalted position until Olori Naomi occupied the position in 2018. Even when Queen Naomi left her matrimonial home, Olumuyiwa’s name was one of the names on the lips of people who were allegedly responsible for the collapse of the union. Her relationship with the Ooni was revisited after her performance at the just concluded Olokun Festival which took place at Monarch Event Centre in the Lekki area of Lagos. She was the only female drummer that took center stage and performed almost throughout the ceremony. Many attributed her presence to the fact that she enjoys a relationship with the Ooni who was the royal father of the day. Her alleged romance with the traditional ruler became a topic of discussion again and some insisted that certainly, there must be an affair between the two. Olumuyiwa has denied all that talk about being the Ooni’s concubine. According to her, what she shares with him is a father and child relationship and nothing more. She has never dated or had intimate feelings for the traditional ruler. She described those peddling the rumour as mischief makers who are willing to go to any extent to damage the goodwill and reputation she had built over the years. She added that her role as the cultural ambassador in 2016 was the reason she became close to the traditional ruler as they had to work on several projects together. She also made it known that she has a cordial relationship with one of the estranged Olori Wuraola as against the widespread rumour that she was sharing the Ooni with the queen.
It was a gathering of the who-iswho in Nigeria when children and family members buried the first cosmetologist in Nigeria, Chief Abiodun Wright- Osibogun, in Ibadan, Oyo State last week.
September is a hallowed month in the household of Lanre Ogunlesi, businessman and boss of upscale fashion house, Sophisticat. His wife, Modupe Ogunlesi, the entrepreneur behind Adam and Eve luxury store, has clocked 70. Ahead of her birthday, the passionate businesswoman invited an artist to produce her life portrait as she sits quietly at her multi-million naira luxury store.
Abiodun Wright-Osibogun Goes Home
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Oba Adebayo Awoseyila, Chief Alayode Olanipekun End Leadership Tussle
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Wright-Osibogun Olanipekun
Wright-Osibogun breathed her last on Friday, July 15, 2022 at her residence in Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State at the age of 94. Her burial rites was a three day programme, it started on Wednesday with a service of songs and choral festival memorial concert. The Christian Wake took place on Thursday while her lying in state and funeral service took place on Friday. The event was attended by billionaire real estate mogul, Sir Olu Okeowo , billionaire socialite, Olorogun Oskar Ibru, Governor Dapo Abiodun and his wife, Bamidele Abiodun, deputy governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, former governor of Ondo State, Segun Mimiko, founder of Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo and a host of other dignitaries. Chief Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi was on the band stand to thrill guests with melodious music. The deceased’s first son, Otunba Ayodeji Osibogun is a veteran broadcaster who started his career with the Nigeria Television Authority and a founding member of the Ogun State Television Service before venturing into business and becoming Nigeria’ largest supplier of broadcast and production Chiefequipment.Wright-Osibogun was a staunch member of the Chapel of Resurrection in Ibadan and a dedicated Anglican and a member of the choir for over 50 years. WrightOsibogun was a well-known business woman in Ibadan who plied her trade alongside late Chief H.I.D Awolowo. She gained her reputation as the first trained Nigerian cosmetologist and manufacturer of popular hair cream, Clarissa in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Aformer Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Dare Kadiri, representing Ijebu North II Constituency under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) does not hide his feelings when it comes to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s desire for a second term in 2023. Kadiri has made it known that he will not support the re-election of the governor, despite the fact that they are both in the APC. He said that he would support any opposition candidate who is ready to accommodate the collective interests of the people. It is believed that he decided to withdraw his support from Abiodun on personal grounds. When the going was good, Kadiri worked towards Abiodun’s emergence as governor. He was almost killed during the APC primary election in 2018 when thugs went on a rampage. Thugs and hoodlums were after his life because of the way he was going about the primary election, just to ensure that Abiodun won in the election. He bought a campaign vehicle for his mother, Alhaja Adetola Kadiri, who was the APC Women Leader in Ijebu North II Local Government Area in Ogun State. The vehicle was used to support the rally held by the local government for Abiodun. Even though Abiodun gave out money to other supporters to get their campaign vehicles, Kadiri did not mind, but he ensured that his mother convinced people in her local government area to vote for Abiodun and he won in the local government. However, after his election, he shunned both mother and son. He stopped picking Alhaja Kadiri’s call and couldn’t support her when a call was made for her to be impeached as the woman leader in her local government. Her son also faced impeachment. Kadiri impeachedwas for gross misconduct in 2021. He was accused waygovernor,shunnedhimtheenemieswhenranconstituency.propertiesthreatofself-approvalun-authorizedspeakertoinsubordinationoftheofficeofthethroughexpenditure,tolivesandinhisKadiritoAbiodunhispoliticalstartedbattleagainstbuthewasbythejusttheheshunned Kadiri’s mother during her impeachment saga. Things had degenerated so badly by the time Abiodun stepped in and Kadiri felt that Abiodun didn’t handle the crisis that led to his impeachment well. Even before the impeachment move, his constituency was totally marginalised in terms of political appointments and projects by the governor. All efforts made by Kadiri to get the governor’s attention met a brick wall. He felt used and cheated that is why he has promised to support any good opposition candidate in the forthcoming general election.
Chief Executive in 2016 and also taking charge of children’s service. One of his contributions was his strategic vision for the council tagged “Transforming Bromley” a four year programme which started in 2019 and would end in 2023. The programme has overhauled six main business areas in Bromley and he was applauded for the initiative. Tributes were paid to Adetosoye for his impact as one of the highly respected local authorities and Chief Executive Officer in the United Kingdom.
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Prof Ocheni who was the chairman of the event was honoured with the Worthy Servant Leadership Award. The award was given for Ocheni’s contribution to the development of Kogi state when he was the minister in charge of State, Labour and Productivity. Ocheni was nominated by Muhammadu Buhari and later appointed in August, 2017 to 2019 before Festus Keyamo took over from him. Before his appointment as a minister, he was the Dean of the faculty of Management Science, Kogi State University.
the membership during the just concluded 2022 National Congress and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Psychological Association held at the Lagos State University. He was awarded for his role in nation building as a lawmaker and speaker of the Lagos State Assembly. Obasa’s journey as a politician started in 1999 when he was in Alliance for Democracy, AD. He contested for the seat of Councilor in Agege
Lawmaker cum entrepreneur, Honorable Shina Peller has emerged the Life Patron of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and he has also been honoured with an award of Outstanding Leadership by the association. The Federal Lawmaker representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/ Iwajowa federal constituency of Oyo State at the House of Representative, under the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC was made the life patron during the 40th anniversary of the association which took place in Abuja last week. Peller became the choice patron of the association as a result of his advocacy for the Nigerian youths and his concern for their welfare and development. The Okeogun Oyo State born lawmaker through his NGO, Lead Generation Initiative had trained thousands of youths across the country on effective leadership skills, strategic communication and nation building. He is also the national coordinator of WE2GEDA Nigeria, a movement of millions of young patriotic Nigerians, coming together irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliation, to establish a new system of leadership comprising young, competent and patriotic leaders. He was also one of the guest speakers who charged the youths to leverage on their numerical strength to usher a propeople leadership in 2023.
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STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN he Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has become a Fellow of the times,officefirstThePsychologicalNigerianAssociation.lawmaker,whoisthetobere-electedintoforthreeconsecutivewashonouredwith
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Professor Stephen Ocheni, a former Minister of State, Labour and Productivity has been awarded a leadership honour by Nigeria Post Newspaper. Ocheni was honoured during the 31st Anniversary of the creation of Kogi State, which was marked by Mike Abu, a former Chief Press Secretary of the former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi and publisher of Nigeria Post Newspaper. The state had clocked 31 years last week and a lecture was held by Abu to mark the occasion.
STEPHEN
OCHENI HONOURED WITH LEADERSHIP AWARD Queen PsychologicalasMudashiruHonoursElizabethAdeAdetosoyeObasaHonouredFellowofNigerianAssociationWhy Dare Kadiri is Against Dapo Abiodun’s Re-election PellerPATRONNANSBECOMESPELLERSHINALIFEOcheni Adetosoye ObasaKadiri
Consequently, they were denied entry and advised to return to their country and apply for the appropriate visa.
“However, those persons allowed entry into the country have their family members in the UAE, while those who claimed their family members were on another flight, were told to wait at the airport, pending their arrival.
The Federal Government urged Nigerians to respect the immigration laws of other countries so as to avoid unwarranted treatment.
The truth is that it is obvious to the most unbiased reviewer that this team is confident, dominant and resilient. With the right characters possessing the right qualities like Jesus upfront, Martin Ode gaard in the middle and William Saliba at the back, they are primed to be worth the results they are producing. Like Arsenal, Nigeria has lost its shine to the point of becoming a parody of its acclaimed status as the "Giant of Africa". Its green passport is an object of ridicule as we are learning from the treatment meted out to Nigerians in Dubai and other international destinations. It is just the recent of a history of scorn that Nige rians experience because the country is nowhere near its worth after consistently punching below its weight because, for the longest time, we have been led, not by our best and brightest, but by the least prepared and experienced for the task of governing a country with the overabun dance of gifts as Nigeria.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Federal Government has been drawn to a video on social media, showing purported stranded Nigerians, who arrived the airport in Dubai, UAE on 29th August 2022, but were denied entry into the country despite having valid visas.
“The general (sic) public is invited to note and be guided that the government of UAE has introduced a new visa regime and has stopped issuing tourist visas to persons under the age of 40 years, except for those applying for family visas.
The Federal Government has advised prospective visa applicants to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to clearly indicate their visa preferences without any ambiguity when applying, and also respect the immigration laws of other countries to avoid unwarranted Atreatment.statement signed by Francisca Omayuli, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that the UAE Government had introduced a new visa regime and had stopped issuing tourist visas to persons under 40 years.
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I have not asked you to cast a vote for any candidate. However, I urge you to choose who you think is best for the country when you cast your vote. It is our individual and collective responsibility to bring such a leader to power because next year's general election calls for the salvation of our country.
Arsenal's momentum at this moment in time presents a very clear template to turn a morbid situation into an inspiring narrative that will be used to encourage others, much the same way as pundits tried to do with Erik ten Hag at Manches ter United, who pitifully lost his first two games of the season and saw his side languishing at the bottom of the League before facing Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. Arteta recognised the enormity of the task facing him but with a mindset that was aware of Arsenal's status in Europe. He assembled a team to help turn around the club's fortunes as the Amazon docu series revealed. He emphasised the part the youth would play in that project. He set a trio of what he termed non-negotia bles: Respect, commitment and passion. He was ruthless in dealing out punish ment for anyone that went against these principles in order to ensure discipline, establish a culture of responsibility, dem onstrate that there are no sacred cows and entrench an atmosphere of never backing down, irrespective of the odds stacked up against them. He has come quite close to the glory years of Arsenal under Wenger as a result, claiming 53 victories in his first 100 EPL games, only one shy of Wenger's 54.
New
According to the statement, prospective visa applicants are now required to indicate clearly their visa preferences.
This, it said, was consequent upon some videos on social media showing stranded Nigerians in Dubai calling out the Federal Government after they were denied entry at the airport.
What has happened since has altered Ar senal's recent history. A midweek game last week against the resilient Aston Villa made it five wins in five consecu tive matches for this resurgent Gunners' squad for the first time since the ‘Invin cibles’ era of the 2003/2004 season where they went through the entire season unbeaten. It may be only five games of a 38-game marathon, with the November World Cup thrown in the mix, but the aspects of their game I want to focus on does not need to be given a trial period.
This is why I recommend the Arsenal template. The choice before us at next year's polls means we must pick a leader who can pick the right team of character, quality and passion. He must have nonnegotiables that are targeted towards ensuring that this team aligns with the purposeful drive to improve the lives of every Nigerian rather than a subset as it currently operates. He must have the nononsense approach to governance that serves out immediate sanctions to those who merit it. He must hold the unity of his team in high esteem as that will trans late to the unity of the country in the larg er picture. He must bring a recognisable momentum to governance that will be clear for all to see, supporters, opponents, commentators and detractors alike. And he must be ready to give everything to succeed because no sacrifice should be too small to take Nigeria from the brink of a failed state status back to the dizzying heights of peace, progress and prosper ity as it truly deserves. Indeed, it must be ALL OR NOTHING.
with them challenging for a place in the UCL and settling for a Europa slot. These actions brought unity to the team, casting the pale cloud of doubts of previ ous seasons aside and putting the de pressing incidents in the dressing room gloom that followed the extrication of Ozil, Matteo Guendouzi and Aubameyang in the past where it belonged. This unity impacted the fans as well, who became passionate about the club all over again and thronged to matches to show their support in full voice. Arteta continued his investment in the youth to purge the club of its bloated old guard. Ozil, David Luiz, Saed Kolasinac, Nacho Monreal, Alexandre Lacezette, Henrikh Mkhitaryan all made way as Arsenal's new recruitment approach targeted players in their peak years, such that the average age of the starting XI became the youngest in the EPL last sea son. They also invested in talented, serialwinning recruits, especially Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Man City, to inject that positive attitude and quality in this growing team.
As a result, what we have now is the el evation of mediocrity to leadership. What we require is a turnaround of similar proportion to Arsenal’s beginning, in much the same way as this piece began, by making a hard choice. As a country, 2023 gives us a chance to right this ship and get back on course in the direction of progress, accountability, responsibility and single-minded commitment to the purpose and vision of Nigeria's difficult but desired developmental goals.
“It is, therefore, instructive for prospective visa applicants to indicate clearly their visa preferences without any ambiguity and also respect the immigration laws of other countries so as to avoid unwarranted treatments.”
Continued from ...LikeBackpageArsenal, Like Nigeria
Nigeria can learn from this to bring back the glorious days of yore. In spite of our counsel and pleas to the two main politi cal parties, All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to select their presidential candi dates from the country’s pool of bright and smart business leaders who un derstand how to manage resources and create wealth, we now have before us two experienced politicians in their 70s, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidates of the APC and PDP, respectively. The third force, Mr. Peter Obi, 61, a businessman and trader, is the Labour Party’s can didate. These are clearly the frontline Wecandidates.nowhave a choice to make to begin our redemption in 2023 and I encourage every eligible Nigerian to come out on Election Day and vote because we are crumbling as a country due to very poor choices made by those we have elected into the highest office. The fiscal policies of this administration have been disas trous to be candid.
Be Guided By UAE Visa Regime, FG NigeriansAdvises
“The Nigerian mission in Dubai has clarified that most of the supposedly stranded Nigerians were issued with family visas, only to arrive Dubai alone without any family member.
L-R Adviser, Love of Christ Generation Church, Rev. Ademuyiwa Ajayi; Founder, Love of Christ Generation Church, Rev. Mother Esther Ajayi and Editor, Ovation Magazine, Mr Mike Effiong, at a press Conference on the upcoming 15th Years Anniversary and one Year Thanksgiving of Cathedral opening, in Lagos on August 31, 2022.
Though the First and Second Republics had three prominent writers who were also politicians, nothing suggests now that writers in Nigeria will take up the dual role of glad-handing voters at public squares and autographing novels in out of the way libraries. Except for Wale Okediran, a medical doctor and writer who was a member of House of Representatives for four years from 2003, no other writer in Nigeria has made it that far since this civilian dispensation began in 1999.
friend and intellectual companion Soyinka was teaching at nearby University of Ife then. There would have been frequent driveovers from State House Ibadan to Ife and vice versa. The governor would have asked, over one of their numerous lunches and dinners, what could be done to make motorists and their machines better users of roads and highways under his care in the state. In short, what can be done to reduce accidents and traffic offences to a minimal and tolerable level?
on FRSC’s 30th anniversary in The Guardian of February 21, 2018, IBB himself proudly declared thusly: “Our administration summoned Prof Soyinka to higher national service as the founding Corp Marshal of the FRSC. I am proud to say that the basic foundation of discipline, firmness and commitment to humanitarian service was laid at this period.”
For four years Wole Soyinka was Corp Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps from 1988 to 1992, automobile accidents dropped to its lowest level on Nigerian roads and highways. Having first recorded the same feat in Oyo state when Bola Ige was governor years before, military president Ibrahim Babangida summoned Soyinka to Dodan Barracks Lagos to do the same thing for the entire country. Soyinka obliged him.
Now with the general elections scheduled for February 2023, it is doubtful if any member of Association of Nigerian Authors or any Nigerian writer, for that matter, will be vying for political office –either as members of state houses of assemblies or the lower and upper So,chambers.whyare Nigerian writers un-keen on making a stab at political office? Are writers closing the door against themselves in Nigeria’s political space? Or is it that they simply lack the administrative skill and organizational ability indispensable to good governance?
Michael Jimoh reports… Continues on page 30
John F Kennedy is one notable example. His Profiles in Courage won the Pulitzer in 1956. Four years later, he moved to the Whitehouse after narrowly defeating Richard Nixon in the 1960 American presidential election. There is Vaclav Havel, poet, playwright and human rights activist, who also became president of Czechoslovakia from 1989 –1992 and then of the Czech Republic from 1993 - 2003.
The Soyinka Example
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Nnamdi Azikiwe was a poet, journalist and publisher before he became ceremonial head of state of Nigeria in the First Republic. His compatriot, Dennis Osadebay, was a poet and premier of Mid-Western Region at the same time. One of the pioneers of modern Nigerian literature, Chinua Achebe had a spell with politics, serving as vice chairman to Aminu Kano who was chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party during the Second Republic. With the exception of Wale Okediran, a writer and member of House of Representatives for four years from 2003, Nigerian writers seem to have become expiring species in the ever widening political space. THEWILL wonders why.
For four years Wole Soyinka was Corp Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps from 1988 to 1992, automobile accidents dropped to its lowest level on Nigerian roads and highways. Having first recorded the same feat in Oyo state when Bola Ige was governor years before, military president Ibrahim Babangida summoned Soyinka to Dodan Barracks Lagos to do the same thing for the entire country “
For the four years under Soyinka as Corp Marshal of FRSC, sanity returned to Nigerian roads and highways: drivers drove within a certain speed limit because that FRSC official in a maroon safari hat or beret might just be around the corner; they knew better not to offer bribes because they will turn it down and even hand you over to the police for prosecution along with the initial traffic offence; drivers and their passengers began compulsorily strapping on seatbelts; interstate motorists didn’t dare put vehicles with worn tyres, malfunctioning break lights or faulty headlights on the road. Without the itchy fingers of VIOs or their equivalent in the police ever ready to shake down motorists, FRSC officials in their smart uniforms stood poles apart from them. Of course, they were more professional, always polite to drivers but firm in instructing them on what to do and how not to break traffic laws while on the way. And then, there was the ambulance crew – complete with medics – ready to apply first-aid treatment at the scene of accident or ferry victims to hospitals.
It is easy to see writing and politics as parallel professions. Nothing, you’d think, connects them in any way. But a closer look shows some similarities between both professions – if politics can be called a profession. Writers and politicians address large audiences with the latter having an advantage in terms of reach and size. Both also seek to change the society in which they live though in quite different ways. Politicians go on the campaign trail to court and woo voters while writers remain in monkish seclusion when the muse visits. And yet, there are instances of writers becoming politicians and even making it to the presidency.
To answer these questions, we’ll begin with the last showing that writers are, indeed, some of the best administrators around here.
FEATURES
As governor of one of the states with the largest landmass then, Ige would have been briefed and seen firsthand the chaotic traffic situation in his domain - of road users needlessly killing themselves, threat to others either by overloading, over-speeding, driving against traffic, driving vehicles not road worthy or, worse still, driving under the
Thus was Oyo State Road Safety Corp born and Soyinka as the driving force and pioneer head. With dedicated staff in place, OSRSC became a smashing success in no time, cutting down road accidents in and around the state by more than seventy to eighty percent – the least of all the 12 states at the time. With that impressive score sheet, IBB mandated Soyinka to perform the Oyo state miracle on a national scale. He did. How Soyinka did it is now very well known – through the highly disciplined pioneer staff he initiated as FRSC. Soyinka didn’t have to look too far for trusted and committed staff of FRSC. The story goes that he called upon and recruited some of his fellow Pyrates Confraternity to help put sanity back on Nigerian roads. They duly responded and, till date, FRSC has earned the respect of road users in Nigeria and even the military that set it Commentingup.
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Where Are The Writer Politicians in Nigeria?
“The American case is not a good example,” Ofeimun corrected THEWILL. “America started as a very intellectual establishment.
Prior to the party primaries last May and June in Nigeria, for instance, candidates of some political parties paid as much as N100m just to obtain registration forms into elective positions. As is now very well known, some even shelled more cash – in foreign currencies - during the primaries making it seem like an important budgetary allocation for a federal or state project. As is also very well known, candidates who spent more dollars defeated their opponents hands down. Not many Nigerian writers can afford those humongous sums either to purchase the forms, bribe delegates or even the electorate, thus conveniently shutting them out of the race for elective posts now or in future elections. For writers who depend solely on paltry royalties from publishers, where are they going to find such huge sums to start off the wheel of their electoral machines?
To contest, he must join a party. The two major parties then and now are not to his taste, for obvious reasons. The only one he found more congenial, Labour Party, lacked the state presence by way of numbers and resources to shoo out either an APC or PDP government in Benin.
On his ambition to contest as governor of Edo state, Ofeimun insists he never wanted to run in that very election. “I wanted to use that election to prepare for the one that came after. But the choice of party that I made – I couldn’t join any of those other parties – the Labour Party that I picked, they do not have the resources to support a candidate who was also not well-to-do. A candidate who is not well-to-do who joins a party that is not well-to-do is asking for trouble.”
Now, the point here is not about the success of FRSC but the man who was at the very top at the very beginning. With the “foundation of discipline, firmness and commitment to humanitarian service” engrained into FRSC officials then, Soyinka – though a writer by profession - demonstrated his administrative savvy and organisational ability in running a public outfit and making it work, perhaps, more than any politician ever could.
Not many Nigerian writers can afford those humongous sums either to purchase the forms, bribe delegates or even the electorate, thus conveniently shutting them out of the race for elective posts now or in future elections. For writers who depend solely on paltry royalties from publishers, where are they going to find such huge sums to start off the wheel of their electoral machines? “ 29
FEATURES Continued from page
So, to go back to our first question or to rephrase it: why is Soyinka, or writers like him, those who have the gift of the imagination with far-seeing solutions to immediate problems, not involved in politics?
Where Are the Writer Politicians in Nigeria? ones. Ask any eligible voter in Nigeria today who the presidential candidates of the two major parties are and he will tell you off the cuff. Ask the same person who the presidential candidate of NCP is and you’ll probably draw a blank.
The poet’s quest ended almost as abruptly as it began.
It’s a Matter of Cash
No wonder fatalities on Nigerian roads and highways reduced drastically at the time. And such was the turnaround in road carnage that staff in emergency units in some orthopaedic hospitals joked that some of them waited in vain for weeks without seeing casualties as they used to. The reason for that success was not so much because of the Soyinka persona but the “foundation of discipline, firmness and humanitarian service” that was the standard of the agency under him.
Still speaking on writers who were once politicians, Maxim reminded the newspaper that venerable poet, Odia Ofeimun, was a politician during the Second Republic. “Odia was a card-carrying member of the Unity Party of Nigeria under Obafemi Awolowo,” Maxim told THEWILL. “Not only that, he was Private Secretary (Political) to Awo at the time.”
The poet himself had hoped to revive his political career after a dry spell since the mid-eighties, after the military government of Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon terminated the Second republic mid-sentence in 1983. A First Class graduate of Political Science from UI in its halcyon days, Ofeimun literarily surprised some of his colleagues when he announced in 2016 or thereabout he was going to contest as governor in his natal Edo state. He followed it up with grand ideas of what he would focus on as governor even while the election was years away. One of them was to link up all the headquarters and major towns in the state by a modern rail line.
So connected from Benin the state capital like arteries from the heart to the rest of the body in a state with the comforting motto: Heartbeat of the Nation, anyone could see the immediate and incredible advantages of Ofeimun’s dream project. It was the imagination of the writer at work but one without requisite political power or base to see it through.
At the same time, the poet and past president of the Association of Nigerian Authors went on, “the politician will still be raising money, carrying people from one part of the country to the other and things of that nature. In a country where politics has become thoroughly monetised, most professionals can’t get into it. That is why there are godfathers everywhere, those who have made a little money, even illiterates, become the godfathers of professors. One of the reasons the best ideas don’t come around politics is that you have to pass the so-called good ideas through people who do not care for the ideas in the first place.”
OfeimunOkediran
When the newspaper spoke with Ofeimun recently, he proposed another reason writers are not generally keen on politics. They prefer spending time “writing short witty poems three or so nights” to the life of a politician who must glad-hand or back-pat potential voters out there.
All the makers of the American system were scholars, they were intellectuals who wrote books – whether on the liberal or conservative side - they were writers. They had a sounder beginning than we had.”
The immediate answer is money. “It takes three things to win elections,” Dave Powers, a Kennedy associate, famously said. “The first is money, the second is money and the third is money.”
But how come some democracies had writers who were also politicians, bearing in mind the US, for instance, where as a politician JFK wrote, won the Pulitzer and was resident of the Whitehouse?
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Those of the First and Second republics even had successors, Maxim contends. “Wale Okediran won election into the House of representatives in 2003. (Okediran is a doctor, writer and onetime president of the Association of Nigerian Authors.) Reuben Abati was a gubernatorial running mate to PDP candidate Buruji Kashamu in the Ogun state contest in 2019.” Younger writers, he continues, “are throwing their hats into the political ring.”
In that sense, Nigerian writers have not been quite apolitical as we imagine. “Nigerian writers,” Maxim maintains, “have from time been in politics. Zik was a poet. Dennis Osadebay was equally a poet. Chinua Achebe was vice chairman of Aminu Kano’s Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).”
It is true that younger writers are making a stab at politics these days. But they are hardly known beyond their council areas therefore lacking the national appeal to win crucial votes for electoral positions. Poet and bookseller Dagga Tola, is a card-carrying member of National Conscience Party. Headed by the late Gani Fawehinmi when it was founded as a political party, Dagga Tola saw NCP as the right party to be in. For him, the party’s leader represented something close to the conscience of the nation, given his human rights record, his intolerance of corruption - reason for NCP’s motto: “Shine your eyes.” But without the national spread of the dominant parties, NCP could not even secure a councilorship electoral victory in any of the 774 local governments in Nigeria during the 2015 election and subsequent
Even so, THEWILL could not resist asking one or two writers why some of them are turned off from politics. Uzor Maxim Uzoatu is an outstanding Nigerian journalist, novelist and poet. In his view, “there has been a longstanding controversy over writers and politics. Some purists from Europe would argue that politics compromise art, but man happens to be a political animal.”
Could that sense of “discipline, firmness and humanitarian service” be replicated in other government institutions or ministries? It is open to debate. But what is certain is that armed with those three qualities –moral rectitude, a steely resolve and determination to genuinely serve the public - politicians anywhere in the world can make a whole lot of difference in governance.
There is also the matter of principle. Like most committed writers, many in Nigeria consider politics and writing poles apart, especially in this part of the world. For one, writers sometime become critical of government policies or those in government themselves. It follows that there is no way a writer can be part of a government he serially denounces/ criticises.
Having played for Paris Saint-Germain between 1998 and 2002, Birmingham City and Portsmouth, in his active days, he in the defensive midfielder and occasionally as a centre back positions, he retired at Ligue 2’s Nîmes in 2009. He soon ventured into management and started off as the assistant coach of the U-23s in 2012 and 2013.
In line with the theme of being born abroad but choosing to represent one's country of origin, Ghana's coach Addo was born on June 9, 1975 in Hamburg, West Germany. Playing as an attacking midfielder and winger, he spent all of his playing career in the German football scene with stints in clubs like VfL 93 Hamburg, Hannover 96, Borussia Dortmund, Mainz 05 and Hamburger SV, where he finished his active career. At the highpoint of his Bundesliga days, he won the 2001/2002 Bundesliga trophy with Dortmund, the club's third in their history. He also turned up for the Black Stars of Ghana during the period for seven years beginning in 1999. In his debut, Ghana walloped Eritrea 5-0 in February 28, 1999. He rose to prominence on the global stage when he served as the nation's captain during the 2000 AFCON.
Indigenous Coaches Lead Africa’s World Cup Campaign 1996, Burkina Faso 1998, and Angola 2010) and holds the record for the most consecutive games played in the competition with 35 first team games. He was part of their triumphant teams at the 2000 and 2002 AFCON competitions, where his contributions were vital to their Professionally,victories.
In 2009, Addo began his coaching career with his old team, Hamburger SV first as a youth team coach and then, as assistant manager. Prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Addo was appointed head scout of the Ghana national football team, succeeding Ibrahim Tanko. In April 2019, became "talent coach" for former side Dortmund after serving in a same capacity at Borussia Mönchengladbach. As an interim assistant to Edin Terzić, he won his first trophy as a coach after Dortmund defeated RB Leipzig in the finals of the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal. In February this year, he was made interim coach of the Black Stars and helped them qualify for Qatar on the away-goal rule against favourites Nigeria and will be hoping to give the Ghanaian team their best World Cup outing ever. Of all the African coaches, Cisse is the oldest at the job who also played for the national team. The most recent recipient of the CAF award for best coach led the Senegalese team to their first ever victory at the AFCON in the Morocco-hosted edition to the jubilation of a grateful country. It was redemption for the coach who was born on March 24, 1976, as 20 years ago, when Cameroon defeated Senegal to win AFCON, Cisse missed the decisive penalty attempt in the shootout. But, the Teranga Lions recovered from that sad loss months later to shock France at the 2002 World Cup, defeating the tournament's defending champions 1-0 in their opening match. They advanced quickly to the quarterfinals of the Korea/ Japan event but were eliminated by Turkey through a "golden goal" in the final eight fixture.
In between representing the Moroccan national team, he was a player for Racing Santander, Toulouse, Grenoble, and AC Ajaccio. In the summer of 2009, Regragui transferred from Moroccan club Moghreb Tétouan to Grenoble for the last move of his active days as a player before making the switch to football management.
SportsLive
THEWILL looks at the pedigree of these coaches, Walid Regragui of Morocco, Rigobert Song of Cameroon, Otto Addo of Ghana and Aliou Cisse of Senegal, all of whom played international football for their different countries, and Jalel Kadri, who will be in charge of Tunisia at the Qatar tournament to identify what they bring to their teams. Herein, it shall also be established what this significant occurrence means for the continent and the immeasurable benefits that will accrue to the continuous development of the local game if they are successful in carrying their teams to making exploits when hostilities kickoff in Group F for Morocco, Group G for Cameroon, Group H for Ghana, Group A for Senegal and Group D for TheTunisia.choice of Regragui by the Moroccan Football Federation to manage the Atlas Lions at Qatar was a no-brainer for those conversant with football competitions on the continent. If there was confidence in any homegrown talents to improve on the coaching of Halilhodzic, the 46-year-old Regragui fitted the bill. He had the experience to organise a winning team through the rigours of an international competition and the marathon of a local league. The 69-year-old Halilhodzic who took charge of the North Africans in August 2019, led the Moroccan team to the quarter-finals of this year's TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and then secured World Cup qualification in March following a 5-2 aggregate win over DR Congo before the disagreements that led to the two parties amicably parting ways. Regragui has the record to match the confidence reposed in his capacity to take this team progress to a level befitting their participation in Qatar. He was born on September 23, 1975 in Corbeil-Essonnes, France meaning he was eligible to represent Les Bleus but he elected to stick with his country of origin, Morocco. As a right-back, there was not much in terms of standout records from his playing career.
By the end of January, he was made head coach and qualified Tunisia for Qatar with a 1-0 aggregate over two legs against Mali.
The five African coaches' participation in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar is a significant step in the growth of African football. This is sufficient evidence that, when and if given the chance, local expertise can also work effectively. The entire world will have the chance to learn about the skills of African tacticians. The benefits are numerous, and one of them is that the money spent on the coaching staff will support economic growth in the nation. Furthermore, it means that, should they succeed in Qatar, they would offer a realistic model that other nations will be urged to use for the ongoing advancement of football on the continent.
In September 2012, Regragui started working as an assistant football coach for Morocco's national team. On October 1, 2013, Rachid Taoussi was fired as head coach, and, as assistant, Regragui's contract was also terminated. He accepted a head coaching position at Fath Union Sport for the 2014/2015 season on May 8, 2014 and, by mutual accord, he left the team on January 22, 2020 after leading the team to life the Moroccan Throne Cup in the 2013/2014 season and the Botola Pro trophy in the 2015/2016 campaign. Regragui was named the Wydad AC head coach on August 10, 2021. He guided Wydad AC to its third CAF Champions League championship in May this year, defeating reigning champions and African football powerhouse Al Ahly in the final as only the second Moroccan manager to win the African Champions League after Hussein Ammouta's triumph with Wydad in 2017. It is this winning mentality he hopes to incite in the team as they head to Qatar. Alongside the Moroccans, Cameroon's coach Song is no stranger to the high stakes of World Cup competitions, as he takes charge of their challenge for the title in November. Born July 1, 1976, he was a constant feature for the national team between 1993 and 2010 before transitioning to become coach of his country's Under-23 national team. Renowned for his defensive prowess, he was irreplaceable in the defense line and participated in a record eight Africa Cup of Nations competitions, captained five of them (apart from South Africa
The five African coaches' participation in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar is a significant step in the growth of African football. This is sufficient evidence that, when and if given the chance, local expertise can also work effectively “ BY JUDE OBAFEMI
At the first-ever World Cup to be hosted on Arab soil, there is another unprecedented topic of near-equal significance especially for the African representation at football's most prestigious event. When Morocco parted company with national team coach Vahid Halilhodzic last month, three months before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the country's football federation (FRMF) said it was a decision reached because of internal disagreements on how to prepare the Atlas Lions for the Mondial. However, that decision created an opportunity to appoint a coach whose ideals aligned perfectly with the FRMF's preparation strategies for the country's senior men's national football team. The Federation eventually settled for Walid Regragui, a former Moroccan international, who played as a defender for club and country, garnering no fewer than 46 caps during an active career that spanned 13 years. That decision to pick Regragui has historic significance for the African continent because it means that, for the first time, all five African representatives that have secured tickets for the quadrennial spectacle will be led by native, indigenous coaches.
This possibly allowed him the luxury to have managed at no fewer than 20 teams in a coaching career spanning the years from 2001 to the present. With the experience coaching clubs as diverse as EGS Gafsa, Jendouba Sport, US Monastir, Al-Ansar FC, Al-Nahda Club, CA Bizertin, Emirates Club, Al Ahli Tripoli amongst others, his appointment as Tunisian coach still had the hand of good fortune with Nigeria's Super Eagles playing a big role in the process. At the knockout stage of this year's AFCON in January, Tunisia met Nigeria and Kadri had to replace the first coach, COVID-19 infected head coach Mondher Kebaier in leading the team. They beat Nigeria, regarded as the best team in the tournament, 1–0 to progress instead.
Song started at Metz where he won the Coupe de la Ligue in 1996 before joining Salernitana, newly promoted to Serie A two years later. In 1999, he had successive stints with Liverpool, West Ham United and 1. FC Köln, but after failing to hold down a firstteam place, he returned to France to play for Lens until 2004 when he moved to Turkey with Galatasaray to win two Süper Lig titles and the Turkish Cup. In 2008, he switched to Trabzonspor in 2008, won the Turkish Cup and stayed until 2010. Song is the only player, aside from Zinedine Zidane, to have been dismissed in two different World Cups, once against Brazil in 1994 and once against Chile in 1998.
Fortunately, in 2015, he replaced Frenchman Alain Giresse as the Teranga Lions coach after they crashed out of that year’s AFCON at the group stages and had gradually built the team to the level of champions that they finally attained this year and demonstrated when they beat Egypt again to pick the ticket to Qatar. He will be closely watched as Senegal look to improve on their world cup record this Ofyear.the five indigenous coaches only Tunisia's Kadri, born December 14, 1971, did not play football before taking up managerial duties.
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He was 17 years old when he become the youngest player ever to be dismissed from a World Cup. But, it is hoped that he will bring a solid disciplinary arc and indomitable winning mentality to the team going to Qatar.
It was but one example of how discipline loosened in the twilight of Wenger's time at the Emirates and how an arbitrary recruitment process, one of which resulted in panic transfer deadline day buying that brought in Arteta from Everton as one of five new signings (the others being Park Chu-Young, Andre Santos, Per Mertesacker and Yossi Benayoun) and caused the onetime invincible squad that consistently made the UEFA Champions League to not even make it into Europa.
To say that the pairing of 19-year-old Bukayo Saka, 19-year-old Gabriel Martinelli and 20-year-old EmileSmith Rowe came to the rescue of Arsenal will only be stating the obvious. That Saka finished the season with a nomination for the Men’s PFA Young Player of the Year, the only Arsenal player so considered, is a testament to how immense he was in bringing the Gunners back from the brink. These young players from the Academy injected their boundless energy to the team's play, did not risk red cards and saw the club pick up a high 79 points as the third most points gained behind Man City and Chelsea in the period. They demonstrated the game that Arteta wanted: A quick, committed high press and possession football that found pockets to exploit for the goals that could win games. It meant that a season that began as the worst in Arsenal's history, flat and out after the first three games where they had conceded 10 goals, scored zero and were bottom of the league, finished
In a very telling part of the now-airing Amazon docuseries, ‘All or Nothing,’ that provided a behind-the-scene glance at Arsenal Football Club as it went through the highs and lows of the 2021/2022 season, team manager Mikel Arteta confided in club doctor, Gary O'Driscoll, the dilemma he faced in decisively dealing with the challenge that team captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang posed with his infrequent tardiness and poor conduct, while he, as manager, was doing his best to guide one of the English Premier League's youngest squad of impressionable minds to excellence. Before Arteta, there were two paths to follow: To stick to his avowed non-negotiables or give in to the weight of the pressure from a cross-section of the fan base and the club's Board and allow Aubameyang's pen chant to disregard rules slide. Arteta rhetorically asked O'Driscoll, "What do you have to do? What do you do? If you let it go… it's OK? What happened… in the last 10 years? Let it go… the next one the same… the next one the same. In Spain, it is called 'casa pepe'… Everyone does whatever he f*****g wants."
We now have a choice to make to begin our redemption in 2023 and I encourage every eligible Nigerian to come out on Election Day and vote because we are crumbling as a country due to very poor choices made by those we have elected into the highest office.
Being out of Europe completely in the 2020/2021 season was supposed to help with the team-building, yet goals were drying up. Aubameyang was cast out of the squad for indiscipline and the club was languishing in 15th position on the table ahead of a crucial game against the defensively stout Chelsea side of Thomas Tuchel, when Arteta made the decision that saved his job, turned around Arsenal's fortunes and became part of how he turned around the problem of discipline.
As hinted above, discipline has been a part of Arteta's nature from his days playing under Wenger. His leader ship potentials were obvious even then and it was not long before he was made captain. Yet, as manager, the
pained in case it suffers defeat. Since Arteta’s return to the club in December 2019 as substantive manager, he has squarely taken up the challenge of returning the club to its lost glory. Five days before taking over, he had come to the Emirates Sta dium with the Manchester City team as assistant coach to Pep Guardiola and they had left 3-0 winners, inflict ing further damage on the Gunners that had only won just once in 12 competitive matches and were mid-table in the Althoughstandings.Artetawas the 10th man to coach the Gunners after previously playing in the team, he was the second youngest after Terry Neil from 1976. He had never been manager before and was taking on a club on the ropes with a couple of young players that had broken into the first team from the Academy and needed the steady hand of experience and wisdom to be groomed into world class stars.
Arteta won the FA Cup for Arsenal against Chelsea in his first season in charge of the Gunners and subse quently added the Community Shield against Liverpool via penalty shootout in 2020.
To avoid that set of circumstances where the rules are broken at whim because of a feeling that there will be no consequences and to forestall any squad disrup tions that may result, Arteta chose the hard option. He stripped the ex-Gabonese captain of his armband and took him off the starting XI in subsequent matches.
This was the kind of discipline, accountability and responsibility that had been lacking in the years since Arsenal's ‘Invincibles Era’ under the legendary French manager, Arsene Wenger, and in the years that fol Somelowed.previous Arsenal players have alluded to Wenger's soft spot for Ozil to the point where the man ager seemed to close his eyes to the player's quirkiness.
There were 10 red cards before his first year anniver sary as manager and it made it difficult to fight for those precious three points with a numerical disadvantage on the pitch. The mentality of the players took a knock as well because they seemed to be fighting so hard to get results only to be dismayed by unforced errors and selfinflicted damage.
Arteta turned to the youths in his team, trusted them with the responsibility of becoming the players they dreamed to be and club favourites in the process.
The ruthless streak of the Spaniard, which was com ing to light in the embroilment of the situation around Mesut Ozil, the detachment of former Chelsea Brazilian player, Willian and the loaning out of the young and rebellious Matteo Guendouzi from the Gunners' squad shone brilliantly with the ostracism of Aubameyang.
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Arteta was banking on the team, all of whom were close friends with Aubameyang, to realise the fact that no one was above the law, not even the manager and that his triple set of non-negotiable principles were really and truly non-negotiable. And should any player, no matter how important to the team's success, fail to abide by these principles, he would face the music squarely.
2023: Like Arsenal, Like Nigeria
Wenger appeared all too ready to excuse what became a familiar pattern of inconsistent performances that irked some fans.
There is no debating Wenger's open and overly incred ible admiration of the artistry that was Ozil's ball control and ability to string the most otherworldly passes that more often than not lead to more advanced play deep in the opponent's half of the pitch, which sometimes yields fanciful goals.
It was a confirmation of the confidence reposed in the young manager by Wenger, who openly consented to his appointment and glowingly praised his abilities to take on the challenge, and by Guardiola, who was unambiguous in stating Arteta's giftedness and ency clopedic knowledge about everything football. Where he has demonstrated all these is obvious in the club's gradual improvement in the disciplinary metrics, the unity amongst squad members, on the one hand and between the team and the fans, on the other, as well as the never-say-die mentality that is part of this new Arsenal squad’s emerging character.
I have been an ardent Arsenal fan and supporter since the 1990s and I have had my fair dose of joy, heart breaks and hurts that till this day I just watch the team play with cautious optimism so that I don’t get too red cards flashed against his team quickly piled up.
