THEWILL NEWSPAPER September 25, 2022

IS NOW WHOLLY DIGITAL

What happens when two people from different worlds meet? It either ends up a disaster, or they become, like the saying, opposites attract.

The latter is the case between Enilola Mafe and Jude ‘M.I’ Abaga, who by the time you read this, would have completed their traditional rites and Eniola, according to Yoruba tradition, now becomes Mrs Abaga.

Their swoon-worthy love story is technology-enabled, as their meeting was on social media after a mutual friend introduced them. From spending hours talking, they grew a friendship that, according to Eniola’s side of the story, she built to become love.

What’s most captivating about their story is that they understood the importance of communication right from the start, so they talked about everything a couple, young or old intending to be together, ought to talk about —not many people do this. More often than not, young couples, especially, are blinded by the mirage of the excitement of a relationship and leave out the core of what a relationship is built upon; communication. So honest were their conversations that they immediately spotted their backgrounds and goals aligned, and within a few months, Jude knew he’d like her in his life for a long time. As he put it, “...I told her she’s the story I want to read more. I don’t know how the story is going to end, but I would like to read chapters 2, 3, or 4 and learn more about her.” I must confess that when I heard those words during the interview, I thought to myself, ‘those are such beautiful words’ then I remembered who was saying them, and it made perfect sense that he would know how to express himself to the woman he had fallen for. He is, after all, M.I.

As we wish them the best on their journey to forever, these lyrics from his hit song, One Naira, have certainly come alive: But what we have is so realistic, there’s no forming girl, no film tricks, I no go chop outside, no picnics… it don’t matter if I got ego, we got something we can build on, Lego…

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Onah Nwachukwu Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN

Photo: Zaron

THEWILLNIGERIA THEWILLNG

2023: Challenges, Prospects Ahead For Presidential Candidates

BY AMOS ESELE

One of the ironies of Nigerian politics is the doggedness with which politicians disguise their interests as a fight for principles on behalf of their people.

Otherwise, what is the hue and cry about the power shift to the South when there is enough to choose from the list of 18 presidential candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, last Tuesday?

It showed that 12 of the candidates come from the South to where current public opinion says presidential candidates must emerge for there to be fairness and inclusivity in the 2023 general election.

INEC has confirmed the presidential candidates and their political parties as Christopher Imumolem; (South) of Accord Party, A; Hamza Al-Mustapha of Action Alliance, AA; Sowore

Omoyele; (South) of Africa Action Congress, AAC; Dumebi Kachikwu; (south) of Africa Democratic Congress, ADC; Yusuf Yabagi Sani of Action Democratic Party, ADP; All Progressives Congress, APC, Ahmed Bola Tinubu (south); All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA; Chukwudi Peter Umeadi; (South); Allied People’s Movement, APM; Princess Chichi Ojei; (South); Action Peoples Party, APP; Osita Nnadi Charles; (South) Booth Party, BP ; Oluwafemi Sunday Adenuga; (south); Labour Party, Peter Obi (South); New Nigerian Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso; National Rescue Movement, NRM, Johnson Felix Osakwe; (south) Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar; Peoples Redemption Party, Kolawole Abiola; (South).

Others are Social Democratic Party, SDP, Adewole Adebayo; (South-West); Young Peoples Party, YPP; Abdulmalik AdoIbrahim; and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP; Daberechukwu Nwanyanwu; (South).

By zonal arrangement, all the three zones in the South are fairly

represented in the INEC list. From the southwest came four candidates, namely, Tinubu of the APC, Adebayo of the SDP, Abiola of the PRP, Adenuga of the BP and Sowore of AAC. The South-East has three candidates, who are Obi of LP, Osita of APP, Umaedi of APGA and Nwanyanwu of ZLP. The Southsouth candidates are Imumolen of A, Kachikwu of ADC, Ojie of AAP and Osakwe of NRM.

While the INEC official list presents more than enough candidates of southern extraction to choose from by agitators for power shift to the South, the reality that is playing out from the point of power, visibility, presence and structure is that four out of the 18 parties have been hugging the headlines and would in a probability sustain that optics as campaign kicks off on Wednesday, September 28, 2022.

These parties are the PDP and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar; APC and its candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu; LP and its candidate, Peter Obi and the NNPP and its candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso. While the APC and PDP control the 36 governors,

2023: Challenges, Prospects Ahead For Presidential Candidates

National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly as well as Local Governments between them, Peter Obi of LP has since emerged as a formidable force following a youth -based, social media savvy followership, just as former Kano Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has widespread, active grassroots group, the Kwankwassiya, in the Northwest.

Even so, the parties are entering the campaign during the week with a lot of challenges and prospects.

Nevertheless, one of the smaller parties like ADC is undergoing a crisis of confidence as its candidate, Kachikwu, has been rejected by the party after he challenged the Ralph Nwosu- led National Working Committee, NWC, to resign because their tenure had expired. In a reaction to the publication of his name as its candidate, the party said his attempt to destroy the structure of the party had failed and “his boast that he will squeeze INEC to do his bidding to remove our chairman remains empty,” adding that his participation in the presidential election remains doubtful.

CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR PDP, APC, LP, NNPP

PDP:

What has become known as the Governor Nyesom Wike vs Atiku crisis has continued to affect the smooth operations of the party at every turn of events. The crisis, which started immediately after Wike felt betrayed by Atiku over the choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as Atiku’s Vice Presidential candidate has grown to include a demand by the Wike group for the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign for peace to prevail in the party.

The aggrieved group which include Wike’s counterparts in Oyo, Benue, Abia, Enugu States, respectively, Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and some elders, as well as some former governors of the party, allege that Ayu betrayed the trust reposed on him by taking sides at the presidential convention.

Appeals from stakeholders of the party had been rejected by the group. Last Wednesday, a week to the kick-off of campaigns, the group announced it would pull out of the presidential campaign council and on Friday, Wike kept up the pressure at a press conference by daring the party to expel him. At the conference, he accused Ayu of plotting to become Secretary to the Federal Government, should PDP win the presidential election, even as he maintains calls for his resignation for peace to reign in the party. He pledged to remain in the party and fight as he promised to work for the victory of the party and its candidate in the 2023 polls.

THEWILL investigation however shows that having exhausted all avenues for reconciliation, the BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, is still pursuing reconciliation meetings with the aggrieved parties. This is as the party has resolved to replace the names of those who left the campaign council and launch its campaign on September 28, 2022, once INEC blows the whistle.

Nonetheless, how far Wabara would go in resolving the lingering crisis remains to be seen. But the distraction and possible electoral impact the crisis may have on the party cannot be underestimated. A hint came during the week with the outcome of the poll conducted by the Economic Intelligence Unit of the Economist in its last week prediction that PDP may lose the 2023 presidential poll to the candidate of the APC, Tinubu, largely on the basis of the Wike crisis. This means that if the party were to put the crisis to rest, it has a bright chance of winning the election.

Manifesto: Meanwhile the party’s candidate, Atiku, has launched a probusiness, private sector friendly manifesto.

Campaign Council: He has also constituted a 326-member presidential campaign council with Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State as Director and Governor Udom Emmanuel as Chairman. Makinde is Vice –Chairman, South while Ortom and Wike are members. As at Friday, the Wike group was yet to pull out of the campaign council as it threatened to do earlier in the week.

Fair enough, Wike opened a window of opportunity for possible reconciliation when he said in reply to a question at the press conference he addressed on Friday that he would campaign for the party to win all seats in his state, including the presidency.

APC:

The major challenge facing the governing APC is the same faith ticket, which it initially thought would blow over with time.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and ex-Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, had led aggrieved voices in the North and mobilising the Christian community in the region against the party over the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Feeling the heat, Tinubu, last Thursday, held a closed door meeting with the Pentecostal Bishop Forum of Northern Nigeria in his Abuja campaign office. The meeting attracted sneers and jeers as the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, which still insists on its stand against the ticket.

Even so, the Economic Intelligence Unit of the Economist in its poll unveiled last Thursday, said the APC standard bearer will win the poll. Two weeks after another poll, NOI Polls, showed that Tinubu tied with Atiku and put Obi ahead of both of them.

Another big task ahead of the party is the unity of the party behind the candidature of Tinubu who emerged as ‘the candidate of governors’ after the President Muhammadu Buhari had pleaded with governors of the party for reciprocity during a a pre-convention meeting, urging them to reciprocate his gesture of allowing them to pick their successors and support his request to be allowed to a candidate for the party.

His choice of Senate President Ahmad Lawan, who was announced as consensus candidate by the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, while exercising his 90-day unquestioned power to organise the convention, failed to secure the ticket due to the machinations of the governors, particularly the 13 governors from the North who rallied round Tinubu after the former Lagos governor had ruffled feathers with his now famous Emilokan (my turn) pre convention before delegates in Ogun State. The president is said to be still rankled by this unfavourable outcome of the convention and has instead opted to be impartial in the conduct of the election.

Meanwhile, the popularity of the President has waned in the North following the lingering insecurity of lives and property, even in his home state of Katsina, where kidnapping has increased alongside Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi. These challenges have been casting a shadow on the party and making for a poor coordination and take off of the campaign by the party.

Manifesto:

Tinubu is yet to unveil a manifesto, a few days to the start of electioneering and a few weeks after media spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, promised the public. For a candidate who said winning the presidency is his life ambition, it is clear that trying times are taxing him.

Campaign Council:

Tinubu is yet to formally constitute a presidential council though he has been appointing its members piece-meal. The Director General of the council is in place in the person of Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, so too are the media team, comprising Onanuga, Dele Alake, Minister of State of Labour Festus Keyamo and Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan. Others are

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who is in charge of youth mobilisation.

LP

The party which has gained much traction on social media has marked with a phenomenal youthful ‘Obidient Movement,’ plans to transform the media power to the streets as from this week. A coalition of groups and associations under what policy coordinator, Prof Patrick Utomi, called ‘Big Tent Coalition’, will start working for Obi this week.

He said the team of policy players which was unveiled on Friday will “hold its first meeting next week, and whose engagement in policy contestation will shed light on why the promise of Nigeria has become blighted will henceforth suggest how policy can move Nigeria from the obsession with the sharing of hardly existent revenues to production.

“In addition to this team, we have set up a college of spokespersons from every state of the Federation, and the six zones, plus Abuja, to deepen the communication to the grassroots, of the work of the policy teams as they propose alternatives to extant policies in other to see a shift from revenue bating and conspicuous consumption emphasis to a production culture that will lift up the quality of life of Nigerians.”

According to Utomi, “These spokespersons, who will also communicate the efforts of the Big Tent for Peter Obi Campaign, as the Labour Party candidate leads the college of leaders working together to win the 2023 election so Nigerians can take back their country through what is truly a government of the people, for the people and by the people.”

Campaign Council: Obi is yet to launch a campaign council. It is expected that Utomi’s Friday promise will see the emergence of that council.

Manifesto:

Unbelievably, Obi during an appearance at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, recently, said he was yet to put up a manifesto though he made some pro-business policies promises a LP government would enact if it won the election.

A major challenge awaiting the LP presidential candidate from a probing public would be how his pro-business and less government policies contradicts the platform. Labour has been in support of retaining fuel subsidies, which the Nigeria Labour Congress, which claims to have 10 million members at the disposal of LP, said things can be handled by local production and refining as well as proper management and transparency in supply. The NLC also decries the privatisation of government assets, which it insists can be better run by laid rules of engagement than leaving it to private hands than would be governed by profit motive. It would be interesting to see how this pans out in the days ahead.

NNPP

The defection of the former Governor of Kano State, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, from the NNPP to the PDP a fortnight ago had greatly affected the image of the party as the one to beat in the North-West states of Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and Bauchi in the Northwest where some serving senat the Shekarau, with accusation of insincerity over sharing of position, left also cast a poor image on the party.

The initial reaction of the party to Shekarau’s defection was to solicit alliance with a party with similar views, on all positions except the presidency and vice presidency, according to Party National Chairman, Prof Rufai’ Alkali.

Campaign Council is yet to be launched publicly and a Manifesto unveiled to the public.

PEACE ACCORD PACT

All the parties that agreed to sign a peace accord this week, have also pledged to pay attention to issue-based campaigns and avoid mudslinging once electioneering kicks off on September 28, 2022.

The high poverty with an estimated 90 million Nigerians living on less than N700 a day, worsened insecurity, high unemployment at about 60 million unemployed youths, high inflation rate at 20.5 per cent, the highest in 24 years and decayed infrastructure are agreed by most Nigerians to be enough to engage the frontline candidates. The candidates, most Nigerians say, have their electioneering jobs cut out for them.

The reality that is playing out from the point of power, visibility, presence and structure is that four out of the 18 parties have been hugging the headlines and would in a probability sustain that optics as campaign kicks off on Wednesday, September 28, 2022

US Announces Project to Improve Cocoa Value Chain in Nigeria

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food for Progress programme has entered into a cooperative agreement with Lutheran World Relief to strengthen the cocoa value chain in Nigeria. The project is worth approximately $22 million and will be implemented over the next five years.

Lutheran World Relief will carry out project activities in Abia, Cross River, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Ondo and Osun States –benefitting approximately 68,000 farmers. In particular, the project will target farmers in low productivity but high promising areas, as well as farmers in high density, high productivity communities.

The primary objective of the Food for Progress project is to increase cocoa productivity by leveraging climate smart agricultural measures. In addition, the project will support improved access to inputs, technical resources and capacity, post-harvest processing and export markets.

Counselor for Agricultural Affairs, US Mission in Nigeria, Gerald Smith, explained that the project will employ an approach that enables farmers to not only produce more cocoa and preserve the

land’s fertility and biodiversity, but also realize an important triple bottom line of people, profit, and planet.

“Food for Progress program is the cornerstone of United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service international capacity-building efforts with the principal objectives of improving agricultural productivity and expanding trade of agricultural products,” Smith said.

Over the years, Food for Progress projects have trained farmers in animal and plant health, improved farming methods, developed road and utility systems, established producer cooperatives, provided microcredit, and developed agricultural value chains.

The Foreign Agricultural Service is the overseas arm of the United States Department of Agriculture. It offers a variety of services to American and Nigerian agribusiness companies, government and non-government entities involved in agricultural trade and development.

Through a variety of programs, the service helps developing countries strengthen sustainable agricultural practices by providing capacity building opportunities.

A’Ibom Community in C’River Celebrates State’s 35 Anniversary

The Akwa Ibom State community in Cross River State has celebrated the 35th anniversary of the state.

Members of the community, under the auspices of Nka Afid Ndito Akwa Ibom in Cross River State, came together and held a cultural rally across the major streets of Calabar, the state capital.

As part of the rally, which coincided with Akwa Ibom Day, a number of traditional masquerades reflecting the culture of the people were showcased.

Speaking during the rally, the Chairman and founder of the group, Elder Chief Captain Itoro Unung, said the essence of the celebration was to bring the people of Akwa Ibom together and celebrate the state.

He said the group which has about two million members is poised to add value to the states anniversary by celebrating it’s cultures and values.

“We have come together under the auspices of Nka Afid Ndito Akwa Ibom in Cross River State and the whole of Nigeria.

“We choose to use this programme celebrating the creation of our state as our annual programme.

“We hope to unite the Akwa Ibom people and also add value to the state.

“I want to encourage the people of the state to know that it is a promised land and we are spreading this information to all Akwa Ibomites to join us in celebrating a great state”, he said.

C’River Community Cautions Ex-Police Commissioner Over Interference in Traditional Matters

The Bakor Nation Traditional Rulers Council Ogoja/Ikom in Cross River State has cautioned a retired police Commissioner Joseph Agajii over a breach of peace in the community.

The community noted with dismay that the retired police commissioner, who is an illustrious son of the community, was fond of prying into matters that were traditional and not within his jurisdiction.

King Sunny Agaji, the Clan Head of Ebanibim Kingdom, said the people of the community went directly to meet its ancestors with six names and his name came out.

“Following my emergence, I was arrested and taken to Abuja where I spent 13 days there alongside eight of my subjects on the orders of the retired police commissioner.

“When I came back, the police again invited us in September last year and when we sent our people there, they were again arrested and taken to Abuja where they spent four months.

“We have about four cases in court against him and three have been dispensed in our favour yet the police are still inviting us for interrogation”, he said.

Also speaking, HRH Ntol Atol Sir Julius Ayate, the Chairman of Bakor Traditional Rulers Council said they have decided to formally register their protest to the Police High Command in Calabar over the handling of the chieftaincy dispute.

He said, “When a Chief travels, it is absolutely the responsibility of the kingmakers of the community to install their traditional ruler.

“In this case, the retired police commissioner came up and said it is his responsibility to install a traditional ruler. This has never happened.

“Several arrests have been carried out in that community, often resulting in one thing or the other. There is crisis everywhere and breach of peace and order. So this is a serious challenge to our customs and values.

“This abominable interference and intemperate attempt to alter our age long tradition sparked off protest that disrupted peace in the community.

NEWS Historical Art Exhibition Set to Make Debut

An exhibition showcasing historical portraits, artifacts and paintings that chronicle Nigeria’s history from the 1914 amalgamation to independence in 1960, will debut in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Project Director, Mr Akin Laniyi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) last Friday in Abuja.

Tagged ‘Nigeria 1914’, the exhibition is themed: “The Story of Nigeria’s birth, history, milestones and icons” is scheduled to hold from October 1 to October 8 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Laniyi said the project was part of events scheduled to commemorate Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary and it had received the endorsement and support of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and other relevant stakeholders.

“Nigeria 1914 exhibition is a government endorsed educational exhibition of pictures, portraits, artifacts and paintings based on Nigeria’s history, milestones, icons and culture from the 1914 amalgamation and through 1960 independence to more recent times.

“We felt that at a time like this, Nigeria is in need of such a project because it will provoke our consciousness as a people to reflect on our great history and the much needed social order.

“It will hold for eight days at the Transcorp Hilton, starting on our independence day, and it is aimed at promoting our education, nationhood and good things about us as a richly diverse people.

“Each day of the exhibition has been titled and named after a reputable foundation for good cause in Nigeria to encourage and appreciate their work, especially in education.

“The exhibition will host the public and dignitaries from all works of life, with Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as the Special Guest of honour,” he said.

Laniyi explained that Nigerian artistes drawn from across the country, including Kola Ogunwale, and many others would have their iconic pictures and paintings showcased at the exhibition.

According to him, members of the diplomatic community, top government functionaries, patriotic Nigerians drawn from both the public and private sector and stakeholders in the creative industries will attend the exhibition.

He said special guests expected to visit the exhibition include former president Goodluck Jonathan, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Mr Jide Adeniji and Prince Arthur Eze as the Grand Patron of the exhibition.

Others are the Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Alhaji Nura Kangiwa and that of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, among others.

He added that since the project was geared towards promoting national unit and common history, the exhibition would also be staged around major cities in Nigeria including Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos.

Laniyi further said that plans were underway to take the exhibition on a global tour alongside the currently being produced Nigeria 1914 movie.

“It is to present Nigeria, her people opportunities and potential on the global stage through iconic pictures, paintings, artifacts and portraits.

“The Nigeria 1914 project will expose the majesty of unknown aspects of the Nigerian story and way of life that will resonate and touch hearts and consciences all over the world unforgettably,” he said.

FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR

FROM BASSEY ANIEKAN, CALABAR

L-R: President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU), Mr Peter Tichansky; President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo with other guests at the International Investors in Economic Partnership meeting held in New York on September 23, 2022.

POLITICS

Governors Eyeing

Ikpeazu LalongAyade

BY AYO ESAN

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Wednesday, in accordance with the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election, released the final list of candidates nominated by the 18 political parties for national elections covering one presidential constituency, 109 senatorial districts and 360 federal constituencies.

INEC scheduled the general election to hold in two phases, beginning with national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) on Saturday, February 25, 2023 and state elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly) on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

It has become the norm for state governors to move to the Senate after serving a second and constitutional last term. This has come under criticism from political analysts and watchers of political developments, who believe that people who have served as governors and most of them entitled to severance allowances and pension should ordinarily retired to their homes or aspire to occupy a higher position rather than return to the Senate to earn salaries and allowances concurrently with their pension as former governors.

A senatorial district is one third of a state. Why then is it that after leaving office, many state governors still desire to lead their senatorial districts? In fact, some analysts are of the opinion that most former governors consider the floor of the Senate as a place of relaxation where most of them doze off during plenary sessions. Despite the criticism that has greeted the influx of erstwhile governors to the Senate, most of them dominate the place. After the 2023 general election no less than 10 sitting governors may join their colleagues in the Senate.

A glance at the list of candidates released by INEC shows that 10 incumbent governors are eyeing the Senate in next year’s election. They include Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State; David Umahi of Ebonyi State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State: Sani Bello of Niger State; Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal and Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State.

Some governors, who will also complete their second term tenure between next month and May next year, have shunned the Senate or any electoral positions as they are ready to wait on their parties’ chances in the Presidential election and possibly get ministerial positions or Board appointments.

One of these governors is Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State who will complete his second term next month and who only last week resigned his position as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum. He has refused to be dragged into contesting elective positions in 2023. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Atiku Badaru of Jigawa State and Bello Masari of Katsina State are also not contesting any elective position next year.

Those eyeing Senate and their constituencies:

Okezie Ikpeazu - Abia South Okezie was born on October 18, 1964. In 1980, at the age of 16, he gained admission into the University of Maiduguri to study Clinical Biochemistry and graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons.) Second Class Upper Division in August, 1984.

From August 1984 to August 1985, he served as a Clinical Biochemist in the Medical Laboratory of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt for his National Youth Service. He returned to the University of Maiduguri for an M.Sc Degree in Biochemical Toxicology and graduated in 1990. In 1994, at the age of 30, he obtained a Doctorate Degree, PhD in Biochemical Pharmacology from the University of Calabar.

Before joining politics, Okezie Ikpeazu had been a lecturer in several Nigerian educational institutions.

On December 31, 2015, a Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri sacked Ikpeazu as Governor and declared Alex Otti as the winner

of the 2015 governorship election held on April 11 and April 12 2015. On June 27, 2016, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja ordered Ikpeazu to vacate his office as governor upon allegations of false information and forgery of documents prior to the 2015 gubernatorial election.

The suit was however dismissed by a Federal High Court in Owerri. Okezie Ikpeazu ran for a second term under his party, PDP and emerged the winner of the election, hereby welcoming his second term as Governor of Abia State.

He will complete the second term tenure on May 29, 2023 and may end up in the Senate if he eventually wins the February 2023 senatorial election

Samuel Ortom – Benue North-West Ortom was born on April 23, 1961 in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

He enrolled at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where he obtained both the Interim Joint Matriculation Board Certificate in 1995 and the Diploma in Journalism in 1998. He later attended Benue State University where he obtained an Advanced Diploma in Personnel Management in 2001 as well as a Master of Public Administration in 2004. Ortom earned a PhD from the Commonwealth University, Belize through distance learning.

He worked for different political parties in Benue State including the National Centre Party of Nigeria as State Publicity Secretary; State Treasurer of the All Peoples Party (APP); and State Secretary as well as State Deputy Chairman of the PDP. He was also Director of Operations of the PDP gubernatorial campaign in Benue State in 2007 and Director of Administration and Logistics of the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization in 2011. He was PDP National Auditor before his appointment as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in July 2011.

In April 2015, he contested for Governor of Benue State and won under the platform of the APC.

In July 2018, Ortom announced his departure from the All Progressives Congress as a result of an internal party crisis.

In the March 9, 2019 Benue Governorship Election and March 23, 2019 Benue State supplementary governorship election, Ortom was re-elected as Governor having polled 434,473 votes while the runner up Emmanuel Jime of the All Progressives Congress polled 345,155 votes.

Ben Ayade - Cross River North Ayade was born in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River

A glance at the list of candidates released by INEC shows that 10 incumbent governors are eyeing the Senate in next year’s election “

Senate in 2023

State on March 2, 1968. He earned his B.Sc. (Honours) from the University of Ibadan (1984–1988). He then proceeded to obtain his M.Sc. in Microbiology (1989–1990) and subsequently his PhD in Environmental Microbiology from the same University of Ibadan (1990–1994. Ayade is a lawyer with a LLB law degree (2006–2010) from Delta State University, Abraka.

He went on to work as a lecturer at Delta State University, Abraka, where he was subsequently appointed Professor.

He is rounding up his second term as Governor of Cross River State, having served a first term between 2015 and 2019. He contested the presidential primary of his new party, the APC but he lost to Asiwaju Tinubu.

He is contesting for a seat in the Senate in Cross River North in the forthcoming election.

David Umahi - Ebonyi South Umahi was born on July 25, 1964. He graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering.

Umahi joined the public service in 2007 as Acting Chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP from 2009 to 2011; he served as state chairman of the party. During that term, he served a year on the Governing Board of the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba as its chairman.

In 2011, Umahi became the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State on a ticket with the-then Governor, Martin Elechi. He was elected to the role of Governor on April 12, 2015.

On March 16, 2019, Umahi was re-elected as governor in the Ebonyi state governorship election.

On November 11, 2020 Umahi declared his intention to join the APC and on November 2020 he officially defected to the party after a lengthy speculation.

On January 11, 2022 Umahi declared his intention to run for the office of the President, but lost at the party‘s primary election.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Enugu North Ugwuanyi was born in 1964 . He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2003 and he was the chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport.

He won PDP’s gubernatorial ticket, which made him the State’s PDP Governorship Candidate for the 2015 general election, which he eventually won.

On March 9, 2019, Ugwuanyi was re-elected as Governor of Enugu State in the 2019 Nigerian gubernatorial election.

Abubakar Atiku Bagudu – Kebbi Central Bagudu obtained a BSc (Economics) from the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, Msc (Economics) from the University of Jos and MA in International Affairs.

He succeeded Adamu Aliero when he won the by-election for the Kebbi Central Senatorial seat, following Aliero’s appointment to become the Minister for FCT. In the April 6, 2011 elections.

In 2015, Atiku Bagudu defected from the ruling PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and contested in the governorship election, recording a landslide victory in the polls.

In the March 9, 2019 governorship election, Bagudu was reelected for a second term as Kebbi governor.

Abubakar Sani Bello – Niger North Abubakar Sani Bello was born on December 17, 1967 and was given admission into University of Maiduguri, between 1986 and 1991 where he obtained a B.Sc in Economics.

In 2015, Bello won the governorship election in the state and was declared winner by the INEC on April 13, 2015. On March 9, 2019, he was re-elected for a second term.

Simon Lalong – Plateau South Lalong’s professional career as an attorney lasted between 1992, the year following his graduation from Law School and 1998, the dawn of Nigeria’s new democracy. He returned to legal practice as the Principal Partner of Simon B Lalong and Co until 2015.

In 1998, Lalong temporarily discarded legal practice to pursue a political career. Representing the PDP, he successfully contested

in his native Shendam Constituency and entered the Plateau State House of Assembly.

In October 2000, he became the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, occupying that position until 2006, following a crisis within the House. Having spent seven years in this capacity, he was the longest serving Speaker of the House of Assembly in the history of Plateau State.

He was sworn in as the governor of Plateau State on May 29, 2015. Also, he was sworn in for a second term as the governor of Plateau State on May 29, 2019.

Aminu Tambuwal – Sokoto South Aminu Tambuwal was born on January 10, 1966, in Tambuwal Village in Sokoto State.

He attended Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, where he studied Law, graduating with an LLB (Hons) degree in 1991. He was called to the Bar in 1992.

Besides studying law, he attended several courses abroad, among which are Telecoms Regulatory Master Class–Bath UK, 2004; Lawmaking for the Communications Sectors –BMIT, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2004; Regulating a Competitive Industry-UK, Brussels, 2005; Tulane University – International Legislative Drafting, 2005; Stanford Graduate School of Business – Influence and Negotiation, 2008 and KSG Harvard –Infrastructure in Market Economy, 200.

Tambuwal learnt the legislative ropes between 1999 and 2000, while working as Personal Assistant on Legislative Affairs to

In 2003, he decided to run for a legislative seat as representative of the Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency. He was elected into the House of Representatives on the platform of ANPP.

Tambuwal later joined the PDP and held several offices in the House. In 2005, he became the Minority Leader of the House until he defected to the PDP. Upon his re-election to the House in 2007, he was also elected the Deputy Chief Whip.

He became the Speaker of the House of House of Representatives from June 2011 to May 29, 2015.

On October 28, 2014, Tambuwal defected from the ruling PDP to the opposition APC.

On April 11, 2015, he contested and won the governorship election in Sokoto State. He was inaugurated on May 29, 2015.

On August 1, 2018, he defected from the APC back to the PDP. In the March 9, 2019 Sokoto State Governorship election and March 22, 2019, Sokoto State supplementary election, Tambuwal was re-elected as governor of the state.

Tambuwal was one of 12 candidates, including four from his north western region, that contested in the PDP presidential primary but lost in the end.

Darius Ishaku - Taraba South Darius Ishaku was born on July 30, 1954. He attended Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria where he studied and obtained a Bachelor degree and a Master’s degree in Architecture, he went further to obtain an additional Master’s degree in Urban and Regional planning.

Ishaku is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA) and also a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners.

He was at different times the Supervising Minister of Power, Supervising Minister of Environment and Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs before he resigned to contest in the 2015 Taraba State governorship election. Although he won the 2015 election, he was in a court battle with his opponent, Senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan.

After a series of appearances in court, Ishaku was declared winner of the governorship election in 2016.

He was again successful for his second run, in the governorship election of March 2019.

Senator Abdullahi Wali, the then Senate Leader.

A senatorial district is one third of a state. Why then is it that after leaving office, many state governors still desire to lead their senatorial districts?

“

Ortom

Bagudu POLITICS

POLITICS

Dariye: Politics of Homecoming

After several postponements, last Wednesday’s homecoming of former Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, since his release from prison, was girded by intrigue and manoeuvre as part of the actions preceding the next political dispensation in 2023, UKANDI ODEY writes

For many who are fans and well-wishers of former Governor of Plateau State and two-time member of the Senate, Joshua Dariye, his arrival was too long in coming. For those with vested interests, particularly in the political build up and shaping of the dawning political dispensation, it was a day to wish away; a day that was bearing uncanny trends and tendencies with a huge potential to alter their fortunes and calculations towards 2023. It was also a day they could not avoid but only work to frustrate and defy as much as possible.

The prospect of the day showed early at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heipang, as Dariye was expected to arrive in luxuriant and luxurious fashion by flight from Abuja where he has been since regaining freedom last month. Throngs and droves of supporters, former aides, journalists, freelance photographers and sundry groups made it early to the airport to witness the return of a worthy and worthwhile son of the state who remains illustrious by popular reckoning, and whose imprisonment is viewed by many as a price paid for the Plateau heritage and identity against the politico-economic subjugation and onslaught of a predatory Northern establishment.

As the number of people at the airport garnered and thickened to the thrill of the organising committee particularly, in what he explained as not a decoy but necessitated by the university students’ blockade at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Dariye stunned those waiting and gazing at the air by arriving at the airport by road to savour and embrace a jubilant and jubilating crowd who didn’t really care whether he arrived by air, road, or sea transport.

By this time, it was already clear and unmistakeable to the organising committee that the Plateau State Government of Simon Bako Lalong, with whom it agreed to a partnership to make the reception event grand, grandiose, and resounding, was actually working in the opposite direction, ostensibly to deflate the event of pomp and pageantry and rob it of colour and panache so that it does not lend strength to the menacing governorship gamble of the arrowhead of the reception event who is raising the stakes on the Labour Party platform.

On the eve of arrival or return of the native, the organizing committee was already frustrated: the main partner for the show, the State Government, turned its back on the committee, withheld counterpart funding, worked at cross purposes to frustrate the committee, its preparations, and, ultimately, the event.

First, the committee had to source alternative venue at the Langsfield Park, about three hundred meters away from Government House, Little Rayfield, where Dariye was grudgingly received by the Secretary to the Government of the State, Danladi Atu, as Governor Lalong was strategically absent from the State.The Dariye reception committee had been denied the preferred Rwang Pam Township Stadium on framed grounds that the State APC had earlier booked the same venue to unveil its curious choice of campaign director general, Professor Sabastine Maimako, in a seeming grand slam of a political show. However sources familiar with the reactionary politics of Lalong and the State APC said the Dariye reception event forced the APC to cut

“Throngs and droves of supporters, former aides, journalists, freelance photographers and sundry groups made it early to the airport to witness the return of a worthy and worthwhile son of the state who remains illustrious by popular reckoning, and whose imprisonment is viewed by many as a price paid for the Plateau heritage and identity against the politico-economic subjugation and onslaught of a predatory Northern establishment

short its thank-you tour of the Plateau South senatorial zone; and that the Rwang Pam Stadium was denied the reception committee because the State Government was afraid and uncomfortable that the centrality of the venue and impact of the Dariye motorcade all the way from Heipang Airport in to the main bowl of Jos town could raise public perception and approval of the Labour Party and its Gubernatorial contender, Patrick Dakum, a protesting and aggrieved aspirant from the APC who is feared to be on a mission to drown the APC and liquidate its electoral chances.

Although at the Government House and the Gbong Gwom Jos Palace, and at the reception ground, Dariye waisted no time in reiterating his membership of the APC and pledging his loyalty to it, the reception was a political rendevouz of the troubled Plateau State Labour Party, especially by the incendiary faction led by Dr Patrick Dakum, a former commissioner in Darye’s cabinet. Whatever were the calculations of the State APC against the reception and for avoiding the event, it gained only handful, such as starving the committee of funds and stifling the scope of the celebration such as reducing the publicity stunt. The fractured Labour Party on the other hand gained bountifully as it dominated the reception, turned it into a veritable political rally, and used it to send intimidating political messages to its opponents, particularly the APC with its disconcerted body chemistry and unsettling physiognomy, that it is unstoppable and really on the way.

The attitude of the Lalong administration towards the reception and the conduct of the State APC before, during, and after the reception have rekindled talks, or initiated a post mortem of why, after the pronouncement of presidential pardon for Dariye and others on April 14, a conspiracy of forces and a labirynth of intrigues ensured that Dariye and others were not released till 115 days later.

The same Gubernatorial party primary that was cited as reason for Lalong’s possible complicity in the high-wire abuse of power that flouted the presidential pardon illegally, is still being disputed and haunting the APC as it is currently panting in Court, and looking vulnerable as elections approach.

From food vendors to hawkers and owners of other lines of small scale businesses, last Wednesday that bore Dariye’s reception was a day to remember; and one out of several days of a local economy in stress, distressed, distraught, and bearing acute poverty and severe hunger. And for Dariye and his traducers, it was a super Wednesday that came with full political splendour of some thesis and antithesis of Plateau State come 2023.

Dariye

POLITICS NEWS

2023: Group Cautions Youth Against Vote Buying

The Committee of Youth Mobilisation and Sensitisation (CYMS) has cautioned youths against vote buying, financial inducements, acrimonious campaigns and attacks during the 2023 general election.

The Director General, CYMS, Mr. Obinna Nwaka made the call during the stakeholders’ conference organized ahead of the 2023 general election in Abuja.

Nwaka said that the conference was organised to reposition the mindset of the youths on its expectations with an avenue to have an interface with relevant electoral stakeholders.

He said that vote buying and financial inducements during elections especially at the polling units should be discouraged and perpetrators should be brought to book.

NIPSS Seeks Reps Support to Amend ActBig Tent Coalition Releases Policy Team

AYO ESAN

The Big Tent, a coalition of political parties, social movements and civil society that constitute the Third Force for national retrieval and transformation has released the list of its National Policy Review and Future View Team.

In a release issued and signed by the Policy Coordinator, Professor Pat Utomi, the Coalition said the team is set up “to enhance the functioning of Democratic Institutions and to begin to restore legitimacy to government at a time when Governors are pointing to large areas of ungoverned spaces, ways and means money creation that has repeatedly violated the law and set the country on the course of surging inflation, Oil theft and the production of Oil at close to half of our OPEC quota has driven up the misery index from an already negative pole position of the poverty capital of world.

Utomi said the team is going to have its first meeting this week, saying their engagement in policy contestation will shed light on why the promise of Nigeria has become blighted and will henceforth suggest how policy can move Nigeria from the obsession with the sharing of hardly existent revenues to production.

He said in assembling this group of citizen actors for the people, primary consideration has been given to competence, passion, inclusion, and commitment to the unity and security of Nigeria and advancing the wellbeing of the people, in the firm belief that a new Nigeria is possible and can be achieved now. He said: “In addition to this team, we

are pleased to announce that we have set up a college of spokespersons from every state of the Federation, and the six zones, plus Abuja, to deepen the communication to the grassroots, of the work of the policy teams as they propose alternatives to extant policies in other to see a shift from revenue bating and conspicuous consumption emphasis to a production culture that will lift up the quality of life of Nigerians”,

He said this shift in emphasis which will dramatically shrink poverty, and put the Nigerian economy in a place where SDG targets are advanced will form the core of the new orientation, adding that prescriptions will have to include practical, immediately implementable decisions that can stem the rot and reverse Nigeria’s slide.

“These spokespersons who will also communicate the efforts of the Big Tent for Peter Obi Campaign, as the Labour Party candidate leads the college of leaders working together to win the 2023 election so Nigerians can take back their country through what is truly a government of the people, for the people and by the people.

“This group has a duty to be manifestly ethical, accountable and live a disavowal of corruption.

Due care has been taken to have a team that includes very experienced older leaders, creative and highly exposed younger people, women, the physically challenged and patriots from all parts of Nigeria. They are also drawn from the academic community, policy arena, domain of praxis, civil society, and politicians’ active in the field”, he said.

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has sought the support of House of Representatives to amend the law that established it.

Prof. Ayo Omotayo, the Director-General, NIPSS led the delegation of member of staff to the Speaker of the House of Reps, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila in Abuja to make the request.

Omotayo said that there was the need for improved funding for NIPSS, adding that it was important to bring the Speaker’s attention to NIPSS and give it the attention it deserved.

He said that there were challenges confronting the institute, adding that NIPSS was supposed to make policies for the country by carrying out researches and make recommendations to all institutions of government.

“I will be deceiving myself to say all is well with NIPSS which was established to take Nigeria to the requisite place, though we are doing all our best to execute the mandate for which it was set up.

He said considering the level of works NIPSS had done, it needed to be able to retain best brain, adding that, for the some years NIPSS had lost best brain due to poor remuneration.

“You need to help us do more in term of what we get, the funding is too poor, we believe when we seek help, we will get the needed help.”

Responding, Gbajabiamila commended NIPSS for the work it had been doing, adding that there was need for amendment to NIPSS Act.

“Many of us will want to attend NIPSS because of what you have done and it s not an institution that anybody will want it to die.

”There is need for collaboration between NIPSS and NASS, ” he said. He said that there was no doubt that research was key to development in any sector , adding that, the House would be expecting NIPSS draft amendment and see possible collaboration.

“We are all aware that the seasons of political coordination, campaigns and other activities will soon commence following the INEC guidelines.

“However, we want to utilise this wonderful medium to appeal to political parties, candidates, and its supporters not to violate the INEC guidelines as we enter into main building of the election.

“We are deeply constituted with grassroots presence, impressive electioneering track record on monitoring, mobilisation, observation and awareness creation on voters education, and continuous voters registration (CVR),” he said.

According to him, going forward to why we are here at the stakeholders’ conference with the theme, “Youth participation ahead of 2023 general election”, is to share ideas.

“Ideas on the organisation set objectives and programmes to strategically involve the youth meaningfully in them, widen the scope of citizenship engagement and the efficacy of protecting others civic responsibility, ” he said.

The CYMS DG said that the organisation among others also seeks to address some national and international embarrassment that occurred during election and campaign.

He said: “the use of unethical and undemocratic statement during campaign, non protection of votes and lack of support of election duty officers are not left out.

“It is worrisome that youths are the victims of bad governance, used for the above outlined activities and also secure votes for politicians during elections.

“This is because of lack of principle and ideology, awareness, sense of responsibility as a patriotic citizen and inability to utilise their potentials and strength meaningfully.

“I am sure we are all aware that the faith of who leads us will not be determined by the religion or ethnicity; only the youth will determine who wins in 2023 elections,” he said.

According to him, irrespective of political parties, we need to be engaging ourselves and it is high time we realise that we are major stakeholders, political godfathers of politicians and determinants of the faith of this great nation.

“Collectively, leaders and election stakeholders must also be engaging the youth in policy formulation, good governance, integration and dialogue to prepare them for leadership, sustainability of cultural heritage, social and economic values”, he said.

R-L: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Renowned Oncologist and member of Ekiti State Covid-19 Response Resource Mobilisation Committee, Prof Funmi Olopade and her husband, Prof Olopade, during award event held in Lagos on September 16, 2022.

Killing Nigerian Education by Instalments

For many years, the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) have been pitted against each other in what looks like a perpetual struggle for the soul of Nigerian education.

There seems to be a regular pattern to this struggle. ASUU demands for improvement in the welfare of its members across the country. It accuses the government of insensitivity and a non-chalant attitude to Nigerians’ needs for quality education when the latter fails to respond positively to its requests.

Failure to resolve the matter amicably between both parties ultimately leads to the declaration of an industrial action by ASUU, which is often the aggrieved party.

When two elephants fight, like they say, the grass suffers. This time around, the proverbial grass, personified in the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), got tired of being trampled upon in the ongoing fight between the Federal Government and ASUU.

No longer willing to continue to idle away at home as the current ASUU strike enters the eighth month, the students decided to join in the fray, apparently in solidarity with the striking university lecturers.

At first, NANS took to the streets of Abuja in protest against failure on the part of the government and ASUU to find a lasting solution to their persistent disputes. The association warned that it would embark on a nationwide protest in the absence of a solution to the crisis.

To show that they meant business, two weeks ago, the students went on to block some major highways in the country. They did not spare the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, obstructing in-bound traffic in the process for several hours at a stretch.

While the action was greeted with reactions condemning it, NANS vowed to take its protest march to local and international airports across the country. The objective was clearly to ground activities at the airports and to make the rich to feel the pangs of the ASUU strike.

On Monday, September 18, 2022, the protesting students blocked all roads leading to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. They defied the presence of security personnel drafted to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order at the scene of the protest, causing gridlocks on the roads and leaving many people stranded.

The students’ decision to take their destinies in their own hands by embarking on the protest may have been driven by a number of factors, including the lopsidedness in the conflict between ASUU and the Federal Government.

The students are also aware, no doubt, that while the average Nigerian parent has no choice other than to enroll his child in a school that lacks basic modern educational facilities, top ranking government officials and the affluent could afford to send their children to study abroad in schools that are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

They are also emotionally stung by awareness of a wide disparity in the quality of education received by children of less privileged Nigerians on one hand and children of the rich on the hand. These factors evidently combined

to compel them to take sides with ASUU against an unyielding and manipulative Federal Government.

One of the leaders of the NANS protest, Raymond Ojo, was quoted in a major national newspaper as saying, “For the last few days, we have been protesting against the continued ASUU strike, which has lasted over seven months as a result of the ‘crass irresponsibility’ of the Federal Government to fulfill the terms of the agreement they willingly signed with ASUU.

“As an association, we are saddened by this development, which has resulted in the closure of universities. This act, we believe, is deliberate by the Federal Government to deny the

children of the common Nigerian access to quality education, which violates the provisions of Chapter Two of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

Needless to say, Ojo’s statement clearly depicts the collective mindset of and position adopted by the protesting students with regard to the lingering ASUU strike.

Despite the announcement of an increase in the salaries of the striking university lecturers, NANS has threatened to mobilise all students of public universities to “shut down” the entire country, should the government fail to find to accede to ASUU’s demands.

We call on the Federal Government to take this development seriously as it may lead to complications that will prove too difficult to handle.

We believe that the decision by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, to take the matter to the National Industrial Court without exhausting opportunities for settlement with ASUU was a bit too hasty and illadvised. What if the striking lecturers decide to ignore the court order to resume work?

It is our considered opinion that the Federal Government should find a lasting solution to the ongoing ASUU strike. If the government can afford to fritter away huge sums of money on irrelevant and wasteful projects, why can’t it spend as much to meet ASUU’s demands and possibly revamp Nigeria’s educational system?

The government should bear in mind that further elongation of the ongoing strike is tantamount to killing Nigerian education by instalments.

When two elephants fight, like they say, the grass suffers. This time around, the proverbial grass, personified in the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), got tired of being trampled upon in the ongoing fight between the Federal Government and ASUU

OPINION

That Mahdi Shehu TV Interview Nobody Wants to Talk About

BY SULAIMAN ALEDEH

Nigerian businessman, medical practitioner and activist, Mahdi Shehu, has narrated to Arise News an event that happened 27 years ago and was significant to the turn of many other events in the country.

Shehu revealed the staggering event when he answered questions on why the DSS arrested Tukur Mamu, the man who operates as an intermediary between the families of the abducted Kaduna train attack and bandits.

He accused security agencies of being jealous when there are individuals who have classified information.

In his narration, Mahdi cited an event in 1995, where he was offered money to place a bomb parcel in the bookshop of Durbar Hotel, Kaduna, by a named American Political Officer.

The Officer, according to Mahdi, is named Russell Hanks, and he offered him N1 million at the time to bomb the hotel.

“Let me tell you my experience 27 years ago. Between the 7th and 9th of June, 1995, 27 years ago in Kaduna, when the bashing of Nigeria’s image was at its own highest peak. A then Governor, Lt. Col Lawal Jafaru Isa, he’s alive now, and he can confirm what I’m going to tell you now, put up a seminar between Kaduna State government, New Nigerian newspapers, and NTA. The seminar was titled “Not in Our Character,” Mahdi narrated.

“All federal government officials were there, state governments, security agencies, Matthew Hassan Kukah delivered a paper there. I also spoke on the floor. The import of the seminar was to deconstruct the image being painted of Nigeria that is so bad. But what is the news there? The news is that after the seminar… after my contribution, a tall, lanky, blue-eyed, blonde-haired American man approached me outside the hall at Hassan Chiroma Katsina House, venue of the seminar. He just handed over his card to me and left. What was the name on it? Russell J. Hanks, American Embassy, Political Officer. That was on the 9th of June, 1995.

“Not until the 11th of August I received a call on my landline, and on the caller ID, I saw the number. It was Russell’s number. He said, ‘Mahdi, I’m just calling as a follow-up to

our meeting the last time and say hello to you. Bye-bye,’ he dropped (the call). Again, on September 9th, he called me again for the same courtesy call, then 11th of December, he called me and said that ‘Mahdi, I’ll be coming to Kaduna. Will you have a cup of tea with me?’ I said fine. He came in, he called, and I met him at Hamdala Hotel. We had a cup of tea. I think he was trying to size me up because he was busy asking me about the performance of Abacha’s government, and I was playing safe, but then came the big bang.

On 21st December of the same year (1995), he came into Kaduna, and he called me. He said, ‘Mahdi, I have a business for you. And it’s very important. Meet me at Hamdala Hotel, on the last floor at Hamdala Hotel wing, which I did. On arrival, Russel Hanks told me, ‘Mahdi, we are worried. The American government is doing a bomb campaign against Abacha. We don’t want him. We are promoting a regime change. This parcel (holds out a phone in the description) is what I want you to do. See Durbar Hotel, just away there – 600 metres. Go into the bookshop and drop this parcel- small parcel. This is N500,000 for you and another N500,000 waiting for you. Once you drop the parcel, please come back to collect the second N500,000.”

“I said, ‘Russel, you have miscalculated. When I addressed Adamu Ciroma as the Minister for Agriculture in that seminar, you’re referring to, when I addressed (Abubakar) Rimi as the Communications Minister when I addressed Ismaila Isa Funtua as the Chairman of Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, I did that as a citizen, not because I don’t like my country. I dressed him down. I abused him. ‘He said Mahdi Mahdi; now I know you’re a good citizen. I’m just trying to test you. You are nationalistic. We look forward to working with you to stabilise Nigeria, and that was another fault. I held him because I saw desperation in him. He wanted me to leave, but I refused to leave. Then I heard a knock on the door (gwamp-gwamp).”

How Late Journalist Bagauda Kaltho Was Involved Mahdi narrated that he refused Hanks’ offer to bomb Durbar Hotel, but when he was about to leave, he saw late journalist Bagauda Kaltho at the entrance of Hanks’ room. “We went to the door together, and he wanted to see me

off. At the door was Bagauda Kaltho, the journalist that was said to have been killed by Abacha. Bagauda was right at the door there. I think he gave him an hour before me, but I keyed into Bagauda’s hour. Bagauda went into the room, and I left. What happened? Not long after that, two hours later, bomb! Where? Durbar Hotel. Where? At the bookshop. When that happened, Lawal Jafaru Isa can confirm this. I drove straight to the government house to see the Governor. For what reason? Urgent security reason. I was ushered into Lawal Jafaru Isa’s office, and I told him what happened. The following day, I was brought to Abuja. I was able to see Abacha in his residence, and I narrated to him.”

“Before they could say, Jack Robinson, four days later, Russel Hank flew out of Nigeria. Ten days later, security operatives came to Kaduna to interview me. When I gave them the narrative, one of them took to the side and said, ‘Mahdi, keep off. We are very jealous. Security agencies are very jealous institutions. You have done your own. Don’t ever give any public comments on it. Don’t give interviews, don’t give anything because if you begin to talk, our failure would have been seen very clearly.’

“From this following information, I called Mamu three times, and I said, ‘Mamu, security agents are more jealous than a woman whose husband is about to take a second wife. Keep off from them. They’ll injure you,’

Mahdi said Mamu didn’t listen to his advice for him to stop being an intermediary. He described security agencies as being jealous and parasitic and said he wasn’t surprised Mamu was arrested as he saw it coming and expected it a long time ago.

My Take: This exclusive interview granted by Mahdi to Arise News must not be taken lightly. Nigerian and American governments must speak about what they know or otherwise.

Mahdi is still alive and could very well be the link to the many unsolved riddles like the disappearance of the famous Nigerian Journalist, Bagauda Kaltho, whom many had linked to the Abacha regime, and the series of events related to the former Nigerian military ruler.

2023 Presidency: A Contest Between Three Sinners?

BY MAGNUS ONYIBE

The title of this piece is not exactly the terminology used by Adams Oshiomole, former labour leader, ex-Edo state governor, and immediate past chairman of the ruling party at the centre, APC, but he is the one that drew my attention to the fact that all the three presidential candidates with the potential to become President of Nigeria in 2023, are sinners.

Tagging them with such a negative nomenclature or appellation is most probably derived from the general belief amongst Nigerians that anyone that has served in public office must be regarded as a sinner. And it is a fixed mindset amongst the masses, basically because of the high level of corruption being perpetrated by public servants via fraud and the abysmal level of service delivery to the masses by successive regimes, arising from promises unkept which they approximate to sin The lack of confidence in our political systems and political class by the electorate is such that regardless of the political platforms that produce the leaders, Nigerians have learnt from experience, after multiple disappointments, which have galvanised their belief that their leaders hardly have their best interests in mind.

And the fact that despite all the endowments that abound in our country, in terms of both human and natural resources, Nigeria is still in the bottom rung of the list of the world’s developed countries, even though she is right on top of the list of the worst countries to live, which is a reality that is stomach-churning to the average Nigerian, hence every known occupant of public office, to put it mildly, is deemed to be a sinner.

In order words, the masses deem their leaders that have occupied public offices as being responsible for the underdevelopment of the country, and therefore, responsible for their plight, so they hold them in contempt.

It is from that general predisposition of Nigerians especially the youths, towards members of the old political class, whom they blame for the misery being visited on them and which they intend to remedy via the 2023 general elections that the energy currently justifying the notion of Nigerian politicians as sinners, is derived.

Taken from the prism highlighted above, it is difficult to deny that all the front runners contesting for the presidency of Nigeria are by and large sinners, as the three of them have served as two terms Vice President in the case of Atiku Abubakar, and governors respectively, in the case of Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi.

Be that as it may, no human being is actually flawless.

Arising from the assertion above, l am urging the electorate to be very pragmatic by looking beyond the veneer, by way of thoroughly scrutinising the candidates to identify, based on past records, the one with the best capacity and ability to rescue our country, as opposed to listening and gyrating to the high decibel music being played by new age and untested politicians with highfaluting, as well as exalting messages emanating from the multifarious political rostrums.

At this juncture, to help the electorate in their choices of who becomes their president in 2023, it is appropriate that we take a cursory look at the unique selling points and Achilles heels of the candidates that are front runners of the leading political platforms. So that Nigerians and indeed the youths, don’t end up throwing away the baby and the bathwater.

Remarkably, APC and its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are brandishing his accomplishments as Lagos State governor (1999-2007), as opposed to the record of the party in nearly eight (8) years of holding the reins of government.

In addition to the party’s former chairman, Adams Oshiomole’s recent diatribe that candidate Tinubu should not be judged by the performance of APC.

He was more or less distancing Tinubu from president Buhari’s record, which was reinforced by APC vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima’s presentation during Nigerian Bar Association, NBA recent conference.

That would be a hard sell.

But Tinubu, who is known to be a maverick, who has succeeded in keeping Nigerians guessing about his ancestry

and educational antecedents, would be asking very skeptical Nigerians to trust him with their future, as Lagosians did when he governed them for eight (8) years.

Would he pull the type of stunts that he successfully executed during the APC party’s primaries by clinching the ticket to the bewildered opponents?

With Bola Tinubu as the ruling party’s presidential candidate, he could have been enjoying the benefits of the good legacy that the outgoing party would have left for the good people of Nigeria to cherish if the incumbent government had lived up to expectations.

But unfortunately, the current administration is leaving a legacy of sorrow, tears and blood, to borrow a line from a hit song by the late Afrobeat king and maestro, Fela Ransom Kuti.

Which is perhaps, why the former APC chairman, Adams Oshiomole, has urged Nigerians not to judge Bola Tinubu based on president Mohammadu Buhari’s records which, is sordid, no matter how Buharists try to spin it.

But would it not be uncharitable and disingenuous for Tinubu to distance himself from Buhari?

It is needless to point out that the Tinubu/Shettima agenda for Nigeria would likely be different from the well-known APC and Buhari’s agenda.

As such, they would definitely be walking a tightrope especially if president Buhari is expected to join in the campaign for Tinubu as a candidate.

To contextualise the dilemma, Al Gore tried to detach himself from the administration that he was aiming to replace in the United States of America, USA, when as Vice President to Bill Clinton, he was contesting to succeed his principal, but distanced himself from his boss, owing to the scandal about Clinton’s alleged sexual escapade with Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern, which is an event that sullied Clinton’s reputation in the twilight days of his watch.

*Continues online at www. thewillnigeria.com

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

BY SAM DIALA

The half year performance of Access Holdings Plc indicates that the top-ranked financial services institution is headed to cross a historic N15 trillion assets mark at the end of 2022. Presently, Access Bank is the largest deposit money bank by assets (N11.73 trillion as of December 31, 2021).

The bank’s audited earnings report for half year ended June 2022 shows a significant assets growth of 31.3 percent year-on-year to N13.2 trillion from N10 trillion. Compared to the then historic N11.73 trillion at FY 2021, the12.5 percent assets rise at 2022 half year represents a cheering news for the stakeholders. Using an average combined percent growth of 22 percent for the two periods, the bank’s assets growth shows prospects of hitting about N16 trillion by the end of 2022, all things being equal.

“Strong asset base signifies that a business is strategically positioned to take advantage of its environment. For a bank, there is no time that people will not need money. Once a business is focused and invests in areas that people always need, it will not lose. This explains the continuous growth (in assets) despite difficult environments,” Professor of Finance and Accounts at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Muhammad Mainoma, had told THEWILL.

According to Mainoma, immediate past President, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), companies with robust assets will easily withstand tough economic environments. “Given the growth history and the performance trajectory of Access Bank in recent years, there is no doubt it will hit and exceed the N15 trillion assets mark this year because it is still enjoying the benefits of its mega merger with the old Diamond Bank Plc,” said Adolphus Ehimoke, a financial analyst.

Aside from robust assets performance, the group recorded

impressive results in other key parameters at the end of business in the first half ending June 30, 2022. This signals a strong move to hit and surpass the N15 trillion assets mark, thus placing it further ahead of industry peers in an increasingly challenging environment. It closed the half year operations with gross earnings of N591.80 billion, representing 31.4 percent of the closing revenue figure in the equivalent period of 2021. With prospects for higher revenue figures in the second half going by the bank’s earnings pattern, Access Holco will likely garner a gross revenue of over N1 trillion at the end of 2022. It recorded 145 percent gross revenue in FY 2021 year-on-year.

Key balance sheet elements – deposit from customers, and loan and advances to customers – recorded an upward trend during the review period. Deposit from customers jumped from N5.97 trillion in HY 2021 to N7.83 trillion in HY 2022, reflecting a rise of 31.2 percent. Similarly, loans and advances to customers rose to N4.61 trillion in HY 2022 from N3.99 trillion in the corresponding period, which is a growth of 15.6 percent.

The Tier-1 bank’s revenue haul came under cost-pressure during the period resulting in a drag in post-tax profit which recorded a marginal increase of 2.2 percent to N88.73 billion from N86.9 billion in the corresponding period. The major challenging factors include interest expenses which rose about three times higher than interest earnings during the period.

Interest expenses grew to about N175 billion during the period, representing a 46 percent rise year-on-year. On the other hand, interest income recorded a 16 percent increase to close at N372

Access Holdings Plc Headed Beyond N15trn Assets Mark on Operating Standards at Airports

UBA Ranks Top in Export Banking For Three Years

There have been divided opinions amongst stakeholders in the nation’s aviation industry, following the decision of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to stop flight operation extension to sunrise and sunset airports across the country.

FAAN in collaboration with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) had recently adopted a new operating standards policy by stopping flight operation extension to sunrise and sunset airports across the country. Sunset airports refer to aerodromes without landing

MORE INSIDE AfDB, Islamic Bank, Others Invest $618m in Digital Programmes in Nigeria

Ethiopian Airlines Wins Bid For Nigeria Air

Alawuba 18

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc ranked No. 1 in export banking among Nigeria’s deposit money banks (DMBs) for three consecutive years as at FY 2021 when it facilitated $1.34 billion non-oil export for that year alone. This was 31 percent of total non-oil export volume for 2021 making it the highest since 2019. This comes on the heels of the bank’s robust export financing scheme designed to boost local productivity and diversify the sources of foreign exchange earnings.

Flight Extension: Experts Differ on Operating Standards at Airports

AVIATION/BANKING

Access Holdings Plc Headed Beyond N15trn Assets Mark

Continued from page 16

billion for the period. Compared with the first quarter performance, both interest income and interest expenses dragged by 21 percent and 73 percent respectively.

The profit also suffered pressure from personnel expenses, which rose by 34 percent to N58 billion in the corresponding period. Net loan impairment charge is also another key expenses line that impacted on the profit window: It recorded a 28.6 percent to almost N37 billion, claiming 18.7 percent of net interest income in the review period, compared to 14.3 percent in HY 2021. Consequently, the bank’s income net of impairment charge declined to N160.6 billion, representing a 6 percent drop during the period under review.

facilities. This means that airlines can only operate between 7 am to 6.30 pm.

However, the five major airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kano, can operate 24 hours, sunrise to sunset.

Shortly after the declaration by the Managing Director of FAAN, Capt Rabiu Yadudu, a cross section of pilots and engineers applauded the move, saying that the decision to stop flight extension request to airlines by the managements of FAAN and NAMA was a step in the right direction

The stakeholders, under the auspices of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), pointed out that inasmuch as the decision was based on security and safety the decision could not be compromised.

On the other hand, participants at the recently held seminar on Sunset Airports by League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents, have argued that the notion of ‘Sunset Airports’ or limited (daylight) hours of operations is a self-limiting factor that is retrogressive and a challenge that should be addressed by a modern state.

According to them, the phenomenon is a major disrupter of the economies of airline operation and utilisation of aircraft assets.

The self-imposed limitation was identified as one of the main banes of gross under-utilisation of aircraft, estimated to cost each airplane three hours of operation daily and at least N4.3billion worth of unearned revenue yearly (per equipment).

The untapped revenue, they observed, gets bigger in an airline that has five or more aircraft and the

reason local airlines battle survivability unlike their counterparts in Europe, North America and Asia.

The stakeholders therefore, advised that Sunset airport phenomenon and restriction in operating hours should henceforth be treated as an aberration and a problem to tackle, given their dire impacts on airlines and the economy at large.

Explaining further, why they are in support of stopping flight extension, President of NAAPE, Engr Abednego Galadima, who spoke on behalf of the professionals appealed to the players in the sector, especially airline operators to adhere strictly to their schedules to avoid a crisis in their operations, stressing that once this is adhered to, disruption to service would be avoided.

He said, “If the intention is based on safety and security of airlines and persons, it is not out of place. I don’t think the intention is to shortchange the airlines.

“I will only advise the airlines to ensure that they adhere strictly to their schedules instead of asking for extension by FAAN and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). As you know, safety and security are our top priority in the industry and can’t be compromised.”

The Managing Director of FAAN Capt. Rabiu Yadudu has earlier announced the new flying regime, stating that the step was taken due to safety and security considerations.

Yadudu who informed that FAAN had met with sister agency, NAMA) and both have resolved to adopt the new policy.

Speaking at a forum organized by NIGAV recently, Yadudu stressed that approvals are available for necessary cases but that airlines must now work within their confines as no approvals for extension will be granted willynilly.

This move, according to Yadudu is a safety move and may in time check airlines who have a Standard Operating Procedure of delaying their flights but he however, insisted that the policy FAAN has tinkered is not absolute and would make concessions for extreme situations.

“We have stopped giving operation extensions to sunrise and sunset airports across the country. It was actually the safety and security considerations that drove us to make this particular decision. We have already started and we’ve met with the NAMA team and we are in agreement that there is no going back.”

On exigencies that could force airlines to operate to sunrise and sunset airports beyond the scheduled period, he said:

“We don’t plan safety and security policy based on such permutations.When something like that happens, then we know how to cross the bridge when we get there; but right now we are working normally and operations are normal, we have to plan our operations the way they remain standard. If you consider such things then you will not have standard operations procedure (SOP) anywhere. It remains as it is.”

Further analysis of the Holco’s HY 2022 result revealed that total operating cost which rose to N257 billion dimmed gross earnings at 35 percent compared to 31 percent impact in the preceding period. The operating cost margin rose to 43.4 percent from 42 percent in the preceding period of 2021.

An improvement in net gains on financial instruments brought succour to the cost pains that the Holco suffered. This revenue line which increased from a net loss of over N23 billion in HY 2021 to over N64 billion in the 2022 half year was a soothing relief. The same goes for net gains on hedging which recorded over N11 billion in the review period from a net loss of over N4 billion in the preceding period.

The bank’s Rest of Africa business also helped in changing the narrative as it grew profit before tax (PBT) by 175.1 percent compared to last year and contributed 64.2 percent to the group’s PBT in the first half of 2022. That’s up from a contribution of 23.4 percent in the first half of 2021.

Some analysts expressed mixed feelings over the inaugural financial results of Access Bank after it introduced a holding structure in May 2022. “The Q2 results were unimpressive, in our view, with earnings falling to a six-quarter low. We expected the market to react negatively to the decreased dividend,” Ope Ani, a senior analyst at Coronation Merchant Bank, said in a note to clients. Despite the share price dip however, most investment banks have retained their BUY rating on the bank, citing high prospects for future growth.

Analysts also say that the unexpected cut in the interim dividend may be due to the group’s need to conserve capital in order to fund its upcoming acquisitions and the expansion of its Holdco operations. They believe that the solid performance in Q1 2022 made up for the below expectation outing in Q2, which suggests that the HY 2022 earnings exceeded market expectations.

Commenting on the 2022 half year results, the Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe said “the Holding Company’s inaugural financial results showed a strong performance, in the first half of the year despite the strong macroeconomic headwinds locally and internationally.

“The Holding Company became fully operational in May 2022 and the other verticals: Payment

“

Company (PayCo), Asset Management Company (AmCo), Insurance Brokerage Company (InsureCo) are expected to be fully consolidated from the second half of the year. These results reflect a sustainable business model coupled with an effective strategy execution from the Banking Group, amidst a challenging macroeconomic environment with significant headwinds.

“This reflects deliberate steps to optimize our balance sheet and ensure the Group can support its customers across various markets, in addition to executing our expansion strategy. 2022 marks the final year of our five-year strategy to become Africa’s gateway to the world.

“In the five-year period we have seen enormous growth in our value proposition and international presence as we have expanded our operations across Africa. As Access Corporation enters a new chapter, we are realigning our objectives to create a globally connected ecosystem, offering new interconnected services across customer needs.”

Access Bank is Nigeria’s largest banking group, accounting for 19 percent of banking system assets at the end of the financial year 2021, according to Fitch Rating which applauded the bank’s acquisition strategy.

Wigwe had disclosed that transiting to a holding company structure will enable Access Bank Plc to generate more revenue from other non-core banking business, expand its operation, remain competitive in the ever-changing business environment and deliver more value to shareholders. The banking model is expected to also help Access Bank to diversify its revenue and remain competitive in the financial market.

In a mission to become the gateway to the global financial system, Access Bank has acquired several banks in other Sub-Saharan African countries in recent years in line with its African expansion strategy.

Access Bank has invested heavily in leading technological evolution in the African banking sector through its strategic partnership with the Africa Fintech Foundry to nurture the next generation of innovative fintech startups. The Bank has also deployed technology to help achieve its sustainability targets. It has developed a portal that helps to monitor its environmental footprint, especially its carbon emissions.

The self-imposed limitation was identified as one of the main banes of gross under-utilisation of aircraft, estimated to cost each airplane three hours of operation daily and at least N4.3billion worth of unearned revenue yearly, per equipment

In the five-year period we have seen enormous growth in our value proposition and international presence as we have expanded our operations across Africa

UBA Ranks Top in Export Banking For Three Years

This was disclosed by the bank’s Deputy Managing Director (DMD), UBA, Muyiwa Akinyemi, at the recently concluded annual conference of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICA) held in Lagos with the theme, “Boosting Domestic Capacity for Sustainable Export Earnings”.

In his presentation titled, ‘Boosting Domestic Capacity for Sustainable Export Earnings – UBA Perspective’, Akinyemi shared some key interventions that UBA had launched to facilitate domestic export in line with the diversification drive of the Nigerian economy.

Akintyemi who noted that the bank had embarked on practical steps to speed up its export financing scheme in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) RT 200 FX scheme said UBA, unlike some of its foot-dragging peers, embraced the export financing initiative with unusual commitment and speed amid rising headwinds.

In his presentation titled, ‘Boosting Domestic Capacity for Sustainable Export Earnings – UBA Perspective’, Akinyemi shared some key interventions that UBA had launched to facilitate domestic export in line with the diversification drive of the Nigerian economy.

These include a $200 million non-oil export trade financing programme developed by the bank to bridge working capital requirements of SMEs/ commercial exporters at concessionary interest rate.

He said that the bank had also developed a favourable collateral structure and provided project and structured trade financing towards enhancing export capacities of manufacturing organisations.

He said that top 200 non-oil exporters controlled over 95%/US$4.2 billion of the industry volume in 2021 noting that UBA facilitated $1.34billion/31% in non-oil export volume in 2021 FY, making UBA No.1 export bank in Nigeria and No. 1 export bank for three years running.

Akinyemi itemised the following as the key activities the bank embarked upon to facilitate domestic export drive.

These include US$200 million Non-oil export trade financing programme to

bridge working capital requirements of SME/commercial exporters at concessionary interest rate and favourable collateral structure, and Provision of project & structured trade financing to enhance export capacities of manufacturing as well as commodity aggregators.

Others are Dedicated export desks and an export manager for our business to lead the charge of our export business arrangements and UBA Afritrade - to facilitate regional trade and settlements that start and end within the UBA ecosystem across Africa.

Also included are “Strong Partnerships with Export focused Agencies in Nigeria CBN/NEPC/NIRSAL” and “Pilot bank to AfCFTA/PAPSS to facilitate Regional Trade payments across Africa, commencing in 5 Countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, S/ Leone and Liberia).

“Creating Market Access for exporters across our 23 other Countries in Africa, USA, Europe & UAE”, the bank boss stated.

Explaining further, the DMD claimed that UBA is a “Leading Partner Bank on CBN RT 200 program across the 5 pillars centred on Operational Efficiency as it pursues Robust IT platform to support registration of NXPs, payment of duties and associated levies.

“Treasury Products & solutions for Exporters, Direct correspondent banking relationships within the UBA network and Collaboration with various Export Associations to advance their capabilities & provision of Financial Advisory amongst others” are also listed on the bank’s avenues of promoting domestic export drive through sustained earnings.

Akinyemi listed insecurity across the country, including industrial areas; dearth of skilled manpower, low export capacity, high cost of transportation and inadequate access to funds/high interest rate on commercial bank loans as among the challenges of boosting domestic export drive.

Others are the absence of an official framework for distribution of export products, dilapidated road networks, inadequate functional rail system, high cost of electricity in the face of inadequate supply, over-regulation and duplication of roles by Government agencies and high cost of technology.

SMEDAN Holds Fair For MSMEs in Lagos

Over one hundred micro small and medium enterprises MSMEs are expected to participate in the 2022 MSMEs fair to be held in Ipodo, Ikeja Lagos State next Monday.

The fair which is organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN is the second in the series and it is expected to last five days. The fair has as its theme, “Competing for Market”.

Described as one of the fastest growing MSME fairs in Lagos. This year’s MSMEs fair Ipodo would afford exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their wares as well as enjoy business advisory services from SMEDAN on how to upscale their businesses.

The Director General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, Olawale Fasanya in a statement heralding the commencement of the MSMEs fair in Ipodo said that MSME fairs are veritable ground to promote Made in Nigeria products.

He said that fairs such as the MSMEs fair in Ipodo were designed to provide opportunities for exhibition of Made in Nigeria goods by MSMEs. The fair also said offers MSMEs a real life platform to hook up to not only market opportunities but also to network with relevant agencies in the MSME ecosystem.

Fasanya noted that the Agency has come to embrace the Ipodo fair because of the success recorded in the maiden edition. And we shall continue to support MSMEs as they are the backbones of any thriving economy.

The Agency according to the Director General recently organized a successful opportunity fair in collaboration with the Edo State Government in Benin City adding next week we shall also be organizing another opportunity fair in Jos, all these are targeted at encouraging our MSMEs and boosting Made in Nigeria goods.

Mr Fasanya further said that the Agency would continue to set up sustainable programmes to boost the capacity of MSMEs in Nigeria. He said sustainable initiatives and organization of Trade fairs and Expos as well as sensitization would boost patronage of Made in Nigeria goods.

“The Mass of the people are ignorant of the fact that quality and durable products are also produced by MSMEs in Nigeria” he said. Fasanya added that the fairs such as MSMEs fair Ipodo would show that Nigeria MSMEs can produce good things and this will make the people rethink and improve on the patronage of locally made products. The Director General equally stated that the Agency was planning to host an opportunity fair for the people with disability in the near future.

AfDB, Islamic Bank, Others Invest $618m in Digital Programmes in Nigeria

The African Decvelopment Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the French Development Agency (FDA) are investing $618 million in the Digital and Creative Enterprises Programme (I-DICE) in Nigeria. The President of the AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina, said this at the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum on the sideline of the 77th United Nations General Assembly, New York.

Mr Adesina said the programme would support the creation of 225 creative startups and 451 digital technologies small and medium-sized enterprises (digital SMEs).

The AfDB president added that the enterprises would create 6.1 million jobs and add $6.4 billion to the economy.

“That is the power of international partnerships working for Nigeria. Investors must recognise this and invest.

“The future is not just digital, the future will be driven by digital revolution.

“Today, Nigeria has five of the seven unicorns in Africa and raised almost $1.4 billion of the total of four billion dollars raised by Fintech companies across Africa in 2021.

“When you think of financial services digital innovations, think Nigeria, with Flutterwave, OPay, Andela and Interswitch holding the status of unicorn companies, worth at least one billion dollars each.”

Mr Adesina also said the bank had invested $4.5 billion in Nigeria, adding that the country remained an attractive investment destination.

He further said the bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and IsDB had provided $540 million to develop Special Agro-industrial processing zones to help unlock the agricultural potential in Nigeria., “This financing will boost food and agribusiness value chains across Nigeria and make Nigeria more competitive,” he said.

He also called for increased international partnerships in Nigeria, adding that the bank had invested $44 billion in infrastructure in Africa over the past six years.

Furthermore, Mr Adesina said, the growth in Nigeria would depend on its ability to fix its infrastructure deficits.

“The National Integrated Infrastructure Masterplan shows that Nigeria will need total financing of $759 billion to support infrastructure over a 23-year horizon (20202043).

“These covers tackling the crippling lack of energy to power the economy, including power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, water and sanitation, and transport infrastructure.”

Moreover, he said, Nigeria had a debt level of N42.84 trillion or $103 billion with an external debt level of N16.61 trillion or about $40 billion.

He said the country needed help to tackle its debt burden.

“International partnerships on debt are helping Africa and Nigeria.

“The issuance of special drawing rights (SDRs) by the International Monetary Fund of $650 billion helped to provide liquidity support to countries, with Africa receiving only $33 billion. African countries need more.”

He recalled that the African Heads of State and Government made a call for developed countries to re-channel an additional 100 billion SDRs to Africa.

He said it would go a long way in helping to reduce the debt burden.

“Allocated SDRs through the bank, as called for by the Heads of State and Government, will be leveraged by four times by the bank.

L-R: Director, Advocacy and Communication, NPHCDA, Mohammed Abubakar; Regional General Manager North, MTN Nigeria, Hajia Amina Dambatta; Manager, Federal Executive Affairs, MTN Nigeria, Ifeoma Nkata and Representative of the Country Director of World Health Organization, Dr. Walter Mulombo, at the donation of fresh batches of COVID-19 vaccines to NPHCDA at the NPHCDA Headquarters, Abuja on September 14, 2022.

MOMAN Backs Energy Transition, Safety in Downstream Operations

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) has reiterated its support to Nigeria’s energy transition and efforts of the Federal Government to actualise its net zero carbon emission target by 2060.

MOMAN also said it had within the last one year organised several trainings for its members to improve efficiency and safety in the petroleum downstream sector operations.

Chairman of MOMAN, Mr Olumide Adeosun, made this known in a news briefing to mark his first anniversary as the chairman of the association on Friday in Lagos.

Adeosun said “our members are committed to the energy transition and the sustainable decarbonisation of our respective businesses.

“As a collective measure, we have embarked on several impactful initiatives and projects that signals that commitment to cleaner energy.”

According to him, MOMAN has been engaging with the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) to drive the expansion of the use of gas in Nigeria.

He said the association had recently reviewed the contents of the Federal Government’s Auto Gas policy and have sent in a memorandum with the association’s input to the policy.

“My members are ready to move as long as there is regulatory and policy clarity,” he said.

Adeosun, who is also the Chief Executive of Ardova Plc, said as part of these efforts, the company had invested in the construction of a 20,000MT Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage facility in Ijora, Lagos.

He said this new capacity which would come on stream in 2023 would enable economies of scale for coastal gas delivery and help deepen the adoption of LPG as the cooking fuel of choice nationwide.

Adeosun also reiterated MOMAN’s position for the petroleum downstream sector going forward, especially with regards to the continued payment of fuel

subsidy by the government.

He said: “We have tabled our recommendations to the government on our considered view on subsidy removal approach.

“It can best be summarised as full deregulation in phases. These huge subsidy payments are simply not sustainable.

“The Government should focus on palliatives for Nigerians such as mass transit, improved power supply, agriculture, education etc.

“Government may subsidise sectors that would stimulate sustainable economic growth.

“Overwhelmingly the right course of action is a clear trajectory towards full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 as it is a very well thought out legislation that would ultimately cause the petroleum industry in Nigeria to grow. “

Listing some of the achievements of his administration in the past one year, Adeosun said it included engagements with stakeholders such as the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the National Assembly and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

He said MOMAN had also engaged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the media.

“These engagements have all been in a bid to ensure that downstream positions and our customers’ interests are well articulated and documented.

“The goal has always been to develop good working relationships with the regulator and positively impact the petroleum sector,” Adeosun said.

The MOMAN chairman said members companies, being the heritage of International Oil Companies (IOCs) who have operated in Nigeria in some cases for over 100 years, were the custodians of years of operational experience and evolved industry competencies.

Equity Market Records Mixed Sentiments A

total turnover of 562.856 million shares worth N9.438 billion in 16,013 deals was traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 719.398 million shares valued at N8.004 billion that exchanged hands last week in 17,444 deals.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 381.958 million shares valued at N4.551 billion traded in 8,627 deals; thus contributing 67.86% and 48.21% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The ICT Industry followed with 59.345 million shares worth N2.480 billion in 1,272 deals. The third place was the Services Industry, with a turnover of 32.212 million shares worth N95.807 million in 607 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely Zenith Bank Plc, NGX Group Plc and Guaranty. Trust Holding Company Plc. (measured by volume) accounted for 183.929 million shares worth N3.499 billion in 3,628 deals, contributing 32.68% and 37.07% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

For Exchange-Traded Product (ETP), a total of 4,938 units valued at N2.135 million were traded this week in 18 deals compared with a total of 2,172 units valued at N352,773.56 transacted last week in 18 deals.

For bonds, a total of 2,961 units valued at N2.994 million were traded this week in 8 deals compared with a total of 15,945 units valued at N16.238 million transacted last week 15 deals.

The NGX All-Share Index and Market Capitalization depreciated by 0.91% to close the week at 49,026.62 and N26.445 trillion respectively. Similarly all other indices finished lower with the exception of NGX Premium, NGX Banking, NGX Pension, NGX AFR Bank Value and NGX MERI Value which appreciated by 0.13%, 2.27%, 0.05%, 0.08% and 1.84% while The NGX ASeM, NGX Growth and NGX SOVBND indices closed flat.

Ethiopian Airlines Wins Bid For Nigeria Air

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

After a detailed and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC)- governed selection process, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) Consortium has been selected as preferred bidder for the operation of Nigeria Air.

Nigeria Air is a proposed airline and flag carrier in Nigeria. The name and logo was unveiled at the Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom in July 2018.

The business arrangement will offer an owner consortium of 3 Nigerian investors MRS, SAHCO and the Nigerian Sovereign Fund (46%), FGN owning 5% and ET 49%.

The Hon. Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika made this known in a press conference held in Abuja, Friday while updating status of the Nigeria Air and the PPP Bidding Process.

According to Sirika, the consortium has been subject to a due diligence process, after which the contract will be negotiated between the consortium and the FGN, leading to a Full Business Case, which will be expected to be approved Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Assuring that this process will take 6-8 weeks, Sirika added that an interim Executive Team of highly skilled aviation experts has been working since February 2022 to set up all the necessary regulatory and industry requirements to launch the National Carrier.

“All Executives have been approved by NCAA, the Air Transport License has been issued by NCAA, Nigeria Air (after having identified the first three aircraft) will now finalize all necessary Operation Manuals and then go through the inspection and approval process of NCAA”.

He said “the money spent for the launch of Nigeria Air, for all the requirements to establish an AOC and be admitted starting an airline operation, is well within the 5% capital investment of the Federal Government of Nigeria, that will be overall needed to establish the National Carrier initially for the AOC approval and everything else required by stringent national aviation regulations, as prescribed in the FEC approved Outline Business Case (OBC)”.

He said this OBC is the milestone for the preferred Bidder Consortium and has been met by the submitted business plan of the preferred bidder, adding that “It is the overall share capital of around 300 Million USD, provided by the preferred bidder that will launch Nigeria Air to its full size of 30 aircraft and international operation within the next two years”.

According to him, no further FGN funding will be provided above the 5% share capital of the next national Carrier of Nigeria, which was provided to launch Nigeria Air.

The invitation to bid for the ownership of Nigeria Air under the PPP regulations of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and overseen by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) was published in the Economist and in several local Nigerian papers on 5th March 2022.

Explaining further, the Minister said that the National Carrier, Nigeria Air, is well on its way to being launched with three Boeing 737-800 in a configuration very suitable for the Nigerian market.

For a start, Sirika also hinted that Nigeria Air will launch with a shuttle service between Abuja and Lagos to establish a new comfortable, reliable and affordable travel between these two major Nigerian Airports.

R-L: Principal Manager Trade and Exchange Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Anne  Nnenna Ezkañnagha; Deputy Group Managing Director, United Bank  for Africa (UBA), Mr. Muyiwa  Akinyemi; National Chairman, Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN), Mr. Chima Nwokoji; Director, Lagos Zonal Office, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mrs. Hafsat O. Rufai; Head, Strategy and Communication, Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Tayo Omioji and  Divisional Head, Agric and Export, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Isaiah Ndukwe, at the 2022 FICAN annual conference,held in Lagos on September 17,2022. Photo: Peace Udugba.

ECONOMY

New Presidential Economic Team: What Agenda?

The Federal Government, to the chagrin and perhaps, bewilderment of most Nigerians, recently inaugurated a ‘Presidential Committee on the National Economy’— just about 35 weeks to the end of the eight-year (two terms) tenure of the Administration.

Truly, not a few Nigerians were stupefied by this ‘eleventh hour’ or ‘injury time’ move of the government at the centre— justifiably for numerous reasons.

More surprisingly, for the first time in the over seven-yearlong life of the Muhammadu Buhari Administration, the President himself assumed headship of the economic team— and presided over its inaugural meeting on Friday, September 9, 2022. About the same time, the National Economic Council (NEC), putatively headed by the Vice President, was reportedly ‘rushing out’ a National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) — to be ratified and approved ‘soon’ by the Federal Executive Council.

At the inauguration of the new Presidential Economic Team, President Buhari said: “This committee will provide our nation an opportunity to be bold, more proactive, and innovative in tackling persistent challenges”, adding that “the work with which I have tasked the assembled team will enable us respond more swiftly and efficiently.” This immediately puts a big question mark on the economic agenda, programmes and activities of the Administration in the over seven long years of its existence.

In other words, it is this ‘baby team’ just cobbled together that will now “swiftly and efficiently” respond to the monumental, hydra-headed problems of the Nigerian economy. The empanelling of the ‘emergency committee’ also questions the relevance and impact of the widely celebrated Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) set up since September 2019, and headed by Professor ‘Doyin Salami, who incidentally was appointed Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) to Mr. President in January 2022.

BY MARCEL OKEKE Buhari

In point of fact, had the PEAC made up of illustrious economists and the CEA been effective or ‘fruitful’ in their assignments, there would have been no need for the President electing to assemble a ‘last minute’ team for him to lead at this point in time. The coming into being of the new Presidential Committee on the Economy is therefore a direct vote of no confidence on the PEAC and CEA. Now that the Administration is at its wits’ end on how to pull the recumbent economy back from the precipice, President Buhari is picking the gauntlet, although belatedly.

It is therefore most fitting to help set some agenda for the latest Presidential committee on the economy as well as pose some critical questions. It is good however that the new committee is made up mainly of members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), as this is likely to help in identifying the ‘action points’ on decisions taken at the highest level of government. This was lacking in the membership of the PEAC who are mainly distinguished economists and consultants from ‘outside’ of the Government. ‘Doyin Salami who led the PEAC was brought on-board from the Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University where he was lecturing.

Now that the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is also the Minister of Petroleum Resources, is the head of the newest Economic Management Team, the most crucial and urgent task before the committee is to immediately curb the dreadful insecurity in the land. It is an existential threat to the Nigerian polity; and no meaningful socio-economic activity takes place in a largely unsafe environment. Security of life and property is a sine qua non for any economy to thrive.

Fortunately, the composition and headship of the new economic team is such that one person namely, Mr. President, is the one at whose desk the buck (military, political, executive, etc.) stops. Incidentally, too, he is a General of the Army (though retired). It truly requires the ‘urgency of now’ to deal decisively with the widespread insecurity in the land—for economic activities to really pick up.

The President should use the instrumentality of his new

Economic Team to deploy all necessary resources to immediately stamp out the bizarre phenomenon known as oil theft in Nigeria. Accusing fingers have recently been pointing to very highly placed personages as kingpins and collaborators in that ignominious deal that is unwittingly bringing the national economy to its knees.

At the moment, revenue from crude oil remains the mainstay of the Nigerian economy and so, oil theft amounts to stealing our Commonwealth. Relatedly, the new committee must deal with the high spate of sabotage and wanton vandalism on oil and gas facilities across the country—but particularly in the oil bearing areas. In a similar vein, the new economic team should take another look at the subsisting fuel subsidy—a process or policy that is almost crashing the economy.

From gulping a few hundreds of billions of naira a few years ago, the opaque dealing called petroleum subsidy is now guzzling trillions of naira.

Now, more than ever, the new team must do whatever it takes to let Nigeria begin to know the volume of crude oil being produced in the country; the quantity being exported as well as the volume of fuel being imported/used in the country on a daily/weekly basis.

The generation and publicising of these data will save the Buhari Administration so much public odium and opprobrium. So much public funds are at present being suspected to be ‘stolen’ by many persons in the refined oil products importation and distribution value chain in the country.

Now that the President and C-i-C is leading the economic management team, can Nigeria meaningfully commence the effective diversification of its economy? Can the President muster the necessary political will to ‘off-load’ the dead refineries and/or initiate the process of bringing them back to life within the remaining 35 weeks of his tenure?

The much flaunted strides in agriculture through the initiatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria has since been ‘deflated’ by persisting insecurity and related social ills. The new Presidential Economic Management Team must therefore expeditiously begin to address food insecurity in the land. Hunger, poverty and insecurity are ‘conjoined triplets’.

It also goes without saying that the New Economic Team must ensure that the public finance management of Nigeria is reworked expeditiously to save the country from living largely and lavishly on borrowed funds. Rather than continuing with the massive borrowing spree, the government should be ‘winding down’ as it ineluctably approaches its twilight. This is no longer the time for excuses or to be appealing to Nigerians for their understanding or advertising phantom projects and achievements of the Administration. It’s already too late in the day.

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

Now that the President and C-i-C is leading the economic management team, can Nigeria meaningfully commence the effective diversification of its economy “

SHOTS OF THE WEEK

Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]

L-R: National President, Inter - Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Engr. Yabagi Sani; Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Idris Wase and  others, after a courtesy visit to the Speaker by the IPAC delegation, at the National Assembly on September 21, 2022.

L-R: Director, MTN Nigeria, Muhammad Ahmad; Director, MTN Foundation, Dennis Okoro; Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO (EVC/CEO), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta; Chairman, MTN Foundation, Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi and CEO, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, at the launch of 5G at MTN Nigeria Head Office on September 18, 2022.

L-R: Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo with TETFUND Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono during a courtesy visit his office in Abuja on September 21, 2022.

L-R: Chief, Legal & Regulatory Officer/Company Secretary, Airtel Nigeria, Shola Adeyemi and Executive Secretary, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Ajibola Olude, during the Tech Innovation Awards ceremony in Lagos on September 19, 2022.

L-R: Kazeem Aboyemi, Promasidor; Amaka Onyemelukwe, Coca-Cola; Edidiong Peters, Nestlé Nigeria; Ibrahim Odunbomi, MD LAWMA; Agharese Onaghise, FBRA, Executive Secretary; Jumoke Sanusi, Kellogg Tolarm and Kayode Alamu, Perfetti Van Melle, during 3rd Anniversary of Lagos Recycles Initiative in Lagos on September 20,2022.

L-R: Executive Head, Corporate Affairs, MultiChoice, Caroline Oghuma and Academy Director, MultiChoice Talent factory, Atinuke Babatunde, at the MultiChoice event in Lagos on September 15, 2022.

Yetunde Babaeko is not only a professional photographer but also tells stories with photography and uses the lens to bridge gender barriers. She speaks with IVORY UKONU about her passion for photography. Excerpts:

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITIONS DRIVE MY STRUGGLE TO BE FREE OF INHIBITIONS

– YETUNDE BABAEKO

You are one of the very few professional photographers who tell stories via photography exhibitions. Can you recall your very first exhibition and what it was all about?

That was in 2008 and it was about nude photography.

While having a discussion with friends, the issue of nude photography came up. I was particularly interested because I wanted to be able to differentiate between it and pornography using pictures. With me as the arrow head, I urged two of my closest friends and fellow photographers, Kelechi Amadi-Obi and Leke Adenuga to do an exhibition on nude photography. They agreed and were even more interested in knowing how the exhibition will be received, being a first of its kind in Nigeria. They were skeptical about Nigerians truly being ready for a nude exhibition.

Did you actually take photographs of naked people?

Yes, we took pictures of naked women. The pictures taken were as close to their natural bodies as possible and we tried to explore their bodies artistically.

Who would want to have pictures of their naked bodies photographed?

Volunteers, they are all around. Their faces were covered for the exhibition because I didn’t think Nigeria was ready for that then. The response from the exhibition was immense, because people were seeing something fresh and different. We were basically celebrating the female body. Till date, I still photograph naked women. They come into my studio and ask to be photographed naked. For them, it is their own way of distilling their bodies in time. Sometimes, they allow their faces to be shown but not for an exhibition.

Did you succeed in showing the difference between nude photography and pornography as you are obviously aware that there is a thin line between both?

Yes, the aim was achieved because the pictures were tasteful and people liked them. Nude photography would always somehow affect you emotionally when you see it. It can arouse you and can also leave you cold, but the aim was simply to appreciate the human body and do away with hypocrisy, stigmatization and generally being afraid of what others might think or say. Hypocrisy and stigmatisation are some of the negative things I see a lot in this country, and it just means that we are holding back on so much potential because of what others think.

The exhibition was all about being free and letting go, allowing your creativity to run wild. When nude photography is done artistically and tastefully, then it can’t be seen to be pornography. I am not an advocate of pornography, but one who encourages the celebration of the human body in an

artistic way. Yes, it is an intimate thing and that is what we need in this country; a bit more of intimacy and trust.

Have you ever photographed nude men? Yes.

Did you get aroused in the process?

No, I didn’t because I was occupied with lighting, camera, right positioning and battling with how to capture what I had in my head with the camera and so much more. So there was no room to get aroused.

Do you honestly think that Nigeria has come of age and the society today is ripe for nude photography?

Absolutely. Like I said, the one I spearheaded lasted a few weeks and was always packed full every day with guests. I mean, this is art. We have done this for thousands of years. If you go to all the major museums worldwide, you will find photographs of naked women all painted by renowned artists. I honestly don’t see the difference between painting naked women and photographing naked women.

What other exhibitions have you been involved in? The subsequent ones were group exhibitions. But my first personal exhibition was the one I fondly call Itan and that was held in 2013 at the Porsche center, Victoria Island. It was about deities, something that has always fascinated me about Nigeria; how we have been able to combine and live with our strong religious beliefs as well as the fetish traditional aspect. I photographed models who were painted and dressed to look like deities.

I worked with models, stylists and hair stylists. There was another I called ‘Battle scar’ and it was done with other female photographers called X-perspectives. It was about breast cancer awareness and our main cause was to raise funds for the Sebecceely Breast Cancer Foundation, to shake some people up and remind them that breast cancer is real and that people suffering from it need help.

It was also to tell people that being diagnosed with breast cancer isn’t the end of a person’s life and even if the government, sadly, doesn’t care about what happens to you, as they aren’t doing much for breast cancer patients, you can still prepare yourself by early detection, a positive attitude and openness.

It is important not to hide yourself but to seek help and not think too much of what people think of you. Covering up won’t help. I have heard terrible stories of how families have

turned their back on their supposed loved ones who have breast cancer.

How were you able to convince breast cancer victims to pose for photographs?

Through the breast cancer foundation which is a huge group. They simply told them what we wanted to do and asked for volunteers. Six women who saw the usefulness of what we wanted to do, indicated their interest. For the exhibition, the women had their faces covered.

What other kind of photography have you worked on? There is one about dancers within Lagos. I took them to different places in Lagos, where they danced, and I photographed them. All my projects are parallel. I don’t usually finish one and immediately jump into another. I photograph and keep things that I feel may be of interest to people and that I am passionate about and when the time is right, I put them together to be exhibited.

Are your exhibitions usually sold out?

Not quite, but a lot is usually bought throughout the period of the exhibition and subsequently as well, when they are on auction, by art lovers. For the Itan exhibition, I couldn’t sell some images because people didn’t quite like them, especially the mammy water deity. There was a particular photograph that had a model caressing a snake which was coiled round her neck and people couldn’t just bring themselves to have such a painting hanging in their home. I found it difficult to understand because it was such a beautiful piece of work. Sold out exhibitions are difficult in Nigeria but over time, people buy them.

Babaeko

Babaeko

Why are you deeply attached to exhibitions?

Well, I think that looking back on all the works I have done and exhibited, I consider it my inner struggle of wanting to be real and free of all inhibitions. Also sometimes, maybe taking it a notch too far like the ‘Battle Scar’ exhibition, which many may consider harsh and graphic, but it is something that I think we need in our society. We need to free ourselves of what to do and what not to do, being conscious of all the eyes that are watching you and not feeling like you can’t do anything to please yourself. If there is one recurring phrase I detest with a passion, it is ‘Nigeria is not ready for this’. I mean who is Nigeria? Isn’t it you?

When you chant that Nigeria isn’t ready for this, you are actually saying, I as a person, I am not ready for this. So it is basically all about you, your mind set and how you see the future of Nigeria in your own eyes.

You did mention a group of female photographers called X-perspectives, some of who worked with you on the ‘Battle Scar’ exhibition. Could you shed more light on them?

I founded the group in 2011 as a way to empower female photographers because I realised that many of them are holding back from exhibiting their potential and exploring where their fellow men explore without inhibitions. For instance, my first exhibition was held about five years when I started out professionally in Nigeria and I consider that a late start. I discovered that it takes a longer time for female photographers to get their acts together and present their works on a larger scale and this has a lot to do with insecurity.

So I felt, if that be the case, we might as well do it together as a group, have more power and strength in our number as well as support each other as the group exhibits. When we first came together, I trained them for four weekends and during that period, we networked, exchanged ideas and then held an exhibition at Gothe Institue at the end of the training where they each showcased their work. Since then we have been together.

How did your love for photography evolve? My grandfather gave me my first camera, which belonged to him, as a gift. He had seen that I was a creative person. I couldn’t imagine myself settling for a 9 to 5 job. I liked photography, but I didn’t see a career path for me with it. After graduation, I decided to study to be a graphic artist and I kept applying to different agencies to be accepted for apprenticeship until a particular agency offered to have me spend time in their adjoining photo studio, pending when there will be space for me at the agency. It was a very big photo studio for advertising photography in Germany. I accepted, but when I started to learn more about photography, I found out that I liked it so much and subsequently lost interest in wanting to train as a graphic artist. I realised that as a photographer, you are everything: graphic artist, editor and director of the photo shoot. You train your eyes more intensely than a graphic artist. You have all the jobs combined in one. I decided that I would be better off a photographer. It was a three-year intensive practical and theoretical training.

How long have you been in the business of photography? At least 25 years, both here in Nigeria and in Germany

What would you consider most challenging about it? Keeping the client because photography is both a personal and style thing and the way you portray yourself as a photographer and the way you come across. As a photographer, if you mess up a shoot or the person’s style correctly or the way the client wants it, then you are perceived as being unserious. Again, stocking and maintaining a studio is quite expensive here. Things are made much easier abroad as you have the option of renting very expensive studio equipment. But here, you have to stock up on it whichever way you can if you need to go an extra mile for your jobs.

As far as most people are concerned, photography is yet to evolve in Nigeria the way it is being done in developed countries. What are some of the things you think should be in place for us to compete favorably with the developed world?

I think the photography business is quite strong here. You can see it in our work. At least we have stories to tell, we have the basic knowledge of photography and how a good picture should look like. But I think we need to get our acts together through unions and organisations, who will push our work globally more and educate upcoming acts on the standards to aim at. There are a few photographers pushing their works outside these shores and making good money, but they are all

pushing alone. I also think photography in schools should be compulsory.

What was your reason for relocating to Nigeria from Germany?

I finished my studies and the next thing was to go to the university. So I decided to visit Nigeria for about six months because my family was never the type to come to Nigeria as often as expected. After we left Nigeria in 1980, we came back to Nigeria only once. But I felt it was important to get to know more about my country. I came, met my husband, Steve Babaeko and never went back. At that time, he was working with Prima Garnet, an advertising agency and as an advertising photographer then, there was no way we wouldn’t have met.

How easy was it for you to adjust to the Nigeria environment then?

It wasn’t in the least bit easy. Looking back now, it was hard starting off with my husband. He really did try to get me adjusted and make me feel comfortable. The key was

not giving up. I kept pushing and trying to make the best out of the situation. When I first came, I wasn’t working. It was just long boring days at home, nothing to do, nobody came by and nowhere to go. I quickly realized that Lagos was a working city and I needed to work irrespective of my situation then as a working mother. I then borrowed money from my grandfather, bought my first equipment, started photography from home and then it grew to the extent where I had to rent studios and from there, I was able to get my own studio.

Would you say your husband’s strong presence in the advertising industry has been instrumental to your growth in the photography business?

No, because his being in the advertising industry was even more of an obstacle for me. He never ever pushed a job towards me because he always had in mind that people would talk without wanting to find out the truth. So we kept miles apart from each other and I simply worked for other advertising agencies and expanded my horizons. However, I get advice from him on job related issues.

How long have you been married?

16 years

What has kept you both together for this number of years?

The love we have for each other, mutual respect for each other and the profession as well. He has a very open mindset as well but ironically, he is very traditional. But he does understand that I am different with a liberal attitude to everything.

How do you both resolve conflicts?

Communication! Communication!! Communication!!!

How do you let off steam?

By engaging in sporting activities. People assume that as a photographer and an active one at that, that I do not need sports. But I disagree because sports help to strengthen the body. Besides, I have always liked sports and do not consider it strenuous. So I work out. I engage in jogging, tennis and swimming.

What part of the country are you from? Ekiti State. My mother is German

Do you speak Yoruba?

I try. Surprisingly I am able to speak all the Latin languages; German, French, Italian, but with Yoruba it is so different.

The Babaekos

Babaeko

If there is one recurring phrase I detest with a passion, it is ‘Nigeria is not ready for this’. I mean who is Nigeria? Isn’t it you? When you chant that Nigeria isn’t ready for this, you are actually saying, I as a person, I am not ready for this

“

Socialite John Abebe seems to be, ironically, getting used to being invited for questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission due to his penchant for running afoul of the law.

John, who is the younger brother of former Nigeria’s First Lady, late Stella

Obasanjo, is once again entangled with the anti-graft agency which arraigned him before the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, for allegedly committing N120 million fraud.

He was arraigned alongside a former Head of First Bank Plc, in the United Kingdom, Kamoru Alade Oladimeji, on a six-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money under pretence.

According to the EFCC, the infraction which was committed on the 4th day of June 2013 in Lagos against the property of Arsenal Technologies Limited contravenes Sections 280(1), (12), 8 (7), 285(1) and 278(1)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. Abebe was granted bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum

and Oladeji granted bail in the sum of N10m with one surety in like sum. The case has been adjourned till December 6 for the commencement of trial. Abebe’s ‘romance’ with the EFCC dates back to 2018 when he was arraigned before the same Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on 4 counts bordering on forgery and intent to mislead.

Abebe’s company Inducon had been locked in a lengthy litigation against British Petroleum (BP) and Statoil over disputes arising from profit sharing in the latter’s oil exploration and production profits in Nigeria.

The EFCC in the indictment charges alleged that he knowingly forged a November 30, 1995, letter written by BP Exploration Nigeria Limited to Inducon (Nigeria) Ltd. It said Abebe allegedly attempted to pervert the course of justice by tendering the forged letter as fabricated evidence in court.

The commission also accused him of making an attempt to mislead the court by using fabricated evidence, contrary to Section 120 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003. Abebe was remanded in Ikoyi Prison at that time until he perfected his bail application. The case continued till April 2022 when it had to be adjourned again.

Betty Obaseki, wife of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has been awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoraris Causa) by Wellspring University, a private institution based in Benin City. She was awarded Doctor of Business Administration, for her immense contributions to education, business and public service in Nigeria, at the university’s 3rd combined Convocation ceremony. Betsy, while expressing delight at

the honour, lauded the institution for having a curriculum that seeks to impact its immediate and larger community. She also used the occasion to admonish youths to assert themselves in nation building. Wellspring University, a Christian institution was founded by the Management Science Centre, a Professional Training and Educational Consulting Firm which was established in 1983. Its chancellor is socialite cum clergyman, Ighodalo, the general overseer of Trinity House church.

Aformer Executive Director at Compass Newspaper, a national daily owned by former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniels, Otunba Seyi Oduntan, has been appointed Chairman of Wemabod Limited.

Formerly known as Nabani Estates Limited, Wemabod, which was incorporated in September 1962, is a subsidiary of Odu’a Investment Company Limited. It is one of the largest property companies in Nigeria with a wide range of commercial, industrial and residential properties in its portfolio.

Oduntan, while assuming his new position, assured stakeholders

Writer and former editor of defunct Hints Magazine, Kayode Ajala, is thankful, not only to God for surviving a kidney ailment that saw him undergoing a successful kidney transplant surgery, but also to Dele Momodu, founder and CEO of Ovation Media Group, who was instrumental to pulling him out of the valley of the shadow of death.

Ajala’s journey to wholesomeness began last year after he was wheeled into a hospital for kidney surgery in Abuja. For eight months, he had grappled with acute renal failure and survived the period with thrice a week dialysis session.

Exactly a year ago, he had a successful kidney transplant after getting an undisclosed donor. Today, a year after, he is healthy, fit as a fiddle and joyous he has a second chance at life. He is grateful for life.

Ajala was a household name in the soft sell genre in the 1990s and he plied his trade with True Tales Publications, publishers of Hints Magazine, where he wrote about romance. This was where he made a name for himself. He left Hints Magazine to midwife another romance publication known as Hearts Magazine but for a brief spell. Later he started syndicating his writings to several daily newspapers. That also didn’t last long. These days, the 57-year-old is more preoccupied with working with the Celestial Church of Christ as an evangelist alongside his wife, Prophetess Linda Olufunmilayo, whom he met and married in 2001.

It doesn’t look like the protracted ownership saga of HealthPlus, a leading pharmaceutical chain, will come to an end anytime soon, following a fresh twist that has recently occurred in the two-yearold battle.

mPharma, Africa’s leading health technology company, issued a statement in which it claimed it has acquired a majority stake in HealthPlus while also assuring staff of its commitment to keep the HealthPlus dream alive. The twist is that mPharma acquired the stake ahead of Alta Semper UK, which attempted a forcible takeover of HealthPlus last year from its founder, Bukky George.

Alta Semper UK, a private equity firm came into the picture when in 2016, HealthPlus began stuttering and struggling to survive, having fallen on hard times.

George began to search for an entity with the Midas touch that could rescue her company from a further slide into more economic woes and she stumbled on Alta Semper in 2017.

To save HealthPlus from a potential collapse due to paucity of funds, Alta Semper allegedly agreed to invest $18 million in two tranches.

The first tranche of about $9.4 million was invested in 2018 and the firm was to complete the deal 12 months later. Unfortunately, it was unable to fulfill the other leg of the agreement, perhaps out of opportunism, what with our weak labour laws, lax business environment as a nation etc.

At the height of the attempted forceful take over, Alta Semper used coercive force provided by armed mobile policemen. While some of the staff of HealthPlus were made to hand over their laptops, passwords and other work tools, others were arrested. The move saw George, who owned 46 per cent of the shareholding and who built the company with her sweat, edged out.

What makes the acquisition of HealthPlus by mPharma, one that concerned stakeholders should be wary of, is the fact that there are pending cases initiated by George at the federal high court to save her company. This included one in which the court ruled for the commencement of contempt proceedings against Alta Semper in March 2021. This preceded another in which a court order asked all parties in the dispute to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the motion before the court. At about the same time, Alta Semper also petitioned the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). Almost 24 months later, LCIA is yet to give its final verdict,

in addition to two yet-to-bedetermined lawsuits in Nigeria. Thus, last week’s announcement that Alta Semper had sold shares to mPharma, with cases still in court, leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

The protracted ownership battle has unfortunately turned the tide for HealthPlus.

The once buoyant pharmaceutical company with chains of stores nationwide, has allegedly been turned into one with a fastfading glory. The first recipient of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Board of Fellow’s Award for Excellence in Community Pharmacy, George did not get the recognition by sitting back in her armchair, sipping wine and chewing some nuts.

It has been decades of hardwork, grit and tenacity. Her pharmaceutical career spans Lagos University Teaching Hospital, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc, May and Baker Nigeria Plc. She incorporated HealthPlus Limited in 1996, but it did not become fully functional until 1999.

A registered member of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, and general Pharmaceutical Council U.K, George sits on the boards of several companies including the Sanofi Pharmacy Advisory Board where she is Chairman, and Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ) where she is an Associate Member.

She is a member of the Pharma Strategic Committee, a body that oversees the affairs of the Nigerian Pharmaceutical industry.

George was also selected for the Fortune 500 Global Women’s Mentoring Programme in 2014. She was one of 23 leaders from 18 emerging economies to participate in the 2014 Fortune/U.S. State Department Global Women’s Mentoring programme. She has also served as the Chairman of the selection committee for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Entrepreneurship Programme at EDC. She is a recipient of several awards.

of his intention to leave a lasting legacy everybody will be proud of. A businessman, Oduntan once tried his hands in politics in 2014 and got badly burnt after he was trounced at the primary while seeking to represent Ogun East Senatorial District of Ogun State in the senate. He rejected the result of the election via a petition sent to both the state and the national secretariat of the party, claiming that the election was characterised by massive rigging, intimidation, coercion and manipulation. Unfortunately, nothing came out of his petition and he bade goodbye to politics for the time being. Unending Battle Turns

George

Oduntan

STORIES BY SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN

COMEDIENNE PRINCESS TURNS CHILD RIGHTS ACTIVIST

Nigerian actress and comedienne, Damilola Adekoya, otherwise known as Princess, has added Child Rights Activism to her resume. She has also included it as one of the functions the Princess Damilola Foundation, her Non-Governmental Organisation, engages in. Her journey into activism started a few months ago after some of her colleagues in the movie industry supported her in her fight against Olarenwaju James, also known as Baba Ijesha who molested her foster child.

The comedienne’s battle against Baba Ijesha started last year after he had carnal knowledge of her

foster child. Baba Ijesha was arrested and charged to court on indecent treatment of a child, defilement of child, sexual assault by penetration, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault.

Princess took up the challenge of campaigning for the rights of children as a result of her ordeal in her fight to get justice for her foster child. Despite going back and forth in court over the rape saga, she was one of those who supported Kate Henshaw after the actress exposed a medical doctor, Dr Femi Olaleye,

founder of Optimal Healthcare who molested his wife’s niece for two years. She was able to gather some evidence on the case which the law enforcement agents have been battling to gather.

The humour merchant has also learnt her voice in the fight for justice for a 13 year old girl in Ekiti State. The girl was allegedly raped by her step father.

Oyo Kingship Tussle Assumes Another Dimension

The crisis rocking Alaafin of Oyo stool seems not to be coming to an end anytime soon because the kingmakers who are responsible for choosing the next paramount ruler of Oyo kingdom have been singing discordant tunes. The stool became vacant after the death of the longest reigning monarch, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III who died in April 2022 after a brief illness. After mourning the monarch, 65 contestants were shortlisted by the kingmakers and an interview

process to determine the best candidate for the stool commenced. However, the process was marred with controversies as the kingmakers became divided.

High Chief Yussuf Ayoola, the head of Oyomesi who are the kingmakers revealed that ten candidates were shortlisted among the 65 contestants. And Ifa would be consulted to pick the best candidates among the ten. But some members of the Oyomesi have disagreed over the plan.

High Chief Lamidi Olayanju, one of the kingmakers and three other chiefs distanced themselves from the list.

He accused Basorun of influencing the decision to unveil shortlisted contestants. He stated that after interviewing all contestants, the

kingmakers were to meet again to make the final decision before any name can be shortlisted. Basorun ignored the kingmaker’s decision and proclaimed that ten candidates had been shortlisted. Olayanju added that his decision could result in a court case, so he and three other kingmakers washed their hands off the list.

Chief Ayoola, the head of kingmakers had to step in and revealed that the kingmakers would revert to the initial 65 contestants and choose a suitable candidate among them. He revealed that Ifa had been consulted and it is the decision of the oracle to select among the 65 contestants.Despite the decision of the kingmakers, a traditionalist, Adetoyese Olakisan, who is from Oyo State has accused the kingmakers of trying to manipulate the selection process.

He alleged that the kingmakers were trying to ignore the role of Ifa in the selection process. According to him, such a move could have a negative effect on Yorubaland. He further accused the kingmaker of trying to politicize and monetize the Alaafin stool.

Taiwo Afolabi’s Daughter, Mariam Abiola Fixes Wedding Date

Dr Taiwo Afolabi, the Chief Executive Officer of SIFAX, a multinational conglomerate is set to roll out the drums in celebration of first daughter, Mariam Abiola’s wedding.

Set to take place in two destinations, Nigeria and in an European country, the first stage of the ceremony will hold in October at Marriott Hotel, the multibillion naira hospitality business of the Maritime mogul which is located in Ikeja, Lagos.

Dubai, the United Arab Emirate was formaly the choice destination of the wedding before but the recent restriction placed on Nigerians in Dubai made them change the location of the solemnization to an undisclosed European

country. But, it will take place before the end of the year. However, many are apprehensive that the business mogul might have to shift the wedding ceremony as a result of the death of his twin brother, Kehinde.

Barely three months after the twins celebrated their 60th birthday in grand style, Kehinde passed on in his sleep last week. Mariam, the bride to be, is the Group Executive Director, Compliance of SIFAX group. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of Style Loft Box, a fashion, beauty and lifestyle mall located on the Island. The beautiful lady is also a fashion designer. She oversees Mazelle Fashion and Studio, her fashion design brand.

Afolabi

Nurudeen Saliu Shuns Brother’s Coronation

Nurudeen Saliu, the former husband of Nigeria female drummer, Aralola Olamuyiwa was conspicuously absent at the installation ceremony of his younger brother, Babatunde Saliu as the paramount ruler of Oworonshoki kingdom. The event which took place on Saturday September 17, 2022 had in attendance many prominent traditional rulers in Lagos State and family members. Saliu was officially installed a few months ago at the office of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat before the installation ceremony took place last week. Nurudeen and Babatunde had a tussle over who to become king earlier this year after they both signified interest to fill the vacant stool

in Oworonshoki kingdom. The throne became empty in 2021 after the death of their father, Oba Bashir Saliu who passed away in London after a brief illness. Babatunde had to use his political influence as a member of the All Progress Congress and his very close relationship with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take over the throne. He became close to the Governor when he was appointed as a special adviser to the Governor. He was also a former Vice Chairman of Kosofe Local Government. After he was officially pronounced the new traditional ruler, the relationship between the two brothers became strained which was why Nurudeen did not attend the installation ceremony.

Eno Udoh Back to Social Scene

Eno Udoh, baby mama to billionaire businessman, Terry Waya is back to the social scene. Eno decided to take a break from the social circles in order to focus on her business and other important things in 2017. The heart breaks she suffered then necessitated the move to live a quiet life. The first heartbreak was the crash of her celebrated romance with billionaire businessman, Waya. Udoh was previously married to another socialite, Biyi Olafisoye and they had a daughter, Tade who got married in 2018. It was after the crash of her marriage that she started dating Waya. Udoh and Waya were an item for some years and often step out together for different functions. She welcomed a son for him before their relationship hit the rocks. After her relationship crashed, she lost her

mother unexpectedly in 2017. The event climaxed her decision to lie low and shun the limelight. But it seems the mother of two is back to take her place as one of the pillars of Lagos parties and enjoy a few high profile events. She was spotted during the 50th birthday celebration of Pastor Ifeanyi Adefarasin, the better half of Pastor Paul Adefarasin, the founder of the House of the Rock Church last week. Simply but elegantly garbed in a flowing flowery gown, she was radiating comfort and class as she greeted the celebrant and her husband. Udoh enjoyed the party while

catching up with friends and old acquaintances before leaving the venue.

Adekoya

Udoh

Saliu

Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group accused Salako of planning to defect to APC, the party he belonged to before joining the Labour party. It also alleged that he had been working for the party underground.

The group pointed to the fact that Salako’s wife, Foluke, is close to Tinubu and has been drumming up support for him since 2021. She has been singing his praises and accused of collecting money in order to endorse him.

The group further alleged that Salako’s in-law works directly and feeds from Tinubu’s milk of kindness, hence, they cannot totally trust Salako’s work or loyalty to the Labour party. It was alleged that he would not neglect his family while pledging allegiance to the party.

The group called for his immediate removal as the chairman of the Labour party and subsequent expulsion from the party.

Former Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, has shown that she is passionate about orphans and the less privileged in the society. One would think after she was ousted out of office, she would move on and forget the country that betrayed her, but she has been giving back

to her country since she quit government and relocated to London.

Adeosun’s ‘Dash Me’ Foundation has uplifted hundreds of orphans and the less privileged in Nigeria without looking back since it was established last year. Her passion for orphans

was born while she was still the finance minister.

The country had budgeted N500 billion for social investment for the less privileged which was handled by her office. She felt it was an outrageous budget at first until she personally visited some of the beneficiaries of the money. After seeing how the money was channeled to offer microcredit to women most especially widows, feeding of school children and catering for the vulnerable in the society, she developed a passion to channel her personal resources to the downtrodden.

The NGO has two thrift stores where items donated are sold and the money diverted to charity. A Gucci hand bag which cost over two million naira was recently placed on the foundation’s store for raffle draw which in turn generated funds channeled to fund the building of some orphanages in some parts of the country.

The former minister has rebuilt a few orphanages in Lagos, Owerri and Ogun State through her foundation since she embarked on the good course. It has also provided basic amenities for persons with disabilities.

Jire Kuforiji, the General Manager of African Independent Television, Lagos is 60. One would think Jire would roll out the drums in celebration of her landmark age, but she opted for a quiet celebration in the Alagbado, Lagos office of Africa Independent Television. The celebration turned out to be a mini party at her office as Kizz Daniel’s song Buga reverberated in the air. Staff and guests in attendance danced to the infectious lyrics while singing the praises of their boss to high heavens. Being the highest ranking officer at the broadcast station has not stopped Kuforiji from casting news once in a while. Her distinctive voice is still being enjoyed by lovers of the broadcast station.Kuforiji’s journey into broadcast media started while she was undergoing her compulsory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC in 1984 at Ogun State Television. She was posted to the production department but her encounter with the General Manager of the station changed her fate. After listening to her, he sent her to audition with the head of the presentation department and she was instantly picked. She was granted an automatic employment after her service year at the station but later relocated to Lagos State where she joined Channels Television before moving to AIT. She rose through the ranks till she became the General Manager of AIT Lagos. Kuforiji might have had a smooth sail career wise but all wasn’t rosy for the graduate of Linguistics from University of Ibadan’s marriage. Her marriage to Kola Kuforiji crashed after producing two sons.

Wale and Paul Adefarasin last week put aside their rivalry to celebrate Paul’s wife, Ifeanyi Adefarasin, as she marked her 50th birthday.

The brothers are both clerics and sons of a former Chief Justice of Lagos State, late Justice Joseph Adefarasin, but they have not been known to get along well like normal siblings.

Wale who is the oldest of the three Adefarasin brothers, is the founder and Senior Pastor of Guiding Life Assembly. He turned 70 a few months ago and rolled out the drums in celebration.

Unfortunately, his younger brother, Paul, was conspicuously absent at the ceremony. Not only was he absent, he didn’t celebrate him on social media

which is quite unusual for the televangelist who is very assertive on social media and often celebrates those dear to him. His absence caused a stir as many were disappointed in the clergy. His absence at his elder brother’s 70th birthday was not his first. He was also absent in 2012 when Wale marked his 60th birthday. Whatever might have caused the rift between the two brothers has remained a top secret over the years. But it seems they have finally moved beyond their differences as Wale was present at the birthday party of Pastor Ifeanyi last week. He graced the three day celebration on Sunday. And was one of the people who paid glowing tribute to his sisterin-law.

Monarch Event Center was agog last weekend when businessman and Chief Executive Officer of Unique Motors, Adebiyi Adesina celebrated his 40th birthday and 11th year anniversary of his automobile business. The man about town spared no cost as he feted socialites, entertainers, politicians, business moguls and traditional rulers to the two in one celebration. Two music icons, Wale Thompson and Wasiu Alabi, otherwise known as Pasuma, thrilled guests to melodious music at the celebration.

One of the special highlights of the moment was the presentation of different brands of Toyota cars and space buses to loyal staff, friends and family members. Toyin Oyesanya, the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Hugs Surprise, a leading surprise celebration company benefited from the largesse as she carted home a Toyota Sienna space bus. Oyesanya had been having issues with the official Sienna used by her company. Being a close friend

of Oyesanya, the automobile boss got to know about one of her challenges and decided to surprise her with a car gift at the anniversary. Over seven staff members of the automobile business magnate also went home with different brands of Toyota cars. Adesina’s loyal customers also benefited from the car gifts too. When it comes to sales of luxury cars, Adesina ranks among the best. The Agbaakin Majeobaje of Ibadanland has built a reputation which many envy in the automobile business.

Kayode Salako, Chairman of Labour Party in Lagos State and husband of Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola, has been accused by a support group known as the

Peter Obi Grassroots Mobilisation 2023 of working against the party. He was accused of secretly working for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),

ARTS

ANA Fellowships And Other Matters

MICHAEL JIMOH

Last week, the literary community in Nigeria got some very exhilarating news of nominees as Fellows of the Association of Nigerian Authors. No one remembers the last time the literary association inducted members as fellows. So, when it got around that nearly two dozen writers and members of ANA had been nominated, there was unlimited joy.

The Fellowship, Camilus Ukah, ANA president told THEWILL, “is conferred upon deserving individuals for dedicated service to the association and proven contribution to the development of Nigerian literature. It is about abundant inventiveness in literature and support for the arts.”

The new fellows include Professors Anaezi Okoro, Abdul Rasheed Na’Alla, Moses Tsenongo, Razinat Mohammed, Udenta O. Udenta, Nduka Otiono, Vicky Sylvester, Tess Onwueme, Yusuf Adamu, Mark Nwagu, Dul Johnson and Amanze Akpuda. Drs. Emmanuel CS Ojukwu, John Asien and Tony Marinho were also inducted along with Engineer Emmanuel Frank Opigo and Lindsay Barret. Three honorary nominees – Professor Chidi Osuagwu, Dr. Zainab T. Ahmed and Engineer Abubakar Maigandi – also made the list.

“We hope that the nominees will accept their nominations in good faith and continue to render the selfless service that is the basis of the Fellowship nomination,” ANA General Secretary, Maik Ortserga urged the new members.

Previous fellows include the grand uncles of Nigerian literature and doyens of Nigerian letters: Chinua Achebe, JP Clark, Femi Osofisan, Olu Obafemi, Mabel Segun, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Zainab Alkali, Idris Amali, Wale Okediran and, wait for it, Olusegun Obasanjo and Dora Akunyili! Yes, OBJ himself and Akunyili.

It is to this hallowed and elite group the new members have now been added. “The council of ANA Fellowship,” Ukah insists, “is the elders/ elite group within the association, so to say, and they are expected to function as such.”

One elder of the elite group who has performed beyond ANA’s expectation is Nduka Otiono. Now a professor of African Studies at Carleton University in Canada, Otiono was one of the best literary journalists of his generation. From his days at The Guardian to when he became the first Editor of Post Express Literary Supplement (PELS) Otiono distinguished himself in Nigeria’s literary space.

For starters, his first collection of poems, The Night Hides with a Knife, won ANA Poetry prize in 1995. Given his cerebral nature and commitment to writing, the late intellectual superstar and pioneer of modern journalism in Nigeria, Stanley Macebuh, found Otiono a suitable head of PELS, a four-page pullout in The Post Express devoted to everything literature.

Published every Saturday in the newspaper, Otiono fashioned PELS into a much-awaited literary pullout that writers, dons and undergraduates in English and Literature departments across Nigerian universities looked forward to every week. Most of the best contemporary Nigerian writers had their space in PELS – from Helon Habila to Toni Kan, Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, Maik Nwosu, Chiedu Ezeanah, Akin Adesokan, Sanya Osha, Ogaga Ifowodo, the late Pius Adesanmi and Harry Garuba.

Female writers such as Lola Shoneyin-Soyinka, Toyin Adewale Gabriel, Peju Akande, Angela Nwosu and many more contributed to the lively debates and intellectual jousts PELS promoted and all of it presided by ebullient Otiono. No one was quite surprised when he took up a teaching appointment in a Canadian institution of higher learning years later, a position he holds even now. Nor has he stopped writing. DisPLace, his most recent collection of poems, was published mid-year. So, with his new nomination as a Fellow of ANA, THEWILL thought it quite apt to speak with the

Nigerian scholar in North America.

How do you feel about being a nominee and what implication(s) does it have for you?

I feel honoured and appreciated for the modest efforts I put into the development of ANA as the General Secretary at a critical turn in the Association’s history. I also feel valued for my life-long commitment to the development of Nigerian literature as an institution builder, literary journalist, writer and scholar. The implication for me is that in acknowledging and officially celebrating my contributions to the literary arts in Nigeria, I am encouraged to do more to the best of my abilities.

I know personally your commitment to the association all the years you were Gen-Sec. Tell us what it was like then, the challenges, successes and much else. I would rather people like you who reported my work those years as a journalist revisit my commitment to the association while I was the Gen-Sec and beyond. Besides my immediate work in ANA, I played significant roles in related literary developments in Nigeria such as in the establishment of the

Nigerian Prize for Literature sponsored by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company.

On what it was like then, the simple answer is: Tough and fulfilling! Tough, in the sense that managing a literary association with some “I-knowall” members who would first challenge one’s hard work before understanding what the matter was all about, can be hellish. Fulfilling, in that when one looks back to what one was able to achieve despite the challenges and how posterity will kindly recognize those contributions through acts such as the bestowal of this Fellowship of ANA.

What do you think was your major achievement as GS of ANA?

I wish you and other stakeholders who were part of the story—you worked in the press at the time-answer the question. However, if any memory joggers are needed, I’ll add to the one major achievement I cited in my response to your previous question—the NLNG Prize.

To add to that, one may recall my role in the recertification and the reclamation of ANA land in Abuja, and the role I played in sowing the seeds for the much-delayed development of the land before my tenure as General Secretary. I remember that during the AGMs at separate ANA annual national conventions there were talks about the land. But when I took over as General Secretary, I discovered that, to my chagrin, the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the land had been revoked and poachers had actively carved out chunks of the land. Working with a supportive executive committee led by the amiable Professor Olu Obafemi, we worked hard to audit what was left of the land through professional survey of the land. The effort to recover the land led us to work with friends at The Presidency then—chiefly Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi Ojo of blessed memory and Dr. Tunde Olusunle—to meet with then president of Nigeria, Chief Olu Obasanjo, at Aso Villa. Afterwards, we managed to succeed with the recertification of the land and to secure a new C of O.

I also worked to restore the prestige of the Association and to attract high profile corporate sponsorships of literary production through new awards such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)-sponsored prizes in honour of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Gabriel Okara, Flora Nwapa and J.P. Clark. There were other new prizes then too: ANA/ Funtime Prize for Children’s Literature sponsored by the Anyiam-Osigwe family; the ANA/Atiku Abubakar Prize for Children’s Literature, and the ANA/Lantern Books Prize for Children’s Fiction sponsored by my friend, Lantern Books publisher and chairman of Nigerian Book Fair Trust, Otunba Olayinka Lawal-Solarin, who passed on in November 2020.

During my tenure, ANA prizes were increased from a paltry N10, 000 to N100, 000. Incidentally, over the years, the cash value of ANA prizes has remained the same. It’s time to increase them, actually!

You may want to add, too, my working to launch ANA’s first website—one of the earliest literary websites in Nigeria at the turn of the new millennium. The list of the achievements is long and, as I said, I would rather folks like you who witnessed them help with reaffirming them towards deepening our literary/cultural history and institutional memory which hasn’t quite been preserved at ANA. Lots of new and younger members of the association do not have deep knowledge of the association’s history.

There are other nominees like you most of them professors in academia or retired. Isn’t that some kind of bias on the association’s part?

I’d rather leave the executive committee of the association to respond to this question. However, I see quite an impressive cohort of distinguished nominees and I am honored to be in their company. Whether the association should honour more individuals who have contributed to the advancement of the association in addition to their overall contribution to the development of Nigerian letters, is up to ANA to determine.

Given his cerebral nature and commitment to writing, the late intellectual superstar and pioneer of modern journalism in Nigeria, Stanley Macebuh, found Otiono a suitable head of PELS, a four-page pullout in The Post Express devoted to everything literature

Otiono

FEATURES

Go-Green Turning The Tide Against Climate Change in Sokoto

Today, Sokoto is one of the frontline states in Nigeria threatened by an encroaching Sahara Desert. The state is exposed to at least three ecological problems: Deforestation, drought and desertification.

A recent report from the Sokoto State Ministry of Environment says that desertification is the biggest ecological challenge facing the state with a population estimated to be more than 5 million.

Further reports indicate that the increase in human and livestock population pressure has resulted in a significant depletion of Sokoto’s land mass of about 15,000 square kilometres of forest, which is composed of trees, shrubs, grasses and wildlife.

The degradation of forest is not limited to excessive felling of trees to satisfy the people’s need for wood , while 90 percent of the livestock is being threatened by other ecological factors.

THEWILL recalls that the Federal Government and nongovernmental organisations adopted various approaches in providing sustainable solutions that aimed to push back deforestation.

For instance, the National Tree Planting Campaign, Arid Zone Afforestation, Forestry II, State Afforestation, Gum Arabic Integration, Jatropha curcas Biofuel projects, as well as forest guards that bolster forest protection are some of the interventions deployed to tackle climate change in the state.

But a new initiative ‘Go-Green Project’ is trying something different with the launching of its tree planting campaign in Sokoto State.

With the catchphrase ‘Plant to Save Lives,’ promoters of the Go-Green project, including Eco-Africa Climate Change Foundation, Shehu Maikoli Foundation and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sokoto Chapter want to create environmental awareness through tree planting across the state.

“We place emphasis on multipurpose trees and species, especially economic trees for nutrition in areas that are vulnerable to climate change in the state,” says Project Manager and Eco-Africa Climate Change Foundation representative, Aliyu Abubakar Shehu.

According to an expert, climate change is real and fighting it requires massive effort. “There are many gaps that we need to fill and they are social gaps. There is a need to strengthen efforts to educate people about environmental problems and ways to tackle them. This is what the Go-green project stands for,” he says.

Stakeholders led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State and other environmentalists have praised the initiators for coming up with the project during its official launching ceremony held in Sokoto.

The founder of Shehu Makoli Foundation, Alhaji Altine Shehu Kajiji, one of the project collaborators, says that the project is aimed at establishing gardens in schools, carrying out roadside plantations, distribution and plantation of indigenous Moringa and environmental seeds to farmers across the state.

“Go-Green will foster green consciousness, educate and empower younger generation actors of environmental conservation and protection by providing them a platform and practical opportunity through tree planting.

“Our Young Forester Clubs in schools will connect pupils, students and youths to plant trees and foster environmental stewardship. This will increase students’ interest in their local environment and help them to perform well academically,”Kajiji says.

The clubs, he adds, are expected to engage in raising plantations and promoting community participation in addressing the menace of climate change, desertification, drought and poverty.

Kajiji says the flagship will see to the establishment of 20 gardens in each 10 Junior Secondary and Primary Schools in the state, distribution of economic trees’ seeds to women as well as the inauguration of Young Forester Clubs in schools.

Kajiji recalls how his Foundation has donated no fewer than 2,000 moringa seedlings to the State Zakat and Waqf (Endowment) Commission to complement the Commission’s efforts in the promotion of trees for the Waqf initiative in Nigeria’s northern states and beyond.

The Sultan of Sokoto, who was represented by the District Head of Kilgori, Dr Muhammad Jabbi Kilgori, commended the project and assured that the Sultanate Council will partner with them in order to achieve the desired objectives.

He however advised the Initiators to engage community heads, institutions, health institutions among others to ensure that they participated in the projects.

On his part, Governor Tambuwal rated Go-Green as a noble initiative in the history of partnership for development in the state.

He reminded the gathering that the initiative is a global trend in which countries and non-governmental organisations partner to initiate programmes, actions, interventions and strategies for combating the problems of climate change, food insecurity, desertification and poverty.

“The Sokoto state Government has readily keyed into the partnership because the problems of climate change, desertification and drought are contemporary challenges for it being one of the eleven frontline states in Nigeria blighted by ecological problems.

Tambuwal said his administration, on its part, has sustained tree planting through the annual tree planting exercise and routine planting and tending of trees statewide which include the distribution of free seedlings, especially of economic trees, to communities and groups in the state.

The governor noted that the resuscitation and formal inauguration of the Young Foresters Club marks a very good beginning for the take-off of the project.

Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists in the State, Comrade Dalhatu Magori, at the signing of the project’s Memorandum of Understanding underscores the benefits of tree planting are significant to the economy as it reduces the cost of managing the problems.

He said the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which warned about keeping global temperatures from rising by over 1.5 degrees centigrade, has reinforced the need for an initiative like the Go-Green project in the state.

He added that the promotion and development of forest products through community enterprises could help to improve the living conditions of the rural population; promote food security and conserve natural resources.

Magori also believes that through the establishment of tree planting and distribution, the project is capable of generating employment and promoting the development of forest products through community enterprises.

Prof Abubakar Gwaram of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, of his part described Go-Green as a veritable option that can strengthen the country’s economy.

“If you notice, we have what we call a brown environment. Brown environments are very disastrous; the effort of this project is timely to address this brown environment and to convert it to a green environment.”

An environmentalist and board member of the National Agency for Great Green Wall, Dr Ayuba Dan Asabe, called on governments to commit resources to alternatives to check the illegal logging of trees in the state.

Also, Sirajo Sifawa, a media executive and member of Go-green project, during the distribution of seedlings to some stakeholders advised Journalists on the need to focus on the issue of climate change in the state in their daily reports.

A new initiative known as Go-Green Project aims at fostering green consciousness and empowering the younger generation on environmental conservation to fight deforestation and other elements of climate change in Sokoto State, TUNDE OMOLEHIN reports. Gov. Aminu Tambuwal planting a tree.

SportsLive

FG’s Reward to Athletes Renews

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

Recent government actions have revealed an encouraging shift in the official treatment of the country’s representatives, especially those who go above and beyond to make the nation proud.

On Thursday, September 15, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, conferred a host of national honours on the wildly successful Nigerian contingent to the Commonwealth Games, held in Birmingham between July 28 – August 8. This gesture of recognition was in appreciation of the scintillating performances that Team Nigeria recorded by at the quadrennial international multi-sport event, carting home 12 gold, 9 silver, and 14 bronze medals to end the Games as the seventh-best team in the competition and the highest-ranked African country.

Contemporaneously, the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, had made it abundantly obvious that the country was proud of their sterling accomplishments and could not wait to celebrate them. Just before the team left the UK for Nigeria, the Minister informed them that they will get a heartfelt welcome from a grateful nation and that President Buhari was eager to celebrate them.

He said, “We are all so proud of what you achieved for Nigeria and yourselves. Mr. President is also very proud of you and has approved that a presidential reception be held to honour you for the historic feat at Birmingham

2022 We will immediately start to plan for the reception and once we have tightened things up, we will announce the date, invite you over from your different bases and you will have that privilege of meeting Mr. President.

This is a performance like no other, many new records were set, old records broken, long standing jinxes of not getting on the podium in some sports were destroyed.”

That assurance was echoed by the President via the agency of Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the

President on Media and Publicity, who passed on the commendation of his principal to the athletes. While confirming the president’s happiness at several reports of a calm environment, solidarity, and camaraderie in the camp during the Games, which had a beneficial impact on the team’s spirits and helped the Nigerian contingent not just win a record number of medals but break records en route, he said, “President Buhari looks forward to a rousing reception from Nigerians for members of Team Nigeria Birmingham 2022, even as he assures all stakeholders that youth and sports development will remain a priority for this administration.”

Last Thursday, September 15 was the day for the fulfillment of these promises and the rousing reception held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Feting the Nigerian continents to both the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA, and the Commonwealth Games, the President elevated them to Officers of the Order of the Niger whilst splashing cash awards on the winners to the tune of N200 million. Speaking at the occasion, President Buhari said, ”I have followed keenly your achievements at the World Championships in Oregon USA and indeed your remarkable performance at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom. And I am very pleased that you displayed at both the personal and group levels great sporting talents and delivered for your country great podium performances.” For each of the 12 times

The support of our female teams and athletes must become a priority now, as should the males too, to give them the onus to continue this outstanding level of performance all the way to the next Olympics in Paris

Abusan & Buhari

SportsLive

Hope in Brighter Future

Nigeria’s national anthem was played and her flag hoisted for a gold medal celebration, the President noted: “You all Team Nigeria made that possible. You brought glory and honour to our country. And today, on behalf of the nation- I say, thank you!”

The gratitude of the country was more concretely expressed in the quick disbursement of their due allowances and bonuses. By the conclusion of the Birmingham competition, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development had handed Team Nigeria’s medalists and their coaches their cash prizes. Gold-medal winners received $5,000, silver-medal winners received $3,000, and bronze-medal winners received $2,000 each. Nigerian athletes who competed in the 4 x 100 relay were awarded $15,000.

The ministry also gave rewards to the coaches and officials for their contributions to Team Nigeria’s victory. These were before the awards ceremony where the amazing relay quartet of Ese Brume, Blessing Oborududu, Fumilayo Folashade, and Amusan received N4.5 million each as reward for representing their nation with honour. Like them, each gold medalist received N4.5 million in addition to the national honour of Member Order of Niger (MON). The category C and D silver and bronze medalists received the Federal Republic Medal Classes 1 and 2, along with cash awards of N2.5 million and N1.5 million, respectively.

Coming so soon after the competitions ended, it is unlike anything that has been witnessed in recent times regarding government’s treatment of what is due to the country’s sports ambassadors in terms of their allowances and bonuses, without going as far as properly recognising their accomplishments for the country and adequately celebrating them with national honours and cash rewards. It was not that long ago that the Buhari government fulfilled the promise of gifting residences to the victorious 1994 Africa Cup of Nations Super Eagles’ team, which remained unfulfilled for 28 while years. It was unfortunately too late for key players like Rashidi Yekini, Uche Okafor, Thompson Oliha, Wilfred Agbonavbare and Stephen Keshi, who helped the team to glory in the competition, but died without seeing the promise come to life in their lifetimes.

More recently, the most successful African national football team, the Super Falcons of Nigeria, who were participating at the July TotalEnergies 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nations had to go as far as staging a protest on the Wednesday prior to their third-place match against Zambia on Friday due to unpaid allowances and bonuses. It led to a scramble by Sports Ministry officials to offset what was an embarrassing situation with the entire continent as witnesses. Toyin Ibitoye, the Special Assistant for Multimedia to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, later confirmed that the President had approved the intervention fund requested by the Ministry, adding that the Ministry of Finance was already processing and releasing the funds. Yet, payment of match allowances, bonuses and other allocations have incessantly been a thorny issue between government and the country’s representatives for different sports and the Super Falcons have had a spectacular falling out with the NFF previously over similar circumstances.

That is why this quick turnaround is commendable in many ways. It is early days to attribute it to be government’s new standard operating policy, having learnt a lesson or

two from history but there is no discountenancing the part that such a practice will play in inspiring a new generation of sportswomen, given how dominant they were at the Commonwealth Games, and men to pick up the gauntlet and join the ranks of those who have written the name of the country in gold and emblazoned their own names in marble in the country’s sporting history for generations to come. The prize monies aside, the national honours are a well thought out reward as it matches the value they have brought to the country’s image by their exploits and it cannot be any less deserving.

The onus on the Sports Ministry and sporting federations to not rest on their oars but carry this momentum forward with athletes to Amusan, whose World Record of 12.12s in the semifinals of the 100m hurdle was ratified by World Athletics last week, ready to continue to blaze a trail for years to come. There was no better way to put it than as Adesina said on behalf of his principal: “President Buhari urges the officials to work with all relevant stakeholders to build on the success of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, begin early and earnest preparations to surpass this spectacular achievement in upcoming competitions.”

Olarinoye

Onyekwere

Iyiazi

Oluwafemiayo

Lawal

ASUU Should Obey Court Order, Return to Classrooms And Continue Talks With FG

Lastweek, the Abuja division of the National Industrial Court (NIC), invoked Section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act and, on the back of the national interest of Nigerian students, who have been away from the classrooms since February 14, 2022, due to the industrial action called by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), approved an order of injunction filed by the Federal Government seeking to force the lecturers back to the lecture halls and bring the embarrassing lengthy strike action to an end.

Hinging his judgement on the detrimental effects of the strike to the academic system of the public universities, the NIC judge, Polycarp Hamman, granted the request of the government.

In a swift reaction to the judgement, which implied that the ASUU should immediately return to work, the Union and its counsel, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, rejected the basis of the injunction granted to the FG, faulted the power of the court to hand down that particular judgement and voiced their determi nation to not only appeal the judgement, but to also maintain the status quo of the strike. This imme diately throws up a plethora of talking points and finger-pointing across the divide.

Some fed-up parents already think the lecturers are inconsiderate, given how long their children and wards have been out of school while others are in solidarity with the lecturers in their demand for im proved funding for universities, a review of salaries for lecturers, amongst other issues.

I am certain the issues thrown up by the court’s de cision evokes a three-pronged approach (for ASUU, for the law and the courts and for the government). The lecturers and the Federal Government must take cognisance that the law is paramount in this protracted dispute.

For ASUU, while I think it is within the rights of the lecturers to disagree with the court’s ruling and also within their rights to embark on strike when the government reneged on the terms of the agree ment they signed, it is however imperative for the lecturers to respect and implement the ruling of the NIC until a higher court rules to the contrary. Illegality cannot be fought with another illegality.

ASUU has over the years enjoyed an overwhelm ing support from Nigerians, including students for seeking better funding for the federal university system. However, since it called the current strike and resolved not to return to the lecture halls until the government acts in good faith and respects the terms of their agreement, negotiation with the government has broken down and appears to be irretrievable, at least at this time.

Students under the umbrella of National Associa tion of Nigerian Students (NANS), last week took to the streets of Lagos to force the government to meet the lecturers’ demands so that schools could reopen.

ASUU has fought many battles with the Federal Government in the last two decades over funding related issues for Nigerian universities and they have rebuffed attempts to sabotage their ranks. As focused as their resistance has been, given the hardship in the country and threats to their pay, should they persist with their strike, it is worth

knowing the benefits of staying on the right side of the law, especially when fighting the good fight.

The union wants the best for the universities and the injection of agreed funds will go a long way to help Nigeria get back on track in the improve ment of education and academics before we are completely drained of our best brains and left in the backwaters of academic attainment on the continent and beyond. The lecturers themselves deserve better wages and conditions of service, no doubt. Yet, until counsels to ASUU can acquire a stay of judgement against the decision of the NIC judge, the academic staff will be in contravention of the law if they do not immediately call off the strike and return to the lecture halls.

It is true that it might be a temporal resumption before the levers of the law start to turn again with the union’s determination to appeal the NIC judge ment, but they will have not only acted in good faith and in reverence to the judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction (which they are challeng ing), but they will also have the support of the pub lic, the backing of the law and no judge will treat them with contempt in future because they did not treat the judgement of a court in contempt. They will show themselves to be in the right with the law in their decision to fight the govern ment’s illegality but not by entering into illegality themselves. It will demonstrate that they have no personal angst against the government, no political play in the matter but simply want the best for the universities where they belong.

As regards the law and the court, I defer to Fa lana’s exposition on why the NIC was not the best of grounds to adjudicate in the dispute between the Union and the government when he noted that there was no precedence for such a case because it is not following due procedural process.

The learned jurist claimed that the NIC was an appellate court for cases that must have first gone through the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP). He argued: “There must be meditation, conciliation and arbitration under the law. It was wrong to ap proach the court. We tried to explain to the court and the court said they would look at that later. We made it clear to the court and submitted more than six cases where the same court warned the minis ter not to come without originating his case in the IAP if it relates to trade disputes. The court found that this is a trade dispute and that there was no reference to the IAP.

“But the court in its wisdom decided to intervene and the only way you can show your dissatisfaction is to approach the appeal court, which ASUU has decided to do.”

If the government tried to run rings around the sys tem to get a favourable judgement, it ought to have been the place of the judge to insist that procedural processes be respected and send the case to the IAP rather than hear it and deliver a judgement, while promising to deal with that procedural omission later. If that is truly the case, the government will have played into the hands of the union, who will have more ammunition to employ in their planned

appeal of the judgement. But until a higher court approves a stay of execution, ASUU must return to the classrooms.

For the government, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister for Labour, declared, “No victor, no vanquished” when he referred to the judgement as a win-win situation for all involved. Speaking after the court’s decision, he said: “The court ruling does not pre clude us from going on with further negotiation and consultations. The Pro-Chancellors met Mr. Presi dent and made some demands, such as topping up government offers and seeing whether there could be some bailout. Mr. President said in considering it, he will consult stakeholders. So, he is going to consult everybody.”

Ngige also praised the intervention of the House of Representatives, whose Speaker Femi Gbajabi amila, waded into the strike issue, saying: “If they have shown interest now, it is good and wonderful. When they bring that proposal, the Executive will not have any problem. ASUU should also know that this is a step in the right direction. And these things have been promised by the Minister of Education at their last meeting with him. For me, they should do the needful and get back to the classroom.”

The Minister may be giddy with the favourable judgement obtained, but the truth is that the gov ernment has not merited the good faith it is asking for. Previous strike actions have been called off on trust that the government will play its part and meet the demands of the union only to renege and force another round of strikes.

There were warning strikes before this prolonged one and there were opportunities for the govern ment to act to avert this, but it failed to do so.

The insensitivity of government representatives, whose children have been graduating from univer sities abroad, while Nigerian students are wasting away reeks of insincerity while the news is awash daily of massive sums of money either frittered away on frivolities or recovered from thieving pub lic servants.

The fact is that ASUU’s demands on better funding for universities could have been met long ago if the government truly wanted to. That is why it behoves the government to wake up to the high bar expect ed of it, as the servant of the people, to demonstrate sincerity in relating to unions and all those who pursue the rights of the citizens, whether trade or academic, and do right by them.

Proscribing or deregistering ASUU as being specu lated will not fix the rot in the Nigerian university system and the education sector in general.

We all want our wards back in school and an academic system that is thriving and we must do it with respect for the laws of the land. Just like I had written in my previous articles on this mat ter, I again reiterate that the federal government and ASUU must make a genuine and reasonable funding deal for universities that should be imple mentable over a decade or two. This way, every interested party or observer is able to keep track of the milestone(s) met as the years pass by.

Previous strike actions have been called off on trust that the government will play its part and meet the demands of the union only to renege and force another round of strikes.