THEWILL NOV 28 - DEC 4 EDITION

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Nigerians Should Vote Credible, Healthy Person As President – Tanko

Cadbury: Investors Idia Aisien Await Return of THE Good Old Days LUXURY

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Price: N350

NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 4, 2021 • VOL . 1 NO. 42

INFLUENCER – PAGE 37

T H EWI LLNI GERI A

PETROLEUM SUBSIDY REMOVAL:

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ShockingNewYearGift AwaitsNigerians

The Pains, Gains and Controversies More Sufferings Imminent Amid Worsening Insecurity, Rising Unemployment

FEATURE

MOUTH ODOUR: AN UNLIKELY CAUSE

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COVER PetroleumSubsidyRemoval:Shocking New Year Gift Awaits Nigerians

BY AMOS ESELE AND SAM DIALA WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM UKANDI ODEY, KAJO MARTINS, SEGUN AYINDE, OKIOMA AMOS, UDEME UTIP, CHRISTIANA BABAYO

According to Andohol, the withdrawal has the capacity to cause an inflationary spiral that would become counter-productive to growth and development.

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he Federal Government appears set to implement the recommendation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the removal of the subsidy on petrol after many years of indecision occasioned by absolute lack of the political will to take the bull by its horns once and for all.

“That is, growth stagnation will lead to an increase in the unemployment rate. Again, now that inflation and unemployment are taking an upward trajectory, a scenario of stagflation will evolve”.

Now, the government is ready to give a ‘barren’ New Year gift to Nigerians as it has already announced its decision to remove the subsidy, increase the price of petrol and electricity tariff amid the worsening insecurity, instability, poverty and rising unemployment .

He pointed out that the stagnation will have counterproductive effects on the supposedly social investment programmes of the government. More so, the real effect of money in the face of rising inflation will be decimated, thereby, causing reduced consumption, poor investment activities and an increasing deficit balance of trade.

THEWILL recalls that the global bilateral money lender, in its preliminary findings at the end of its official visit to the country, under the Article IV Mission issued on Friday, November 19, 2020, had restated the need for the withdrawal of the subsidy on petrol. The IMF report had said, in part, “The mission stressed the need to fully remove fuel subsidies; and move to a market-based pricing mechanism; in early 2022 as stipulated in the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act.

“In this connection, the speed of the continuity of the vicious cycle of poverty will accelerate in a country that is supposedly tagged as the headquarters of poverty in the world,” he added.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and spokesperson of the Atiku Campaign Organisation, Segun Sowunmi, however thinks that the removal of subsidy will stabilise the petroleum sector.

“In addition, the implementation of cost-reflective electricity tariffs, as of January 2022, should not be delayed.

“Nigeria’s past experiences with fuel subsidy removal, which have all been short-lived and reversed, underscore the importance of building a consensus, improving public trust, regarding the protection of the poor and efficient, and transparent use of the saved resources.”

“President Buhari cannot and the APC-led government cannot pretend that they do not know what subsidy is when they were campaigning and when the Goodluck Jonathan administration under the PDP was trying so hard to say is not sustainable for you to be burning hydro-carbon.

Building a consensus on this policy and improving public trust, with regard to the protection of the poor, has been the heart of the matter since last Wednesday when the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, unveiled the plan after the Federal Executive Council meeting on that day.

Spelling it out in detail, while briefing State House correspondents after the week’s FEC meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the minister said the sum of N5,000 would be disbursed to the poorest of the poor 40 million Nigerians to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal. According to her, the disbursement would be done digitally through platforms like the new e-Naira wallet system and not through cash transfer.

“What we would not do is to pay people cash. It is meant to be for a period between six and nine months. The maximum would be 12 months and a minimum of six months. It is something that we can get from the Federation Account so every member of the Federation Account Committee (FACC) will have to agree.

“We thought we would do this to give people time to adjust before the other support measures that the Federal Government is working on as an alternative to PSM, that is, mass transit vehicles, to come into effect.

“From the experience we have had on the conditional cash transfer, it shows that money actually helped them to provide basic needs and some women, who are care givers of these families, started petty trades to support the family. We wish we could do more, but we are also limited by what government can do at any point in time and there is nothing stopping the states to add more to the N5,000 that is coming from the federation account,” she said.

The minister said the government can no longer bear the cost of petroleum subsidy at N250 billion monthly because the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has been making zero remittance to the Federation Account. NNPC, being the sole importer of petrol into the country, has been subsidising the commodity.

On the reasons being adduced for the removal of N3 trn petroleum subsidy, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, had preceded the finance minister by a day.

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“You need to liberalise that sector. It needs to be driven by the private sector and market forces. It is high time Nigerians understood that there can be no way of sustaining the routine of fuel subsidy. But enough is enough; it has to go,” Sowunmi said.

On Tuesday of that week, at a World Bank event held in Abuja, Kyari announced that petrol, currently selling for N165 per litre, would sell for between N320 and N340 per litre from February 2022, when the subsidy is expected to end.

REACTIONS Different persons have expressed different but basically advisory opinion and hard views in respect of the proposed removal of petroleum subsidy and the hike in electricity tariff. For its timing and context, it is the opinion of many that the proposed policy bears the worst of times for Nigeria and Nigerians.

There are questions surrounding the identification of the 40 million Nigerians being targeted by government for the N5,000 transportation funding through platforms like the e-Naira wallet system, considering the anticipated negative impact of the removal of petroleum subsidy and increase in the prices of petrol prices and electricity on the livelihood and welfare of Nigerians.

A senior lecturer in the Department of Economics at the Benue State University, Makurdi, Dr Jerome Andohol, told THEWILL that the plan on fuel subsidy withdrawal by the Federal Government was a dangerous move.

He noted that, although there would be some expected gains from the removal of fuel subsidy, the impact would be enormous, especially in a receding economy as ours.

He also faulted the timing of the plan, saying, “The reason is that if fuel subsidy is removed, the average consumer will take the full impact of payment for the imported refined fuel. In essence, the subsidy removal will translate to high cost of production, higher prices of goods and services and an increase in the cost of transportation.”

He nonetheless added, “The issue I have with the Muhammadu Buhari administration is that a country that is using about 90 per cent of its money to finance debt services cannot afford the N5,000 monthly stipend for 40 million Nigerians to push for subsidy. That is playing to the gallery at the expense of the sustainable economic model for the development of the country.

“The removal of subsidy will stabilize and the cost of transportation will stabilise eventually. One of the major problems we are having with fuel subsidy is that we assume that we can run equalisation for a product that we are importing.

“We should just let market forces play its role. It may seem a bit high, but I don’t think it can be sustained if the people cannot pay the price. I am sure the price will have to come down to meet the people at an equilibrium level where they can easily afford it.”

Commenting on the planned N5,000 transport grant, a professor of Accounting and Finance and former Vice-Chancellor of Nassarawa State University, Keffi, Mohammed Mainoma, expressed concern that it could be another dimension to corruption. He said that the Federal Government had not learnt lessons from its previous interventions that yielded little or no results.

“The government is not learning lessons from its previous intervention. It should tell itself the truth about other social interventions, whether it has not introduced new dimensions to corruption.

They should not share money. They should invest in infrastructure to make the citizens empowered to do their business.

“Why should the government want to spend N2.4 trillion (on transport grant) instead of N1.8 trillion (on total subsidy)? The kind of lessons expected from this regime is the kind of thing Abacha did and made Buhari Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund. They should utilise the saved subsidy and do such interventions in power supply, entrepreneurial education, hospital manTHEWILLNIGERIA

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COVER agement, and creation of local businesses,” Mainoma told THEWILL. An economist and Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics, Dr Olu Fasan, on his part, commended the idea of fuel subsidy removal as appropriate, though overdue. He said it would help in fighting wastefulness and corruption, which have eaten into the governance fabric of Nigeria.

“The issue of the removal of fuel subsidy has been extant and long-running for decades. It is high time Nigeria held the bull by its horns and dealt with the issue decisively, once and for all. ‘’The fuel subsidy costs the government $300million a month. It is a heavy fiscal burden and the economy, comatose as it is, cannot sustain that cost. That’s why the IMF and other international economic institutions and experts have consistently called for the removal of the subsidy. ‘’What’s more, the fuel subsidy mainly benefits the wealthy and it has long been a major source of corruption, with the history of oil scammers. So, from both fiscal policy and anti-corruption points of view, the oil subsidy should go,” he said.

In a note sent to THEWILL, Fasan added, “Another important reason why the subsidy should go is climate change. Nigeria made a commitment at the just-concluded UN climate change conference, COP26, to reach net zero carbon emissions and President Buhari has just signed the Climate Change Bill into law. The truth is that subsidising fossil fuels is not compatible with any of these climate change policies. Nigeria cannot fight climate change by continuing to subsidise oil. It is better to divert the subsidy into renewable sources of energy.

“But it is true that, although the fuel subsidy mainly benefits the wealthy, its removal would still hurt the poor in terms of the rising costs of goods. Given that the cost of living is very high in Nigeria, which particularly places the poor at a disadvantage, the government should do something to help those most in need. So, a monthly transport grant is a good idea, but N5,000 is minuscule.

Government should consult with labour unions and other relevant stakeholders and agree on a more appropriate figure.

“The biggest problem, though, is the management of the grant.

Will it get to the right people? Or will it be hijacked by corrupt people? The poor management of COVID-19 palliatives and the social security programmes does not give one any confidence that the monthly transport grant will be well managed. Besides, if the government says the grant will be for the “poorest” Nigerians, does it have the statistics or data on who and how many they are?

Does it have the money to cover all the poorest and vulnerable population?

“Ultimately, the best way to tackle poverty is to grow the economy, create jobs and increase productivity. Otherwise, the transport grant would become another subsidy that the government can’t sustain and can’t remove.”

A former speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon Istyfanus Mwansat, told our correspondent in Jos, the state capital, “I don’t think it is good. it is not the best for Nigeria now. I don’t think it is properly considered.”

Mwansat said the history of removal of petroleum subsidy in Nigeria, partial or whatever, is that it has always worsened the lot of Nigerians because the people always suffer more because the removal always comes with hardship and lack of improvement in government welfare programmes.

The baseline effect, he said, is that the gap between the have and the have-not will further widen, noting that the latest one proposed for next year will completely wipe out the middle class and majority of Nigerians will be the worse for it.

But Mr Bismark Rewane, CEO of Financial Derivatives Company, is alarmed. “N5,000 x 40 million is about N200 billion a month. It is N2.4tn in one year. This means that the government wants to save N3tn to spend N2.4tn. Now, who are the 40 million people? For instance, I buy petrol, but I am not among those who will get N5,000 a month. So, who are those 40 million to get this money? And how will it be disbursed?” Rewane asks.

But he thinks that the removal of subsidy will provide free money to government to sustain economic growth.

For the Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, the government’s policy makes economic sense but a disaster from a welfare angle.

He said in a statement last week; “Regardless of the arguments back and forth on the issue, PMS remains a commercial product.

It is therefore not insulated from the laws of demand and supply.

“From an economic point of view and that is the area I am comfortable to talk about, it should not come as a surprise. The rise in the price of crude oil should signal the inevitable increase in THEWILLNIGERIA

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the landing cost of petrol in the country. You have oil marketers importing fuel with the need to recover their costs and make a profit. Taken together, it is inevitable that the pump price of petrol will increase.”

THE WAY FORWARD Sowunmi thinks it is about time the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, hurried up with the construction of the Dangote refinery.

“Something we can do is to refine our product and put it in the market and adopt the concept of a modular refinery. Whatever is the case, you cannot treat petrol as a special product at the expense of other areas of development that are sustainable.” he added.

Dr Nnaemeka Obiaraeri, Managing Director/CEO, Taurus Capital and Advisory Services; and Taurus Oil and Gas Limited, advised against replacing corruption with another corruption.

He said, “Please someone close to Buhari should beg him not to replace the corruption laden consumption petroleum subsidies scheme with another corruption laden consumption scheme of paying N5,000 monthly to 40 million Nigerians. It does not make any economic sense to save N1.8 trillion and then create a pathway for some fat cats to steal N2.4 trillion annually.

“We cannot continue to subsidise criminality, bad behaviour, inefficiency and destruction of Nigeria. We cannot remove one layered criminal subsidies scheme and replace is with another public sector money sharing scheme that will only create many new hushpapas and hushmummies.”

Patience Samuel, a businesswoman based in Jalingo, capital of Taraba State urged the Federal Government to put a proper social structure in plsce before and during the start of the policy, which she thinks is beneficial in the long run.

She said, “The removal of oil subsidy is quite disturbing, especially at this point where inflation is high. The poor masses will suffer this more than anyone.

“Government should find a suitable way of cushioning the effect of subsidy removal on the common people. It is not as if it is not for the greater good, but people will suffer before they begin to reap the gains if it is not properly approached.”

It is a few weeks to D-day in January 2022, almost a year to the 2023 general election. Developments in the coming days will decide, who, between IMF and Nigerians, will carry the day.

“President Buhari has the mind and capacity to do what he wants for Nigeria. If that is the decision he has made for Nigerians, the President has the capacity to do that,” Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State told Channels TV last Wednesday, while answering questions on the desirability of removal of subsidy after much postponement by the present administration.

A former Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Akwa Ibom State, Architect Okon NseAbasi, said the issue surrounding the whole subsidy thing is the lack of study of the problem facing the country in that direction.

“Nobody is ready to engage wisdom. Everyone is looking for cosmetic solutions to problems. They fail to realise the insufficiency of their preparation for the pressure of their needs in the economy.

“They are still trying, but for how long will you try? Our leaders need to listen to an economist of National Planning from Ameri-

“

Government should find a suitable way of cushioning the effect of subsidy removal on the common people. It is not as if it is not for the greater good, but people will suffer before they begin to reap the gains if it is not properly approached

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ca, Europe or some of the Western countries.

“As we speak, there are faculties of petroleum and petrochemical engineering in the South-South, but they have not done any publication on the economic and political circumstances of our oil and the rest. By now, we should be adequately informed about what oil subsidy means.

“Let us look at how much Akwa Ibom people spend on fuel monthly. You would be surprised that they spend more fuel to get on with their lives than the annual budget of the state. The money spent on fuel is bigger than the budget for road construction.

“The money I spend on fuel for my power generator in one month can be used to pay power bill for six years. There is no day I don’t consume 30 litres of fuel, which is about N90,000 monthly. You cannot compare that to an American whose fuel is paid for and is the cheapest in terms of consumption.

“There is absolute lack of sufficient study and there is not enough information as to the need for fuel subsidy in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr. Bolaji Adeniji, an APC Chieftain and Communication Consultant in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said, “The issue is that Nigerians have to pay the true value of PMS. How is government prepared for the whole outcome and all the other elements attached to the price of fuel in a sense that the price of goods and services will go up, unemployment will go up and inflation will continue to rise. We are still borrowing more to finance the budget and capital expenditures. So how will government cope with the effect of the removal of subsidy?

“If the local capacity is equipped in a sense that we have our refineries around, they will have to depend on government control price, which will now force importers to come down on their own cost. At the end of the day, we will be having competitive prices under a deregulated industry.

“The removal of fuel subsidy will be good for Nigerians, but it will also add to their hardship. Regarding the issue of N5,000 to 40million Nigerians, I think the people government have continued to act as if they lack the capacity to think. I cannot buy the idea of doling out money to people without proper data. How can you give out N5,000 to over 40 million people for transportation because of the removal of fuel subsidy?”

Okenaberhie Harold, a social commentator in Bayelsa State, said he welcomed the torrent of rejections by well meaning Nigerians and groups, such as the Nigerian Labour Congress, Civil society organisations and Afenifere. He implored other critical stakeholders to lend their voices to what he described as an obnoxious and ill-timed government policy.

Also speaking, an environmental activist, Alagoa Morris, said, “When some of us protested against subsidy removal in 2012, we saw Nigerians who supported the removal, even in Bayelsa State.

They massively protested in support and this time around , l think they will support any protest against it.”

Morris maintained that as an oil producing nation, Nigeria has no business exporting crude oil and importing refined products.

He urged government to fix the refineries and stop the importation of petroleum products.

“That will make the price affordable. Besides, this is the time government at state and federal levels should be taking steps to move along with the rest of the world in terms of renewable energy by investing in that direction and less and less on fossil fuels.

“I thought President Muhamadu Buhari protested against the removal of subsidy and promised to build new refineries and refurbish old ones. What about the masses of this country that have suffered too much while those in the corridors of power are living in affluence?” he said.

But the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Sunday Asefon, is unimpressed by the development.

At a press conference held in Abuja on Friday, Asefon threatened that the country would be shut down if the government went ahead with its policy.

According to him sufficient buffers must be put in place before the take-off of the new subsidy regime.

At the briefing, he stated, “None of those conditions is in place at the moment. It is therefore very strange that the Federal Government could contemplate the removal of fuel subsidy now.

“The four refineries are not functioning and if they are functioning at all, it is at a near-zero level. There is zero consultation with stakeholders to even consider issues around deregulation and why it should or should not be. The survival of Nigerian workers and their wards is yet to be discussed, yet a date that may take lives out of them has been fixed.”

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NEWS THEWILL Correspondent Laid to Rest in Benue FROM NORBERT HWAKAA, MAKURDI

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L–R: Group Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo; Representative of the Governor of Lagos State, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Economy, Planning and Budget, Lagos State, Mr. Sammual Ebube; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mrs. Toki Mabogunje and Vice President, LCCI, Dr. Olawale Coke during the 2021 LCCI Presidential Policy Dialogue held in Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on 26/11/2021.

N4.56bn Fraud: Benue Tells Fuel Subsidy: EFCC, ICPC to Investigate Akume Cleric Wants FG

To Look Inwards

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enue State Government has challenged anti-graft agencies to investigate a former governor of Benue state, Senator George Akume, over financial impropriety amounting to N4.56 billion during his tenure as governor between 1999 and 2007.

The alleged fraud ranges from misappropriation of public funds, approvals above limit, abuse of office and public trust. It also includes the sale of 33,440,818 units of shares at the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), valued at billions of naira, without recourse to due process.

A letter of complaint to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) as well as the Inspector General of Police written and signed by counsels to the Benue State Government, Okeoga Darlington Esq, was made available to journalists by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Michael Gusa.

An audit report spanning the period between 1999 and 2007, when Senator George Akume served as governor of the state, indicates that he unilaterally approved the sum of N117 million, which is above his approval limit, without recourse to the State Executive Council meeting.

The reckless financial expenditures was said to be for consultancy and feasibility study for Mbatiav Cement, which turned out to be a white elephant project

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that never saw the light of the day.

Further findings, according to the petition, also alleged financial indiscipline, abuse of fiscal policies and misappropriation for various contracts amounting to N3.1 billion.

The former governor, who is the current Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, was also accused of misappropriation of ecological funds amounting to over N300 million, which was spent on projects different from ecological projects.

The letter reads in part, “During the audit report, it was also discovered that under the watch of the former Governor, a loan of N150 million was taken from defunct Afri-Bank in December 2000 for purchase of shares in companies, but the money was transferred to All Securities Limited for which no receipts were found for the transaction”.

‘It was also discovered during the audit that former Governor Akume claimed to have executed ‘many projects’ that were never located, which the petition deemed to be an aberration of due process, abuse of fiscal policies and criminal violation of relevant laws”.

The government expressed regret that many of such projects, valued at N1.07 billion were not accounted for as there was no evidence of their execution anywhere.

Efforts made to get Senator Akume’s reaction proved abortive as he could not be reached.

FROM UKANDI ODEY, JOS

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eneral Overseer of Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministry International, Prophet Isa El Buba, has advised the Federal Government to tread cautiously on the issue of fuel subsidy removal next fiscal year, advising it to rather “look inward and put its house in order”.

Addressing journalists in Jos, Buba said the Federal Government planned to spend about N200 billion to cushion the effects of the removal of the subsidy in one month.

Buba said, “The argument that fuel is cheap in Nigeria cannot be sustained because whatever the government does is about the welfare of the people. That is why when the Vice President came, we asked him to go back to the streets, to the market and talk to the ordinary people about the skyrocketing cost of food items, so that he can feel the pulse and the state of the common people.

“Some of the policy makers that are there, I can say, are just wicked in their approach towards the state of the poor masses. So, it is uncalled for for them to think of and call for the removal of subsidy. I thought, from what they said when they came to power - that the issue of subsidy has been taken care of, so coming back to be talking of subsidy now shows that there was no truth in what they said,” Buba noted.

Thus Buba advised the government to listen to the wise counsel of people of thought and to continue to offer perspectives and alternatives to this thorny issue.

Citing the example of the spiraling price of cooking gas, he expressed the opinion that the government should listen and appreciate the voices of reason, especially, as he noted, Nigeria is a place where prices of goods go up and do not drop again. In spite of deregulation of prices of petroleum products, he said the federal government could weigh in with some intervention to check the prospect of over hike in the cost of transportation.

Tule

FROM KAJO MARTINS, MAKURDI

he remains of Mr. Austin Tule, were on Saturday laid to rest at his residence in Ikyogbajir, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.

The death of Tule is one in the sequence of deaths of journalists in the state this year. Apart from the demise of reporters of local tabloids in the state, the passing away of Barnabas Agirigi of Business Day, Tordue Salem of Vanguard and Austin Tule of THEWILL newspaper characterises the dark days of journalism in Benue State.

Governor Samuel Ortom, in his condolence letter to Media Intellectuals’ Union, a media group Tule belonged to while alive, lamented the incessant deaths of journalists in the state.

He described Tule as a dogged and determined journalist. The letter reads in part, “From all accounts, the deceased was a young and vibrant journalist whose life ambition, aspirations and prospect for higher heights were cut short by death.”

Similarly, the Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel in Benue State, Mr. Tor Acka, represented by Martins Kajo described the late Tule as a journalist with an eye for the news, saying that the deceased left a legacy that could serve as a stepping stone for younger journalists.

In an interview with this reporter, Austin’s younger sister, Miss Lilian Tule, who plays for Lakatamia Football Club in Cyprus, said, “Life will not be the same without Austin. He was like a father to us his siblings. His death refreshed memories of our father’s departure.”

In separate speeches, the President of the Media Intellectual Union, Comrade Terese Tuwa, Benue Peace Ambassador, Mr. Philip Wuhe and Chairman of the PDP, Ikyogbajir Ward, extolled the deceased’s qualities as a journalist and called on the members of his family and other journalists to take solace in the fact that he lived an eventful life.

Austin is survived by his mother, wife, Prisca, two children, his brothers and sisters.

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Buni

Buhari

POLITICS

APC’s Crisis And Long Journey To Convention

BY AYO ESAN he ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) last Monday shifted its National Convention, which was earlier scheduled for December 2021, to February 2022. The party announced the new date after President Muhammadu Buhari had approved it.

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intend to go and unravel what the problems are and decide how best to proffer solutions to them and make recommendations to the party,” he said.

The shift, however, did not come as a surprise to political analysts and critics in the country, who are aware that the party is currently enmeshed in a crisis and hardly in a position to hold a peaceful convention. Even then, to many Nigerians, the new date for the convention is doubtful.

This, the former Nasarawa State governor noted, was the position of the committee. He was hopeful that the committee would be able to conclude its assignment and report to the party’s leadership before the commencement of the national convention.

Explaining why the convention was postponed till Febrauary 2022, the Chairman of the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State said, “Four APC states are still in the process of completing their congresses.

Anambra, understandably because of the recent governorship election in the state, is one of them. Zamfara and two others have not held theirs because of logistic challenges.

He expressed the optimism that the committee would deliver on its mandate before February 2022. He explained that the committee had developed a road map on how it would approach its assignment and was working on that to achieve its mandate.

“Christmas is around the corner and by early January we will be very busy with Ekiti. So the state governors suggested that the party and the President should graciously consider February.

The President is favourably disposed to the suggestion.”

But, shedding more light on the postponement, the National Reconciliation Committee of the party, which was set up to look into grievances arising from ward, local governments and state congresses, said it received 35 petitions from aggrieved members across the country.

He added that the committee had analysed the petitions received, saying that it was developing a timeline for meeting the petitioners and other people involved.

“One of the key activities we lined up was to give every person, who is involved with any petition as a stakeholder in the party, an opportunity to be heard and have a fair hearing.

“To do so, we ran adverts in six national newspapers and the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and by last Friday, we had received quite a number of petitions. Some people are still in the process of sending their petitions to us.

“We have decided to be liberal enough as long as it doesn’t challenge our ability to cope with the current situation where there are some definitive positions as to when the party’s national convention will take place.

The Chairman of the nine-member committee, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, said this in Abuja, a day after the postponement.

“We hope to complete our assignment and submit the reports so that the party can take whatever position it wants and make recommendations before the conventions.

Adamu said, “At this point in time, we have something in the region of 35 petitions and as you do know, you may wish to ponder the fact that the petitions cannot have the same weight.

“We are also hoping that by the time we go for the national convention, we will go as a party with little or no problems,” he said.

“So, where we believe that the problems are deep-rooted, we

Buni had said the party’s national reconciliation committee

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was critical to its planned national convention.

He said the outcome of the committee would determine the conduct of the party’s national convention.The APC National Reconciliation Committee was constituted on Oct. 11, 2021, to reconcile members of the party, especially those who were aggrieved by the outcome of the congresses held by various state chapters of the party.

The committee was mandated to reconcile, harmonise, integrate and unite members of the party and resolve real or seeming differences and cement all cracks within the party, ahead of its national convention.

At its inauguration, Buni said the committee was expected to conduct appropriate engagement between identified groups in each state where there were disputes. This, he said, should be done to bring about genuine reconciliation and establish lasting peace and unity in the party for the purpose of making it a united front.

But analysts are saying that the crisis in the party was probably engineered by the party chairman to extend his tenure in office.

But Buni dismissed this notion last Monday, saying that he had no reason to sit tight in office as the APC Caretaker Chairman.

Many disagree with Buni, who emerged as the party’s helmsman in June 2020 after the dissolution of the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee.

Speaking after he was appointed chairman of the caretaker committee, Buni assured APC members of the justice in the process of managing the crisis in the party.

Saddled with the task of bringing peace to the APC and to organise a national convention that would produce another elected executive for the party within six months, Buni and his committee would have spent about 20 months in office by February 2022.

Political analysts have also pointed out that the current state of the APC contrasts with what Buni promised on assumption of *Continues on Page 12

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POLITICS/INTERVIEW

Nigerians Should Vote Credible, Healthy Person As President – Tanko The National Chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Dr Yunusa Tanko, speaks with AYO ESAN about direct primary and other issues affecting the country. Excerpts:

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he National Assembly recently adopted the direct primary as the mode for political parties to choose their candidates for elections. What is your position on this?

Basically, the amendment of the Electoral Act is long overdue.

You will remember that in 2019, just before the general election, President Muhammadu Buhari said it was too close to the election and he refused to sign the amendment.

As regards the issue of direct primaries, let us look at what indirect and direct primaries are. An indirect primary is when members of political parties vote for those who will represent them at the delegate’s conference where candidates for an election will be selected. A direct primary, on the other hand, is the system in which the members of a political party directly choose those who will represent the party in elections. This is done without an intermediary and it gives power to the people at the grassroots to decide who becomes their representative.

A direct primary is an election before the election, depending on the database of political parties.

George

The challenges here are the following: Does the Independent National Electoral Commission have the capacity to monitor direct primaries in over 120,000 polling units or wards, as the case may be? Does INEC have the human resources to do that? That is one issue.

Combined, it means there will be a need for serious planning to ensure that direct primaries yield the desired results. One advantage of the direct primary is that it is an inclusive system that allows people to select their representatives or leaders from the ward level to the presidential level. At the same time, it eliminates god- fatherism and checks the dominance of state governors, who hitherto decide who becomes what at the expense of the electorate.

That is probably why state governors are kicking against direct primaries because it will whittle down the power which they exercise in choosing candidates for elections. Another question we need to ask is this: Are the members of the National Assembly really interested in the Nigerian electorate?

No. Absolutely not. They are merely protecting their interests because they have been crying that most state governors have taken charge of who becomes what at the expense of their own interests. So they have returned the power to the people so that they can monitor and control the electorate in their own wards or constituencies. However, whether they have done it in the interest of the people or in their own interests, it does not even really matter at the moment. What matters most is that democracy has gained more because the power to elect candidates has returned to the people.

But some people are of the opinion that political parties, not the Electoral Act, should decide what method to use in choosing candidates for elections. They believe the National Assembly has usurped the expected duty of

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Tanko

Do the political parties have data that shows the number of members they have in each ward? That is a big problem.

political parties in a democracy. How do you see their position?

That is true because the option to choose has been eliminated.

The parties should have been the ones to choose either the direct primary or indirect primary. But the same problem is that the majority of those who control the apparatus of the parties are mostly state governors and members of the National Assembly or the presidency because they contribute money to political parties. So, if we say we should allow direct or indirect primaries, it will be in the parties’ interest to control who becomes what or who contests an election. So the power will no longer be in the hands of the people. Rather, it will be in the hands of political parties. To avoid this, the option was narrowed down to the direct primary, which is the mode that favours the generality of the membership of political parties.

and the Peoples Democratic Party will have challenges with funding. However, the direct primary will encourage every member to contribute money. It must have been clearly stated in all political parties’ constitution that any member who wants to vote or be voted for must be a financial member. What this means is that there must be a certain amount of money that each party member is supposed to contribute. The party will have to generate money that will be spent on each of its programmes. Any member who wants to be voted for must be a card-carrying and financial member of that party. Otherwise, it will bounce back on each member who wants to be voted for to raise money. For instance, if you want to be a councillor, you must ensure that all the members that will vote during the direct primary have paid their membership dues. So you either pay for them or they pay themselves. So, it may now turn out to be that he who pays the piper dictates the tune.

Do you think most parties have enough resources to conduct direct primaries across the country?

No. Even the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress

Another amendment to the Electoral Act is the introduction of electronic voting and electronic transmission of election results. What is your take on this?

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POLITICS/INTERVIEW at polling stations and curtail ballot box snatching. Anybody can vote from their house, but the challenge here is on the technique of voting. The system must be clearly monitored with a cyber security code that nobody can hack. That way, we can be assured that anybody can vote at any time they wish to do so. If we put this into practice and see how it goes, it will be a good development for our nation.

The Anambra governorship election was held recently.

How do you assess INEC’s performance in that election?

I think INEC did its best, in spite of the security challenges. I think INEC did pretty well. I want to commend the people for being courageous enough to çome out and vote, despite the threat of insecurity. Kudos to them. Another thing is that the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) decided to shelve the sitat-home order issued to residents, even though it was almost too late. They encouraged everybody to come out and elect whoever they wanted. So every stakeholder in the election in Anambra did well and contributed to the development of democracy. I hope this will translate to all parts of the federation in the coming elections so that we can eliminate those trying to bring the country down.

“

If we have a credible over 70-year-old man, we should not deny him the chance because of his age.

Let us vote a credible person if what we want is an egalitarian society

Many names are being touted as interested in succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari. However, some people have expressed the opinion that anybody above 70 years may not perform effectively if voted into office. Do you agree with them?

I am an apostle of the younger generation and I want them to take leadership positions in the country. But I went into our history and saw that General Yakubu Gowon was 29 yearsold when he took over the leadership of this country. There have been people in leadership positions at a younger age, but whether they added value at that time remains a question.

Those who are old and expected to be wise have failed us.

It has, therefore, become an issue of merit and capability to lead, rather than age. An old man can come and perform exceedingly well. A young man can come, be docile and mess up the country. They can also come and do extremely well.

What we need to do is to select people who have impeccable character and those who are in good enough health condition to function effectively.

We should also vote people who have the interest of the people at heart. Not those who want to scatter the country in whatever way they can. I think we have credible Nigerians who can lead us well. If we have a credible over 70-year-old man, we should not deny him the chance because of his age. Let us vote a credible person if what we want is an egalitarian society.

What is your advice to Nigerians as we move towards 2023?

The advice is that they should come out en masse on Election Day. Those who have not registered should go out to register.

They should also try to identify those who are ready to move this country forward from those who are determined to draw it backward. Nigerians should by now have the experience to know the parties that mean well for them. The Nigerian people have the choice in their hands to make. They should not be disturbed by the distractions we are having. They should vote for good water, education, good security, opportunity to get employment, good roads and healthcare delivery. These are the basic things we need and they should be our target. So when anybody comes to seek our votes, we should have basic things in our minds. Can such a person provide us with the basic things? We need to know before voting for him.

The electronic transmission of results is a fantastic idea. It will bring an end to the manipulation usually experienced at collation centres, where you see the results from polling units overturned. INEC has demonstrated that it can transmit the election results electronically, which, more or less, is like pronouncing results. This is because INEC officials actually announce the results at each polling station, take a picture of that particular result and send it to the INEC server. That way, the issue of manipulation on the way to the collation centre is aborted. Nobody has the opportunity to manipulate the results at any point in time because the same results announced and which you saw at polling units have been sent electronically to the INEC server to be collated. So everybody can monitor the collation through the INEC website.

It is a good development. With regards to electronic voting, we may still have some challenges here and there, like network issues. But if INEC can successfully get it operational, it will increase the number of voters. It will also eliminate violence THEWILLNIGERIA

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What is the current state of the National Conscience Party?

As far as we are concerned, we are in court. There is a case at the Supreme Court involving about 22 to 24 political parties. If the judgement is in favour of these parties, we too can leverage it. The NCP is also in court and we are finding it difficult to understand why the judge, who was supposed to have passed judgement, has deferred the case. We have even written a letter to the Judicial Council and the Ministry of Justice that a judgement should be made on our case. We are still waiting.

But if the need be, we may need to demonstrate based on the case we have in court. As far as we are concerned, we are in court and at the same time, collaborating with other parties.

That is what we are doing at the moment.

If you get favourable judgement in court, will you contest in the 2023 presidential election?

No. I don’t think so. There are other important things we need to do. Now, we need to collaborate with other political parties because the challenges are enormous and the time is too short for us to do anything like that. I would advise that we join our strength with others who want to contest the elections.

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Contest Direct Mode Of Primaries at Court If Buhari Signs Bill, Lawmaker Tells Govs SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA

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former member of the House of Representatives, Chief Bode Mustapha, has urged state governors across the 36 states of the federation to contest the direct primary mode in the Electoral Reform Act should President Muhammadu Buhari accent to the bill.

Already reactions have continue to pour in due to the passage of the bill as some state governors on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) have kicked against the decision of the lawmakers on the direct primaries mode of picking their candidates for election in the country Mustapha, who spoke in an exclusive interview with THEWILL in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, wondered why the legislators would deliberate on the bill to adopt direct mode of primaries in the first place, insisting that the governors should approach the court if Buhari signs it.

The ex-lawmaker, who represented Abeokuta North, Obafemi Owode and Odeda Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2003, maintained that it was not the duty of the lawmakers to interfere on how political parties should run their affairs, saying that the refusal of the president to sign the bill would only strengthen democracy in the nation The Osi of Egbaland, however, urged President Buhari not to assent to the bill, while calling on state governors to strongly oppose it at the Supreme Court f should the president accent to it, stressing that the legislators through the passage of the bill were trying to bite the fingers that fed them.

“I used to be part of National working Committee of PDP. We will have guidelines for our parties , each parties can decide guidelines for these primaries. And if i were the governors i will go and contest this in court if Mr President sign it. If he doesn’t assent to the bill it will be best for us but if he does it, it should be challenge in the court.”

“I think they are going beyond the mandate they have to make laws for the federation and not the political parties. I will like to oppose what they have done .

“It is not business of the people at the parliament to go into how political parties should run their affairs or modus operandi. To make it worst all these people at the parliament are products of the party, they are products of the same system that they are now opposing.”

“A lot of them would not have gotten the ticket to run for their office if their governors had not supported them to get the tickets. So why do you want to flatten the goal post in the middle of the Night, So i am totally opposed to it, it is not part of their responsibilities at all, they should not be part of the electoral act at all.” he added

Ifo LG Boss Laments Deplorable Roads SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA

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he Chairman of Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, Mrs Kikelomo Delano has lamented the deplorable conditions of some roads in the council.

Delano, who spoke exclusively with THEWILL in Abeokuta, traced the poor condition of the roads to failure on the part of the previous adminstration.

She accused the past government of starting the construction of the roads without completing them before its tenure ends, a situation that put the Local Government roads in mess.

The chairman appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to come to their aid over the bad state of the roads before things get worst She therefore urged the people of the council to remain patient with the governor, expressing confident that he would complete every abandoned projects including roads by the previous governments.

“He (the governor) has said he is ready to help us complete our roads, the roads that former governors started and have not completed. Every where is in mess now, if you go there you will pity the people living around my LG. Our governor has told us that he will help us, very soon you will see the roads completed” Delano noted.

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POLITICS

APC’s Crisis And Long Journey To Convention •Continued from Page 9

office on June 25, 2020.

Speaking with THEWILL, a public affairs commentator based in Abuja, Ojo Adegoke said, “As of today, Buni has brought the party to a higher crisis level than he met it. The crack within the APC is deepening every day as efforts to reconcile its aggrieved members and end the divisions arising from congresses organised by the various factions is not yielding immediate results”,.

THEWILL recalls that after the congresses, the party has been in crises in more than 12 states across the federation and efforts by the Appeal Panels set up by the party to look into complaints arising from the state congresses, which were held in several states on October 16, 2021 have been shunned by aggrieved members.

For instance, the APC State Congress Appeal Committee for Osun State, which had upheld the election and victory of Gboyega Famodun, who emerged from the congress organised by Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s group as the authentic chairman of the party in the state, said it received no petition from any factional group.

The five-man appeal panel also affirmed the victory of other state officers elected at the congress, which was held in Osogbo on Saturday, October 16, 2021.

Chairman of the committee, Obed Wadzani, disclosed that

although a parallel state congress reportedly held in Osun, the panel did not receive any petition or appeal.

Wadzani said the decision of the panel to affirm the results of the state congress conducted and supervised by the Gbenga Elegbeleye-led State Congress Committee was therefore taken in the absence of any petition or appeal.

The aggrieved members, who are mostly loyalists of a former governor of the state and current Minister of Interior, Engr Rauf Aregbesola, are said to have approached a court to seek redress.

A similar scenario played out in Ekiti State where a group of aggrieved members of the state chapter of the party, mostly supporters of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, are at loggerheads with the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi. Members of the group, known as SWAGA, are already in court in Ado Ekiti seeking the cancelation of the congresses held in the state.

The Appeal Committee set up for Ekiti State and led by former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Iyiola Oladokun, also said it did not receive any petition.

He said, “We commenced operations at the party secretariat, but nobody presented any petition to us.

“Before we left Abuja, no petition or document of complaints was given to us. We were even here at the secretariat but we received none. We learnt that all the officials emerged through

PDP Will Return to Aso Rock in 2023 – Abounu The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Engr Benson Abounu, speaks with KAJO MARTINS, about the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of 2023 general election, and other national issues. Excerpts.

There is a high level of insecurity in the country. Don’t you think it is a political strategy of the APC government to create apathy so as to rig the 2023 general election?

It depends on the angle one is looking at it from. Many Nigerians are actually shocked that in 2019 there was a ‘massive turnout’ of voters in war-torn areas in some states.

Where there was relative peace and tranquillity, there was low turnout of voters. However, I’m thinking that in 2023, whatever is happening now, in terms of insecurity, is felt all over the country, including the places where you imagine rigging won’t take place. If you follow what Nigerians are saying now, you won’t believe that some people from certain areas of the country who ordinarily won’t be saying such are yearning for a change. They are saying things are not handled

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“Despite that, there was still voice affirmation in electing the 36-member executives. Based on this, we are preparing our report to be submitted at the national headquarters of our party.

“No group by the name SWAGA submitted any petition before us. No petition from any group or individual was received in the course of our stay here.”

THEWILL recalls that reports claimed the SWAGA group had set up parallel executives at the wards and local governments level in Ekiti State.

Political analysts and critics alike see the silence of aggrieved party members in various states and their non-submission of petitions to the APC appeal committees as a way of showing their lack of confidence in the committees.

On his part, a former Legal Adviser of the APC, Dr. Muiz Banire, speaking on a Television programme, said that mass defections were imminent in the party.

Banire hinted that the factions not recognised by the national leadership of the APC might be forced to exit the party.

He said, “The implication is simple: That is factionalisation of the party all over. It started from the ward congresses, through the local government (area congresses) to the state (congresses). It is unlikely or unexpected that even at the national convention you are likely to have the same thing. If you recall vividly a few months ago, I predicted that it would happen. Certainly, the implosion, in my very strong view, is inevitable.”

According to him, most of the people that are already outside or declared to be outside by the party “will find their way elsewhere…to another platform. I think that will be the eventual consequence.”

Also speaking, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has hinted that a former governor and some bigwigs will soon defect from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party.

Saraki also predicted that there will be a gale of defections soon.

He said, “We have the potential to turn the country around and that is why I believe with the right leadership, things can change in the country. I often say that no one can give whatever he does not have. In 2023, we have to get it right and to do that, we needed the right kind of leadership.

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“There were certain state governors that we already knew would leave. And we were not surprised that they defected to the APC. Since then, we have had some bigwigs that joined us. Also in this week, there is a former governor that is going to join our party, PDP. “Aside from that, we know that some of the leaders in the ruling party will not defect early, but they will do it late.

You saw that during the 2015 election. So, keep watching.

Nigerians will not be surprised when they begin to see some defections from the ruling party to the PDP.” Abounu

ith the alleged massive rigging in the 2015 general election, do you think Nigerians can freely elect their political leaders in 2023?

Well, the truth of the matter is that it is only when people give room to rigging that it takes place. I have had the opportunity to be involved in several electoral processes. So, I can assure here that even when you are contesting an election in your council ward, if the people there don’t want rigging to take place, it won’t happen. In most cases, it is because the people themselves want rigging to take place. With what we have witnessed in the last six and half years under the ruling All Progressives Congress, I can’t understand why anybody will allow rigging in 2023. Most Nigerians are yearning for a change and this time around, it is not the kind of change that the APC promised in 2015, which turned out to be the worst type and a wrong one. Nigerians are now willing to have a better and good change that will impact positively on their lives.

consensus at the state congress.

well by the present APC-led Federal Government. The quarters where such comments are coming from will surprise you. Therefore, it gives me the hope that Nigerians are united now in looking out for good leadership, government and good nation.

Do you think the PDP can provide the needed quality leadership, if given another chance in 2023?

Oh yes. Why not? Nigerians have already known that the correct party to form the national government at the centre in 2023 is the PDP. A good natured APC follower has known this fact. I can, therefore, assure here that between now and June next year, Nigerians will see a lot of changes, especially with the emergence of a former Senate President, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, as the National Chairman of the party. Some APC governors and other stalwarts are willing to return to the PDP in the nearest future.

It would also be recalled that before the state congresses on October 16, 2021, grievances from wards and local government congresses had earlier widened cracks within the APC, which is already grappling with a leadership crisis at the national level.

The parallel state congresses led to the emergence of two different party chairmen and executive committees in some state chapters of the APC. The states where parallel congresses were held included Enugu, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Niger, Lagos and Abia.

The question that analysts are asking is will the APC be able to achieve stability and the desired peace before February 2022 or will the convention date be shifted again. The answer cannot even be answered by the top hierarchy of the party today. So the waiting game, with regard to when peace will eventually return to the ruling party, continues.

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TOURISM

Runsewe, Kangiwa for Akwaaba African Travel Market that have made very serious attempts at organising their hotel environment. The topic, ‘State Registration and Classification of Hotels: The Journey So Far’ will be handled by the First National Deputy President of FTAN, Alhaji Badaki Aliyu.

The African Travel Market will officially begin on November 29 with the Youth Tourism Panel. The panel consists of the champions and pioneers of domestic tourism in Nigeria. They are expected to share their experiences on how they started and how they survived the challenges and the future plans. The panel will have a pioneer of Instagram tourism promotions in Nigeria, Chiamaka Obuekwe, CEO of Social Prefect Tours, as one of its members.

She will join Bolaji Seun of Naija Explorers; Dr. Onifade Adekunle Eedris of Universal Aviation School; Aminat Akanbi, CEO of Triplisters; Cordis Marianuela Umeokoli, CEO of Mardis Travels and Sam Adeleke of Travelwith SamGlobal.

Runsewe

Kangiwa

The session will be moderated by Obinna Emelike, the Tourism and Art Editor at BusinessDay Newspapers.

Olugbenga Sunday Omotayo, the Promoter of Idere Hills in Oyo State, will also share his experience on how he moved from hotel management to become destination manager.

STORIES BY JANEFRANCES CHIBUZOR

At this year’s Hospitality Day, various issues will be treated by experts. Kangiwa will speak on the theme, ‘How to Scale Hospitality Training to Meet International Standards’ as a special guest alongside Runsewe. This will be the first time he will be participating at event as the boss of NIHOTOUR. The institute was a pioneer exhibitor at the maiden Akwaaba African Travel Market event in 2004 held under the leadership of then Director General, Alhaji Munzali Dantata.

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he Director-General of the National Council For Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe and the DirectorGeneral of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Turaki Nura Kangiwa, will be the guest speakers at the 2021 edition of Hospitality Day, an offshoot of the Akwaaba African Travel Market event, scheduled to take place in Lagos on November 30 in Lagos.

Hospitality sector has been through enough due to the effect of Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the Founder of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Ikechi Uko, this year’s event is dedicated to the hospitality and the leisure sector and its capacity to heal.

“There will be training on meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibition and a specialist certificate course on tourism in Nigeria. There will also be discussions on themes woven around hospitality and standardisation in Nigeria,” he said.

In drawing up programmes for the event, Uko noted, Akwaaba went into a partnership with NIHOTOUR for the training of tourism professionals in Nigeria.

A panel that comprises Tana Forsuelo of Wavecrest, Victor Kayode of NHCI and Justina Ovat, president of Women in Hospitality Nigeria, will treat that subject, while the president of Golden Tulip Hotels, West Africa, examines how hotels have helped tourism industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and attendant lockdown in the topic: ‘The Role of Hotels in the Leisure Economy and Tourism Recovery.’

Since the Supreme Court Judgement of 2013, which took away the powers of the Federal Government to regulate tourism, how has the industry responded? What are the grey areas and what should the practitioners do? Chief Sam Alabi, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), will speak on ‘The Limits of State Regulation of Tourism and Hospitality Business’ The Fallout of that judgement is on ‘Hotel Classification’. The Topic will be discussed by the stakeholders and the three states

Oguntoye Twins’ Appointed as Ambassadors of Aje Oodua Worldwide Africa’s most famous twins in tourism, Ambassadors Taiwo and Kehinde Oguntoye, have been appointed as Ambassadors of Aje Oodua by the newly installed Iyalaje Oodua, Princess Toyin Kolade.

This was made known by the Iyalaje Oodua at the Adeline Hall, Lead City University, Ibadan over the weekend during the wedding ceremony of Governor Fayemi’s aide, Amb. Wale Ojo-Lanre. Iyalaje Oodua said the Oguntoye twins will make her team and entourage while traversing the world in promoting Yoruba culture and tradition.

Princess Kolade, who was recently installed Iyalaje Oodua

by His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Babatunde Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said the Oguntoye twins are unique in their style and the duo represent the cultural values of the Yorubas.

“The Oguntoye twin brothers will be joining my entourage

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in the world tour that will commence in a few months,” Iyalaje Oodua declared. The appointment, which was facilitated by Amb. Ojo-Lanre was applauded by Comrade Moses Olafare, the Director of Media & Public Affairs to the Ooni of Ife. In their joint acceptance, the twins, Oguntoye Taiwo and Kehinde said they have received several awards and appointments but this is special to them as it’s coming from the cradle of the Yoruba race. They appreciated Princess Kolade, the Iyalaje Oodua, for the kind gesture.

Oguntoye Taiwo and Kehinde are the first twins to be celebrated by the world busiest international airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, USA. They are also the initiators of the World Twins Festival.

Oguntoye twins are also the first twins from Africa to be honoured by the Chinese Government in Mojiang.

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The second panel will be on ‘Outbound Tours and Travel Tears’. What are the challenges do tour operators encounter in handling international tours? How can they be handled? A high level panel from leading travel associations, NATOP and NANTA, will treat this issue.

The panelists will include the current president of NANTA, Susan Akporiaye, and it will be moderated by the vicepresident of NATOP and Lagos Coordinator FTAN, Ime Udo. Other panelists are David Lamidi, the Co-Founder of Diamond and Pearl Travels; Shalom Asuquo -Ankoh of Travel Lab; Cecile Doumbe of CMD Tours; Odion Chigbufue of Tour Brokers International; Egbane Pelagie, the Chief Experience Curator at 3Cords Leisure and Vacation and Gbenga Onitilo of Wakanow.

The second batch of the Nigerian Tourism Specialist Certificate course, will also be held on Monday. The Top 20 Natural Wonders of Nigeria, the Naija 7 Wonders will be unveiled on November 30 by some special guests, all members of the Tourism 100 Club who were recently upgraded by the government and their respective associations.

They are Princess Surah Animashaun, who got elected as Chairman, EPE Local Government Area, Piriye Kiriyamo, who has been appointed as the Senior Special Assistant on Tourism to the Governor of Bayelsa State and Nkereuwem Onung, who got elected as the President of the Tourism Federation in Nigeria.

The exhibitions will end with the usual celebrations of Lagos Day at Akwaaba. Due to the pandemic rules, the Lagos Day will not be as elaborate as expected. The hosted buyer packages and boat cruise will not hold as usual but delegates will be hosted on December 1 to the opening ceremony of the Greater Lagos Fiesta by the Lagos State Government.

The organisers of Akwaaba African Travel Market recently launched search for Seven Wonders of Nigeria last year to draw attention to the tourism attractions in Nigeria. A committee made up of 150 top tourism practitioners in Nigeria, who are all members of the elite group of Tourism 100 Club. They have shortlisted 35 destinations for the public to choose from and the winners will be announced at Akwaaba.

Akwaaba is the largest gathering of travel professionals in West Africa with over 3,000 delegates attending. It has over the years become the meeting place for travel and tourism practitioners in Africa, and has drawn attendance from over 20 nations. Many VIPs have graced the event in the past, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of The Gambia, Late Dawda Jawara, the former Vice President of Nigeria, late Alex Ekwueme, the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Sir Emeka Anyaoku, former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, former Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke and Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State.

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EDITORIAL

Eclipse of Nigeria-China $2.5bn Currency Swap

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he success story that eluded the highly celebrated Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement (BCSA) between Nigeria and China, executed over three years ago, is a national embarrassment. It underscores the widely-held view that our policies are not often well thought out and backed by sufficiently scientific evidence.

Given the bilateral level at which the deal was struck and the official hysteria it generated, taking stock of its eventual collapse is, indeed, a sad narrative.

The deal, which commenced in June 2018, was intended to ameliorate the foreign exchange scourge that had inflicted the economy over the years.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had said that the BCSA was inspired by trade facilitation – to allow importers of goods from China to conclude their transactions in the Chinese Yuan instead of the US Dollar and vice-versa. This was meant to reduce the demand for the dollar and lift the undue pressure on the Nigerian Naira at the time – a strategy seen as consistent with the CBN’s naira management strategies.

The agreement was therefore meant to allow the two countries to swap a total of 15 billion yuan (Renminbi) for N720 billion (equivalent of about US$2.5 billion) or vice-versa for three years. It would be extended by mutual consent for the purpose of trade, finance and direct investment between the Peoples’ Republic of China and the Federal Government of

Nigeria, as well as to maintain the stability of the financial market.

There were strong voices against the currency swap such that it appeared to be wrapped in uncertainty. Experts expressed misgivings about the deal with China whose economy is overwhelmingly larger and stronger than Nigeria’s and with a strong manufacturing base competing with the US. Between 2013 and 2017, China had one of the fastest growing economies in the world, averaging slightly more than seven percent real growth per year. In 2015, the People’s Bank of China announced it would continue to carefully push for full convertibility of the Renminbi after the currency was accepted as part of the IMF’s special drawing rights basket.

In late 2015, the Chinese government strengthened capital control and oversight of overseas investments to better manage the exchange rate and maintain financial stability. It was on the heels of this that Nigeria offered to strike the BCSA deal, which experts insisted would hardly benefit her in the long run. They argued that Nigeria’s import from China far exceeded its export to that country.

Figures published in the NBS ‘Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics’ for Q1 2021 showed that China dominated the import component of Nigeria’s merchandise trade. This has been the trend for a long time and it accounts for 49 percent (N2.01 trillion) of N4.17 trillion, the total value of imports from Nigeria’s five major trading partners – China, Belgium, Netherlands, US and India, in the first quarter (Q1) of 2021.

Similarly, 30 percent (N2.01 trillion) of the

total imports (N6.85 trillion) from 10 listed countries and others during the period came from China. Nigeria’s imports from China has continued to rise exponentially, compared to other major trading partners, including those in Europe, Asia and America.

Nigeria (CBN) signed the currency swap deal with the People’s Bank of China (PBoC), Nigerians are yet to feel the impact of that arrangement, especially as the free fall of the naira, which is currently standing at N540/$1 at the parallel market, persists.

The NBS report revealed that Nigeria’s imports value from China in the last five years grew by N1.63 trillion. It rose from N383.9 billion in Q1 2017 to N530.98 billion in Q1 2018, and climbed to N979.3 billion in Q1 2019. In Q1 2020, the figure rose to N1.11 trillion and hit N2.01 trillion in Q1 2021, a rise of 24 percent.

Analysts have expressed concern that the naira might depreciate further against the yuan. This is because converting directly to the Chinese currency for transactions in China would be cheaper, but that was not going to happen. Instead, traders convert to US dollar and then to the yuan. Sadly, unnecessary delays, bureaucracy and corporate bottlenecks in accessing the yuan have been the experience for most traders involved in business transactions with Chinese firms and this has worsened the situation.

Three years after the Central Bank of

The deal has failed to make the desired impact on the stability of the naira, as bureaucracy and conversion bottlenecks slowed the utilisation of the window by Nigerians

The target of N720 billion to 15 billion yuan to be swapped in three years has not been met. Traders and importers still have to convert to US dollars and then to the yuan for business transactions with Chinese firms, which is expensive and leads to a constant hike in the prices of commodities imported from China, as the cost of operations is passed to the final consumers. Also, the value of the naira against the US dollar is still depreciating, selling at N520/US$ at the street market.

At present, importers from China have continued to trade in US dollars than convert directly to the Chinese yuan, despite the $2.5 billion currency swap deal for at least 15 billion yuan (Renminbi) between Nigeria and China three years ago. The deal has failed to make the desired impact on the stability of the naira, as bureaucracy and conversion bottlenecks slowed the utilisation of the window by Nigerians.

While the Chinese businesses preferred to deal in dollars, importers equally prefer US dollars as a medium of exchange in business transactions between them and Chinese companies.

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Austyn Ogannah Editor – Olaolu Olusina Deputy Editor – Amos Esele Politics Editor – Ayo Esan Business Editor – Sam Diala News Editor (Online) – Felix Oboagwina Copy Editor – Chux Ohai Cartoon Editor – Victor Asowata Entertainment/Society Editor – Ivory Ukonu Photo Editor – Peace Udugba Head, Graphics – Tosin Yusuph Circulation Manager – Victor Nwokoh

This, however, negates the principle of the currency swap deal, as the process is fueling hikes in the prices of goods coming from China, especially with the rate at which the naira is trading against the US currency.

It is obvious that the BCSA with China has not achieved its objectives as planned by our policy makers who initiated the deal. We therefore advise that the agreement should be revisited, retooled and thoroughly assessed so that its implementation will have the desired effect.

Nigeria Bureau: 36AA Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja. Lagos, Nigeria. info@thewillnigeria.com / @ THEWILLNG, +234 810 345 2286, +234 913 333 3888.

EDITOR: Olaolu Olusina @OLUSINA [Letters/Opinions: opinion.letters@thewillnigeria.com]

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In 2018, imports from China accounted for 25.12 per cent of total imports to the country, while China was not part of the top 10 export destinations of Nigerian products. There was a decline in 2019 to 20.49 per cent, which had defied the expectations of analysts, as goods from China were expected to be cheaper, following the currency swap deal, thereby increasing our imports from the country. But the reverse has been the case.

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OPI N ION

APGA: Soludo Moves to Step Into Ojukwu’s Shoes

BY OBI NWAUBALLA

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asking in the euphoria of his victory at the recently held Anambra State governorship election, former CBN governor, Prof Charles Soludo, last week gave the assurance that as governor, he would work hard to drive the popularity of his party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), in other parts of the country, adding that the party would no longer be regarded as a regional party.

In the same 2003, the party’s governorship candidate in Enugu State, Mr. Ugochukwu Agbala, was denied victory by then governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, who deployed the state’s power apparatus to retain his seat. And in 2011, the APGA took over Imo State, with Rochas Okorocha as governorship candidate.

The governor-elect, who made the commitment while speaking on Arise TV last Wednesday, said the APGA would “mainstream” its neo-progressivism and get Nigerians to buy into its ideas.

The party’s fortunes quickly went downhill, not helped

by Ojukwu’s death in 2011, Okorocha’s decision to abandon it in 2013 to join the All Progressives Congress and the subsequent uninspiring and merchantile leaders that emerged, following Okorie’s ouster as national chairman.

The last few days have been eventful in the life of Soludo, whose victory at the November 6 election poll is an expression of the people’s confidence in his ability to govern the state and proof that APGA is still the party to beat in Anambra.

Today, nearly 20 years on, APGA’s dream is closer to evaporation than actualisation. Now the onus of responsibility rests squarely on Soludo’s shoulders to turn this story around, especially as the country prepares for another general election in 2023.

As most Nigerians would agree, the governorship election was a make or mar battle for the party, a platform that has been in charge of Anambra for the past 15 years. A loss for the party in the election, which looked, at some point, like a looming possibility, would have meant the end of its existence. This possible outcome was not lost on Soludo himself, who had noted, during his campaign that his loss at the polls would mark the end of the platform.

Come March 2022, Soludo take over from Obiano as the party’s leader and his biggest task would be to take APGA beyond its present level. According to Chief Okorie, who does not see the party as being in total control of Anambra State, this will not be an easy task.

The party’s survival was the key issue in that little speech.

APGA had continued to hang by a thread, amid recurring internal crises. Soludo’s resounding victory meant that it survived its latest threat and would continue to survive for another four years, at least.

Although the governor-elect’s victory is a welcome relief and his commitment to drive its popularity would warm hearts, its future still hangs precariously in the balance.

Founded in 2002 by Chief Chekwas Okorie, who subsequently invited Chief Emeka Ojukwu to assume its leadership, Ojukwu became its candidate in the 2003 presidential election, but he lost the election to the then incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo, coming third behind Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, who was second. The idea behind its foundation was to have an South-East oriented political platform that would take charge of the region and challenge for power at the national level.

It did a good job of it initially, taking Anambra eventually in 2006, the year Peter Obi reclaimed his 2003 mandate and with Ojukwu, a widely respected figure among the Igbo, as its founding figure, it looked destined for greater exploits.

Both former governor Peter Obi and the incumbent Governor Willie Obiano, who should have succeeded Ojukwu as the party’s leader, failed to push it beyond Anambra. Although it is believed within the party’s circles that Obiano has done relatively well, even ensuring that the party made inroads in neighbouring Benue State, each time it spreads beyond Anambra, it quickly retreats into its shell.

This is perhaps due to the fact that, as many have posited, its successive leadership departed from its original mandate of being a rallying point for Ndigbo to become, like most other political parties, a place where positions go to the highest bidders. The consequence of which is the alienation of many, who had invested their emotions and resources, including those that initially saw it as a platform for the rekindling of the Igbo spirit.

this should be done urgently because 2023 election is fast approaching and neither the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nor the All Progressive Congress (APC) is likely to present a presidential candidate from the South-East.

With this commitment made, Soludo has his job cut out for him. First, he would have to think beyond Anambra.

His status as governor of the state puts him in a position to lead the South-East. Regardless, it won’t be an easy task.

Starting from Anambra itself, Soludo’s emergence as party candidate a few months ago nearly tore the party apart. It triggered a wave of defections, one capped by the defection, with just a few days to the election, of Dr Nkem Okeke, the state’s deputy governor, to the APC. Okeke’s defection, perhaps more than anything else, regardless of the suggestions that he was lured by APC, spoke to the degeneration of the party. Before him was Sunday Umeoduagu, erstwhile Board of Trustee member, who also pitched tent with the ruling party. Six members of the Anambra State House of Assembly also left for the APC. Soludo’s first task would be to reconcile aggrieved APGA members in Anambra, and perhaps encourage Mr Peter Obi, Obiano’s predecessor who left to join the PDP shortly after handing over to the incumbent governor, as both men fell bitterly apart, to return to the party.

Party chieftains are, however, upbeat, confident in their leader-in-wait’s ability to make a difference. One of them insists that the governor-elect must, however, look beyond Anambra to rebuild APGA. Noting that many southeasterners have very little or no confidence in the mainstream political parties, except the APGA, the party chieftain believes this is an opportunity the party to grow beyond Anambra.

Soludo’s emergence as governor is seen by many as another opportunity to reposition the party, a project he has now promised to undertake, but one that won’t be, by any stretch of the imagination, an easy undertaking.

They want Soludo to do things differently. They want him to put an end to the undemocratic practice of selling the party’s tickets for elective positions to the highest bidder and to address the threat posed by the party’s Anambra centric leadership, which has operated like overlords over other states, in order to achieve sustainable progress.

Soludo’s commitment may sound refreshing to the ears of many who have watched the party stagnate in the hands of leaders that saw no need to actively drive it beyond its original enclave. Okorie welcomes the vision with open arms and promises to help to reposition and restrategise the party, even as he has full confidence in Soludo’s ability to make a difference. According to him,

For a successful tenure as governor of Anambra State and leader of the APGA, Soludo must understand that to attract other southeastern states to the APGA ideal, he has to allow homegrown leadership to emerge. In other words, it won’t be a case of somebody sitting down in Awka and dictating who becomes a candidate for an office in Imo or any other state.

Andy Uba’s Fundamental Marketing Error

BY JOE ANATUNE

I

n the marketing community, to neglect or abandon old, established, loyal and trusted customers midstream in a competitive industry for new ones is a grave fundamental marketing error, which no well trained and experienced marketing chief executive officer has the luxury to make.

Such officer will automatically lose his job. Apart from the negative impact of such tactics on the bottom line, the fact is that it is very expensive to recruit new customers.

Mr Andy Uba’s flanking tactics of buying members (without even a feeble effort to rebrand himself) for his party a few months to the 2021 Anambra governorship election, was a fundamental error that can never produce the result he desires.. Instead, it will create illusions of success and frustration. Hopefully, time will heal the self-inflicted wounds.

Apparently smarting from a hugely disputed direct primary election and buoyed by a phantom APC THEWILLNIGERIA

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membership strength, Mr Uba and his team had the warped notion that they could buy members who could in turn buy other members. Whoever has been carrying the can of their party in the state was immaterial to them. The mercenaries they bought off the shelves as members, they figured, would give them victory and get out of their way.

While the macabre dance was going on, the old and long suffering members sulked. They felt left out, abandoned and deflated as they watched the mercenaries masquerading as APC members prance around the state, dropping crumbs here and there and arrogantly drumming sounds of war in place of contestations of ideas and values.

They boasted they would ‘ capture and conquer’ the state for Mr Uba, to the dismay of well meaning Ndi Anambra.

What we observed in most towns and wards, as Mr Uba busied himself purchasing new members, was a

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disaster bound to happen. The old members walked away in droves, while Uba was on air gleefully and intoxicatingly celebrating his newest catches. It was easy to decode his inner mood, even in the facade of his now infamous taciturn mien.

Obviously Mr Uba’s fascination with this single tactic was a display of ignorance of the multiplicities of factors that shaped the outcome of elections. We will not for free take him and his team through a short course on voters’ behaviour and habits.

So if Mr Uba’s reason of going to court to challenge the outcome of the freest election in recent history is premised on the ground that he bought mercenaries who should give him victory, he should for his own benefit perish the thought as it is both silly and puerile.

It will further erode his brand equity, which, sadly, is in the red. We can do an image perception audit for him, again on a fee and get a cut of his cookies. But on a serious note, he needs such audits going forward.

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N OV EMB E R 28 - DE CE MBE R 4, 2021 w w w.t hew illnige ria. c om VOL .1 N O.4 2

Cadbury: Investors Await Return of Good Old Days

BY SAM DIALA

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nvestors in Cadbury Nigeria Plc will continue to think back to the days when the company’s annual performances were written in figures that evoked joy and satisfaction. That was the previous five years (2011-2015).

A lot of things have changed since then. Between 2016 and 2020, the company’s fortunes nosedived, hovering around lower digits, an indication that it was bound to face hard times, as the tough operating environment lingered. While the third quarter (Q3) 2021 interim report of the company shows some improvement in its fundamentals, analysts say another full year is needed, after 2021, to confirm its return to the “good old days”.

After it experienced some challenges, including scandalous administrative practices that earned it very low scores in corporate leadership, the beverage and confectionery giant seems to have picked up its broken pieces and managed to bounce back. This earned it the admiration of market watchers amid mixed fortunes of the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) firms. Between 2011 and 2015,

Cadbury recorded impressive results in its fundamentals before slipping into its first loss (in 2016) during the 10-year period.

During the five-year period, profit after tax (PAT) dropped slightly from N3.67 billion in 2011 to N3.45 billion in 2012 or 6 percent, before jumping to its peak of N6.6 billion in 2013 or 91.3 percent. Thereafter, it dropped by 67.72 percent to N2.13 billion before crumbling to N1.15 billion or 46 percent in 2015. The season of lean times set in from 2016 with a loss of N296.4 million, which kick-started the last five years of low returns (2016-2020), prompting investors to look back to the “good old days” of the firm and share their joyful experience in the past tense.

From a loss of N296.40 million in 2016, the firm recorded a PAT of N300 million and N823 million in 2017 and 2018 respectively, representing 174.4 percent. Then it hit N1.07 billion in 2019 before it dropped to N931.82 million in 2020.

In case of return on investment, the multinational FMCG paid a dividend of 50 kobo in 2012 after seven years of dividend drought. The dividend trajectory continued Continues on next page

Restoring Aviation Connectivity in Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Phase ANTHONY AWUNOR discusses the International Air Transport Association (IATA) solutions that will facilitate international air travel worldwide

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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to adopt simple, predictable and practical measures to safely

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and efficiently facilitate the ramping-up of international travel as borders reopen.

Specifically, IATA urged Continues on next page

MORE INSIDE French Investors To Partner Ogun In Dairy Farm Production PAGE 35

BEDC Assures Customers of Improved Service, Complaint Resolution

Ecobank Warns Flour Mills Against Honeywell Deal

BY SAM DIALA

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cobank Nigeria Limited has warned Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc against the proposed acquisition of equity stake in Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, alleging that Honeywell Group Limited, the parent

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AVIATION/INDUSTRY Restoring Aviation Connectivity in Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Phase

Cadbury: Investors Await Return of Good Old Days

Continued from previous page

Continued from previous page

governments to focus on three key areas: simplified health protocols, digital solutions to process health credentials and COVID-19 measures proportionate to risk levels with a continuous review process.

The newly released policy paper titled, ‘From Restart to Recovery: A Blueprint for Simplifying Travel’ outlines the industry’s vision to address the complexity.

Conrad Clifford, the IATA deputy directorgeneral, says that as governments are establishing processes to re-open borders, in line with agreements at the Ministerial Declaration of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) High-Level Conference on COVID-19, the blueprint will help them with good practices and practical considerations.

He emphasises the need to move from individual border openings to the restoration of a global air transport network that can reconnect communities and facilitate economic recovery.

He says, “We must have processes in place to safely and efficiently manage the rampingup of international travel as borders reopen.

With over 18 months of pandemic operational experience and traveller feedback, we know that a laser focus on simplicity, predictability and practicality is essential. That is not the reality today.

“Over 100,000 COVID-19 related measures have been implemented by governments worldwide. This complexity is a barrier to global mobility that is exacerbated by the inconsistencies these measures have created among states”.

On the only way forward, Clifford explains, “Travel is important. Pre-pandemic, some 88 million livelihoods were directly connected to aviation. And the inability to travel freely by air has impacted the quality of life for billions of people. We know that travelers feel confident with the implementation of the COVID-19 safety measures. But they have clearly told us that the current travel experience needs to improve with better information, simpler processing and digital solutions.

“The Ministerial Declaration of the ICAO HLCC aligns with those of the G20 and the G7 in confirming that governments want to restore the social and economic benefits of global mobility. For that, industry and government THEWILLNIGERIA

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must work together with a common vision of processes that are convenient for travelers, effective for governments and practical for the industry”.

The blueprint emphasises simple, consistent, and predictable simplified health protocols.

Its key recommendations include removal of all travel barriers (including quarantine and testing) for those fully vaccinated with a World Health Organisation-approved vaccine and enabling quarantine-free travel for nonvaccinated travelers with a negative predeparture antigen test result.

These recommendations, according to the IATA, are supported by public opinion research on travelers, which revealed that 80 per cent believe that vaccinated people should be able to travel freely, while 81 per cent believe that testing before travel is an acceptable alternative to vaccination, just as 73 per cent believe that quarantine is not necessary for vaccinated travellers.

Furthermore, the IATA has suggested digital solutions to processing heath credentials. The body believes that travel health credentials (vaccination or testing certificates) should be handled digitally to enable travelers to complete the process in advance. This way, they can arrive at the airport ready to travel.

This will facilitate automated check-in processes and reduce airport queuing and wait times.

“

Over 100,000 COVID-19 related measures have been implemented by governments worldwide. This complexity is a barrier to global mobility that is exacerbated by the inconsistencies these measures have created among states

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on an uneven surface. It rose progressively to 130 kobo for each of 2013 and 2014 financial years, before recording a huge drop to 65 kobo in 2015 and 2016 or 50 percent. No dividend was paid in 2017. Between 2018 and 2020, the company paid dividends of 16 kobo, 49 kobo and 18 kobo for each of the three years respectively.

Earnings per share dropped from 117 kobo in 2011 to 50 kobo in 2020 as shareholders’ fund also dipped from N33.65 billion in 2011 to N13.54 billion in 2020.

The third quarter (Q3) 2021 unaudited interim report submitted to the Nigeria Exchange shows improved performance that could restore the 56-year-old multinational to the trajectory of better performance, even momentarily; but the impact of the low performance period could be deep. Revenue grew to N30 billion compared to N25.8 billion in Q3 2020 representing 16.28 percent.

PAT rose by 75.65 percent to N1.5 billion from 854.38 million in the corresponding period of 2020.

Total assets hit 42.27 billion in Q3 2021 as against N33.21 billion in Q3 2020 or 27.29 percent as the company struggled to beat down Cost of Sale, Marketing and Selling, Distribution and Administrative expenses in a high inflationary regime. Cost of Sale for Q3 2021 dropped to N24.42 billion from N30.51 billion in the corresponding period of Q3 2020 when businesses battled with COVID-19 restrictions and land border closure.

Stakeholders and industry experts believe that Cadbury can maintain the tempo of good performance, given the figures in the Q3 report. The beverage producing firm reported a 14.4 percent slump in export sales revenue to N3.3 billion in nine months in 2020 due to the pandemic and closure of the land border.

“We presume that Cadbury Nigeria Plc is coming out of the woods gradually. If the trend can continue for the fourth quarter of 2021 and first and second quarters of 2022, it might improve their share price also. But the management should endeavor to control cost which will be additional advantage”, said the National Co-ordinator, Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mrs Bisi Bakare.

The doyen of stockbroking and Director at UIDC Securities Limited, Mr Sam Ndata, described the latest result as an indication that Cadbury is getting back to good old days of good performances. He recalled that the ugly era of poor corporate governance practices and good leadership deficiency caused the

“

Good performance report of one year is not enough to conclude that the days of ruminating about the good old days are over. We need to watch the trend for the next two or three years because of human, environmental, government and other intervening factors firm a huge setback.

Ndata told THEWILL in a note that after having some problems during the tenure of a particular chief executive of the company, Cadbury had never been the same.

He noted that the beverage producing company has not recovered from the events of that period. “But with the consistency of good management in place, I can consider the latest signs as one of getting back to the good old days of good performance, ” he said.

A stockbroker and Head of Securities Trading at Planet Capital, Mr Paul Uzum, said that Cadbury is taking advantage of the high inflation rate that has given the FMCG firms the window of selling at much higher prices. He sees better days ahead for the beverage and confectionery giant, based on its Q3 2021 report.

“Many consumer goods firms seem to be doing better now because the high inflation rate has given them the opportunity to sell at much higher prices.

For Cadbury specifically, PAT for nine months almost doubled from N855 million to N1.5 billion, which is remarkable.

This is a good sign that the worst is over,” Uzum said in a note to THEWILL. The Corporate Communications and Government Affairs Department of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, did not respond to a request for comment.

However, a former senior member of staff, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told this newspaper that it was too early to conclude that the good old days had returned at Cadbury. “A good performance report of one year is not enough to conclude that the time of ruminating about the good old days is over. We need to watch the trend for the next two or three years because of human, environmental, government and other intervening factors.”

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CAPITAL MARKET

BY SOLA ONI

T

he concept of audacity of hope emanated from the keynote address delivered by Barrack Obama in just 20 minutes at the 2004 Democratic National Congress (DNC) when he was an Illinois Senator and Presidential aspirant. The address contains information on his family background and vision for America. It shot him to fame when he embarked on his presidential campaign in America. Some of the issues raised in the address formed the fulcrum of his presidential campaign. The ideas became published as his memoirs when he emerged President of the United States of America.

This week, investors worldwide are in the mood for World Investors Week (WIW), an annual event, initiated by the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), a leading global policy forum for securities regulators, to promote investor education and protection.

Our own Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is on the governing Council. It therefore directed all the securities markets in Nigeria to celebrate investors by symbolically ‘Ringing the Bell or Beating the Gong’, a euphemism for either opening or closing the market.

This informed the visit of students of the University of Lagos, Pan Atlantic University and Kings College to the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE) to ring the bell recently. It is all about exposing students to financial literacy. The initiative of IOSCO is not new to securities exchanges as they all know the essence of investor education.

It is as old as the history of The Nigerian Stock Exchange, which has metamorphosed into NGX after demutualisation. The same applies to investor protection. However, it is to the credit of the international body that World Investors Week (WIW) is a wakeup call for the regulators of securities markets to defend market integrity.

As the spokesman for The Exchange, in 2005, a senior colleague and I were sponsored to the Stockholm Stock Exchange in Europe to participate at the Intercontinental Investor Education Forum. The Stockholm Exchange was primarily chosen to enable us to have insight into how it demutualised in 1993, got listed in 2000 and made history as the first securities exchange to demutualise and list itself globally without investors, there is no securities market and without their trust, the securities market is on the way to extinction. At the core of market regulators’ duties is investor protection, while operators should be preoccupied with the creation of securities and innovative products and services to attract investors. It is settled in financial management that money has no colour, race or creed. It gravitates to wherever it is needed.

The securities market deals in intangible assets and therefore requires integrity of regulators and operators to build and sustain investor confidence.

The market exists to provide a platform that mobilises funds from surplus economic units and channels same to deficit ones. The market is guided by rules and regulations, while the market operators act as intermediators. Investor education

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Investors And Audacity of Hope

has widened in scope because of the rapid development in information and communications technology (ICT). It is ironic that worldwide, while many investors have made fortunes through the securities market, others have watched helplessly as their life savings vanished when the market moved against them.

The NGX is still contending with the flame of the global meltdown of 2008 as many investors in Nigeria have developed apathy to the market due to their massive losses. Some have died in the process, while some stockbrokers have either died or remained at correctional centres to date. Prior to the meltdown, drivers, mechanics, and other artisans became investment advisers in Nigeria. Many banks coerced their staff to obtain loans to take position in the securities market.

Swindlers, who paraded themselves as stockbrokers, made fortunes through over-ambitious investors who wanted to become instant millionaires. The market became predominantly short-term and securities prices were overvalued. It was a case of vicarious liability for the regulators, operators, and investors. Everyone is culpable.

The rest is history.

The substance and essence of this year’s World Investors Week is beyond bell ringing or gong beating, but a critical appraisal of how investor education and protection could be more effective.

Unarguably, the inclement operating environment in Nigeria, characterised by misalignment of fiscal and monetary policies, sub-optimal utilisation of the capital market by all tiers of government, forex scarcity, exchange rate volatility, unfriendly market policies and insecurity have discouraged many portfolio investors

“

Many banks coerced their staff to obtain loans to take position in the securities market. Swindlers who paraded themselves as stockbroker made fortune through overambitious investors who wanted to become instant millionaires. The market became predominantly short-term, and securities prices were overvalued

from participating in our market.

As we celebrate investors, the regulators and operators should intensify efforts on investor education and protection. The emergence of millennials and Generation Z demands for more creative means of growing retail investors in Nigeria. Market operators at various groups are also investing in investor education. The Exchange’s renewed approach towards capacity building for retail investors is commendable. In a population of over 200 million, less than six million retail investors is not comforting.

The NGX Investor Protection Fund THEWILLNIGERIA

(IPF), its multiple windows for disseminating information to investors, SEC’s complaints management framework, the commission’s resolve to sanction market infraction with dispatch, direct cash settlement of transactions, the policy on multiple subscription and efforts at addressing unclaimed dividends challenge, amongst others, are strategic means of connecting with investors to build trust in the market.

Managing investment risks at the normative level, an average investor is expected to understand risk and return tradeoff, personal risk profile, fundamentals of asset allocation, portfolio construction and rebalancing, analysis of financial ratios in an annual report and market timing to deploy technical or fundamental analysis for buy and sell orders. But at the positive level, few investors have the technical knowledge. As part of the key messages of this year’s Investor Week, investors should partner with securities dealers for investment advice.

The regulators and operators should harmonise relationship toward market development. High transaction cost on our market is still a bitter pill for investors to swallow. All efforts towards investor education speak to the future that there is audacity of hope for investors through the Nigerian financial market. Despite the challenges, the premier securities market, NGX, has been adjudged topmost in return on investment worldwide in recent past. The resilient market beacons alpha returns on investment Happy World Investors Week to all categories of investors.

Oni is the Chief Executive Officer, Sofunix Investment and Communications.

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BUSINESS NEWS BEDC Assures Customers of Improved Service, Complaint Resolution

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR

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L–R: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Limited, Mr. Temi Popoola, CFA; Chief Executive Officer, FMDQ, Mr. Bola Onadele; President, Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria (AIHN), Mr. Ike Chioke; Executive Commissioner Operations, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Dayo Obisan and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri during the 2021 Investment Banking Awards at Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos on 23/11/2021.

Ecobank Warns Flour Mills Against Honeywell Deal

FROM SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA

Continued from page 16

firm, has not been paying up the loans granted it by the bank.

Media reports disclosed a proposed deal between Flour Mills of Nigeria and Honeywell Group where Flour Mills would be acquiring 71.69 per cent of Honeywell Group’s stake in its listed subsidiary.

A statement by solicitors to Ecobank, Kunle Ogunba, and Associates, and addressed to the Managing Director of Flour Mills of Nigeria, cautioned the public and corporate bodies on the “danger inherent in dealing in any shares of the company.”

Ogunba said the lender had advanced several loan facilities, which included working capital disbursements, to Honeywell Flour Mills.

According to the bank, it was constrained to commence winding up proceedings against Honeywell Group Limited at the Federal High Court, Lagos in suit no: FHC/L/CP/1571/2015, due to the failure of the company to liquidate the said loan facilities It said: “However, while the said action was dismissed at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, it is pertinent to state that an appeal with appeal no: SC/700/2019 has been filed challenging the said decision at the Supreme Court (Notice of Appeal is herein enclosed and marked as Annexure C).

“Hence, the effect of the above is THEWILLNIGERIA

French Investors To Partner Ogun In Dairy Farm Production

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that there is currently a windingup action/proceeding pending against the said Honeywell Group Limited.

The bank quoted a provision of Section 577 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 as saying, “Where a company is being wound up by the court, any attachment, sequestration, distress or execution put in force against the estate or effects of the company after the commencement of the windingup is void.”

This, according to Ecobank, restricts Honeywell Group from proceeding with the sale of Honeywell Flour Mills to Flour Mills of Nigeria.

The statement read, “Consequently, we hereby demand that Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, in its best corporate interest, immediately cease and desist from consummating the subject transaction, which aims to divest the assets of a company being wound up (Honeywell Group Limited).

“Please be further informed that the assets of both Honeywell Group Limited and Honeywell Flour Mills Plc. are the subject of the winding-up action and thus based on the doctrine of “lis-pendens” (in addition to the provisions of CAMA supplied above) you are advised to refrain from dealing with the subject asset which forms part of the subject matter of litigation.”

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rench investors in dairy farm production are looking forward to partnering with the Ogun State Government in livestock and Veterinary Medicine to improve cattle value-chain for food security and job creation in the state.

Mr. Valor Iduh, a Senior Trade Advisor, said that investors from the French Embassy had concluded arrangement with the government to make use of the dairy farm in Odeda Local Government Area of the state for livestock investment.

Iduh said that the investors would be partnering with the government in the areas of livestock, livestock- feeding and Veterinary medicine to boost dairy farm production for economic development.

He disclosed this while meeting with the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, with delegates from the French embassy in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Odedina, however, said that the state government was fully ready to partner with the investors to increase dairy and livestock production in the state He added that the government had resolved to partner with investors to boost agricultural activities and create more investment opportunities, towards food security, job creation and economic empowerment.

“We are ready to create an enabling environment in terms of access to land, favourable policies and advisory services.

We already have a collaboration with the French Embassy in the Dairy Farm sector, which is situated in Odeda and we are ready to welcome more of such”, he noted The commissioner said the livestock sector in the state, particularly the cattle value-chain, had a lot of potential to be invested in, which would in turn benefit the youths and smallholder farmers.

•Continues online at www.thewillnigeria.com

he Management of BEDC Electricity Plc has assured customers of its commitment to resolving complaints during a Customer Complaints Resolution session organised by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in partnership with MacArthur Foundation recently in Benin City, Edo State.

The meeting had in attendance the BEDC Management led by the Chief State Head, Mr. Abel Enechaziam, with FCCPC representatives and NEMSA engaging customers and addressing issues bordering on customer service, metering, estimated billing, among others.

In his remarks, r Enechaziam said the company was committed to resolving issues bordering on power supply, metering and billing, adding that it had just put in place a robust complaints redress mechanism to ensure that complaints are resolved as at when due, a 24-hour contact centre that will allow customers to report service related issues and have access to the right information on the company’s services and operations.

“BEDC has a robust system put in place to attend to customers’ complaints. We are ready to attend to your complaints and lots of things are being done by the company to ensure that customers are happy,” he said.

According to Enechaziam, BEDC has commissioned some projects to boost network infrastructure and improve power availability to customers in its franchise and currently had lots of network expansion going on to boost customer satisfaction.

He assured that all complaints at the fourday session would be looked into one after the other and ensured that they are all resolved within reasonable time.

He also customers to report any unethical business practices within the network through the whistleblowing lines: 0903885-7888 or 0903-885-7889 or send email to customercomplaints @bedcpower.com.

“But, I can assure you. If you go through the process, you will get a review. You will get answers to your complaints,” Enechaziam said In his remarks, FCCPC’s Executive Commissioner, Operations, Dr Adamu Abdullahi, said the commission had been going around the country to listen to consumers’ complaints and othe essence of the forum is to discuss issues of BEDC and consumers of electricity with a view to resolving them.

He said it was the commencement of a four-day electricity consumer complaint resolution platform in Benin and that the platform was being organised by FCCPC in conjunction with the MacArthur Foundation.

The four-day complaint resolution session is a triage, a collaborative desk where BEDC customers can have their complaints attended to with a view of resolution, while also interacting with customers to identify the problems being experienced as a feedback for service improvement, with a view to resolving such complaints/issues to enable legitimate customers continue to enjoy improved service.

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SHOTS OF THE WEEK PHOTO EDITOR: PEACE UDUGBA [08033050729]

L-R: Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Business Director, Unilever West Africa, Soromidayo George; Company Secretary and Legal Director, Unilever West Africa, Bidemi Ademola; Managing Director, Unilever West Africa, Carl Cruz; Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engineer Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Chief Financial Officer and Supply Chain Director, Lafarge Africa, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi; Commissioner for Health, Ogun State, Dr. Tomi Coker; Human Resources Director, Unilever West Africa, Ola Ehinmoro and Head, Health Safety and Environment, Lafarge Africa, Olufolake Odegbami, at the official handover ceremony of Isolation Centre built by Unilever and Lafarge to Ogun State Government on 24/11/2021.

L-R: Rave TV presenter, Cyndy Ezeh; Convener, ArtFrika Fest, Ms. Bolatito Sowunmi; Public Relations Officer, Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari (left), and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN (right), during the decoration of the Security and Civil Defence Corps, (ASC), Abolurin Oluwaseun Olumide; MD/CEO Banix Motors, Ayobanjo Ibrahim Aide De Camp to the President, Colonel YM Dodo (m), at the State House, Abuja on 25/11/2021. and Director, Innovation and Business, Mr Segun MCMedal, during the unveiling of ArtFrika Fest at Dover Hotel, Ikeja Lagos on 23/11/2021.

L-R: Lagos SWAN Secretary, Bunmi Ogunyale; former Chairman Lagos, SWAN, Niyi Oyeleke; Brand Manager, Bet9ja, L-R: Wife of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hajia Hajara Alkali Baba; wife of the Speaker, House of Aisha Adams; Lagos SWAN Chairman, Debo Oshundun and SWAN Week Committee Chairman, Femi Solaja during Representatives/President, 9th House of Representatives Members’ Spouses Association (9th HORMSA), Mrs. the SWAN Week press conference held at the SWAN Secretariat, National Stadium Surulere, Lagos 25/11/2021.

Salamatu Gbajabiamila and wife of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Nafiza Idris Wase, during the maiden edition of HORMSA’s Project Uplift at the Kuchingoro IDPs camp in Abuja on 18/11/2021.

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IDIA AISIEN THE LUXURY INFLUENCER PAGE 37-42 THEWILLNIGERIA

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Journalist turned actress, Idia Aisien speaks with IVORY UKONU about her transition from broadcast journalism to acting and life as a luxury brand influencer

Aisien

I WANT TO BE CHALLENGED ON EVERY LEVEL IN ACTING – IDIA AISIEN

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“

And so, the Idia Project aims at showcasing positive stories from Africa. The project seeks to attract increased investment, capital flow and funding by instilling hope and a renewed faith in Africa

Aisien

hat led to your decision to veer into acting?

I have always been fascinated by the movies and the rise of Nollywood on the global scene. I am the kind of girl that likes to go to the cinema alone and settle down to watch almost every movie that is released, whether in the box office or on platforms like Netflix. I never imagined getting an opportunity to be on screen, but when it came I had to grab it. It was destiny.

Yes, absolutely.

What was it about you that made the producers think you could play the lead role in the remake of the movie, Nneka The Pretty Serpent?

I honestly went through the audition process, as well as the entire filming process with an open mind and I was just willing to learn. I think the character was searching for meaning in her life and I was going through the same thing after the loss of my father. I was moldable because I felt like I needed to prove myself. The producers could probably see that.

You started out as a model, modelling for quite a number of established brands and even walked both local and international runways. How did that aspect of your life shape you to become who you are today?

Modelling was an interesting field because it taught me a lot about rejection and it gave me a very thick skin. It was complicated because it made me feel very confident, but at the same time I was also aware that there will always be someone who is taller, skinnier or more beautiful than I am.

This has helped me to prepare for the real world.

Despite being praised for your interpretation of the role, looking back, do you think you did a good job of it or you could have done better?

I was honestly humbled by all the positive feedback I received for how I played the character. I gave every part of me to that role; and it was definitely the most mentally and physically exerting thing I’ve done in entertainment. Could I have done better at the time? No. Could I do better now?

You had your education and worked with a few media firms abroad. Why did you return to Nigeria instead of staying back to nurture your career?

Honestly, nurturing my passion in media was the initial plan and growing up, I always wanted to be a broadcaster for the Cable News Network. However, life had its own plans.

I was with the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission when I was hired by a private equity firm based in New

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What kind of movie production would you like to be part of in future and what roles would you prefer?

I would definitely love to continue in the path of big productions like Nneka The Pretty Serpent. But I would really love to explore being a full villain or play more action characters. I want to be challenged on every level in acting.

York City that was investing in banks across Africa. It was that job that brought me to Nigeria in 2016. A few months later I was offered an opportunity to host a lifestyle show on Spice TV. You later moved to Arise TV. What was the highlight of your career there?

I worked with Arise TV as a business anchor on the Global Business Report until March 2019. One of my proudest moments working for the news outlet was being able to go on the field to cover the Ita Faaji building collapse that happened in March 2019. The way the entire news network swung into action to cover the story was really admirable. It reminded me that that was the reason I studied journalism. Being a news anchor was my dream job. So it is an experience I will never forget. I learned so much on the job and it reminded me of working in the media in Washington, DC. As an influencer, how do you stay relevant enough in an era where almost everyone is an influencer, to catch the eyes of top brands?

Influencing for me is about being genuine and only focusing on topics you are genuinely knowledgeable about or on products you have actually tried. I also think being influential in a specific field, by building an audience first, will eventually make brands reach out to you so they can capitalise on your following.

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Growing up was very interesting for me. Although I had wealthy parents and eleven older siblings, my dad was very strict at the same time. He taught us to work for everything we had and he would always explain to me that money didn’t come easy. I miss growing up with our full house and all my siblings. We didn’t all live in the same country as we grew older, but we always made out time for family dinners and gatherings. My childhood is honestly what grounds me.

One of your parents is from Cameron. What is it like having parents of dual nationalities?

My mum is so different from my dad and it really shaped my idea of love. People don’t have to be exactly the same to find each other. Although they split up when I was very young, I see how committed she is to her family in Cameroon and her family in Nigeria and it’s very inspiring.

Aisien

You run the Idia Project. What is it all about and what is its impact in Africa and Nigeria specifically?

While working in the US, I was frustrated by the negative media portrayal of African countries and the fact that many people were ignorant of our cultures. In 2007, my American friend’s father asked me how excited I was to be in America and if I got my first set of clothes in the USA. As of 2014, I graduated with a Masters degree and people would still ask me if we had roads, airports and bridges in Nigeria.

I decided it was important to tell more stories about the progress being made in various industries across the African continent. Today, Africans are breaking various stereotypes in technology, commerce and various industries. Those stories just need to be told more and to a wider audience.

And so, the Idia Project aims at showcasing positive stories from Africa. The project seeks to attract increased investment, capital flow and funding by instilling hope and a renewed faith in Africa. Its mission is to eradicate poverty, promote sustainable growth and development, integrate Africa in the world economy and accelerate the empowerment of women, men and children by telling the other half of the story.

What would you say has been your greatest achievement in life so far?

My greatest achievement so far has been becoming the Global Brand Ambassador for Josien Holdings Limited, one of the largest distributors of wines and spirits for over 40 years. I had to work outside of my family name to prove that I was worthy and capable of promoting a drinks distribution empire. People might not know it, but it’s harder to gain respect and approval from people that have known you your whole life.

Any regrets about life?

If I could turn back time, I would have moved back to Nigeria much later than 2016. My move was premature and even though I was blessed with a progressive career, I didn’t fully understand the Nigerian market and audience. I was thinking like an American girl. There are so many things I believe I could’ve done better in my career. I also wish God had used me to stop my dad from traveling on the day he died. I know it was not in my hands, but I wish it had been different.

What are your criteria for determining the kind of brands you represent?

I really want to work with companies and brands that not only sell products, but also care about the consumer and tell a story. As a luxury consumer, I am mostly drawn to brands that focus on quality instead of quantity. For more mass targeted brands, I am drawn to companies that focus on impact and “feeling good.”

For someone looking at starting an influencing career, what advice would you give to help the person stand out from the crowd?

Find something that you’re really passionate about and create content around that consistently. The key is to keep creating authentic, engaging and fun content. Brands in that niche will eventually not be able to ignore you. Once you’ve solidified one subject area of content creation, you can start adding other facets. It is super important to do it organically and to focus and grow in one area at a time. If you rush into doing everything, people won’t understand what your personal brand stands for.

You have evolved over the years, constantly reinventing yourself. How would you describe your journey in the entertainment business?

I would definitely say that I keep evolving as my curiosity in different parts of media and entertainment grows.

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Aisien

Although all I wanted to do when I was growing up was to become a news anchor/ journalist for a major publication or TV channel, I’ve become fascinated with the strides that Nollywood is making globally. I love how fast the industry is growing in terms of production and more. When I was called to audition for Nneka The Pretty Serpent, it was a dream I didn’t know I had.

You come from a fairly wealthy home. Your dad was a champagne magnate and your mum a jeweller. What was growing up like?

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You were once quoted as saying a woman can have it all and so much more. What life experiences have you had that informed such statement?

I think the way to work around having it all is realising that life happens in different stages and phases and we have to prepare ourselves so we can embrace them all. When I was younger, I would work two or three jobs at the same time because my priority was my career and making money.

Nowadays my priorities are different. So the most important thing is being able to work on what I’m passionate about and prepare to build a family at the same time with my future husband.

How do you unwind when you aren’t working?

I love to watch movies and I love going out for drinks with my friends. Recently, I’ve been craving my first ‘baecation.’

What does the future hold for Idia Aisien?

I hope to act in more films within and outside Nigeria.

I’m going to film school soon to sharpen my acting skills.

It would be nice to also have my own clothing line or merchandise soon. As for the IDIA Project, it’s in the fundraising phase and we hope to come back stronger next year.

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STORIES BY IVORY UKONU AND SHADE METIBOGUN

FUNMILOLA OLOTU, SIJIBOMI OGUNDELE IN ALLEGED SECRET ROMANCE F

unmilola Olotu the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Lotteries and Sijibomi Ogundele, luxury real estate entrepreneur and promoter of the Sujimoto brand are rumoured to be involved in a hush-hush relationship. Exactly two weeks after hosting a lavish party in April, which had Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in attendance, to celebrate her 38th birthday at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Funmilola openly appreciated three people whom she said had made a huge impact in her life. Beside the governor, who she thanked for giving her appointment, she expressed her gratitude to her bestie, actress and movie producer, Funke Akindele-Bello and Sijibomi, who she fondly calls Suji. She described him as having a positive influence in her life and always pushing her to break all limits.

While there is nothing wrong about both of them being in a relationship, theirs seems to be quite different from most other relationships. With Funmilola appearing to be the one doing all the loving, it looks like a one-sided relationship.

Not once has Sijibomi ever openly declared his affection for Funmilola nor appreciate her. Apart from attending her birthday party, he didn’t even wish her a happy birthday on his social media page. As a ladies’ man, who has been linked to quite a number of women and is alleged to

KWAM1 Disagrees With Best Friend Over New Wife K

Olotu

be partly responsible for the breakup of a prominent businesswoman’s marriage, he tries not to be openly linked to any woman for reasons best known to him. Whether blinded by love or just past caring, Funmilola would do anything, even if it means using the state’s resources, to show that she cares about him.

THEWILL reliably gathered that Funmilola is allegedly providing Sijibomi, who is planning a huge burial ceremony for his late father in Ilesha, Osun State sometime next month, with security escorts.

Known to be a social climber, Sijibomi apparently sees Funmilola as a means to an end. Sources claim e le that he doesn’t really care about Ogund her and only sees her as a means of getting Governor Sanwo-Olu’s ‘sold out’, at a private launch at the attention.

Intercontinental Hotel in Victoria While Funmilola is a qualified social Island, Lagos to a gathering of entrepreneur with certification on prominent dignitaries, private social sector management and sector leaders, captains of 15-year working experience in industry, property aficionados and telecommunication, public service prospective investors, many waited and tax administration, Sijibomi on with bated breath to see him work his part appeared out of the blues the magic he promised. But this is about nine years ago to invade the 2021 and nothing has been heard business community, selling luxury about the Lorenzo project, which real estate portfolios. Armed with was touted to be Africa’s tallest a well-crafted narrative about his building and was meant to be antecedents and his projections, situated at Banana Island, Ikoyi. Two Sijibomi somehow managed to get years after, he launched another the attention of Nigeria’s biggest project, Lucrezia de Medici, a 14 business moguls. floor luxury building. Hopefully, this In 2015 when he launched, his time, investors will finally get to see project, Lorenzo by Sijimoto and the finished product.

ing Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, the Maiyegun of Yorubaland, and Bolaji Basia are not only best friends, but they are also known to always protect each other’s interests.

In all the time that the Fuji musician indulged in countless love affairs and got married to different women, whom he always ‘discarded’ for a new lover, Bolaji always stood by him and sometimes, took the rap for his indiscretions. Same thing applies to KWAM1, who particularly stood

by Bolaji during his alleged affair with Nollywood actress, Bukky Wright, which almost consumed his marriage.

KWAM1 ensured that the actress’ plan didn’t materialize. He played a major role in reconciling Bolaji with his long suffering wife.

However, KWAM1’s indiscretions which have become too numerous, have proven too much for Bolaji to handle and he recently had no choice but to react to his friend’s latest acquisition. After initially aligning with him on his decision to marry beautiful mother of four, Emmanuella Ropo, he later began to post cryptic messages with the picture of KWAM1 and his new wife suggesting that he isn’t exactly in support of the union.

Then days after the wedding, while congratulating the newly married, he reiterated how he had to pay the price for his loyalty to his friend by fending off critics who think KWAM1 is going overboard with the way and manner he switches interest in women.

He wished his friend’s new wife maximum patience and endurance in her marriage. He

Basia however revealed his resolve not to attend his friend’s wedding having attended too many in time past and hoped that he may be compelled to ‘accept’ the new wife if and when she welcomes a child with KWAM1.

He also didn’t forget to remind his friend of his philandering nature and how he knows that his marriage to Emmannuella won’t be the last, and wished that he stops dumping one woman for another but to learn to accommodate all since he has the

The Marshals wherewithal to successfully manage all of them.

Naturally, this unsolicited advice didn’t go down well with KWAM1 who slammed his friend for wishing him ‘evil’. He said he would refrain from laying a curse on his friend or anyone who is against his union with Emmanuella, adding that he is more than convinced that God will make his union with Emmanuella be his last, outlast his critics and he would grow old together with her.

The 64 year-old singer, who already has about 40 children, has been married several times to different women. Each time any woman catches his fancy, he leaves his current wife for her. Before he met Emmanuella, he was married to Titi Marshall, who was previously married, left her marriage for socialite, Gbenga Islander, one of KWAM1’s benefactors, before making a beeline for KWAM1 himself whom she has been with for years.

Controversy Trails Senator Adeola How Rev Ezekiel Battled Ill Health Till His Last Day Solomon’s Chieftaincy Title I O lamilekan Adeola Solomon, otherwise known as Yayi, the lawmaker representing Lagos West District at the 9th National Assembly will soon be installed as the Aremo Oba of Yewaland in Ogun State. But the installation ceremony is currently mired in controversy. A group known as the Ogun West Liberation Forum has protested that plan to install him as the Aremo Oba of Yewaland has not followed due process. Besides, his origin is said to be a source of concern to stakeholders from the area.

The group stressed that the title is highly coveted and must be conferred on an indigene of Yewaland whose lineage is known. It accused the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, of taking such a sensitive decision without consulting the Yewa Traditional Council. It said the death of some first class monarchs within the council had left their stools vacant and until such stools are occupied, no such decisions from the Olu of Ilaro would

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Solomon be accepted.

However, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle has insisted that there will be no going back on the official installation of Senator Solomon as the Aremo Oba of Yewaland. He described those opposing it as just playing politics.

The monarch stated that Yayi

was chosen because of his contributions to the development and growth of Yewaland. He praised the lawmaker for remaining one of the prominent indigenes of Yewaland whose leadership qualities endeared him to traditional rulers and stakeholders in Ogun State.

He said the decision to honour Yayi was taken long ago, but put on hold because the political climate was not favourable at the time. Contrary to claims that the Senator Solomon is not an indigene of Yewaland, the traditional ruler shed some light on the lawmaker’s origin, describing him as a “son of the soil” from Onibata compound, Pahayi in Ilaro, Ogun State. Ironically, the controversial senator he is already looking forward to representing Ekiti South in the next general election. So we wonder, where is Senator Solomon really from? Is it Lagos, Ogun or Ekiti State?.

Ezekiel

t is no longer news that Rev Obiora Ezekiel, the founder and general overseer of Christian Pentecostal Mission, CPM, is dead. What is however news is how the 78 year-old cleric battled several health issues until he gave up the ghost. The predicament of Rev Ezekiel, who was a fiery preacher and an apostle of strict and austere Christian living, began about 20 years ago when he suddenly went blind. Many thought that would be the end of his ministry, but they were wrong.

The cleric kept ministering on the pulpit and would quote scriptures accurately, despite not being able to read. His ministry continued to flourish and many who were in awe of how he was able to pull

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through flocked to his church. Some years later, he became confined to a wheelchair, but it slowed his pace rather than stop him from preaching the gospel and his wife, Rev Mrs Mercy Ezekiel, had to take full charge of running the ministry. He battled several ailments, which prevented him from appearing in the public.

This became the pattern for some years until he finally gave up the ghost on November 21, 2021.

He is survived by his wife, three adopted children and one biological daughter, Ogechi Ezekiel, who manages the South African branch of the church. Ogechi used to be married to Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo and the marriage produced a son.

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STORIES BY SHADE METIBOGUN

Sinclair

F

ormer Big Brother Naija reality show housemate, Timmy Sinclair, otherwise known as Trikytee, has called out popular beverage producing company, Pepsi, for failing to fulfill its promise to take him on a trip to Dubai after he won a contest allegedly sponsored by the company during Season 5 of the Big Brother Naija reality TV show.

Trikytee had teamed up with fellow housemate, Ozoemena Chukwu, simply known as Ozo, to showcase their dance moves and musical prowess as they performed some popular hit songs by Augustine Miles Kelechi, also known as Tekno.

The erstwhile housemates had both put up a

EX-BBN HOUSEMATE CALLS OUT PEPSI OVER UNFULFILLED PROMISE

puzzle with the Tekno’s face before performing of the artiste’s song in the presence of other housemates. After a brilliant performance, they were rewarded with one million naira each, a year’s supply of Pepsi’s products and an all-expense paid trip to Dubai to attend the One Music Fest, a platform showing Africa’s best and brightest talents with the aim of solidifying Africa’s position within the entertainment industry on a global level.

Trikytee however alleges that Pepsi did not fulfill that part of their agreement one year after. He was elated when the trip was announced because he had never been on an international flight before, but his hope was dashed after the promise was not fulfilled.

Why Cute Abiola Was Detained by Nigerian Navy

A

Dominic

RITA Davido, Nengi Spark Dating Rumour DOMINIC M SPOTTED WITH BABY BUMP usic star, Davido real name David Adeleke and reality TV star, Rebecca Nengi Hampson, also known as Nengi, are alleged to be neck deep in a secret romance. Both of them were spotted in Dubai a few days before Davido celebrated his 29th birthday. The two had resolved to keep their love affair secret until they were exposed in Dubai.

It was gathered that Nengi, rumoured to have caused the breakup of his relationship with baby mama Chioma Avil, and Davido both lodged in the same hotel and kept each other company, but the singer was said to have disrespected the reality star by locking her outside their hotel room. It turned out that Davido had gone clubbing and when he returned to the hotel, it was in the company of five strange ladies.

Davido allegedly threw the reality star outside the room they both shared and locked the door. His crew, who had accompanied him on the trip THEWILLNIGERIA

week ago, the social media space was agog after news of the disappearance of popular skit maker, Abdulgafar Ahmad Oluwatoyin, otherwise known as Cute Abiola, appeared online. His colleague, Debo Adedayo, also known as Mr Macaroni, sounded the alarm that Cute Abiola had gone missing. The Nigeria Navy however released an official statement through their spokesman, Suleiman Dahun, saying that the content maker was not missing, but in their cell. According to him, Cute Abiola breached the Armed Forces social media policy and was being punished. He further added that Abdulgafar was called for interrogation by his superiors while still on leave, but he waited till the expiration of his leave before reporting to the office, an act which was labeled as insubordination by the authorities. This led to his arrest and detention while awaiting trial.

THEWILL reliably gathered that one of the reasons for

detaining the talented actor was his appearance in Funke Akindele-Bello’s Jenifas Diary. He uploaded a video of the sitcom on his social media space. In the video, Cute Abiola played the role of a police officer. He was wearing a police uniform and playing with a gun. He also displayed a bottle of local bitters, an alcoholic beverage and he was acting as if he was drunk as he entered a vehicle. The post did not go down well with the Navy as it was contrary to the code and ethics of the military.

The skit maker was labeled a perpetual violator of the Nigeria Armed Forces social media policy, who likes to use the military uniform for skit making. He has used uniforms belonging to the Police, Army and Navy to act in skits and also taken pictures which are usually posted on his social media space. He was once arrested in 2020 when his birthday pictures, which were taken in his naval uniform, appeared online.

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Hampson & Adeleke to Dubai, attempted to get a room for Nengi in the same hotel, but they didn’t succeed. They had to take her to another hotel for the night.

The singer did not show remorse for his behavior towards Nengi. The issue degenerated into a fight and they were all thrown out of the hotel by the management. After news THEWILLNG

of her being spotted with Davido surfaced, Nengi tried to cover up by posting pictures of a different location. She claimed that she was in France when the incident occurred. She was one of those who responded to Davido’s recent request for cash donations with the sum of N1 million.

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ollywood screen goddess, Rita Dominic has allegedly embarked on a ninemonth course. The actress is set to welcome a baby soon. A video of the actress rocking a cute baby bump surfaced on the Internet while she attended the burial ceremony of Mrs Joy Ementa Anosike, the matriarch of the Anosike family and mother to her fiancé, Fidelis Anosike, in Umueri, Anambra State. The actress was the hostess at the burial, welcoming guests and ensuring that the event was a huge success.

THEWILL recalls that Rita and Fidelis have been an item for a while now. The beautiful actress unveiled him last December as her significant other. They are also engaged. Anosike is the founder of Folio Media Group, a multi-media company, which owns Daily Times.

Oluwatoyin

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latter begged her to give the cash equivalent. This is not the first time that Ololade, who is a real estate entrepreneur, would be shower love on the actress. Being a generous soul, she gave Iyabo Ojo a Range Rover Evoque last year.

IYABO OJO SHUTS DOWN LAGOS FOR MOM’S REMEMBRANCE Actress cum entrepreneur, Iyabo Ojo rolled out the drums last Sunday to celebrate her late mother, Mrs Olubunmi Victoria Fetuga’s one-year remembrance and final burial ceremony. The event, which was well attended by her colleagues, business associates and friends will remain one of the most talked about for a long time. Here are the behind-the-scene gists from the event as compiled by SHADE METIBOGUN.

Ojo

Iyabo Ojo’s Five Dazzling Dresses The hostess dazzled guests and stole her own show with five different dresses at the event. The gorgeous clothes were made by some of the best hands in celebrity styling in Lagos State: Toyin Lawani and Abiodun Folashade Tokunbo, otherwise known as Ceo Luminee Great Support From Iyabo Ojo’s Friends Iyabo Ojo enjoyed tremendous support from her close friends who stood by her in her time of need. Most of them were up and doing during the event and ensured guests enjoyed the party. They were all early callers at the event venue to oversee and coordinate activities on behalf of Iyabo.

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bout late Mrs Olubunmi Victoria Fetuga Iyabo’s late mother died in her sleep on Saturday, November 21, 2020 at the age of 67. She suffered from schizophrenia, a mental disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel and behave. She was buried on Friday, November 27, 2020, at Ebony Vault Cemetery, Ikoyi, Lagos. A few weeks after her demise, Iyabo boasted of celebrating the one-year anniversary of her death in a grand way, which she fulfilled on Sunday, November, 21, 2021.

Ojo

Jide Kosoko, Iyabo Ojo Bury The Hatchet Seasoned actor, Prince Jide Kosoko, who ensured Iyabo was suspended when she had a row with her colleague, Yomi Fabiyi, over Baba Ijesha’s sexual molestation case a couple of months ago, made it to the event. Kosoko had at that time vowed to ensure that both Iyabo and another actress Nkechi Blessing were barred from acting in any Nigerian movie. His presence at the party showed that he had buried the hatchet with Iyabo as he strutted around the hall like a father of the day.

The Venue The ceremony took place at upscale Monarch Event Centre in the Lekki area of Lagos. There was a red carpet which covered the floor from the entrance of the hall to the stage. The hall was decorated with beautiful flowers and two large portraits of the deceased were placed at strategic points in the hall.

The Aso-ebi There were two signature aso-ebis or ceremonial clothes, which Iyabo’s female guests were expected to wear. They came in two shades of blue; royal blue and sky blue. The headgears also came in two colours; royal blue and royal blue mixed with gold. The men wore the signature sky blue material with royal blue cap. Some guests bought both varieties and ensured they wore them before the event came to an end.

The Compere Gbenga Adeyinka and veteran actress, Abiola Atanda, professionally known as Madam Kofo, handled proceedings at the event with dexterity. The synergy between the two made the evening a fun-filled one for all the guests in attendance. They both wore the signature aso-ebi for the evening.

The Hostess’ Grand Entrance Iyabo Ojo and her siblings were ushered in by praise singers all the way from Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State. They sang praises of the Fetuga family as guests cheered them on. Traditional dancers later took over the stage as they danced to melodious tunes from the praise singers. Iyabo also danced to the music before proceeding to her seat.

The Music Band Samson Egbeyemi and his melodious band was the first to take over the music stage. Many were not disappointed as he sang different songs to the delight of the guests. Gospel music star, Lanre Teriba, also known as Atorise, entertained the audience for about 15 minutes before handing over the microphone to the next artiste, a 12-year-old saxophonist called Temilayo Adeniyi. She was applauded for her brilliant performance. Wasiu Ayinde Marshal more popularly known as K1 de Ultimate also thrilled guests with his performance.

The king of Fuji music, who should have been away on honeymoon after his marriage to delectable mother of four, Emmanuella Ropo, was able to make it to the event.

Between Toyin Ajeyemi and Anita Joseph Actresses, Toyin Ajeyemi and Anita Joseph were the envy of single ladies as they both drew the attention of other guests alongside their respective spouses. Toyin and her husband Kolawole were seen sharing hot kisses while Fisayo Olagunju, also known as Mc

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Ojo Fish, took time to massage Anita Joseph’s tired feet as the ceremony progressed. However, this PDA didn’t sit too well with some Nigerians who lashed out at her. Her fans believe she shouldn’t have allowed her husband massage her feet in public. They said doing so sends a wrong signal on how she treats her husband at home.

Cash Gifts Many of Iyabo Ojo’s friends gave her money to help with the planning of the ceremony. Tiwa Savage was the first to give her the sum of N500,000. Diamond Anjolaoluwa Morenike, also known as Temmy Diamond, gave her N300,000. Princess Toyin Kolade, the Iyalaje Odua, also donated money and 40 cartons of wine to the hostess. Iyabo received another gift of half a million naira from Alhaja Omolara, a very close friend of hers. Popcola donated a truck load of drinks, while many of her colleagues and friends fell over themselves to give her either monetary gifts, cows, drinks or food items.

Lots of Souvenirs Branded gift items for guests started coming in from Iyabo’s friends and colleagues a few days before the event. Wanguru Foods sent branded cups. Oyindamola Adedejo, one of her colleagues and friend sent customised throw pillows and t-shirts for the event. Other gifts included branded table water, branded carbonated drinks, customised mugs and flasks, bottles, cutlery and others.

Toyin Lawani and Husband Sent Tongues Wagging Controversial fashion designer and stylist, Toyin Lawani, made her husband, Segun Wealth, to tie the gold and blue signature headgear meant for the female guests on his head. He was the cynosure of all eyes as he stepped into the event venue.

Those Who Shunned the Event Some movie practitioners shunned the party and failed to celebrate the actress on their social media pages. The likes of Yomi Fabiyi was not in attendance, though he stated that he bore no grudge against the actress. Faithia Balogun and Funke Akindele-Bello were also absent. Both actresses are not on speaking terms with Iyabo.

Funke Akindele was one of the people Iyabo called out for allegedly discrediting Toyin Abraham-Ajeyemi’s movie, The Ghost and the Tout. Iyabo also had a beef with Faithia Balogun, who went to town with the tale that Iyabo slipped into a coma after undergoing a body enhancement surgery in Turkey. Both Iyabo and Faithia also fought over Gbenga Noble, a.k.a Asiwaju Istanbul, who was their benefactor. Also, the National President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Bolaji Amusan, was not in attendance, too. He was instrumental to the suspension notice served to the actress a few months ago. Same with Adebayo Salami and his son Femi Adebayo.

Olori Sekinat Elegushi and Oba Saheed Elegushi attended Olori Sekinat Elegushi seems to have made it a point of duty to always attend events held in her much sought-after event centre, Monarch Event Centre. She was at Iyabo’s party in the company of her husband, Oba Saheed Elegushi, and she really did let her hair down.

Toyin Abraham-Ajeyemi’s Pepper Gift The actress took the event to a different level by sharing fresh pepper in customised bags to guests as they were about to leave the venue for their respective homes.

Peter Okoye ‘Sprayed’ Cash on KWAM1 It was naira rain all through the duration of the party, but Peter Okoye’s style of naira rain didn’t sit well with some of KWAM1’s fans.

Peter virtually poured wads of naira notes on Wasiu’s head. Wasiu, who doesn’t like to be sprayed in that manner and has publicly said so, couldn’t stop him.

Ololade Abuta’s Special Gift Dr Ololade Abuta, Iyabo Ojo’s god daughter, had some special gifts for the actress. She had planned to donate 26 cows to Iyabo, but the

The Roll Call Iyabo’s immediate constituency, Nollywood, particularly the Yoruba speaking section, was well represented at the party.

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Mama Roz’s Chronicles

The Sabbath Murder Prison Series (1)

BY ROZ AMECHI

With the failing security in Nigeria and the fall of societal values, an increasing number of people are committing capital offences and receiving death or long sentences. Through the narration of the personal stories of the inmates, this Prison Series seeks to examine some of the social issues that have led to the incarceration of inmates on death row (also known as ‘condemned’) and those with life sentences with a view to educating the public particularly the youth about situations and choices that could be avoided.

Chioma’s Story Part 1

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hioma sat in front of her husband, Nnamdi while she listened to her mother-in-law, Nneka’s list of complaints against her. Neither she nor her husband spoke while Nneka was talking. Chioma had tried to interrupt her but Nnamdi, sensing that she might have something to hide, cautioned her to remain silent until Nneka finished speaking. “I have been dealing with her rudeness since she came here. She is very stubborn and does not listen to anything I say. When you are not around, she does not even go with me to the farm. She only pretends when you visit”.

As she talked, she was watching her son to see if her words were making any impact.

Every time he came home to visit, there was a long list of complaints on both sides and she could see that he was beginning to lose interest.

Nneka was tired of her daughter in law. In her opinion, she was definitely not wife material. She couldn’t run any errands and she didn’t even take proper care of her own children. Their relationship had been strained from the first day they met but her son was so besotted with Chioma’s beauty, he would not listen to anything his mother said. Over the years their relationship had deteriorated rapidly and since Chioma moved to the village, it had hit rock bottom.

They barely spoke to each other now except to exchange rude comments or argue. Chioma had a violent temper and an unforgiving nature. Nneka would do anything to make her son send her away but nothing seemed to work. She paused for a minute, just for effect to make her next words sink in. She was going in for the kill. She started again and slowly delivered the final jab. “But all that is not even the main thing” she continued “the worst part is that every evening she will sit in front of the house with Onochie the wine tapper’s son till everyone has gone to sleep. No one knows what they are doing there”. She left that last bit hanging as she looked up to see the effect this new information had on her son; she was not disappointed. Nnamdi’s head snapped up and his eyes narrowed as he turned to Chioma. “Is this true?”, he asked her. His interest was stirred now and he watched her closely to detect any signs of guilt.

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Chioma said nothing.

She just lowered her eyes and remained silent. She wasn’t going to say anything.

There was no point.

No one would believe her anyway. Indeed, she had been talking to Onochie as her motherin-law said but he was just her friend. That does not mean there was anything untoward between them but she knew it looked bad.

Married women were not supposed to have nocturnal meetings with men so what could she say? She knew her mother-in-law had played her trump card and this might just be the end but she would play it cool to see if she could wiggle out of it as she had done with other accusations in the past. This was not the first one. The last time it was Kelechi another close friend, another innocent relationship and before that it had been Kene. Her mother-in-law spent all her time watching her like a detective and couldn’t wait for her son to return to start presenting her reports.

Sometimes she would even send for him.

Each time it would end in a big fight and Nneka would be happy to see them quarrel. As far as she was concerned, Nneka was a wicked witch who had married her own son in the spirit realm hence she was so jealous of her.

“

It was around this time also that Chioma started her journey with the Sabbath (white garment) church. She had met a prophetess popularly known as Mama Jo who wanted her to ‘work’ with her in the church. Working in the church meant seeing visions (which Mama Jo said she had a gift for), prophesying, conducting special prayers and collecting tithes and other payments

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while. She had completed her WAEC and NECO exams and passed all her subjects but she wanted to work for a while before continuing her education.

Her plan had been to go abroad for further education. She had hoped that if she worked for a couple of years, she would be able to get a student visa. She had it all worked out and she was very hopeful. Her parents had moved from Lagos to Abuja by this time and she had joined them there.

Her father was a driver for a foreign company and her mother worked for the government. They had all lived together with her siblings in Nyanya.

Chioma was the second to the last of the six children.

It was around this time also that Chioma started her journey with the Sabbath (white garment) church.

She had met a prophetess popularly known as Mama Jo who wanted her to ‘work’ with her in the church. Working in the church meant seeing visions (which Mama Jo said she had a gift for), prophesying, conducting special prayers and collecting tithes and other payments. She didn’t want to work in the church but she started attending services regularly.

Chioma didn’t even understand why she was in the village in the first place. She had been living with her husband in Owerri. They were very happy when they were living together without Nneka. Her husband was very industrious. He was working and also ran a little business on the side.

He sold cars which his brother sent to him from Germany. He always gave her money when she needed it and they had a nice house. She didn’t want to go to the village but Nnamdi wanted to study and felt it would be too much for him to manage studying, working and taking care of his family at the same time. Also, his mother was getting old and he thought Chioma could take care of her and assist her with the farming so that they could have another income stream. But instead, all they did was quarrel.

When he couldn’t get a response from Chioma, Nnamdi knew the answer. It was not the first time a similar accusation had been made but she would never confess. If you like question her for several days, she will continue to deny. But in the absence of concrete evidence how can you prove anything? Nnamdi had his suspicions.

Why must all her friends be men and why must she always meet them late at night? He knew his mother was right about Chioma but he didn’t know what to do about it anymore.

If he sent Chioma away, who would look after his children? This was really his dilemma and the reason he had not ended it but how much more could he take?

Chioma’s mother and grandmother provided the answer to their problems the next day. Chioma had gone with

the children to Mbaise to visit the two old women. She told them what had transpired with her mother-in-law. Her grandma was furious. “When will this end?” she fumed. “Does that woman want to kill you for us?”.

Chioma had lived with her grandmother for several years as a child, throughout her primary and secondary school in fact. Her parents were living in Lagos when she was born and as a very young child, they took her to Mbaise to live with her maternal grandmother. She was the apple of her grandma’s eyes and she could do no wrong. Grandma ignored Chioma’s stubborn and wilful spirit and always made excuses for her bad behaviour. Sometimes she would spend hours begging Chioma to help her with her chores till the neighbours came out to join in the pleading. But Grandma would not get angry. “It is because she is very intelligent” she would explain to anyone who cared to listen. Usually no one did. Chioma was actually quite clever though and got top grades in school. She was going to be a medical doctor and Grandma had looked forward to being called Nnenne Doctor.

Chioma’s mother agreed with Grandma. If this state of affairs continued, it could be very damaging to Chioma’s health. She suffered from severe migraines which was the reason she had not achieved her ambition to study medicine. After secondary school Chioma had decided to take a break from school for a

Mama Jo was a powerful prophetess with the Cherubim and Seraphim church and had the ‘sight.’ She had told Chioma that her dreams to go abroad and become a doctor would never be realised as there was a “bad force” following her and they would have to do great “spiritual work” to get rid of it. Disturbed, Chioma had gone home and told her mother about the prophecy but she was very dismissive of such superstitions. Members of Chioma’s family were all staunch Catholics and she herself had been baptised, received holy communion and confirmed in the Catholic church.

Her mother had told her to pray and stay away from the Sabbath and all their negative prophecies but Chioma was hooked and continued her dalliance with the Sabbath church like the moth that knew it could get burnt by the naked flame but could not stay away. That was the beginning of Chioma’s problems but at that point she didn’t know it.

Chioma had befriended an Air Vice Marshal who had helped her to get a job in the air force by putting her name on the supplementary list. She was accepted and after the initial training she expressed a desire to become a flight attendant. The first day she went into work after her training, she developed a serious migraine which made it impossible for her to continue. Mama Jo had said it was a marine attack but her mother was not interested in that prophecy. She took Chioma back to the village to get some native remedies and from that point on, all her dreams were shattered.

To be continued

Roz Amechi © 2021. No part of the story/documentary may be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the author, Roz Amechi.

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FEATURE Mouth Odour: An Unlikely Cause the delicate oral tissue in your mouth and increasing your risk of oral sores and oral cancer.”

It is a morning ritual for millions of people around the world. But each time we squeeze a toothpaste tube on a brush, do the up and down, sideways and inward movement, we might unwittingly be doing some damage, starting with the mouth. MICHAEL JIMOH reports…

According to the bad breath specialist, not only alcohol in toothpaste and oral mouth wash can be harmful. There is, for instance, sodium lauryl sulfate SLS, for short. It is the hash detergent that makes the mouth foam when you brush your mouth. This has also been linked, he insists, to cancer sores in the mouth.

Worse still, Katz writes, “the microscopic damage and shedding of vital oral tissues also provides a food source to the bad breath bacteria allowing them to rapidly reproduce which results in bad breath.”

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comely woman of 34, Dupe has a well-defined mouth and even dentition. With more than average height for a woman and an ever-ready smile, men ogle her shamelessly.

As a law undergraduate in one of the institutions of higher learning in Lagos, a school mate fell in love with Dupe. She was 24 when she graduated, two years younger than her lover. They married in 2009 and, like many newly married couple, shared a bed.

Dr. Harvey Wiley was the director of the bureau of chemistry at USDA in 1907 when saccharine became widely used.

He pointedly cautioned against its use in food, observing that “[Saccharine is] a coal tar product totally devoid of food value and extremely injurious to health.”

After three years of marriage, her spouse stopped giving her nightly kisses. That was not all. He started facing the wall each time they went to bed. Pressed severally by Dupe on what might be the cause of his sudden turn off, Wale said nothing. Dupe herself had no idea.

The gulf between Dupe and Wale widened as time lengthened, the husband staying longer with friends after work and the wife punishing him with feminine silences on his return. Anyone could see the marriage was headed for the rocks. But not Dupe!

Dr. Femi Kusa is a veteran journalist who writes a weekly column on alternative medicine in The Nation. In one of his columns that went viral soon after publication years ago, the topic under discussion was fluoride and other poisons in toothpaste. At the end of the day, there was a consensus about the harmful effects of the many ingredients used in making toothpaste. There was general condemnation, for example, of fluoride and other poisons in pastes.

A born-again Christian, Dupe took her case to the church mothers in a Pentecostal denomination where she worshipped.

They counselled her to endure the un-husbandly attitude from Wale, to bear it with Christian equanimity. Has she forgotten that, as a Christian, demonic forces are up and about looking for marriages like hers to break up?

“Why, he would come to his senses in time,” they assured her, two or three recalling their own experiences with their spouses who, in their words, “misbehaved” but have now “seen the light.” When Dupe’s marriage crumbled and fell apart years later, no one was surprised.

Apparently, Wale did not, or refused to, “see the light,” as the church mothers assumed.

As it turned out, Dupe’s problem was anything but spiritual. One day, a female friend told her she had halitosis, a medical term for mouth odour.

“She was a true friend,” Dupe confided in another friend recently. “Because not many friends can open up to you that you have MO.” For sure, Dupe was not born with halitosis. The cause of her mouth odour, she later found out, was a particular brand of toothpaste she was using then. After the rather unsettling disclosure from her friend, Dupe consulted a dentist. The dentist advised Dupe to change her brand of toothpaste, to switch to any with no chemical ingredient, especially alcohol. She did, and started using herbal toothpaste. The MO stopped. But then, her husband was gone!

For all the years they were married, Dupe and Wale had no children. While that may be a primary cause of their divorce, Dupe insists that her bad breath cannot be ruled out as a remote factor in rending her marriage asunder.

Ebiseme (not his real name) is a 37-year-old generator mechanic living and working somewhere near Ikeja. The first thing you notice about him when he talks or laughs is his coloured dentition. His mother has a dry goods shop in Yenagoa where he comes from. Growing up as a child through adolescence, Ebiseme never had to look elsewhere for toothpaste to clean his teeth in the morning. He only had to reach for it on a shelf in his mother’s shop. It went on for as long as he can remember.

Today, the result is evident in his teeth, thoroughly browned like a habitual kola nut chewer.

Either because of his ignorance of the possible harmful effect of the particular brand, Ebiseme has not discontinued its use.

Ordinary users may not be aware but experts have since

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acknowledged that some toothpaste do, in fact, contain ingredients that not only cause bad breath but are generally harmful.

Dr. Harold Katz is an expert in oral hygiene, specializing in bad breath. He says that some of the ingredients in toothpaste are quite harmful even though big pharmaceutical companies conceal such information.

“Although you surely take for granted that the toothpaste and mouthwash you use every day are working to improve your oral health and freshen your breath, in fact, the oral care products you use could be causing you actual harm,” Katz has written.

“For several decades the large pharmaceutical companies have made commercial oral care products that contain harmful ingredients such as alcohol, sodium lauryl sulfate, saccharin and benzalkonium chloride.”

Why do companies use alcohol in toothpaste? The answer is to kill germs in the mouth, especially food carrying germs.

Katz has also speculated on why alcohol is used in oral care products. “Many people believe that commercial oral care manufacturers have added alcohol to mouthwash for many years as a way to kill the germs that cause bad breath. The truth is that many of the ingredients used in old-fashioned mouthwash are NOT soluble in water. That means those mouthwashes would look like dirty dish water if they had a water base. However, those ingredients are soluble in alcohol. And, that’s how alcohol ended up in most mouthwashes.

“Unfortunately, because alcohol is a drying agent, the alcohol actually makes bad breath worse. You see, a dry mouth is bad breath’s best friend. Without saliva to combat the bacteria that cause bad breath, your dry mouth is a perfect breeding ground for bad breath bacteria and the volatile sulfur compounds they create. By the way, there is not enough alcohol in mouthwash to kill significant numbers of bad breath germs. You need a 70% solution to do that. The leading mouthwash is up to 27% alcohol.

Not enough to do much killing, but certainly enough to make your mouth dry.”

Dr. Katz continues that recent research published by a leading dental journal in Australia has shown that “long term use of alcohol can lead to oral cancer.” So, the “burn” that you feel when you are rinsing with a mouthwash containing alcohol is not only killing the bad breath bacteria, it may also be damaging

In his words, “the general condemnation underscores how science and medicine lead humanity to ruin of human health today, only to discover their folly tomorrow…Many toothpastes are still advertised on Nigerian televisions as the best for dental and oral care whereas in the countries from where fluoridised toothpaste came to Nigeria, such toothpastes have been named as the culprit behind many diseases.”

Some of the diseases identified are lowering of insulin blood levels thereby predisposing some people to diabetes, colouration of teeth, cancer sores, etc.

Are there natural options to toothpastes that might be harmful?

Yes, says Dr. Kusa. Chewing sticks are natural options to chemically-infested toothpaste. Some of those recommended by the practitioner of alternative medicine are Ijebu and Calabar chewing stick, as well as chewing stick from Dogonyaro tree.

How convenient are those options to the paste most of us squeeze from the bottom or the middle most mornings?

In a poll conducted by THEWILL, respondents agreed with Dr. Kusa’s recommendation of using chewing sticks. Some did not.

Uwa is one. Ijebu, Calabar or chewing stick from Dogonyaro tree, the 47-year-old native of Benin in Edo state would have none of that. He sticks to a brand of paste he grew up using.

“And I have never had mouth odour,” says Uwa who now lives and works in Lagos, adding that the messy nature of chewing sticks alone makes it extremely inconvenient for him. “I don’t like the frequent spitting that comes with chewing sticks. It is not a pleasant sight to see around you.”

For Adesola, a female banker working in one of the banks in Lagos Island, time is the decisive factor for her. In her view, it takes at least a quarter of an hour to make good use of chewing sticks. “First, you have to chew it to become brush-like. And then, you now scrape the teeth with it, up and down, left to right, right to left, inside the teeth and even up to the molars and finally, the tongue and gums. You may even injure yourself in the process of brushing those tender parts of the mouth with chewing sticks. I don’t have that much time just for the teeth alone,” she says, shaking her head.

Continuing, Adesola insists that it takes her less than three minutes to do all of that with a brush and the paste she uses. Has Continues on next page THEWILLNIGERIA

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FEATURE and sugar,” a resident of Lagos, Mrs. Olaiya, told THEWILL. A commercial bus driver, whose name is Nnamdi, also complained that he was forced to stop his children’s education in a private school and enroll them a government-owned school because he could no longer afford their school fees. Apart from the fees, which were recently increased, there were other bills to take care of. There is the rent on his two-bedroom flat and the monthly payments on the hire-purchase vehicle he is currently driving, as well other needs to consider.

According to Adeshola, another resident of Lagos, the word “tough” qualifies as an understatement when it comes to describing the prevailing economic situation in the country, with a wife, three children, mother and four siblings to feed and care for.

Also, a single mother of two, Sakirat Olawunmi, told THEWILL that she had to take on multiple jobs to make ends meet. She said she provides home lessons for kids, home cleaning and washing services for families, in addition to selling second-hand clothes, locally known as ‘okrika’.

Worst still, the high cost of living has naturally caused the standard of living to depreciate. This has in turn negatively impacted the people’s eating habits and choices. Many Nigerians can barely afford good food. Nowadays they go for cheap options and less than ideal ones. The aim is quantity over quality, where they can, and a disregard for a balanced diet as this is now a luxury. This has given rise to nutrition-deficit diseases, such as kwashiorkor and marasmus among Nigerian children.

Hard Times Await Nigerian Families Over Rising Food Prices

BY JOY ONUORAH

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ike the ocean’s rising waves, the astronomical rise in the prices of goods and services in recent times has become a worrying situation, particularly for low and middle-income families in Nigeria. However, unlike the waves, the hike in food prices has refused to come down. It is all-encompassing, affecting every one of people’s average needs, ranging from foodstuff and groceries to transportation, tuition, accommodation and clothing.

More worrisome and, perhaps, alarming is the fact that the cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or cooking gas has also gone up.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), as of four months ago, a 12.5kg cylinder refill cost no more than N4, 422.32 across the 36 states and the FCT. However, as of November 3, 2021, the same cylinder size costs between N9,000 and N10,000.

This situation, according to the National Chairman of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers Branch of NUPENG, Mr. Chika Umudu, is due to the country’s high dependence on the importation of LPG. Umudu says that as the naira loses ground to the US dollar, the price of LPG increases. With this development, many families have resorted to cooking with charcoal, kerosene stoves and firewood as was the practice many years ago.

implementation of interventions by the Federal Government and multiple taxation on inter-state food transportation by the federal, state, and local governments. Also topping the list of factors responsible for the hikes in the prices of food items and cooking gas is the worsening insecurity in the country, especially in the North. According to reports, about 85 percent of foodstuffs consumed in cities like Lagos and other states in the South-West come from the North.

Traders at the Oyingbo, Mile 12 and Ketu markets in Lagos, for example, get their food supplies from the North. Each day many vehicles laden with food items often find their way to those markets and they are seen offloading a variety of farm produce, such as tomatoes, pepper, onions, yams and potatoes. Even livestock is not left out.

With the insecurity across the counry, many farmers have been forced to abandon their farms and homes and flee for safety elsewhere. Some of them have ended up in Internally Displaced Persons camps, some were killed, kidnapped or raped. Others have found themselves and their families facing a lifetime of bondage in the hands of bandits who have forced them to pay taxes and other levies in return for access to their farms. All of these culminate in increased production costs, which in turn influence the final costs of goods and services.

Additional hikes in the prices of many food items, such as bread and cereals, potatoes, rice, beans, garri, yam and other tubers, as well as milk, eggs, meat, fish, vegetables, oils, even soft drinks, appear to have triggered anxiety and uncertainty among families whose incomes are just a little above the poverty line.

This is in addition to inflation and a high unemployment rate, with one-third of the labour force unemployed at the end of 2020, according to the NBS. The World Poverty Clock reports that at the latest count, 43 per cent of the Nigerian population, about 90 million people, live below the poverty line. That is, they live on less than $1.90 per day.

Beans and garri, more or less staple foods consumed by many low income earners, are almost out of the reach of the poor. How do we explain that a bag of beans, which sold for N25,000 in 2020, now goes for N100,000 or that a bag of garri, which cost N20,000, now goes for N45,000?

Before the pandemic, Nigerians were already spending 60 percent of their incomes on food, says Tunde Leye, an economist at SBM Intelligence Risk Consultancy. But inflation has pushed that average higher.

In March 2020, a tonne of cassava cost N18,000. Currently, it hovers between N65,000 and N70,000.

The composite food index (a measure of food inflation) rose to 21.83 per cent in June compared to 22.28 per cent in May 2021, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

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With 70 to 80 percent of an average family’s income expended on food and no increment in the minimum wage, there is little or nothing to take care of other bills, such as rent, electricity tariff, and tax.

“We used to buy a bag of powdered milk for 3,500. Now it costs N11, 000. If you want to buy noodles, you will have to spend more. A carton of noodles cost N850 a few months ago. Now, we buy it at N2,500. The loaf of bread that was posted at 300, now sells for a double price because of the high cost of the flour, milk

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According to the 2006 census, the nascent population index of Nigeria puts the country at a breathtaking figure of 200 million people. Due to such a population burst, a series of issues like hunger, poverty, unemployment and genocide have been on the increase as many strive for limited available resources.

Consequently, many youngsters have resorted to Internet fraud, prostitution and other vices in order to survive the harsh economic climate.

In September 2021, the House of Representatives set up a special committee to investigate the high cost of food items and commodities in the country.

According to the House, the committee’s mandate is to launch an investigative hearing with all critical stakeholders in the country and conduct a root cause analysis of the rising cost of living.

In addition, it is expected to formulate the policies needed in addressing the issue.

Also, there would be engagement with captains of industries, trade union associations, boards of directors, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other promoters in the economic sector, on ways for a drastic reduction in prices of goods and services in the country and other strategies that can mitigate the effect of the current inflation in the country.

Mouth Odour: Continued from previous page

she ever had MO? Not at all. True enough! When this reporter met and spoke with her, he didn’t have to turn away his face like Dupe’s former husband.

On his part, Dotun, an Ogbomoso native, admits that chewing sticks are incomparably preferable to toothpastes because, as he puts it, “our forefathers made use of what was available – chewing sticks - pako.” As he tells it, the favourite teeth cleaner in his homestead in his natal town was chewing stick obtained from the roots of bitter leaf plant.

His grandparents, he admits, used to roast many of such roots in hot ash, dry them, dust off the ash and that’s it. “My grandfather never used toothpaste one day in his 88 years and he never had mouth odour or bad breath,” Dotun insists, with a grin as wide as the tribal marks across both cheeks.

That may be true of some rural communities. What about urban places like Lagos where such herbal recipes are hard to come by?

With sales of the conventional toothpastes in the millions across the country and alternatives like chewing sticks lagging far, far behind, it is clear where the answer lies. Still, users of harmful toothpastes may do well to remember Dupe’s hard lesson: use pastes that are not likely to cause your spouse to turn his/ her back on you.

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NEWS XTRA Benue Govt, Labour on Collision Course Over Unpaid Emoluments FROM KAJO MARTINS, MAKURDI

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President Muhammadu Buhari (right),presents a gift to the outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Abhay Thakur during a farewell audience at the State House. Abuja. On 26/11/2021.

AfCFTA Will Enhance Employment, Food Security – Abiodun

BY SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA

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overnor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has said that Nigeria and other members of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA) stand to gain immensely from the scheme in the area of employment, wealth generation, food security and poverty alleviation.

Abiodun disclosed this at the 36th Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ogun State branch, held in Abeokuta, last Thursday.

He stressed the need for critical stakeholders in different African countries to come together to appraise and review process of the continental agreement, saying that no doubt, AfCTA comes with immense benefits to member nations.

“Our production base has continued to expand and we are harnessing the potentials of the manufacturing sector towards improving on policy formulations and programmes to internalize and mainstream African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) into Nigeria’s Economic Development Plan.

“Interestingly, the results have remained positive, especially, in the area of employment generation, wealth creation, food security and poverty alleviation and consequently, the continued improvement in the standards of living of Nigerians.

“No doubt, AfCFTA comes with immense benefits to member Nations. Nevertheless, it is important that critical stakeholders in different African countries also come together to appraise and review the process,” he added.

The governor described MAN’s

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Capital Market Journalists Hold Workshop on Financial Inclusion, Technology

BY SAM DIALA

Annual General Meeting, with the theme, ‘The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement And Nigeria Manufacturing Sector Maximising The Gains; Mitigating The Drawbacks’, as an important platform for cross-fertilisation of ideas for the development of the manufacturing sector that remains the redeeming feature for Nigeria’s economic survival.

Abiodun, however, praised the Ogun State branch of MAN for being consistent in its commitment and determination to make the critical difference in its efforts to promote Made-in-Nigeria goods and to ensure that the ideals of industrializing the state comes into fruition.

He said, ‘’There is no gainsaying the fact that the Federal Government has upped the ante on economic diversification and re-tooling the manufacturing sector for economic sustainability. By doing this, we will come up with improved and more practical recommendations that will make such international economic collaboration more beneficial to the manufacturing sector in particular, and, the nation’s economy in general.”

The governor maintained that his administration has put in place policies and programmes for the Ease of Doing Business with the aim to harnessing the economic potentials of the state.

According to him, policies such as the Business Environment Council, Ogun State Land Administration and Revenue Management System (OLARMS), establishment of the Industrial Parks and so on, had been put in place to make Ogun more attractive to investors.

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he Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN) has concluded plans to hold its 2021 annual workshop, a strategic forum to articulate issues that can move the Nigerian capital market and economy forward.

This year’s workshop scheduled for December 4 and 5, at Orchid Hotels, Lekki, Lagos is coming at a period when all hands are on deck to address the challenges facing the economy and the capital market in particular.

This year, experts, regulators and other stakeholders will gather to discuss the theme: “Technology as a tool for financial inclusion in Nigeria.”

The unprecedented impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has continued to force businesses to expand their possibilities and adopt new ways of performing their duties through technology.

The association in a statement said that the theme was predicated on the compelling need to strengthen the competitiveness of the Nigerian economy of which the capital market is the hub of medium and long term source of finance in the post-COVID -19 era.

Mr Olaniyi Toluwalope, who is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of eTranzact International Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading payment technology companies, will be the guest speaker.

Toluwalope is a highly accomplished, dynamic and result-oriented Fintech professional with solid credentials and a proven track record in formulating and implementing operational and financial strategies, identifying investment opportunities, structuring and negotiating multi-party transactions.

His over 22 year career spans financial technology, investment banking, corporate accounting, corporate finance, equity investment advisory and research providing qualitative and quantitative investment advisory and research to institutional investors, among others.

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he industrial harmony between the organized labour and the Benue state government in recent months appears set to go sour with each other trading blames over unpaid salaries, gratuity and pension benefits of retired senior citizens running into a year now.

While the government has absolved itself of alleged neglect of the plight of workers and retirees, it noted that Benue state has the third highest paying salary in the county with the domestication of PENCOM bill which seeks to end cases of non-payment of pensions.

However, a section of retired pensioners in the state civil service and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) disagrees with the government position.

To express their grievance, a group under the auspices of Aggrieved Pensioners in Benue State (APBS) held a peaceful march to protest 34 and 74 months of arrears of pension and gratuity owed them at the state and local government levels respectively.

The aggrieved pensioners who took off from Kenville Park, High Level area of Makurdi, marched round the city center chanting solidarity songs while bearing placards with inscriptions such as “All we are saying is, give us our Pension And Gratuity Mr Governor”. “Mr Governor, Defender of Benue Valley, Please, Defend Us Pensioners too, otherwise “We Die Finish”. Pay Us Our Pension And Gratuities. We Too Need Money To Eat,” among others. Chairman of the group, Mr Akosu Ugba, told journalists that they were holding a peaceful protest to demand their pay and to also let the whole world know what they are going through.

Describing non-payment of their entitlements as inhuman, Ugba said “what is happening to us is inhumanity to humanity. We have not been paid for 34 months and 74 months at state and local government respectively. Our children no longer go to school because we cannot afford their school fees. We have lost our wives to okada riders because we are no longer economically productive. Some of our people are dying because they are on special drugs; some on special diets but cannot afford it again”.

The Chairman stated that Benue pensioners are dying silently following the inhuman treatment and the attendant psychological trauma, noting that over 500 members have so far died.

“We had marched to Government House when we protested earlier but the Speaker, Mr. Titus Uba, while addressing us then, said the bailout funds released by the federal government does not cover pensions. We spent seven days and seven nights at the gate during which thugs were sent to chase us away,” he lamented.

Akosu therefore, called on the state government to pay the outstanding entitlements of 34 months for the state and 74 months arrears for local government pensioners and subsequently,be paying two months consecutively until the backlog of the arrears are cleared.

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SportsLive

Is Gernot Rohr The Right Man For Eagles Job?

BY JUDE OBAFEMI n his fifth year as Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr is currently the longest-serving manager of the senior men’s national football team, but the indicators point to the fact that that is as far as he may go. In fact, on Thursday, November 18, the rumour of his sacking quickly went viral online and was widely welcomed by many football fans, who were only too pleased to see the end of the German’s time handling the national team.

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In the five years that Westerhof was in charge, the Dutchman turned the Super Eagles into a perennial powerhouse in African football and showed that the squad could compete on the world stage. Under Westerhof, the Super Eagles won the 1994 AFCON and also qualified for the second round of the FIFA World Cup that year, while Bonfrere, who was coach for about three years, is unforgettable as the coach that took Team Nigeria all the way to the 1996 Summer Olympics gold medal in Atlanta, Georgia, defeating world beaters, Argentina and Brazil, on the way to a gold podium finish.

That reaction can be understood in the context of the desire of football fans to win trophies, on the one hand, and be impressed by the overall team performance when they play in the Green and White of the national team, on the other. However, since August 2016, when Rohr was named head coach and in all the years that have followed in his record-extending stay in the managerial dugout, he has yet to fully attain either of these.

There is not much to identify as unforgettable in Rohr’s time. But the Amaju Melvin Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation renewed the terms of his contract on May 27 last year, effectively keeping him on board for another one and a half years. He was given a target of guiding the team to win the 2021 AFCON and qualifying the Super Eagles for Qatar 2022. As poor as the team’s performances have been under him, Rohr has fulfilled one of these targets and qualified for the AFCON. This has put the NFF in a pickle when it comes to firing him as he has satisfied the conditions of his contract so far.

In the build-up to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Rohr’s charges won qualification with a game to spare, but the German tactician was in charge of the Nigerian squad that did not make it out of the group stage. The following year, the German gaffer guided the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, after Nigeria defeated Tunisia 1-0, thanks to an early goal by Odion Ighalo. But, that was underwhelming by the Super Eagles’ standard.

Rohr

Although Rohr has led the Super Eagles in 54 international matches over the course of his five years and three months in charge, winning 28 matches for a 56 per cent win record, the fact that he has no silverware to boast of and cannot consistently demonstrate the tactical wherewithal required for the high stakes football competitions, which the Super Eagles are often engaged in, has been his undoing. Ardent football fans have found it difficult to warm up to his team’s lacklustre performances and inconsistencies over time.

Based on contractual agreements therefore, sources estimate that the NFF will have to pay Rohr, who earns $45,000 per month as salary, about N600 million in compensation if they terminate his contract with a sack notice, as it is said that he pays his coaching staff from his salary and they will be worth a part of the severance package due to him. Although the Sports Ministry will determine if he remains after evaluating a report of his performance from the NFF, there is much to the assumption that he will remain in place and lead Nigeria to AFCON and the playoffs, if he is still in charge then.

The groundswell of distaste for the tactics, or lack thereof, of the manager in the games he managed in his capacity as head coach took on extra weight after the 4-4 draw against Sierra Leone in Nigeria during the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in November last year. Rohr’s side surrendered a 4-nil lead from the first half to concede four goals in the second half, squandering two crucial points in the process.

It was a mortal concession in the minds of many fans and unpardonable in their eyes. The fan reaction reached the Nigerian Football Federation’s management and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development that a meeting was immediately called to address the embarrassment. It was resolved to effect changes to the team and team management to forestall a repetition of similar results.

However, even if the Super Eagles avoided a recurrence during the AFCON qualifying series and booked their ticket at the top of their group, a worse result was lurking in the shadows, waiting to draw the ire of Nigeria’s fiercest football fans all over again. It came with the November 2021 international break of qualifying fixtures for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. The date was October 7 and the venue, the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. Rohr suffered the ignominy of being the manager to break a 40-year-old record that had seen Nigeria remain unbeaten at home in a World Cup qualifier. Since a 1981 loss to Algeria at home, Nigeria has consistently avoided defeat until a star-studded side drew blanks for 90 minutes and faltered in a defensive mix-up to allow continental underdogs, the Central African Republic, to grab an unprecedented 1-0 win and all three points on their return home.

It was too much of a bitter pill to continue to swallow. As core football pundits argued against opinions that were in favour of Rohr when the rumours of his sack rent the social media platforms that November 18, it was not just the pain of the unimaginable draw against Sierra Leone and the underwhelming loss to CAR in Lagos that mattered in assessing THEWILLNIGERIA

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Although Rohr has led the Super Eagles in 54 international matches over the course of his five years and three months in charge, winning 28 matches for a 56 per cent win record, the fact that he has no silverware to boast of and cannot consistently demonstrate the tactical wherewithal required for the high stakes football competitions, which the Super Eagles are often engaged in, has been his undoing

the manager’s tactical ability to continue in his position. Even in games that the Super Eagles emerged victorious, there was the evident absence of technical identity that can be attributable to Rohr’s direct impact, without which the win could have been impossible.

In his half-a-decade in charge, many of those who argue that the German should be left in his position, at least for the upcoming AFCON and possibly the World Cup playoffs, still cannot convincingly identify what the Rohr football strategy is in the same way that it was easy to point to a style typical to the Eagles’ sides managed by the Dutch pair of Clemens Westerhof and Jo Bonfrere in times of the golden age of Nigerian football and by domestic coaches, such as the late Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.

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Even if the local media is awash with stories about the NFF shopping for a new coach to handle the technical direction of the Super Eagles’ pursuit of a World Cup ticket and a return to continental glory in the imminent AFCON in Cameroon, Rohr’s contract means he remains in charge. Yet, with a target to win the AFCON and with a determination to compete against the best in Africa from the 10 groups entering a playoff competition to bring Africa’s Best Five that will represent the continent in Qatar, it is pertinent to state that the Rohr squad will have to be better than they have so far shown themselves to be. Otherwise, it will be a lot difficult to scale past the playoffs hurdle to earn a berth with the rest of the footballing world going into the November commencement date of the 2022 first-ever World Cup hosted in the Arab world. As aforesaid, teams like Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Liberia and Cape Verde, against which the Super Eagles struggled during qualifiers for AFCON and the World Cup should not make Nigeria sweat in football. Yet, that has been the story over and over again for the Rohr-led Super Eagles’ squad.

The tactical infusion of game strategy and play patterns that take the utmost advantages of the strengths of the Nigerian footballers, who are playing at the very top of European competitions, while exploiting the identified weaknesses of opposition teams, is mostly nonexistent. This very obvious danger has alerted all other teams that they can comfortably take points from playing against Nigeria as the team gradually slips with each new FIFA ranking.

This cannot be allowed to continue and that is why it might be hard to scale through the playoffs. If by a stroke of good fortune, the Eagles do find themselves in Qatar, then a lot more will be expected of the team if they are to avoid the embarrassment of qualifying for a World Cup for which they are poorly prepared.

It will be appalling to witness except, there is a fire brigade approach to sack Rohr and attempt it all with a new manager.

For Nigeria, it will not be an impossible thing to consider happening if the question about Rohr being the right man for the job is answered in the negative and a fresh technical crew, domestic or foreign, steps in to right the ship in time for AFCON and the playoffs.

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Since 1894

Do not be a

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