Sunday 13th March 2016

Emefiele Suspends CBN Deputy Governor, 4 Others Anayo Okolie In a hard-line decision, a deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and four deputy directors have been suspended by the apex bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, for failing to follow financial regulations and due process,

leading to the scamming of the bank by fraudsters.

THISDAY gathered last night that the suspended Deputy Governor, Financial System Surveillance, Joseph Nnanna, responded to some spam emails without first cross-checking the authenticity of the mails and following CBN stringent

payment process before authorising the release of funds when the governor and several senior officials of the bank were on a flight to China last month.

The names of the affected deputy directors could not be ascertained but they include the deputy director in charge of payment, the deputy director

trade and exchange department, and the deputy director in the office of the governor, who heeded Nnanna’s directive to pay when they themselves ought to know CBN’s payment due process.

THISDAY gathered that $441,000 was initially lost to the scammers. $251,000 was

however blocked and recovered, leaving a balance of $190,000, which had already been cashed by the fraudsters.

Two of the scammers were however caught in Dubai, United Arab Emirate and are currently being questioned by investigators.

From their modus operandi,

the scammers apparently timed the execution of the fraud to take place when the CBN governor and other deputy governors were out of the country.

Emefiele was said to have wielded the big stick by suspending the affected top Continued on page 6

As Power Generation Hits 3,118MW, Water Level, Gas Supply Still Major Challenges... Page 10

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South Moves to Take PDP Chairmanship, North Disagrees Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Attempts by the Peoples Democratic Party to reinvent itself as a formidable platform continued to reverberate across the country at the weekend as members braced for the May 21 national convention, which promises tough decisions that could strengthen or further weaken the erstwhile ruling

party.

National officers who would run the affairs of the party for the next four years will be elected at the convention.

And interests in the various geopolitical zones are trying to position themselves well for the coveted post of national chairman, with those from the South making the strongest moves.

THISDAY learnt that many influential stakeholders of PDP are favourably disposed to zoning the seat of national chairman to the South. This is in view of the fact that the party is likely to zone its presidential position to the North in 2019, as recommended by the Senator Ike Ekweremadu- led 2015 post-election panel.

But some members from

the northern zones argue that taking the headship of the party away from the North, where PDP controls only two of the 19 states, to the South would portray PDP as a southern party. They also insist that the proposed emergence of the presidential candidate of the party from the North would not really affect the chairmanship post, as the chairman would be

on the last lap of his tenure at the time of the 2019 presidential primaries.

With five of its six states under PDP control, Southsouth, the zone of Bayelsa-born former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who lost to President Muhammadu Buhari at the last general election, currently has the highest number of PDP governors. Those disposed to

zoning the chairmanship to South-south say apart from representing the loudest voice for the party at present, the zone also provides the biggest funding for the party.

South-south man and PDP deputy national chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, who had been serving as acting national chairman, last month handed Continued on page 6

First Civilian Governor of Delta, Felix Ibru, Dies at 80

Okowa, Uduaghan, others mourn

Abimbola Akosile in Lagos and Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

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The one-time Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, passed on in the early hours of yesterday at Reddington Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos, at the age of 80.

His death was confirmed by an unnamed senior member of the Ibru family, who also disclosed that the remains of Continued on page 6

Olorogun Felix Ibru

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

13.03.2016

GLITZ, EMOTIONS AND SURPRISES OF THE AMVCA

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Kachikwu Begins Talks with CBN on Marketers’Forex Requests Says current situation wearing down NNPC’s capacity Chineme Okafor in Abuja Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday disclosed that he had initiated consultations with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to help major oil marketers in Nigeria access foreign exchange to import petrol.

Disclosing this during a monitoring tour of petrol stations within Abuja metropolis, the minister said the move would help ease the burden of access to forex which reportedly hampers the ability of marketers to bring petrol into the country.

His tour was sequel to the

resurgence of fuel queues at filling stations due to scarcity of petrol in all parts of the country.

The minister said already, the situation was beginning to wear down the capacity of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to meet the country’s fuel consumption which is officially put at 40 million litres per day.

Noting that NNPC is currently the sole importer and supplier of petrol in the country, he expressed hopes that the lingering fuel scarcity and queues at filling stations would ease off within two days as the corporation

had massively increased the trucking of petrol to depots and filling stations in the country.

In December 2015 when the country experienced a bout of petrol scarcity, oil marketers had alleged that federal government’s policy on forex restriction was responsible for their inability to import petrol, hence the scarcity.

But Kachikwu said yesterday that, “God willing, we will see this through and under one or two days, we should be clear and we are looking at long term.

“We are working very collaboratively with the Central Bank now to try and look at

long term solutions to the majors so that they themselves can begin to go back and bring in their own products, and so apologies again to Nigerians, nobody wants to see this.”

Commenting further on the lingering scarcity, Kachikwu said: “we have enough coming in. Obviously the three days of strike hit us very badly but we are flogging again an average of over 300 trucks into Abuja. It is going to take a bit of a while for the queues to clear off and we are hoping that between tomorrow and the next one, two days, the queues will all disappear.”

“We are continuing to pump

in, a lot of our stations are open 24 hours a day. Long term obviously, we have got to systemically look at how you prepare this nation in circumstances where there are emergencies and you are able to respond.”

He said he would initiate a long-term solution to curb the menace of products scarcity in the country, but did not give details of the planned solution.

Pleading with Nigerians to bear with the government, Kachikwu said, “We are obviously not getting it as well as we should. Again, I apologise to Nigerians for all the pains, nobody wants to

see people spend up to two hours on fuel queues.

“The president is very bothered about this, and if there is anything that bothers him, it is the sight of people waiting for fuel but we are doing everything we can, the NNPC is taking the whole nation on its shoulders.”

“Whilst majors are really not bringing in products, we are working on long-term solutions so they now begin to go back to importation lanes and be able to service their own outlets rather than us servicing them and servicing everybody because it is a lot of wear and tear on our capability status.”

members are still keeping secret, the North is not left out of the struggle. Party insiders say there is a groundswell of opinion in the North that the region should retain the national chairmanship post, currently held by Sheriff from the North-east, to give the people a sense of belonging and curtail a growing impression that PDP is a southern party.

The North-east states of Gombe and Taraba are the only PDP states in the North, but many in the North think that

retaining the post of national chairman there may isolate the other zones in the region, giving Buhari and his All Progressives Congress unfettered hold on the North.

PDP had during its 69th National Executive Committee meeting on Monday in Abuja approved the timetable for its congresses and national convention. The congresses will commence on April 23 and culminate in the national convention, scheduled to hold on May 21 in Port Harcourt.

The NEC also approved the setting up of four special committees to prepare for the national convention, namely, the National Convention Committee, Reconciliation Committee, Zoning Committee, and Finance Committee.

The crucial field of struggle at the moment ahead of the national convention, findings reveal, is the convention committees, which are expected to play a key role in the emergence of the new

national officers. The convention and zoning committees are being considered as most strategic, fuelling a frantic struggle to fill the two committees. The party is said to be in a state of great agitation over the modalities for choosing members of the committees.

But nearly every prominent leader of PDP is playing his cards close to his chest on the zoning matter. The deputy senate president, Ekweremadu, said in a statement on Friday by his special adviser on media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, that there was not secret zoning arrangement, stressing that the party would announce its zoning plan at an appropriate time.

The statement added, “The PDP will soon convene a meeting of the relevant stakeholders and organs of the party as stipulated by our constitution to come up with a clear zoning of the national offices of the party in a transparent, democratic, and fair manner.”

SOUTH MOVES TO TAKE PDP CHAIRMANSHIP, NORTH DISAGREES over to Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, following his ratification as substantive chairman. Some party leaders feel the zone that is providing the strongest pillar of support for PDP should be compensated with the chairmanship post.

South-east has the second highest number of PDP governors, with three of the zone’s five states controlled by the party. Party members there, too, are struggling for the

national chairmanship post. Two former national chairmen of the party – Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo and Chief Vincent Ogbulafor – are from the South-east.

The South-west is also making out a strong case for the chairmanship. The argument here is that the zone, which has two PDP governors, has never produced a national chairman of the party since 1999. Besides, the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, and the

man currently regarded as the loudest voice of the party in the South, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, are from the South-west.

But sources within the party say power struggle between the two most prominent leaders of PDP in the South-west may cost the zone the coveted position.

Though, the scrambling to secure the chair of the leading opposition party is more intense in the South for the obvious reason of the zoning arrangement, which PDP

FIRST CIVILIAN GOVERNOR OF DELTA, FELIX IBRU, DIES AT 80 the former senator had been deposited in the morgue.

Ibru, who was a renowned architect and business tycoon, was said to have died shortly after returning from London where he had been receiving medical attention.

Ibru, who was elected governor of Delta State in 1992 under the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) before his tenure was terminated by the military regime of General Sani Abacha, held the position of President General of the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU).

Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, in a condolence message to the Ibru Family over the death of former governor, described him as a patriot and political icon.

Okowa urged the entire Ibru family to take solace in the fact that he led a glorious and fulfilled life of service to humanity.

He noted that Ibru governed Delta State at a time the young state had numerous teething problems but piloted its affairs with patriotic zeal and rare equanimity.

Okowa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, "said the late Senator Ibru was “a patriot and political icon who led the state in her embryonic stage."

The governor said, "Senator Ibru will be missed by all whose lives he has touched in many diverse ways in his very fulfilled and achievements-laden life."

He described Senator Ibru as a renowned politician, businessman and a highly revered octogenarian and among the very special people who made very significant and indelible contributions to their countries and humanity.

Describing his death as “the

exit of a legend,” Okowa said he joined his family, friends, associates, and fans across the world “in giving thanks to God Almighty for his glorious life of service to Delta State, Nigeria and mankind at large.".

He said, "Senator Ibru's “life-long dedication and indefatigable commitment to serving the people of Delta State as well as the Urhobos worldwide where he served them meritoriously as Senator and as President of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) will be sorely missed."

He, however, assured the Ibru family that the former governor would always be celebrated and honoured by all and sundry in Nigeria "for his unblemished service and exemplary career which had inspired others to take up a life of selfless service to humanity."

Okowa’s predecessor, former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, in his reaction to Ibru’s death, said he lived an unblemished, rewarding life worth emulating.

Uduaghan said: “Though it is saddening to lose a patriot like Chief Ibru, we are comforted by the fact that he set the stage for the new Delta as the first civilian governor of the state.

Even though his regime was truncated, he was an unrepentant patriot who as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria worked tirelessly to ensure that the unity of the country was non-negotiable.

“I recall with nostalgia, his role and fatherly interventions in our peace agenda as President General of the Urhobo Progressive Union where he brought to bear his characteristic humility.

“Though a sad loss, we are comforted that he left a legacy that would stand the test of time. He will be remembered for his principled and irrepressible position on issues of national

importance. I commiserate with the Ibru Family, especially the patriarch, Olorogun Michael Ibru, and pray the Almighty God will give them the fortitude to bear this great loss.”

Also reacting to his death, the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) said the news of the transition of the former governor, came to his kith and kin in Urhobo Nation as "a rude shock".

Speaking with THISDAY last night, the public relations officer (PRO) of the Interim Committee of the UPU, Chief Josiah Ntekume, said, "A good heart has stopped beating; a good soul ascended to Heaven. We part with our beloved former P-G of UPU, first executive governor of Delta State, Olorogun Felix Ibru in pain. May God grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss."

Similarly, right activist and former governorship aspirant, Dr Otive Igbuzor, described Ibru's passing as "very painful and a great blow to Delta State and Urhobo Nation in particular."

Born on December 7, 1935 at Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North local government area of Delta State to Chief Peter Epete Ibru and Chief (Mrs.) Janet Omotogor Ibru, he was the second of seven children.

After his secondary school education at Igbobi College, he proceeded to the Nottingham School of Architecture in England where he qualified as an architect in 1962.

While a student in Nottingham, he was elected the first Black President of the British Council with responsibility for Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.

As a result, he was presented to Queen Elizabeth II and his Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace in 1960.

Shortly after his qualification as an architect in 1962, he worked briefly with the Jewish Agency SOCHNUT, on various projects relating to farm settlements (kibbutzim and moshavim) and prefabricated buildings in Jerusalem and Haifa.

He later enrolled at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology for post-graduate studies and qualified with an MSc (Arch) in 1963. He returned to Nigeria at the end of that year and took up an appointment with the Federal Ministry of Education as the first resident Lecturer in Architecture at the Yaba College of Technology.

Ibru established an architectural firm, Roye Ibru Associates, which, in 1971, went into partnership with Alan Vaughan-Richards and Associates to establish the firm of Ibru Vaughan-Richards and Associates (Planning Partnership). As one of the two principal partners of the firm, late Ibru was involved in the design and supervision of more than 40 projects across the country.

They include: University of Lagos Sports Centre, Oguta Lake Resort, The Diette-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, Office extension for Elf Nig. Ltd. Victoria Island, Lagos University master plan, New Layout Market, Port Harcourt, Mile 3 Diobu Market, Port Harcourt, Sheraton Lagos Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, University of Benin sports centre, University of Benin Master plan, Faculty of Science buildings, University of Benin & Ogun State, Ogun State Polytechnic Master plan.

As consultant to Ibru Prefabs Limited he was responsible for the design and supervision of several Geodesic Domes of various dimensions in many parts of the country.

EMEFIELE SUSPENDS CBN DEPUTY GOVERNOR, 4 OTHERS officials because the CBN has laid-down procedures for the release of funds, none of which was followed in this particular case.

Sources within the bank said following the incident, the governor had warned that henceforth any such infraction would be summarily dealt with.

A statement posted on CBN website only stated that the bank had uncovered and aborted fraud without giving details.

The four-paragraph CBN statement signed by the Ag. Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okoroafor, and titled, ‘CBN Uncovers and Aborts Fraud,’ reads: “A highly sophisticated plot to defraud the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by some criminal minded elements has been uncovered and aborted by the bank.

“Although preliminary investigations so far have not revealed any accomplices within the CBN, management has decided to place all key personnel involved in the transaction on suspension.

“This is to ensure a full and unfettered investigation.

“This incidence has been reported to relevant authorities.

The CBN wishes to assure the general public that the security

of the bank remains intact.”

Hackers have been on the prowl lately breaching accounts of banks around the world.

Recently, hackers breached Bangladesh Bank's systems and attempted to steal nearly $1 billion from its account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Though a typo error by the hackers aborted their $1billion heist, they however netted more than $80 million before the cyber heist was uncovered.

The hackers appeared to have stolen Bangladesh Bank's credentials for the SWIFT messaging system, which banks around the world use for secure financial communication.

They then bombarded the Federal Reserve Bank of New York with about three dozen requests to move money from the Bangladesh Bank's account there to entities in the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Four requests to transfer a total of about $81 million to the Philippines went through, but a fifth, for $20 million, to a Sri Lankan non-profit organisation was held up because the hackers misspelled the name of the NGO, Shalika Foundation, prompting a routing bank, Deutsche Bank, to seek clarification from the Bangladesh central bank, which stopped the transaction.

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SUNDAY COMMENT

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

RIVERS OF BLOOD! The security agencies should move in urgently as the nation can ill-afford another bloodbath in Rivers State

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idespread violence and killings are once again on the rise in Rivers State. The killing of Franklyn Obi highlights the agonising quandary for the state. Some criminals recently invaded the home of the All Peoples Congress (APC) Ward 4 Chairman in Ogba/Egbema in Ndoni local council and murdered him, his wife and son. Thereafter, they left with the severed head of the politician. No reasons were given for the brutal act. The murder of Ofinijite Amachree, another APC chieftain shortly after, was a continuation of that gory ritual. Amachree was killed and his body reportedly set ablaze in Buguma, Akoku Toru local council. “In the last two weeks, over 30 APC members have been killed in different parts of Rivers State,” lamented Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the APC governorship candidate in the last election. “We are tired of this bloodbath.”

But the violence is all embracing.The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party in the state, is also counting its losses. Its chairman in Obite, one Isaac Chinedu, and another party colleague named Chinedu Saidey, were reportedly killed same day. And then there are reports of some political actors being buried alive by a militant leader.

Since all the killings are coming ahead of the rerun legislative (national and state) elections in the state scheduled for the coming weekend, it is safe to conclude that they are politically motivated. But the worry really is that the security agencies do not seem to be on top of the situation. Frantic appeals for calm made by the state governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, seemed unheeded.

We therefore call on the relevant authorities to move in quickly not only to arrest the drift but also to apprehend those who are disturbing the peace of the state and bring them to book.

There is need for a review of the remunerations and other perks of public office holders in our country. Perhaps we will begin to see a reduction in politically motivated killings if and when the fat allowances attached to the elective offices are slashed considerably

Letters to the Editor

S

ince the inception of this present administration, many things have changed.

It started with the total war against the brutal Boko Haram insurgents who instilled fears in the mind of Nigerians through daily bombing of our places of worshipping, markets, motor parks, etc. Prior to his coming on board, the insurgents had occupied many villages and towns. The North-eastern states became no go area while numbers of internally displaced people surged. What Nigerians see now is a different story. Our once brave but demoralised armies have been properly equipped to combat the dreaded group with relatively ease. The presidential committee on arms procurement on

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S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR TOKUNBO ADEDOJA DEPUTY EDITORS VINCENT OBIA, FESTUS AKANBI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OLUFEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, FIDELIS ELEMA, MBAYILAN ANDOAKA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HENRY NWACHOKOR, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI GENERAL MANAGER PATRICK EIMIUHI GROUP HEAD FEMI TOLUFASHE ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

ncidentally, what is happening in Rivers State was a replay of the orchestrated regime of violence in the build-up to last year’s general elections. Even though the elections were relatively peaceful across the country, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) reckoned that about 100 people were killed in the state. Unfortunately, there were no reports that anybody was ever punished for such crimes; and perhaps the reason for the prevailing culture of impunity.

But we are concerned that some people could resort to killing in the name of politics, especially when there is really no evidence that the interest of the downtrodden (often used as cannon fodder in this violence) is being served.

What is particularly worrying is that this “end justifies the means” approach that defines political engagement in Rivers State today has over the years provided the incentive and motivation for politicians and power seekers to believe that all is fair and acceptable, including cold-blooded murder of their opponents. Yet the sad irony of all these killings is that up to date the police have not successfully prosecuted and brought conviction against any of those suspected to be involved.

There is no doubt that it is this failure of the authorities that has directly encouraged further commission of such crimes. It is also very clear that with eyes to the enormous spoils of office attached to the nation’s political positions from the presidency to local councillorship, many of our politicians would do anything in order to ensure easy ride at the polls.

As we have canvassed in the past, there is need for a review of the remunerations and other perks of public office holders in our country. Perhaps we will begin to see a reduction in politically motivated killings if and when the fat allowances attached to the elective offices are slashed considerably. When people realise that public office is no longer an avenue to “share the booty” but to render service, the tendency to seek election at all costs will be minimised.

However, since Rivers State has become a classic case of how quickly order can yield place to anarchy, it is time for the relevant authorities to move in. A time was when the state was peaceful and was rendered unattractive for cultists, militants and hoodlums. Now, these criminal elements are being armed and mobilised to serve political ends. We call on all the stakeholders to work towards restoring peace and security in the state.

And such efforts must begin immediately such that this weekend’s election does not bring with it another harvest of deaths.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

THE BUHARI NIGERIANS FAIL TO K NOW the last administration did a great job as many highly placed individuals were fingered to have engaged in looting security funds. The funds meant for the procurement of arms and other military gadgets were diverted and channelled into political campaigns.

Dasukigate has remained fresh in the mind of Nigerians. Also worth mentioning is how the Buhari-led government takes the war against corruption seriously. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been making arrest of former top government officials who fed fat from the government coffers. In spite of several appeals from religious, traditional and political leaders that Mr President should embrace plea

bargain and soft pedal on the war against corruption, his body language shows otherwise. This is Buhari Nigerians forget so soon. During his days as military head of state, Buhari tried and jailed many Second Republic politicians who were indicted for graft.

History, indeed is repeating itself but this time under democratic dispensation. The only problem he repeatedly said to have been hampering his war against corruption is the judiciary and compromised judges who are outrightly out subvert justice. This is to say Mr President has inherited a corrupt judiciary that encourages abuse of office. With the zeal, passion and commitment of the present administration to clean the rot dotting

our public service, the corrupt judges must go in other to pave the way for more competent and committed ones.

There is hue and cry surrounding Buhari’s frequent travels. Mr President should not give a damn because his trips are for the good of the country. Garba Shehu, spokesman to Mr President, has highlighted the benefits Nigerians are to derive from trips, among others: direct foreign investment, global cooperation on war against terrorism and corruption. As a focused and resilient leader, Buhari will never jettison what he believes is for the good of the country. That is why the wailing wailers can neither distract nor stop him from pursuing policies that will better the lives of the

ordinary people.

In recent times, the dollar price has shot up in the parallel market.

This made several economists to call for devaluation of the naira. Mr President did not only refuse to heed their advice but also rejected the idea.

Nigeria is an import- dependent country where even toothpick is imported. The repercussions are there for everybody to see as most of our local industries have collapsed. In order to stimulate and enhance the economy and create jobs, the government has to restrict importation of some items.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Abuja

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SUNDAYNEWS

News Editor Abimbola Akosile E-mail: abimbola.akosile@thisdaylive.com, 08023117639 (sms only)

Northern CAN Warns against Abduction, Forceful Conversion of Christian Girls John Shiklam inKaduna

MONEY MEN L-R: World richest man and Chairman of tech giant, Microsoft, Bill Gates, and Chairman, Forte Oil Plc, Femi Otedola at a private dinner hosted

by Gates in London, UK...recently

As Power Generation Hits 3,118MW, Water Level, Gas Supply Still Major Challenges Chineme Okafor in Abuja

Electricity power generation yesterday increased to 3,118 megawatts (MW) from a low of 1,580 MW, some days ago. But low water levels and gas supply issues may hinder it from returning to the level of between 4,500MW and 5,000MW, at which it stood before the drop.

The Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), a gas transportation subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which supplies gas from two major gas plants at Utorogu and Oredo to link power plants some weeks back, noted that gas supplies from the plants had gone down considerably due to repair works.

NGC then stated that the repair works would take a while and be completed by March 9. The 3,118MW daily generation report of the Nigeria System Operators thus suggests that capacity is being clawed back.

However, some of the power

sector sources who spoke to THISDAY on this development stated that while power generation has gradually picked up following the completion of the pigging work on critical gas stations in the south, supplies from the country’s hydro power plants up North may remain low and continue to impact supply.

The reasons offered by the sources were that even with the completion of the pigging of the gas pipelines, which was scheduled for completion on March 9 and gas perhaps getting to the thermal power plants, the low water levels at the two hydro dams, Kainji and Shiroro are still considerable issues to deal with. They also averred that although Nigeria gets about 80 per cent of its entire power supply from gas plants, the hydro plants have often helped to bridge capacity shortfalls whenever there are issues from the gas power plants.

Reported incidences of pipeline bursts have also gone unabated in

the South, the federal government in its explanation for the drop in power supply, acknowledged that the development was impacting generation.

According to the sources, who spoke anonymously, Shiroro for example was down last week.

THISDAY, however, could not confirm its status at the moment.

No doubt, this development would also continue to affect businesses and homes across the country. Only last week, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) complained of the huge cost its members incur in powering their manufacturing plants.

Similarly, residential consumers across the country have continued to complain of decrepit supplies to them. Their complaints, THISDAY also learnt, included exorbitant estimated charges by the Distribution Companies (Discos) as well as disregard for their metering plans as approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission

(NERC).

Another anomaly which THISDAY gathered from the industry sources is that the continued delay by the government in reconstituting a new board of commissioners for the NERC was hugely impacting the sector.

Whilethetenureofthelastcommissioners of the NERC ended in December 2015, the government is yet to appoint new commissioners for the regulator, three months after.

This development is contrary to the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005, which states that there shall not be a vacuum in the appointment of commissioners for the NERC. According to Section 34 (1) of the Act, the president is expected to appoint seven persons as commissioners for the regulator, while Section 35 (5) states that their reappointment for another term or fresh appointments must be made before the expiry of their term of office.

Military Kills over 50 Boko Haram Terrorists, Cattle Rustlers • Intensifies ground clearance, aerial bombardment Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Nigerian military involved in the ongoing Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency (CT COIN) operations in the North-east, have killed over 50 members of the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) group in Borno State, and as well as cattle rustlers in four states of the North-west, within the last 48 hours.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, said the military achieved this feat following reliable information on the presence of some BHT in parts of Borno State.

According to Usman, troops of 113 Battalion conducted a fighting patrol to Dunga general area on Thursday during which they discovered and destroyed a Boko Haram terrorists’ camp at Alajeri village in Guzamala Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State.

In the operation, he said, the troops killed 40 Boko Haram terrorists and captured one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), a Rocket Propelled Grenade 7 (RPG 7), six AK-47 rifles, and two Fabrique Nationale rifles.

He listed other items recovered to include 10 magazines, 188 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and 64 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.

“Other items recovered by the troops included three mobile phones, six copies of Holy Quran and 20 Motorcycles,” he stated.

He noted that the “operations to clear all known Boko Haram terrorists camps and hideouts are ongoing as troops remain committed to the clearance and apprehension of the BHT in the country.”

In a related development, Usman said troops have further consolidated the successes so far

recorded in the clearance operations of the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents, especially in the Kekeno axis of Borno State.

He said: “The troops of 7 Brigade Quick Reaction Force on a routine fighting patrol had an encounter with members of the Boko Haram moving on three motorcycles along Kekeno axis linking Dabam Masara.

“During the pursuit, troops killed two BHT and recovered 2 AK-47 rifles, three motorcycles and one tear gas from the terrorists. Other items recovered include four mobile telephone handsets, assorted sizes of bathroom slippers, food flasks, plastic cups, amongst others.”

The Army Spokesman recalled that these same troops yesterday killed a wanted Boko Haram kingpin who is on serial 95 on the first Nigerian Army wanted list of 100 BHT leaders.

In the same vein, he said,

troops of 118 Task Force Battalion of 7 Brigade, also encountered BHT at Ma’ala Village in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. During the encounter, he said, the troops killed one Boko Haram terrorist and captured another alive.

“They also rescued a 3-year-old girl from the terrorists,” he stated.

In Zamfara State, he said the troops killed four rustlers, wounded 16, arrested 3 and destroyed seven of their camps.

He confirmed that the troops also recovered 486 livestock, two machetes, three AK-47 rifles and four AK-47 rifle magazines from the criminals.

“In Katsina State, the troops killed 5 rustlers, arrested two of them and destroyed 5 camps.

They also recovered an AK-47 rifle, four locally manufactured guns and 12 machetes. The troops also recovered 116 livestock from the rustlers. Unfortunately, one of the soldiers sustained injury and is receiving to treatment,” he stated.

Christians in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) under the umbrella of Northern States Christian Association of Nigeria (Northern CAN), yesterday warned Emirs against the persistent abduction of Christian girls who are forcefully converted to Islam and forcefully married. Newly-elected chairman of the association, Rev. Yakubu Pam gave the warning in Kaduna at a news conference after his election weekend.

Pam, a former chairman of the Plateau State Chapter of the CAN also faulted Nigeria’s membership of the Coalition of Islamic Countries against terrorism, saying that the government needs to assure Nigerian Christians that they would not be victims in the event that the ISIS terrorists attack Nigeria for being a member of such a group.

While condemning the rampant abduction of Christian girls, Pam said it was high time traditional rulers in the region, especially those that harbour Christian minors in their palaces stopped such wicked acts.

He urged security operatives to live up to their expectation of protecting lives and

property of Christians in the north by also insuring that those who abduct other people’s daughters and marry them are arrested and prosecuted.

Pam further expressed concern over invasion of many communities in the North Central by armed bandits suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, especially the killings in communities in Nasarawa, Benue states and other Christian areas in the region.

“Another issue that came up for deliberation is the kidnapping of our daughters. Historically, the issue has been on ground. We have suffered with this here in northern Nigeria.

“The church is really concerned and we are pleading with the government if they can put every leadership on alert, particularly, our traditional leaders and security agencies so that they can control such an ugly issue that has been taken place here in the north.

“These are the two things that we really discussed and people were really happy with the new executive of the association”, Pam said, and called on states and federal governments to be proactive in tackling these crises rocking communities in the north central zone.

One Injured, 15 Rescued in Fresh Lagos Boat Mishap The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday confirmed that one person was injured as 15 others were rescued from a wooden boat which capsized at Grinaldi Port near Tin Can Island, Apapa, Lagos.

The confirmation was contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the agency, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, and made available to newsmen in Lagos. According to the statement, the incident was caused by a bigger boat which destabilised the wooden boat.

“A wooden boat capsized at Grinaldi Port close to Tin

Can Flyover Bridge, Coconut Bus Stop, Apapa, with 15 passengers on board. All passengers were rescued alive and only the driver of the boat sustained injury,” it stated.

It said the incident occurred at about 8.30 p.m. on Friday and that those rescued had gone to their different destinations. Farinloye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the injured driver refused to be treated, opting to treat himself in a private hospital. He said Marine Police and other stakeholders were still investigating the cause of the accident.

RCCG City of Praise Festival

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of Praise, Town PlanningWay,Ilupeju,Lagos,hasconcludedarrangementtoholdafestival of songs, which would be an intense worship to God Almighty. Called BarakShachah,WorshipUnscripted,thecelebration,whichisthesecond edition, promises to be super-charged as spirit-filled minstrels usher the faithful into the presence of the Almighty God. The popular ministers of God, who would offer their sacrifices of praise unto the Glorious King at the event, scheduled for Sunday April 10, at 3 pm prompt include Evang. Dr. Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, Efe Nathan, Tosin Bee, Mairo Ese, CovenantChristianCentreChoir(C4),LagosCityChorale.Thecelebration, organised by The Global Aesthetics in conjunction with RCCG City of Praise, will be anchored by Ayo Thompson (OAP at Nigeria Info and Cool TV) and Big Bolaji.

IrokoPlus Rebrands on Star Times

AspartofplanstorepositionforimprovedNollywoodentertainmentfor subscribers,premiumNollywoodtelevisionchannelonStarTimesPayTV, irokoPlushasbeenofficiallyre-launchedasirokoWorld.Thepopularchannel has also appointed multi-award winning actress and producer, Funke Akindele popularly known as ‘Jenifa’ as its brand ambassador. At a recent media event in Ikeja, Lagos, irokoWorld made the new announcements and officially unveiled the star actress as the new face of the brand, who will promote the entertainment channel and endear it more to subscribers on StarTimes and other Nigerians through various engagements, includingscreeningpopularFunkeAkindeleblockbustermovies,visitsto customercentresandcitytours,amongstotherlinedupactivities.

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NEWS

TELECOMS PARLEY L-R: Chief of Staff to Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, Nigerian Communications Commission, Usman

Mallah; Director Human Capital & Infrastructure Group, NCC, Mrs. Maryam Bayi; Admin Manager, West African Telecoms Regulatory Assembly, Sele Pokima; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO,NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta; Executive Secretary, WATRA Alh. Maman Laminou, and Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Tony Ojobo, when WATRA officials paid a courtesy visit to the EVC in Abuja...recently

HIGH-LEVEL SUPPORT L-R: Wife of the Speaker House of Representatives, Hajia Gimbia Yakubu Dogara; the new couple, Mr. Gambo HassanandwifeFumi,andtheSpeaker,RtHon.YakubuDogaraattheweddingoftheSpeaker’snephew,Gambo, held in Abuja...yesterday PHOTO:JuliusAtoi

FG Releases New Education Census Figure • US expresses concern over North-east Paul Obi, Kasim Sumaina and Bukola Eshun in Abuja

The federal government has released new census on the status of education in Nigeria, indicating some progress as well as concerns in some of the critical areas of the sector.

This came as the United States government expressed deep concern over poor indicators and performance from the North-east geo-political zone where Boko Haram insurgency has taken a toll on the region.

The release of the new Nigeria Education Data Survey (NEDS) showed that the number of rural female without any form of schooling in the country was put at 49 per cent, while male was at 45 per cent.

Urban female without any level of education stood 22 per cent, male 19 per cent. Urban male with tertiary education was at 33 per cent, while female was 22 per cent.

The figures showed a reduction in the number of rural females with education. In 2013, where the survey was merged with the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) rural female without any form of education stood at 53.5 per cent, showing a reduction of about 4 per cent; also, the number for urban females with tertiary education increased by 12 per cent.

Further, figures from the North East geo-political zone appears to have worsened compared with 2013 due to the increasing cases of Boko Haram insurgency.

Speaking at the launch of NEDS, Chairman of National Population Commission (NPC) Chief Eze Duruiheoma, SAN explained that “the survey is meant to provide policy makers with accurate and timely data to formulate courses of action designed to increase enrollment, attendance and learning and to achieve Nigeria’s Universal Basic

Education Commission (UBEC) and Education for all (EFA) goals for the children of school age.

“It is also meant to provide a substantial amount of the household-based education data needed in Nigeria. The outcome of the survey will inform programming that will improve levels of student enrollment and attendance, as well as facilitate equitable access to quality schooling for all children in Nigeria.”

Duruiheoma stated that “the conduct of the NEDS marks another major step by the National Population Commission to respond to the national imperative of providing adequate and relevant data for national planning, particularly in the education sector.

“The highlights of the 2015 include the primary school attendance over time showing improvement and gender gap eliminated, UBE improves the transition from primary to secondary education, improvement in percentage of children

in school that can read by class 2010-2015. “ Director Nigeria Mission, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Michael Harvey explained that the data is very essential to planning and strategising in the education sector in order to attain great feats.

He said: “I challenge you to give particular attention to the data from the states of the northeast, which will be critical in helping formulate policies for rebuilding the sector.

“USAID has also provided small matching grants to communities, parent-teacher associations, and non-governmental organisations to rehabilitate schools and prioritise community needs.”

He explained that the project cost “$4.9 million” adding: “It is a big effort because it wasn’t first national survey but it is also 36 states and the first and it was a big effort and involving a lot of people and I am really proud of it.”

Deploy Science Tech to Defeat Terrorism, Restiveness, Buhari Urges African Nations Dele Ogbodo in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged African nations to embrace Science, Technology and Innovations (STIs), to defeat terrorism, social restiveness, poverty, hunger, illiteracy and underdevelopment across the continent.

According to him, it is only through the deployment of STIs that Africa countries can efficiently exploit its huge natural resources and thereby create jobs, wealth and reduce both poverty and human suffering.

The disclosure was made

by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taye Akinyemi, weekend in Abuja.

Onu, the statement added represented the president in a three-day World Conference on the deployment Science and Technology for Africa’s Development, in Dakar, Senegal.

The minister urged African nations to see science and technology as an important instrument to stimulate human development and progress in the concerted effort to minimise human suffering, reduce levels of poverty, conflict and strife,

social restiveness, terrorism and environmental degradation cross the continent.

According to him, it is only when the continent of Africa embrace science and technology that the face of hunger, illiteracy and under-development associated with it can be eradicated, adding that it would help nations across Africa in the efficient exploitation of its huge natural resources.

To demonstrate its commitment to these objectives, the minister stated that Nigeria has commenced the utilisation of science and technology in its effort to unlock the door to

FG to Stabilise Price of Rice by April

The Federal Government said yesterday that it would stabilise the price of rice from April to make it affordable to everybody in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, made this known while declar-

ing open the 2016 National wheat farmers field day in Alkamawa village in Bunkure Local Government of Kano state.

Ogbeh said the stability of price of rice would be very viable due to its demand and affordability to the people

from April. He said the boosting of wheat production and other cereals had become necessary to reduce over dependence on importation, according to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report. The minister added that over 300, 000 hectares

prosperity and defeat hunger, disease and illiteracy.

This is possible, according to him, because the mighty pyramids of Egypt, the great walls of Zimbabwe and the beautiful artistic works of Igboukwu, Ife and Benin demonstrated the applications of science technology and innovation.

The minister stressed that Nigeria will continue to utilise “the key of science and technology to unlock the door of progress, defeat hunger, disease and illiteracy for the common good. We are resolved to bridge gaps that divide and strengthen bonds that unite.”

of land in wheat producing states would be dedicated to boost wheat production.

“The government will continue to support farmers to encourage agricultural activity, enhance food security and employment generation in the country,” he said.

Buhari’ll Invest Heavily in Critical Infrastructure, Says Odigie-Oyegun

Anayo Okolie

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to invest in critical infrastructure like energy, rail and roads to drive the country’s development as demonstrated in the party’s first budget.

Odigie-Oyegun, who stated at a recent stakeholders party’s meeting in United Kingdom, disclosed that insidious corruption and the near collapse of the oil price have severely restricted the party from immediate delivery of electoral promises.

According to him, the party, under President Buhari, remains resolute in tackling Nigeria’s infrastructural deficits and other economic problems.

He urged the British government to continue to support the Buhari administration in

fighting corruption which he described as the main cause of infrastructural deficit in the country.

Others at meeting were members of APC across the United Kingdom, the party’s representatives from the Scandinavia and the invited British guests.

The event, chaired by Mr. Richard Fuller, member of the British Parliament for Bedford and Kempton, and the Vice Chair, All Parties Parliamentary Group (APPG), Nigeria, Mr. Martin Brown, a former senior parliamentary aide, was, however, the first meeting organised under the chairmanship of Dr. Philip Idaewor.

Brown, who spoke on financial corruption and infrastructural development, listed some of the worthy efforts of the Buhari administration in fighting corruption.

Kwara Elders Endorse FG’s Fight against Corruption Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Elders Committee in Kwara state have disclosed that the ongoing prosecution of highly placed individuals in the country by the federal government was a strong signal to the international community that corruption and indiscipline would no longer be condoned in the country again.

In a statement issued by the committee in Ilorin, Kwara state capital yesterday signed by Alhaji Abdulrahman Gold (Kwara central), Chief Yekeen Obalowu

(Kwara South) and Hon. Ezekiel Kolo (Kwara North) the elders advised those facing trial over corruption charges to allow courts to do their work instead of making frivolous comment about their prosecution.

The elders also said, “inspite of pressures from several quarters, President Buhari has remained true to his promise to rid the country of corruption, no matter whose ox is gored.

For the first time in this country, we are witnessing a genuine, systematic approach to anti-graft war.

APC Ex-Senatorial Candidate, Olofin, Dies in Auto Crash

Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti

The Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti Central Senatorial District during the 2015 general polls in Ekiti State, Amb. Gbenga Olofin, is dead.

Olofin died in a ghastly motor accident along OwoBenin road at about 5.30pm yesterday, while returning to his base in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He was said to

have been travelling alone in his Pathfinder Jeep when the accident happened.

His remains, according to an impeccable source, had been deposited at the morgue of Gabriel Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.

The deceased was in Ekiti for continuation of his political career, where he received some decampees from PDP in his country home into APC on behalf of the State Working Committee on Thursday.

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NEWS

AMBASSADOR JENIFA CHANGE OF BATON R-L: Head of Legal & Distribution, iROKO, Uloma Onuma; Star actress, Funke Akindele aka Jenifa; L-R: Former Managing Director, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Umar Munir Abubakar, handing over documents of office to the Ag. Managing Director, NSITF, Ismail Agaka, at a brief ceremony in Abuja…recently

Marketing Director, StarTimes, Dare Kafar, and Public Relations Manager, StarTimes, Mr. Israel Bolaji, at the unveiling of Funke Akindele as the iROKOWorld Ambassador in Ikeja, Lagos...recently

Lai Mohammed Justifies Buhari’s Frequent Oversea Trips Dele Ogbodo in Abuja

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said President Muhamadu Buhari’s frequent trips abroad, especially to the oil producing nations became imperative because of the urgent need to rally support for the stability of the global oil prices and also to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country.

While justifying the need to stabilise the prices of crude oil, which will help prop up the country’s currency, he stressed that the president has been spending countless times outside the country lobbying and

rallying round to find solution to the crash in oil prices.

“The is why the president cannot stay here”, he said. According to him, “staying here in Nigeria is like an army general who in the face of war remains in the bunker.”

Mohammed who made the disclosure while fielding questions from a radio station weekend in Abuja, said the fact that the present administration being led by Buhari is still managing to drive the economy is a credit on its side.

He berated critics of the administration as mischief makers, adding that “the economic situation has become completely out

of the control of government as the global economic meltdown is having a negative spiral effect on the economy”. He said Nigeria cannot determine the price of crude or gas.

“That is why the president has been spending countless times lobbying and rallying other oil exporting countries on how to stabilise the oil prices and how to attract other investments into the country.”

Asked on Nigeria’s recent move to partner the Islamic Organisation, he said: “I think that we should not be too finicky on who offers to partner you in fighting terrorism, after all we went to the US, we went to France, we

went to the United Nations (UN), and in each of these countries we received collaboration either in terms of sharing experiences intelligence, training of our people or giving us equipment.

“If the Islamic organisation says that they want to partner us in fighting terrorism, I do not think that we should read any religious colouration or meanings to it. Don’t let us forget that many of them are facing the same problem that we have they are facing insurgencies the Maghreb and the Middle East are presently facing insurgencies and so they say they are going to partner us in fighting terrorism is not the same thing as Islamic country.”

Group to Tour 20 Countries in Support of Buhari Paul Obi in Abuja

Following the slide in President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval rating in recent times, a group, the Nigeria Rebirth Project is to tour 20 countries to drum up support for the president’s programmes and policies.

The project is being spearheaded by the Sahelian Centre for Leadership and Development, Ministry of Information and Culture, National Gallery of Arts and Office of the Wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari who also doubled as the Grand Patron of the group.

The move is also geared towards reaching out to Nige-

rians across the 36 States of the federation and the FCT. The decision to engage Nigerian diaspora abroad and citizens at home came on the heels of low approval rating of the president across a broad spectrum of Nigerians.

A survey conducted in February this year by Governance Advancement Initiative for Nigeria (GAIN) revealed that more Nigerians have become more disenchanted with the president and the administration, scoring Buhari low on economy, jobs and electricity. The figures of the survey showed that the president’s rating dropped from 63.4 per cent to 32.8 per cent.

But speaking to journalists

in Abuja, National Coordinator, Nigeria Rebirth Project, Isaac Balami said the aim of the project was to rejuvenate “commitment towards the unity of Nigeria, leading in birthing the Nigerian dream and raising a new breed of Nigerians that will sustain the country.”

He explained that “we shall be embarking on a G20 -36 global tour, which is a diplomatic mission to 20 strategic countries across the continents of the globe and the 36 states in Nigeria. The 20 countries include; Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Israel, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, China, India, Singapore, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Brazil, Canada, USA, Senegal,

Ghana and Kenya.”

Balami who was accompanied by the Director General of the Sahelian Centre for Leadership and Development, Ibrahim Bello Daudu and another official of the centre, Muazu Magaji stated that “the tour is mobilise Nigerians everywhere to commit to the achievement” of the Nigerian government.

The project also included some art works to showcase the unity of Nigeria and support for the Buhari’s administration in line with his political and economic agenda. The project will be officially launched by the Wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, this week.

Controversy Dogs Invasion of Ekiti Assembly by Security Operatives Segun James

Controversy has continued to dog the invasion of the Ekiti State House of Assembly as opinions are divided on the action along party lines.

To the Lagos state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tunji Shelle the action will send a wrong signal to the people that politicians are

incapable of governance and this may truncate the political state of the nation.

“The invasion of the Ekiti Assembly is very sad and unfortunate. It portends great danger for our polity and nascent democracy. It is not acceptable and if not nipped in the bud can truncate the delicate socioeconomic and political state of the nation. The action is inappropriate and to say the

least highly undemocratic. It is uncalled for at this point in time in the history of the country.”

But a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa state, Chief Nathan Egba disagreed with the position of Shelle.

He stressed that the PDP was crying foul because a state governed by the party is involved, adding that in recent past, the party would

have justified such action as legitimate.

To him, the DSS of today is different from that of some years ago when it was used to “bully” the opposition or political enemies into submission. Egba recalled that it was the former DSS that was used to intimidate members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly (BYSA) to impeach Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in 2005.

Rivers Calls on Buhari to Caution Amaechi Rivers State Government has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, to order.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Austin Tam-George, in a statement he personally signed and made available to THISDAY, alleged that Amaechi was fuelling the prolonged crisis in the state.

Tam-George, who also faulted Amaechi’s statement during a recent interview on AIT where he (Amaechi) alleged that Mrs. Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Nyesom Wike brought cultism to Rivers State for election purposes, called on the people of Rivers State

to be vigilant and to resist any attempt by Amaechi and APC to rig the legislative polls slated for March 19.

According to him, investigations by the Rivers State Police Command have shown again, that the killings witnessed in some areas of the state were as a result of retributive attacks launched by rival cult gangs battling for supremacy.

And in each case, TamGeorge said the Rivers State Police Command working with the State Government, has made arrests, and obtained vital intelligence from gang leaders in custody. There is a prosecutorial process already underway for those implicated in these criminal activities.

Non-oil Revenue: Declare Emergency in Mining Sector, Buhari Urged Sunday Okobi

The management of NASAMAN Mining Company Limited, an indigenous mining firm, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare an emergency in the nation’s mining sector as a practical demonstration of its seriousness to revitalise the non-oil sector to improve the revenue base of the economy.

NASAMAN Chairman, Prince Mamman Ali, stated this in Abuja recently when his management team received an award by the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC), according to a statement issued yesterday by Communication Assistant, Goshem Media Nigeria, Mr. Kelvin Gods’will Musa.

In the entourage were the company’s Executive Director, Foreign Relations, Alhaji Ahmed Shehu Yar’Adua, and the Executive Director, Legal Services, Abba Mohammed who equally bagged awards of Fellow of the Institute respectively in recognition of their outstanding professional standing and corporate governance excellence.

Ali, the statement added, expressed confidence that whenever the president declares

an emergency in the sector, it would instantly send the right signal to the international investing community about federal government’s seriousness in turning around the fortunes of the sector towards harnessing its full potentials which he said was long overdue.

The NASAMAN boss also called on the government to follow up the declaration with the provision of a mining intervention fund as a mechanism to give practical expression to its intention to boost non-oil revenue accruable to the government to implement its major programmes in this year’s budget currently before the National Assembly. According to him, investors are anxiously waiting for government’s budgetary policy direction as a means of determining the direction of their capital., pointing out that investors are more attracted to where there is concrete and genuine institutional safeguard to their investment as well as minimise their cost and maximise their profit.

He pointed out that a presidential declaration of an emergency in the sector would go a long way in boosting the chances of success of the president’s current economic diplomacy.

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Dogara Launches Discount card for Students, Youth Corps Members Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara would soon launch a discount card designed to subsidise expenses on goods and services for Nigerian students and youth corps members.

Targeted at about 23 million youth, the Nigerian Students and Youth Corpers Discount Card (NSYDC), an initiative of a private firm, Bridge Concept, has already received the endorsement of the Committee of Vice Chancellors and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

In partnership with hundreds of goods and services providers, bearers of the card would receive different ranges of discounts, a practice which is common across the world, One of the drivers of the concept, and a former member of the House, Hon. Bimbo Daramola told THISDAY that it became necessary to come up with the concept in the face of prevailing economic realities in the country.

“The effect of our current economic realities on our youths is harsh, so it is our responsibility to look for safety nets to shield them from

crimes and criminality. While doing that, we should not lose focus on how to empower the students and youth corps members to keep from deviant behaviours.”

“That was what brought the idea of the online discount platform. We already have partners from all sectors of the economy, from hospitality to tourism and others, whereby any of our subscribers will enjoy a discount from the goods and services he or she is seeking to enjoy,” Daramola added.

About 35,000 partners including students and corners are already benefitting from

the service in the Federal Capital Territory, with plans to extend to other parts of the country almost immediately after the launch.

“Though it is new and first of its kind in Nigeria but it has been in existence in Europe and Americas for more than 3 decades. These are some of the privileges enjoyed by students and other youth groups in Europe and Americas that makes it appear like their society is extra perfect,” he added.

Intensive efforts are however being made to ensure that the concept is not abused or exposed to fraud.

Pirate Attack: Navy Arrests Alleged Accomplice, Releases Vessel Chiemelie Ezeobi Exactly three weeks after the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Okpabana accosted and arrested six pirates who had hijacked an oil vessel, MT Maximum, operatives of NNS Beecroft have arrested a possible accomplice of the gang members.

Although the identity of the accomplice was yet to unveiled, THISDAY gathered that investigations are ongoing, which would provide more insight as

the operations of the pirates.

This is just as the Navy handed over the recovered oil vessel to a representative of the company, Super Maritime Nigeria, Limited, along with the 18-crew members.

The Commanding Officer, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Abraham Adaji, did the handover yesterday at the naval dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos. Also handed over to the company were 18 international passports, 28 international seamen passports, 16 yellow fever

cards, three medical Lakers and one notebook.

On the fate of the six pirates who are still in navy custody, Adaji said investigations were ongoing, adding that they would be handed over to the Lagos State Police Command for prosecution.

He said, the suspects arrested would be prosecuted accordingly and the ship owners have undertaken to present crew members to come and testify if they are required in the course of

investigation.

While receiving the vessel, the Managing Director of Super Maritime Nigeria Limited, Mr. Rene Von Loenen, commended the navy for the quick rescue of crew and recovery of the vessel.

Recall that the navy arrested the six pirates, of Ghanaian and Nigerian nationalities, after a gun exchange with naval forces that left one of the pirates dead.

The Pirates had hijacked the oil vessel, laden with 4,700 tonnes of diesel fuel, off the Coast of

NEWS 2017: APC Vows to Take over Anambra Anayo Okolie The All Progressives Congress (APC), Anambra state chapter has vowed to take over Anambra Government House in the forthcoming 2017 governorship election in the state.

The chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Emeka Ibe, who disclosed this in Anambra shortly after receiving the keys of the Party’s local government office, procured, furnished and donated by the immediate past member of the House of Representatives, Hon Afam Ogene, said the party has rolled out programme for membership mobilisation across the state.

He commended Hon.

Ogene for procuring such a gigantic building for the party’s use as local government secretariat and called on all other stalwarts of the party in the state to emulate the ex-federal lawmaker.

According to him, all aggrieved members would be reconciled while new members would be admitted into the party fold.

Handing over the key of the APC local government office to the state chairman, Ogene said the gesture was to provide a conducive environment for the party leadership and members to function effectively in the area aimed at giving the party a formal address.

JAMB Extends UTME to March 19 Uchechukwu Nnaike

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said it has extended the examination date for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to March 19, to enable candidates that had issues with their online registration to sit for the examination.

The board had earlier announced that the examination, which commenced at

designated centres across the country on February 27, will last for 10 days, but the protests by the affected students prompted the examination body to adjust.

According to the board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, the affected candidates complained that they had initiated their registration process, but could not complete it at the close of registration due to system failure so the board was directed to allow

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MARCH 13, 2016

SUNDAYNEWS

BOOST FOR POLICE SHOWCASING FIFTY L-R: Group Head Essential Services, NatanelFlorens Ltd, Mr. Remi Ojuile; DPO Ogudu Division, CSP L-R: Kemi Lala-Akinyanju, Iretiola Doyle, Mo Abudu, Olajumoke Orisaguna, and Omoni Oboli, during the Abdullahi Malah Geidam, and Group Head Shared Services, Mr. Yussuff Suleiman-Onibo, at the company’s presentation of Police rotating beacons to Ogudu Police division, Lagos...recently

special screening of the film ‘Fifty’ to commemorate the International Women’s Day in Lagos...recently PHOTO: Yomi Akinyele

Despite Concerns over Credit Facilities, Manufacturing Sector Records 6.93% Growth in Q4 2015 James Emejo in Abuja

The manufacturing sector of the economy recorded a growth of 6.93 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year amid lack of significant credit advance from the banking sector.

The growth was 2.13 per cent higher than the 4.80 per cent which was recorded in the third quarter of the year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

There has been increasing concern over the reluctance by commercial banks to advance significant credit to the real sector which is critical to resuscitating economic activities as oil revenues to government continue to decline due to the falling price of oil.

At the last monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting of January 2016, the CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele noted that though Net domestic credit

(NDC) grew by 12.13 per cent, it remained below the provisional benchmark of 29.30 per cent for 2015 while growth in aggregate credit reflected mainly growth in credit to the Federal Government by 151.56 per cent in December 2015 compared with 145.74 per cent in the corresponding period of 2014.

Nevertheless, the apex bank had initiated a number of plans to increase lending to the real sector; hence, the recent growth in the manufacturing sector, which had hitherto being on a decline may be unconnected with recent interventions in the sector.

However, according to the fourth quarter GDP estimates released recently by the statistical agency, the sector contributed 9.09 per cent to Nominal GDP in Q4 2015 quarter, though lower than the 9.11 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2014, and 9.67 per cent in the third

quarter of 2015.

It further noted that real GDP growth of the manufacturing sector slowed by 13.09 per cent to 0.38 per cent (year-on-year) from 13.47 per cent growth recorded in fourth Quarter of 2014.

Growthwashowever2.13per cent higher than rates recorded in Q3 2015 while on a quarter-onquarter basis, the sector slowed on the margin by -0.03 per cent with oil refining and Motor vehicle and Assembly weighing on the sector manufacturing.

Notably, the manufacturing sector recorded a nominal year on year growth of 2.43 per cent in the period under review. This was 28.63 per cent lower than the 31.06 per cent growth rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2014, and 1.02 per cent lower than the growth rate of 3.46 per cent recorded in Q3.

Quarter–on-Quarter, the sector grew by 51.5 per cent. The contribution of electricity, gas,

steam and air conditioning supply to Nominal GDP was 0.71 per cent in the Fourth Quarter of 2015 lower marginally when compared to the contribution made in the corresponding quarter of 2014 recorded at 0.74 per cent.

The NBS said:”In real terms, the sector grew by 1.20 per cent in the Fourth Quarter of 2015, 1.61 per cent points lower than the corresponding period in 2014, and lower than the Third Quarter 2015 growth rate, which stood at 2.14 per cent. Quarteron-Quarter, the sector grew by 51.67 per cent.

“The contribution of Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply to real GDP was 0.51 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2015, roughly unchanged from the Fourth Quarter of 2014 , and slightly higher than the contribution of 0.34 per cent in the Third Quarter of 2015.”

NDLEA Uncovers $2bn Illicit Drug Operation in Asaba The National Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered a super laboratory for the illicit production of methamphetamine in Asaba, Delta State; that is capable of churning out drugs worth at least $2 billion.

The laboratory, which was detected by the Special Enforcement Team (SET) of the NDLEA and is said to harbour a production process that is very technical and sophisticated, is the first super laboratory discovered in

the country. Similar to the ones found in Mexico, in terms of size, it has a capacity to produce between 3,000kg to 4,000kg of methamphetamine per production cycle. In Asia, the street value of 1 kg of methamphetamine can be as high as $600,000.

The suspects behind the laboratory have been arrested and were paraded at a press briefing held at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Lagos, yesterday.

Those arrested include four Nigerians believed to be joint owners of the laboratory and four Mexicans, who are methamphetamine production experts hired and brought into the country as technical partners. The suspects include: Chief Chibi Aruh, William Ejike Agusi, Umolu Kosisochukwu and Umolu Chuwkuemeka.

The technical experts from Mexico are: Cervantos Madrid Jose Bruno, Rivas Ruiz Pastiano,

Castillo Barraza Cristobal, and Partida Gonzalez.

At the press briefing, Chairman of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha, noted that the discovery of a superlaboratory should be a cause of fresh worries, in the nation’s fight against illegal narcotics.

“It is worrisome because the rise of super-laboratories will put Nigerian on the global spotlight in methamphetamine production,” he said.

Nigeria’s Poor Infrastructure Threatens Public Safety, NSE Warns Chineme Okafor in Abuja

A 2015 year-end report of the status of Nigeria’s infrastructure by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has said that the country’s poor infrastructure base constitutesadangertopublicsafety.The report: ‘Nigerian Infrastructure Report Card 2015’ is published for the first time by the NSE. It was presented to reporters weekend in Abuja by the President of NSE, Otis Anyaejo, who also briefed re-

porters on other national issues as they relate to engineering practice in the country.

According to Anyaeji, the final outcome of the report was based on inputs from professional engineers and other stakeholders across the country. He said an aggregation of inputs of these professionals scored the country’s infrastructure quite low with an “E” pass mark.

The “E” pass mark, he explained amounted to a 2.08 out of the overall five points on which

the assessment was based. “This means that the present condition of our national infrastructure across all sectors is a threat to public safety. Our score card is modelled on international best practice,” Anyaeji said.

He noted that the report card was one of the ways the NSE evaluates the country’s development of its infrastructure, adding that a two years grace gap is often allowed for the government to reflect and adopt the recommendations in it.

According to him: “We want the report card to be a monitoring and reporting tool for citizens and a critical companion guide to policy makers in prioritising solutions to our national infrastructure delivery challenges.”

Anyaeji disclosed that the electric power, transportation, water, health, education, oil and gas, housing, tourism, emergency response as well as security and law were amongst the country’s key sectors which their infrastructure base were assessed.

Foundation Asks British House of Lords to Support IDPs Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

A Nigerian non-governmental organisation, Jose Foundation has appealed to the House of Lords in the United Kingdom to help in finding succour for the over 2 million people living in camps in the North East as Internal Displaced Persons.

The IDPs had to flee their homes following deadly invasion and attacks by Boko Haram insurgents.

Addressing members of the House of Lords in the UK, the President of the foundation, Martins Abhulimhen told the Lordships that President Muhammadu Buhari had provided an enabling environment for help to reach the IDP. He said: “Jose Foundation, being unable to participate actively in ameliorating the effects of the war against insurgency, due to being ill equipped to fight against insurgency, has began to find relevancebecausethetenmonths

old government of President Muhammadu Buhari has been able to repeal the insurgents and create safe camps for internally displaced people, a majority of whom are children. We now can show our zeal as it is safe to work in such camps.”

“The internally displaced people are part of what I have come here to sensitise your Lordships about. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, we have a discipline, corrupt free leadership under the impeccable person of President Muhammadu Buhari, which without any doubt will make our tasks a lot easier.

“Donations are bound to reach the people it is meant for. We at Jose Foundation are partnering Save the Children organisation UK, Nepal Child Rescue foundation, the Wellbeing Foundation and a host of other like-minded non-governmental organisations to help the Nigerian government ease this burden and end this crisis and humanitarian catastrophe.

EFCC to Arraign Ex-Head of Service, Oransaye on Tuesday

Bassey Inyang in Calabar and Adebiyi Adedapo in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will on Tuesday, March 15, arraign a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoS) Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, before Justice O. Goodluck of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Abuja on fresh two counts of corruption and obtaining by false pretence.

The fresh charge followed the completion of investigation by the anti-graft agency on evidence that the former top bureaucrat allegedly abused his position as chair of the Presidential Committee on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to fraudulently obtain a total sum of N190 million, being part of the N240 million grant which the Committee received from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The grant, investigation revealed, was allegedly paid into an accountinAccessBankoperatedby Oronsaye without the knowledge of other Committee members and he proceeded to invest the funds for personal gains.

The charge reads; “Stephen Oronsaye a.k.a. Mr. Steve Oronsaye on or about 12th June, 2013 at Abuja

within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory whilst being the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force and in such capacity entrusted with certain property to wit: the sum of N90,000,000.00 committed Breach ofTrustinrespectofthesaidsumby converting it to your personal use through the investment of the said sum of N90,000,000.00 in Access Bank Plc’s Bankers Acceptance for a tenor of 90 days at 9.0% interest rate in violation of the extant financial regulations.

“Stephen Oronsaye a.k.a. Mr. Steve Oronsaye on or about 30th December, 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory whilst being the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force and in such capacity entrusted with certain property to wit: the sum of N100,000,000.00 committed Breach of Trust in respect of the said sum by converting it to your personal use through the investment of the said sum of N90,000,000.00 in Access Bank Plc’s Bankers Acceptance for a tenor of 90 days at 12.0% interest rate each in violation of the extant financial regulations.”

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MARCH 13, 2016

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 13, 2016

INTERNATIONAL

Beyond Femi Fani-Kayode’s ‘Sad Case of Ese Oruru’: The Biogenesis or Abiogenesis of Truth and a New Nigeria?

F

emi Fani-Kayode (FFK) was formerly a Minister of Aviation in Nigeria and a descendant of the seasoned politician and statesman, alias ‘Fani Power.’

Miss Ese Oruru is the 14-year old girl abducted

by Yunusa Dahiru, 18 years old, from her home in Yenagoa in the South-south and taken to Kano.

She is already pregnant for him. The attitude of the many commentators angered FFK and prompted him to write on ‘the Sad Case of Ese Oruru’ (ThisDay, March 6, 2016, p.92).

FFK raised in his article the question of ‘Conspiracy of Silence’ in the face of ‘perpetuation of wickedness and injustice in this country among the ruling elite.’ As he put it, ‘evidently we live in a strange country where evil is, at best, ignored and swept under the carpet and, at worst, openly justified. We live in a country where those that expose such abominations and that speak truth are shunned, discredited, demonized, hated, despised and, more often than not, threatened with physical violence, persecution, intimidation, arrest, criminal investigation and civil litigation. That is the price we pay for speaking the truth and exposing evil in Nigeria.’

FFK also has it that ‘anyone can get away with anything [provided] they belong to a particular circle and class and [provided] they have money and power. And it is because they have money and power and they have powerful friends in government and in the political class that they feel that they can silence, crush, kill, abduct, cripple, ruin, sue and jail anybody that tests their will and crosses them or that dares to expose the truth about their blood-chilling and perverse ways. That is the reality of Nigeria and it is a sad and sorry one.’

On reading Fani-Kayode’s article, I was immediately confronted with four challenges deriving from some novels and my own experience. First, I remember James Ngugi’s Weep Not Child. Why is Fani-Kayode trying to weep? One possible answer derivable from his article is the perception of conspiracy of wickedness on the part of the generality of the Nigerian people. They easily acquiesce to cruelty and societal ills. Second, the article reminds of Alan Paton’s Cry My Beloved Country. While James Ngugi does not want people, particularly the children, to weep or cry, Alan Paton advocates the contrary: crying. But why will people not cry and cry out strongly in the face of visible atrocities and silence over them? When I consider my experience as a former Chief Executive at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and ponder over what those who were precisely required to ‘govern’ as a Council or to ‘supervise’ as a Ministry [are doing], I prefer not to weep and cry but to go along with Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd. For me, weeping and crying are manifestations of failure. They do not solve problems.

Consequently, when Fani-Kayode talks about the ‘Sad Case of Ese Oruru’ he is simply seeking an end to the sadness and anyone who wants a better Nigeria ought to commend his courage, and particularly the integrity and knowledge inherent in it. For, as noted

by Dr. Samuel Johnson in his Rasselas, ‘integrity without knowledge is weak and useless and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.’ The challenge in this case is when someone is not weak and still has integrity in addition, and yet, the people do not bother, what should one do?

Thomas Henry Huxley, in his Science and Education, says that the only medicine for suffering, crime, and all the other woes of mankind is wisdom. In this regard, Baltassar Gracian argues that self-reflection is the school of wisdom. In fact, while Ecclesiast I in the Holy Bible advises that it is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the songs of fools, Epicharmus posits in his book, Fabulœ Incertœ, that the wise man must be wise before, not after, the event. This is why, before Nigeria is put on the path of irreversible self-destruction and crisis of legitimacy, there is the need to be wise first, because Harold Last, on 21st July 1993, has also noted that there was a class of intellectuals who had the chance to speak out against injustices and yet remain silent and by so doing contribute to the moral paralysis and intellectual barrenness that grips the affluent world (Daily Sketch, July 21, 1993).

Beyond the Story of the Sad Case

There are more saddening cases than that of Ese Oruru. Some are contained in Professor Gabriel Olakunle Olusanya’s, The Memoirs of a Disillusioned Patriot. If you are not sure about yesterday, what about today? At the NIIA, a Director of Research and Studies, Prof.

Ogaba Danjuma Oche, summoned candidates being considered for possible promotion to the grade of substantive professorship to his office and not only told them that the Director General was about to send their papers abroad for assessment contrary to practice, but also revealed the particulars of the possible assessors. The normal and standard practice before I took over as Director General was to send assessment papers to whoever has the professional competence in the relevant disciplines regardless of the location of the assessors: in Nigeria or abroad. The attention of the Governing Council was drawn to the fact that Professor Oche had breached the sacrosanct principle of confidentiality. In fact, the Council turned its eyes away and later linked up directly with the assessors in the wrong belief that the DG could not justify the conditions for assessment or has fabricated his own conditions. In the context of the Public Service Regulations, breach of confidentiality and Oath of Secrecy constitutes a serious misconduct which is sanctionable by dismissal if proven (vide Sections 030401 and 030402 (i) on ‘unauthorised disclosure of official information’ and paragraph (n) on Oath of Secrecy).

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Fani-Kayode The Director of Administration and Finance, Ms. Agatha Elochi Ude, was officially queried for falsifying promotion examination results in favour of some candidates who did not pass. She was also queried for removing all the queries (issued before and during my tenure) in her file. This act, again, is contrary to Sections 030402 (a) on falsification of records; Section 030402 on suppression of records; and Section 030402 (c) on withholding of files. The attention of Council was drawn to it but the Council was silent on the matter.

The case of the NIIA official quarters on Victoria Island, Lagos, is another issue. Following government’s Monetisation Policy of 2004, Management, in implementation of the policy, asked all the occupants to pay N480,000 per annum or N40,000 (forty thousand naira per month) for a 4-bedroom flat, plus a standard self-contained Boys Quarters and two parking slots. The occupants petitioned to the Council, after more than three years of compliance, that the rental charge was too much. It is from this payment of N40,000 monthly rent that all social bills, gardener, security, waste disposal, etc, are paid by the Management. But the occupants want free accommodation contrary to the requirements of the government’s policy.

A related problem is that some of the occupants rented their Boys Quarters for between N300,000 and N350,000 per annum, contrary to extant regulations. In the letters of allocation of the flats, sub-letting of any part is considered an act of gross or serious misconduct which is punishable by dismissal from the service of the NIIA. The Council’s reaction was to advise that a six-month quit notice be given to their illegal tenants. The occupants, in fact, never complied before I left the Institute.

More interestingly, Council simply rejected government’s policy of monetisation and replaced it with the policy of pay on the basis of “capacity” or “as you earn.”

True, the Council queried me: that I exceeded my approval limit and that the Council was not involved in the award of a contract for the building of an International Conference Center in the Institute. In the strong belief that I never exceeded my approval limit and had followed the due process, I have been asking, to no avail, for a governmental probe of all my activities, contractual and academic, and particularly the variously incited petitions against me. It is conspiracy of silence again.

Even the report of a Panel of Investigation, which I set up in the face of inaction of the Supervisory Authority and in which representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Public Service Commission, Head of Service, Department of State Service, etc, actively participated, was set aside by the Supervisory Authority, because of partisanship and impact of influence politics. The report indicted the directors and the petitioners. My question remains, if all petitions written against me were sent to the Supervisory Authority, why were they not investigated? For more than one year of petitioning, the best the Council could do was to “note” the petitions but was not able to determine who was right or wrong.

In fact, during demonstrations against me, I was called a thief.

The Director of Library and Documentation Services, Mrs. Stella

Abimbola Dada (SAD), led the thief-allegation group. When the allegations were reported to the Lion Building for investigation and prosecution, the Lion Building, never cooperated. Associate Research Professor Fred Aja Agwu reported me to the Bar Beach Police Station, complaining that he had not only received telephone messages in which his life was threatened but that the only suspect responsible was me. I knew about the report through a copy of his letter sent to the Supervisory Authority through me. On that same day, I submitted myself to the Bar Beach Police without waiting for their invitation. All the investigations in the past five months to ascertain the ownership of the phone used and extent of my involvement have been to no avail. The explanation offered me is that the telephone service provider had not responded to police enquiries.

And, perhaps, worst still, the endpoint is that, at the level of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), I was directed to hand over to the Most Senior Director, with the explicit insinuation that there were petitions against me. I complied but protested against the insinuation, because I did not hand over because of any petition but because my tenure had come to an end. It cannot but be most unfortunate for a SGF to have taken decisions without investigating the petitions that informed it. Government is preaching the gospel of anti-corruption and anti-societal ills but the very Supervisory Authority who should be in the fore-front is, of course, the main nursery for aiding and abetting serious acts of misconduct in the NIIA. This is not only why Nigeria’s foreign policy cannot benefit from serious intellectual inputs and, particularly, why the NIIA is now on the path of neglect-induced destruction.

For instance, special signages procured with government funds and installed in different places to honour some of the Founding Fathers and Directors-General of the NIIA have been removed, if not destroyed. This is quite sad because the signages are for the Louis Mbanefo Rotunda, Foyer Russel Aliyu Dikko, Lawrence Fabunmi Banquet Hall, Sir Kashim Ibrahim Library, Bolaji Akinyemi Auditorium. They removed them in the belief that they can destroy the truth. Akinterinwa’s legacy is indestructible.

Additionally, I remodelled the existing Annex Building to accommodate an International Conference Center (ICC) for the Institute, and enable greater visibility of the NIIA in the comity of global research institutions. SAD within her six-week tenure tried to convert the international conference centre into offices, forgetting the need for fund generation for research and financial solvency.

More unfortunately, however, restructuring of the conference centre does not remove the fact of who built it. Removing the signages does not obliterate the fact that General Yakubu Gowon commissioned them and the naming of the different places after those who gave birth to the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and sustained it.

Why seek the underdevelopment of the NIIA? FFK has already provided some of the reasons. And most unfortunately again, Dr. Efem Ubi threw caution to the wind last week Wednesday and acted ad libitum: she gave my wife an unprovoked, undeserved and unbefitting slap on the face. With his wife, they tore my wife’s dress. The matter was referred to the Bar Beach Police Station which has also referred the case to the court.

Even though Dr. Ubi and his wife were docked and granted bail, the aftermath of the governance by Council and the supervision by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is nothing more than the increasing acts of serious misconduct in the Institute.

Truth-promotion: Biogenetical or Abiogenetical Approach?

Nigeria’s future cannot be great if the foundation is built on untruth. Only truth can exalt a nation, as the Bible says. But how do we develop on the basis of truth? Do we go the way of biogenesis or abiogenesis? Biogenesis is the doctrine that life can only be generated from living things only, while abiogenesis has it that life is generated from non-living matter, especially from putrid and decomposing organic matter. In the context of truth promotion as basis of a new and greater Nigeria, should emphasis be placed on rebuilding the character of the current living politicians, leaders and elite in general? Do we focus on the primary school generation or should it be on the rottenness of the polity in the belief that something good can still come out of it?

Biogenesis implies that there are good living human beings while abiogenesis does not so imply. Put differently, can the looters, armed robwbers, arsonists, Boko Haramists, economic saboteurs, be counted upon in building a new Nigeria? Do we need a new generation of people who will not be required to feed on the old food of corruption but on living or dead plants?

If Nigeria is to achieve greatness and survive, there will be need to create a voluntary Association for the Defence of the Truth (AFDT), not necessarily to take any concrete action in defence of any individual but simply to ensure the establishment of truth for posterity and as basis for national security and development. Many diplomatists have been recalled from posts and some unduly retired because of crooked allegations which are known to be unfounded. Yet truth of it is covered up. This should not be so.

FFK should, therefore, direct more of his energies to the formation of an association for truth at the level of the people. This should be different from a governmental truth commission. Any approach that will enable a greater and united Nigeria, and especially determine whether the attitude of political leaders is traceable to biogenesis or abiogenesis, should be adopted. But there should be no conspiracy of silence in the face of manifest injustice.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 13, 2016

internAtionAl/NEWS

Zuma’sVisit and New Frontiers of Nigeria - South Africa Relations

U

pon emergence from the defunct Apartheid regime in 1990, South Africa enjoyed a healthy relationship with Nigeria largely in recognition of the various roles she played in the liberation movement in South Africa in particular and the Southern Africa in general.

From her special status as a member of the Frontline States, the Nigerian government committed enormous financial, human and material resources to support the liberation struggles. Nigerian workers and tertiary students contributed at least N2 each through the National Action Committee Against Apartheid (NACAP) to provide the much needed funds to the South African liberation movements, especially the African National Congress (ANC). Nigeria accepted scores of freedom fighters on asylum and extended lavish scholarship grants to young South African blacks who were denied educational opportunities to study in Nigerian Colleges and Universities.

On the international scene, Nigeria stood firmly to mobilize fellow African countries and international opinion against the racist regime in South Africa. The country’s efforts coupled with the militant struggles of the ANC and other groups eventually led to the collapse of Apartheid and the emergence of an all inclusive and democratic dispensation in South Africa, which started with the release from prison in 1990, of Nelson Mandela, the symbol of the struggle who had been incarcerated for about 27 years.

Fresh from the Apartheid dispensation, South Africa and Nigeria regarded each other as strategic partners on the African continent. This partnership raised real hope for Africa’s renaissance, progress and development. The cordial ties between the two countries made it possible for South African businesses to enter the Nigerian economy. The number of South African investors in Nigeria has since increased to over 150, the number since the return of democracy in the country in 1999. Of the South African businesses, the telecoms giant MTN, Stanbic Bank, Standard Chattered Bank and DSTV stand out as market leaders in their various segments of the economy.

On the other hand, Nigerian professionals and technocrats equally poured into the South African economy to beef up the gaps which existed in indigenous African expertise. An estimated one million Nigerians live in South Africa even though most of them are residing without formal documents and therefore, not on the data base of both the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria nor the South African Immigration authorities.

In the last three or four years however, relations between the two countries took a nosedive. The Xenophobic attacks targeted at non-South Africans particularly Nigerians sent a wrong signal that Nigerians were no longer wanted in South Africa.

The attacks which erupted mostly in cities led to loss of lives and the destruction of businesses and investments owned by Nigerians in that country. Then came the seizing of $9.3million of Nigerian money meant for purchase of arms through the black market to fight insurgency at a time the Western Countries were reluctant to supply arms to the Nigerian government to fight the Boko Haram terrorists. The recent N1trillion fine imposed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on MTN

The volume of trade between the two countries stood at about $30billion in 2015 with the balance of trade more favourable to South Africa. In sum total, the relationship had between the two had moved from cooperation to competition.

It is against this background that President Zuma’s visit came at the most auspicious time to arrest the growing suspicion and subtle tension which is capable of undermining the high level of with achievements recorded in the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Cletus Akwaya, Ph.D It is a credit to President Zuma that he made success of the visit.

His decision to address the National Assembly was strategy in e-mail: cletusakwaya@yahoo.co.uk soliciting the understanding of the legislators who in the wake of Xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa in 2014 and 2015 weighed hostile measures including the withdrawal of the MTN License and the suspension of South African countries operating in Nigeria. President Zuma’s speech to the National Assembly brought to the fore the very important issue of Nigeria’s contribution to the end of Apartheid, which forms the historical basis for the two countries to co-exist on the continent as “brothers” and not competitors for continental influence.

President Buhari equally took advantage of the visit to advance Nigeria’s interests by seeking bilateral cooperation in certain critical areas of the economy like power generation, solid minerals development and agriculture, all of which South Africa has some advantage over Nigeria.

The visit by President Zuma has surely provided fresh impetus for improved relations between the two leading countries in Africa South of the Sahara.

The decision to raise the headship of the Nigeria-South Africa Joint Commission to the level of Heads of State instead of the Vice Presidents as was the case since inception of the Commission, is a President Zuma and President Muhammadu Buhari, during the visit welcome development as it would make decision making faster. of President of South Africa accompany to the National assembly However, the Commission needs to have a functional Secretariat, headed by officials of Ambassadorial ranks which should meet on a quarterly basis to do the necessary ground work on all matters of for alleged violation of operational guidelines appeared to have interest for approval of the Heads of States of the two countries. worsened the relations between the two countries.

If there were doubts about the security of investment for South The downwards slide in the relations between the two African companies, President Zuma’s visit and the assurances ofcountries was influenced by a number of factors. On the South fered by the Nigerian President for safety of South African capital African side, young South Africans who came of age after the including the resolution of the N1trillion fine against MTN should collapse of Apartheid do not have an accurate historical account serve as an elixir to increased South African investment in Nigeria of the contributions of Nigeria to the liberation of South Africa especially in the areas of agriculture and solid minerals, where the and therefore, see no reason for a special relationship between the Federal Government is focusing to diversify the economy from oil. two countries. Such young South Africans therefore, envy and Another area of attention is air travel between the two countries. indeed accuse Nigerians resident in South Africa of dominating South African Airways should without further delay increase its the economy and thereby taking their jobs. In reality however, flight frequency to accommodate daily flights to Abuja, the capital most Nigerians in South Africa are either self employed or are city, while Nigerian flight frequencies operated by private Airlines employers of labour through the knowledge-based and other should be increased to cover major South African cities apart from small businesses they establish.

Johannesburg like Durban and Cape Coast .

On the Nigerian side, the growing continental influence of South Africa should also revisit its visa policy to Nigeria by South Africa, which has become a kind of counter weight to relaxing the stringent conditions including the duration of the Nigeria on the continent is a situation many Nigerians loathe. visas. Anew visa policy between the two countries should This situation is exacerbated by the dominance of South African consider issuance of visas to travellers on arrival. businesses in the Nigerian economy to the detriment of their Finally, there is need for both countries to educate their citizens Nigerian competitors. on the benefits of African brotherhood in the spirit of African And until 2014 when Nigeria rebased her GDP, South Africa integration and a more assured future of the continent. was regarded as Africa’s largest economy.

WORLD PANORAMA

South Sudan: Women Raped ‘as Reward for Fighters’

M

ilitias allied to the South Sudanese army have been allowed to rape women in lieu of wages while fighting rebels, a UN report says.

Investigators found that 1,300 women had been raped last year in oil-rich Unity State alone, it said.

The army operated a “scorched earth” policy to deliberately target civilians for killing and rape, which amounted to war crimes, the UN said.

The government denies its army targeted civilians but says it is investigating.

According to the UN report, militias operated under a “do what you can and take what you can” agreement that allowed them to rape and abduct women and girls as a form of payment.

They also raided cattle and stole personal property, it added.

The scale and type of sexual violence committed in South Sudan constitute some of the most horrendous human rights abuses in the world, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said • One woman said she had watched her

South Sudan’s army has been accused of suffocating more than 60 people

15-year-old daughter being raped by 10 soldiers after her husband was killed • Another said she had been stripped naked and raped by five soldiers in front of her

children on the roadside • Witnesses told investigators that several women had been abducted and held in sexual slavery as “wives” for soldiers in the barracks • Young-looking women were specifically

targeted and raped by about ten men, one witness said. In some cases, those who tried to resist or even looked at their rapists were killed, she added The UN said government forces and allied militias had gang-raped girls and cut civilians to pieces. It also accused opposition fighters of committing human rights abuses.

Image copyright AFP Image caption More than two million people have been displaced by the fighting President Salva Kiir’s spokesman, Ateng Wek Ateng, told the BBC there were no militias fighting on the government side.

The investigators had relied on anti-government elements as South Sudanese soldiers only fought people in uniforms, not civilians, Mr Ateng told the BBC’s Focus on Africa radio programme. While the government disputed the report, he added, the allegations it contained were “too serious to ignore” and the government would take appropriate action.

In a separate report, Amnesty International said more than 60 men and boys had been suffocated in a shipping container by government forces.

Courtesy www.bbc.co.uk

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MARCH 13, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION Enemies of Progress

Chris Ngwodo argues that restructuring the NNPC to operate efficiently is in the national interest

C

hinua Achebe was once asked why his novels did not feature a clear manichaean divide between the oppressors and the oppressed or between good proletarian heroes and evil bourgeois fat cats. He replied, “if you create a class situation in which your hero comes completely heroic, never tells a lie, knows all the correct answers, is faultless and the oppressor is a hundred per cent villain with no redeeming features whatsoever and the people, of course, are angelic…there is no cynicism among them, then you create a kind of world which has no contact with the world I know. And I say, no, this world is not true. Therefore if I pretend that it is true, I am dishonest.”

In other words, the narrative of a public order divided between angelic masses and demonic patricians is unrealistic.

In Nigeria, it is outrightly bogus, and it is intellectually fraudulent to pretend otherwise. We live in a realm in which the line between oppressor and oppressed is blurred.

In response to the government’s restructuring of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (Pengassan) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (Nupeng) – who are not shareholders but employees, promptly embarked on an unannounced strike claiming that they had not been “carried along.” The NNPC, a conglomerate of labyrinthine dimensions, has long operated as a state within a state – culturally secretive, typically unaccountable, mostly unaudited, unprofitable and uncompetitive compared to other state-owned oil companies. It seems as much a cult as it is a corporation.

Restructuring the NNPC to operate accountably, efficiently, and profitably, is entirely in the national interest. At this point, it is not even clear that the administration’s announced measures (so far) go far enough in this direction. Certainly, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu’s insistence that the restructuring will not cost anyone their jobs seems rather suspect. It is inconceivable that the NNPC could be so dysfunctional and graft-ridden and none of its employees are culpable. But at least, the administration is starting on a path that should lead to a healthier NNPC. The unions’ snap reaction to the new measures apparently before they had even understood them telegraphed their fear of losing the benefits they enjoy in a broken system.

It is not only oil sector unions that obstruct reform. The National Union of Teachers has opposed performance-based evaluations for teachers in public schools apparently because it believes that teachers employed at public expense should be steadily promoted through the ranks regardless of their actual performance even as the terminal decay of the public education system deepens. In 2006, Oby Ezekwesili’s ambitious reform of decrepit and mismanaged unity schools to make them more efficient was also stalled by unions which falsely claimed that the schools were going to be “privatised” as though privatisation is a mortal sin.

We must understand the psychology that drives this form of labour action. There are forces which profiteer from the pervasive dysfunction of the public sector. Rent-seeking has infected both politics and civil society, and has poisoned the wells of activism.

Labour agitations are aimed at securing the employees of an ineffective bureaucracy. It never questions the anti-meritocratic basis of public sector recruitment.

In their defence, labour unionists privately (and at times, publicly) argue that they live in a reality in which federal legisla-

The unions’ snap reaction to the new measures apparently before they had even understood them telegraphed their fear of losing the benefits they enjoy in a broken system

tors pocket in excess of a hundred times the national GDP. Simultaneously, the spectacle of criminally neglected pensioners reduced to begging for their entitlements (which are often remorselessly pillaged) and dying while waiting offers an enduring object lesson on the need for civil servants to acquire social security for life by any means necessary, including paralysing the entire country by industrial action. Public sector unions use strikes to negotiate for their own share of the national cake. Thus, the language of industrial disputes is often militant with striking workers inclined to extract every concession without compromise. Patriotism rarely neuters the pangs of self-interest.

Neo-marxist mythology defines the working class as a morally flawless category. We drape the “masses” in the robes of long-suffering sainthood and idealise their heroic unions as the forces of proletarian light ranged against the dark forces of bourgeois decadence. Achebe rejected this simplistic formulation and so should we. Nigeria’s famously tardy government employees are far from blameless in the dilapidation of the public sector. The labour leadership is part of the establishment and their followers are, for the most part, enthusiastic accomplices in the campaign to preserve the status quo. Contrary to the assertion of labour populists, the worker is not always right. More frequently than not, the unions will be on the wrong side of the battles over public sector reform that are certain to occur in the coming days.

Labour obstructionism is driven by the instinctive perpetuation of privilege and the notion that the civil service is a welfare system that should perpetually accommodate all employees including the redundant, the inept and the corrupt.

When the Buhari administration faces the inevitable necessity of streamlining a bloated, corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy, there will be yet more obstructionism by unionists seeking to safeguard their sinecures. The administration must present its case intelligently in the court of public opinion. It must show how the interests of the unions (and their allies) pale in comparison to the overall interests of 160 million people.

We will have to determine at what point the strike option, especially by those in critical sectors, ceases to be legitimate activism and becomes economic sabotage.

–– Ngwodo is a writer, consultant and analyst

Investor Relations in A Depressed Economy Building up trust with investors is perhaps most important during a downturn, argues Oluwapelumi Joseph “When written in Chinese, the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters.

One represents danger and the other opportunity.” - John F. Kennedy

W

hile the current economy is not in a crisis, it is definitely not a rosy outlook for economic agents due to the intersection of economic and sociopolitical undercurrents. This is where the distinction between operational performance and market perception is critical, as perception can distort reality in the short-term, at least. Consequently, listed companies whose valuations and shareholder wealth are subject to market whims need to have a holistic approach to communication through proper messaging around financial, operational and business performance that engenders trust in the company.

Dealing with these issues is best served by the unique skill set of investor relations. According to the Investor Relations Society (UK), investor relations can be described as the communication of information and insight between a company and the investment community.

This process enables a full appreciation of the company’s business activities, strategy and prospects and allows the market to make an informed judgment about the fair value and appropriate ownership of a company.

Typically, companies tend to be keen on communicating with stakeholders when business is on upswing, the thinking being ‘if we can get people to notice how well we are doing now, they will support and invest in us, which in turn will lead to us doing even better’. This line of thinking while valid in a majority of situations is not a one-size-fits-all answer. Investor relations should not only be seen as a means of showing off achievement in good times, but also as a means of carrying the investment stakeholders along, keeping them up to date on the good and the not-so-pleasant by continuing to explain the fundamentals of the business and not getting distracted by the noise in the market. Also, the

rationale behind certain activities need to be properly communicated and the message defined, to ensure that market participants have faith in the company’s grasp of the issues requiring management attention.

Despite being recognised as Africa’s largest economy after the GDP rebasing in 2014, Nigeria’s economy suffered a significant downturn in 2015. Social unrest and political uncertainty linked to the 2015 general elections meant that investors stayed on the sidelines amplified by record low oil prices, which has led to a very challenging operating environment for banks and businesses in the real economy. The naira’s continued divergence in value between the Central Bank’s foreign exchange rate and the autonomous market creates speculative opportunities and more importantly, pain for import-dependent input manufacturers.

Now more than ever before investors require clarity, even those who are not financially savvy, will critique the current economy and realise that company performance will suffer. They may tolerate disappointing performance, but they would not forgive poor transparency and disclosure even if it meets minimum statutory requirements. Building up trust with investors is perhaps most important during a downturn, it is important to get “ahead of the story” as this provides an opportunity to control the narrative. This is where investor relations steps in.

In practice, investor relations covers a wide spectrum of activities ranging from press releases to conference calls culminating with perception reports. Conference calls provide the market and investors an opportunity to understand a company’s management report; a detailed breakdown of its quarterly results as well as forward, or projected, earnings. The calls also provide an opportunity for analysts to ask questions on areas of performance where they require more clarity from the company’s management regarding how it intends to respond and manage headwinds. For instance, a major factor underpinning the economic downturn is the fall in oil prices as a lot of banks in Nigeria have very high exposure to the oil & gas sector. Another issue is the impact of weakening naira in the parallel

market on companies’ ability to import essential supplies that they cannot source locally. A conference call allows analysts to ask management about this exposure and how they intend to mitigate its impact on performance. Ideally, conference calls should be held quarterly.

Perception surveys offer companies the opportunity to receive anonymous feedback from the analysts community on their decisions and results. Depending on the questioning on the survey, management can get an idea as to how the market views their strengths and weaknesses where potential opportunities lie and any challenges that they may not have foreseen themselves. The importance of identifying strengths and weaknesses becomes most apparent in a slowing or contracting economy where the flight to safety in asset classes becomes paramount.

Listed companies rely greatly on perception, which needs to be framed from within. A skilled investor relations team is just as vital as an astute public relations team, just a lot more specialised. Along with the executive management team, investor relations specialists can help sustain the market’s interest in a company. In addition, they communicate with shareholders and the investing public, attracting a pipeline of new investors and sell-side research coverage – while helping to manage regulatory and liability risk.

Companies cannot afford to lie low while they wait for the current turmoil to abate, those who do not prioritise carrying investors along in the current economic climate will find it even harder to convince investor’s once the storm has blown over. They have to choose between hiding from the crisis or in the spirit of the late John F. Kennedy take advantage of the market opportunities that it represents. Only those who chose the latter through engagement and clearlydefined communications can expect to weather the storm to their advantage.

–– Joseph is a consultant on the investor relations team where he manages several blue-chip client relationships on strategy and implementation

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MARCH 13, 2016

LETTERS

M

Ese Oruru And Policing in Nigeria

arch 6 is the day set aside all over the world to celebrate our mothers and every potential mothers. And so in that sense every woman irrespective of her age or marital status is a mother.

It is a day to celebrate these unique creatures of God who may be our biological mothers, sisters, wives, friends, co-workers, samefaith members or business partners. Incidentally, it is the same day that the Lord has given us a clear inspiration to address the issue of girl-child abduction saga that is currently trending in the Nigerian society in the last couple of weeks.

Apart from the criminal and the ‘wholesale’ or massive abduction of about 276 Chibok secondary school girls in April 14, 2014 in the North-eastern part of Nigeria by the Islamic insurgents – Boko Haram

T

Ese Oruru

and with no certainty of their whereabouts or the possibility of their rescue (except with the grace of God), another girl-child abduction saga that has generated so much furore and national discourse was that of Ese Oruru – a 14year- old girl of Delta State

origin that was abducted from Yenogoa in Bayelsa State by one Yunusa. She was allegedly taken to Kano State, got ‘converted’ to Islam and married off to her suspected abductor/lover.

And by the time the evervibrant Nigerian press blew off the cover over the case

and Ese got rescued and reunited with her parents, the girl was reportedly five months pregnant.

As Ese Oruru’s abduction saga was unfolding, another related case of another 14 or 15- year- old Benue girl named Patience Paul was leaked online. This other episode also took place last year -2015 when the girl was taken to Sokoto and ended up being converted to Islam and married off after she was reportedly taken to the Sultan of Sokoto’s palace. The father of the girl -Mr. Adaji Paul, an indigene of Ochobo in Ohimini local government area of Benue State, revealed that his daughter had been missing since August 12, 2015. But thanks be to God that Patience has been rescued at the intervention of the Sokoto State governor and those who had a hand in her abduction have all been arrested and are at the Sokoto State Criminal

OGUN INSTITUTE AS A METAPHOR

he diamond anniversary of the Social Development Institute (Shasha), Iperu literally caught me flat-footed. The news clip on the Ogun State Television (OGTV) somewhat jarred me.

The human lenses that beheld the ruins of this college should have been part of the historic 60th celebrations. It was a brisk moment of self-flagellation.

This imagery extract from one of the works of Wole Soyinka is most fitting for this exercise: “Usually one sees them in still photos – images of dying cattle in a land overtaken by drought, now landmarked by carcasses and skeletons, withered shrub and dry water holes. Occasionally however, the cine-camera takes charge, lingers over a calf that is reduced to nothing but skin stretched over a cage of ribs, and the final contractions of emaciated muscles. Flies settle and crawl over what remains of moisture on the prostrate beast, mostly around the eyes, ears and nostrils. It makes a feeble attempt to lift itself, scuffing dirt with the sides of its hooves, then settles back on its side, immobile. Its enlarged eyes stare blankly into the lens. This disproportioned frame with extended ribs sinks slowly into immobility.

At some point, you know the calf is doomed, its life slowly ebbing into the sands. The lens lifts towards the desiccated horizon, rises directly upwards to reveal a cloud of swooping vultures, suspended, circling, blotting out the pitiless sun.”

This allegory of “dying cattle” could perspicuously substitute for the narration of this author in 2013 after the visit of the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to the institution that had sunk into atrophy due to decades of neglect: “...Just picture structures abandoned in the bush for decades or that have lost their innocence

to wars or some natural disasters... The termite-infested hall - the best of the buildings - the (high) table and chairs standing grudgingly on legs that had lost their souls to the rage of termites, the pock-marked asbestos ceiling, windows without covers, roof threatening to collapse at the slightest fury of the elements...”

What made that visit by the governor in June 2013 more poignant was that there were actually some students in that school – doing what then? Studying? Were they up to a hundred at the time?

The sight was most affecting as one took time to know the mission of those hapless youths in what might pass for a deserted jungle.

It was not totally an overcast day, and nothing had really forewarned the governor and his small entourage on how the day might turn out to be when the convoy left the state capital after noon and pulled up about an hour later at the Social Development Institute (Shasha), Iperu, a college established on February 20, 1956 by the government of Western Region, led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to offer leadership training to community leaders, traditional rulers and politicians. It offers certificate and diploma in Social Works and Social Development to youths in affiliation with the Olabisi Onabanjo University.

After a tour of the college, the governor was downcast.

Although he managed to lighten up the shoe-string cultural display of the students, it was evident that the mind of the state’s helmsman had been taken up in some cogitations – the ramifications of his mission to rebuild Ogun State, knowing full well that Shasha was just one of the thousands of institutions across the state that had paid the heavy price of decades of neglect - the Nigerian

factor - not just in education but health, agriculture, etc. The journey from Iperu to Lagos afterwards was expectedly sombre and I fantasised the governor retiring to his bed by 1 a.m. or thereabouts mulling the ‘sight of the day’ over, imagining the number of such scenes of regression yet to be identified in addition to the thousands already known, in the face of scarce resources of the state.

Efforts had to be redoubled in the renovation of existing schools while building new ones in order to expand access to education. Any new school built that does not factor in the age we are is not worth it. So the state government had to be futuristic in the design of its new schools, a template that can now be imitated by any individual, group or future governments. Indeed, in every new project embarked upon by the Amosun administration in every sector of the state’s economy, compliance with the 21st century was an article of faith. Reclaiming the state is not a work of one, two, three or four terms. As one observed then, “Even if you devote the entire yearly budget to education alone and consecutively for 10 years, you will still be left with one or two dilapidated buildings.”

But the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.

What is of moment now is that the pace and tempo of the ongoing development must not abate... At the end of that enervating tour of Shasha, the governor promised to rehabilitate the institution. Did I hear some heckling? Such promises were not new to the school; they heard them for decades. But to the glory of God, it was a renovated institution that celebrated its 60th anniversary last week Wednesday. You only need to request from the state television station the video clip of the college when the

governor visited in 2013.

Indeed, as I watched the news flash of the 60th, the state’s officials that sat on the high table, in the very space that the governor was received in 2013, it was evident that from the ashes of neglect, a bright future had emerged for the students of Social Development Institute, Iperu. I congratulate the students and staff of Shasha and laud the state governor for fulfilling his pledge to the premier institution.

––Opeyemi Soyombo, Abeokuta

Investigation Department (CID).

Our concerns here is not just about the possible culpability of the Emir of Kano and the Sultan of Sokoto in the two respective cases, but the inability or the unwillingness of the Nigerian Police to perform its constitutional duty which it abdicated and left at the discretion of the Islamic police force like Hisba instituted by Kano and Sokoto State governments within a federal republic. In the two cases, the two girls involved are minors who are deemed not capable of taking crucial decisions as to issues of marriage or religion for themselves without parental guidance or consent. Also the victims are christians.

The paramount question here is: why should the police force left the cases to be determined by state-governments’ established religious police or sharia law enforcement agents? Are these religious police establishments more powerful in Northern Nigeria than the Nigerian police force where matters that concern christians are involved? Is Nigeria running two systems of policing that are parallel to each other?

Funny enough, the voices of some human rights advocates as regards issues of child abuse/molestation or woman advocacy activists have remained silent on these trending girl-child abduction saga.

But we thank God that the Nigerian media have not let the society down. We give kudos to our press

which has measured up in performing their assigned constitutional roles in these matters. It is now left for the other arms of government especially the executive and the judiciary to play their own parts. While the press may expose shady deals or questionable characters in the society, the powers to arrest, prosecute and punish the suspected culprits or suspects rest squarely on the executive, the judiciary or their designated agencies.

The shame of the 219 Chibok school girls who are yet to be rescued from their captors since April 2014 is yet to leave us as a nation with good conscience.

Should we therefore allow some gullible individuals in our midst to continue to dent our image further in the name of suspected forced conversion or sheer lust?

As if these were not enough some criminals last week went to a high-brow private secondary school, Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary (BMJS) in Ikorodu, Lagos State where they reportedly kidnapped three female students and placed a whopping sum of N300m ransom on their heads. But glory be to God, these girls have been rescued by the Lagos State Police Command in an operation led by its commissioner –Fatai Owoseni.

For how long should we as a people continue to treat our womenfolk with so much disrespect and disdain?

– Gbemiga Olakunle, JP General Secretary, National Prayer Movement

UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS’ ACADEMIC REGALIA

I

t is repulsive to observe that the University of Lagos changed the universally acknowledged convocation regalia, specifically the convocation cap, ostensibly to conform to the culture of the immediate environment.

The change of the convocation cap signified the futile efforts at nation- building and national integration.

Such globally- acknowledged and admired pattern of ceremonial convocation adornments should not have been subjected to ethnic chauvinism; one of the factors that subjected Nigeria’s insurmountable and crippling socio-economic challenges to be perceived as patently cursed. Education originated from the civilised nations of the world which led to the gradual dumping of conservative and primitive ways of doing things for a universally admired ways.

The bane of nationbuilding and national integration in Nigeria stemmed from manipulations of good policies, laws and recommendations of political reform conferences to reinvent true federalism by ethnic and religious

chauvinists. True federalism would enable the disparate ethnic groups to articulate their visions and value systems in line with their respective world view. The failure to restructure the country has placed it at the brink of a failed state, in spite of the enormous mineral resources which could have been harnessed and judiciously deployed for socio-economic growth and development in the nooks and crannies of the country.

It is very unfortunate that the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) glossed over the ethnic chauvinism behind the redesigning the universally admired academic cap to reflect Yoruba culture by the authority of University of Lagos. The NUC should direct the university to revert to the normal convocation cap immediately to prevent the leadership of other universities sited in other ethnic groups all over the country from redesigning their cap and even the gown to reflect the so-called “rich culture” of the ethnic groups. Failure to sanction Unilag will make other universities to ‘culturalise’

their convocation regalia.

For instance, Northern muslim states will resort to their long cap and hijab for women [they had even tried it by suggesting that lawyers would be putting on caftan and cap for the courts. It took fierce resistance of the NBA to suppress the craze]; Benue State will go for their blue strip costume, south-eastern states will put on their cap [not Ozo title red cap and Chief Victor Umeh’s long cap with eagle feathers]; Akwa Ibom will put on the boat-like cap, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States respectively will have theirs to showcase their supposed “rich cultural heritage”.

It is the madness in rationalising the obviously conservative and archaic ways of life and dress code of Africans as “rich cultural heritage” that led the authority of the University of Lagos into degrading the universally acknowledged and beautiful matriculation and convocation cap as if other ethnic groups do not have theirs.

Polycarp Onwubiko, Awka, Anambra State.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MARCH 13, 2016

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R •MARCH 13, 2016

BUSINESS

Editor Festus Akanbi Email festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com

QUICK TAKES Oil Price Jumps

OilpricesjumpedonFridaysupported by fresh investment and a weaker dollar, which makes fuel cheaper for importers using other currencies, but analysts warned that a stronger price rally was premature as a global glut remained in place.

UScrudefuturesCLc1weretradingat $38.64 a barrel at 0749 GMT, up 80 cents and over 2 percent from their last close. Traders said reports that commodity merchant Gunvor was the latest company to export U.S. sweet crude also supported WTI prices.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 were at $40.70 a barrel, up 65 cents. May WTI’s discount to May Brent has narrowed to 51 cents a barrel on Friday from$1.23abarrelonTuesday.Traders said that much of the oil price support came from the Chinese Yuan hitting its highest level in 2016 on Friday, reflecting a global weakening of the dollar against other major currencies.

The greenback already fell sharply on Thursday following easing measures announced by the European Central Bank. “It’s all happening against the background of a very big move in the euro last night... (with the) big jump in the euro/dollar last night requiring a compensating move in the Yuan,” said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets.

MTN Offers $1.5bn Fine Settlement

A textile market in Lagos... Nigerians are anxiously waiting for the economy to pick up

Analysts Predict Gloomier Economic Outlook for Q1 Rebound possible in second quarter

Kunle Aderinokun

Despite the recent rebound of crude oil prices at the international market, analysts have painted a gloomier economic outlook for the first quarter of this year, forecasting a weak growth rate for the economy.

By their analyses, the trajectory of weak economic growth, trending from 2015, the fourth quarter of which witnessed a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, slowing to 2.11 per cent (year-on-year) from 2.8 per cent of the previous quarter, would continue because oil prices would be southward notwithstanding the current recovery.

The National Bureau of Statistics last Tuesday announced that GDP grew by 2.11 per cent (year-on-year), in real terms, in the fourth quarter of 2015. This, it explained, was lower by 0.73 percentage points from growth recorded in the preceding quarter and also lower by 3.83 percentage points from growth recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2014.

In nominal terms, the value of the economy was put at N25.9 trillion for Q4 2015 and N94.1 trillion for the entire year 2015. The growth numbers came way below expectations and are the lowest since 2011 (post GDP rebasing era).

Analysts at Eczellon Capital posited that growth would likely weaken in the first quarter of this year.

According to them, “the prospect for the Nigerian economy in the first quarter of 2016 remains blurry. We expect GDP growth to come in lower

ECONOMY than the 2.11 per cent achieved in Q4 2015.”

They attributed “record low oil prices at the beginning of the year and oil production challenges witnessed so far in the year,” adding “similarly, the foreign exchange crisis coupled with rising inflation and the inability of some states to meet their salary obligations should depress consumer demand further and thus, weaken the non-oil segment of the economy.”

The analysts however “expect a gradual rebound in economic activities in Q2 2016 largely on the back of the start of the implementation of the 2016 budget, which should spur economic activities in targeted sectors.”

They were of the opinion that “the actions and inactions of the economic managers have further worsened the Nigerian case. “A case in point is the fixation of the official exchange rate by the apex bank which has severely impaired investors’ confidence in the Nigerian economy. Similarly, the various administrative tools deployed by the bank were reactionary and unstable which further eroded confidence in the apex bank’s handling of the foreign exchange crisis. These inevitably created a vacuum in the nation’s FX markets and heightened uncertainties which in turn impaired investment and growth of the Nigerian economy in recent quarters.

Going forward, the Eczellon

Capital analysts, suggested that, “as the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN sits on the 21st and 22nd of March, it is imperative for the Committee and the apex bank to provide guidance on the management of the nation’s currency.”

“In our view, this should entail the development of a roadmap that would allow for flexibility in the pricing of the naira, preferably through a managed floating system. Added to this would be the need for adequate support from the fiscal authorities to complement monetary policies. This support has largely been absent in recent times. This would invariably attract the needed investment into the country and set Expect a gradual rebound in economic activities in Q2 2016 largely on the back of the start of the implementation of the 2016 budget

the economy on a sustainable growth path,” they added.

Analysts at Dunn Loren Merrifield, who hold the same view with the Eczellon Capital analysts on the GDP growth rate, stated that, “given the weak economic outlook induced by softening oil prices, the possibility of further contraction in domestic conditions are major concerns for economic growth in the short term.”

“Whilst we anticipate a recovery in GDP growth in the current fiscal

year, we state that elevated risk to this outlook abounds. We however expect that the non-oil sector will continue to be the key driver of growth in 2016.”

The analysts were however of the belief that “the expected increase in government expenditure will buffer to an extent the negative impact of the decline in consumer spending on selected sectors” acknowledging “the government’s commitment to stimulate the growth of key sectors of the economy through the introduction of initiatives aimed at increasing fiscal revenues coupled with a stimulant approach based on injections of more efficiently collected revenues and blocking of leakages.”

But they concluded: “ Though we note that the main macroeconomic objective of the Federal Government is to improve national output through the use of a government expenditureled growth strategy during the fiscal year, we revise our average growth projection downwards to c.3.0 per cent – 3.5 per cent for 2016.

Current economic realities point to the fact that there is an urgent need to spur economic growth through complementary fiscal and monetary policies.”

Similarly, echoing the same position as the others, analysts at FBNQuest posited that, “if oil output is flattish, we see growth in Q1 at no more than 2.0 per cent year on year .

Benefits from the projected sharp rise in capital spending in the FGN’s budget proposals will not really be felt until half year 2016.”

SouthAfricantelecomsfirmMTNGroup hasoffered$1.5billiontosettleamuch larger fine from Nigerian regulators for missing a deadline to disconnect unregistered SIM card users, a document seen by Reuters shows.

Africa’sbiggestmobilephonegrouphas been in talks with Nigerian authorities tohavethe$3.9billionpenaltyreduced and last month made a “good faith” payment of $250 million towards a settlement. In a letter to the Nigerian governmentfromMTN’slawyer,former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, the company proposed a 300 billion naira ($1.5 billion) settlement to be paid throughacombinationofgovernment bond purchases, cash installments and network access to the Nigerian government. Holder said in the letter, dated Feb. 24, the offer “ultimately is in the best interest of the FGN (Federal Government of Nigeria) and MTN Nigeria.” Johannesburg-based MTN said on Friday talks with the Nigerian government were ongoing.

More Management Changes in NNPC

Nigeria’s state oil company, the main revenueearnerinAfrica’sbiggestcrude producer, has appointed more senior managers in a continued overhaul of the firm, it said on Friday.

The announcement comes a day after unionsendedastriketoprotestagainst governmentplanstorestructuretheNigerianNationalPetroleumCorporation (NNPC)whichwillbesplitintoupstream, downstream, gas power marketing, refinerygroups,andventuresdivisions.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who took office last May, has prioritised overhauling Nigeria’s oil sector, which accountsforaround90percentofforeign earnings, in an effort to improve efficiency while cracking down on corruption.NNPCsaidithadappointed seven group executive directors who will report to its head Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, who was appointed by Buhari last year along with other senior managers to lead corporate reforms.

More than 40 other managers have been appointed, seconded or redeployed into key positions, the statement said.

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BUSINESS/CAPITAL MARKET

Onyema: Reaping the Benefit of Hardwork

The re-appointment of Mr. Oscar N. Onyema as the chief executive officer of the Nigeria Stock Exchange by the National Council of the exchange, is a vote of confidence on him and may have been a reward for meritorious contribution by him and his team to the development of the bourse in his first term at the helm, writes Kunle Aderinokun

O

n Tuesday, February 23, 2016, the Nigerian Stock Exchange announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oscar N. Onyema, will be serving a second term of five years at the bourse. This announcement was well received by the industry and even beyond.

A testimony to Onyema’s strong performance at the exchange.

On assumption of the role of CEO in April 2011, Onyema developed the strategic plan to transform the exchange into a globally competitive brand by stabilising and professionalising the exchange.

Onyema led the execution of the exchange’s transformation strategy which resulted in over 365 per cent increase in surplus, and 40 per cent increase in NSE Group balance sheet size for the period. He has transitioned this strategy into a five year growth plan, 2015 to 2019 which will see the exchange increase the number of new listings across five asset classes; increase order flow in the five asset classes; and operate a fair and orderly market based on just and equitable principles.

The President, National Council of NSE, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede, had this to say: “Mr. Onyema’s tenure as CEO of the NSE is marked by outstanding achievements. The council is confident that he can continue the exchange’s trajectory of transformation, innovation and marketplace recognition by implementing its business strategies which he has been instrumental in developing.

The leadership qualities that he has demonstrated in his first term as CEO, in the face of such an intense and challenging operating environment, have been exemplary. The council believes that his vision and passion will ensure the exchange remains a force to be reckoned with in Africa and beyond.”

Responding to the renewal, Onyema said: “I am honoured to remain with The Nigerian Stock Exchange and to continue to lead our dedicated staff as we strive to achieve the exchange’s vision.

I am grateful to the council for the opportunity to continue such an important work. While there is still much to be accomplished, the support shown by the capital market community has been inspirational, and I look forward to working with the entire eco-system to meet our objectives.”

Technology-driven Efficiency As the world moves towards digitization of most services, the NSE must have realised the future of driving efficiency, liquidity, market structure will be helped with a robust technology platform when it launched X-GEN. This launch, was not only a historic milestone for the capital market but equally reinforced Nigeria’s position as a regional financial hub. As noted by a market analyst, “The delivery of the new age technology serves as a testimony that the NSE has succeeded in achieving one of its key goals of providing 21st century technologies to support the growth of the Nigerian capital market.”

The X-GEN trading platform came with a number of leading technologies, including NASDAQ OMX’s XStream matching engine. The platform helps the NSE and its technical partners to develop a flexible and robust X-GEN Market Database from scratch thereby supporting trading of cash equities, bonds, ETFs and derivatives.

The new platform has offered wider access to real time data, improved market transparency and governance. In addition, it has enabled many

and integration of global best practices across its operations. It is a member of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative, the SIIA’s Financial Information Services Division (FISD) and the Inter-market Surveillance Group (ISG). The Exchange is a founding member and executive committee member of the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA).

The importance of corporate governance to the international community is very high. On November 12, 2014, the NSE launched a Corporate Governance Rating System (CGRS) for listed companies. The system is robust rating system for listed companies and has become a requirement for companies to be admitted to the premium board.

Onyema other initiatives such as the running of the Financial Information Exchange (FIX) protocol version 5, creation of a retail trading app, deployment of a robust and functional website with real time data amongst others. The trading engine was a bold statement to the domestic and international investors that the bourse under the leadership of Onyema is dedicated to operating a high performance, low latency, robust, scalable and flexible marketplace.

Building Global Competiveness In a chat with THISDAY earlier this year, Onyema offered an insight that his vision from the outset was set on taking the NSE brand to the global space.

He had said: “I have garnered global experience across four leading exchanges in North America and Nigeria, which has adequately prepared me for developing our market to compete globally.

A clear understanding of market structure, and attention to detail, which thinking strategically are some of the skills that have worked well for me”.

It was then not surprising that today, the NSE has joined a global league of exchanges that are well rated by international investing community.

The bourse became a full member in the World Federation of Exchanges (the “WFE”), the trade association for the operators of regulated financial exchanges on Tuesday, October 28, 2014. With this feat, NSE became the third African stock exchange to be granted full Federation membership status.

The NSE also belongs to other international and regional organisations that promote the development

Mr. Onyema’s (current) tenure as CEO of the NSE is marked by outstanding achievements. The council is confident that he can continue the exchange’s trajectory of transformation, innovation and marketplace recognition by implementing its business strategies which he has been instrumental in developing. The leadership qualities that he has demonstrated in his first term as CEO, in the face of such an intense and challenging operating environment, have been exemplary

Sustainable Stakes The NSE recognises its crucial role in supporting economic growth by providing an efficient and sustainable capital market. In 2013, the NSE took a bold step towards the actualisation of its sustainability programme by establishing a CSR Unit and the institution of a CSR strategy. This unveiling was part of the overall corporate transformation agenda of the bourse led by Onyema.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange leverages its unique position as one of the leading exchanges in Africa, to promote sustainability along the four key impact areas of Marketplace, its platform for promoting market-based approach to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) imperatives; Community, where it makes contributions to positively impact lives; Workplace, through which it facilitates diversity, wellbeing and harness the talent and skills of its people; and the Environment as it focuses on reducing the Exchange’s environmental impact.

To demonstrate its commitment to increased disclosure, expanded stakeholder engagement and thought leadership on sustainability as a key aspect of its business strategy, the Exchange published its first Sustainability Report titled ‘Connecting Nigeria to the world through a Sustainable Capital Market’ in July 13, 2015. The report aligns with the Exchange’s Corporate Social Responsibility framework that covers the four key impact areas.

The NSE took its sustainability efforts further by organising the inaugural Nigerian Capital Market Sustainability Conference on Friday, November 13, 2015. The conference according to the NSE was aimed at engaging key stakeholders to obtain views on the current and future state of sustainable practices in the capital market. Participants deliberated on likely sustainability indicators and provided recommendations for “The Nigerian Capital Market Sustainability Disclosure Guidelines” which will help companies embrace sustainability reporting.

Local and International Recognition It has been a win-win situation for Onyema and the exchange as these achievements continue to receive local and international recognition. Forbes Magazine named him one of the 10 most powerful men in Africa. A recognition, he described as “very humbling experience to have received such a personal recognition by Forbes. However, it would not have been possible without the great team at The Nigerian Stock exchange, who are making significant contributions to the development of the Nigerian capital market and Africa at large.

I thank them for their uncommon dedication to duty. My gratitude also goes out to other various stakeholders – my council, dealing member firms, media to mention a few”

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R •MARCH 13, 2016

BUSINESS/CAPITAL MARKET/PERSPECTIVE Onyema: Reaping the Benefit of Hardwork In 2015 alone, the exchange was the recipient of a total of four awards under the leadership of Onyema. The NSE was presented with the “Best Corporate Social Responsibility Award” at the 2015 African Business Awards in New York.

The award recognises NSE’s efforts in promoting sustainability and corporate social responsibility in the capital market. The awards further proves NSE’s achievements in ‘adopting the highest levels of international standards’ this past year, as it is also part of its corporate policies.

Earlier in 2015, the NSE bagged the “African Regulator of the year award” at the 6th African Business Leadership Awards in London. According to the organizers of the award, African Leadership magazine, UK, this award is being conferred on The Nigerian Stock Exchange for its effective regulatory policies and programs implemented across national, regional and international levels which has encouraged actions beyond compliance with applicable laws.

“We at African Leadership Magazine UK, recognise your efforts in enhancing stakeholder’s engagement while contributing to the growth of the National and Regional brand through practical impact on the people. Your unflinching passion for creating a reliable, efficient and an adaptable exchange hub in Africa cannot be overemphasised”.

The NSE received the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s “Award for promoting best practice reporting and corporate disclosure”. The objective of the annual awards according to the Director General of LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, is to recognise, celebrate and promote private and public institutions that have exhibited the core values of best business practices, growth through innovations, business sustainability and have impacted the society positively.

The NSE was also named the Financial Institution of the year by the Oil & Gas Year (TOGY) Nigeria.

This award was conferred on the NSE in recognition of its first-ever dual listing with the London

Cont’d from Pg. 22 Africa’s capital markets he was elected President of African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) in November 2014, demonstrating recognition and acceptance within the African region; and Chairman of West African Capital Markets Integration Council (WACMIC) for 2013 -2015, demonstrating sub-regional pull and influence.

Challenges for the Next Five Years For Onyema’s second tenure, he and his team will need to address the slow rate of growth on the equities side. As at March 8, 2016, the ASI has lost 10.08 per cent. Though the dip was negatively impacted by global commodity prices, slumping oil prices, dollar to naira exchange rate amongst others. Liquidity of the exchange should also be looked into and with increased listing of multinationals in oil & gas, technology, privatised power companies etc., this can be easily achieved.

He must also ensure that the ongoing demutualisation of the exchange is completed to ensure that the bourse can even do more in face of emerging local competition along some of its product offering.

Nigeria Stock Exchange, building, Lagos Stock Exchange through the $500 million Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Nigerian independent hydrocarbons company Seplat Petroleum Plc. The listing was the largest European IPO of an exploration and production company since the 2008 financial crisis.

In recognition of his tremendous role in the development of the Nigerian capital market, Onyema was also awarded the Most Innovative CEO of the Year.

The award was presented at the inauguration ceremony of the 9th President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mines & Agriculture (ABUCCIMA), held at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja on January 21, 2014. He was also presented with a Special Commendation Award by the US Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, July 25, 2015 in London, United Kingdom (UK).

In recognition of his contributions to Nigeria’s economic development and transformation of

Conclusion The renewed term of Oscar is a welcome development even as he has accepted to do more.

One can only expect that the new tenure will offer Onyema the opportunity to help take the market to a higher level within the next five years.

Onyema holds a Bachelor Degree in Computer Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; MBA, Finance & Investments, Baruch College, New York; Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School, Boston.

Onyema has represented the NSE on several boards and Government bodies including PENCOM, FMDQ OTC Plc, Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), Nigerian Capital Market Master Plan Implementation Council (CAMMIC), World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Agenda Council on Future of Financing and Capital, amongst others.

Use of Technology is the Real Ghost Buster James Soyombo

T

he recent revelation that the BVN has been successfully used by the Ministry of Finance to clear out over 23,000 fraudulent salary recipients from the various Federal payrolls with the potential saving of N25 Billion a year is a highly welcome one. The number is actually not too surprising given that the Federal Government employs over one million public servants across the 36 states. In fact, it is almost certain that more are yet to be discovered.

Over the years, there have been constant stories about ghost workers in Nigeria and indeed in most emerging economies. We have never really been able to find a solution. Whilst not an expert in ghost workers, those who have managed large payrolls understand that there are various ways these so-called ghost workers can emerge and this is why the broad term “ghost worker “can be misleading because there are different types of ghost.

The first category is the deliberate fraudulent insertions of non-existent persons into payrolls.

This is often the work of syndicates who work with staff in the payroll departments and banks to perfect the practice. It is an organised operation, which entails the creation of fake identities used specifically for the purpose of the fraud. These entries will typically use very common names, so in the western nations it will be surnames like Smith and Jones. In Nigeria, there will undoubtedly be many, Lawals, Ahmeds, Sanusis, Obis and Mohammeds. Using such commonly occurring surnames allows them to be easily confused with real persons and effectively concealed within large payrolls.

These cases usually prove to be the hardest to detect and very difficult to arrest and prosecute perpetrators because the real person does not exist. Often the best approach is to try and trace the insiders within the organisations or to track the ringleaders.

The second category may not be fraudulent but are still treated as “’ghosts’’. These are staff that have died or have resigned and their names are not removed from the payroll.

This is usually the function of inefficient

management in the payroll offices and lack of regular checks that allow such payments to continue undetected. Money can continue to accrue in the accounts of dead persons and can usually be recovered from the estate of the deceased. Sometimes families deliberately fail to notify of deaths as this often triggers the cessation of payments.

The final category are errors and other duplicates that occur where people are transferred to other departments and their names are not removed from the original payroll so, they are paid double salary. Such staff are dishonest, in that they are knowingly receiving double payment but tend to keep silent until the matter is detected. In these cases, disciplinary action can and should be taken and funds can be readily recovered. Catching these types of entries under a manual system can be an arduous task and thus the need for technology.

There is no doubt the BVN exercise would have uncovered many of these.

The beautiful thing about technology is that it just keeps improving. I can still recall when The Nokia 3310 was “The phone”. The simple ability to send sms messages was an amazing innovation but there is absolutely no comparison with today’s smart phones, which seem to be able to do almost anything.

Those who doubt the ability of technology to catch up with anyone and any scam should be advised to proceed with caution. Thus the introduction by the Ministry of Finance of BVN into the payroll enrolment meant that biometric data that had already been captured by the banks could be used to enrol staff rather than requiring their physical presence was guaranteed to be a success. The BVN could also be used to identify those receiving multiple salaries, funds paid into inactive accounts and other irregularities.

The existence of over 23,000 regular monthly payments by the Federal Government to people who are not staff or who in some cases do not exist is a shameful indictment of a public service system that has allowed it to be compromised. It is also a reflection of a value system in Nigeria that is constantly looking to obtain something for nothing to get ahead. The labour unions have cried out that the announcements made have portrayed them in a bad light but the truth is people

Kemi Adeosun

receiving salary when they are not working or not existing portrays the entire nation in a bad light.

The Ministry has said that its focus is to plug the leakages so that funds can be made available for much needed projects under the 2016 budget and this is commendable. The 2016 budget is being partially debt funded.

It is therefore essential to fix all the leakages otherwise there is a risk that the money borrowed ends up in the hands of fraudsters, living large whilst expecting a monthly alert that the whole nation will pay for.

If the BVN system has worked as well as it should have, there should be some money trapped in accounts that became dormant as a result of BVN, which can be recovered by Government. Only the bravest or the most foolish fraudsters would have presented themselves for a biometric capture to be linked to a false name, so most would have abandoned those accounts and salary payments should have been accumulating there.

The Minister’s team must recover this money. No matter how small the amount, taken together they will reduce the amount we need to borrow and will send a message to the fraudsters.

Whist the announced saving of over N2.2 Bn per month is good news financially; it is a stark reminder of the level of leakage that must be addressed to restore our economy.

With the current economic challenges, most state governments are leaving the monthly FAAC meetings with significantly less than N2billion to run an entire state. The idea that a handful of people were able to get their hands on this much money is very worrying indeed.

It is enough to complete the refurbishment of numerous roads, schools and hospitals. It is enough to provide jobs for many of the throngs of young unemployed, genuine job seekers who are actually prepared to work. It is important that those who are behind this scam must be fished out and made to pay… if, of course, they can be found. Clearly there must have been some collusion within the Ministry of Finance staff and others in the various Ministries as well as staff in the banks for this to occur on such a large scale and for so long. Those banks into whose accounts this money was being paid must support the effort to weed out those responsible within their own organisations. Doing so, will strengthen the entire system.

Going forward, it is clear that the Federal Government needs to improve the way it manages its staff. Do they no longer do head count checks? Are there no attendance registers or biometric recording systems? As the Federal Government moves more staff to this centrally run IPPIS system, ultimate responsibility for staff management and costs must still remain with each Ministry. If this is not done, then there will be no incentive for leaders of agencies to undertake regular checks.

Also there must be deadlines to notify staff deaths, staff absence or payment errors. In most large companies, staff belong to divisions and locations and each leader must certify the staff under his control before monthly payment is made. If this was being done then this problem would have been solved long ago, saving the nation billions. The heads of those agencies should now be made financially responsible for money lost if they fail to have proper records of, and checks on their staff.

– Soyombo is an Abuja-based public sector analyst.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R •MARCH 6, 2016

SUNDAY INTERVIEW

Balogun

KELVIN BALOGUN

Despite Current Economic Crisis, We Look Ahead for Future Opportunities

The Coca Cola Company, an age-long brand and household name in the non-alcoholic beverages sector of the economy, recently made a strategic decision to spread its tentacles across other segments of the market by acquiring 40 per cent equity shareholding in Chi Limited, a leader in the juice and dairy products market. The President, Central, East and West Africa of The Coca Cola Company, Kelvin Balogun, shares with Kunle Aderinokun, the essence of the deal as well as gives insights on the operations of the company across Africa, and Nigeria in particular

C

oca Cola recently signed an agreement with Chi for the acquisition of 40 per cent equity shareholding in the latter. What is the takeaway from the deal?

TGI is the investment holding company of Chi Limited and Coca Cola has just signed a binding agreement to acquire an initial minority stake of 40 percent in Chi Limited. The take away from this is that it creates a strategic relationship between two beverage industry leaders in Nigeria with complementary categories. When you talk about of The Coca-Cola Company in Nigeria, you think of soft drinks, sparkling, and water brand. When you think of Chi, you think of Caprisone, you also think of value-added

dairy and yoghurt and milk products. So, when these two companies come together in partnership, you have complementary beverage categories in a single portfolio.

And that is very exciting when you think about where Nigeria is at today and the opportunity that is available to us.

How is Coca Cola’s operation in Africa?

Now, Coca-Cola needs very little introduction as you know. You are familiar with us as a Nigerian company, but the truth is that we have very pervasive African footprint. We are in virtually every country in Africa. In one of my previous roles, I was able to take Coca-Cola to Somalia which was the only country we didn’t have bottling operation.

Coca-Cola embodies belief in Africa even

before the concept becomes commonly accepted and part of our footprint is production capacity right across the continent. We have about 145 bottling plants on this continent.

We have over 70,000 system employees, of which 5,000 before the partnership in Nigeria. In my region, that is Central East and West Africa, we sell to over 700 million consumers, all across Africa over 1 billion consumers. We sell through 1.5million to 1.6 million distributors and retailers. When you think in terms of the economic impact our company has in any country we operate in, it is always significant. We are invariably among largest employers of labour in the countries we operate in.

How much has Coca Cola invested

in Africa?

We have been investing in Africa well before it became fashionable to do so for more than 80 years, building plants, supply chain, distribution system and we are accelerating that investing going forward.

Our chairman made a global commitment, between 2010 and 2020, we will invest $17 billion in Africa. This gives you an idea of how we have seen the continent over the years and how we will continue to see the continent. And it is not just investing in the commercial infrastructure alone, but as you are aware, we have a very strong

Cont’d on Pg. 25

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R •MARCH 13, 2016

SUNDAY INTERVIEW Balogun: Despite Current Economic Crisis, We Look Ahead for Future Opportunities

Cont’d from Pg. 24

ability agenda. We have a number of flagship programmes. One of them is 5by20 initiative, which is a global commitment we made to enable the empowerment of 5 million women through our value chain by 2020 and Nigeria is a critical piece in this initiative. We also have another programme called Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), which is our banner programme in ensuring people have access to clean water. Our commitment is to give 2 million people access to safe water by 2015 and we delivered against that and have expanded the target to 6 million by 2020.

And we also have programmes around sustainable agriculture which is our effort to backwardly integrate. There is a programme we just ran in East Africa called Project Nurture, where we doubled the income of 5000 fruit farmers. So when you think about it, very pervasive, in the commercial sense and also in the sustainability arena and that also flows to Nigeria, the leading producer of sparkling, the leading producer of water and we have some of the world’s biggest brands here.

How do you see Nigeria as a market?

Most times, when people think about Nigeria, they tend to think in terms of some of the short term challenges the country is experiencing such as the current issues of exchange rate and devaluation. But the truth is that the country’s market fundamentals are really strong and very positive. This is Africa’s largest market and population. Up until last year, one of Africa’s fastest growing economies, highly urbanised with significant concentration of population in urban centres, which means they are highly accessible. By African standards, high literacy rate, very young population, early adopters of technology. We have one of the highest mobile penetrations of about 60 percent and with significant level of spending. We have one of Africa’s largest middle class and high net worth individuals. When you look beyond some of the short-term challenges that we have, you see a very exciting market – one of the most exciting in emerging market regions.

This is what really draws us in this partnership that we formed with Chi Limited where we bring our complementary portfolios and skills and knowhow to bear against what we believe will be an exciting market going into the future.

How do you see the partnership between Coca Cola and Chi?

It is an exciting partnership. The DNA of this organisation is the innovation, cost effective manufacturing platform, the extremely motivated and highly experienced and capable people working for this wonderful organization and the fact that they have built an amazing brand in Nigeria. If you put that right next to Coca-Cola’s deep innovation pipeline, our global skill brands, our knowhow in marketing, our knowhow in building commercial infrastructure, I think you will see a really powerful union that gives a lot of synergy we will be leveraging on not just locally but wherever the opportunities are going into the future.

What really attracted Coca-Cola to Chi?

I think is a wonderful opportunity for our complementary capabilities to enable both organisations to be a lot stronger. When you think about it, Coca-Cola is in sparkling, in water and in juice, but they are many categories in non-alcoholic beverage landscape that we are not in. In the fast growing value-added dairy, Chi is the market leader.

So, this is an opportunity for us to cover a wider portfolio through our partnership than we currently do. This actually works for them and for us. And we also think in terms of what they bring. When you are looking at business going into the future you need to think in terms of the skills you need to assess those opportunities.

They have been very experienced, they bring a value-added brand in value-added dairy, and we bring a very deep pipeline of global brand that we can avail to them, global supply chain that we can avail to them and further strengthen them as we go forward. So, when you look at it, there is a lot that we can build. The only category we overlap today is in juices but as you know

Balogun

the beverage category that we can access are far more than that.

What is the shareholding structure like in Chi?

Chi has two shareholders now after the transaction. 60 percent of Chi is owned by TGI Group and 40 percent is owned by The Coca-Cola Company. And when you look at that relative equity position in Chi you realize we (Coca-Cola) are the minority

Going forward, what are the operational terms and conditions?

What we have done by this transaction is to take an equity position along with TGI Chi Limited. But essentially the operation still continues unimpeded. It just gives us an opportunity to leverage the strength of this organization and for us to avail to them some of the strengths of our organization.

According to you, in 3 years you are going to acquire 100 per cent, what are you looking at when it is 100 per cent?

Would there still be Chi? Or we are going to have Coca-Cola Chi?

We have a journey to follow and it is a journey that has really been formed on the back of the opportunity we see. There is a mutual desire for both organisations to go into the future, learn from the market, work together to explore that opportunity. There is still a lot out there that we can assess, it’s too early to speculate about what that journey is going to look like or how it is going to evolve.

You talked about Coca-Cola investing $17 billion in Africa within 10 years (2010 – 2020). What portion of this investment will be in Nigeria and in what area?

We’ve been investing strongly in Nigeria over the years. We have over 13 plants across the country. Virtually in all geo-political regions, we have very extensive distribution network nationwide and in the last 5 years, we have made significant investments to upgrade the capability of our operations in the different plants and distribution centers.

So we have invested significantly, but the figure you’ve raised relates to all of Africa between 2010 and 2010. I cannot right now tell you what the exact percentage of what will come to Nigeria, but as you know Nigeria

represents one of our largest markets and fastest growing markets on the continent and one of our most exciting, so without giving your specific numbers, you can imagine that a significant proportion of that is going to come to Nigeria.

How is the foreign exchange policy of the federal government affecting your business?

The key is to look beyond the cycle. I have worked in many African countries and you

Most times, when people think about Nigeria, they tend to think in terms of some of the short term challenges the country is experiencing such as the current issues of exchange rate and devaluation. But the truth is that the country’s market fundamentals are really strong and very positive. This is Africa’s largest market and popuation. Up until last year, one of Africa’s fastest growing economies, highly urbanised with significant concentration of population in urban centres, which means they are highly accessible. By African standards, high literacy rate, very young population, early adopters of technology

will see the economic ups and downs, but what has always been the character of The Coca-Cola Company is to look beyond those cycles. That is why we have been here in Africa for over 80 years, and in Nigeria for over 65 years and have invested significantly in leaving a footprint across the continent without exception. That mindset is what propels us to look beyond the forex and commodity issues that may emerge. We look forward into the future to see the opportunities ahead.

Recently NBC was delisted from the Stock Exchange. Are you looking at going back to the Stock Exchange?

It won’t be fair to comment on behalf of NBC as you know. The current position is that they are not listed on the stock exchange. The board of NBC has made a strategic decision to run their operation as a private company and I wouldn’t want to speculate on what they would want to do.

How do you see the Nigerian regulatory environment?

Nigeria has always been a very exciting environment, not without challenges. But over the last 65 years that we have operated here, we have formed great partnership with the government, the regulators, our suppliers and our retail partners in building a very successful business. We believe that we can continue to do so going into the future.

Now, the regulatory environment like every part of Nigerian environment is evolving. I wouldn’t say it’s perfect. But they have been supportive of the business we have built so far. And I believe that in partnership they can be supportive of the business aspirations we have going into the future.

What is The Coca-Cola Company CSR like?

We focus on water, women and wellbeing. That’s our sustainability agenda and we revolve our efforts around a number of flagship programmes. In Africa we have the Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), which is our commitment to bring portable water to 6 million Africans by 2020. For women, we have our 5by20 initiative, which is a global commitment to enable the economic empowerment of 5 million women through our value chain by 2020. We are also investing in the environment, education and youth development. All of these programmes are applicable in Nigeria as well.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R •MARCH 13, 2016

26

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Stakeholders Identify Sectors Requiring Immediate Reform

As the Federal Government prepares to midwife improvement in the country’s business space and improve ease of doing business, stakeholders in the economy bare their minds on areas they believe require quick intervention by government, writes Olaseni Durojaiye

W

ith its repeated poor ranking on the ease of doing business index of a few international rating agencies especially when compared with the performances of less endowed African countries on same index, players in the Nigerian economy have repeatedly called on governments at various levels to initiate policies and reforms that will improve the business operating environment. The call, it will be recalled reverberated all through the last Nigerian Economic Summit during which some of the discussants identified some areas in need of urgent reforms and various types of government interventions.

In what seemed a reflection of what operators in the nation’s economy have repeatedly lamented, between quarter four of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, at least three international rating agencies have ranked Nigeria behind less endowed African countries.

Besides, some of the rating organisations also identified a couple of sectors that if reformed will trigger growth, improve ease of doing business in the country and catapult the country into the list of top 100 countries to do business in the world.

Of course, the advantages of such growth and rating on the country’s economy and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) cannot be underestimated.

Recent Ratings Before the last ratings by the World Bank Group, assessing agencies that has rated the country’s business environment include Rand Merchant Bank’s (RMB) ‘Where to Invest in Africa 2015-2016 report’; “World Bank ease of Doing Business Report”, “Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom,” “World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report” and “Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index” which the RMB’s rating relied on.

It will be recalled that the RMB where to invest in Africa report placed Nigeria fifth behind South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and Ghana. Interestingly, while South Africa continued to maintain its lead as the most attractive investment destination on the continent, Nigeria on the other hand slumped to fifth position as Egypt, Morocco and Ghana leapfrogged Africa’s largest economy.

The report finds Rwanda, Ghana and Zambia to be stand out countries based on continued improvements via reforms and accelerated growth. It also notes that Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda collectively are large and attractive adding that the notable North African economies are Tunisia and Morocco.

According to a Lagos-based economist Oye Makinde, “it speaks volume that it is the same Kenya that Nigeria is now trying to study and perhaps model its reforms after.” Makinde was reacting to reports credited to a Presidency source in which the source was quoted as saying “We’re looking keenly at the example of Kenya, which climbed 21 places on the ranking between 2014 and 2015 simply by focusing on a number of critical reforms ranging from access to electricity, to access to finance for businesses and property registration procedures.”

The RMB assessment rated countries from most to least attractive investment

Business activities on broad street, Lagos Island

destinations. Scores are based on: market size, as measured by GDP at purchasing power parity: the market growth rate, as reflected in the International Monetary Fund’s forecast of real GDP growth; and an operating environment index, which looks at economic freedom, corruption, efficiency and business friendliness.

The World Bank Group Ease of Doing Business which is the latest of the rating agencies to release its report rank Nigeria 169 among 189 countries that were assessed.

The 2016 edition which was released in February showed Kenya jumping from 129th in the previous report to 108, moving up 21 places.

The report also showed that between 2010 and 2015, Rwanda went from 98th to 62nd on the ranking. It further showed that Zambia broke into the top 100 in 2011 and has remained within the range since then.

According to authors of the reports, World Bank Group, “the Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business, from 1–189.

A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. The rankings are determined by sorting the aggregate distance to frontier scores on 10 topics, each consisting of several indicators, giving equal weight to each topic. The rankings for all economies are benchmarked to June 2015.

To arrive at the rating, the rating agency evaluated individual country’s performances in the areas of starting a business, getting electricity, paying taxes, trading across borders, dealing with construction permits, protecting minority investments, and getting credits.

While Nigeria was rated 139 in the Starting a Business category, it was rated 181 in the Paying Taxes and Registering Property categories. The report went ahead to rate Nigeria 143 in the Trading across Borders enforcing Contracts categories. However, the country fell within the top 100 as it was rated 59 in the Getting Credit category.

Federal Government’s Intervention Apparently miffed by the repeated poor rating of the country’s business environment and perhaps in response to various calls from different segments of the economy, the Federal Government appeared prepared to arrest and intervene in the economy and help improve the economic space. This explained the setting up of a presidential level initiative to address the country’s consistently poor global Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business indices.

The initiative which is being championed by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI) will be headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and will have the Minister of Industry,

President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Frank Jacobs, and the Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf, are in agreement that infrastructure, policy reform and access to finance are three key areas where urgent government intervention is needed

Trade and Investments, Dr. Okey Enelamah, as vice chairman. It is expected to be an inter-ministerial committee to facilitate cooperation across the ministries.

The committee, according to media reports will also have substantial private sector input in terms of membership and will be saddled with resolving challenges inhibiting against industrialization, cross border trade as well as local and foreign investments.

Stakeholders Reactions The planned quick intervention by the Federal Government has received a welcome nod from a cross section of operators in the economy as responses to THISDAY enquiries revealed with some of the respondents highlighting areas in need of urgent intervention by government.

Speaking with THISDAY in an interview, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Frank Jacobs, and the Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf, were in agreement that Infrastructure, policy reform and access to finance are three key areas where urgent government intervention is needed. In calling for a reform of the entire spectrum of the oil and gas industry, Yusuf noted that “government’s hold on that sector is too much” adding that it is affecting efficiency.”

On his part, Dr. Jacobs called for a reintroduction of export Expansion Grant (EEG). According to him doing so will serve as incentive to non-oil exporters adding that the drop in oil price has reinforced the need to diversify the economy which will in-turn increase non-oil exports.

According to Yusuf, “The issue of improving the economic environment and ease of doing business in the country can be categorised into three, the short term, medium term and long term. Regarding what can be done immediately from an economist perspective, I will say it is power situation, policy reform in the oil and gas

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BUSINESS/ENERGY Stakeholders Identify Sectors Requiring Immediate Reform sector and issues of logistics.

“There has to be a model that will make power generation and distribution work well than what we have now. Every other thing rides on the back of power; if that is done other services can then pick up.

Again, there is the need for policy reform in the oil and gas sector. As it is at the moment government’s hold on the sector is too much and it is affecting efficiency in the sector and, the kind of value that the sector can bring as well as the amount of jobs that the sector can deliver,” he stated.

Continuing, Yusuf added: “Issues of logistics also require government’s urgent intervention. Nigeria is a large country, to take advantage of our size our transportation system needs to be affordable and efficient; cost of transportation is impeding domestic economic integration. Government should look at the road and rail transportation as a way to address issues of logistics, if this is done other services including agriculture and manufacturing can move easily within the country. The way it is now, cost of transportation is too high and it is making the business environment rather unfriendly,” he stressed.

In his own submission, Jacobs who said infrastructure to include power, roads and rail system, agreed with Yusuf on the need for government to improve on power generation and distribution, as well as work on road and rail transportation to ease movement of goods and services around the country.

According to him, “cost of finance is another area where government needs to intervene. Interest rate which currently hovers around 25 per cent does not help business.

Government can help to make it come down to as low as five per cent by enacting a policy in that direction; if that is done, it will help business, including small and medium scale enterprises and large scale manufacturers to grow.”

Speaking further, he stated that, “there is need for a deliberate policy to encourage non-oil export. The fall in oil price and the country’s current forex challenge has further reinforced the need to encourage non-oil exports. Government should revisit the issue of Export Expansion Grant which was suspended by the previous government.

If this is done it will serve as incentive for people to want to export, this would

Jacobs

boost foreign exchange earnings for the country as well,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Laoye Jaiyeola, insisted that improving ease of doing business in the country required a concerted effort among the different tiers of government and the legislators. While noting that Nigeria’s ranking is not good both on the World Bank Group’s ease of doing business and the World Economic Index, he harped on the issue of multiple taxation.

He also noted that it was encouraging that

Cont’d from Pg. 26

Yusuf

the National Assembly has also indicated interest in helping to improve the ease of doing business in the country.

Jacobs aligned with Jaiyeola on the problem that multiple taxation pose to business operating in the country.

According to him, “another issue is multiple taxations; government needs to harmonise taxation among the three tiers of government. As it is, if you are delivering goods from one state to another, you will end up paying in all the local governments that you pass through.

This doesn’t help business to grow in

any way. Government can ensure that what you pay in one local government covers for all others that the goods pass through,” he posited.

Besides the issue of multiple taxations, Jaiyeola also noted the complexities in registering properties adding that in Lagos, people pay to multiple government agencies to register property and wondered, “Why can’t I pay it once and the various agencies share it among themselves.” Incidentally, it is one of the yardsticks by which the World Bank Group Ease of Doing Business index arrived at its ranking.

Tackling Unemployment through Outsourcing Tunde Bodunrin

I

t is no longer news that Nigerian economy is going through tough challenges this period which have led to the increase in the level of unemployment and frustrations for both businesses and individuals. No thanks to the nation’s dwindling revenue as a result of the plummeting crude oil price at the international market and the seeming unending falling value of the nation’s currency.

But Mr Olusoji Oyawoye, the MD/CEO of Resource Intermediaries Ltd (RIL), believes the unemployment situation in the country could be ameliorated even in this difficult period if both the private and public sectors partner with outsourcing firms.

RIL is one of the leading outsourcing firms in the country that has carved a niche for itself within the outsourcing world and it has been in existence since 2006.

Oyawoye in a recent chat with journalist noted that areas of interests like manufacturing, Data Management, Customer Support, IT Support functions must be identified to ensure the smooth success of this partnership. He explained that the bulk of this responsibility lies not only on the outsourcing professionals but also on their ability to prove beyond reasonable doubt that outsourcing is a solution provider for unemployment.

“They will need to maintain account-

Oyawoye

ability, ensure performance, guarantee results and adhere to public service values, while government will need to create an enabling environment for foreign and local investors” He maintained that where there are lot of investors and, outsourcing partners are contracted, the cost of manufacturing and production will drop on the long run and this will make the product more available and at a cheaper rate in the market adding that this will encourage the unemployed to go into entrepreneurship as goods will be readily available and affordable.

Oyawoye, who is also the chairman of Policy & Strategy Committee of the As-

sociation of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria (AOPN), expressed optimism on the future of outsourcing in Nigeria. He stated tha Nigeria has a unique opportunity to achieve her full potential. “The time to strategize and align corporate strategy to leverage on new possibilities from the policies of the new government is now. Whichever way government policy direction heads, Nigeria is in dire need for economic growth through massively improved productive capacity and employment generation” Enumerating the significances of outsourcing to any economy, the RIL CEO said that outsourcing helps build better business, stronger economies and a more prosperous way of life. He described outsourcing as no longer just about cost saving but a strategic tool that may power the twentyfirst century economy; and Nigeria as an emerging market should not be passive in this global transformation.

“It can increase productivity and competitiveness in multiple folds as leaders can no longer afford to view outsourcing as a mere business tactic; it is now essential to remaining competitive on the world stage” Commenting on how public sector outsourcing performance will be in the public interest, Oyawoye assured that public sector outsourcing will definitely provide more jobs for the citizens of Nigeria which can be monitored and beneficial to both the citizens and government.

Oyawoye while mentioning some of the countries that have successfully adopted public outsourcing to include the US,

UK, Canada, India, Hong-Kong, Japan and Singapore, said it has worked to their benefit because services are better delivered and managed, though there are regulations and close monitoring from the government. “Outsourcing increased in the western world from 1970 to 2002, the U.S. economy boomed. It service jobs increased from 47 million to 107 million, and per capita income rose from $12,543 to $22,851”.

“The Nigerian public sector outsourcing has proved to be one sure way of improving public service delivery, increasing effectiveness and efficiency. This can be attributed to selection of vendors based essentially on quality of service to be supplied” Though meeting outsourcing objectives depend on the extent to which recommendations are adhered to, Oyawoye advised that it should be considered above personal interest if it must work adding there must be regular monitoring and evaluation of vendors’ performance to ensure that the standard continues to improve, and performance criteria must be properly specified.

He also said there should be adequate and proper sensitization of some key public officers because they are key drivers of government outsourcing initiatives for achievement of objectives. They should be enlightened on the need for transparency and accountability in public service.

There should also be continuous public enlightenment by the Bureau of Public Sector Reform through its publications on government reforms and outsourcing.

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BUSINESS/ENERGY

Hope Rekindles as Oil Prices Rally Over the past 18 months, crude oil prices have fallen to below $30 per barrel from their apex of above $110/b. They however recently began to notch up some gains and only last week got up to $39/b. Nigeria, which benchmarked her budget at $38/b would hope that such positive price movement continues into the near future, writes Chineme Okafor

I

n a pulsating show, global crude oil prices last week recovered some of their margins and finally beat Nigeria’s budgetary benchmark to trade at above $38 per barrel.

Although too early to jubilate, news of the price recovery gave a bit of optimism to authorities in Nigeria that perhaps, the country may after all gain some advantages in financing its expenditure proposal in its 2016 budget.

Against major criticisms, Nigeria in December 2015, pegged the prices of oil in her budget proposal to $38/b when the actual market price was $34/b and even though the Minister for Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, stated that the price benchmark would have no impact on the budget, the realities far outweigh the assumptions.

Again, the price rush also reinforced Nigeria’s spirited drive to get other oil producers to the negotiation table to try and find solutions to the prices slide. But even at that, the country through its Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Kachikwu Ibe, still holds its expectations in check, as well, close to its chest.

It was in the same week of the price gains that Kachikwu, who had majorly chaperoned the price diplomacy with key oil producing countries of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran, as well as non-OPEC producers like Russia, announced that producers would as much appreciate the possibility of a $50/b situation if it ever gets to that level.

He admitted the humility of producers to invisibility of the price direction, and added that with the competitive production numbers and environment, it would be pretty difficult to see a dramatic rise in price.

More so, Kachikwu explained that it was a difficult situation for Nigeria, hence the continuous shuttling to meet other producers.

“I don’t need to tell you about the price of oil despite the shuttle diplomacy here and there. It is still very challenging but at least, we are inching up and for the first time we are beginning to have both the Saudis and the Russians come back on the table.

“When I started that whole move, I was very criticised and told that it would not hold but I am happy that over the last few weeks we see that everybody has bought into that and we are beginning to see prices inch up very slowly,” Kachikwu said, while speaking at the annual Oloibiri Lecture Series in Abuja.

He hinted that notwithstanding the minimal gains in prices, he intended to continue to push other producers to commit to a solution to the price dilemma. He announced then that a new meeting was in the offing.

“But hopefully, if the meeting that we are scheduling to happen in Russia between the OPEC and non-OPEC members happen about the 20th of March, we should see some dramatic movements and we are not likely going to see the prices of many years ago.

“I think we are very humbled today to accept that if we hit the price of $50 we will be celebrating and that is the target that we have,” he stated.

Why Nigeria Desperately Desires Positive Price Movements Kachikwu painted a picture of what Nigeria was going through in the current situation

One of Nigeria’s refineries

and why it desperately needs a change.

According to him, “what this has done for countries like Nigeria that depends almost totally on oil revenues is that we are going through the most difficult times in the history of this country and so when you see changes in our ability to sometimes meet salaries in some states, it has become very major issue and we are working very hard to get the best value chain under the circumstances.”

Kachikwu at the last World Economic Forum in Davos was clear about his expectations that oil prices would rise to $40/b by the end of the year.

He had said: “Oil prices could get worse in the short-term, but the second half of this year holds more promise.”

The minister did not hide his desire to see prices pick up and therefore continued to engage relevant stakeholders to buoy this desire.

With Nigeria’s precarious oil revenue profile - the country had been hit hard by the falling prices of oil, Kachikwu spoke out, against Qatar’s desire that production levels long adopted by OPEC be kept untouched. Parts of his request which Iran has also refused to accept had been a call on production cuts by fellow producing members of the OPEC and other non-OPEC countries like Russia.

He advocated that at least such cut should be targeted at shrinking the supply glut, squeezing out the US producers and shoring up prices. He was firmly supported by Venezuela, another country in the same revenue shoes with Nigeria.

A Mild Hope of Recovery Perhaps But then, oil prices, which began to rise above $38/b (after both a Venezuela-led advocacy and Nigeria’s have resulted in a proposal to freeze production outputs) closed at about $41/b on Kachikwu’s

Minister for Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma

disclosure of the news that oil producers are planning to work together to reduce excess supply in the market.

Saudi Arabia , OPEC’s biggest producer, and Russia, OPEC’s long term non-member ally, had agreed to a production freeze which Iran don’t seem to welcome on the ground that it had some catching up to do with the rest of the producers who produced while it was on the fringes of sanction.

The plan by Russia and Saudi Arabia to freeze output at January production levels, is expected to be discussed further at the March 20 meeting which Kachikwu spoke about.

Followed by an industry report from the American Petroleum Institute, which showed

a surprise drop in U.S. inventories by 3.3 million barrels, the March 20 meeting in Moscow could further buoy the positive price movement.

Also, the U.S. Energy Information Administration data that showed a much larger-than-expected drawdown in gasoline stocks last week, suggested a robust energy demand in the U.S, hence the 4.5 million barrels decline in gasoline stocks outweighed the 3.9 million barrels growth in crude inventories.

Yet industry experts consider this to be somewhat a little premature. In their analysis, these experts say that a rally back northward in prices may not be a real deal now especially when extant market fundamentals are considered.

For example, OPEC in its February monthly oil market report stated that ongoing excess supply, the weakening Chinese economy and lower seasonal heating demand have continued to weigh heavy on the market, making price movements to rather remain at a depressing level.

Moreover, OPEC noted that swelling crude and product inventories have also sustained their pressure on the difficulties oil prices currently face.

Some other experts also described the price movement as ephemeral, adding that it may not stay up for long.

According to them, the movement may not be far from the speculations that abound in the market, and which are mostly represented by what they described as non-physical barrels.

However, Bill Smith, chief investment officer and senior portfolio manager at Battery Park Capital, told news agency, CNBC, that while some investors could be predicting that market expectations for oil at $50 a barrel might be too fast, and too soon, the energy sector will find equilibrium by the second quarter of 2016.

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BUSINESS/ENERGY

Achieving PIB’s Objectives through NNPC’s Reorganisation

The recent reorganisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), erroneously tagged as ‘unbundling’ by the organised labour will no doubt help to achieve some of the objectives set out in the nine-year-old Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to make Nigeria realise full benefits from her enormous hydrocarbon resources, Ejiofor Alike reports

A Backgroud

landmark pronouncement by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, at the recent 25th Annual Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum (OLEF) of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Nigerian Council, was a plan by the Federal Government to overhaul the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Before the then Military Government came up with the idea of setting up a national oil company in 1971, the only benefit derived by Nigeria from crude oil production was through tax collection from Shell, Chevron, Agip, Mobil and other international oil companies (IOCs) as the federal government had no company that was involved in drilling crude oil.

The Petroleum Profits Tax Act 1959 (PPTA), which was one of the pioneer legislations enacted by the government for the oil and gas industry, empowered the government to impose tax on the profits of companies that were involved in petroleum operations.

The promulgation of Decree No 18 of 1971, which established the Nigerian National Oil Corporation (NNOC), was the first bold move by the government to set up a state-run oil company to compete with the IOCs. The new legislation by General Yakubu Gowon’s government empowered the NNOC to engage in oil exploration and “in all other activities associated with the petroleum industry.”

On April 1, 1977, what is regarded today as NNPC was established by the promulgation of Decree No. 33.

This decree merged the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNOC to form NNPC, which was charged with the “overall control of the oil industry.” The new decree also saddled NNPC with all the functions that were performed by NNOC including, “exploitation, production, transportation, processing of oil, refining, and marketing of crude oil and its refined derivatives”.

By the establishment of NNPC, the government had wanted it to be a viable oil company operating under commercial terms as a world class national oil firm in the mould of Saudi’s Aramco, Malaysia’s Petronas and Brazil’s Petrobras.

However, over the years, NNPC is believed to have failed to realise its mandate as a national oil company as it lost focus, combining regulatory functions with formulating policies, in addition to its role as an operator in the oil and gas industry.

This largely accounted for the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which among other objectives, seeks to break up the state-run company into many companies, which will be incorporated as independent entities.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had on April 24, 2000, set up the Oil and Gas Reform Implementation Committee (OGIC), headed by his then Honorary Special Adviser on Energy and Strategic Matters, the late Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, to carry out the first comprehensive reform of the oil and gas industry.

Obasanjo left office before he could implement the National Oil and Gas Policy (NOGP) report that was submitted by the Lukman’s committee.

The late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua

Underneath these companies, we have a collective of 20 companies on the whole, where we had about 16 before, so only about four are new introductions.

So it is not so much the size and we have not split NNPC into 30 companies, but there are four major divisional groups

the change and I am happy that we are gaining the cooperation of people within the industry because that is the only way we can guarantee sustainable career paths for those in the industry,” he added.

Buhari

reconstituted a new committee, also headed

by Lukman, on September 7, 2007.

Lukman’s new committee, which submitted its report on August 3, 2008, was mandated to “transform the broad provisions in the NOGP into functional institutional structures that are legal and practical for the effective management of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria”.

The PIB, which also seeks to replace about 16 obsolete legislative and administrative instruments in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and transform them into a single law, emerged from the report of these two committees.

Unfortunately, exactly eight years after the bill was submitted to the National Assembly, the reform bill has not been signed into law because of the politics associated with the fiscal regime and other controversial provisions, which law makers could not resolve.

If PIB had been passed as it was, the federal government would have divested 30 per cent of its shareholding and sell the shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), according to the provision of the reform legislation.

Kachikwu’s new option In the absence of the passage of the PIB, Kachikwu told oil industry operators at the Oloibiri Lecture Series that the structural overhaul would see NNPC broken into

five major operational zones and about 30 independent companies with their chief executive officers given measurable targets to achieve.

“The effect of that would be to quite frankly unbundle the huge company into four to five main operational zones: the upstream, downstream, midstream, refining and of course every other company that is trending to the venture group,” he said.

“But what is more important is that at the same time, we are also unbundling the subsets of these companies to about 30 independent companies with their own managing directors and so titles like group executive directors which you have been used to in the last 30 years will disappear and in place of that, you are going to have chief executive officers.”

The minister explained that people who would get the job of heading the new companies would have to take responsibilities for the titles they would be assigned.

According to him, “They have to mean something, they are not administrative roles. So, at the end of the day, a CEO of an upstream company must deliver me upstream results and we are very focused on that.

“Along those chains, we are doing very dramatic things within the sector to bring

President Buhari’s approval Few days after Kachikwu made the pronouncement, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the restructuring of the corporation into seven new divisions, according to a media briefing by the minister.

He explained that under the new structure, NNPC will have five core new divisions comprising the upstream, downstream, refining group, gas and power, as well as the ventures’ groups. The other two, he said, are finance and services groups.

He said the restructuring was the only opportunity available to the NNPC to become productive again, adding that employees of the corporation would have to work to earn their wages going forward.

Kachikwu pointed out that nothing much had changed with the unbundling except for the distribution of subsidiary companies of the corporation that would further be restructured into direct management of the new divisions.

He named some of the heads of the new divisions to include Mr. Bello Rabiu, who would take charge as the head of the upstream company; Mr. Henry Ikem-Obi, who would head the downstream company; Mr. Anibor Kragho as the head of refining group; Mr. Saidu Mohammed as head of gas and power market; and Babatunde Adeniran as head of the ventures’ groups.

Isiaka Abdul Rasaq is the chief financial officer, while the deputy managing director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Mr. Isa Inuwa, is now to head the corporate services unit of NNPC. He listed some of the subsidiaries under the divisions to include Upstream: the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL);

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BUSINESS/ENERGY/ PERSPECTIVE Achieving PIB’s Objectives through NNPC’s Reorganisation Downstream Retail: Nigerian Product Marketing Company (NPMC), which was formerly PPMC, (NPSC); Gas and Power: Nigerian Gas Pipeline and Transportation Company (NGPTC), Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC), and gas and power investment; and the Refineries: Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), and Port Harcourt Refining and Petrochemical Company (PHRC). The ventures’ company includes medicals, property, pensions, shipping, and wheel insurance.

Kachikwu said: “The president has approved the final phase of the restructuring of the NNPC, under that phase it is not so much different from what we have now but we have restructured ourselves into four key business components: the upstream, which is what you used to call the Exploration and Production (E&P), the downstream, which is what you called the Commercial and Investment (C&I), the gas power market, which is basically a pullout from the E&P, the refinery group, which is basically the three refineries, and of course the ventures, which is every other small company here and there that did not have a sense of direction.

“Underneath these companies, we have a collective of 20 companies on the whole, where we had about 16 before, so only about four are new introductions. So it is not so much the size and we have not split NNPC into 30 companies, but there are

Cont’d from Pg. 29 “The group is going to become more nimble,” he added.

Kachikwu

President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese

four major divisional groups.

“Four or five are business focused, while others provide services. Beneath these five that are business-geared are the companies that are there. For example, with PPMC, we have taken the pipeline and depots unit and put them into a different company so that somebody focuses on that, while PPMC

deals with the marketing of products.”

However, unlike what was proposed in the PIB where the entities will be autonomous, Kachikwu stated that all the created units still report to the Group Managing Director of NNPC, adding that the whole idea is to focus everybody that it is no longer an administrative but business role.

House, Labour Kick Responding to the protest by the labour unions and the concern raised by the House of Representatives on the legality of the reform, Kachikwu, in his defence, insisted that NNPC has not been broken up or unbundled as erroneously reported.

He said what the president approved was the restructuring of the corporation, adding that there was nothing wrong with it as long as it was done within the confines of the law.

“NNPC has not been unbundled or broken up. It remains the same entity but with different units internally for enhanced efficiency and profitability. Besides, the NNPC Act allows for the restructuring of NNPC,” he added.

Oil workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) workers had embarked on strike action after Kachikwu announced President Buhari’s approval.

But barely 24 hours later, the unions suspended the action after negotiation with the government and resolved to support the restructuring of the state-run oil firm.

If vigorously implemented, it is expected that the restructuring will achieve some of the objectives of the PIB.

Redefining the Nation’s Business Environment Mohammed I sa

A

t its inception in June 2015, the 8th Senate under the leadership of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki left no one in doubt about its determination to use its constitutional mandate to stop the business as usual syndrome and move the country forward. Based on that firm resolve, the Senate fashioned out a well thought out, detailed plan and cohesive legislative agenda for renewed national cohesion and development.

It is in fulfillment of the objective of the agenda that the Senate President in November 2015 initiated a discussion with development partners, professional bodies like the Nigeria Bar Associations (NBA) and the academia. The result was the formation of a committee of experts charged with the responsibility of providing a framework for holistic review and improvements of legislations and policies affecting business, so as to create a better business enabling environment, leading to increased and sustained private sector development and investment in the country.

The legislative effort paid off when on February 29, 2016, the committee of experts, supported by Department for International Development (DFID) with the strong participation of Nigerian Economic Support Group (NESG) presented its detailed report to the Senate President.

Presenting the168-page report titled, “Comprehensive Review of the Institutional Regulatory, Legislative and Associated Instruments Affecting Businesses in Nigeria,” the Team Leader, Prof. Paul Idornigie (SAN), identified eight reform bills currently pending before the National Assembly as of priority importance to doing business and overall private sector participation in Nigeria.

According to Idornigie, “even if no other recommendation in this report is implemented, the enactment of these Bills will be the major achievement of the 8th National Assembly.”

The bills are Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2015, Federal Roads Authority Bill 2015, National Inland Waterways Authority Bill 2015, National Roads Funds Bill 2015, National Transport Commission 2015, Nigerian Ports and Harbours Authority Bill 2015, Nigeria Postal Commission Bill 2015 and Nigeria Railway

Authority Bill 2015.

The team, he said, also reviewed 54 Acts and 50 Bills pending before the National Assembly, and rated them in order of priority to help the legislature focus more on areas that require urgent intervention.

Some of the recommendations by the experts were; passage of the reform bills, establishment of federal legislative clearinghouse, access to finance and property, establishment of a national legislative forum, improving commercial dispute resolution and simplifying the payment of taxes.

The report further recommended that the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives should collaborate to ensure proper coordination and implementation. It urged the Constitution Review Committee of the two chambers to take into consideration “ constitutional challenges highlighted by the report, especially that of Land Use Act vesting the entire property in and control of all minerals, mineral oils and natural gas in the Federal Government, the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court and that of the Tax Appeal Tribunal and other matters that are in the Exclusive Legislative List - for example, railways”. The recommendation, they noted, will lead to the consequential repeal of the Petroleum Act, the Mines and Minerals Act, amongst others.

Receiving the report, an elated Saraki said the present economic challenge facing the country presents an opportunity for her leaders to show leadership, courage and ingenuity.

The nation, he said should use the present economic situation to set the stage for a postoil era in which the private sector will steer the ship of the economy while government provides the enabling environment.

“The National Assembly through our legislative agenda seized on the moment to chart a new course for the nation’s economy.

The legislative agenda we have adopted is one framed largely around good governance, accountability, opening up of the economy for greater investment, ease of doing business and security of lives and property”, he said.

He added that the 8th National Assembly would give priority to the amendment of obsolete laws, noting that, “ without these laws, the Executive will be handicapped to drive the economy. This is part of the executive-legislative collaboration to move the nation forward.”

While urging the Executive to ensure full implementation of such laws when they

Saraki are eventually passed, the Senate President assured them that the relevant committees would be empowered to ensure effective oversight on such laws.

Saraki said the collaboration with the private sectors, development partners, professional groups, like the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), as well as the academia in the on-going process to review laws affecting doing business will give birth to a new business environment that will boost the economy, solve the problem of unemployment, curb social vices and restore the nation’s values and pride.

He stressed that the Senate and the House of Representatives are on the same page with President Muhammed Buhari’s policy on diversification of economy, “our President has laid out a vision to fully diversify the economy beyond oil and has been committed to the actualisation of the project.

“The overarching objective of the agenda targets private sector investment and business development as a major plank of the plan.

This is because of our belief in the ingenuity, creativity, entrepreneurship of our people, and that in order to to create jobs, give our people better opportunities, the private sector remains our best option.

“This is at the heart of the clamour for diversification; from agriculture business

support, to credit, economic reform bills, to MSMEs, taxation, conflict resolution, regulatory reform bills, our agenda is firmly rooted on increased participation, diversification and capital formation”. Saraki assured.

The report, he said will in few weeks from now at a special economic and business environment roundtable, be subjected to further interrogation, validates its conclusion and get the buy-in of key stakeholders in the business environment, so that its final outcome will leapfrog the nation’s economy into the first 20 word economies.

In his remarks, Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Bukar Kyari, who represented the private sector, commended the initiative of the Senate President in involving all the stakeholders in the preparation of the report. He said “the collaboration marks a significant milestone in the nation’s democracy, as this is the first time in the history of the National Assembly that NESG and other stakeholders would be engaged to provide a roadmap that will assist the legislature in carrying out its activities.”

The report noted the poor rating of Nigeria in “Doing Business Report” survey by the Word Bank, a situation the committee of experts described as “worrisome, extremely poor and in need of urgent reform.”

In his comment, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who was represented by Hon. Tijjani Yusuf lamented the non-optimal utilisation of specialised courts, such as Investment and Security Tribunal (IST), Industrial Courts amongst others for business dispute resolutions and called for concerted efforts to make those courts function effectively.

In their separate contributions, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweramadu and Senate Leader, Ali Ndume commended the committee of experts for the report and expressed confidence that the identified priority bills will make the Senate achieve the goal of its legislative agenda.

Though Nigeria as a nation is not in short of such reports in the past, what makes this one different is its inclusive nature, the determination of the Senate President to give the legislature a new direction and the commitment of President Buhari to bring about change on how things are being done in Nigeria.

–Isa is Special Assistant to the Senate President on Public Affairs

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R •MARCH 13, 2016

NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

NAHCO AVIANCE PLC- Increase in sales cost and financial charges impedes potentially stronger growth in profitability

N

igerian Aviation Handling Company PLC (Nahco Aviance) is a product of the Nigerian Enterprise Promotion Decree, starting operations in April 1979 with the commissioning of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The Company has over 25 years of experience in crew/ passenger transportation service delivery and continues to enjoy unhindered access to all areas of the airport which offers them the opportunity to serve airlines better, whilst providing comprehensive insurance for the vehicles as well as Passenger Liability Policy for the crew/ passengers.

Initially, the Federal Government, through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) owned 60% of the company’s equity while four foreign airlines namely; Air France, British Airways, Sabena and Lufthansa shared the remaining 40%. Following the completion of a privatisation process, which saw the 60% government ownership divested to the Nigerian public, the Company entered into a strategic global alliance through its membership of Aviance, an international alliance of 9 reputable airport service providers operating from 112 stations in 17 countries and The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA).

INCREASE IN COST OF SALES ERODES GROSS PROFIT For the nine-months period ended September 2015, Nahco Aviance grew turnover by 4.91% to N6.32 billion in September 2014 from N6.02 billion in March 2014. The Company’s performance shows notable growth in business activity of passenger handling, cargo handling and equipment rental & maintenance. Further insight reveals that the Company’s core business of Air craft handling, Cargo Handling, Passenger handling and Crew transportation continues to account for a large percentage of earnings.

Cost of sales however grew significantly to N4.15 billion from N3.76 billion over the period; representing a change of 10.21%. Expectedly, due to the significant growth in cost of sales, gross profit declined to N2.17 billion in 2015 from N2.26 billion in 2014 representing a modest decline of 3.94%.

REDUCTION IN OPERATIONAL EXPENSES ADVANCES PROFITABILITY The Company’s distribution and administrative expenses declined by 15.50% to N1.61 billion September 2015 from N1.86 billion in the corresponding period of 2014. This was in spite of an

IN THE SHORT-TERM, ESCALATING FINANCE COSTS WILL CONTINUE TO HAMPER GROWTH UNTIL THE COMPANY SUCCESSFULLY CURTAILS COSTS TO ATTRACT INVESTORS. THEREFORE, WE PROJECT REVENUE OF N7.90 BILLION AND NET INCOME OF N692.63M RESPECTIVELY FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 2015

GOVERNMENTTO EXPAND EXPORT IN THE COUNTRY Nahco Aviance, in partnership with The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) and the Lagos State Government, came together to address the challenges facing the export of horticulture products, fresh and processed food items from Nigeria, by assessing the various ways the Company’s operations could help to facilitate the bodies’ efforts at expanding Nigerian export of foods towards meeting the growing demands of European Union and The United States of America’s markets for fresh and processed food items from Nigeria.

In addition, the Company’s management further announced that its aviance’s Free Trade Zone’s soon to commence operations will be an impetus to exportation of goods in the country. Also mentioned was the business potentials that this partnership is expected to bring as 80% of Nahco Aviance’s total revenue is from cargo imports and ancillary services while cargo export services amount to well below 10% of the Company’s total revenue.

increase in staff strength and purchase of utility vehicles to distribute cargoes within the airports and around the Federation. Other income however declined significantly by 48.60% to N297m in September 2015 from N578m in September 2014 as the Company derived income from disposal of obsolete assets during the period.

However, despite the aforementioned increase in total operating expenses, operating profit for the period grew by a significant 40.16% to N560m from N400m in the corresponding period of 2014.

In addition, the Company’s financial charges increased to N162m in September 2015 from N149m in the corresponding period of 2014; indicating a growth of 8.50%. As a result of the increase in financial charges, the Company recorded a decline of 16.04% in profit before tax to N696m in 2015 from N828m in 2014. However, a significant decline of 23.88% in taxation expense to N176m in September 2015 from N231m in September 2014 could not prevent a decrease of 13.01% in profit after tax to N519m in the period under review, from N597m over the period.

SETTING SAFETY STANDARDS WITH RECENT EU VALIDATION RECOGNITION After meeting the entire requirement for safety and security validation, the company became the first ground handling company in Nigeria to be IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) certified, first to operate an IATA approved Authorized Training Centre (ATC) and the only ground handling company member of Association of African Training Organization (AATO). The Company stands to gain a drastic reduction in the cost of acquiring their ACC3 validation which is a requirement for EU bound flights.

These achievements have made Nahco Aviance the ground handler of choice for major airlines operating from Nigeria to the European Union by reducing significantly the cost of conducting air cargo or mail carrier operating into the Union from a third Country Airport (ACC3).

The certifications have also further proven that the Company can compete with its international counterpart through the delivery of global best practices with security and safety standards comparable with developed countries. This has also revealed Nahco Aviance’s proven leadership and pace-setting roles in West Africa.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH

WE MAINTAIN OUR HOLD

Valuation Metrics 11-March-16 Recommendation

HOLD

Target Price (N)

4.31

Current Price (N)

4.10

Market Cap (N'm)

7,114

Outstanding Shares (m)

1,624

Rolling EPS

0.30

Rolling PE Ratio

14.60

Forward PE

9.70

Forward EPS (N)

0.43 Source: BGL Research

Q3 September 2015 Unaudited Results Turnover (N'm)

6,316

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

695

Profit After Tax (N'm)

519

Pre-tax Margin (%)

8.22 Source: BGL Research

Audited Year End 2014 Results Turnover (N'm) Profit Before Tax (N'm)

8,133 769

Profit After Tax (N'm)

568

Pre-tax Margin (%)

9.46 Source: BGL Research

Shareholding Information Shareholders % Holding

% Holding

British Airways

10.7%

Air France

5.8%

Lufthansa Commercial Holding GMBH

6.8%

Rosehill Group Limited Others Outstanding Shares (m)

9.5% 67.2% 1,624 Source: BGL Research

RECOMMENDATION In the long-term, growth in profitability for Nahco Aviance would depend largely on the resulting effects of facilities upgrade, expansion initiatives and increase in handling charges.

We expect the initiatives to result in enhanced efficiency with potential growth in core business activities, revenue and profitability.

However, in the short-term, escalating finance costs will continue to hamper growth until the Company successfully curtails costs to attract investors.

Therefore, we project revenue of N7.90 billion and net income of N692.63m respectively for the year ended December 2015; leading to a forward earnings per share (EPS) of N0.43.

Using the PE method of valuation, we arrive at a 3-month target price of N4.13 and thereby recommend a HOLD on the shares of Nahco Aviance.

32

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R •MARCH 13, 2016

NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

WAPIC INSURANCE PLC: Profitability stimulated by increased operating income and income from associates

W

APIC Insurance Plc (WAPIC) showed an impressive performance across board in its recently released financial statement for the full year 2016. Its increase in operational efficiency leads to remarkable growth in profitability and other financial indicators despite macroeconomic headwind faced during the financial period. The Company’s results for the period of 2015 showed a complete turnaround and significant improvement in performance, as both gross premium income and net income grew quite considerably, despite stiff competition for underwriting and a number of operational bumps during the period.

WAPIC Insurance is a composite insurance company with operations in both the life and non-life insurance businesses. WAPIC Insurance Plc one of Nigeria’s oldest and most capitalized insurance companies, formerly known as Intercontinental WAPIC is now a subsidiary of Access Bank Plc following the bank’s acquisition of the insurance company’s former parent company, Intercontinental Bank Plc. The company offers a wide range of insurance products and services, and boasts of solid industry know-how having been in operations for over five (5) decades. WAPIC Insurance currently operates two subsidiaries; WAPIC Life Assurance Limited and WAPIC Insurance (Ghana) Limited.

The Company appointed Mr. Bode Ojeniyi, the Deputy Managing Director as its interim CEO during the 2015 financial year upon the resignation of Mr. Ashish Desai, as Managing Director in 28th July, 2015.

GROSS PREMIUM IMPACTS POSITIVELY ON NET UNDERWRITING INCOME In the full year ended, December 2015, WAPIC Insurance recorded a substantial increase in gross premium written of 36.45% to N7.1 billion compared to N5.2 billion recorded in the full year 2014. It attained the feat despite stiff competition in the Nigerian insurance sector with regards to the sales of various insurance packages and products. The significant growth in gross premium was driven by significant rise of 30.71% in gross premium income to N6.15 billion from N4.7 billion in December 2014. However, reinsurance expenses also grew by a sizable 18.27% to N2.21 billion from N1.87 billion recorded in the same period of 2014.

Despite sizable increase in reinsurance expenses, robust growth in gross premium income resulted into

WAPIC HAS PUTIN PLACE AN ADMIRABLE STRUCTURE IN TERMS OF REGULATORY COMPLIANCE, CUSTOMERACQUISITION AND RETENTION AND CAPACITY BUILDING TOTAKE ADVANTAGE OFTHE IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SECTOR. THE STRONG CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PUTIN PLACE BYTHE COMPANY ALSO PROVIDE AN ATTRACTION TO INVESTORS

substantial growth of 38.90% in net premium income to N3.94 billion from N2.84 billion year on year. The company’s fee and commission income also increased considerable by 32.89% to N429.8m in 2015 from N323m in 2014; leading to an additional growth of 0.61% to 38.29% increase in net underwriting income for the full year ended December 2015 to N4.37 billion from N3.16 billion recorded in the full year 2014.

UNDERWRITING PROFIT GREW NOTABLY DESPITE RISE IN UNDERWRITING EXPENSES Arguably, due to strong risk management practices, the Company’s claims expenses increased massively by 100.04% to N2.18 billion in December 2015 from N1.09 billion in 2014 while claims expenses recoverable also increased momentously by 493.68% to N544m from N91.7m over the same period. Expectedly, net claims expenses also increased by 63.87% to N1.63 billion from N997m in the full year 2014. On the other hand, underwriting expenses increased by 27.9% to N1.23 billion from N960.8m over the period.

However, due to the significant rise in claims expenses and claims expenses recoverable, total underwriting expenses grew significantly by 56.82% to N2.89 billion in December 2015 from N1.84 billion in December 2014. Despite higher expenses, the company’s underwriting profit grew notably to N1.48 billion from N1.315 billion realized in the 2014; reflecting a change of

12.3%.

The key drivers of the underwriting performance were increased premium income and comparative reduction in net claims expenses which emphasizes the Company’s increased efficiency of underwriting risk selection.

ROBUST BOTTOM-LINE EARNINGS ON THE BACK OF INCREASED OPERATING INCOME AND SHARE OF PROFIT FROM ASSOCIATES In 2015, the Company recorded an increase of 12.81% in operating expenses to N3.47 billion from N3.07 billion recorded in the full year of 2014. This increase was due to expenses incurred in maintenance of branches to meet with standard operations, and creation of new branches to further deepen the WAPIC brand and product chain.

However, increase in operating expenses had little impact on profitability as operating income rose by an extraordinary 1442.08% to N903m from N58.5m recorded for 2014 full year. Hence, with the combination of N764m as profit from associates to operating income, profit before tax (PBT) showed an outstanding 2747.20% increase to N1.67 billion from N58m in the full year 2014. Net income after tax deductions increased substantially by 447.81% to N1.3 billion in the full year 2015 from N236.8m recoded in the same period of 2014.

A.M. BEST ‘B’ RATING FURTHER TESTAMENT OF THE COMPANY’S STRENGTH WAPIC Insurance Plc retains the ‘B’ rating for financial strength given by a leading global insurance rating agency, A.M. Best.

The rating, which was an affirmation of the company’s financial strength, was also reinforced by an Issuer Strength Rating (ISR) of “BB-” which was credited to the insurer. This puts the company in the exclusive league of Nigerian insurance companies to be graded by a credit rating agency. A.M. Best, one of the leading global insurance rating agencies is based in the United Stated and while WAPIC is the third company in the industry to attain such.

BUY RECOMMENDATION MAINTAINED The Company which aims to emerge as one of the top twenty financial services institutions in Nigeria by 2019 experienced some gains resulting from on-going business model restructuring and transformation of the services channels embarked upon to reposition the group.

The potential for growth in the insurance sector in Nigeria remains considerably high. WAPIC has put in place an admirable structure in terms of regulatory compliance, customer acquisition and retention and capacity building to take advantage of the identified opportunities in the sector. The strong corporate governance put in place

Valuation Metrics 11-Mar-16 Recommendation

BUY

Target Price (N)

0.78

Current Price (N)

0.50

Market Cap (N'm)

6,691.36

Outstanding Shares (m)

13,382.74

EPS (N)

0.10

PE Ratio

5.16

Forward EPS

0.13

Forward PE

3.82 Source: BGL Research

FYE December 2015 Audited Results Gross Premium Income (N'm) Profit Before Tax (N'm)

7,100.7 1,667.7

Profit After Tax (N'm)

1,297

Pre-tax Margin (%)

23.49 Source: BGL Research

FYE December 2014 Audited Results Gross Premium Income (N'm)

5,204

Profit Before Tax (N'm) Profit After Tax (N'm)

59 237

Pre-tax Margin (%)

1.13 Source: BGL Research

Shareholders

Holding (%)

Reunion Energy Limited Strategic Alliance Investment Ltd Blakeney GPIII Ltd Public Float

21.00 7.00 14.00 58.00

Outstanding Shares (m)

13,382.74

Source: BGL Research, Company Information

by the company also provide an attraction to investors.

We make a revenue projection of N7.96 billion and a net income N1.75 billion for the full year of December 2016. Our valuation indicates that WAPIC appears to be undervalued. Therefore, using an Industry average price to book value of 0.74 consisting of peer insurance companies (Mansard, Custodian & Allied Insurance, AIICO and Continental Re) in comparison to WAPIC’s book value per share and price multiples price to earnings, price to book value based on the company’s current performance and the use of the Sustainable Growth Rate, we arrive at a 12-month target price of N0.78 of each share of WAPIC Insurance Plc over the next six months. Since this represents a significant upside potential of 55.62% on the stock, we place a BUY recommendation on WAPIC Insurance Plc.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R •MARCH 13, 2016

TRAVEL Okukor, Ori Olokun and the Import of Nigeria’s Stolen Artefacts

Edited by Demola Ojo Email demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

The recent row over the rightful location of a Benin bronze cockerel, which until last week stood in the hall of a Cambridge University college, has again brought to the fore the calls for repatriation of stolen artefacts, writes Demola Ojo

The Okukor Benin Bronze cockerel in Jesus College Cambridge

D

uring the week, the Jesus College of the Cambridge University in England bowed to pressure from its students and removed a bronze cockerel from its dining hall after protests that the looted sculpture celebrated a colonial past.

The cockerel known as the ‘Okukor’ was taken from Benin City in Nigeria during a British naval expedition in 1897 to avenge the deaths of nine officers killed during a trade dispute between the Oba of Benin and Britain.

Britain sent a force of 500 men to destroy the city, with one eye-witness describing how the British troops turned their newly manufactured Maxim machine guns on the local defenders, who fell from the trees ‘like nuts’.

After ten days of fierce fighting, the British burnt down the palace and looted the royal treasures: delicate ivory carvings and magnificent copper alloy sculptures and plaques - now known as the Benin Bronzes were carted away.

After the sacking of Benin, the bronzes were taken by the British to pay for the expedition. The Foreign and Common-

wealth Office sold them off, and around 900 ended up in the world’s greatest museums, including the British Museum, which has one of the largest sets.

One of the sculptures, the bronze cockerel known as Okukor, ended up at Jesus College after it was donated by Captain George William Neville, a former British Army officer whose son had been a student there. The gift was fitting; the cockerel is the mascot of the college, after the surname of its founder, Bishop John Alcock.

The sculpture in question depicts a proud, strong animal - an embodiment of power. Though its value is not clear because so few bronzes have been sold recently, in 1989 a bronze memorial head from Benin was auctioned at Christie’s in London for more than £1 million.

The Benin Bronzes are a set of artworks created by the Edo people for centuries starting from the 13th Century to celebrate the Benin Kingdom. When colonialists first discovered the pieces adorning the Oba’s royal palace, they were amazed that such incredible artwork could be created by people so ‘primitive’.

When the Benin Bronzes first arrived in Europe, they transformed the way people

Ori Olokun Ife Head at the British Museum saw Africa. Europeans were surprised that Africans — a people whom they assumed to be backward — could make such refined artwork, as is clear from the words of Charles Hercules Read, a curator from the British Museum, who secured the collection.

“It need scarcely be said that at the first sight of these remarkable works of art, we were at once astounded at such an unexpected find, and puzzled to account for so highly developed an art among a race so entirely barbarous.”

Today they remain some of the most celebrated artworks to emerge from Africa, but much like Greece’s Elgin Marbles, they are mired in controversy due to the circumstances in which they were acquired.

Estimates point to as few as fifty pieces still remaining in Nigeria although approximately 2,400 pieces are held in European and American collections. The two largest collections of Benin Bronzes are located in the Ethnological Museum of Berlin and in the British Museum in London.

Jesus College said that it would consider repatriating the Okukor to Nigeria. The

college said on Wednesday that its rightful location was a complex matter requiring further discussion.

For many however, the ‘rightful location’ of these artefacts is back home in Nigeria.

One of them is renowned Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka. Soyinka has spent years canvassing for the repatriation of artefacts back to Nigeria and even took matters into his own hands at a point.

In 1978, he was made aware of the existence of a bronze head in a private collection in Brazil – similar to the disputed ‘Ori Olokun’ discovered by the famous German archaeologist Leo Frobenius in 1910, which now stood in the Ife Museum, but of far greater quality.

In his memoir “You Must Set Forth at Dawn” (2007), Soyinka recalls how, in a spirit of cultural duty, and with the knowledge of the Nigerian authorities, he mounted a “guerrilla raid” with a group of friends, stealing the object from the apartment in question in near-farcical circumstances, and removing it to the Senegalese capital Dakar, where experts proclaimed it genuine.

Suspicious, however, of the lightness of the object, Soyinka examined it further to find the letters “BM” stamped on the back:

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R •MARCH 13, 2016

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TRAVEL

Transcorp Hilton Abuja Named 2015 Hilton Brand Awards Winner Stories by Demola Ojo

T

ranscorp Hilton Abuja has been recognized as 2015 Hilton Hotels & Resorts Brand Award winner. The hotel was honored with the awards of 2015 Director of Sales, 2015 Sales Team of the Year and 2015 Best Tactical Marketing Campaign for Middle East & Africa (MEA), awarded by Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand.

“We are delighted to be recognized and honoured for our outstanding accomplishments by Hilton Hotels & Resorts,” said Etienne Gailliez, general manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja. “The awards are dedicated to the hotel’s team and our owning company for their consistent support of our efforts at delivering the highest levels of quality service to our guests. I trust the awards will inspire all our team members to continue the drive for excellence.’’

“I am proud of the great performance of our team at Transcorp Hilton Abuja and I join them to celebrate the achievement”, said Valentine Ozigbo, MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, the owners of Transcorp Hilton Abuja. “I am glad that the efforts of the team are recognized by discerning travellers and the Hilton brand.’’

The recognition from Hilton Hotels & Resorts arrived on the heels of the hotel winning the highest honor given by TripAdvisor, the 2016 TripAdvisor Travel-

L-R: MD/CEO Transcorp Hotels Plc, Valentine Ozigbo; PR & Marketing Manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Shola Adeyemo; PR Executive, Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Ijeoma Osuji; Director of Business Development, Trancsorp Hilton Abuja, Ahmed AbdelGhaffar; and General Manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Etienne Gailliez at a reception hosted to celebrate the awards in Abuja on Tuesday lers’ Choice™ awards for Hotels, ranking first out of 64 hotels in Abuja based on the reviews and opinions of global travel community.

Kayode Olabode won the prize for 2015 Director of Sales as he was adjudged

to best represent the Hilton Worldwide values of Hospitality, Integrity, Leadership, Teamwork, Ownership and Now. The hotel’s Marketing Team won the prize for 2015 Best Tactical Marketing Campaign to Drive Revenue for its best use of multi-

channel marketing campaign during the last Ramadan and Eid. The annual Hilton Hotels & Resorts Brand Awards celebrates the outstanding achievements by hotels and individuals around the world.

Curio Makes African Debut at MMIA

H

ilton Worldwide has reached an agreement with Quits Hospitality Ltd to open its first property under the Curio – A Collection

by Hilton brand in Africa. The Legend Hotel is expected to ope later this year and will be located at Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Nigeria.

The Legend Hotel, which will be located within the airport boundaries, will feature 54 guest rooms, including eight suites. Travellers will benefit

from the hotel’s unrivalled proximity to the international airport terminal, as well as exclusive facilities for private jet and corporate jet passengers of ExecuJet – which will allow passengers same-building access to the arrivals and departures services of this private aviation company.

Launched in June 2014, the Curio collection is a global set of remarkable upscale and luxury hotels hand-picked for their unique character and personality; each one a part of the city they call home. By partnering with Hilton, these one-of-a-kind hotels benefit from the

proven track record and quality synonymous with Hilton without redefining the individualistic spirit of the hotel. Global destinations available to travellers now include more than 80 properties open or in various stages of development, including Germany, the U.S., Jamaica and Argentina.

“Curio is a great opportunity for investors looking to benefit from the performance advantage and smart innovations of Hilton, whilst retaining the individual character and identity of their hotel,” said, Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president of development Europe, Middle East & Africa for Hilton Worldwide. “Our growth

Okukor, Ori Olokun and the Import of Nigeria’s Stolen Artefacts it was a British Museum replica, once sold in the museum’s shop. Soyinka then declared the British Museum’s head to be the real ‘Ori Olokun’.

The head Soyinka refers to in the British Museum is known as the Ife Head. It is one of eighteen copper alloy sculptures that were unearthed in 1938 at the Wumonije Compound in Ife. It is dated back to the 13th Century, before any European contact had taken place with the local population. The realism and sophisticated craftsmanship of the objects challenged Western conceptions of African art at the time. A year after its finding, the Ife Head was taken to the British Museum.

As recently as two weeks ago, the recovery of these artefacts formed the main thrust of Soyinka’s address at the Ooni of Ife’s Palace during the declaration of Ife as a Tourism Zone by the 51st Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojajaj II).

Soyinka who was represented by Professor Wale Adeniran said “…Another matter close to my heart and which I suggest Kabiyesi accords attention, is the retrieval of Ife antiquities and art objects illegally carted away to foreign lands especially the Ori Olokun.

“In this regard, we must be ready to ensure that we are not given replicas in place of the original, and to assist in this enterprise, some names have been

strategy across the continent continues at a fast pace, with more than fifty percent of our development pipeline currently under construction – opening up new destinations for travellers to Africa.”

A new build property, The Legend Hotel will offer guests stylish interiors, and reflect the unique personality of Nigeria’s capital city, with the centre of Lagos located approximately 22 kilometres from the property. Guests will be able to enjoy three upscale dining options, including VIP dining facilities and two bars. There will also be more than 158 square metres of events space, split across three meeting rooms.

Cont’d from Pg. 33

Bronze head of Queen Idia on display at the British Museum

13th Century Obalafon Head at the British Museum

suggested that Kabiyesi could constitute to undertake this task that will be multiracial and multi-national in scope.”

Some of the names mentioned by the Nobel laureate include former SecretaryGeneral of the Commonwealth Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General

of the United Nations, Koffi Annan, a distinguished Africanist at the Yale University, Henry Leegate, Professor Bolanle Awe, Prof Oyayi, Mr Edison Arantes do Nascimento a.k.a. Pele of Brazil and representatives of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

Soyinka, in further declaration of his support for Ife being declared a Tourism Zone, reminisced about “the golden days of 1970’s” when the then University of Ife used to organise Ife Festival of the Arts.

According to him, the university - now Obafemi Awolowo University in its current incarnation - has a major role to play in sustaining research into the history of Ile-Ife. “In this regard, we have to bring back the programme of the study of archaeology at the undergraduate and post graduate levels. “ A lot of archaeological excavations still need to be undertaken that will reveal further information about the ancient civilisation of Ile-Ife.” He encouraged “… sons of Ile-Ife, Yoruba and the Diaspora” to endow a chair on Archaeology at the university.

At a time when the Nigerian government is seeking options to diversify the Nigerian economy and reduce its dependence on petroleum products, “selling culture” as Prof Pat Utomi describes it, has been put forward as a rewarding enterprise. Gaining possession of lost national treasures is one of the planks this can be built on.

As Prof Soyinka noted in his address, when these artefacts have been returned, they will encourage an “endless procession of pilgrims and tourists” to converge from far and near.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

13.03.2016

GLITZ, EMOTIONS AND SURPRISES OF THE AMVCA

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • MARCH 13, 2016

36

CoveR

A party of AMVCA 2016 recipients with representatives of the organisers

GLITZ, EMOTIONS AND SURPRISES OF THE AMVCA Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha report that the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, AMVCA, was a spectacle of glitz, emotions and bewilderment highlighted by a stream of tears dumb struck winners

N

ot too long ago, a compact call card holder became one of the most sought after objects on the Nigerian entertainment scene.

The little box containing access pass into what is steadily emerging as one of the most glamorous events in AfricaAfrica Magic Viewers Choice Awards, AMVCA, the continental reward and appreciation platform for the movie industry, became an item many were willing to give an arm and a leg for.

Almost every discourse revolved on or gravitated towards the AMVCA. You were believed to be with the in-crowd if you had an invite. What section of the Eko Hotels and Suites Convention Centre venue you would be seated did not matter. The pertinent issue was to get inside the hall, first and witness the show first hand. Not minding that it was going to be broadcast live on all eight Africa Magic channels on DStv and GOtv, many who did not have an invite still came to the venue hoping against

hope that they could have access. But the organizers deliberately made it a scarce commodity, perhaps to increase the profile of the event as the Oscars of the African film industry.

At the venue, everyone clutched the little black box with pride. Many would later find out that there were two cards; one, for the awards. There was another for the after party. The AMVCA came in both raucous and silent whispers. But first, let’s start from the beginning. There did not seem to be enough of both cards.

Access to the after party appeared to be restricted.

The award kicked off on a very glamorous note. Expectedly, when practitioners in the film industry gather to celebrate their works, they do so with incredible glam. The fourth edition of the AMVCA sponsored by Amstel Malta was no less different. Being capped the biggest platform to celebrate the creative industry on the continent, it was not unexpected to see the red carpet oozing with so much glitz and glamour from celebrities and wannabes.

From start to finish, the organisers

did a brilliant job in retaining its stylish and prestigious reputation. As Nigeria or Africa cannot lay claim to inventing award ceremonies, the effort to copy America’s Hollywood and the goingson on the E! Channel was palpable.

Right from the red carpet where Eku Edewor, Ozzy Agu, Uti Nwachukwu and Helen Paul besieged the celebrities with pleasant and sometimes, nerveracking questions in front of the camera, to a studio where the local fashion police either thumbed-down or highfived the celebrities for their dress sense, it was a glittering spectacle that fascinated everyone observing trends and emerging fashion designers in the industry. Notable Nigerian fashion designers like Ejiro Amos Tafiri, Ayo Van Elmar, Mudi Africa, Luxol and Mai Atafo took the lead.

In a true E! style, all the redcarpet presenters communicated simultaneously without a glitch, and not one action was missed by the cameras. The lobby all the way to the main hall was also red-carpeted. Inside, the main hall was demarcated with

curtains in such a way that on one side, guests mingled and gossiped as they clinked their glasses in a meet-and-greet session that preceded the main. The hall exuded panache with the smoky lighting mood and the award stage built in a continuum of glitz. It was domeshaped with three entrances while the background screens displayed nominees and winners for most of the night.

Perhaps, the most important takeaway from the awards was the ability of the organizers to keep to time.

There was no room for the peculiar Nigerian time to rear its ugly head. At exactly the scheduled time of broadcast (4pm for red carpet and 7pm for the show), the event took off.

Opening the event was a troupe of dancers known as Star Act Dance Company dressed in a white and gold attire similar to the South African Zulu tribe. They thrilled the audience with their different moves. The crowd was astonished when one of the male dancers carried out an amazing backflip, jumping as high as eight feet in the air over three rows of his colleagues.

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Yemi Alade digging it with her dancers

Winners at the AMVCA

Genevive Nnaji (m) with her co-producers

Flavour doing his thing on stage

It was an astonishing feat that got everyone clapping.

IK Osakioduwa returned as the male host of the award. This time, he was in a different company. Replacing Zimbabwean-born Vimbai was the South African TV host Minnie Dhlamini who made quite an impression when she greeted the audience in Igbo.

Opening the award was a video speech by the CEO of MNet Africa, Yolisa Phahle, who was seated in the crowd. In the video, she urged the guests as well as the million of viewers watching the event on the DStv and GOtv platforms to patronise homegrown films while reiterating the company’s commitment to support the creative industry. Her speech was brief and to the point The first award of the night ‘Best Art Director’ was presented by Ghanaian actor Chris Attoh to Frank Raja Arase for the movie ‘The Refugees’. It was followed by the award for the ‘Best TV series’ won by Ariyike Oladipo for ‘Daddy’s Girls’. Ariyike’s speech was within the allotted two minutes, a trait that the host IK commended and advised subsequent winners to emulate.

In retrospect, it was a subtle hint to the winners that long acceptance speech would not be tolerated at the show.

Stanlee Ohikhuare was the first to get the bite when he received his award for the Best Lighting Designer for the movie ‘Common Man’. At first, the audience thought it was a technical glitch, as Stanlee continued to talk and gesticulate to himself. To the audience who could not hear him, he looked like a deaf and dumb person trying to communicate.

Unknown to him, he’d been cut off even while he continued talking. By the time two or three winners suffered similar fate, it dawned on everyone that brevity

was the watchword at the awards. By the time Folarin Falana, better known as Falz the Bad Guy won his first AMVCA as the Best Actor in Comedy Series for his role in Jenifa’s Diary, he couldn’t help but joke about the brevity and quickly made his speech. It seemed that the organisers noticed the inconvenience the tact caused and decided to let the winners speak to their heart’s content.

This year’s awards although wellpaced and packaged beautifully lacked all the theatrical surprises of last year.

There was no OC Ukeje and IK singing, ‘Shoki’ from the crowd. Rather, Yemi Alade, South African soul singer Zonke and Flavour whose girlfriend Anna Banner was somewhere in the crowd cheering him alongside a friend were the only musical performances of the night.

However, what it lacked in musical entertainment, it provided in form of comedy.

During commercial breaks, comedians were brought on stage to provide comic relief. There was the Ugandan, Patrick Idringi whose stage name is Salvador who gave Nigerian comedians a run for their money. Where the Nigerians failed to put the audience in stitches with their recycled jokes, Salvador and South African Thomas Gumede delivered loads of fresh and thought provoking jokes. Salvador, for instance insisted on being welcome on stage with fanfare deserving of a star.

The host and audience grudgingly obliged him with a benefit of the doubt, but by the time he left the stage, they were reeling with laughter, wishing he could continue. He left a good impression as a major highlight on a night that he easily shone with brilliance.

Gumede could also not be forgotten taking a swipe at a white man in the audience. The spontaneity of his

EXPECTEDLY, WHEN PRACTITIONERS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY GATHER TO CELEBRATE THEIR WORKS, THEY DO SO WITH INCREDIBLE GLAM. THE FOURTH EDITION OF THE AMVCA SPONSORED

BY AMSTEL MALTA WAS NO LESS DIFFERENT. BEING CAPPED THE BIGGEST PLATFORM TO CELEBRATE THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY ON THE CONTINENT, IT WAS NOT UNEXPECTED TO SEE THE RED CARPET OOZING WITH SO MUCH GLITZ AND GLAMOUR FROM CELEBRITIES AND WANNABES

Oscar diversity joke at the white man whom he said looked uncomfortable because he was in the midst of black people endeared him to the crowd.

However, unlike Chris Rock who used a monologue to slightly placate his brethren at the 88th Academy Awards held recently, Gumede lauded the African film industry before switching to a series of jokes revolving on criminal acts in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.

Other comical relief were provided by comedians who doubled as presenters like Mr. Ibu, Chigurl, Kunle Idowu (Frank Donga) and Helen Paul.

Besides the entertainment angle of the show, there was no social media interaction, even though the hosts repeatedly urged the viewers and audience to tweet with the hashtag AMVCA2016. Perhaps, it was due to the poor network reception at the venue.

As the show continued, it entered a season of ubiquitous emotions.

First-timers couldn’t suppress their excitement and at times were too excited to find the right words to express their feelings. For instance, when the spotlight shone on Malawi for taking home their first AMVCA trophy in the regional category ‘Best Movie-Southern Africa’, the winner Joyce Mhango Chavula whose movie ‘Lilongwe’ won the award seized the moment to preach Jesus Christ on stage. While it was a dream come true for Elizabeth Michael whose movie ‘Mapenzi’ was the Best Movie in East Africa, she said she’d been dreaming of the moment since she was five years old. There was also Uche Nancy who won the Best Costume Designer for the movie ‘Dry’ who was utterly speechless.

Folarin Falana who came into spotlight with his comedy skits was happily joined by Funke ‘Jennifer’

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CoveR

Adesua Etomi

Akindele as he collected his award for Best Actor in a Comedy. A similar scene was reenacted with Paul Igwe whose cooking show Usekwu Igbo won the Best Indigenous Language TV seriesIgbo. The presenter of the show joyfully ran on stage to hug him.

For Daniel K. Daniel, winning the Best Actor in a Drama category that had big names like Majid Michel left him stunned. Unable to express himself very well, he rounded off with a strong ‘Thank you’ but his counterpart Adesua Etomi (Best Actress) seemed very controlled and delivered a very precise speech. Both winners also went home with luxury packages from Dubai Tourism.

Winner of ‘Best Supporting Actor’ Sambassa Nzeribe, touched every heart in the hall when he disclosed that he was an orphan whose education was supported by the women of St. Mary’s Catholic Church who offered him scholarship to study Creative Arts at the University of Lagos.

Winner of the ‘Best Documentary’, Remi Vaughan Richards, dedicated her award to the artistes who never lived to see the documentary ‘Faaji Agba’.

Kemi Lala Akindoju couldn’t believe her ears when she was announced the Trailblazer Act of the Year. The award came with a GS5 SUV from GAC Motors. While doing a roll call of all her friends and supporters amidst tears, she made a slip when she suggested that the organisers lied to her about the award.

Does this mean that the winners were given a tip before the main show?

However, veteran actress Bukky Ajayi who was wheeled onto the stage to receive her Legendary Award evoked so much emotion. Overwhelmed by the standing ovation, she broke down in tears but quickly recovered to appreciate the gesture.

“I just want to say to all of you, my friends even my male friends, thank you. There are people I might have offended, please forgive me.”

She controlled the tears again and continued: “I wish I can stand up, but I will fall down if I stand up, and you all are standing for me?”

Another loud applause erupted in the hall before she signed out with a

Bukky Ajayi

peace sign. Sadiq Daba who was also a recipient of same award was absent.

For some unknown reasons, the host IK seemed to be wary of the tension in the hall as he repeatedly asked the Thespians to support one another irrespective of their misgivings.

Unfortunately, they paid no heed to his pleas. This could be clearly seen when old-timers like Charles Novia and Genevieve Nnaji were called as nominees. The crowd showed less enthusiasm compared to the rousing reception for the new kids on the block.

Apparently, there was a gang up against the old generation of Thespians in the hall. Perhaps, this was what Charles Novia referred to in his piece ‘The Bleh and Boom of the AMVCA.’ Novia sensed the risk faced by the old-timers in the industry for a voting award like the AMVCAs. Apparently, the days of past glory are over as the new generation is leveraging on every medium possible to increase their fan base. However, disgruntled voices were heard when Usekwu Igbo won the award for the Best Indigenous TV series in Igbo. Not a few argued that a cooking show did not deserve to win in a category meant for TV drama series. Same opinion was reiterated when Genevieve Nnaji’s film ‘Road to Yesterday’ won the award for Best West African movie. There was no show of enthusiasm, rather there was bewilderment in the audience.

Apart from the wide generational gap at the awards, the deliberate or unconscious omission of some of the known names who passed on during the roll of honour didn’t settle well with many in the audience.

The issue of diversity of the awards was raised during the press conference.

Non-Nigerians urged the organisers to reach out to other parts of the continent to ensure full participation. But this could hardly be an issue on a night that featured presenters from Kenya and Tanzania, comedians from Uganda and South Africa and a South African singer among others. However, the organizers promised to do their best not only in training but in making sure that other African countries have an opportunity to host the show.

The big winners of the night were Stephanie Linus’ ‘Dry’ which won Best Overall Movie, Best Costume Designer and Best Sound Editor. The producer who took home an SUV from GAC Motors seized the opportunity to campaign against VVF. She was joined on stage by the 12 year-old girl who played a prominent role in the film. Linus said she believed the award

came to her because her film opened a discussion on a subject that was hardly approached.

Ayanda also stole the spotlight in the categories ‘Best Make-up Artiste’ and ‘Best Writer in TV Series’. Other winners included ‘Tell me Sweet Something’.

This year, there were 83 projects submitted by 114 nominees. See the full list of the winners below.

WINNERS BEST OVERALL MOVIE (AFRICA) DRY STEPHANIE LINUS BEST WRITER OF A MOVIE/TV SERIES Ayanda TRISH MALONE BEST COSTUME DRY UCHE NANCY BEST MAKEUP Ayanda LOUIZA CAROLE BEST LIGHTING COMMON MAN STANLEY OHIKHUARE BEST DIRECTOR TELL ME SWEET SOMETHING AKIN OMOTOSHO BEST PICTURE EDITOR Rebecca SHIRLEY FRIMPONG - MANSO

FOLARIN FALANA BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA (MOVIE/ TV SERIES) DANIEL K. DANIEL BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY (MOVIE/TV SERIES) FUNKE AKINDELE BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA (MOVIE/TV SERIES) ADESUA ETOMI BEST MOVIE - SOUTHERN AFRICA JOYCE MHANGO CHAVULA BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR SAMBASSA NZERIBE BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (MOVIE/TV SERIES) TUNBOSUN AIYEDIHIN BEST SHORTFILM OR ONLINE VIDEO OLUSEYI AMUWA

BEST DOCUMENTARY FAAJI AGBA REMI VAUGHAN - RICHARDS

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE/TV SERIES - YORUBA ABIODUN JIMOH AND JUMOKE ODETOLA

BEST ART DIRECTOR (MOVIE/TV SERIES) THE REFUGEES FRANK RAJA ARASE

Best Movie - West Africa (Drama/ Comedy) CHINNY ONWUGBENU, GENVIEVE NNAJI, CHICHI NWOKO

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER TELL ME SWEET SOMETHING PAUL MICHAELSON

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE/TV SERIES- IGBO PAUL IGWE

BEST SOUND EDITOR (MOVIE/TV SERIES) DRY MARQUEX JOSE GUILLERMO

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE/TV SERIES - HAUSA SALISU BALARABE

BEST TELEVISION SERIES ARIYIKE OLADIPO

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE/TV SERIES - SWAHILI JOSEPHAT LUKAZA

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY (MOVIE/ TV SERIES)

BEST MOVIE - EAST AFRICA ELIZABETH MICHAEL

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MARCH 13, 2016

ENCOUNTER

‘That Kid Down the Road May Be Nigeria’s Next President’ Ben Murray-Bruce had prior to his birthday stopped by at New York on his way to Los Angeles for a chat with Nduka Nwosu. He spoke on a number of issues including his encounter with great men and how each had influenced his life

I

t is a fitting narrative that the global brand Silverbird Group runs a vibrant studio in Los Angeles in the US. Dream Magic Studios parades two stations and live television shows. The man at the helm of affairs expectedly is Jareth Murray Bruce, a musician and the second child of Senator Ben Murray Bruce. Dream Magic had earlier bought its first studio from Larry Flint, built a second studio while trying to set up a production business.

Back home and among other business interests under the group is the cinema chain managed by executive director Jonathan Murray Bruce the first son of the Senator.

Indeed the Silverbird Group will remain a case study of a successful family business beginning with the Domino Stores currently chaired by Michael Murray Bruce. As Philomena Hammond (nee Murray Bruce) would put it, the direct descendants of William Mully Murray Bruce have all at one time or the other worked at Domino to earn their pocket monies.

While Port Harcourt based real estate magnate Francis Murray Bruce as a young man resigned his lucrative job to assist his father grow Domino, Michael returned from his American sojourn to boost the quality of the work staff while Ben, the young and vibrant turk of the clan, could not make meaning from selling soap and Bournvita, quoting Philomena again.

So he floated Silverbird hoping he would be a famous publisher starting with the defunct Silverbird magazine.

That in itself is history but we know what he eventually made of that brand name over the years.

With Silverbird, Guy and Roy are leading the grandchildren of William to chart a new course, and as the famous writer would say, those paths that have never been travelled or more appropriately that route that is less charted.

There was William whose two ancestries back in Scotland and the waterside section of the Delta Region, thrive on common sense with a business savvy that leans on the Scriptural miracle of wine and bread.

Taken a little further is the Jewish philosophy of minimum inputs and maximum returns. It is an attribute of common sense that when a son listens to the several admonitions of a father, he would go places. Indeed this child Ben has wined and dined with many a President, great men and women with clean hands.

So it was that on a fine summer morning when the legendary patriarch was taking his son Benjamin to school something caught his attention and he wanted to share what to most common folks of the neighborhood could have been a façade, to others a symmetry of everyday life. For William the collage registered effectively on the human canvas where the passage of imageries translates to lessons that

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce

guide good decision making and judgement of events around us. The young boy Benjamin took a deep note of the observation and stored it away in memory lane.

Says Murray Bruce: “My father used to drive me to school Our Lady of Apostles Yaba; one day he looked out through the door and said: ‘Ben: look at that kid over there. He only has his pants and bag on his way to school. Never be mean to any human being.” I said yes papa. He said: ‘You see that kid over there, that kid could be the next President of Nigeria.

Never disrespect any human being.’

Now we know who was a very good friend and still is to a former shoeless pupil who bought the tenancy at Aso Rock for six years!

William Mully Murray Bruce, a devoted Rotarian, according to his son made friends with his staff especially those he called regular people. As a governorship candidate his advisers were the everyday people who show up for work and are proud doing their jobs. Members of his kitchen cabinet included drivers, his body guards at Silverbird, waiters at restaurants, His argument resonates with the man on the street, the people he wants to change their lives and not the scientists, donor agencies and rich people who would stay at a talk shop to discuss statistics and demography.

“I will talk to the poor man

on how to fix the problem in the ghetto, not a rich man. That is my philosophy.”

But that is politics and the patriarch was known for his business sense, not politics. While Murray Bruce inherited the business sense from his father Pa William who passed on in 1996, the political side of his DNA comes from his ancestors on the Scottish and Welsh side. Needless to say his entry into the Niger Delta region opened the way for the grandfather and father of William Mully Murray Bruce into the region.

While Ben has conquered two territories, his father settled for one, an inheritance he passed on to his children with common sense as the underlying philosophy. The value of money has helped build a thriving business empire, which the patriarch lived to witness. As his own way of saying thank you dad, Murray Bruce bought a Rolls Royce for him only to hit a brick wall until after much persuasion How about a jet as an additional toy to such vanities as limousines long abandoned for beauty queens, yachts and jetties as well as mansions of delight, all the elements at Vanity Fair? He shrugs it off, reminding you he wears simple clothes and watches and would only consider a Silverbird Airlnes if the prospects are viable.

Viability for Murray Bruce means the

inputs must yield expected returns in minimum time. He hardly discusses his ornament of delight in the public space but talking about his wife Evelyn, Murray Bruce had this to say: “I am very fortunate to marry a woman who is no different from members of my family. She comes from a very humble background.

When I met her I was 19 and I wanted to know a little bit more about her and her family. A lot of people make mistakes when they get married. They get into dysfunctional relationships. So I wanted to see her mum, I wanted to see her dad.

She took me to a small town called Valdosta in Southern Georgia, 12 miles from Northern Florida and I went to her home, small house and a big farm that has been with the family for 300, 400 years, it goes back to slavery.

“I saw the way they lived and I saw the respect the mother had for the father and the father had for the mother. I saw the way all the children were raised, so similar to the way my family, the way my father and my mother raised us. It’s a big family, beautiful children, all happy, living together as one. When you want to get married, you don’t get married to someone with a dysfunctional family because it could work; if doesn’t work you have a problem.

“So I met her, I met the family, got married and I’m still married, almost forty years. The point is, marriage is not something you do by mistake or by accident. You plan it and I planned it to perfection and I’m happy. She is a wonderful woman, beautiful woman, always been with me. When I was 19 I said to myself when I become an old man, will this woman look after me?

“When the kids are born will she look after the children? In my mind at 19 I said yes I proposed to her at 19, got married, almost 40 years later we are still married, she still looks after me and the children. Yes, I think I got that right. With three wonderful kids-Jonathan, Jareth, Jasmine who is running a Master’s programme and the last a boy, Murray Bruce whose best friends are children says: “I am happy the way I am and I am very grateful to God.” Along the way Murray Bruce has met an array of statesmen home and abroad and each has had a tremendous influence on him including Chief Olusegun Obasanjo whom he worked for and lived with in Aso Rock and Goodluck Jonathan.

As a child he was influenced by Chief Obafemi Awolowo who taught him the beauty in fiscal discipline while Obasanjo’s low profile governance in his first incarnation as Head of State reminded him of his father. Muhammad Ali is his role model of a black man who preached love and oneness and the greatness of the black race just like Martin Luther King (Jnr).

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Onoshe

airtimeplus98@gmail.com

Nwabuikwu

The Award-winning Women from the AMVCAs

AMVCA 2016 WINNERS: •Best Art Director – Frank Rajah (The Refugees) •Best Television Series – Ariyike Oladipo (Daddy’s Girls) •Best Makeup Artist in a Movie or Series – Louiza Calore for Ayanda •Best Short Film or Online Video – Oluseyi Amuwafo (A Day With Death) •Best Writer for Movie and TV series – Trish Malone (Ayanda) •Best Lighting Designer (Movies/TV) – Stanley Ohikhuare (Common Man) •Best Cinematographer – Paul Michaelson (Tell Me Sweet Something) •Best Sound Editor – Jose Guillermo (Dry) •Best Picture Editor – Shirley FrimpongManso (Rebecca) •Best Costume Designer – Uche Nancy (Dry)

Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu flanked by winners at the AMVCA 2016

I

want to mark the annual International Women’s Day (March 8) by celebrating the women who won at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, AMVCA 2016.

On one hand, there are those who won in categories reserved for women. Then there are those who beat other women and men to come tops.

So let’s hear it for Adesua Etomi who emerged Best Actress in Drama/TV series (Falling); Funke Akindele Best Actress in a Comedy for her role in TV series, Jenifa’s Diary; Tunbosun Aiyedihin as Best Supporting Actress in Before 30.

Then there are those women who won across board: Ariyike Oladipo won the Best Television Series Award for ‘Daddy’s Girls’. Uche Nancy as the Best Costume Designer for the film ‘Dry’. Jumoke Odetola was half of the winning team for the Best Indigenous Movie/TV Series (Yoruba)-Binta Ofege. Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju won the Trail Blazer Award complete with a brand new car. Remi Vaughan’s ‘Faaji Agba’ clinched the Best Documentary Award. Bukki Zainab Ajayi was given the AMVCA 2016 Industry Merit Award (alongside Sadiq Daba).

The powerful trio of Genevieve Nnaji, Chinny Onwugbenu and Chichi Nwoko clinched the award for the Best Movie (West Africa) for their film ‘Road to Yesterday.’

And the award for the Best Overall Movie in Africa went to Stephanie Linus for Dry. By the way, Dry won two other awards: Best Sound and Best Costume. And so, if we had to pick the overall winner for this International Women’s Day edition, that crown would go to Stephanie Okereke Linus, actress, director/producer.

Still on the 2016 edition of

the AMVCA, there were other women achievers responsible for the success of the event. There is Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Regional Director (West Africa) MNET and Yolisa Phahle, MNET’s chief executive officer.

AMVCA 2016: View from the Inside

I attended the AMVCA 2016 which held at the Eko Hotel, Lagos on Saturday March 5.

I’m not going to bore you with all the celebrity sightings or rehash the awards. I assume by now you’ve had your fill of the AMVCAs? Quite significantly, this was my first time of watching the awards first hand.

Usually, I catch all the fun from the comfort of my living room.

Both do have their advantages.

I was mostly impressed by the fact that the awards did not drag. For about two hours, from 7-9 pm-ish, all the awards had been presented. In that same time, guests had been thoroughly entertained with music, dance and comedy. I imagine even those watching from the comfort of their living rooms would have appreciated the fact that the ceremony didn’t drag on forever. Host IK Osakioduwa along with first time host Minnie Dlamini helped to move the event.

It was also nice to see some stars up close. This can be good or not so good depending on what you are expecting. Seeing some of the pictures from this year ’s AMVCAs, I have to say some people are very photogenic. Up close, not all the dresses, hair styles or even suits were as glamorous. But then conversely, quite a few actresses/actors looked better in real life.

Spot The Teleprompter No one needed to be told

award presenters were reading from something or somewhere.

Each time a presenter got on stage, they stared away into space. So, the audience naturally moved their eyes away from the presenters in search of what or where they were reading from.

And some presenters made it rather too obvious they weren’t speaking from their hearts.

Undeserving Award Winners?

For some reason I’m in a celebratory mood. So, I won’t rain on anyone’s parade. The AMVCAs are largely determined by votes from viewers. Although in the first instance, viewers have to be presented with a list of nominees to choose from. Some people have a problem with this. Bearing in mind that even if an academic Faculty of Judges was instituted, there would still be people not happy with the outcome.

However, there’s a point to be made about nominees who pushed hard to win. If there were an award for this, it would go to Daniel K. Daniel (DKD) who won as Best Actor in a Soldier ’s Story. He campaigned hard thanks to @Nollywood Tweets on Twitter. Some nominees in the same category may have thought campaigning for votes was beneath them.

In any case, if something’s important to you, what’s the virtue in being coy? It’s the same way, participants in the TV reality show Big Brother Africa used to go to great lengths to deny having a ‘ game plan’.

Sounding like broken records, they all wanted the viewers to think they were just ‘being themselves’. You want to win $300, 000 and you don’t have a game plan?

Well, as for DKD, his efforts paid off handsomely on the night.

•Best Local Language Movie/TV Series (Swahili) – Single Mtambalike (Kitendawali) •Best Indigenous Movie/TV Series (Hausa) – Salisu Balarabe (Dandi Kowa) •Best Indigenous Movie/TV Series (Yoruba) – Abiodun Jimoh and Jumoke Odetola-(Binta Ofege) •Best Indigenous Movie/TV Series (Igbo) – Paul Igwe (Usekwu Igbo) •Best Documentary – Remi Vaughan (Faaji Agba) •Best Supporting Actor In A Movie – Sambassa Nzeriba (A Soldier’s Story) •Best Supporting Actress – Tunbosun Aiyedihin (Before 30) •Best Actor In A Comedy – Folarin ‘Falz The Bahd Guy’ Falana (Jenifa’s Diary) •Best Actress In A Comedy – Funke Akindele (Jenifa’s Diary) •Trail Blazer Award – Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju •AMVCA 2016 Industry Merit Award – Bukky Ajayi and SadiqDaba •Best Movie (Southern Africa) – Joyce Chavura – (Lilongwe) •Best Movie (East Africa) – Elizabeth Michael – Mapenzi •Best Movie (West Africa) – Genevieve Nnaji, Chinny Onwugbenu and Chichi Nwoko – Road to Yesterday.

•Best Actress In A Movie/Drama/TV Series – Adesua Etomi (Falling) •Best Actor In A Movie/Drama/TV Series – Daniel K. Daniel (A Soldier’s Story) •The Best Director – Akin Omotosho (Tell Me Sweet Something) •Best Overall Movie (Africa)- Dry by Stephanie Linus

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EVENT

Group Celebrates with Children Centre

Celebration time at the children centre

Bimbo Akosile

T

he Lagos State Children’s Centre, an obscure orphanage home located in the heart of Idi-Araba area of Lagos State, was recently aroused from its slumber on February 13, Valentine’s eve.

Indeed, the purpose-built orphanage housing over 300 children wore a radiant and festive look as the employees of Oando Marketing Plc, a subsidiary of Oando Plc, Africa’s largest indigenous energy solutions providers, came visiting on a corporate philanthropy mission.

Although, the children of the orphanage were no strangers to corporate visitations, the visit by the over 50 employees of Oando, was remarkable.

Unlike others before it, the team led by the amiable Chief Operating Officer of the oil marketing giant, Mrs. Olaposi Williams prepared to felicitate with the children in the spirit of the Valentine season.

Although the august visitors came a day ahead of St. Valentine day, they nonetheless made the children at the orphanage happy, with their collective gesture and expression of humanity.

The children, who perhaps may not often receive such display of affection, were all gaily attired, radiating joy in the specially-made Ankara uniform that added colour and grandeur to the day’s celebration.

Not only that, the care givers of the home were also beautifully attired as they worn smiles on their faces to show how grateful they were for the Oando gesture. The festive mood was infectious as the school premises took on the characteristic Oando brand colours of white, red and blue. Protective canopies were erected to shield the children from the scorching heat as the event took different swings.

It was glamour and fun as the children were engaged in dancing competitions, quiz and several other games. The children were entertained and thrilled with rib-cracking jokes and riddles. It was indeed a day to remember as the

children actively participated in general dancing session with all members of Oando Marketing team for over one hour.

Speaking at the occasion shortly after a rigorous jig on the dance floor, the Chief Operating Officer said her company was motivated to embark on the celebration with the Home as part of corporate philanthropy.

“It is in the spirit of corporate giving, which is just a slice of a bigger corporate social responsibility initiative, that we are leveraging during this season of giving brought on by Valentine – the season of Love,” she remarked.

Commenting on the choice of the orphanage, Williams said the Children’s Centre was less well-known than other popular ones around in the state, but observed that yet it was in need of support.

Before this initiative, O-Gas has embarked on other CSR projects like the Our O-Gas Switch Campaign and the NYSC cooking competition. Williams said: “Our O-Gas Switch campaign is a corporate social responsibility initiative which enables us to provide burners and cylinders to those who currently used naked flames powered by dirty fuels to cook.”

Noting that O-Gas will continue to initiate corporate social responsibility on every Valentine Day, the Chief Operating Officer said the exercise would in future be spread to other parts of the country.

While the care-givers of the home were presented with gas burners and giant O-Gas Cylinders, the children were given gift items and other mementoes.

The company has also pledged to continue to follow up on the programme and progress of the home so that the home will not be alienated from the general public.

Nostalgia as Aminu Takes a Bow, Bemoans Laxity at ELTC

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torrent of encomiums and applause flowed freely at the inauguration of a six-man executive council to pilot the affairs of Estate Tennis Club, Oke-Afa Isolo, Lagos in 2016/2017 as its President Alhaji Lanre Aminu bowed out gracefully after serving the club for a record two-term tenure. And expectedly, members of the club including past presidents, former office holders, committee chairmen, patrons and captains of sports sections were among the audience that filled the clubs Upper Terrace venue of the yearly general meeting.

Aminu dressed in a flowing Babanriga and light grey traditional cap, was deftly in his element while presenting a report card which was tagged “My Pact with History: The transformation of Estate Tennis Club and my account of stewardship. Aminu said, “I have a pact with history to present records of our transformational leadership for the period under review in fulfillment of the oath of office that I had sworn to uphold when I was elected for a second term in 2014. I sincerely appreciate my executive council members and the entire committee chairmen and members for their support, loyalty and commitment in moving our club forward. The modest achievements and the pace we have set would not have been possible without you making the choice to contribute your quota” Since his surprise election four years ago, Alhaji Aminu, a brand communica-

The new President of Estate Tennis Club, Deacon Segun Longe being decorated by his predecessor, Alhaji Lanre Aminu

tions expert and advertising practitioner has electrified and confounded the club and Jakande Estate Community in roughly equal measures, he has launched Estate Tennis Club on a reform path- through the establishment of Youth Academy and Youth Sports Clinic as part of efforts to discover and groom young talents under the “Catch Them Young” sports development initiative.

As “a man of destiny”, his sobriquet while in office, Aminu’s reform campaign was anchored on nurturing the club to excellence through uncompromising standard, innovation, accountability and resourceful management.

The new executive council led by Dea-

con Segun Longe and members Bimbo Arigbabuwo (VP), Ademola Agboluaje (Dir. of Finance) Gamel O. Gborjoh (Dir. of Socials), Jimi Ogunmokun (Dir. of Sports) Alhaji Abdulrazak Lawal (Dir. of Club Services) was later sworn in at a brief ceremony conducted by ELTC legal adviser, Barrister Kola Adebayo. Deacon Longe, after being decorated with the insignia of office by Alhaji Aminu expressed profound appreciation “for giving me the honour to serve you for the 2016/2017. I concede the fact that the immediate past President Alhaji Lanre Aminu has done very well in the area of infrastructure development and transformation of our club”.

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enteRtAinMent

witH nseobong okon-ekong 08114495324, nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com

Gidi Culture Festival Goes Live at Eko Atlantic City

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he Lagos urban culture and music festival, better known as the Gidi Music Festival is set to hold its third season. And like last year, it returns to the exclusive environ of Eko Atlantic City.

This time it is being supported by other stakeholders like Redbull, Mikano, Heineken, Hyperia and the Lagos State Government. So far, only the first edition was held at Elegushi Beach.

Show producer, Chinedu Okeke and his team at Eclipse Entertainment have promised an affordable and accessible event that keeps to world class standard. He also said the event this year will be bigger and better for its ambition to put Africa on one stage, using Lagos, Nigeria as the melting pot. For this reaon, there will be a strong presence of Nigerian headline acts, performing with other up and coming talents.

Apart from the music, there will be beach soccer and volley ball contests which will be MORE MUSIC RETURNS WITH SAMSUNG GALAXY S7 AND S7 EDGE

Nigerian musicians who also double as Samsung Ambassadors like Reminisce and Banky W are warming for more promotional events that would task their creative faculty following a recent announcement from Samsung Electronics West Africa that its latest flagship phones in its long line of Galaxy devices in Nigeria. The smartphones on offer are the alluring Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge available in 32GB with expandable memory slot of 200 GB. Emmanouil Revmatas, Director of Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung, said that Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge represent the new galaxy of unlimited possibilities.

“Samsung did not just redefine these devices but also re-imagined what they could do based on the feedback from the people who use them, and what they need most from the devices. Our customers are the inspiration for any innovation. These devices do not only look great but feel great as well and comfortable to hold. They are sleeker with smoother edges and lines,” added Revmatas.

The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge were first unveiled on February 21st at the Samsung Unpacked event held at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), Barcelona, Spain. The Galaxy S7 has a 5.1-inch display screen, while the Galaxy S7 edge has a 5.5-inch screen.

Both devices have support for microSD cards augmenting their 32GB of internal storage, as well as IP68 water and dust resistance feature, which allow for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes at a time. The S7’s waterproofing includes sealed ports, so there are no fussy port covers over the USB ports or headphone jacks.

Even though the S7 series do not have removable batteries, they come with longer lasting batteries to keep users going all day long. The

Gidi Fest 2016 Artist Line Up

headed by celebrity captains and the food market will open all day, serviced by between 20 and 30 vendors. The Festival holds on March 26, with live music from Africa’s best artistes such as Davido, Tiwa Savage, Timaya, Phyno and Yemi Alade. Opening acts on the day are Adekunle Gold and Small Doctor.

Hosts for Gidi Fest 2016 include MTV Base VJ’s, Nomuzi from South Africa and S7 comes with 3,000mAh battery, while the S7 edge has 3,600mAh battery. One of the new features is the always-on display where notifications, time, date or personalised screen are permanently shown on the screen even when the phone is off.

This feature does not significantly impact the battery life as it uses just one percent of the battery power per hour. Also, both phones retain Samsung’s adaptive fast-charging and fast wireless charging features.

Nigeria’s, Ehiz, alongside City FM OAP, Sensei Uche. DJ Obi and DJ Kaywise will be spinning pulsating dance music from the decks.

The foreign artistes on the bill include Ricky Rick, KO who used to be known as Teargas and the Ghanaian artiste, Manifest.

Ngozi Nkwoji, brand manager for Heineken and Strongbow Apple Cider from the stable of Nigerian Breweries used Magic premieres Hush, a tale of fashion, politics and ambition which follows different members of high society as they collide.

The story of Hush revolves around Bem and Arinola, power-players in fashion and politics respectively.

Bem, played by Richard Mofe-Damijo, is one of Africa’s biggest designers based in Lagos State, Nigeria, and Arinola, played by Thelma Okodu-

“THE PRICE IS RIGHT” GAME SHOW COMES TO NIGERIA

FremantleMedia International (FMI) and Genesis Studios have announced a partnership to bring a local version of the classic game show format; The Price is Right, to Nigeria. The deal will see Genesis Studios produce three series of the show, taking the total number of adaptations of the format to 41 versions worldwide.

The US version of The Price is Right is the most successful gameshow in television history. The format features contestants as they are invited to take to the stage and use their shopping knowledge in a bid to guess the correct price of everyday objects. With a charismatic host, an electric atmosphere, crazy games and life changing prizes up for grabs, The Price is Right is a game of non-stop excitement.

Olatunbosun Olaegbe, Managing Director of Genesis Studios explained that the nation has been looking for a world class game show that would engage and entertain the entire family. “ The Price is Right is the perfect format for us and we know it will be a big success in Nigeria,” he said.

HUSH TELENOVELA COMES TO AFRICA MAGIC

On tApril 4, viewers across Africa will welcome a new and exciting telenovella to their screens as Africa

Cast of Hush

the opportunity to unveil Heineken’s ‘Live Your Music’ campaign The Heineken ‘Live Your Music’ campaign is a celebration of music experiences that makes people feel more alive - experiences tailored at giving passionate music lovers and ‘live-rs’ the opportunity to live the power of their music in more accessible and affordable ways. wa, is one of the state’s fastest rising politicians. The intrigue begins when Bem proposes marriage to Arinola, an action that sets in motion a chain of events propelled by the secrets in their respective lives, secrets that run through the backrooms of secret societies, the corridors of the judiciary and on social media.

Hush follows in the stead of Africa Magic’s recently concluded and

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ENTERTAINMENT

BUKKY WRIGHT’S SON, OJJAY MAKES MUSIC DEBUT

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here is a good chance that you know his mother, Bukky Wright. The popular Nigerian actress is proud to present her son, Olugbenga Amu-Wright who recently launched a career in music on her platform, Wright Media International.

Olugbenga who has chosen the moniker, Ojjay Wright was unveiled at the last Best of Nollywood Awards in Akure, Ondo State.

At the listening party of his latest single, ‘265 Kritical’ which is his second single, Ojjay revealed that he had to take his destiny in his hands after some of the existing record companies kept him waiting for too long. His first single ‘Hello’ was released in Houston, Texas in June 2015.

The 22 year-old who is a graduate of Biological Sciences from Rutgers University in the United States of America said his first venture into music in 2012 was truncated by his parents who insisted that they would only support

highly popular Nigerian telenovella, Hotel Majestic, and promises to keep viewers entertained with its themes of love, power, high-society, betrayal and intrigue. The telenovella explores the precarious and delicate weaving between seemingly disparate worlds which co-exist in Lagos, each possessing its own eco-system based on interconnecting, seamless interaction, secret alliances and loyalty.

“There’s a co-dependency of which not all players are aware.

Sometimes this is a healthy relationship, often times not. The cast of Hush is stellar and the show marks a return to television for a number of renowned actors and actresses.

All these factors make for exciting viewing and we can’t wait for our viewers from all over Africa to tune in,” Mba-Uzoukwu added.

Hush premieres on April 4th, 2016, on Africa Magic Showcase (DStv channel 151). The telenovella which will air weeknights at 9pm CAT, stars Richard Mofe Damijo, Thelma Okoduwa, Olu Jacobs, Baj Adebule, Rotimi Adelegan and Meg Otanwa, and will air weeknights at 9pm CAT.

WIVES ON STRIKE PREMIERES

Wives On Strike is a comedy movie starring, Julius Agwu, Uche Jombo, Chioma Akpotha, Ufuoma McDermott, Kehinde Bankole, Kalu Ikeagwu, and Kenneth Okonkwo.

The movie which would debute in Nigerian cinemas on t April 8 is about a group of market women who decided to take matters into their own hands against their husbands in a bid to stir them into standing up for a young girl whom they wanted to protect from the wishes of her own father.

The women, who hilariously interpret their roles, set a series of events in motion to give the movie many moments of laughter without miss-

him on the condition that he completes his university education.

Having kept his part of the bargain, Ojjay has secured the support of his parents. At the

ing a beat on the reason for everyone to know why they are on strike.

In the last two years, Omoni’s movies ‘Being Mrs Elliot’ and ‘The First Lady’ have raked in over N50 million, while Omoni’s talent as an actress continues to be much sought after. She has featured in back-to -back box office hits such as ‘Fifty’, ‘Anchor Baby,’ and ‘Figurine’.

Her impressive ecords at the cinema has earned her the sobriquet ‘Queen of the box-office’ In the past five years, Omoni’s gross box office earning has risen to about N168 000 000 with cumulative figures from ‘Figurine’, ‘Anchor Baby’, ‘Being Mrs Elliot’, ‘The First Lady’ and ‘Fifty.’ With this, she is ahead of Genevieve Nnaji’s box office earnings from ‘Tango With Me’, ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’, ‘Ije’, ‘Mirror Boy’ and ‘Road To Yesterday’ which is slightly over N140 million.

Moses Babatope, the COO of FilmOne, the distribution company in charge of the movie said, Omoni may have set her own box office hat-

rick with three of her self-produced movies.

‘In Nigeria, only one producer has the honour of three box office hit with his three movies. From the look of things, Omoni’s new movie, ‘Wives on Strike’ which is in cinema from April 8 will make her join that exclusive list’.

Speaking further, Moses said Omoni’s last movie, ‘The First Lady’ saved the day for the whole industry last year. ‘Before The First Lady’ came to cinema, almost all Nollywood movies released last year performed abysmally except one. The First Lady re-established trust in Nigerian movies at the cinemas and further helped subsequent movies released to do well’.

He further asked those who love comedy to go and see the movie, ‘if you love comedy with a little slant on issues, you will love ‘Wives on Strike’ he concluded.

“FEAR THE WALKING DEAD” ON AMC AMC has released an exclusive

moment, he has embarked on a vigorous promotion of ‘265 Kritical’ and ‘Marry You’. Both tracks are produced by Eben Jazzy.

According to Ojjay, he has devised the strategy of giving the market what they want until he becomes an established name. His main concern now is to be able to step into the studio and deliver. ‘People say I do not have a distinct sound of my own. It does not matter. The artistes on Mavins Records and Five Star Music sound alike. What do you have to say to that?”

In order to create awareness for his arrival on the music scene, Ojjay has instituted the ‘Onyinye Search’ to promote the track ‘Marry You’. “I am looking for a girl who will blow my mind. She will be compensated with a oneon-one meeting with me, and iPhone and appearance in two of my videos. The other strategy to promote my brand is a dance and lyric competition in which you record yourself and friends singing.” interview with the Executive Producer and Showrunner, Dave Erickson who made possible “Fear the Walking Dead” (#FearTWD), the companion series to the global hit “The Walking Dead.”

Discussing the dramatic development of the series and some of the new season’s ocean-set scenes, Erickson’s insights into the Mexicobased production are revealed alongside the drama’s brand ne Executive produced by showrunner Dave Erickson, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Greg Nicotero and David Alpert, “Fear the Walking Dead” stars Kim Dickens as Madison, Cliff Curtis as Travis, Frank Dillane as Nick, Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia, Ruben Blades as Daniel, Mercedes Mason as Ofelia, Lorenzo James Henrie as Chris and Colman Domingo as Strand. The series from AMC Studios is currently in production on season two in Mexico at Baja Studios, home to some of the greatest ocean-set films in recent years.

“Fear the Walking Dead” will air its second season of 15 episodes in two parts, beginning with the first seven episodes starting in April with the remaining eight episodes airing later in 2016.

Season one, which achieved record-breaking performance worldwide including the highestrated first season of any series in U.S. cable history, ended with Madison, Travis and their extended family taking temporary shelter in Strand’s gated estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean. As civil unrest continues to grow and the dead take over Los Angeles, Strand prepares to escape to “Abigail,” his large yacht moored offshore.

Viewers can catch up with a marathon of season one starting on April 10 leading into the season two premiere episode on April.11

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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Hello to the Wachowski Sisters Vanessa Obioha

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n 2012, Larry Wachowski who co-directed the action thriller ‘Matrix’ shocked the world with his transition from male to female. He is to be addressed as Lana Wachowski.

Four years later, his brother Andy is toeing the same path. Andy now Lily revealed his new identity in a Chicago newspaper, Windy City Times. Titled ‘Sex Change Shocker-Wachowski Brothers now Sisters’, the 48 year-old film-maker said that he decided to make the revelation himself after a journalist tried to coerce him into an interview. Known for keeping their private lives out of the public radar, the news came as a real shocker to many. Lily also said that his wife and family are very supportive of his decision. They now join former athlete Caitlyn Jenner in promoting the LGBT community.

TRIBUTES ROLL IN FOR BEATLES PRODUCER GEORGE MARTIN

Another music heavyweight George Martin was snatched by the cold hands of death on Tuesday. Nicknamed the ‘Fifth Beatle’ his music career spanned seven decades and he is popular for producing most of the Beatles classics. The band members Paul McCartney- who described him as a second father- and Ringo Starr have paid tributes to the man who made them famous. Other celebrities who have paid tributes to the legendary producer include Lenny Kravitz, Josh Groban, Sean Ono Lennon, Cat Stevens, Roger Moore among others.

Martin was born to a carpenter in North London. Much of the Beatles career is owed to the musical genius who transformed the band to a world celebrity status. He also wrote film scores and worked with various artistes including Celine Dion, Sting and Elton John. Roger Moore in his tribute praised Martins for making his first Bond Film sound brilliant. He was an Oboist.

Adam Levine and Behati If he quits, he will join the list of judges like Usher, Shakira, who left the show.

Fans will definitely miss the singer and probably the question that will be asked after his departure will be if there will ever be another Adam Levine at ‘The Voice’?

WILL ERIN ANDREWS BE PAID?

BETTE MIDLER AND KIM KARDASHIAN

Earlier this week, famous singer Bette Midler and celebrity Kim Kardashian went for each other’s jugular in a series of tweets.

The twitfight started when Kim K out of boredom posted a nude selfie of her with only censored bars covering the sacred parts online. Midler who appears to be nauseated by the act tweeted jokingly “If Kim wants us to see a part of her we’ve never seen, she’s gonna have to swallow the camera.”

Kim responded by accusing Midler of impersonating someone else just to be close to her. Other celebrities also joined in the twitfight which culminated with Midler challenging Kim to use her nude selfie for a charity cause.

HULK HOGAN’S SEX VIDEO CASE GETS MESSIER

The ongoing suit between pro wrestler Hulk Hogan and an online news platform Gawker keeps getting messier as both parties attempt to justify their actions. In 2012, the website Gawker published a sex video of Hogan in a steamy session with his friend’s wife. The Editor-In-Chief Albert James Daulerio found the information newsworthy. But on Wednesday in court, Daulerio’s journalism ethics were questioned when he was asked where he drew the line in publishing celebrity sex tapes. He easily answered that he won’t publish that of minors.

While arguments ensued on the invasion of privacy by the media to increase popularity, Daulerio defended his action by accusing the wrestler of making his sex life a topic in every interview.

Hulk Hogan

George Martin Hogan’s attorneys hope to win the jury to his side, citing about seven million eyes saw an intimate act that was very private.

HARD TIMES FOR PAWN STARS ‘CHUMLEE’

After spending a night in jail for a sexual assault allegation, Pawn Stars star Austin Russell popularly known as Chumlee is yet to get a breather. The reality TV character was arrested on Wednesday over following a sexual assault allegation. He was released on Thursday morning after posting a $62, 000 bail Right now, there are about 20 more charges against the 33 year-old star which include possession of firearms. His buddy on the show Rick Harrison in a statement said he and his team are ready to help Russell in this difficult time.

WHO WILL REPLACE ADAM LEVINE?

There are speculations that singer Adam Levine, one of the long-time judges in the music reality show ‘The Voice’ will be taking a bow soon. Levine’s decision is reportedly influenced by his desire to embrace fatherhood. A source told Life & Style Magazine that the 36 year-old singer had always wanted to start a family with his wife Behati Prisloo. The couple tied the knots in 2014.

The Maroon 5 vocalist has been a staple at the TV series and known for his sarcastic remarks and spinning his famous red chair.

It seems likely not. After being convicted of stalking sportscaster Erin Andrews and ordered to pay $27 million charges to her earlier this week, Michael David Barrett has no means of paying her. The accused is currently living in his father’s basement in Portland. The father Francis told reporters that his son would be unable to pay the judgment.

Barett was found guilty of stalking the Fox correspondent after he uploaded nude videos of her on the internet in 2008.

Although, he claimed the videos made Andrews famous, Andrews said she suffered emotional abuse because of his actions.

LINDSAY LOHAN IS ENGAGED

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, the child star revealed that she is engaged to Russian businessman Egor Tarabasov. They met last summer. She also told the paper about the one-time One Direction’s singer Harry Styles came into her hotel room.

It was awkward then and still awkward now. Her sister had been mad at her for not grabbing the opportunity then but Lohan is very happy where she is today. Lohan’s new Beau is a 22 year-old Russian heir to a business empire in Yeltsin land.

JOAN RIVERS PERSONAL ITEMS TO BE AUCTIONED IN JUNE

According to reports, the late entertainer’s jewellery, paintings, designer gowns from her penthouse in New York will be auctioned in June. Her daughter Melissa made the announcement on Tuesday. She said that over 200 items belonging to her mother will be auctioned online on June 16 and a live auction on June 22. Proceeds from the auction will be sent to ‘God’s Love we Deliver’ and ‘Guide Dogs for the Blind’ organisations.

CHARLIE SHEEN TO STAR IN 9/11 INDIE FILM

Fresh from his HIV drama saga, the ‘Two and a Half Men’ star will make a screen comeback in the new Hollywood thriller, ‘Nine Eleven’. He would be co-starring with Whoopi Goldberg, Luiz Guzman, Olga Fonda and Wood Harris.

Sheen is currently on set shooting.

Directed by Martin Guigui, Nine Eleven revolves around five individuals trapped in an elevator in the World Trade Center during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and their struggle to survive.

AGAIN, JANET JACKSON POSTPONES TOUR

For the second time, singer Janet Jackson postpones her UK tour which was due to start at the end of March. This time she attributes the postponement to ‘scheduling’ issues.

Last December, the singer had to postpone her ‘Unbreakable’ tour due to an undisclosed ailment. Although she constantly denied that she does not have cancer, there are speculations that the singer may have the deadly disease. No new dates have been scheduled for the concert.

SETH ROLLINS REPORTEDLY TRAINING IN-RING

After suffering a knee injury last November, Rollins is reportedly working out in the ring with extra caution on his knee. The superstar was estimated to return to the ring in 6-9 months time. Before his injury, the wrestler dominated the WWE ring with his infamous wins. He was the major sellout in the Shield and ‘what’s best for business’ for the COO Triple H and his wife Stephanie McMahon.

TEAM LANA HEADS TO WRESTLEMANIA

In an interesting twist of event, Lana, Bulgarian Rusev’s long-time escort will be challenging Team Bella in WrestleMania next month. For some unknown reason, Lana has been stirring trouble for Brie Bella who is likely to retire after WrestleMania.

Now that the two will be slugging it out in the ring, the question that begs for an answer is will the match be the opening chapter of a new phase in Lana’s life or just a one-off thing?

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EVENT

In Suru L’ere, Okwo Shines with a Peerless Cast

Cast of Suru L’ere

Vanessa Obioha

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gain, that bubbling neighbourhood on the Lagos Mainland, Surulere gets another round of media attention. This time around through the motion picture and this is both instructive and deserving, as Surulere has the distinction of providing the launch pad for Nollywood.

The Audrey Silva Company’s (TASC) recent flick Suru L’ere (Patience Pays) is anything but boring. Even if the title is generic, director Mildred Okwo applied her creative skills in telling a refreshingly funny narrative that clearly depicts the ‘get rich quickly’ syndrome among youths in our society.

The romantic comedy revolved round a young chap whose pursuit for wealth was fuelled by a chanced meeting of mistaken identity with a young ambitious indolent lady.

The drama opened with the lead character Seun Ajayi in an abandoned state of sleep in a noticeably chaotic office.

Papers and clothes strewn on the floor, an incessant ringing mobile device, and of course, a half-clothed Ajayi snoozing on the floor.

From there, the director meticulously navigates her audience through the well-woven plot, from the outright ridiculousness of Arinze (Seun Ajayi) to the complicated delusions of grandeur of Brume (Gregory Ojefua), the story exudes hilarity in all forms.

Known for her usual style of using comedy to address social values and issues, like she did in her first TASC debut ‘The Meeting’, Okwo drew indelible strokes with this storyline. On one hand, it brings a strange familiarity to the screens: a horrible boss like Brume- a kind many will not want to work with- and the struggles of Arinze his employee to meet up with his incessant demands as well escape the snares of poverty. On the other hand, it mirrors the present social and economic landscape of the country: bureaucracy in workplaces and the vivid imagery of poverty.

It is against this backdrop that Okwo accepted the script from Richard Odilu.

In all its fictitious fabric, Odilu’s story carries an element of reality. The writer revealed during a press screening that Arinze is a fictional representation of his struggles as young man while Brume, the mean boss is an encounter of a friend in his work place.

Well seasoned with domestic comedy, Suru L’ere in a nutshell introduced a new kind of rom-com that is unpopular in our film industry. For instance, the scene where Arinze had to memorise his boss’ lunch order by reciting it endlessly and even coining a nursery rhyme in order to avoid the wrath of his conceited boss.

The dialogues are sprinkled with new and catchy lines that will quickly register in your mind or if you have time, jot on your mobile device or notepad. The language is a fluid mix of English and indigenous language, although some of the characters struggled in delivering the right accents.

However, the trump card for Okwo in this movie is her peerless cast who wore their characters like a second skin.

From old to new faces, Okwo takes the pleasure in casting her characters in never-seen-before roles. Imagine renowned actress Rita Dominic playing the role of an Akara seller. In fact, her swearing line to the debt-ridden Arinze ‘Arinze, if you no carry my N1,0000 come back, na thunder go fire you’ is now a memorable line thrown at the actor.

Lala Akindoju stepped up her game by playing a double role as the grumpy old landlady and the admirable BeautyBeverly Naya’s rival- in office.

Beverly Naya who played the female lead as Omosigho had a tough call playing the rich city girl and adjusting her choice of words to deliver the expected sassiness. Her American accent was not helpful at all. It made her acting a bit too stressful. Nevertheless, she was able to convince her audience with her gestures and facial expressions. What’s more, her ability to build a chemistry between her and Ajayi endeared her character to

the audience.

AMVCA best actor Tope Tedela who confessed that he had been longing to work with the director found himself playing a very complicated role: a metrosexual.

“I used to think that the director doesn’t like me. I see her at functions and try to strike a conversation but somehow got ignored. So I was quite surprised when I got her call to play this role,” he said.

It wasn’t an easy one for the actor who had played the role of a gangster, cheating husband and others in movies. For this particular flick, he found himself researching and rehearsing to the point he was ridiculed by his folks.

At the end of the day, it paid out for him as he made his character Kyle-Stevens Adedoyin likeable irrespective of his condescending mannerisms.

Ojefua is one character that delivers his role with accurate precision.

His bulk form, baritone voice fits his abusive role perfectly. As the annoying and horrible boss, Brume, Ojefua align his character with Hollywood stars who have played similar roles like Colin Farrell and Kevin Spacey.

He made life terrible for Arinze and insensitive to his employees needs.

It is difficult to hate him as he has a way of dominating the screen with his robust expletives vocabulary and facial expressions.

The new Nollywood star Eyinna Nwigwe is hilarious in his role as a delusional drug shop owner, Godstime who fancies himself as a pharmacist if not a medical doctor.

“To be honest,” he said, “I didn’t see this coming. It’s quite tricky and exciting. The director called me and the one thing that struck me was that every true talent wants to be pushed beyond what they are used to. Like humans, we are sociable, you conquer one level, you want to move to another. She was surprised that I would take the challenge. I immersed myself into the role because these are experiences I have lived through. I’m interactive. Immediately I saw three characters in my

head that I have encountered growing up: my mum’s ex-mechanic, a neighbour in my village and the Hollywood actor Terry Crews. I was comfortable doing what I like from those three angles.”

Perhaps, Okwo’s biggest risk is casting a complete tyro for her lead character.

Seun Ajayi’s name before Suru L’ere hardly rings a bell. His first encounter with Okwo was in an audition for another project. Interestingly, Okwo found in him a rare gem that needs polishing.

Her experiment with him on this particular flick paid out handsomely well eventually.

Ajayi brought to the screen an irresistible charm that turned on like electric kettle. His expressions mostly silly and comical easily cracks one’s ribs and when it seems his naivety is getting too comfortable, he switches on to his romantic side that evokes mostly a lovingly pity for his adorable character. He is one character that easily matches the images of the viewer; recognisable and appealing in a non-cloying manner. Although he admitted that he had to beg his friends to teach him Ibo language, he however made a lasting impression which blurred his deficiency in the language.

With this singular flick, Okwo scored a major hit as a director whose keen eyes are steadily scouting and grooming new talents in the industry. Albeit, Suru L’ere in all its funny antics delivers a strong message about the virtue ‘Patience’.

assistant editor nseobong okon-ekong senior correspondent funke olaode CONTRIBUTORS vanessa obioha, temilolu okeowo, kelechi nduka THISDAY ON SUNDAY editor adetokunbo adedoja deputy editors festus akanbi, vincent obia STUDIO art director ochi ogbuaku jnr THISDAY NEWSPAPERS editor-in-chief & chairman nduka obaigbena managing director eniola bello deputy managing director kayode komolafe

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PUBLICATION

OKUKOR AND THE CAMPAIGN FOR LOOTED TREASURES...

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13.03.2016

SO WHAT’S NEXT, MISTER JUNKMAN? Junkman of Afrika

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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ARTS & REVIEW\\VISUAL ARTS

SO WHAT’S NEXT, M The planned resuscitation of the now defunct Junkyard Museum of Awkward Things should excite a section of the local art public. But the Junkman would do well to lead his audience to new frontiers, argues Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

One of Junkman’s installations at the Museum of Awkward Things

H

ere, perception is everything! Still, that inevitable eerie feeling persists. Standing on a gangplank amidst weird forms does something to a sensitive visitor: it makes his imagination begin to play tricks on him. The myriad of forms – human, animal and mythically grotesque –are contrived from discarded rusty metals, rags, decaying pieces of wood, soda or lager beer cans and tops and strips from old car tyres, among a miscellany of other things. But in this enclosure, they represent the physically-tangible thought-forms of the artist. Each of these grotesque contraptions seems to demand for the bemused visitor’s attention...

This scene: the interior of the Junkyard Museum of Awkward Things. It is really a repurposed lock-up store in a shopping centre along the Lekki Expressway in Lagos. The artist, Dil Humphrey-Umezulike – better

known in art circles as Dilomprizulike and calls himself the Junkman of Afrika –holds court here as the lord of the manor.

Or better still as a prophet from the biblical times.

Flip over to the present. The museum has long ceased to exist in Lagos. This was after it had been shifted to what could be deemed its permanent site in the Lagos outskirts community of Ajah. Curiously, it has reincarnated in a space at the Oriel Mostyn Gallery in Llandudno, Wales.

Meanwhile, the artist – who has been recognised by the UK-based newspaper The Independent as one of Africa’s 50 greatest cultural figures – hopes to visit Lagos in April. “I’m flexing to reopen the Junkyard project,” he announces.

Indeed, his artistic practice and credo are woven around this Junkyard project.

In other words, there would be no Junkman without the Junkyard Museum of Awkward Things. In this space, he seeks to breathe life into found objects and creates a special realm of existence for them. This endeavour could somewhat be likened to the political self-determination

of the downtrodden. Objects that have been cast aside and left at the mercy of the elements now have a decent shelter. Previously deemed worthless, they are currently valued as art. Even as un-presentable and un-burnished as they might still appear, they are presented as “museum pieces”.

Also, ecology enthusiasts would also hail the artist’s solo efforts at ridding the environments of non-biodegradable detritus. The Junkman, through his art practice, takes a swipe at a consumerist society, whose values are as fleeting as products they discard. According to the US-based Professor of Art history, Sylvester Ogbechie, “The Junkman’s interrogation of urban detritus is an increasingly sophisticated response to the obverse of globalisation’s allure, its ever-expanding legacy of industrial and consumerist waste. Unlike most artists with an apocalyptic vision, The Junkman seems to predict that social order is at risk not from some vast technological mishap (say a nuclear

mushroom cloud) but that we simply risk being undone by waste. An organism dies when it can no longer separate itself from its own waste. The Junkman confronts polite society with the messy fact of its reliance on profligate wastage. His work is increasingly topical and accomplished.”

Topical it is, no doubt. Yet, it’s been a while since the artist, who then sported large dreadlocks, has graced the Lagos exhibition circuit with his presence. If his installations are easily recognisable, it is because of their unique mixed media compositions. An example is “Waitin’ for Bus”, one of his exhibits at an Africa Remix show in the UK. Perhaps, one of his classic installations is “Wear and Tear”. He describes it “as a concept”, which “attempts to expose the often overlooked and underrated elements of the AfricanUrban communal life which largely influence it.”

“The alienated situation of the African in his own society becomes

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MISTER JUNKMAN?

Waiting for Bus by Dilomprizulike tragic,” he continues. “There is a struggle inside him, a consciousness of living with the complications of an imposed civilisation. He can no longer go back to pick up the fragments of his father’s shattered culture; neither is he equipped enough to keep pace with the white man’s world.”

Then, there are also his performances, which are no less engaging. A quick dissolve to sometime in the not-too-distant past. The venue is the former GoetheInstitut’s creek-side premises along Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Junkman is standing before a seemingly attentive audience as “Professor Junk”. Using a chalkboard, he explains what looks like a mathematical equation meant to denote the society’s decadent values. Another performance, “Who wan’ Visa”, is a commentary on the hellish experience Nigerians face while applying for an American visa.

Really, the performances are no more than complements to his installation pieces. One of the earliest of these alluding to an orange seller was one of the events at the opening of the Junkyard Museum in Lagos, which drew the venerable Ghanaian-born University of Nigeria, Nsukka-based conceptual artist, Professor El Anatsui.

The Junkman’s narrative art takes a swipe at the decadence of Africa’s moral fabric. He blames the governments for their ineptitude and mocks the people for their gullibility. Among his kindred souls in the continent, he arguably stands out as the most cerebral and the most acerbic. So far, his renown has earned him invitations to 2006 edition of the Dakar Biennale and the third Guangzhou Triennial in China in 2008, among other events. In 2010, he contrived what he called “Busy Street” for the Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art in Israel from local rubbish to reflect Israel’s consumer society.

The 56-year-old’s artistic pedigree has since dwarfed his academic credentials: a BA degree in Art from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and an MFA from the University of Dundee, Scotland. Several

One of the installations by Dilomprizulike

workshops and residencies have further burnished his profile.

Being away for so long from the local contemporary Nigerian art scene has undoubtedly hurt his renown. For among the younger generation of artists, there are several to whom his name fails to ring a bell. Even among those he once regaled with

his installations and performances, there are probably a few who still vividly recall his themes. This is one good reason why he needs his planned resuscitation of the Junkyard Museum of Awkward Things.

Yet, beyond what he has always been known for, his devotees would probably be drooling for something new.

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A Mu’azu Mohammed Sani’s Work from the Splash Suite

SANI’S VESTIGES OF SOCIAL AND COLOURFUL RHYTHMS

Agwu Enekwachi

T

he Katsina State-born artist became attracted to art early in life. “I just realised I could draw things on paper or on walls and this fascinated me,” he enthuses.

Sani’s young and restless creative mind found the illustrations contained in a popular dictionary in use at the time a ready inspiration. He would copy the Michael West Dictionary illustrations on pieces of paper.

“I was enjoying myself,” says the 1983 First Class graduate of Fine Arts (Zaria Art School), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. By the time young Sani gained admission to Government Secondary School Zaria (Now Alhudahuda College), his vision of art metamorphosed with the contacts he had with his first art teacher popularly called Shehu Artist. “He inspired us by allowing us to see his portrait works. Soon I was doing my own portraits through his tutelage and encouragement,” says Mu’azu whose earliest works were portraits of family members, friends and notable members of the society.

Mu’azu’s creativity began to flower during his undergraduate days in the early 80s. In 1982, he discovered a unique style of painting which involved splashing of colours. This technique well explored

by Mu’azu enabled his quest for self-expression find definition. The simple aesthetics the splashing technique provided offered him the vehicle to communicate essences. Did Jackson Pollock’s style of action painting provide a spark for Sani? He says “I didn’t even know about the existence of a Jackson Pollock at the time. It was later that I began to know about him and I realised that we share similar technique of execution though with our own individual differences in voices and bias.”

The quest to find meanings in the happenings around him led to the interrogation of the social situations around Northern Nigeria in the 90’s resulting in the production of some of his most insightful and perhaps controversial works. The recurrent ethno-religious crisis in the 90’s provided the stimuli for the collages that became the artist’s offering to mitigate the volatility of the time.

“In 1994, there was this episode of religious crisis in Zaria, when it subsided, I took my car and went round the whole of the city and looking at the damages, most of the churches including one of the

oldest churches in the northern part of the country in Wusasa were burnt down. So, I made a painting titled ‘The Cross Refuses to Burn’, The entire work was predominantly grey and black with so much smoke in the composition and the cross was captured in brilliant colours and most of them were tilting as if they will fall but they are not falling.

“In the late 80’s I made a commentary on the ‘Ango Must Go’ riot in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. The police came in and there was shooting. Aparticular girl died in the process in front of her hostel, she was shot from the back. After the crisis died down, I went about collecting tear gas canisters and bullet shells which I used to create a work of art titled ‘The Black Friday’. What provoked that work of art was the girl’s innocence. She had been sick and did not know that there was riot. She had gone to use the toilet, and was even asking what was going on. As she made her way back to her hostel room, she was hit by the bullet from the back. It was an artwork that moved several people to tears.”

Once, Mu’azu’s painting had to be taken down from an exhibition over the vehemence that greeted the message. In another instance, the entire exhibition was suspended over an attack on his work. He recalls: “The work titled royal Evil” was a commentary on the way some traditional rulers were behaving at the time; they allowed corrupt politicians to have undue influence on them. They would dance to any regime just to secure their positions. Even if you have a terror as commander-in-Chief, they will support him”.

In 1994 Sani’s most controversial work titled “In the Grave” exploited the sometimes tense, precarious and gravely costly relationships between the two major religions in the country to make commentary on what seemed like peace of the graveyard. Created after the religious crisis of 1994 in Zaria, the work “In the Grave” sought to preach tolerance and understanding between adherents of Christianity and Islam constantly confronted by divisive religious fanaticism.

The collage work is a composition accommodating the cross and the minaret with the symbolic messages of ‘I love Prophet Mohammed” and ‘I love Jesus Christ’ on pendants. During the exhibition at the Kashim Ibrahim Library in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, “a fanatic entered the library and the work attracted him, so he started shouting and attacking the work. The venue was shut down because there was so much tension; it took some time for the controversy to be resolved.’

For Sani Mu’azu Moh., the subject of peaceful coexistence among

religions in Nigeria has provided the impetus for the creation of some of his deepest and notable works of art ever.

The socio-religious themes in Mu’azu’s works are a part of his world which he reveals, “I am a very peaceful person, a proud Muslim and a liberal person. My wife was a Christian and she practiced her religion until the time she died. My conclusion is that despite our differences, we can still live peacefully.”

With the progression of his creative journey, Mu’azu’s latest body of work interrogates the rhythms of life through contrasting celebratory nuances of performance and colours registered on the canvas. Mu’azu takes us back again to his world of saying so much with so little. This time his canvas becomes an arena where footprints connect a series of fleeting ephemeral activities to a present bouquet of colours and life.

Assembling huge canvases, Mu’azu would invite Nigerian traditional and contemporary Nigerian dancers whose feet are stained with acrylic colours to leave imprints as paintings. The beauty of this style is the colourful courses the ephemeral performance leaves on the canvas which merge floatingly to form compositions representing interpretations of music. The visual and spatial movements of painting and performance intersect on the canvases to create a stimulating visual experience.

Amajor plank of Mu’azu’s recent suit is the Swange repertoire, defined by sensuous rhythmic movements. Swange dance of Nigeria’s Tiv tribe is one of the most iconic traditional dances in the country. Dressed in their achromatic costumes, the Swange dancers leave several hundreds of multi-coloured footprints as suspended symphonies of sounds that hang on after a dance performance. The canvases therefore become receptors and conservatory of rhythms and colours.

The refreshing thing about Mu’azu’s artistic commentaries is that they scratch the old skin that we have grown used to in other to reveal truths. Relieving these moments offers one the passport to Mu’azu’s guiding thoughts: “I do paint other subjects such as durbar, landscape, but when I look at such works, they don’t make serious statements, I don’t paint because I feel people want to buy my works.” For him, great works must be able to stir up conversations through which change can occur.

-Enekwachi writes from Enugu

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MORALS FROM MAYBE TOMORROW Yinka Olatunbosun

I

n a 45-minute drama written by Soji Cole, a pocket of audience inside Freedom Park, Lagos at the just concluded Lagos Theatre Festival watched keenly as the dialogue flowed between the two characters on stage.

The mood of the play is predominantly confrontational as both actors, Charles Etubiebi and Simi Hassan engaged in a vocal battle to save his one’s neck from the blame game. The play titled, Maybe Tomorrow, opened with the monk meditating before he was joined by the police officer. It’s a 21st century morality play that questions the role each one of them had played in history. The monk in the play represents the ruled while the police officer symbolizes the ruler.

The two-hander technique in Maybe Tomorrow is similar to the type prominently used in South African plays where apartheid is a recurring thematic preoccupation of the playwrights. For instance, Percy Mtwa, Mbongeni Ngema and Barney Simon collectively wrote one of the best satires of the apartheid period, Woza Albert! where the two actors had to play several roles of the average black South Africans. However, emphasis is laid on dialogue in Maybe Tomorrow as there was no music interlude, dance or mime.

At the end of the play, both actors switched their costumes, a visual role-playing technique to bring resolution to the conflict of the drama.

The director, Leke Gbolade spoke on the few adjustments made to the script to sustain the audience’s interest in a light-set, almost zero prop production.

“We started the rehearsal three weeks ago,” he disclosed. “As you can see, it has just two characters. Basically, it is about being able to create something out of the script. We used the script as a manual, chopped off what we didn’t see as necessary and eventually come up with our own interpretation of the play. It is not the entire play.

The policeman represents authority or power.

The monk represents the masses. The uniform of the monk is a symbol of servitude. So, the characters represent the rulers and the ruled.”

Like Athol Fugard’s 1993 drama, Playland which serves a tool for reconciliation and reorientation

A scene from Maybe Tomorrow

in post-apartheid South Africa, Cole’s Maybe Tomorrow fosters similar spirit as the audience can see better through the theatre lens that sometimes one needs to trade shoes to understand the circumstances that affect human behaviour at a particular place or time. The director seemed to concur with this understanding as he added that the drama is not focused on blaming either the ruler or the ruled.

“We are not trying to judge anybody,” he said.

“Today, you might be the president. Tomorrow, you may not be. We need to understand ourselves and ask for forgiveness. We need to go back to the past and reconcile with all that we have done in the past. Without doing that, we are in trouble.”

The producer of the play, Sola Adenugba who is the brain behind “Live Theatre on Sunday”, a monthly series of stage productions in Lagos, revealed the reason why his productions will be taking a different outlook this year.

“The next production is titled The Hiss. It is written by J.P. Clark. It is the story of Nigeria told through the common people. It is going to be staged during the Easter holidays that is Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. It will be done in multiple venues. We are looking at Freedom Park, Terra Kulture, Chevron Recreational Centre, the Lagos Country Club and Alliance Française, Ikeja.”

When asked why he had stopped the free monthly shows at Ikeja, he cited the economic factor as one of the reasons.

“Since we started Live Theatre on Sundays, we have been doing our plays for free every month.

This year, we realise that growth is important and that we have to change. 2-cast plays are easy to produce in terms of affordability and cast. But it stretches the actor. The onus is on the two of them to make the play as interesting as possible through their resources such as their voice and body. It is also about the economy of the nation.

We are in the era of optimising resources. We want more people to see our play. Hence we are doing plays that are easy to take around. In the past, we have always been in Ikeja. We want to cover Lagos. We don’t want to be known with only one venue. We want to reach Lagos Island, Epe, Ikeja. We intend to tour with the play. Our next venue will likely be Calabar.”

MUSICAL

Crew members of the Sister Act production

Sister Act Arrives in Nigeria

Yinka Olatunbosun and Ugo Aliogo

One of the most commercially successful musicals of the 90s, Sister Act is donning a new garment, made of theatrical fabrics and all. That was news from South Africa as the Waterfront Theatre School resident in Cape Town will be staging a theatre performance while training young talents in Nigeria.

Since April 2011, the Sister Act movie had run its course on Broadway Theatre and had received five Tony Award nominations including Best Musical. With the renewed interest in musical shows in Nigeria, Sister Act finally arrives here.

The Managing Director, Colours in Africa, Dr Soji Akinkugbe is one man to thank for that. For one, he had always nursed the ambition of contributing to the growth and development of the Nigeria theatre having been influenced largely by the likes of Duro Ladipo, Hubert Ogunde and the legendary Afrobeat musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

Consequently, he built and sustained friendship with a group of theatre artists at the Waterfront Theatre School who are passionate about developing the robust skills in Nigerian Theatre.

Between November and December 2016, Akinkugbe in collaboration with the Waterfront Theatre School and 2wice as Nice will be presenting a musical performance of “Sister Act” and it will be one of the longest running shows that had ever been witnessed in Nigeria. The all-Nigerian cast production will be trained while technical skills will be obtained from the travelling theatre team. Although the duration is not certain yet, the organisers are working around a period of two weeks for the massive production.

“The theatre is a dynamic way of encountering a performance than a film,” revealed Akinkugbe at a press briefing held in Lagos. “I have always nursed the ambition of being able to bring one of the big musical performances to the country, but I was quite emphatic that I needed a Nigerian cast. The country can be a challenging market to sell from the standpoint of perception and ignorance.

“It is difficult to sell, so over the last few it has time taken me time to find a technical suitable partner.

We do have the skills which can be trained but we do not have the technical skills. We do not have the technical equipment and the proper stage. The only ones we have in Lagos are the National Theatre and the University of Lagos, but they are in moribund conditions.”

Akinkugbe who is the Executive Director of the project spoke on the production and what to expect from the award winning director, Garth Tavares as well as the international theatre artist, Genna Galloway. “We are working with the Delia Sainsburyled Waterfront Theatre School which trains young people and bring them for the market, so I was very much interested in working with a developmental organisation whose core business is training. For us, this is going to be a learning process. I’m very confident in a Nigerian cast; ultimately we will have a Nigerian technical team. So, to work with the team, we will have understudied for all the major roles, the music director, the director, the choreographer and the costumier. After six to ten shows, the basic skills would have been transferred to competent Nigerians.

We also look forward to working with them in South Africa when they are organising shows.”

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ONE SHOW, ONE CITY Yinka Olatunbosun

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oday, the paths of Lagos creatives and Corporate Lagos will meet at the Heritage Place at the crossroad at Lugard Avenue and Alfred Rewane Ikoyi where the pop-art exhibition is set for public viewing. That’s the pulse felt at a press briefing organised

by Indigo Arya, a brand company wrapped with the umbrella of creative consultancy, visual communication and creative problem-solving.

The show features 18 artists namely Andrew Esiebo, August Udoh, Tom Sateer, Obi Somto, Tolani Alli, Emmanuel Ogabi, Aham Ibeleme, Moses Oghagbon, Dennis Osadebe, Damilola Opedun, Dipo Doherty, Tuni Barlow, Elizabeth Ofili, Collyde Prime, Osa7, Femi Arogundade, Ada Umeofia and Addie Mak. They are

bound by the same theme, “Lagos: Living and Working”.

The Creative Director, Itohan Barlow, dropped some hints around the one-day show which will be preceded by a private viewing on Saturday March 12 at the same venue.

“This is our first exhibition,” she began. “We also have Mydrim Gallery which will be bringing in a collection of art works from younger artists. We are creating a dynamic event. There will be live music, artists’ talk and more. We have a couple of installations and art works specifically around the theme, ‘Living and Working’. It is not just going to focus on the content but the various artists we are featuring. They all live and work in Lagos. We thought this will be a great platform to celebrate them and the works they are doing. Many of the photographs had been published in international journals and so we think it is a great opportunity to celebrate

their works on the Nigerian soil.”

Barlow has worked in London and Lagos but seemed to be very much intrigued by the emerging art forms that are spawned by the new crop of artists. For her, the show is about creating a platform for artists in Africa’s most populous city to reach a new audience in a new way. To this end, a section of the exhibition will also be curated by Mydrim Gallery with works from their collection of young artists. Ultimately, it will be a unique encounter between the two influential socio-economic groups defining the direction of the economic scene in Lagos, that is, business leaders and dynamic young up and coming professionals and creative.

While reflecting on the modernday influences in contemporary art, Barlow observed that the game of art is changing in our creative space.

“In modern art, we have Damien

Hirst,” she said. “He is a fantastic icon who really thinks outside the box. In Nigeria, we are becoming more open to art not just the traditional forms.”

Many contemporary artists have managed to stir controversies with their pieces as reported by foreign media. This time, Barlow’s interest is to stir up interest in and patronage of contemporary Nigerian art.

“The company is focused on delivering creative events which will encourage more people to get involved in art patronage. We chose to do it here at Heritage Place because it is the first environmentally certified commercial building in Lagos. It is finished with fantastic standards.”

This initiative is supported by Samsung, Power Horse, Pulse.ng, Avandis Consulting, Petrolex Oil and Gas, Uber, Artnigeria.com and Genevieve magazine.

ALL RISE FOR THE LAGOS THEATRE FESTIVAL Yinka Olatunbosun The buzz had been on the airwaves and social media about the third edition of the Lagos Theatre Festival organised by the British Council, Lagos. Six venues were selected for this simultaneous shows but the Freedom Park, Broad Street was the melting pot of all theatre art enthusiasts at the Grand Opening. With or without a formal invitation, culture journalists flocked the Freedom Park just in time to hear the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Folarin Coker declare the festival open.

“The festival presents an opportunity to promote and showcase the talents and creativity of our great country in line with our administration’s resolve to create a year-round programme of our culture, entertainment and tourist attracting event across the length and breadth of the state,” he said.

“I am pleased to see that the festival has grown to 40 productions and over 100 hundred shows. Similarly to our vision with One Lagos Fiesta in December, extended to five administrative districts, the festival is taking place at multiple

venues across the Lagos Island and Mainland. In line with this administration’s vision to create opportunities and platforms for the enjoyment of arts and culture, not just for a small minority of Lagos population but in the subsequent years, we will like to see an extension from Agege to Epe, to Badagry and Ikorodu.”

He reiterated the commitment of the state in exploring the potential of arts in national orientation and development.

“We will find ways to work with the British Council to see how we can achieve this.

I am keen to see how we can use creativity and talents we have in addressing some of the challenges we have in the mega city.

I look forward to watching some of the shows in the next few days and I hope you invite others,” he continued.

The ball was set rolling with a rousing Yoruba rap performance by Pelumibaba which was followed by the sweet serenades from Isaac Geralds, a top eight finalist at the music reality show, Project Fame West Africa. Isaac, whose soul and swing delivery held the audience in awe relived the spirit of valentine with his smash hit love song, “Fall in Love’’. He sang and talked to female members of the

Pelumi Baba, the opening act in performance

audience. They, in turn, were so captivated and unwilling to leave the venue for

the next show that was produced by Lala Akindoju.

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OKUKOR AND THE CAMPAIGN FOR LOOTED TREASURES Benin-bronze Cockerel

Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

I

t was sometime in the year 1897.

A 1, 200-strong British punitive expedition force under Admiral Sir Henry Rawson had just struck and a once proud West African Kingdom of Benin laid in ruins, as it licked its wounds. Rawson’s troops were responding to a humiliating defeat suffered by a previous British invasion force under Acting Consul General James Philips. One of the aftermaths of that invasion was the looting of much of the kingdom’s art, their subsequent relocation to Britain.

Among these was a bronze cockerel, called “Okukor”, which had long stood in the hall of a Cambridge college until its removal following calls from students for it to be repatriated. The cockerel was said to have been bequeathed to Cambridge’s Jesus College in 1930 by an army captain, George William Neville, who was a student of the college.

Apparently, the university had bowed to pressure from the students on Tuesday that the statue be taken down from the Jesus College hall. The university also agreed that discussions to decide its future should get under way.

And this includes possible repatriation to Nigeria. But then, the discussions became complex when the issue of the bronze statues rightful ownership came up.

Indeed, the bronze cockerel’s repatriation was what the college students’ union had asked for last month when it approved a motion on the subject. It was a Ghanaian student, Amatey Doku, who opened the debate on the bronze cockerel, arguing that it was stolen during the 1897 punitive expedition in

reprisal for the killing of British traders, which left the Benin Kingdom in ruins and 3,000 pieces of its art stolen. Doku had proposed that the college not only hold a repatriation ceremony with a view to returning the work, but also commission a new work to replace it.

His motion was seconded by a Nigerian student, Ore Ogunbiyi, who told the meeting: “We spoke to a bronze repatriation expert who said that grown men cried after the return of pieces in 2014.”

In its response, the college had in a statement issued through Cambridge University said: “Jesus College acknowledges the contribution made by students in raising the important but complex question of the rightful location of its Benin bronze, in response to which it has permanently removed the ‘Okukor’ from its hall. The college commits to work actively with the wider university and to commit resources to new initiatives with Nigerian heritage and museum authorities to discuss and determine the best future for the Okukor, including the question of repatriation.”

The bronze cockerel’s symbolic importance to the college is based on the fact that its coat of arms features three black cockerels with red combs and wattles. But its original emblem was the five wounds of Jesus. But because it had become a symbol of rebellions protesting at the suppression of monasteries in the 16th century, it was reportedly replaced in 1575 by a shield with the personal coat of arms of John Alcock, the Bishop of Ely and its founder, featuring black cockerels and ten crowns.

A Benin bronze appreciation committee has already reached out to the Nigerian government, whose support

for the proposal to repatriate the cockerel, it supposed, should be taken for granted. “Okukor” is not the only of the several other Benin artefacts it wants back to its shores. Nigeria had famously and previously called for the return of the mask depicting Benin’s Queen Idia at the height of her reign in the 19th century. The mask, whose replica became the second Festival of Black and African Arts and Culture (FESTAC’77) symbol, has its original ivory masterpiece in a British Museum.

The fate of “Okukor” reignites the debate on the fate of several priceless bronze or ivory artefacts carted away from the ancient kingdom by Portuguese and British colonialists, which today litter museums in Britain, France and America.

While there had been no official response from the Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, when efforts were made to contact him on “Okukor’s” possible repatriation, the Nigerian government’s stance on the issue has always been clear. It has repeatedly called for the repatriation of all the Benin bronzes, which it claims as part of its cultural heritage. This was only being echoed in the words of the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Kassim Afegbua, who advised those who carted away Benin artefacts to return them. “When one of the descendants of the colonialist, Dr Adrain Mark-Walker visited Benin City in 2014, they returned one of the stolen artefacts and reacting to the gesture, the governor, Adams Oshiomhole, said that was a good first step and urged others who are in possession of the other stolen items of the Edo ancestry to follow suit,” he recalled.

The “Okukor” debate echoes the

Rhodes Must Fall campaign in Oxford aimed at removing a statue of the Victorian colonialist Cecil Rhodes from the frontage of Oriel College of Oxford University. But in the case of Oriel College, the students’ demands were turned down. Oriel had at first offered a lengthy consultation over the statue’s future and applied for permission to remove a separate plaque in his honour.

But this decision had to be reversed after widespread criticism that its actions amounted to rewriting history.

The hornets’ nest of campaigns for the repatriation of other cultural artefacts had long been stirred. Among these were the call for the return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece from the British Museum, a similar call by Egypt for the return of the Rosetta stone, which has hieroglyphic, demotic and Greek inscriptions in it and is believed to hold the key to deciphering hieroglyphics and Egypt’s past and India’s call for the return of Koh-i-Noor diamond, which was seized by the British Empire’s East India Company as one of the spoils of war.

Other notable similar campaigns are: the Egypt-driven campaign for the return of the Nefertiti Bust by a German foundation, which sees it as “the ambassador of Egypt in Berlin”; the call by Turkey’s aggressive campaign to reclaim its antiquities (including the Old Fisherman from Aphrodisias and Sion Treasure) from the world’s largest museums including the Met, the Louvre and the Pergamon; the campaign by the Iraqi government to reclaim the Iraqi Jewish artefacts looted during the USled 2003 invasion and the demand by the Chinese government for the return of its imperial treasures by the British Museum.

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A cross-section of distinguished guests at the command performance of Irobi’s play

IROBI’S PLAY FOR A ROYAL TREAT

Greg Mbajiorgu

I

t was Friday, February 19. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s New Arts Theatre was thrice capacity-filled. The event was the tertiary institution’s 45th convocation drama. This grand convocation cultural night, which featured Esiaba Irobi’s The Colour of Rusting Gold, was unique in so many ways.

First, it was a command performance packaged as a reception highlight for the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, who is also the newly invested Chancellor of the university. Also, the double-pronged theatrical ceremony, which celebrated both the visit of the Chancellor and the works and life of Irobi, the doyen of Nsukka school of drama, was preceded by an opening glee performed by the Ooni’s griots and praise-singers to the delight of the special audience eagerly awaiting the arrival of His Majesty into the Arts Theatre. Adeafening ovation heralded the arrival of the Ooni to the venue.

The occasion was also planned and conceived to commemorate the life and works of the doyen of Nsukka School of Drama-the late Esiaba Irobi.

Irobi was a prolific playwright and poet with a frightening and fascinating harvest of highly remarkable classics of literary works. His published and frequently produced plays includes: Nwokedi, Hangmen Also Die, Cemetery Road, Put out the House Lights, What Songs Do Mosquitoes Sing, Fronded Circle, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh and most recently, Sycorax. His collection of published poems includes: Inflorescence, Cotyledons and Why I Don’t like Philip Larkin. Professor Irobi, a theatre professor at Ohio University, Athens, was on sabbatical leave from his job at the Freie Universitat, Berlin, Germany when he took ill on the May 29, 2010 and died at the age of 49.

His classical play, Cemetery Road clinched the Nigeria LNG-endowed prize for literature in 2010.

But, unfortunately, he died before the date of the conferment of the prestigious award.

Irobi’s The Colour of Rusting Gold – directed by Greg Mbajiorgu and Ikechukwu Erojikwe – was performed by the staff and students of the Department of Theatre and Film Studies of the university.

The Colour of Rusting Gold is a drama on corruption and dilemma of the contemporary man as he strives for moral rectitude. The play is a marriage of tradition and modernity but the copious appearance of tradition in the play is a veneer to explore the issue of morality, integrity and honour in the

face of money politics. Thus the play captures in all ramifications the place of sound judgment and lore of our traditional belief and value system.

It opens in the shrine of the great herbalist Otagburuagu. Boldly inscribed on the wall in the far end of the stage is “Herbalist Otagburuagu Specialist in Madness, Rain Making and Barrenness. A Trial Will Convince You, 080336664191”. This notice takes us into the soul of the man we are about to encounter.

The performance opens on a very serene note with the auditorium in pitch darkness and the orchestra intoning a call and response chant. This ends abruptly, then the flute filters in which is followed intermittently by the Ikolo and the Ogene, which ebbs off slowly as the dirge “Ihe dike Mere Moo” is rendered at the same time with the lights clearly indicating that it is early morning. Lights reveal two figures; Otagburuagu and Ogidi on stage, one on a bamboo bed the other on a mat on the floor.

Otagburuagu was played by Daniel Chibuko a graduate of theatre and film studies, who chose to be part of the production due to his love for the theatre on the one hand and Irobi on the other. His interpretation of the role elicited commendations from many including Prof. Chimalu Nwankwo, Irobi’s teacher who flew in from the US to see the production. “This is the best showing of The Colour of Rusting Gold I have seen so far,” he said.

The second movement also resumed on a high tone and pace, Nnenna the pregnant woman played by Sandra Chioma Samuel engages Alika (Christian Nwokocha) in a funny but thought provoking conversation which is suddenly interrupted by the distinct voice of Ngasi played by Cindy Anene Ezeugwu, a lecturer in the department of Theatre and Film Studies, who rattled the audience with her melancholic lamentation which flows thus “I’m the unlucky woman, who wanted to blow her nose but blew out her eyes, I stretched my hands to pick my eyes but broke my hands…” Ezeugwu held the audience spell bound during her entire appearance, even more magical was the epic sensation which her sudden entrance from the right aisle of the auditorium created. Her enactment enchanted the audience so much that they started asking if she was the real Ngasi and Oriakanjonauchichi’s mother. She was so alive in the role that she got some members of the audience to shed tears. The appearance of Ngasi and Oriakanjo brought a sober mood to the performance. Empathy was drawn to the characters of Ngasi and Oriakanjo (the lunatic) which was played by Justin Anakwe a final year student, Anakwe’s performance needs to be experienced

because words cannot paint how the young man was able to interpret the role of the mad man so well. As the movement progressed Nnanimgaebi (Ugochukwu Frank) and Nketa (Stella Offor) enter with sharp and angry movements which changed the mood of the play. Nanimgaebi’s entrance changes everything, his movement, speech variations, gestures and delivery took the play to another dimension. As the audience began to get excited, Oriakanjonuchichi attacks and holds Nketa captive, Nnanimgaebi’s attempts to rescue her become futile as Oriakanjo seizes the gun which he wants to use to rescue Nketa. From then on the performance blazingly x-rayed the problems of our present society- for example, the mad man and the gun, the lawless nature of the corrupt politician, the helpless pregnant woman who was not allowed to see the dibia due the selfish attitude of the corrupt politician. The story goes on.

Nnanimgaebi in his bid to hold onto parliamentary power tries to blackmail Otagburuagu to kill his opponent, unfortunately this backfires and Nnanimgaebi falls into the pit he dug for another. From there the walls of Otagburuagu’s soul begin to crack. The great dibia, the human tiger with four eyes enters the level of psychosis.

His conscience has been smeared with blood, the blood of the innocent child and that of Nanimgaebi. Unfortunately, Ogidi steals the money, which Otagburuagu refers to as blood money, the very money that Nanimgaebi left in his shrine after the oath swearing before Ahanjoku, he is immediately murdered by Otagburuagu. Subsequently, he moves ahead to kill Oriankanjo with the belief that he saw everything. Sadly, his friends and fellow members of the Osuagwu cult, apprehends him. Kevin Omah who played Ijere in the play, though a minor character, transported the audience from the physical world to the spiritual plane, Oma’s deep rooted interpretation and research of the role brought in metaphysical and esoteric aesthetics into the performance, Ogene Ugochukwu Ugwu and Okaaomee Lambert Abbah arrive but realize that they cannot defeat Otagburuagu on their own, thus they send for Mmaju the female Osuagwu whose magical and metaphysical appearance rescued the situation. Mmaju’s exhilarating and exotic display of supernaturalism thrilled the audience beyond words. Nkechi Udensi who starred as Mmaju made extra effort to add colour to the role. She is dexterous and skillful as an actress. Her delivery

which was filled with ritual essence and grandeur was further heightened by the mystifying make-up and costume. Otagburuagu is defeated, his taproot unearthed, his medicine pot discovered. The other dibia’s destroy Otagburagu’s shrine amidst a soul touching dirge. The infusion of dance, ritual music, chants and spectacle into the play by the directors’ helped to entice and mesmerize the audience from the beginning of the play to the end. Making it possible for them to go home reflecting on the very message contained in the production brochure “it is our expectation that our special audience for this year’s convocation drama will go home with the following question: Why must we allow our great nation, Nigeria, which we cherish even more than Gold to rust in our age and time”?

The technical elements of the play: sound, lights, set and orchestra were effectively employed except for few glitches resulting from poor funding of the production.

Although most of our distinguished guests could not hide their feelings that the performance was well executed, it is pertinent to note that the theatre architecture and its accoutrements cry out for urgent attention. The Nsukka theatre is far from being an ideal example of what a modern theatre building should look like. The stage is narrow, the auditorium lacks modern seats and facilities, there is no cooling system in the theatre, no conveniences, and no ergonomics. However, it is delightful to mention that the president of the University Alumni Association, Chief Andrew Oru, has promised to help in the renovation and re-equipping of the arts theatre. This, he said, is in his priority list of problems to solve because “… the Arts Theatre is a strategic building, a place where we say welcome to distinguished visitors to the university with dramatic offerings”. Nevertheless, I must frankly state that these technical and structural short comings did not quite undermine this year’s convocation production as such, because the superlative performance of the actors and actresses diminished most of these shortcomings.

Having impressed the Vice-Chancellor and all our distinguished convocation guests and uplifted the image of the university through this singular theatrical outing, we sincerely hope that the UNN Alumni Association will not allow next year’s convocation drama to be staged in a poor theatrical arrangement.

- Mbajiorgu, a NURESDEF Laureate, is a Senior Lecturer at the Department ofTheatre and Film Studies of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

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CICERO

Editor Vincent Obia Email vincent.obia@thisdaylive.com

IN THE ARENA

The Presidential Inquest into the Pogrom by Herdsmen in Benue Amid a multitude of inquiries, which previous governments lacked the political will to implement, only a sincere commitment by President Muhammadu Buhari to ending the impunity of the marauders through effective law enforcement and realistic legislation would make a difference. Vincent Obia writes

E

very now and again the bloody spectacle flares up even with greater intensity. The predictability and scale of the carnage wrecked on indigenous communities by the herdsmen depict them like a spectre always returning to haunt the locals. The sheer success of their murderous operations tend to demonstrate an unwavering force of complicity between the assailants and those paid by the state to keep society safe from such terrorist atrocities.

But President Muhammadu Buhari has stepped in with a promise to end the vicious trend. Buhari must device sincere law enforcement strategies and legislations to end the futile bloodletting.

The president has ordered an investigation into the clashes between herdsmen and indigenes of communities in Benue State. This followed the incident about a fortnight ago, when Fulani herdsmen, backed by mercenary fighters, invaded several communities in Agatu Local Government Area of the state, killing more than 300 natives.

“We will conduct an investigation to know exactly what happened; the only way to bring an end to the violence once and for all is to look beyond one incident and ascertain exactly what factors are behind the conflicts,”Buhari said in a statement signed by his special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu.“Once the investigations are concluded, we will act immediately to address the root of the problem.”

There is a multitude of unimplemented reports on the fratricidal struggles between herders and indigenous peoples of the Middle Belt, particularly, in Plateau State, which has witnessed the bloodiest skirmishes. Five commissions and panels investigated and submitted reports on the ethno-religious crisis in Plateau State between 1994 and 2010, but none of the recommendations has been applied to the tragedy that has claimed thousands of lives in the past four decades. They are the Justice Aribiton Fiberesima Commission of Inquiry into the April 12, 1994 clash in Jos Metropolis, Justice Niki Tobi Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Disturbances in Jos and its Environs in September 2001, Prince Bola Ajibola Commission of Inquiry into the November 2008 crisis, General Emmanuel Abisoye Panel of Inquiry of 2009, and the Solomon Lar Presidential Administrative Panel in 2010.

Buhari’s inquest into the Benue killings would not be particularly interesting if the president had not shown himself as a passionate defender of Fulani interests.

Himself a cattle breeder, the president is reported to be the Life Patron of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, the pan-Fulani herders’ union. In a well-known – though, widely criticised – incident on October 13, 2000, Buhari had led a powerful team of his kinsmen to the then Oyo State Governor Lam Adesina to protest the alleged killing of Fulani cattle rearers. The allegation turned out to be a false alarm, and Buhari was roundly condemned for engaging in blind ethnic patriotism not befitting a former Head of State.

Buhari must rise above all emotional pressures and take a dispassionate view of the crisis involving Fulani

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

ezeibe.aguwa@thisdaylive.com 08093845329

pastoralists and indigenous communities in Benue State.

The president must device appropriate and workable strategies to end the crisis, not only in Benue State, but also throughout the Middle Belt and other parts of Nigeria where clashes between Fulani herders and natives have become a regular occurrence.

Suggestions have been made for the banning of the current conflict-prone system of moving animals from place to place in search of food and water, and its replacement with the establishment of ranches, where animals would be fed with hay and other modern feeds. This suggestion does not seem to have found favour with Buhari. He told a delegation from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in January that a plan to map out grazing areas would soon be presented to the Nigerian Governors Forum as a temporary solution, until cattle owners are persuaded to adopt other means of rearing their cattle.

But Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, was quoted as saying penultimate Thursday in Abuja that the federal government was planning to send a bill to the National Assembly for a law that would prohibit herdsmen from allowing their cattle to roam and graze in communities and farmlands. Noting that many of the violent herdsmen were from the neighbouring countries, Ogbeh said “massive hectares of grasses for the consumption of cattle,”imported from Brazil were being grown, some of which would be ready in three months.

There is no doubt that the archaic pastoralist system urgently needs changing if Nigeria is to overcome the frequent clashes between herdsmen and indigenous populations, which have laid waste to many communities.

The setting up of ranches remains the most feasible option.

Kogi Assembly and Reps Takeover

T House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara

All in all, the murderous invasion of communities by herdsmen, like it happened in Agatu, is a mainly security issue. Those in charge of security in areas where these things happen should be held to account for the lapses that allow hundreds of people to be slaughtered in cold blood. The Nigerian government must be alive to its primary responsibility of protecting the citizens against attack and danger.

But then, certain happenings since the Agatu massacre seem to send the wrong signals to the citizens about the government’s commitment to their security.

As the whole world watched and waited to see how passionately interested the president was in addressing the Agatu killings, the latest in a protracted menace of massacres by Fulani herdsmen, leaders of the latter came out with comments that seemed like an open claim and rationalisation of the carnage. At a meeting on March 3 in Makurdi, organised by Police Inspector General Solomon Arase, spokesman of the Fulani community in Benue State, Ado Boderi, alleged that it was the killing of about 10, 000 cattle belonging to his members by the people of Agatu that sparked the bloody crisis. The meeting, which was presided over by the IGP, had in attendance officials of the Benue State government, chiefs and major stakeholders of Agatu, and Fulani leaders from both Benue and Nasarawa states.

It is hard to understand how the alleged killing or theft of cows can justify the taking of human lives, and on such a massive scale. Sadly, such indirect rationalisations have almost always followed killings, like the one in Agatu, by cattle rearers, with the security agencies seeming virtually helpless.

As if to compound the situation, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Paul Yakadi, disclosed some days after the massacre in Agatu Local Government Area that Fulani herdsmen, armed with sophisticated weapons, and their cows had occupied the deserted parts of the council area, where the carnage took place. This style of occupation, which seems to follow a similar pattern as previous invasions by herdsmen, has fuelled allegations that the original intention of the marauders that sacked Agatu communities was to grab their rich agricultural land for grazing. Clearly, there are many reasons to doubt the federal government’s commitment to a permanent solution to the bloody confrontations between cattle breeders and local communities.

Only a sincere and passionate implementation of popular solutions to the problem can remove the doubts.

he House of Representatives on Wednesday took over the functions of the Kogi State House of Assembly following the degeneration of the disagreements provoked by the impeachment of the Speaker, Mr. Momoh Jimoh-Lawal. It was an appropriate intervention to preserve the reputation and sanctity of the Assembly and democracy, generally.

But the lower chamber should put

necessary machinery in place to quickly resolve the issues so that the state legislators can return to their statutory duties.

Any attempt to allow the situation to linger would defeat the purpose of the National Assembly’s intervention.

The Kogi State House of Assembly members, too, must endeavour to cooperate in the efforts to resolve the crisis in the state legislature.

– Vincent Obia

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CICERO/INTERVIEW

Abubakar

Abubakar: I Inherited N16m from My Predecessor Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar is the Governor of Jigawa State. Abubakar last week addressed select journalists in an extensive engagement that offered him opportunity to speak, for the first time, on the state that was handed over to him by former Governor Sule Lamido, his resolve to complete the projects of the previous administration, the huge debt burden he inherited, how he worked with opposition party chairmen at local government level and what the state is doing to address the issue of girl-child education. Gboyega Akinsanmi was there

Y

ou assumed office last year against all tides.

Since you came into office, what has your administration been doing differently from the administration of former Governor Sule

Lamido?

Since we came into office, we have managed to shrink spending. The budget for Government House has shrunk by 70 percent. Hospitability spending and virtually all other expenditures of the state have shrunk.

Contrary to what used to happen in the state when some people used to charter flight amounting up to N20million every month, we do not charter today. We do not spend close to one quarter of that amount. I came from the private sector. I know for us to change the situation of our people, you have to change the economic dynamics of the state. If you check our internally generated revenue (IGR) profile, we are generating little or nothing. It is nothing to write home about. Hence we are making effort to change the unfortunate

situation. We are trying to change the economic dynamics of Jigawa State by creating a sustainable environment for businesses. We believe the only way to do this is through agriculture where we have comparative advantage. We have invited Dangote who is doing massive rice production in a part of the state.

There are others, who are into tomato production. We also believe in empowering people, but the structure we inherited is not sustainable. Our major focus is to create local economy that will in the near future support the state.

Oil has no future; prices will continue to fall. New technologies are coming up and will always ensure that oil is not sustainable. We are also looking at enhancing our IGR through taxation.

We must ensure that necessary taxes are collected and properly remitted to government coffers. Before now, many people defrauded the state.

Critics have faulted your programmes and projects on many grounds. Since you assumed office, how has opposition parties been cooperating with your administra-

The education of girl-child is completely free in Jigawa State.

It is completely free from nursery to university. In addition, we have some classes, where we bring every girl-child and train them. We set up these classes to enable us access the parent of these students

tion?

Well, it will interest you to know that I am the only governor who still left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmen of local governments in their positions. About 25 of them, chairmen and two caretaker committee chairmen, we inherited from the past administration. When I came in, I told them to continue with their work contrary to the expectation of even members of the opposition. Again, I am the only governor that has not accused my predecessor of embezzlement. There may be allegations here and there, but you cannot say somebody stole when there is no proof of the allegation. Unless the law court declares someone guilty, you cannot do so on the basis of hear-say. Also, I inherited N16million only from my predecessor. We met huge liabilities. I inherited N16million from my predecessor with too many works in progress in a shrinking economy and in a shrinking oil prices. I have continued with the projects on ground. I am not the kind of person who believes in initiating new projects and abandoning the ones that were started by my predecessor.

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CICERO/INTERVIEW • ABUBAKAR: I INHERITED N16M FROM MY PREDECESSOR • Continued from Pg. 80 Considering the spate of terrorist attacks in the North, how do you intend to ensure security of life and properties?

The issue of security is basically federal. What the state can do is to support the security agencies. We have been supporting them. We have very good relationship with traditional rulers.

And our information system with the traditional rulers is superb. The traditional rulers report to the security agencies any new person that come into their territories. You should have asked whether it is by miracle or chance that Jigawa, surrounded by Yobe on one hand, Bauchi on other side and Niger Republic on the top, and we remain peaceful. I do not know what to say really. We are doing so well in security.

We are also investing so much on security.

We are working for the good of our state and our people. I rather complete the projects and let somebody take the credit rather than lose the people’s money or allow the resources to waste.

You said you inherited almost an empty treasury. With the sharp drop in monthly allocation, how have you been meeting up with payment of workers’ salaries?

Jigawa is a civil service state; once salaries are not paid, the groundnut seller in town will quickly feel it. We have continued to pay salaries despite the shrinking resources. What we did as soon as we came into office was to plug some holes through which people were siphoning money from government.

Through the biometric exercise we conducted, a lot of ghost workers were discovered. It means that some people were making themselves rich every month by collecting salaries of workers that did not exist. We have been able to block that. The state government supported some local governments last month to the tune of N226 million for them to pay salaries; that’s to show you how bad the situation is. A lot of my colleagues can’t even pay salaries, so we still consider ourselves lucky to be able to do so.

Before we arrived here, people said the only place where life exists in Jigawa State was Dutse. How do you intend to extend this life to other part of the state?

That is not true. In 27 headquarters of local councils, we have streets. We have roads. We have businesses. In fact, there is more businesses in Hadejia than Dutse. It is not true. Because we are not blowing our trumpet? There is a lot of misinformation. Some people said he never stayed in the state. Contrary to what some people said, I am the only one that come to the office at about 9:05 a.m. except I am not in the state.

Whenever I am in the state, I come to the office 9:05 a.m. daily.

There has been issues around the goat programme this administration put in place for widow in the state.

Critics have attacked the programme and described it as a misplaced priority. What actually informed this initiative?

It is because people do not understand how to solve problems. This has been done in other climes. Personally, I have tried empowerment programmes in other vocations. The programmes have not been as successful as the goat programme. But it is a kind of prestige to give our people loan. For people who are into sowing, you gave the sowing machine. That is perfect model. But you gave out 20 or more sowing machines.

Nobody will be able to make N100 from it. But the goat programme is good. In many countries, it has proved very successful. We recorded 70 percent success in the goat programme we did. We put monitoring and evaluation mechanism in place to measure the impact of the programme. If you evaluate all empowerment programmes in this country, you discover that the success rate is less than 20 percent. Some beneficiaries sell the empowerment materials given to them the same day they collect it because it cannot sustain them.

Critics have raised another issue that you have abandoned all the programmes and projects of last administration. In this light, what is the status of Dutse Airport?

That is not true. I am the only governor in this political dispensation that met the Chairmen of Local Government Areas elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and worked with them until the expiration of their terms. I am also the only governor that continued totally the projects that the previous administration started. But

Abubakar

what I do not subscribe to is a situation whereby the state government will pay for 60 passengers three days a week.

The last administration was paying N27, 000 per passenger. And it paid for 60 passengers for three days a week to support traffic development. And this traffic development has been in existence for over one year. How can you develop a route for over one year and cannot sustain the route? Despite this, you continue taking the public funds to sustain the airline so that people will say aircraft is landing in Dutse. All the projects in the airport are going on. The lighting is going on. Other projects are being executed in the airport. Sincerely, the work is going on in the airport.

If the planes are no longer landing, what are you going to do with the airport?

That is a good question. But planes are landing. But my administration is not supporting the idea of using taxpayers’ money to subsidise route. The route has been there for more than one year. And the route is not developing.

Sometimes, the plane will bring only one passenger and the state government had to pay for 60 passengers three times a week. That is what has been happening. All the shout is about the subsidy. I did not stop any plane from taking off from the airport. The airport is active.

Even last week, Alhaji Aliko Dangote landed there. A lot of people are coming and going through the airport. We do all our airlifting from the airport. We intend to airlift all our pilgrims this year through the airport. But when there is no traffic, I cannot create one. I do not see the magic that will lead traffic by subsidizing an airline just for it to come to Dutse and go. The question is: this can come back. But first, we have to develop the economic activities that warrant the movement of people?

Unless we create businesses or develop some tourist attractions that create air traffic, then we can go back and start developing air traffic. I will not allow the airport to deteriorate. It has been built already. I will not allow it to waste away. But certainly, I cannot spend public funds to support an airline that bring only one or two passengers into Dutse.

Even in Hadejia, they have choice either to come here or go to Kano. But most

of us are already married to Kano. We have one or two brothers or sisters there. What we intend to do with the airport is to create economic activities that will develop air traffic. If that happens, there is possibility to continue, even if it will take another six month to pursue traffic development programme.

Second, we are discussing cargo export with DHL. We have already sent people to Kenya to find out how best we can achieve this. Third, there is already a proposal on aviation school. We are also looking into different things we do with the airport.

Beyond the above, what is the plan of your administration to industrialise Jigawa State considering the potential of the state to produce tomato, rice or sorghum in large quantity?

After Kano, the second factory of Aliko Dangote will be in Jigawa for tomato processing. We have decided to allocate 500 hectares for tomato production. But right now, we have 200 hectares for this purpose. We also have farmers, who have started cultivation on 200 hectares. Already, the state government is subsidising the transportation of tomato to Dangote’s tomato processing factory in Kano. This will enable us to learn how to produce and understudy the best practice. At this initial stage, it will not be difficult for farmers to transport what they produce to the Dangote tomato processing factory because the state government has subsidised transport. Already, the farmers have collected the seeds. Aside, they have attended training and are now working hand-inhand with Dangote Tomato Processing Factory. We are putting in a request for a portion of land for tomato production.

Finally, we are doing that with sorghum and others. Even sorghum, we are discussing with Cadbury to see how we can package the whole value chain.

We will bring in extension workers and provide them with certified seeds, farm implement, fertilizers and training on credit. That is why I said we are trying to do what will move our administration forward.

For all the programmes you have outlined, security is central. But you have not discussed security agenda.

In your remark, you said you never accused your predecessor of corruption and stealing. Are you saying there was no incident of stealing and corruption under the previous administration?

I said I have not accused my predecessor of stealing. I have to establish facts before I can make such allegations.

I have not accused him because there is no proof, though there are allegations.

But the court has to prove that he was involved in the acts of corruption and stealing. Actually, there are allegations, but the court has to rule that they are complicit. All these people say they are thieves. It is not the gutter language that we should use. Even though they are thieves, the court has to prove it. That is why I have not accused him.

The Northern State Governors’ Forum decided to borrow from the Islamic Bank. When eventually accessed, what specific areas do the northern states plan to inject the facilities?

Every state in the North decided what area they would want to use the loan for. In Jigawa, I inherited a discussion from the Islamic Development Bank with respect to a facility of $232 million. It is meant for infrastructure development. For us to really grow our agricultural sector, we need to develop out infrastructure and the road networks that will help the farmers. That was what I inherited. First of all, we are not in a hurry to collect money. We have to evaluate our situation first. It is too low for every person now knowing that we are barely surviving. After due evaluation, we can then arrange our loan based on what is coming in so that we can service easily. We are all rushing for the loan because it is almost interestfree. I know different states want to use the loans for income-generation activities. For instance, we discussed about the development of solar power generation. It is highly capital-intensive project. But in the long run, it will pay back.

The early marriage of girl-child is still a critical issue in the North at large. It is indeed prevalent in all parts of the northern states. What is your administration doing to promote the education of girl-child?

The education of girl-child is completely free in Jigawa State. It is completely free from nursery to university. In addition, we have some classes, where we bring every girlchild and train them. We set up these classes to enable us access the parent of these students. Sometimes, the parents have some economic challenges and as a result children are given out at early age. We are training them as a strategy to access these families gradually so that their daughters will go to schools. Most of them do not even go to school because of tuition.

But we have taken it off.

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CICERO/REPORT

Unending Crisis in Anambra PDP Anayo Okolie writes on the crisis in the Anambra State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed

Oguebego

he January 29 Supreme Court judgement was supposed to put an end to the prolonged crisis bedevilling the Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party. But the joy of the recognised Ejike Oguebego faction of the party, which the judgement favoured, was put on hold.

Before the general election last year, Oguebego and Emakayi were both laying claim to the party’s state chairmanship. But the Federal High Court ruled that the Oguebego-led executive was the only constitutionally recognised faction.

ments on the leadership of the party, urged the INEC chairman to do the right thing in accordance with the oaths of office he took to the effect that he would do “the right thing to all manners of people according to law without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.”

Uche added that should the INEC chairman be in doubt as to the implications of its refusal to issue its candidates their certificates of return, it had attached the ruling of the presiding justice of the Supreme Court on the day the issue of clarification of the apex court judgement was rested, Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, to guide him.

The eight-paragraph ruling signed by Justice Ngwuta specifically read: “The judgement of this court delivered on January 29, 2016 does not require any interpretation. This court allowed the appeal and set aside the judgement of the court below, which had set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court in favour of the appellants. The said judgement of the Federal High Court was restored.

“In any case, the reliefs sought in the motion did not relate to or emanate from the judgement of this court delivered on 29th January, 2016 in appeal no 37/2015. When the Federal High Court granted the Confusion plaintiffs (now appellants) reliefs, the 2nd respondent But INEC claimed that the January 29 judgement was confusing and decided to approach the Supreme (INEC) did not seek interpretation of the judgement of the high court before it published the list submitCourt for clarification. Ruling on an application filed ted to it by the appellants as the candidates in the

by INEC seeking clarification and consequences of 2015 general election for the National Assembly. the judgement, Okoro held that the judgement by its “The respondents then appealed to the court below ordinary meaning did not need to be subjected to any and the said court set aside the judgement of the clarification.

Federal High Court. The 2nd respondent (INEC) did Uche said the ruling had cleared the way for not seek interpretation of the judgement of the court his clients to benefit from the judgement delivered below before it withdrew the appellants’ list, which on January 29. He said when the Federal High it had earlier published on the order of the Federal Court gave the ruling on the issue, INEC complied High Court. immediately without seeking for clarification and “Why would the same 2nd respondent, now when the Court of Appeal over turned the decision applicant (INEC), ask for interpretation of the judgeof the Federal High Court, the same electoral body ment that merely allowed the appeal which set aside complied with the appellate court’s decision without the judgement of the Court of Appeal and restored seeking for any clarification. the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered “I am surprised that the same INEC has found in favour of the appellants (now respondents in the it difficult to act on the Supreme Court decision of motion?)

January 29 the way it acted on the decisions of the “There is nothing to interpret in the judgement Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal,” Uche of this court. If the 2nd respondent (now applicant) said.

INEC had never denied the fact that it removed the needs interpretation, it is the restored judgement of names of candidates sent to it by the recognised PDP the Federal High Court that it should interpret and not the judgement of this court, which restored same. leadership in Anambra State because of the judgeFrom the above and the fuller reasons in the lead ment of the Court of Appeal, which judgement has ruling, I also strike out the application for want of now been set aside by the Supreme Court. jurisdiction.”

The Oguebego-led PDP, who accused INEC of Nigerians are watching with keen interest to see being biased against the candidates it lawfully forhow INEC would resolve the prolong tussle. warded to it in the execution of various court judge-

T

Judgement

Justice H.A. Ngajiwa of the Federal High Court had in a judgement in the suit FHC/PH/CS/2013 (now FHC/AWK/CS/247/2013), delivered on September 12, 2013, affirmed Oguebego and members of his team as constituting the authentic executive committee of the PDP in Anambra State.

The judge refused the prayer by the plaintiffs asking the court to recognise a former state chairman of the party, Ken Emekayi, and some others as the authentic PDP executive in Anambra State.

But in defiance to the order made by Ngajiwa directing INEC and the PDP to only “recognise and deal” with only the Oguebego-led executive, the PDP went ahead to set up a caretaker committee, which organised primaries that submitted the list containing the names of Senator Andy Uba and Senator Stella Odua, the sacked Senator Uche Ekwunife, and rest of the legislators as its candidates.

INEC obeyed the order and published the names of candidates that emerged winners in the primary election conducted by Oguebego and monitored INEC. But weeks later, the Court of Appeal in Abuja set aside the Federal High Court judgement and affirmed the Emekayi’s faction of the state executive committee.

Oguebego and another member of his state executive committee, Chuks Okoye, appealed against the judgement. PDP, INEC and another member of the party in the state, Chukwudi Okasia, were joined in the suit as respondents.

A five-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, unanimously affirmed an earlier verdict delivered by Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 15, 2014, which had affirmed the Oguebego-led executive committee of the party, along with the primaries conducted by it, and its list of candidates that emerged from the exercise.

Ruling in favour of Oguebego on January 29, Justice John Okoro, who read the lead judgement of the apex court, upturned the verdict of the appeal court on the grounds that its decision was based “on a wrong appreciation of the claim of the appellants before the trial Federal High Court.”

Okoro ruled, “Having resolved all the five issues in favour of the appellants, I hold that there is merit in this appeal, which is hereby allowed. The judgement of the Court of Appeal is hereby set aside.

“The order of the Federal High Court I Suit No FHC/PH/CS/2013 now Suit No FHC/AWK/ CS/247/2013), recognising the Ejike Oguebego-led Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Anambra State chapter is still subsisting until it is set aside by another court.

“I hereby award costs of N100, 000 against the first and third respondents in favour of the appellants.”

According to Mr. Chris Uche, counsel to Oguebego, “The Supreme Court judgement has effectively restored the list of candidates upheld by the Federal High Court.”

Yakubu

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L-R: Saraki, Dogara, Adamawa State Governor Bindo Jibrilla, Zuma and Buhari

Nigeria-South Africa Relations: Beyond the Rhetoric The recent visit by South African President Jacob Zuma to Nigeria may be indicative of the warming diplomatic ties betweenthetwocountriesbutnotareflectionoftherelationsbetweencitizensofbothcountries,writesDamilola Oyedele

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resident Jacob Zuma’s visit to Nigeria was accompanied with all the pomp and pageantry deserving of a President of one of the largest economies on the African continent, but the question on the lips of many Nigerian citizens was, “ what is he doing here?” Those who feel that way cannot be blamed so much.

Where the relationship between the governments of South Africa and Nigeria may seem friendly, the relationship between the citizens of both countries leaves much to be desired. This may not be unconnected with the general posture of the South African government, which many diplomats believe pay lip service to continental integration. This is hinged on the fact that the visa policy of South Africa towards other Africans remain one of the most hostile on the continent.

The bilateral relations were however not supposed to be that way owing to the fact that the rest of Africa, gingered

by Nigeria in 1976, worked for the emancipation of South Africa from the apartheid regime.

Friction between both Countries

Many Nigerians would recall the denial of entry and instant deportation of 125 Nigerians by the S/African immigration authorities in 2012 for not being in possession of yellow cards, even though Nigeria did not have a yellow fever epidemic. Unconfirmed reports had it that a serving member of the Nigerian National Assembly was among those deported. The country remained unapologetic until Nigeria commenced deportation of its citizens, including businessmen, and was reportedly set to commence an enquiry into the activities of South African businesses in Nigeria.

Interestingly, while about 120 South African firms are well established in Nigeria such as MTN, DSTV and others, just a few Nigerian firms have been able to find root in South Africa. Businesses accuse the South African government of deliberate frustrations of investors from other African nations.

Also the constant xenophobic attacks that occur in the country, where Nigerians and their thriving businesses have been targeted for looting, leaves an ugly stamp on the bilateral relations. The constant attacks are blamed on the government who other Africans, including President

Mugabe of Zimbabwe, have criticised for downplaying the role that the rest of the continent played in the liberation of the country.

It is necessary however to acknowledge that the unscrupulous activities of some Nigerian citizens residing in South Africa have projected an extremely negative image of Nigerians, through their involvement in drug trafficking, fraud, and other immoralities. This group have carried out nefarious activities to the extent that the Nigerian passport is looked down upon while the bearer is treated with scorn and suspicion.

It was also believed that the rebasing of Nigerian economy as the continent’s largest economy did not go down well with many South Africans (who hitherto held the position) who in turn criticised the Jacob Zuma led government for allowing the economy go downhill.

Though both countries sit on the African Union Peace and Security Council, they hold divergent views on many continental issues such as Libya during the planned ouster of Moammer Ghadafi by the Allied Forces, and Cote d’Ivoire following Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to hand over power after losing elections.

The relations further worsened under the last administration where South African authorities siezed and held on to $9 million allegedly smuggled into the country to purchase arms from the black market in the fight against Boko Haram. The death of almost a hundred of its citizens at the collapsed Synagogue Church in Lagos further embittered many of its people towards Nigerians.

Strengthening ties

A major achievement of the Binational Commission (BNC) which was established in 2009 was the waiver for visas for diplomats from both countries. It has however not been able to negotiate succour in the visa policy of South African towards ordinary Nigerians. Since its establishment, eight sessions had been held, and 34 agreements and Memorandum of Understanding had been signed.

It has also helped in boosting the business ties between both nations, whose gain, sadly is one sided. Several frosty issues are also handled before they degenerate.

Despite this, both countries seem to hold different views on continental issues, a development experts believe may not be too good for the development of Africa. It was in a bid to strengthen relations between both countries that

President, Zuma accepted an invitation from President Buhari to visit Nigeria.

Zuma Addresses Nigerian Parliament

The last time a Joint Session of the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives was addressed by a foreign leader was in 2000 when United States President Bill Clinton was accorded the honour.

Accompanied by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, the visiting leader recalled the enormous roles Nigeria played in anti-apartheid struggle as he paid tribute to the late Head of State, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, whose address, he said, gingered continental support and resistance to apartheid in the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1976.

“From the mid-70s, Nigeria and its people also hosted some of the exiled freedom fighters from South Africa, with numbers increasing after the Soweto Student Uprising in 1976,” Zuma recalled.

For him, both countries as the two largest economies on the continent, must complement each other and forge strong partnerships to facilitate accelerated economic growth and prosperity among Africans and ensure continental integration.

Nonetheless, there is room for greater business to business engagements particularly in the areas Nigeria has identified as potential growth sectors, he said.

“These include the diversification of the economy, namely electricity generation and supply, agriculture and agro-processing, tourism development including the hospitality sector, mining, banking, infrastructure development, aviation, manufacturing and the automotive sector.

We must strive for the diversification of our economies, so as to cast the net wide enough to create more job opportunities for our people, to improve their living conditions and grow our economies through domestic resources in the first instance,” he added.

Zuma’s words were nice, but as Speaker Yakubu Dogara puts it, the hospitality of Nigerians to South African businesses and its citizens should be reciprocated.

“We…seek that this brotherhood between our leaders translates to good relations between citizens of both countries and it is only then that both countries can speak to true integration of our peoples in the interest of our continent,” Dogara said.

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Chairman, Taraba State Traditional Council, Aku Uka of Wukari

Ishaku

Ishaku and the Challenge of Peace, Security Wole Ayodele, in Jalingo, reports on the efforts of the Taraba State governor to ensure peace in the state

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o keen watchers and followers of events in Taraba State, the recent suspension of four district and three village heads by the governor, Mr. Darius Ishaku, would finally bring to an end the altercation between Senators Emmanuel Bwacha and Yusuf A. Yusuf, both representing the state in the National Assembly.

Announcing the suspension of the chiefs, the state government stated that they had been allocating and selling lands and residencies of internally displaced persons to migrants who relocated to Taraba from other states, particularly, the northern states.

The affected chiefs, who were suspended for three months, according to the statement from the state government, are the district heads of Kungana, Takalafiya, Maihula and Tella as well as the village heads of Sabon Dale, Sandirde and Taka all in Bakundi and Gassol chiefdoms in Bali and Gassol local government areas.

According to the governor, the action of the chiefs constitute serious security threat to the state, as it is capable of sabotaging the current peace efforts of the administration, which is aimed at restoring peace to the troubled areas of the state so that the internally displaced persons can return to their homes.

Altercation

Prior to their suspension, Bwacha, who represents Taraba South senatorial district in the Senate, had raised an alarm on the floor of the Senate over the influx of strange people into the state, most of whom he disclosed were being ferried into the state in truckloads and buses. Bwacha, who is equally the deputy minority leader in the Senate, called on security agencies to investigate the development and take proactive measures to prevent any escalation of the already volatile security situation in the state.

But Bwacha’s counterpart, Yusuf, representing Taraba Central senatorial district, countered and alleged Bwacha was just crying wolf. To Yusuf, there was no basis for the alarm. He urged the Senate and security agencies to disregard Bwacha’s alarm, stressing that he has been informed by the state Commissioner of Police that there is no such influx into the state. But it was an assertion that was later debunked by the CP, Mr Shaaba Alkali.

Reacting to the controversy, Alkali revealed that the state police command had intercepted several

truckloads of strange people, who were asked to return to where they were coming from after being screened at the police headquarters. The police commissioner, however, noted that the migrants were not Boko Haram members but just fleeing states that had come under intense attack by the military in a renewed bid to flush out the insurgents. He urged the senators to leave him out of their politics, saying he is not a politician but a professional police officer.

Justification

But justifying the suspension of the chiefs, Ishaku revealed that his decision was based on security report available to him that the affected chiefs had embarked on indiscriminate selling of lands belonging to persons displaced by internal crisis in the state. He specifically accused the chiefs of encouraging the influx of migrants from other North-east and North-west states into the state by allocating to them land belonging to IDPs, who are mainly Tiv, with the primary aim of preventing them from returning to their homes.

“The actions of the chiefs have become very worrisome given that my administration has been battling to resettle the IDPs and promote peaceful coexistence among the people of the state and I cannot fold my hands and watch this trend continue,” the governor warned. “This development has given rise to a spate of arm robbery, cattle rustling, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.”

Kidnapping

Meanwhile, not a few residents and stakeholders in the state have drawn a link between the massive influx of the strange persons and the recent increase in criminal activities in the state, particularly, kidnappings being witnessed across some local government areas of the state.

First to be kidnapped recently was Hajia Beli Manu, mother of the state deputy governor, Alhaji Haruna Manu, who was kidnapped from her residence at Mutum Biyu in Gassol Local Government Area on February 8. Her abductors were said to have stormed her house in a convoy of motorcycles about 11.30pm and shot sporadically into the air, killing one person in the process. She was eventually released 24 24 hours later after her family, reportedly, paid an undisclosed sum of money as ransom. Though, the police authorities stated that no ransom was paid before her release.

Less than five days after Hajia Manu’s kidnap, specifically on February 14, another high profile

indigene of the state, 78-year-old Mallam Umaru Audu, father of a prominent politician, Alhaji Umaru Bibinu, was kidnapped from his residence at Bibinu village, Donga local government of the state. Audu was eventually released by his abductors after the payment of an undisclosed sum ransom. The kidnappers initially demanded N10 million.

Similarly, on March 1, a retired officer of the Department of State Security, Mr Hosea Danjuma, was kidnapped at his residence in Baissa, headquarters of Kurmi Local Government Area about 1.45am by unknown gunmen. Danjuma, who last worked in Badagry before retiring in 2015, was later released after three days in the abductors’ custody following the alleged payment of N5 million to his abductors.

The security authorities maintained that no ransom was paid.

Besides kidnappings, there has been a sharp increase in the rate of armed robbery, car snatching and theft as well as cattle rustling particularly in the south and central senatorial districts in recent times.

Accusation

To confirm and corroborate security reports that the increased spate of criminal activities may not be unconnected with the recent influx of people to the state, a Fulani group, Tabbital Pulaaku International, has accused Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Taraba of conniving with other Fulanis from other states to massively move into Taraba and cause disaffection among communities in the state. Chairman of Tabbital Pulaaku International, Bello Baminjani, who stated this in Jalingo while fielding questions from newsmen when he led members of his group on a courtesy call on Ishaku, accused Miyetti Allah Association of not working for the well-being of its members, but working to advance their selfish interests.

Bello alleged that Miyetti Allah in Taraba were conniving with other Fulanis from other states to cause disaffection among communities in Taraba, saying Tabbital Pulaaku International, which is known for peace, cannot identify with such dubious activities of Miyetti Allah in Taraba.

With the proactive measures taken by the governor, which have raised the hope for peace among communities in the state, many are optimistic that the protracted ethno-religious crisis as well as the rising criminal activities across the state would soon be brought to an end.

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Celebrating Jang at 72 In this piece, Seriki Adinoyi pays tribute to Senator Jonah David Jang as he turns 72

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ormer Governor of Plateau State and Senator of the Federal Republic, Jonah David Jang, today turned 72.

It is a matter of joy for his family and friends to praise the Lord for his grace on the life of this distinguished and extraordinary gentleman.

Jang is reputed not just for the richness of his itinerary while he was governor, but also for his rare courage and the constancy in his conviction and political choices, which have remained unchanged even when they contradict the main stream opinion and fashion.

He is, first of all, a model of rectitude in his personal relationships; in most of his dealings, he is straightforward, candid, direct, and resolute.

Many have attributed this to his military background. He is also absolutely reliable; he never dissembled, never recant his words. He is human - concerned with other people’s interests, sympathetic and compassionate, discreet and understanding. When he thanks you for something, you have no doubt that he really meant it. He will also not thank you when you don’t deserve it.

Without making him sound like a fanatic, for he is not, he gives everything he has to anything in which he believes and he’s involved.

His enthusiasm is contagious. If there is a single personal characteristic that has set him apart, it is an inordinate, probing, insatiable curiositywanting to get reasons why justice should not be served equally to all parties. He continually seeks the why and the how; the reasons and the motivations behind everything. These become a way of life, which constitute not only a fountain of knowledge and feeling, but also a pursuit of excellence. Wisdom, they say begins in wonder. That is Jang.

His government was tagged as ‘stingy’ because he sought to know what every fund he was going to release was meant for. But this attribute contributed to the reason his was very prudent in spending, as all the officials that worked with him knew that they would be required to give account for every fund released to them.

In politics, an endeavour where egos regularly outpace dedication, his career was shaped by the abrasive action between his steely sense of the right as he saw it and the politician’s inclination to temporise.

Jang has stood firm, not forgetting the people, never abandoning his dedication to their needs. He has not lost faith in the dream of what Nigeria, and particularly Plateau might be.

These rare characteristics, rather than endear him to many have unfortunately pitched people that have failed to cope with such straightforwardness against him. But for those that understand him, he is a treasure. He tends to think ahead of others; so, his suggestions may somewhat not be accepted immediately because many do not see what he has seen ahead of them.

Sometimes not too long ago, Jang had held a position on the need for the establishment of state police, arguing that such will bring policing closer to the people to address the myriad attacks on communities.

But he was vehemently resisted and dismissed. He was thought to have ulterior motives of using the police to fight his perceived enemies.

The then Police Inspector General thought Jang aimed to reduce his enormous powers. A few years later, nearly every governor and indeed

Jang every Nigerian saw reason for the same state police and began to clamour for it. And when the Federal Government was still reluctant about it, nearly all the states began to establish their private security outfits to tackle their internal security challenges, including the famous Civilian JTF that played vital role in the Boko Haram challenges in Borno State.

A recent one was his stance on the use of electronic card readers for the 2015 elections. He had foreseen the many failures of the cards, and had warned that many Nigerians may be disenfranchised. He even threatened to drag the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court when nearly half of the population of voters in Plateau State did not get the card and were going to be disenfranchised. He suggested then that INEC look into others ways of accrediting voters, but the commission refused.

In the aftermath, everyone saw the many failures of the electronic card system of voting, and indeed how it marred the elections. The Supreme Court also had reasons to dismiss cases brought before it on the basis of the use of the cards because it was not part of the constitution. If INEC had listened, perhaps some of the problems would have been averted.

In 2008, Jang had cried out that foreign mercenaries in military uniforms were imported with dangerous weapons to fight in Jos during the mayhem that followed local government elections in the state. He complained that Nigerian borders were too porous. Many did not believe. The mercenaries eventually wiped out communities

in Plateau State under the guise of being Fulani herdsmen. When they were done with Plateau, they proceeded to neighbouring states of Taraba, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and now Benue; with over 300 lives recently wiped out in Agatu. And may be if heed was given to his cry and the border properly guarded the menace of Boko Haram that spread across the nation like fire could have been averted or at least reduced.

Jang’s heart is big and it works overtime, but it is tenderer than any heart found among men of power. It is easily pierced by the tragedy and misfortunes of others, but it possesses marvelous powers of recuperation. When the Plateau voters rejected his choice for them in the 2015 elections, it was an open wound for a few moments. But then he gathered himself and began to climb out of defeat.

Like it was in the past, many didn’t see why he made the choice for them; many became beclouded by ethnic and zonal politics that they didn’t see why Plateau should be given a leader like Mr Gyang Pwajok, who possessed the intellectual capacity and the will to serve the state. But in years to come Plateau people will again understand.

His landmarks as military Governor of Benue and Old Gongola States are still there today as testimonies to his selfless services to the people; reason delegations were sent to felicitate with him when he celebrated his 70th Birthday in 2014. He is still a friend to the states up till today.

Jang may be 72 today, but he is young and vibrant at heart. He understands well why so many young people today, observing the contrast between their ideals and the reality around them, tend to turn away in discouragement and alienation. By the contagion of his confidence in democracy and love for the ancient Greeks that invented democracy, he will always encourage young people to stay involved in the political process – a reason for his choice in the 2015 governorship election in Plateau. Like the ancient Greeks, he has contempt for those who refuse to participate in the political process. He appreciates the fact that while democracy creates inefficiencies that are expensive for society, the alternative in the long term are much more expensive and deadly.

Those who know him, have worked with him, love him and have been inspired by him, are far better men for that association. In the words of Shakespeare, “the advantage of living is not measured by length but by use; some men have lived long, and lived little. Attend to it while you are in it. It lies in your will, not in number of years, for you to have lived enough.”

Let all men dedicate their lives - be they long or short touching the lives of others.

That is a value Jang has imbibed.

Finally, we ask not that a man be a hero, but only that he be everything that makes a man. Jonah David Jang is such a man. He has made a difference and cannot be forgotten, not on a special occasion as this. May your days be long and your strength increase. Like the Biblical Caleb, as your strength was while you vibrantly served Gongola, Benue, and Plateau states, so it is now, and even more as you serve the Nation at the National Assembly. You are a worthy Nigerian.

Happy Birthday Baba!

FelixOmobude:ACompassionatePastorandLeaderat70 Nnimmo Bassey

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veryone who knows Dr Felix Ilaweagbon Omobude, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and General Superintendent of Gospel Light International Ministries, would agree that he is a man of deep wisdom and insight. He is a man routinely acknowledged for his integrity and who never leaves you in doubt about what he stands for.

Birthdays are major milestones in the life of humans and for this reason these dates are marked and celebrated. Omobude is not open to celebrating his birthdays, but as he clocks six scores and ten years on the 14th day of March 2016 it is essential that we reflect on a worthy life and pay tribute to an inspiring and true Man of God. In the foreword to one of Omobude’s books, Flaming Fire (1993), Dr Mike Okonkwo, the Bishop of TREM, said this of him: “At this time when there is a quest for reality rather than the shadow, when showmanship in ministry is fast crumbling, Dr Felix Omobude is a proven man of God and a voice to our generation.”

That was true over two decades ago and we can say without doubt that it is even more so today.

I was drawn to Omobude by his preaching on television in the early 1990s. Till date, the incisive biblical teachings presented in current socio-political contexts, and the rich mix of subjects that emerge from his preaching

remain very inspiring. Indeed, at times after hearing him preach one feels like it is time to fashion whips and overturn the tables of the money changers in the houses of God and in political offices. Besides the clear Bible-based substance of his preaching, Omobude is a psalmist who has composed many worship songs. He is also a poet, with his poetry emerging from his choice of words and by the iterative presentation of core concepts in his messages. Needless to say that after more than two decades of sitting to learn at his feet, one craves for more!

From his book, Flaming Fire, we learn that Omobude’s passion for evangelism and missions took root in him from his early days as a Christian and under the pastoral oversight of the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, then head of Church of God Mission International.

Hear him: “I immediately began to work in the church first as an usher and later as the leader of the young people on evangelism and street meetings. Thereafter, I had the privilege of attending the church’s local Bible School for nine weeks. From then I started going as an advance team to wherever my pastor wanted to hold a crusade.

“In 1973 I went in the company of two military personnel who were also Christians.

We had spent days praying and fasting for this meeting. God moved in that crusade with signs and miracles. We came back from that crusade giving thanks to God. My association with those two other soldiers gave birth to the Soldiers of Christ Evangelistic group in the Church of God Mission then. I led this group

for many years.”

IN THE BUSH FOR THE LEPERS: Troubled by the dehumanising situation of lepers begging on the Benin – Lagos and Benin – Sapele highways in early 1997, Omobude set up the Life Lift International as the humanitarian arm of Gospel Light International Ministries. Since its establishment, the Life Lift International has remained active in supporting the needy and has made an indelible mark on the lives of the target people as well as on the wider society.

Life Lift worked to encourage the lepers and ex-lepers to either return home to be reintegrated into their families or to return to the camps provided for them by the government at various locations in the country. With Ossiomo specialist hospital/leprosarium being the nearest to Benin City, that has received regular attention from Life Lift, including by provision of scholarships and through the renovation of a block of living quarters for four families, construction of kitchen blocks and sanitary facilities as well as the reconstruction and upgrading of a Chest Ward building recently completed with the support of T. Y. Danjuma Foundation.

In its relief efforts, Life Lift has responded to disasters within and outside Nigeria. Help was sent to victims of fire outbreak at Aviara 1 Community in Edo State where over 100 houses were gutted and the Jesse pipeline fire of 1998 that killed about 1000 persons and left many others injured. Life Lift also sent relief to Odi Community in Bayelsa State after their town was levelled by the military in November 1999 with over 2800 casualties. Omobude

personally visited these disaster zones, giving hope, offering comfort and praying for the wounded and the bereaved. Life Lift also sent relief to earthquake victims in Haiti (2010) as well as contributing relief in the case of the Fukushima tsunami/nuclear accident in Japan in March 2011.

MISSIONS: As already noted, Omobude is passionate for missions and this can also be seen in his academic pursuits. Although he has an electrical engineering background, his doctoral dissertation at the San Antonio Theological Seminary, United States of America, was on the subject, Mission to the Third World. Omobude believes strongly that education is the major key for the emancipation of man. Little wonder that the Gospel Light International Ministries, besides the church arm, New Covenant Gospel Church, runs educational institutions ranging from the kindergarten to the tertiary institution, the Lighthouse Polytechnic As we reflect on Omobude’s 70th birthday anniversary, the words of Dr Carl Conely, President, LifeLink International and of Faith Community Churches International, USA, in the foreword to Omobude’s book, Whose Son Are You (2007), says it all: “Dr Omobude is the perfect example of a faithful son and a loving, nurturing father. Multitudes of ministers in Nigeria and around the world look to him as a father and are quick to obey his loving direction.

He gives himself wholeheartedly to the success of his children. I know of no other man who more fully models spiritual fatherhood.”

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The Painful Death of James Ocholi Paul Obi

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lthough Shakespeare had posited that “Golden lads and girls all must, as chimney sweepers come to dust”, understanding the mystery behind death itself remain troublesome and a terrible task to handle. Yet, the death of Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Ocholi Enojo James (SAN) has subconsciously rekindled the nation’s grief mood. A mood filled with pain, unanswered questions and uncertainty. His death, if anything, was brutal and sharp, piercing even toughen hearts.

The great loss of Ocholi, his wife, Blessing, and son, Joshua goes beyond mere devastation. It cuts deep into his immediate family, Kogi State and leaves a chilling effect on the government and his party, the APC. In reflection, Ochili’s enigma and sagacity in leadership had a sharp contradiction to the present day wrong - headed propaganda that has taken toll on our national life. It is not surprising therefore that notwithstanding his enormous contribution to facilitating the merger of APC and its subsequent victory at national and states elections, he preferred to be a behind the - scene strategist.

Such style formed the fulcrum and basics of his daily life. He had a carriage that was simple, embracing and receptive to different shades of human life.

It was this persona that kept him afloat throughout his lifetime and endeared him to many.

His rise to fame didn’t come easy.

Ocholi lost his father at an early age.

Still, he doggedly fought to rise to the top. For those who knew him, his background as a self-provider did not deter him from extending a helping hand to the needy and downtrodden.

He was a legal luminary per excellence and a community mobilizer with exceptional and visionary leadership skill. He was a graduate of the Nigeria Law School in 1986, holds (LLB) Hons from the University of Jos, Plateau State in 1985. Until his expedition into politics he was the Principal Partner and head of Chambers, Ocholi James (SAN) & Associates, and had his pupilage in the law firm of Richard Efa & Co. (Calabar) and D.D. Abutu & Co. (Idah). A Legal adviser and solicitor to government, parastatals, financial institutions and corporate bodies, Ocholi was a member of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), and reputable international negotiator with experience in litigation in civil and admiralty matters, election petitions, criminal and commercial cases. He operated at various helms of affairs ranging from the private sector, to the academics, legal and political arenas, serving as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Salem University, Chairman, Disciplinary Committee Nigeria Bar Association, General Secretary, Nigeria Bar Association Lokoja Chapter, Kogi State, National Secretary, Full Gospel Business Men Fellowship International, including Chairman, Constitution and INEC Compliance Committee of Merger Committee of All Progressive Congress, Deputy National Legal Adviser, All Progressive Congress (APC), amongst others.

He was a motivational leader drawn to selfless service to his community, state and nation without showing off or throwing around how mighty he was.

He was also a man with integrity and high acumen. These exceptional qualities endeared him to the people of Kogi State and propelled them to elect him as the flagbearer of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Kogi State 2011 governorship election. Politically, Ocholi was

Ocholi

more than an Iroko in Kogi politics.

At his residence in Abuja, where mourning has continued, many described him as a colossus. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo explained that within government and the party, Ocholi was highly regarded. “We have lost someone we held in high esteem.

It is incredible that this happened. My brother was learned and spiritual, your memory will live on and will be source of pride and joy to us all,” Osinbajo stressed.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, while eulogising the late Ocholi said he was able to bring some drastic changes as the minister of state. Ngige told journalists that Ocholi “brought his wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of his responsibilities as the Honourable Minister of State in the ministry as evident in the complementary role he played in the on-going efforts at resolving industrial crisis in the Oil and Gas including the Health Sector.”

Instructively, appraising Ocholi’s contributions in various strata of his life will be inexhaustible. Rather, his departure has rekindle several leadership questions of Nigeria’s ruling elite. Ocholi’s surviving son, Aaron, while mourning the death of his dad, mother and brother

had assured the nation that all hope was not lost. He said: “We are not hopeless, we are really proud of the man he was.

We continue to pray to God to comfort us. We will not feel dejected.”

Such assurance of hope coming from the chief mourner can only be sustained by the country and government that his father died serving. By fixing infrastructure and enacting operational laws that will prevent reoccurrence of such accident that terminated the lives of the Ochilis. The Ocholis did not die at home in their sleep. Granted, death is inevitable, but the manner with which lives are lost on Nigerian roads is yet to receive the required attention in order to arrest the ugly trend. Late last month, four Catholic Reverend Sisters travelling from Kakwagom, Boki along Ogoja - Ikom road, Cross River State were killed by a truck trying to overtake their vehicle. The same fate also befell the Catholic Church one week later when about five seminarians travelling from Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State to Enugu died due to road accident. As the nation was thrown into mourning last Sunday, a member of the Bring Back Our Girls Group, Ms Mubaraka Sani, also died as a result of an accident that Sunday on the same Abuja - Kaduna road.

For years, Abuja - Kaduna road,

Enugu - Onitsha road, Ogoja - Ikom - Calabar, Benin - Ore roads ceased to be roads. They became death trap.

Coincidentally, it was the same Abuja Kaduna road that killed Chief Sunday Awoniyi, a fellow indigene of Kogi State like Ocholi and a national leader. Yet, government has blatantly ignored the bad road.

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is also not left out. Nigeria till date does not have rules governing speed limits nor are there posted signs on highways stipulating speed limits.

Even with Nigeria recording one of the highest road accidents in the world, not much has been done to solve the problem.

In conclusion, as Nigerians mourn the late Ocholis, their death should instead be a wake up call for government to stand up to its responsibilities. The best way to immortalise the Ocholis might not be by holding vigils, visitation and rendering posthumous tributes. It is in identifying the problems and challenges that led to their deaths. Holding valedictory ceremonies may also not be the magic wand, it is in responding to challenges put forward by the death of the Ocholis and other millions of Nigerians who have died through road accidents.

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MARCH 13, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

PERSPECTIVE

Curtailing Nigeria’s Centrifugal Forces

Femi Adepoju

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n recent months, the renewed agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra by segments of the South-East youth population has dominated public discourse, with many pointing out the political motivations of such crisis following the outcome of the 2015 general election. On the other hand, leaders of thought in the Niger Delta geopolitical zone are currently accusing the Nigerian military of seeking to wipe out villages in the guise of hunting down pipeline vandals, saying it was a northern ploy to harass the people of the zone. Against this backdrop, the summit organised last week by the Ondo State government at the International Cultural and Events Centre (Dome), Akure, signposts the dilemma of Nigerian nationhood in many significant ways.

Among other issues, it brought out the continued resonance of ethnic cleavages that have dogged Nigerian nationhood since the First Republic.

Discussants at the summit were Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; immediate past Information Minister, Mr Labaran Maku, Senator Ben Bruce, Senator Shehu Sani; Afenifere spokesman, Mr Yinka Odumakin; former Labour Party chairman, Chief Dan Iwuanyanwu and a public policy analyst , Miss Nda Kato.

The summit had in attendance more than 5,000 participants including the Ondo State governor and members of the state executive council, as well as former governors of the state; the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Barrister Jumoke Akinjide and the state Chief Judge, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi, as well as heads of security agencies in the state. It also featured a former governor of Ondo State, Chief Bamidele Olumilua; Afenifere chieftains, Dr Kunle Olajide, Dr Amos Akingba and Senator Femi Okurounmu; the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian National Summit Group, Mr Tony Uranta; national president of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Dr Yunusa Tanko, among others.

R-L: Former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and Former Information Minister, Labaran Maku, at the Symposium titled: “Curtailing Nigeria’s Centrifugal Forces” in commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of Ondo State and 7th Anniversary of Mimiko’s government,at the International Events Centre (The Dome), in Akure...recently “Somebody said the Chibok girls will never be freed. I can tell you that the Chibok girls will be freed and they are alive. All that needs to be done is to explore other options. Negotiation is still possible. We have reached a point whereby we need to do things differently, as governments over the years just promise to diversify the economy but do nothing. After 40 years of partying with oil resources, we have come to our senses and as a country we are now living in a moment of truth and a day of reckoning. Our solution is not in UK, USA or Saudi Arabia.

able, although he felt that refusing to devalue the naira amounted to playing the ostrich, adding that corruption was currently fighting the country rather than the other way round. “The fact is what we are doing right now is that we are fighting corruption on one hand and promoting corruption on the other hand. If today someone walks into the CBN and the CBN gives him $1 billion, and say he should go and use it to trade, it would not make any sense to go and do any business, at the gate of CBN, he can make over N2 billion profit. That is what we are saying when we fix it at N199 and it is going for N400 in the black market. We should allow the naira to find Inequality and political planlessness Senator Bruce, while highlighting the inequali- its level. What we are doing presently is hurting ties in the country, noted that Boko Haram and the the economy.”

Deploring the declaration made by President agitation for an independent Biafra were traceable The key issues: Boko Haram to the inability of the majority of Nigerians to feed Buhari in Egypt that those who had foreign taste In his keynote address on the occasion, Anyashould look elsewhere to fund it, Odumakin oku noted that Nigeria was plagued by extremely themselves. The country, he contended, could not declared: “The plane that took the president to develop when the leaders make promises they violent groups such as Boko Haram and Fulani Egypt was not made in Nigeria. The parts of that cannot fulfill. “The problem of Nigeria is the herdsmen, and not so violent groups such as plane were not made in Nigeria. Everything that leadership, except Governor Mimiko. We are the the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and the was budgeted for in Aso Rock this year are not problem. After we have rigged election, we go on Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign TV and say that power belongs to God; don’t chal- made in Nigeria. The vehicles that they are riding State of Biafra and its splinter movement, the in the villa are made abroad. We should stop this Indigenous People of Biafra, because government lenge this election. The leaders of Nigeria do not corruption where we think we can peg the naira over the years had failed to restructure the nation live in Nigeria; they live in Dubai. Their children at N199, while the naira is on a free fall. You are don’t go to school in Nigeria. As long as our along the path of federalism. “Restructuring only encouraging corruption.” leaders make promises they cannot keep, Nigeria the present government by adopting a true His conclusion: “Nigeria should either devolve can never develop. As long as our leaders don’t federalism will go a long way in enabling us to understand our population explosion problem, we or it will dissolve.” achieve speedy development and the political cannot develop. By the turn of the century, Nigeria stability which would reduce the enablement of centrifugal forces in Nigeria,” he counselled, while will be more populous than China, India and The national question also opposing the devaluation of the naira, which America. If you cannot feed the people in Nigeria Labaran Maku, in his own contribution, joined today, how are you going to feed 1.5 billion people the earlier speakers in celebrating the programmes he said would cause a rise in inflation. in less than 100 years?”

However, Senator Shehu Sani, while agreeof the Mimiko administration in various sectors, The media mogul insisted that the issue of ing with Anyaoku’s analysis of the Nigerian pointing out that they exemplified the true spirit condition, objected to the categorisation of Fulani Boko Haram and the struggle in the South-South, of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who he said South-East and any part of the country were herdsmen with Boko Haram, saying that it lifted the Yoruba above any other ethnic nationalamounted to criminalising an entire ethnic group. all about hunger and the distribution of wealth. ity on the African continent. He said: “Yoruba According to him, “Less than one per cent of He said the climatic factors that make the Fulani have gone ahead of Nigeria. They are collectively herdsmen to migrate to the South with their cattle Nigerians consume more than 80 per cent of the the most educated ethnic group on the African country’s resources and then you come on TV and continent.” ought to be properly understood. say let us pray. Pray for what?

“I think what we need to see clearly is that, of Pointing out that there was still much to “We must change our value system. First all the forces identified, there was none attached celebrate in Nigeria despite its various shortcomof all you have to ask yourself if you are a to an ethnic group beside the herdsmen. It is ings, Maku noted: “Some people say Nigeria has Nigerian. Do you eat Nigerian food? Do you fly wrong to say an Igbo hard drug pusher or an problem because it was founded through crisis. your carrier? We must change the whole federal Igbo armed robber or a Yoruba yahoo yahoo or But which country was founded by lovemaking? system to reflect commonsense. There are only an Ijaw oil thief.”

Even in our weakness, we have given strength The senator and human rights activist recalled two kinds of people in this world: producers and to other African countries. Coups are no longer consumers. You must produce. In Nigeria, people that he had tried to find an alternative means of popular in West Africa because Nigeria has lead the government rather the other way round. addressing the insurgency and took the risk of moved away from coups.”

God distributed intelligence equally among all the reaching out to the insurgents and initiating a He however observed that Nigerians needed process of dialogue about three to four times, but peoples of the world; leaders put us in this mess to debate the basis of the country’s unity, saying because it benefits us. Everybody is talking about it was sabotaged by those who were benefiting that the debate about Nigerian nationhood was state police but they forget that before 1966, we from the bloodshed. He added: “ It is normally very crucial, and that the problem of Nigeria was not possible to see an insurgent group that is not had Native Authority Police. Now the Federal not all about poverty. He noted that politicians Government takes 50 per cent of the resources more than 2000 or 3000 to prove so impossible continue to invest in centrifugal issues to and starves the states. We must change the whole for a nation of more than 170 million people undermine development and recalled the sacrifice federal system to reflect what makes sense,” he to crush, a nation like ours with a reputable of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who contended. armed forces that had performed creditably he noted told him personally that his choice well in peacekeeping missions across Africa. He of Professor Attahiru Jega as chairman of the expressed hope that Buhari would degrade the Independent National Electoral Commission Economic crisis capacity of Boko Haram to carry out attacks. was motivated by the need to avoid any form Odumakin, in his own contribution, aligned Referring to a recent statement by former with Anyaoku’s comments by pointing out that the of influence from his government. The former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Sani declared: Information Minister however lamented that the menace of Fulani herdsmen had become intoler-

gains recorded by the electoral commission under Jega were fast being eroded, while also berating the attitude of the political class in deploying foreign exchange to holidays outside the country.

Maku stated: “Mobutu Sese Seko said he could not fail in an election that he organised. Today, we are seeing a different electoral scale. What Buhari needs to do is to unite the nation behind him. If we engage in recrimination, then that moment of glory is lost. I’ve never been abroad since 1999; I spend my holidays in my village.”

The roots of Nigeria’s feet of clay Dan Iwuanyanwu, in his own contribution, pointed out that he had been party-less for a year and would therefore speak from the heart. He said: “The struggle for power at the centre is like life and death. This is so because there is so much concentration of power at the centre.

Unfortunately, there has never been a single leader since independence who has selflessly and patriotically worked for the people of Nigeria. I stand to be corrected. At Independence, Nigeria had a quasi-federal system and revenue allocation at that time was 50 per cent. This enabled the various regions to explore and exploit their comparative advantages to the benefits of the component parts of Nigeria.”

It was at this period, he recalled, that Eastern Nigeria was recorded as the fastest growing economy in Africa. He added that with the advent of the military, however, the states became virtual beggars, running to the Federal Government for allocations. Hear him: “The general discontent of those who have been short-changed has contributed significantly to the inability to build a nation out of the numerous nation states that make up Nigeria, The situation has so degenerated that, given the option, the majority of ethnic groups will opt to exit from Nigeria. That is the truth. I don’t have to garnish it. Mediocre people were foisted on Nigeria in the name of federal quota. We should not compromise our first 11.”

To the former LP boss, Nigerian military’s tinkering with Nigeria’s quasi-federal structure inherited at Independence worsened the country’s problems. “There are governors who have no idea what they are supposed to do. We must go back to the report of the 2014 National Conference. Pastor Tunde Bakare, Yinka Odumakin and I articulated the massive reconstruction of the North-East that President Buhari has now adopted. It is not ideal to take just one aspect of the report and leave others,” he said. On Governor Mimiko’s stewardship, he said: “I have visited virtually all the 36 states of the federation and I stand to be corrected: there is no state in Nigeria that has what we have here. Don’t bring in a stranger. You may throw me away but don’t throw this advice away. You don’t have to try any new thing.”

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com) ––Adepoju wrote from Akure

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MARCH 13, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

Nigerian Universities: Global Ranking and Critical Reform Issues Tunji Olaopa

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he idea of the global ranking of universities has become a veritable means by which we assess the performance of various universities across the continent. It is no longer news that most African universities struggle to make some visible showing in the forefronts of the ranking. For instance, in the Times Higher Education 2014-2015 world university ranking, European, Asian and mostly United States’ universities occupied the first 100 slots. Africa made its first appearance through the University of Cape Town, South Africa, at number 124, followed by the University of Witwatersrand, another South African institution at slot 251. Out of 400 universities, no Nigerian universities, federal, state and private made the list. In the January 2016 edition of the Webometric ranking of universities, University of Ibadan was first in Nigeria, 16th in Africa and 1296th in the world. Obafemi Awolowo came in at 35th in Africa and 2119th in the world.

We often mostly deride the ranking as being unrepresentative and loaded against African institutions. The argument usually goes that such global assessments, for instance, Transparency International’s Corruption Index, fails to take into consideration the contextual realities on ground in the issues at stake. Thus, ranking African universities does more harm than good because these institutions are made to compete on academic standards that fail the text of comparative adequacy. However, any improvement in positioning is often celebrated and flashed across multiple media spaces. The University of Ibadan website celebrates this webometric ranking as the first in Nigeria. No one, however, can grudge the premier university its celebratory moment.

Ranking of all kinds measures specific performance metrics that statistically outline how a university is perceived as a center of learning and research. There are several lessons to learn from what we see and where we are on the ranking lists. The first such lesson is essentially symbolic.

And it symbolizes national degradation.

In other words, we learn through these rankings the value we place, as a state, on educational matter, compared to, say, the United States which conspicuously dominates the rankings, whatever the standards of assessment.

Apart from the national economy, education constitutes a significant component of national development which no nation can ever hope to toy with without dire consequences that goes beyond a mere downgrading on any ranking framework.

It is in this sense that Nigeria needs to look beyond lamenting or celebrating any ranking improvement or slump. Noel Castree once remarked, ‘Education is political.’ What is seriously missing from that fundamental statement is a huge and bold exclamation mark to press home the significance of, in this case, higher education to the national development of any state. In fact, the human condition, as far as I am concerned, is made more palatable because human beings have, over the years, developed a learning trajectory that imposes knowledge on human limitations. It is in this sense that universities, for instance, constitute one of the most important discoveries of mankind.

If higher education constitutes a serious phenomenon that ensures human survival, at the level of the nation-state, it fundamentally becomes an institutional representation of national discovery of knowledge, and its utilization for development and progress. We can hypothesize that the extent to which a nation-state

Olaopa

can function in developmental terms is conditional on its significant human capital (SHC) which is determined by the state of its higher education. There is therefore no nation that can assuredly rise above the quality of its own SHC or its higher education objective. In the third world, and especially in Africa and particularly in Nigeria, the truth of the disconnection between the SHC and national development is brought home forcefully and unfortunately.

For instance, demographic data demonstrates that Nigerians all around the globe constitute one of the highest achieving immigrant groups in the world, and the achievements cut across all areas of human endeavours—space technology, education, science, art, healthcare, politics, etc. Yet, this high feat of optimization and productive innovation has not been transplanted to the Nigerian development dynamics as instigation for national progress. Nigerian universities can hardly be regarded as sites of optimization and productive innovation.

In actually fact, they represent one sad index of our underdevelopment, especially in terms of governance, research outputs and relevant curricular dynamics. It is doubtful that Nigeria will ever produce another Nobel Laureate, groomed within the Nigerian university environment.

This is because while the universities that produce the Nobel Laureates do so in the context of cutting-edge research that are defined by the capacity to transform national developmental dynamics, Nigerian universities are grievously dissociated from Nigeria’s developmental efforts.

While the global community is vast transforming into a knowledge society, Nigeria appears to be standing right at the margin of significant happenings in academic context. Francis Bacon gave the world the fundamental thought that knowledge equals power. And that power translates into the capacity higher education has to induce development. Education is a badge of development. Higher education particularly represents a nation’s window into the global flow of ideas, dynamics, strategies, paradigms and best practices. Higher educational institutions facilitate the process by which insights are adopted, adapted, domesticated and calibrated for optimal national rejuvenation. But, at the conceptual level, it seems that Nigeria’s educational system is defined more as ‘tertiary’ than as ‘higher’ education. Tertiary education is distinguished by certification as a meal ticket; higher education is defined by research, discovery and innovation. And these three indices,

in all truth, cannot be said to define any Nigerian university today. I doubt this should raise any eyebrow, except from sentimental patriots.

But not even a sentimental patriot can deny our educational deficits: (i) Widespread indiscipline among both lectures and students; (ii) Declining research productivity and pedagogy; (iii) Lack of technical skills and knowledge of curriculum development and innovation and among lecturers across disciplines; (iv) Falling academic and moral standards; (v) Lack of institutional mechanism to deal effectively with the quantitative and qualitative dimension of knowledge and to sustain relevant reforms within exponential explosion of knowledge; (vi) Corruption, arrogance and abuse of power among the leadership and governance of university; (vii) Underfunding of the university; (viii) Irrelevant and obsolete curricula; (ix) Governance deficit and disconnect among major stakeholder and university authority. This dampening list can be multiplied ad nauseam. A critical peep into the 2006 Educational Sector Analysis will somehow leave a perspective reader deeply depressed.

Essentially, Nigeria’s tertiary educational system measures transformatory knowledge by the numbers of certificate a person is able to amass. This debilitating but ingrained culture ensures that we have quite a number of PhDs and educated people who lack the competences that a developmental state requires to move beyond development rhetoric. Let me reiterate this with a terrible joke I received sometimes ago on my WhatsApp: A group of Nigerian lecturers were on a trip.

Immediately they boarded the plane, the captain announced that the plane they will be flying is a product of their students. At this announcement, many of them grew very frightened and disembarked immediately, except one. When asked why he remained seated, he said: ‘I have no reason to fear the plane crashing out of the sky. If what we taught the students is anything to go by, this plane will not even leave the ground.’ If the existing critical mass of capacities in Nigeria cannot fly a plane, make pencils, build bridges or process early warning systems in case of disaster management, then how far away are we from achieving a knowledge society?

With these deficits, it is certain Nigeria is not ready to create a university of the future that rides on the knowledge revolution to facilitate qualitative development dynamics. Those who hold the future, I dare say, are those who are willing to take the risk of researching it. Over five decades since independence and it seems we have hardly moved forward to any point of radical rehabilitation. On the contrary, we seem to be compounding our own human capital deficit. But then, lamentation does not solve any problem; reform does. And Nigeria’s salvage point rests on unequivocal institutional reform. There are three focal points which assiduously undermine our educational effort today—governance framework, curricular dynamics and research philosophy. And these three also, fortunately constitute critical reform frameworks for ensuring a radical transition from tertiary to higher education.

Governance, it seems to me, is key here. It is the steering mechanism that calibrates curricular and research directions. Governance issues range from the excessive oversight of tertiary education that ensures that the delivery of education is terribly fragmented beyond measure, to the mute issue of corruption in university governance across Nigeria. To quote an erstwhile vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Olufemi Bamiro, governance, as a reform locus, would actuate the following reform questions: (a) How

can the institution build the best leadership team? (b) What are the vision and mission statements, and what are the specific goals that the university is seeking to achieve? (c) In what niches(s) will it pursue excellence in teaching and research? (d) What is the likely cost of the proposed qualitative leap, and how is it giving to be funded? (g) How will success be measured? What monitoring systems, outcome indicators, and accountability mechanisms will be used?

Apart from ensuring institutional stability in the midst of global and national multiplicity of contested ideological, economic cultural and political contexts from where the university must derive its objectives and direction, the responsibility of a morally responsible, administratively competent and intellectually savvy governance team in any Nigerian university is to facilitate networks in terms of research and teaching. This will be a network of different universities in Nigeria conjoined by research similarities. For instance, universities in the North could be associated with a research initiative that studies Islam, nomadic education, Sahel agriculture and desertification. Universities in the South could network around the oil economy, militancy, ethnic minorities issues, ecological issues like erosion, industrial studies, agriculture, mineral resources, urbanisation, and many other issues.

What, for instance, makes the California Institute of Technology (CALTECH) the best school in the world in terms of global ranking? It is the combination of all these factors. But most especially, there is an academic-industry institutionalised partnership which ensures that research is backed by solid intelligence that grounds it in real developmental issues. The MIT-Silicon Valley experiment provides a template of the way for the universities of the future to go. The Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy becomes, in this regard, a timely framework which can serve as a fulcrum for public-private research initiative that could jumpstart the research networks collaborations of the future. To arrive at this point of global reckoning requires paying significant attention to four reform exigencies: (a) rethinking the idea of university autonomy away from a policing and micro-managing to a facilitative approach that significantly enables university governance and regulatory system; (b) the need for due care and sophistication in the quality of people appointed by governments into university governing councils; (c) the urgent need for a theory-practice mix in university staffing of faculties; and (d) designation of universities as centres of excellence based on strategic consideration of their comparative advantage.

Higher education, through the harnessing of the significant human capital (SHC), constitutes Nigeria’s optimization window into global and national relevance. It is the engine room for socioeconomic fast tracking. But the first condition for such a rapid progress is to ensure that the fish does not get rotten from the head.

Governance becomes our litmus reform test. The issue of the global ranking of Nigerian universities would really be a foregone conclusion once these universities are serving the developmental purposes Nigeria requires of them. In other words, rather than agitating about the ranking, let us declare a state of emergency on our universities.

––(Being lecture delivered by Dr. Tunji Olaopa, Executive Vice Chairman Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP), at an event organized by the Department of Political Science, Babcock University in honour of its immediate past Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Makinde, recently)

89

MARCH 13, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

PERSPECTIVE

Buhari’s Exchange Rate Policy:The Fragility of Goodness

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Nimi Wariboko resident Buhari has refused to give an inch in his rock-solid determination not to devalue the naira. Unsurprisingly, this has earned him critical opprobrium among professional neoclassical economists and others knowledgeable in the links between exchange policy and economic growth and corruption. This much was revealed in his recent Al Jazeera interview and discussions among many Nigerians. To many the president’s foreign exchange policy does not make economic sense. But is that really true? Let me offer a perspective that will shed some light on the sense and sensibility of the president’s “stubbornness” with regard to devaluation.

Before I do that I would like to state upfront that if I were the president or his minister of finance I would take the easy and tested neoclassical economic approach to the management of the Nigerian economy. It could deliver quick results and boost the confidence of investors, within and without. Having said all this, I would like to add by saying there is a path to robust national economic development through the president’s intransigent exchange rate policy.

Alas, it is an arduous path. I am not sure if the president (one-term or two) or Nigerians have the time and patience for the road he has chosen to bear sufficient dividends.

This is not his only problem. The main challenge in my thinking is that the kind of exchange rate policy Buhari’s government has decided to pursue requires a more comprehensive policy framework to uplift our national economy than has been presented so far. I have not heard the president’s men and women articulate such a multi-edged policy regime, which will be largely market-driven, integrally endogenous, and patently patriotic. The economic minds in Buhari government may think they are on a good path to economic Eldorado, but the path will prove to be very fragile if they do not immediately forge and implement a robust set of policies and programs undergirded by a well thoughtthrough social philosophy. It is within such a cohort of policies and programs that his current exchange rate policy makes eminent sense.

Buhari Buhari’s exchange rate policy makes good sense in this four-pronged national financial management framework. It is one that pursues value integrity, value solidarity, and value subsidiarity as my late friend economist Ashikiwe Adione-Egom would put it. By this he meant that the currency, financial, commodity, and industrial markets must be consciously linked and administered to yield endogenous growth.

First, it is not enough to reject the devaluation of the naira while it is depreciating in the currency market. There must be economic policies that are in place to give value integrity and constancy to the national currency. Second, the government needs to find a way to mobilize savings through its monetary and financial policies and distribute such via the market to industries to aid long-term investment.

If the Buhari government and CBN want to continue with their current exchange rate policy, then they need to have monetary and financial policy regimes that will be in financial solidarity with Nigeria’s development. Solidarity implies that the monetary system is channeling medium to long-term savings instruments at low interest rates to the industrial markets to grow local content in manufacturing and spur endogenous

development.

If the government and its CBN governor cannot show us how the financial system is (or will be) solidly connected and committed to the industrial and productive sectors of our nation, then, I am afraid, all the current talk about endogenous development will amount to underperformance. Frankly, this is why I maintain that the path the president has chosen is a fragile one—nonetheless, workable. Not that his nationalistic approach cannot lead the economy to prosperity; the problem is that the amount of work required to get us there is daunting. Besides, the president would need experts who are not only trained in orthodox neoclassical economics, but also in heterodox economic theories.

The third major policy focus will be the development of a network of regional commodity exchanges that will channel commodities to the industrial and consumer markets even as they provide better decision-making information for farmers and merchants and enable them to efficiently buy and sell their goods. Of course, for these regional commodity exchanges to work we have to also develop a system of commodity banking.

Now, we have come to the final arm of the four-pronged approach to the kind of patriotic national economic management that Buhari is gesturing to but have not yet fully articulated. The president needs to put in place policies that will enable and empower people to use the resources available to them in their regions, states, and rural areas to create jobs for themselves. Nigeria’s ability to generate this kind of endogenous economic development that will accent value subsidiarity depends on sound (and patriotic) currency and financial markets.

Egom would put it this way: A goodly operating currency and financial market reticulates jobs to all economic regions, spreads industries around, and encourages productive activities from bottom-up. Such currency and financial markets do not encourage economic activities to be concentrated at cities and urban centers when they could be best carried out in rural areas.

Besides, economic activities are not to be allocated in the cities or urban areas to the detriment of rural regions.

Buhari has high patriotic hopes for our country but his policy of rejecting the devaluation of the

naira at this time in order to spur endogenous development may not enable him to quickly realize his lofty dreams within the current parameters of our national monetary-financial systems, which are oriented towards the outside world. The monetary-financial systems of our economy are not resource-conserving and are hostile to endogenous economic development.

They cannot usher in a robust environment that can create and sustain symmetry and evenness in the distributing growth, jobs, goods, and services across the sectors and regions of country. The monetary systems have not wedded the financial circulation of money (savings in the banks and stock exchanges) to industrial circulation (money-capital financing production, industries, commodity exchanges, and long-term development projects). All these will need to change if the president is to succeed in his chosen challenging course.

President Buhari has made a clear choice about the kind of national currency management style he wants to use. His choice is not atavistic or unthinkable as many of our so-called experts have argued. His problem lies elsewhere and it is threefold. First, he is gesturing to a drastic change of economic direction and orientation that the nation may not be ready for at this time. At least, the government and APC have not sufficiently prepared the citizens for it. Second, his economic savants and strategic communication experts have not been able to clearly articulate the robust policy framework within which the “stubborn” exchange rate policy sits. Third, the government has not articulated the kind of social philosophy and social-justice vision that will energize Nigerians towards the economic future he is frantically gesturing to. As long as this set of challenges remains whatever goodness he intends with his exchange rate policy is at best very fragile.

What I have done in this essay is not perfect, but it serves to nudge President Buhari’s ideas and reflexes towards a systematic economic framework in order to reduce the fragility of goodness in his exchange rate policy.

-Wariboko is the Walter G. Muelder professor of social ethics at Boston University with specialization in economic ethics.

Rescued School Girls and Governance in Lagos

A Niyi Anibaba

t the time the al-Qaeda outlaw Osama bin Laden was killed by a special assault team of the United States military in Abbottabad, Pakistan in May 2011, pundits suggested that were Presidential election to be held in the US ahead of the scheduled date in 2012, President Barack Obama, under whose watch the Jihadist was nailed, would easily have secures reelection.

Pollsters returned the verdict that although such economic issues as marginal job losses, poverty and oil prices fluctuation were trending as likely voting determinants, Obama’s major feat on the security front would clinch massive popular support for him and his Democratic Party.

This turned out to be prophetic because more than a year later at the poll,America’s first black president was reelected, a strong influencing factor being the role he played in taming insecurity ascribed to Osama bin Laden’s terrorist activities against US territory and the country’s global interests.

When keen observers also take a critical look at the security situation in Lagos State under the administration of GovernorAkinwunmi Ambode, they can’t but conclude that indeed he has made a difference that is turning out to be a game changer. It would absolutely count for him when he seeks reelection as it did for Obama, according to observers.

He has tackled insecurity in Lagos such that as the day follows the night, arrests invariably follow the perpetuation of a crime. We are at the stage where committing felony would be unattractive to the criminally minded.

Now, the background to this observation is the

abduction and rescue of the three female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School (BMJSS) at Ikorodu on the outskirts of Lagos.

It took place at an in auspicious time: the state government was battling a seasonal feud between two factions of the Road Transport Workers Union at Oshodi that had temporarily arrested social and economic activities in the community; communal violence had also broken out in the denselypopulated area of Ketu Mile 12 market, claiming several lives, destroying properties running into hundreds of millions of Naira and injuring scores of residents. It lasted for days and led finally to the closure of the popular market.

While all these lasted, GovernorAmbode shuttled between these hot spots and security outposts. But some scoffed at him and his government on the issue of the students abduction.

On Wednesday March 2, 2016, one leading national newspaper wrote: “Despite the fact that the students were kidnapped on Monday night and the information had been widely circulated neither the Lagos State governor Mr.Akinwunmi Ambode, nor his representatives had visited the school as of 8pm on Tuesday. The state government had also yet to make a statement on the abduction.”

Many went on to liken the BMJSS development to the tragic Chibok girls tale that saw the kidnap of more than 200 students in 2014. They have not been rescued since.

But it was a short-lived comparison because the entire arsenal of the security apparatusAmbode had been assembling was scrambled into action.

It delivered the expected result as the girls were rescued some six days after their captivity. The Police arrested the culprits and retrieved the valuable information while also recovering lethal weapons from the suspects. Such was the success of the operation that no ransom was paid to the

kidnappers.

Hear what EmmanuelArigidi, one of the suspected kidnappers of the Ikorodu school girls said about the level of security in the state: “I know that security in Lagos State is now tight and I was telling others that there was no way we would get away with this kind of job considering the level of security in the state. When I told them that we should end the assignment, other members of the gang threatened to kill me and then I took Canoe to run away”.

The school population and parents of the victims as well as the generality of the society in Lagos and Nigeria are heaving a sigh of relief and hailing the security architecture that has offered such salutary conclusion to what was unfolding as one abduction too many following the unresolved Chibok riddle.

But really, this pleasant outcome was not a surprise to those who have monitoredAmbode’s unprecedented contribution to a highly motivated and efficient police in the state. His administration has given a hefty crime-tackling equipment worth about N4.765b to the Force. These include three helicopters, two gun boats, 55 Ford Ranger vans, 100 4-door salon cars, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser pickups, Isuzu trucks and 115 Power bikes. In tow are 15Armored Personnel Carriers,APC, bullet proof vests, helmets along with Improved Insurance and Death Benefit Schemes for officers. In the offing is the installation of Close Circuit Camera TV Coverage for Lagos and more equipments to assist security agencies in effectively doing their job. Even then, the Light Up Lagos Project that has seen all the nooks and cranny of the state with street lights is also designed to compliments the efforts of security agencies.

Ambode says this is “In conformity with the overall policy thrust of (the) administration built on a tripod… Security, Job Opportunities and Improved Infrastructure.” It is the synergy of

technology, intelligence work and political will at play.

Agovernment with this mindset is the objective of the ideal state, where government’s sole occupation is to cater for the all-round welfare of the people, through securing them against antisocial elements and the economic vicissitudes of life. Economic and social enterprise with political activities and the development of the citizen can only take place where there is security and a body language in government that suggests that crime would not go undetected, unprevented or unpunished. This is the primary aspiration of government, whether they are in Khaki or in politicians’Agbada.

The safe return of the BMJSS girls has delivered two take-aways: Lagos with its burgeoning population of more than 20 million people is safe for business, leisure and habitation; secondly it has a government which, as it partners with the Police, does not take tax payers money and security fund for granted.

Just as the governor said on the day the girls were rescued, : “Let me warn that the State Government will not tolerate kidnapping or any forms of crime in the State. Our position is clear and unambiguous, Lagos state has the capacity and the will to go after every form of crime and criminality in order to safeguard lives and property in the state”, it is becoming increasingly clear that anyone who doubts the government resolve to protect the state, would have himself to blame.And at a time when cynicism has been on the rise with the continued missing of the Chibok girls, observers are quick to remind Nigerians that with the right leadership-like the one that was demonstrated in Lagos in the past week by the governor-the country can still get it right.

––Anibaba, an economist, wrote in from Gbagada.

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Eskor Toyo and the Struggle of the Working Peoples Edwin Madunagu

I

ntroductory Statements: Range of Eskor Toyo’s Revolutionary Engagements On Monday, September 20, 2010, Comrade Professor Eskor Toyo made what may turn out to be, on further historical assessment, his last major outing as a revolutionary Marxist Public Intellectual in Nigeria. On that occasion he delivered the Nigerian Golden Jubilee Independence Lecture titled Project Nigeria: The journey so far. The event was hosted by this institution’s Department of History and International Studies, and chaired by Professor Okon Edet Uya. Both men are now late.

The 59-page lecture was Eskor Toyo at his intellectual and ideological best, a long journey through the colonial, postcolonial and neocolonial stages of our national history. It was radical, categorical, unflattering, but passionately patriotic. The verdict which was also the conclusion was sad, very sad for a man who had been active politically for more than 60 years. But it was straight-forward: The journey had barely begun, or put more charitably, the journey had been grounded near the very beginning.

Beyond this, however, the conclusion was a call on radical patriots, the working and toiling peoples and, above all, the working class to rise and save the nation by freeing themselves. The working and toiling masses cannot save the nation as slaves, and yet they are the vanguard of the people that can save the nation. It is a historical paradox. But a paradox that can be broken through struggle.

And Comrade Eskor Toyo believed till his last breadth that Nigeria can still be saved. So do the comrades he left behind.

Two days immediately preceding the lecture, that is on Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19, 2010, Comrade Professor Eskor Toyo attended a National Executive Meeting of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) here in Calabar. You know the battle the union was then waging for the nation, for the education system and for its members. The battle is still raging even as I speak. Comrade Eskor had been an activist member of ASUU since its creation in 1978 and a father-figure Trustee of the union since 1983. Beyond this Comrade Eskor had been a leading partisan of ASUU’s predecessors and teachers’ unions generally as far back as the colonial era and the First Republic.

Just hours after the lecture of September 20, 2010, a very long lecture, which if I remember well, he delivered standing or partly standing, Eskor Toyo, then an 81-year old war-horse, entered a meeting of Nigeria’s Revolutionary Left, also here in Calabar. The main item on the agenda of that meeting, in fact the sole item, was one of the most difficult and contentious issues in the contemporary history of Nigeria’s Revolutionary Left: namely, party formation.

The “bone of contention”, as they say, is not whether, in principle, a party of the working peoples is necessary or not; not what it will do or should do or can do when formed.

The “bone of contention” was about its timing and pre-conditions, and above all, its character, including whether it should be a mass party or a vanguard party. In short, the party’s strategy and foundational statement to the working class and the nation Eskor Toyo’s position, not by any means an isolated position, was for a party that could and should be formed immediately, a

Toyo revolutionary socialist party that would be strong and flexible enough to decide whether to take part in electoral contest or not and, above all, a party that would be undissolvable by any form of bourgeois rule – from variants of military dictatorship to variants of civilian democracy. It could be called a Socialist Party or a Working People’s Party or a Labour Party or even a Communist Party.

Historically and theoretically the differences between Left parties formed under these names do not reside in the names themselves, but in their programmes, rules and strategies. The meeting of the night of Monday, September 20, 2010, though turbulent as expected, moved the debate a couple of steps forward. And the party, the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), was indeed proclaimed before Comrade Eskor waved us goodbye.

The following day, Tuesday September 21, 2010, Comrade Professor Eskor Toyo held a one-on-one meeting with me at his residence.

He had whispered to me the day before that he would like to see me. The meeting turned into a lecture, an extension of the previous day’s public lecture and the vanguard meeting following it. The only difference was that the extension was delivered to me alone, with no one even within earshot.

Eskor Toyo spoke to me continuously for about 90 minutes – sometimes in whispers, sitting down, at other times standing up and shouting. I shall presently return to what he was saying.

Thus, for a period of four days – from Saturday, September 18 to Tuesday, September 21, 2010, Comrade Professor Eskor Toyo engaged various segments of the population – the working class and middle strata, the academic community and its hosts

But Comrade Eskor Eskor Toyo was indeed an outstanding and exceptional Marxist and Revolutionary Socialist. His commitment to the ultimate elimination and oppression from the face of the Earth – through struggle – never wavered; and his faith in the Working Class and Working People as vanguard agencies for that elimination never declined

and hostesses and the Revolutionary Left – at various levels – but for the same strategic, passionate and all-consuming objective, a single objective: Workers’ Power, Popular Democracy and Socialism.

What I have just done is simply a selection of an extended weekend from a life of continuous struggle and study, of scholarship, of dedication, of sacrifice, of radical patriotism, of mass mobilization, education and organization, of revolutionary commitment and intransigence spanning over 60 years.

Eskor Toyo – Edwin Madunagu Meeting of September 21, 2010: Critique of the Nigerian Left Eskor Toyo’s lecture to me at his residence was not a criticism of the Nigerian state or the Nigerian government. That criticism is assumed as background in every meeting of the Revolutionary Left. We are experts in radical and wholistic criticism of this oppressive and sadistic system. Eskor’s insistence was that we should not stop there. As the young Marx said: “The weapon of criticism should be replaced or, at least, accompanied by the criticism of the weapon” Comrade Eskor’s lecture to me was, rather, a critique of the Nigerian Left: The tragic failure of Nigerian socialists, over time, to offer the type of liberating leadership that the longsuffering, but struggling, working and toiling masses of Nigeria needed and, from time to time, demanded, in various ways; the failure of Nigerian socialists to form and sustain a revolutionary socialist party; factionalism and sectarianism; confusing utopianism with Marxism; confusing social democracy with socialism; intellectual laziness and political cowardice; inordinate leadership ambitions; anarchist attitudes to democracy, “democratic centralism” and majority decisions; and almost chronic inability of Nigerian socialists to recognize “revolutionary moments”.

For Eskor Toyo, one of the most tragic and painful demonstrations of the last weakness in contemporary history of Nigeria was the failure to channel the working class-led popular protests under General Abacha to remove the military dictator from power because, according to our departed comrade, Abacha presided over the most isolated government in Nigeria since independence.

Comrade Eskor Toyo made no mention of the situation in the country then. In particular he did not mention the preparations for the

2011 general elections. He made no mention of it because his attitude to it – which I shared – was clear. That attitude, once verbalized by an ASUU official, can be described like this: Suppose armed robbers in Nigeria – including the “willing” and “not-so-willing” – are persuaded to accept free, fair and credible elections in their ranks, how does that solve the problem of armed robbery in the country? This was not an argument against participation in electoral politics; but it was a strong statement both on maximum realistic expectation which we could allow ourselves to entertain and on participation in electoral contests in which the working and toiling masses and their parties are essentially absent as a distinct and independent force.

Eskor Toyo did not also raise the triple subject of imperialism, neocolonialism and independence. His position, shared by the Socialist Movement, had been re-stated in the lecture he delivered the previous day, and that is: “The distinction between selfgovernment and sovereignty, on the one hand, and independence, on the other, is like the sociological distinction between authority and power. Authority refers to right; power refers to capacity. In the same way, self-government, autonomy and sovereignty refers to the right to take one’s decisions whereas independence means the capacity to be really free from the power of other . . . To use autonomy or self-rule to proceed to independence, a country needs leaders who value independence and know what it entails”.

Eskor Toyo spoke to me directly as a revolutionary comrade and, through me, to Left tendencies identified with me. Eskor Toyo, we should note, recognized the inevitability of tendencies in the Labour and Socialist Movement, but abhorred factionalism in a Left organization once it has been formed and proclaimed above ground or underground. I shall return to this point.

Clarifications in the sense of Eskor Toyo: Capitalism, Socialism, Working class, Working People, the People and Exploitation The subject of this lecture is: Eskor Toyo and the struggle of the working peoples: Workers’ Power, Popular Democracy, Socialism. For a fairer understanding and appreciation of Eskor Toyo’s life-long struggle summarized in these phrases, six particular concepts that are objectively, historically and logically related, require brief clarifications – not academic definitions – here. These are Capitalism, Socialism, Working Class, Working People, the People and Exploitation.

The irony here is that these clarifications are necessary not just for, or even primarily for, the working people or the young ones – students and youths – but also for the educated elite. As late as 2011, I watched Comrade Eskor Toyo engage a University teacher in Social Sciences on whether Nigeria is a capitalist country or not! What Eskor Toyo – and his comrades – had to engage was often as elementary as this A country is not capitalist only when the majority of enterprises therein are organized capitalistically, says Eskor Toyo in one of his unpublished books, What Is Socialism?

“Neither is a country capitalist only when the majority of persons engaged in moneymaking activity are capitalist. A country is called capitalist when the firms organized capitalistically, however few they may be, determine the direction of development of the economy and the society. And they determine the direction when the political system is organized in their favour”.

In his book, Wage Freeze in Nigeria written about 35 years ago, Eskor Toyo had the working class and students in mind when he defined exploitation in simple but heuristic terms: “When in a society a certain group of people – call them A – occupies a position of political, economic or cultural privileges or advantages over another group – call them B – such that the people in A are able to enjoy an accretion of wealth or income to them that originate from the effort of those in B, then A is said to be in a position of exploiter of B”. That was Eskor Toyo: He formulated his theses and propositions in such a way that

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PERSPECTIVE • Eskor Toyo and ThE sTrugglE of ThE Working PEoPlEs • Continued from Page 90 you must stand and fight or vanish, not run away.

Socialism is a new democracy, says Eskor Toyo. In fact, to Eskor Toyo, capitalism is an impediment to democracy. Comrade Professor Biodun Jeyifo, first President of ASUU, underlined this insistence by Eskor Toyo in his immediate tribute when he learnt of the latter’s death. In a private hand-written communication to me some years ago, Eskor Toyo urged Marxists to go back to the basics, namely, that “socialism is a new democracy based on social, that is, non-private ownership of the means of production and distribution of income according to social needs and work only – that is, to the exclusion of any other principle. It is a regime where exploitation based on the private ownership of the means of production and distribution is abolished”. Advocates of socialism must never lose sight of, or stray from, this foundation.

In The working class and the Nigerian crisis, a highly polemical but scholarly work written in 1965 during the crisis that eventually led to the first coups and the civil war, Comrade Eskor Toyo described the working class as the “vanguard of the toiling people as a whole”. He gave the following substantiation: “In the first place, workers are organized for democracy in their trade unions, and the trade unions are a powerful instrument of struggle; secondly, workers are better educated than the peasant and petit-bourgeois fractions of the poor and toiling masses, and therefore have, and can have, a better understanding of public affairs; thirdly, workers are more disciplined, for they live their daily lives through office, workshop or factory discipline the type of which neither the peasants nor the poor urban bourgeois groups know”.

In the fourth place, “workers can unite more easily on the national level since the major establishments employing them are national in character; in the fifth place, workers can move easily into action as a class since owing to the grossly uneven development of the Nigerian economy, the working class is concentrated in few urban centres which are fairly well linked together by communication networks; by comparison the peasants are scattered in thousands of clans, villages and isolated petty semi-urban centres throughout the country. In the sixth place, workers have an effective weapon in the strike, especially the general strike, and of the use of the last weapon the Nigerian working class is a past master”.

Eskor Toyo wrote this more than 50 years ago when he was about 36 years old, a holder of Bachelor’s degree in Economics by correspondence and a school teacher and principal. The thesis requires only minimal revisions today.

Comrade Professor Eskor Toyo presented a paper he titled Labour Movement and Advance to Democracy in Nigeria to the seminar on Civil Society and Consolidation of Democracy in Nigeria organized by the Institute of Public Policy and Administration of this University in 2000. In that paper he explained that the term “working people embraces all those whose principal sources of means of livelihood are work rather than property income or any other privileged income like perquites of office. Such people are wage workers, peasants or small farmers, salaried personnel, artisans or small businessmen and women, and self-employed professionals”. He insists that the core class basis of a socialist movement is the wage workers; but he also explains that the “socialist movement aims at the re-organisation of the society as a whole with the working people – not the wage workers alone – as the owners of the means of production and distribution”.

Re-organisation of society as a whole around a new class core, the working class core – that is what socialism is, in the sense of Eskor Toyo. And in our sense, also.

Comrade Eskor Toyo also provides a simple but ideological and heuristic definition of the concept of “the people” or “the common people” which is frequently employed in Marxist and socialist politics.

The concept can be distilled into three stands: economic, social and political. Economically the “people” or the “common people” means those people who do not exploit other people, but are themselves exploited; socially

it means those who stand at the lowest point of the social ladder; and politically it means those who are completely excluded in the governance of their country. To this I add, invoking Karl Marx, that the people are those who are victims not of particular social injustices, but of injustice in general; people who cannot therefore liberate themselves without liberating society as a whole.

As a footnote -and to assist young researchers - I may insert here that I consider the Identification and Classification of Social Classes and Historical Materialism, that is, the Marxist Theory of History, as two areas where Eskor Toyo made the most significant contributions to Marxism.

In the early days of the recent wave of capitalist triumphalism and imperialist proclamation of the death of socialism or communism, Comrade Professor Eskor Toyo repeatedly dialogued with the working class and students, in particular, on a very simple subject: the various ways in which the term socialism is used, and can be used. In the first place, socialism may be used to mean the “idea of a modern exploitation-free society”.

Secondly, it may be used to mean the “movement (that is, organisations and groups) advocating such a society”. And thirdly, it may be used to refer to “the system that was actually being built” by some countries. The triumphalists deliberately mix up the various senses. We must re-possess the distinctions.

Beyond this, it is important to distinguish between a movement and organisations of the movement and between organisations of a movement and the leaderships of these organisations. Once you are able to do these simple analyses, you require only a long view of history and interest in what is happening before your very eyes to see the great deception of the triumphalists.

Our position, the position of the Socialist Movement of Nigeria on this global question can be re-stated before the world: If this planet Earth must be reprieved from selfdestruction, if this common homeland must be saved for humanity, the present oppressive and irrational system called Capitalism must be dismantled and replaced – through struggle - with a rational and exploitation-free system that has gone by the name Socialism for more than 200 years. This replacement is a long and arduous task that has within its articulation the means of self-criticism, self-correction and self-renewal.

Eskor Toyo: A Revolutionary-at-large Eskor Toyo was an itinerant revolutionary, a revolutionary – at-large, moving from South to North, East to West, campaigning for Workers’ Power, Popular Democracy, Socialism. He moved by the cheapest public transportation, passing the nights with comrades or in the cheapest hotels, eating proletarian food. He was a roving and tireless teacher, ambassador and campaigner of the working class and its allies, including students and youths. To the best of my knowledge Eskor Toyo did not miss a single Workers’ May Day rally and did not fail to address any of such rallies from the time I myself entered the movement more than 40 years ago – until he was struck down by a succession of strokes from mid-2012.

There is no trade union, no federation of labour, no popular – democratic formation, no anti-staquo group with progressive outlook in Nigeria that Eskor had not addressed more than once in Congress or in Special Conference. He was actively and prominently involved in popular-democratic mass protests as well as in organized workers’ strikes. He participated in struggles where big grammar is used as well as in struggles where the state is simultaneously held on the throat and on the testicles. He was found above ground where the mood and power of the masses are tested and demonstrated as well as underground where the revolutionary machine rooms are located. A leader of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said that Eskor Toyo lived his life for ASUU from a particular date to the end of his life. I added that, in fact, Eskor lived his life for the working class of Nigeria and its movement throughout his conscious political life.

Theory and Politics of Eskor Toyo When Comrade Professor Eskor Toyo died as the sun went down and disappeared on Monday, December 7, 2015, I returned to the Archives holding his works and works on

Toyo him. What I found amazed me although I placed them there. Before me was a massive collection -dating from early 1960s to just two years ago – made up of books, pamphlets, academic papers, intellectual disquisitions, mobilisational papers, public lectures, articles, essays and extended interviews in newspapers and journals, quasi-lecture notes, study notes, personal communications, political disputations, party programmes, internal party memoranda, scores and scores of unpublished manuscripts, etc. Truly intimidated, I simply took away just one document: my 1994 tribute, In praise of Eskor Toyo, which was published in my Guardian column of July 28, 1994. I read that tribute which I wrote 21 years before his death again and again, and concluded that I, in fact, had nothing substantive to edit, nothing substantive to subtract, but accounts of more revolutionary work to add.

Eskor Toyo, a professor of Economics, is an accomplished Marxist intellectual and one of the best the world has produced since World War II. He became a leading theoretician and partisan of the working class in Nigeria long before he read for higher academic degrees and became a university teacher. He was a unique organic intellectual of the working class of Nigeria in the sense of Antonio Gramsci. I confirmed this again to myself on February 6, 2016 when I re-visited and listened to his Larger Family at Oron.

With a long experience as a teacher and administrator in post-primary schools in the West, in the East and in the North of Nigeria, rising to a school principal, and with goundings in economics, history, sociology, anthropology, political science, the natural sciences, mathematics and logic, and with practical involvement in proletarian politics spanning about 62 years, Eskor Toyo comes forth as a very valued teacher, even when engaged in polemics against an opponent within or outside the movement.

Eskor Toyo was in Marxist politics what Zik was in bourgeois politics: first class polemicist, merciless and total. He dealt with an opponent as if asking him or her to shut up for ever.

Some indeed shut up, others said “for where?”

He was rigorous, but lucid; prolific, but uniformly deep and serious. He was a captivating speaker, an orator. His command and deployment of the English Language greatly assisted his presentations. Like Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, he returned his readers, over and over again, to the fundamentals and like Rosa Luxembourg and Leon Trotsky he took them through broad historical sweeps. Eskor rises to his best, to his most passionate level when defending Socialism, Marxism and the Working Class.

The range, quantity and quality of Eskor Toyo’s academic and political works are, indeed, prodigious. He has authored enough books, papers, monographs, essays, articles, lectures and speeches to occupy a research

institute of theoretical and applied Marxism.

For introduction to the Marxism of Eskor Toyo, a researcher may refer to three of his books: The Working Class and the Nigerian Crisis (1965); The Working Class and the Third Republic (1986) and Crisis and Democracy in Nigeria (Comments on the Transition From the Babangida Regime) (1994), as well as his articles and essays in the Mass Line (1973-1977) and (1987-1990). The first of these books is an analysis and critique of proletarian politics in Nigeria between 1960 and 1965 and, in particular, the 1964 General Strike – together with the events preceding and following it.

In that General Strike Comrade Eskor Toyo was a participant, a mobiliser, an organizer, a chronicler, an ideologue and a theoretician.

Again, as a footnote, I can say that Eskor Toyo would have opposed the concept of The Marxism of Eskor Toyo in the sharpest language. I would, however, have insisted.

That is the type of argument which only history can resolve.

Eskor Toyo had been actively involved in organised working class struggles, and in trade union and socialist politics since the formation of the Nigerian National Federation of Labour (NNFL) in 1948. He was a leading member of the United Working Peoples Party (UWPP) (1953), Nigerian Youth Congress (1960), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Socialist Workers’ and Farmers’ Party –SWAFP (1963), Nigerian Labour Party (1964), Nigerian Afro-Asian Solidarity Organization – NAASO (1967), Movement for People’s Democracy (1974), Calabar Group of Socialists (1977),the People’s Redemption Party (1979), Academic Staff Union of Universities - ASUU (1978/79), Directorate for Literacy (1987),the Nigerian Socialist Alliance (1989), the Labour Party (1989) and most recently, the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN). He was an editor of the Marxist journal, Mass Line during its first appearance (1970-1977) and the editor during its second appearance (1987-1990). A revolutionary group, Mass Line - Collective crystallized around the journal in the 1980s and early 1990s. The Calabar Group of Socialists, the Directorate for Literacy and the Mass Line Collective, as well as Democratic Action Committee (DACOM) - all working-class formations - played a prominent role in the campaign, election, and the subsequent Bassey Ekpo Bassey-led Calabar Municipal Administration of 1988-1989.

Although Eskor Toyo has nice words for several of his predecessors and contemporaries, he singled out Michael Imoudu for special praise. If he had any hero at all, I suspect it will be Imoudu. In a private discussion with me (and I think this has been repeated in at least one open meeting), he said that the Nigerian Labour Movement has produced only one exemplary proletarian politician, namely, Imoudu. He singled out Imoudu for his proletarian and mass-line (as against petitbourgeois and sectarian) approach to working class politics.

To explain the struggle between the various factions of Nigeria’s ruling classes, Eskor Toyo takes us back to the concept of primitive capitalist accumulation which he defines as the “sum total of economic and associated social processes by which a capitalist class emerges and matures in a country”. He insists: “Unless one understands the essence, processes, contradictions, historical pressures and cultural emanations of primitive capitalist accumulation in Nigeria, one cannot make headway in understanding her politics.”

“It is not enough to be political scientists”, he continues. “It is not enough to recognize that Nigeria has ethnic groups, is a neocolony and is underdeveloped, or even that she is ruled by a bourgeois class with unspecified character ….” Eskor Toyo is convinced that if one does not understand that the military coups and other political convulsions that have shaken Nigeria since independence are crises of the politics of primitive accumulation in a neo-colonial and multi-ethnic national setting”, his or her analyses and advice - either to the government or to the opposition – will be useless.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

-Being the text of the lecture presented

by Dr. Madunagu at the funeral ceremony of renowned Marxist scholar, Eskor Toyo, in Calabar last week

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X-raying Mu’azu’s Legacies at Wadata Plaza (II)

Tony Amadi

F

ormer PDP National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu was very concerned about the economic challenge of nation building and always wanted PDP governors to show more than enough concern about the economy. While serving as chairman of the party, he made sure that the political economy of Nigeria and its thirty six states was taken seriously by the chief executives of the states. Eight years as governor of Bauchi opened his eyes to the agricultural potential of the entire country and ensured that he invested enough time in searching for the best way to increase the yield of his largely agrarian population because he knew that over dependence on oil was very precarious for the future economic position of the state.

During the 2015 elections one of his favourite campaign tools was the dry farming programme of the previous government.

Wherever he spoke he stressed the need to farm all year round and stressed that the government’s attachment of high importance to the project was crucial to the survival of the nation. He went as far as challenging fellow politicians to come and debate with him on the economy. Sadly no one took his challenge.

Rather than listen to his words of wisdom, politicians on both sides of the divide accussed him of not doing enough to reelect the then commander in chief. But not many knew the undercurrents going on behind the scene. Although he was party chairman and was to be in charge of the presidential campaign council, campaign funding was vested elsewhere. He had little or no part in the day to day running of the campaign. Yet he was expected to bear the brunt of criticism against the party and the direction of the campaign.

The campaign spokesperson came on board without the former Chairman’s endorsement just as he abhorred the horrendous speeches at the campaign grounds where some eminent speakers rather than talk about issues would instead pour invectives on political opponents. Even the press releases coming out of the campaign council media team was even more catastrophic in the sense that instead of tackling the many misdemeanors of the opposition at the time were rather more interested in vituperations that would add no positive mileage to the fortunes of the then ruling party. Too much time and space was devoted to issues of certificates or no certificate when the minds of voters were already made up to support the new commander in chief’s quest to rule Nigeria.

The whole enterprise was like shooting yourself on the foot and shattering the metatarsal in the process. According to eminent

Mu’azu

columnist and a founding father of Newswatch magazine, Mr. Ray Ekpu, while commenting in an article entitled “The PDP’s new Sheriff” recently, he said: “In Communication, the credibility of the messenger affects the credibility of the message”. Ekpu was commenting on the PDP Campaign Council choice of spokesman who had savagely taken the former President to the cleaners, yet became the voice of his campaign for reelection as president with a huge war chest that even the party chairman had no input.

The spokesman had described the former president as one who “prides himself on his weakness and incompetence and whose love of false prophets and strange women knows no bounds and has no end. A President who has abdicated his responsibility, destroyed his own political party, divided his own country….abandoned his own people, brought ridicule to his own faith, cowers before his own officials, scorns the international community and breaks his solemn oath to protect and defend the Nigerian people”. Yet when the job offer came, he had no qualms to pounce on it.

Ekpu concluded his x-ray of the spokesman and asked how the party thought “the man was going to deliver a credible message in Jonathan’s favour after rubbishing him. Of course, the APC utilizing

the services of a master propagandist, Lai Mohammed, put a sharp knife on the throat of the PDP and Jonathan and sliced it”.

The situation now is not to worry about the past because mistakes have been made and the future is what everyone on both sides should now face. Faced with economic doom threatening to engulf us unless something is done quickly, the need to debate the economic direction of the country before and during campaigns among the candidates for the presidency in the future cannot be over emphasized. Nigerians deserve to know the direction that presidential candidates are driving the economy of the country.

The economic prosperity of Nigerians should henceforth be the political battleground for anyone who wants to emerge as Nigerian president in future. This is because the economic future of the country cannot be left in the hands of insensitive politicians whose only interest is how to rape the economy and bring the nation down.

It was the reason that the former Chairman Mu’azu wanted a thorough debate during the last presidential elections on the economy. He had wanted those making promises to win votes to check the economic situation of the country before making election promises. He warned at the time that it was necessary to subject to rigorous scrutiny the promises politicians were making to the people to win their votes, especially promises whose financial quantification cannot add up.

At the time that politicians were making grandiose promises, it was clear to all that oil prices were plunging to unexpectedly low figures, and the federation account was depleting and payment of salaries was being delayed or owed to workers for some months.

Even now with the benevolent intent of the current President to cushion the effect of hardship on state government workers, many states are still owing staff wages of more than 12 months while the governors fly around in chartered jets.

Nigerians should now work out how best to choose their leaders. Everyone now agree that the problem of the country is the dearth of good leaders. While nostalgic memories of Mu’azu’s time as PDP National Chairman still pervade in Wadata House, it is clear that the future of the party still remain doubtful as those running the party now are determined not to give room for any new set of leaders to come in.

The example of Mu’azu’s resignation is a big legacy on its own and unless those who are at the helm do not want to quit, especially as their time is up, the party will continue to flounder and the blame game will continue to run its course until the right thing is done.

–––Amadi is a veteran journalist and author of ‘The making of the PDP’

Ayade: Where the Critics Got It Wrong

R

Tony Undiandeye

ecently, the social media and other media platforms have been awash with propaganda aimed at distorting and tarnishing the image of the Governor, Prof. (Sen.) Ben Ayade and suppress the good work he is doing in Cross

River State.

A few days ago, a chieftain of the APC and a senior Lawyer, Barr. Okoi Obono Obla, procured a space on the AIT Television platform, Kakaki, to lampoon the governor on the travails of some defectors from the PDP to the APC. He centered his allegation of persecution on Hon. Paul Adah, Prince Goddy Jeddy Agba and Barr. Vena Ikem. He also claimed that the governor was working hard and desperate to defect to the APC- and that the governor will not be admitted to the party, APC. Others have criticized the appointments made by the governor, particularly, the enlarged Executive Council membership.

Barr. Obono Obla particularly got it wrong.

The personalities he mentioned in his interview are from Obudu, the same Local Government Area with the governor. They cannot pose any threat to the governor’s ambition in any form to warrant persecution. The events culminating to Mr. Vena Ikem’s declaration as a wanted person by the Nigerian Police are unfortunate. But to locate his travails on the Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade is simply a prank to galvanize public sympathy and raise his stakes in the new party which he has defected to. The governor has absolutely nothing to do with his Police or charges preferred against him in the court. After all, it was Governor Ayade who used his public goodwill and office to award the first contract for the supply of refuse bins amounting to over One Hundred and Twenty-Five Million Naira to him upon assumption of office as governor of Cross River State on 29th of May, 2015. The contract was awarded on the 30th of May, 2015.

It is wicked and very ridiculous to associate the criminal attack on Hon. Paul Adah’s house with the office and person of Prof. Ben Ayade.

While the incident is regrettable, the governor has nothing whatsoever to gain by orchestrating a threat to the life of such a cherished brother of his, who he has appointed his brother of the same parents, Mr. Richard Adah, and his in-law, Mr. Christopher Ikposhi (Mr. Ikposhi is married to Hon. Paul’s elder sister of the same parents) into very sensitive positions in his government.

Does it not sound absurd to say that the Governor harbours any animosity against Hon. Paul Adah?

The friendship between Prince Goddy Jeddy Agba and His Excellency, Prof (Sen.) Ben Ayade has a history. This is the reason why Prince Jeddy Agba found it easy and convenient to quickly reconcile himself and moved on to work with the Governor to actualize the Northern Cross River ambition of producing a governor in 2015. It is by-standers and political merchants that are creating an impression of a gulf between this two great friends and brothers from Obudu. Prince Jeddy Agba is a statesman and, I believe it will be condescending for him to generate crisis that would distract his friend and brother in office. He is also well vested with the political sensitivities of the state and would not nurse any ambition that will threaten the governor’s 2019 ambition. His defection to APC is for personal reasons and also to give an image of protection to some defectors to APC who have become spent forces.

Apart from their being recycled in government over the years, they cannot do much to tilt the balance of electoral fortunes in Obudu and Cross River State. Without any equivocation, Cross River State remains a PDP State.

The governor is a leading PDP member in the state and has no ambitions to defect from PDP to APC. It is smart economic sense and of benefit for a governor in opposition who intends to achieve much for his people and state, to cultivate a beneficial working relation-

ship with the President of his country.

This is what the governor has established.

It is this special relationship the governor has with the President, Muhamadu Buhari, that is being mismanaged and misconstrued as an indication of his desire to defect to APC. Supposing, the governor actually has any intention to defect to the APC, can any of these persons stop him from doing so? None of them has the clout and the right connection to stop the governor if that is his desire. Remember, the governor is not a neophyte in the game of politics. He has excellent credentials in every endeavor he has ventured. Reputed to have the highest number of bills ever in the life of the Senate of the Federal Republic. Wellconnected and deeply loved by his people of Cross River State, he has the ground command to alter any electoral dynamics in the state.

He is a very dedicated and focused professional who understands when and how politics is played.

He is presently occupied with bringing the dividends of democracy to the people of Cross River State. For the avoidance of doubt, Ayade is the Leader of PDP in Cross River State and he remains so.

His policy of running an all-inclusive government by expanding the opportunities for more people to participate in government has been consistently criticized and largely misunderstood, especially, during this period of economic down-turn. The simplest explanation we can give is that during recession or depression, many people become despondent and require some form of cushioning to overcome the hardship within which period, programmes are activated by government to restore the economic fortunes. The governor has concluded income redistribution matrix to accommodate the number of appointees. This means that rather than a few families benefitting, greater number of families would now be able to meet their most pressing obligations such as payment of children school fees, take care of their medicals and put food on their tables. It is important to note that the number

of appointments made, will not substantially affect other sectorial development needs of the administration. Ayade is well known for his resourcefulness, strategic planning and successful implementation of programmes. It is his determination and commitment to see Cross River State re-emerge as one of the leading industrialized, most developed state with a happy citizenry. This he hopes to achieve through the following programmes: raising the standard of education both qualitatively and quantitatively, creating employment for the teeming unemployed youths, widows and disabled citizens of the state; provision of access to adequate and affordable health care services at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels; industrialization of the state through public private partnership model; upgrading and mitigating in the infrastructural deficit, through Urban Road maintenance, construction of Deep Sea Port and Super Highway; social and economic security for the vulnerable poor segment of our society through housing scheme, medical and education rebirth; establishment of Cross River Microfinance Bank to facilitate easy access to cash for small scale entrepreneurs; establishment of Cross River State Food Bank; construction of modular Power Sub-Stations to augment the existing power infrastructural deficit across the state; and expanding and supporting Agricultural investment in areas of Livestock, Fisheries, Rice, Cassava, Cocoa, Sugar-Cane and Plantain farming.

These and many more are the development programmes Governor Ayade has for Cross River State - and progress is being made steadily. However, more mystified than critical, is the fact that even when progress is made, the opposition seem to disbelieve and label it something else. This is arising perhaps from the fact that the governor has become a compelling figure for daring the areas where others cannot venture.

- Chief Undiandeye is Senior Special Adviser to the governor on Public Affairs

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PERSPECTIVE

Fallacies of Ortom’s Probe Panel Report Gabriel Suswam

W

ere it not for the much vaunted view that silence could imply consent, this would have been a perfect time to be silent till the D-day in court. However, due to pressure from my supporters, I will reluctantly venture some measured response to the Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which in its haste to do the hatchet job of destroying my political career with a negative brush, fouled all the rules of fairness, decency and modesty with speculations, half-truths, near lies, outright falsehood and fertile conjectures.

The report, which Governor Samuel Ortom has already gazetted in a White Paper, recommended that some officials during my tenure, corporate bodies and I, should refund N107 billion and in addition, barred me from holding public office. To say the least, the report does not reflect reality and confirms the notion that it was aimed at achieving a predetermined end. Anyway, what would one have expected from a body empaneled with card carrying members of his political party, the All Progressives Congress?

The methodology adopted by the commission to ferret evidence was not only forcible but tumbles from the incongruous as seen in page 4 that, “Following the poor response from the public, especially the MDAs, the commission held an interactive session with heads of MDAs in the state. At the session, a template was given to each MDA to guide in the preparation of the required memoranda.” This is a fair admission of tele-guiding information for a predetermined outcome, which flies in the face of procedure. Why would the public and MDAs spurn a panel set up by a sitting governor if it was in their interest and not glaringly a witch-hunt?

Is it not laughable that such a commission would recommend the refund of funds used in administering the state? Where in the history of governance is a validly elected head of government asked to refund funds expended on development and running of the administration? The simple conclusion is that it was an odious job meant to get at me and some references to the report and the white paper will suffice.

The language of the report is at best inchoate, facts were deliberately jumbled, names of the people like Ortom cunningly omitted from list of beneficiaries of some of the programmes, and completed projects that were handed over and are currently in use by Ortom are listed for refund of the funds for their execution. This is a real theatre of the absurd.

In its haste to indict, the commission painted a gory picture of infrastructural decay and abandoned projects and nothing could be farther from the truth, as we built roads in every nook and cranny of the state of which space constrains their being listed here. They cut across roads, water, electricity, educational, and even security. Like is common, however, we did not complete all the projects we started; some are at various levels of completion, which puts a lie to the decay narrative.

Some companies, like Benue Breweries, Agro Millers, and Yuteco Foods Ltd., were sold by previous administrations. In the case of Benue Breweries, 85 per cent was sold by the Akume administration and no trace of the proceeds could be found; it is the remaining 15 per cent that I sold and reinvested the proceeds in Katsina-Ala Yam Flour Mill, which had started test production by the time we handed over that has become an issue. On Agro Millers, it was sold to Technoplex by Akume and he later repurchased same with all liabilities, including money borrowed by Technoplex from NERFUND. Unable to repay the loan, the company was placed on receivership and actually sold by the court. The balance of the proceeds was paid during my tenure into government treasury. Yuteco Foods was equally placed under receivership before I became governor.

Benue Hotels was leased to a private company to arrest the rot we met it in when I assumed office.

Taraku Mills was also placed on receivership by the time we assumed office due to debts incurred

by Akume administration for the company. To save Taraku Mills, we leased out Growrich Limited for N300 million out of which we used over N200 million to defray the loans from Bank of Agriculture taken by the Akume administration to import Soya Beans from Brazil and saved the company from receivership The disingenuous omission of Ben Plastic Company, which we leased to Ortom before he became governor, smacks of deliberate amnesia by the

Ortom

Kpojime commission. The same deliberate omission also happened with the omission of Oracle Farms belonging to Ortom, which benefitted from the N1 billion Commercial Agriculture Credit Loan Scheme, but the report insinuated that I gave the loans to my relations. This same pattern was also exhibited on the issue of purchase of vehicles for Governor, Deputy Governor elect and their wives. Rather than report they were bought in April 2015, and were later handed over to Ortom, the commission dated it 2012 instead of 2015 to exclude him. But the truth is that 10 Toyota Land Cruisers and six escort Pick up vans were purchased and handed over to him publicly as protocol requires. One of the Jeeps was given to a former governor of the state and one to my deputy, yet it is part of the N214, 809,000 the commission said I should refund. If it was worth its salt, it should have named and shamed all. All proceeds to the state from its investments were appropriated as revenue and adroitly expended on governance.

On allegations of expending unappropriated funds, it was only in its haste to indict their targets that it did not notice the appropriation laws as well as the supplementary appropriations. The commission listed N10.9 billion as proceeds from sale or lease of government companies, N14.2 billion Sure-P funds, N18 billion Bonds proceeds, N35 billion logistics fund for security surveillance, and N5.8 billion cost of running government. The Sure-P fund was coming piecemeal and monthly and, therefore, used to execute the different schemes where 8,500 unemployed youths and women were paid stipends and in other schemes, buses were purchased and handed out to beneficiaries to operate. Local government portion of the funds were disbursed through the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) of which I had no control and asking me to refund money for schemes executed at the state and local government levels smacks of importunity.

Part of the contradictions which smacks of the confused state of the commission was the issue of the N18 billion bonds. Two bonds were issued, N13 billion and N5 billion, which proceeds were used to fund infrastructural projects, but the commission alleged the N13 billion, which was the first bond, was diverted and embezzled; yet in pages 87 – 88, the white paper said Mr. Oklobia and I should refund N911, 820,226.50 being the unaccounted balance of the N13 billion, which means it was expended and accounted for but it asks for its refund. That is the confused state of the document. The second N5 billion bond was floated but by the time the proceeds came, we had accessed facility from the bank to pay salaries and the bank seized the proceeds to defray the facility earlier owed and these are documented transactions. The commission is asking me to pay N914 million cost of processing the bond, which is laughable, knowing full well that fees are payable

for such transactions to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigerian Stock Exchange upfront, in addition to publicity, meetings, travels and other related activities to issue bonds. If not for the predetermined end of the commission, all the facts needed to see how funds of the state were applied are in our audited accounts submitted to the state Assembly.

On alleged illegal deduction from local government account for payment to Ashi Foods, how can I, not being an officer of the food company, be asked to refund money paid to a corporate organisation?

On the sale of government stocks under BIPC management, I would refrain from commenting on it since it is a case already filed by the EFCC against me and commenting on it would be subjudice.

Some other orders for refund include monies allegedly shared by the Head of Service to civil servants for election. If such happened, when did vicariousity begin to apply to criminality? How am I involved in that to be asked to refund such money?

The same line runs through the entire document, like where someone was said to have given money to another person on my behalf, where such person allegedly denied knowledge of such, yet the commission ordered I should pay back the money. Also, the commission said N77, 340,000 was distributed by the Secretary to the State Government for the 2015 general elections and after acknowledging that such money was distributed, asked me to refund same even when I was not associated with the transaction, if it took place.

The N161 million case the white paper said was given to GTB Bank staff in tranches for deposit in accounts of a Bureau de Change is one of the most ridiculous of the recommendations. Names were mentioned and the amount known and with the use of BVN, such transactions could have been tracked to see if there was any link to me? Such other funny recommendations, like asking for the refund of monies used to conduct local government elections, run Government House and logistic surveillance for security even when herdsmen attacks took place in several local government areas, including Makurdi, the state capital, and we had to engage the security agencies and fund their operations to secure the state, yet the Kpojime commission said I should refund the money used to secure the state; one wonders what I was elected to do.

In the recommendations, one sees the intention and, therefore, should not bother to be incensed by the comedy of errors or how can in a Christian community, money expended for Christmas gifts is being asked to be refunded? Even purchases like the Land Cruiser for the Chief of Staff that was appropriated and bought, the commission is asking for the refund; even handling charges for cash withdrawals by the Accountant General of the state is listed as funds to be refunded, so the document is just not worth the paper it is written on. On ecological funds, it said the money was diverted but did not say who did and when because it is obvious to them that it is money accruing over a period of time and, therefore, not the way they stated.

On the N1 billion paid to CGGC Projects Limited handling the Igbor-Ikpa-Wannune road, the contractor mobilised to site, did appreciable work and was still on site when we left office and the Commissioner for Works who ran against Ortom as a running mate and I are being asked to refund the money?

The Aper Aku stadium turn around was approved by the State Executive Council and the contract executed and the commission is asking me to refund the cost, which is N164 million. The same for the Makurdi Ultra-Modern market, which had been completed, shops allocated, yet I am asked to refund the money. The Greater Makurdi water works also falls into this category; the contract of N6.2 billion was approved by the Exco, the amount appropriated and contract awarded and executed, yet I am asked to refund the money used for it. Funnier still, the commission said it traced N2 billion reimbursement by the federal government to the state to an account in Ministry of Water Resources but could not say how it was expended, very laughable.

Babcock Electrical project led to the lighting of over 150 communities in Benue State in our rural electrification project but Ortom wants me to refund the money used for rural electrification. So what is it that I did as governor that I am not being asked to refund the money for? Should this piece of document be seen as something one should take seriously? Please, judge for yourself.

–– Suswam is former governor of Benue State

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GAVEL TO GAVEL

Edited by Vincent Obia Email vincent.obia@thisdaylive.com

Ondo Assembly: Disquieted by Leadership High-handedness The foiled attempt to impeach the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly has not only created cracks among members of the Assembly but may also affect the Executive-Legislature relationship in the Sunshine State, writes James Sowole

T

he relative peace and cordial relationship between the Legislature and Executive arm of government since the coming on board of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko Administration in 2009 was last Tuesday put to test with the impeachment notice signed by 18 out of 26 members of the Ondo State House ofAssembly and slammed on the Speaker, Hon Jumoke Akindele, and her deputy, Hon Fatai Olotu.

The action of some aggrieved lawmakers marked the second major crisis that rocked the Assembly after the December 31, 2014 boycott of the House plenary meant for the presentation of the 2014 Appropriation Bill by Mimiko. The boycott of the sitting was adduced as one of the factors that worked against the desire of returning to the Assembly of many of those that boycotted the December 2014 sitting.

The absence of open confrontation between the House leadership and members even after the resolution of that particular Executive-Legislature face off was not enough to conclude that all lawmakers were comfortable with the management of the affairs of the Assembly.

However, the fact that many members of the House particularly those elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won their election due to the intervention and deep involvement of Mimiko and some members of his executive made many of them to continue endure situation of things in the House The lawmakers had been enduring the situation because of the belief that any revolt against the leadership of the House may be considered as a revolt against the governor. The belief of many in the state was that the House had become an appendage of the Executive while the leadership was being castigated.

To the governor, the cordial relationship among the three arms of government was not because the executive dominated other arms unduly, but was brought about by the maturity of the leadership of these arms and the openness with which he had been running the affairs of the state. At every opportunity, the governor had never hidden the fact that he had been enjoying the cooperation of other arms of government.

However, the current economic situation in the country, which had led to many unfulfilled expectations, pitched the lawmakers of the Eight Assembly against the House leadership as they interpreted the relationship with the executive as a weakness on the part of the head of the legislative arm.

The lawmakers had been complaining of lack of official vehicles, denial of allowances and other benefits which they ought to use to serve their constituencies. According to many of them, going to their constituencies had been very difficult because they lack the resources to meet many of the requests of the people that elected them to the House and which they said would work against their future political careers.

The bubble burst on Tuesday, March 8, when the news filtered in around 10.00pm that the speaker who is representing Okitipupa II Constituency and her deputy, Fatai Olotu, of Akoko North East Constituency had been impeached.

The news generated a lot of questions not only from the State Government side but even members of the public. Some of the questions raised include: Where was the sitting of the House held?

At what time of the day did the sitting hold? Who presided over the meeting? Who among the lawmakers attended the meeting?

Discussion commenced immediately on the social media when it was disclosed that out of the 18 members that signed the impeachment document, only four were elected on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) with only one APC lawmaker standing aloof. The remaining were those elected on the platform of the PDP. The action of the lawmaker generated suspicion as it was the belief of many people that though the complaints were against the leadership of the House, the ultimate target was the governor because it was already being rumoured that the leadership of the APC were already discussing with some lawmakers and some of the commissioners in the cabinet. So, a popular cliché on the situation on social media, facebook, in particular, was ‘on rugbo bo’ meaning, “it is roaring, trouble is looming” Again, the identities of some of the signatories to the impeachment document generated another controversy that bothered on whether the matter actually emanated from the lawmakers.

Those who signed the impeachment paper were Arowele Ayodeji ( Owo 1), Iroju Ogundeji ( Odigbo 1), Olusola Oluyede (Ose), Akindiose Olusiji ( Ondo East), Akintimehin I Tuyi

Governor Mimiko presenting 2016 appropriation bill to the speaker

(Idanre) and Akinruntan Abayomi (Ilaje 1).

Other signatories were Fajolu Abimbola ( Ileoluji –Okeigbo), Araoyinbo Olugbenga (Akoko North East), OlusegunAjimotokin (Irele), Jamiu Suleiman Maito ( AKoko North West 1), Felemu Olusegun ( Akoko South West II). Coker Adeniyi Malachi ( Ilaje II) Towase O Kuti ( Akoko South East) and Kazeem MOS (Akoko South West 1 The remaining signatories were Obadiah Vincent ( Ese Odo), Ade Adeniyi (Ondo West 1) Olamide George ( Akure North) and Mukaila Musa ( Owo II).

The aggrieved lawmakers accused the speaker of high handedness, lack of vision and inability to represent them well before the executive saying that she had turned the Legislative arm of Government to the stooge of the Executive.

The lawmakers subsequently announced Hon Iroju Ogundeji of Odigbo I Constituency and Hon Ayo Arowele of Owo I as the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

Since there were insinuations that the ultimate target of the impeachment plot was the governor, the appearance of some signatures on the impeachment document came as a surprise not only to people in government but those who knew their political antecedents. It was being said that many of them cannot on their own win councillorship position in their wards not to talk of wining the real election that Mimiko personally put everything into.

On the other hand, it was the position of many people that the governor had no choice than to ensure that his party (PDP) had the majority in the Assembly in view of the situation of things after the announcement of the 2015 Presidential and the National Assembly Elections, which favoured the opposition APC. By the following day, neither the Executive nor the Legislature was comfortable again with the development in the Assembly while members of the public including opposition party members were waiting for what would follow.

To avoid being caught napping, police and other security agencies beefed up security at the State House of Assembly located on Igbatoro Road, searched vehicles entering into the Assembly Complex and also confirmed identities of people going into their offices.

While security men were watching events as they were unfolding within the Assembly premises, the lawmakers were summoned to the Government House for a meeting by the governor.

Though, the meeting which lasted for about five hours was

held behind closed door, a source said the aggrieved legislators agreed to let peace reign after much assurances from the governor to intervene and address all issues raised by the lawmakers.

The decision of the Assembly, which came less than 24 hours after 18 out of the 26 member House announced the impeachment of the speaker, and her deputy, was conveyed at a press briefing addressed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon Olamide George.

Addressing journalists at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, George, who was representing the Akure North Constituency and one of the legislators that signed the impeachment notice, said sizeable members had agreed to allow the status quo ante to remain.

Flanked by the lawmaker representing Ondo East Constituency, Hon Siji Akindiose, George read a five paragraph press statement and departed the hall without entertaining any question from journalists.

He said: On Tuesday, 8th of March, 2006, sizeable number of Ondo State House of Assembly met on some burning issues touching on the leadership of the House.

“Before the plenary today, Wednesday 9th March, 2016, members at a larger and official gathering met to review the situation and consequently resolved to allow the status quo ante on the leadership of the Ondo State House of Assembly as at 7th March 2016 to remain.

“The House of Assembly remains united, cohesive and alive to its constitutional responsibilities.

“The issue of leadership of the House is an internal affairs and has been treated as such”.

The 18 lawmakers had in the impeachment notice alleged the Speaker of high handedness, lack of vision and her inability to fight for the interest of members as some of the reasons for her impeachment.

Though, there was no doubt that the immediate issue was resolved going by the fact that the House sitting where the 2016 Appropriation Bill was passed into law was presided over by Akindele and without any rancour but it was generally believed by many that there were still unresolved issues that may soon begin to unfold.

According to some people, the fact that such an action was taken in the first instance showed that things were not the same and cannot be the same within the House because suspicion game has started.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R •MARCH 13, 2016

95

GAVEL TO GAVEL

Tension in Edo Assembly as Speaker Refuses to Swear in Legislator The refusal of the Edo State House of Assembly Speaker to swear in Sylvanus Peters Eruaga of the Peoples Democratic Party as a member of the Assembly, despite an order of the appellate court, raises political anxiety in the state. Adibe Emenyonu, in Benin City, writes

S

peaker of the Edo state House ofAssembly, Mr. Victor Edoror, may be the first speaker of a legislature in Nigeria to go to prison for contempt of court. This follows his refusal to swear in Mr. Sylvanus Peters Eruaga of the Peoples Democratic Party, who was declared as winner of the Etsako West II State Constituency elections held in April last year.

The Contest Eruaga had contested the state assembly election last year against the All Progressives Congress candidate, Dr. Gowan Yakubu Marighu. At the end of the exercise, the APC candidate was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Not satisfied with INEC’s declaration, Eruaga approached the Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin City in a petition NO. EPT/ED/NSHA/HA/08/2015, asking that he be declared the winner of that election because the APC candidate was not duly nominated in that the party failed to comply with Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act, meaning that no valid candidate was validly presented by the APC. Ruling However, in its judgement on October 22 last year, the threeman election tribunal chaired by Justice M. A. Adegbole, with Justices S. M. C. Uruguay-Onyenosoh and J. M. Ijohor as members, ordered outright cancellation of the election and directed INEC to conduct a fresh election within 90 days from the day of the judgement.

According to the judgement read by Adegbole, “The issue of weight to be attached to such a document as this in our view does not arise. Under cross examination, with respect exhibit V, the testimony of RW7 was thoroughly discredited and Exhibit V was also discredited by Exhibit A. “Not having complied with the provisions of the Guidelines Exhibit W, Exhibit A’s competence has been scaled or witted down. From all we have elucidated above, Exhibit V is hereby discountenanced as being spurious and unreliable and this tribunal places no reliance on it. Consequently Exhibit A is rendered irrelevant as you cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand. Exhibit A has its life wire on Exhibit V and if Exhibit V does not exit then there cannot be a rescheduling.”

The tribunal chairman continued, “Having placed no reliance on Exhibit V, it is accordingly expunged as not being useful to this tribunal. Issue No. 1 we hold has been established by the petitioner.

“In the final analysis, the consequence of noncompliance with the Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act is that no valid candidate was presented by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the State House of Assembly election held on the 11th April 2015 in Edo State for Etsako West Constituency 11 against the other parties’ candidates, including the petitioner. The APC cannot present a substitute at this stage.

“Consequently, the election into the State House ofAssembly in Etsako West Constituency II is hereby nullified. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is hereby ordered to conduct fresh election into the State House of Assembly Etsako West Constituency II within 90 days from today. This is our judgment.”

Edo Assembly in session

refusal to swear in Eruaga. More so as he and the governor are from the same constituency, PDP reasoned that Oshiomhole might have been the one who instructed Edoror to frustrate Eruaga. The governor is said to be uncomfortable with the situation where someone from an opposition party is representing him in the Assembly.

When Eruaga applied to the Assembly to be sworn in, a lot of obstacles were placed on his path. First, was when Eruaga wrote to the speaker attaching all the documents, including the code of Conduct Bureau slip, to confirm he had completed the requirements, and the Certificate of Return from INEC. The speaker, allegedly, objected, telling him to route his application through the Clerk.

When that was done, Edoror turned around to say that the file had been forwarded to the governor.

Before that could be settled, Edoror alleged that the Certificate of Return issued by INEC was under investigation; that he was going to send the Clerk to Abuja to ascertain the authenticity of the certificate issued by INEC in Benin City and duly signed by the INEC national chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu.

Appeal Still unsatisfied, Eruaga through his counsel, Dele Igbinedion Esq., headed for the Court ofAppeal in suit NO. CA/B/EPT/343/2015 asking the court to declare him the winner of the election since the APC candidate was not duly nominated by his party, as attested to by the tribunal. Apart from that, the PDP candidate prayed the appeal court to quash the judgement of National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State as earlier delivered.

Against this backdrop, the appellate court decided to give justice to Eruaga in a judgement delivered by Justice T.N. Orji-Abadua on December 19, 2015. The judge ruled, “The provisions of Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act is a nullity, therefore, all the votes cast for the 1st Respondent and the 6th Respondent are all wasted votes and ought not to have been countenanced. The only votes to be reckoned with are the votes cast for the Appellant and the other political parties and their respective candidates.

“Consequently, the appellant with 4001 votes, which remain the highest valid votes cast in the election, is hereby declared and returned as the lawful winner of the election held on the 11th April, 2015 for Etsako West Constituency II for Edo State House of Assembly. The Independent National Electoral Commission is hereby ordered to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to the 1st respondent and forthwith issue to the appellant a Certificate if Return.”

short as all efforts to get sworn in as a member of the state Assembly were rebuffed by Edoror who claimed that the Certificate of Return issued by INEC was fake.

Edoror did not stop at that. He applied to the appeal court for an injunction restraining Eruaga from presenting himself to the speaker for the purpose of being sworn in. The application was, however, withdrawn by J.I. Odibeli of Ken Mozia chambers when the case came up for hearing on February 24.

Edoror hatched yet another plot. This time, he was alleged to have told Eruaga the reasons he refused to swear him in. One of the reasons, according to THISDAY findings, was that there were several petitions against Eruaga from his constituency, which he was required to clear before his swearing in. Secondly, the speaker, allegedly, said his hands were tied.

Controversy With this pronouncement by Justice Orji-Abadua of the Court of Appeal, Eruaga went home happy. However, his joy was cut

Governor’s Involvement The opposition PDP viewed Edoror’s second reason to mean that Governor Adams Oshiomhole had a hand in the speaker’s

Edoror

Contempt The entire episode, THISDAY was informed, worsened on January 11, when an industrial trainee working in the office of the speaker was alleged to have been beaten on his orders. The offense of the IT staff was that he signed the court documents from Eruaga’s counsel to the speaker and the clerk of the house.

To further demonstrate his partisanship in the whole issue, Edoror was alleged to have ordered the beating of a Court Bailiff and a staff of Dele Igbinedion chambers who came to the Assembly premises to deliver Form 48 Notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Court order served on him and the Clerk, Lawson Ugiagbe from the Court of Appeal.

The speaker has, however, denied the allegations. He called a press briefing where he denied either ordering or physically assaulting the court bailiff and staff of Igbinedion chambers.

Having exhausted all legal means to compel the Edo Assembly speaker to swear him in, Eruaga and his counsel have devised another means.

According to Igbinedion, since the Assembly had devised a means of not accepting court orders, “we have decided once again to approached the court to serve the Form 48 and all other court processes, including the subsequent Form 49 by publication in three national dailies and such publication by law will be deemed as properly served.”

He said the Form 49 was for the respondents to come to court to show cause why they should not be committed to prison. “Once they can satisfactorily explain to the court why they will not be imprisoned or if they are unable to explain to the satisfaction of the court, we will make the order to them to be committed to prison for refusing to swear in Eruaga.”

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EVENT

F

inal burial rites were held in honour of Late Mrs. Dorothy Omolara Anthony, a distinguished businesswoman, who died recently in Lagos.

A church service was held at Holy Cross Cathedral Church in Lagos and reception at GreenParkinVictoriaIsland,Lagos. Hereare some of the personalities at the occassion.

Photos: Mubo Peters

L-R: Daughter of the deceased, Sena Anthony; Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; grand-daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Mofe Eromosele, her husband, Mr. Patrick Eromosele

L-R: Former Governor Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, and Mr. Gbolly Osibodu.

L-R: Minister of State for Health, Osagie Ehanire, and friend.

L-R: Former Minister for State Petroleum, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia(SAN), and wife, Awuneba

L-R: Mr. Philip Asiodu and wife, Jumoke

L-R: Former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Engr. Funso Kupolokun, and Group Managing Director Oando Oil, Mr. Wale Tinubu

L-R: Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas and Mr. Oba Otudeko.

L-R: Mrs. Mary Inegbese and husband, Mike

L-R: Mrs. Modupe Sagoe and Senator Daisy Danjuma

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EVENT

L-R: Mr. Wale Babalakin (SAN); former Supreme Court Justice, Mr. George Oguntade (rtd) and wife, Modupe

L-R: Mr. Bimbo Ogunbanjo; Otunba Toyin Akomolafe and Mr. Gbenga Oyebode

L-R:Former deputy Governor Lagos State, Kofo Bucknor Akerele and Mrs. Operal Benson

L-R: Mr. Oluyomi Macgregor; Dr. John Abebe and Mr. Abiola Sappor

L-R: Dr. Osato Giwa-Osagie and Prof. Boni Ogedengbe

L-R: Prince Adesuyi Hastrup and his wife, Princess Vicky Hastrup

L-R: Mr. Steve Omojafor; Mr. Olurotimi Williams and Mr. Tunde Adelaja

L-R: Managing director Brittania-U Nigeria Ltd, Mrs.Uju Ifejika and Former First Lady Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola.

L-R: Mrs. Toks Adeola and Mrs. Modupe Adelaja

L-R: Mrs. Derin Osoba and Mrs. Derin Disu

L-R: Mrs. Lanre Ojora and Mrs. Foluke Abdul Razaq

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 13, 2016

IMAGES

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SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by Demola Ojo Email demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

FA Cup: Ighalo’s Watford Confronts Arsenal for Place in Semis

A

rsene Wenger hopes to have defensive duo Gabriel and Per Mertesacker available for Arsenal’s FA Cup quarter-final clash at home to Watford today as they prepare to confront Super Eagle’s striker Odion Ighalo. The holders eased into the last eight with a 4-0 fifth-round replay victory at Hull on Tuesday, although the game was marred by a number of injuries sustained to key personnel.

Meanwhile, Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores has late decisions to make on Craig Cathcart and Jose Manuel Jurado ahead of the game.

The pair have been suffering from calf injuries and are being monitored.

Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey is out and could face a month on the sidelines with a thigh injury sustained at the KC Stadium. Jack Wilshere (leg), Tomas Rosicky (thigh), Petr Cech (calf), Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (both knee) are all still missing.

For Watford, Flores has ruled out Miguel Britos (hamstring) for the tie and Joel Ekstrand (also hamstring) remains on the sidelines.

But the Spaniard confirmed Costel Pantilimon would continue in goal for the FA Cup after playing well against Nottingham Forest and Leeds in the earlier rounds.

Arsenal have won four of their FA

Ighalo

Lukaku Ends Chelsea’s FA Cup Dreams Romelu Lukaku scored two goals, one demonstrating strength and rare skill, to knock his old side Chelsea out of the FA Cup 2-0 in a dramatic quarter-final featuring two sendings-off yesterday.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa was shown the red card, following Lukaku’s five-minute double, for a second booking as he retaliated with face-to-face aggression after being fouled by Gareth Barry.

Barry was then given a second yellow card three minutes from time but Lukaku, sold by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to Everton for 28 million pounds ($40.28 million) two years ago, had already put victory beyond doubt.

With a replay looking likely, Lukaku conjured up a goal from nowhere, muscling past two defenders on the left flank, powering into the box and, after some nifty footwork, firing a left-foot shot into the corner. It ended Premier League champions Chelsea’s chances of any silverware at the end of another wretched week that also saw them crash out of the Champions League against Paris St Germain.

And it meant caretaker manager Guus Hiddink, who won the FA Cup seven years ago in his previous stand-in spell at Stamford Bridge, had failed in his bid to repeat the achievement following the dismissal of Mourinho in December.

Oliseh to Face House Sports Committee this Week Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh is to face the sports committee of the House of Representatives to state his side of his shock resignation, officials have disclosed.

Oliseh quit as coach just a month to two crucial AFCON qualifiers against Egypt, citing lack of support from his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), as well as several violations of the contract he signed in July 2015. He will most certainly restate his very difficult working conditions while he was in charge of the Super Eagles.

NFF officials are unhappy with Oliseh’s appearance before the country’s law makers, saying it is a major distraction as they are preparing to face Egypt later this month.

FA CUP RESULTS & FIXTURES Reading Everton Oliseh

0-2 2-0

2:30pm Arsenal Vs 5:00pm Man United Vs

Crystal Palace Chelsea Watford West Ham

Cup meetings with Watford (L1), including their last meeting in the third round en route to winning the trophy in 2002. However, Watford’s solitary win in the competition over Arsenal came the last time they met in north London (3-1 in the 1987 quarter-final).

Arsene Wenger’s side have won 15 consecutive rounds of the FA Cup. The record is 16, which the Gunners jointly hold. The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 21 all-Premier League home FA Cup ties (W15 D6). Their last such defeat came against Leeds in 1997.

Quique Sanchez Flores’ side have failed to score in each of their last three games in all competitions, since their FA Cup fifth-round win over Leeds.

Later in the evening, Manchester United will be looking to make it five home wins in a row when they welcome West Ham United to Old Trafford for the day’s second FA Cup quarter-final.

Although their form has been strong at home, Louis van Gaal’s men go into this clash on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Europa League - a game in which they had just one shot on target.

West Ham, who last won the FA Cup in 1980, are enjoying a fine spell of form under Slaven Bilic, winning their last four games in all competitions.

Juan Mata will miss the game with through suspension but Jesse Lingard returns having served a ban in the

Europa League clash with Liverpool, while Adnan Januzaj and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are available having been ineligible for Thursday’s match.

Wayne Rooney (knee), Luke Shaw (leg), Ashley Young (groin/pelvis) and Will Keane (groin) remain absent, but Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson are nearing returns.

West Ham can welcome back Enner Valencia, Victor Moses and Joey O’Brien. Valencia has recovered from a sprained ankle, Moses is fit after a quad injury and O’Brien has shaken off hamstring trouble.

This is the ninth time these sides have been drawn in the FA Cup - the previous eight have alternated between West Ham progressing twice and United progressing twice.

The Red Devils have progressed the last two times they’ve faced West Ham in the FA Cup, meaning West Ham would go through if the sequence was to continue.

The Hammers are winless in their last nine trips to Old Trafford in all competitions (D1 L8), since Carlos Tevez’s strike kept them in the Premier League on the final day of the 2006/07 season.

Manchester United have lost their last two FA Cup home games against fellow Premier League sides, both by a 2-1 scoreline (Swansea in 2014 and Arsenal in 2015)

Benitez Has Relegation Break Clause in Newcastle Contract Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed that he has a break clause in his contract should they be relegated from the Premier League this season. The Magpies are second-bottom, one point from safety with 10 games left.

When asked about the clause, the Spaniard, 55, said: “Some people can see this as special, but it’s normal. I am trying to stay in the Premier League and if I have a compromise for the future, it’s because I am convinced that we will do well. I want to stay.”

Benitez, who was appointed on Friday after the sacking of Steve McClaren, believes he has enough quality to survive in the top flight.

“I am convinced we will [stay up],” he said

on Saturday in his first news conference as Newcastle boss. I am here because I believe these players are good enough.”

Benitez hailed the “positive atmosphere” he found at St James’ Park and praised the squad for their attitude in training. “At the first moment, we wanted to train,” he said. “Credit to the players on their day off - they wanted to train. It was a great atmosphere.”

His first game in charge is tomorrow’s Premier League trip to leaders Leicester.

The former Liverpool boss revealed he had already sought advice on the club from Newcastle greats Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley, who is the club’s under-21 coach. “They know the city and the fans - the passion,” he said.

Supersport to Televise Nigerian Golf Stars’ Exploits Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Exciting highlights of Nigerian professional golfers, Oche Odoh and Kingsley Oparaku in the first two series of West Africa Golf Tour (WAGT) have begun to be relayed on Supersport from Friday.

The edited coverage, a collaboration to promote golf in Nigeria, will enable the public experience for the first time a TV coverage focusing exclusively on professional golfers from Nigeria and the rest of West Africa.

The duration of each highlight is for one hour and the event is scheduled to be broadcast for seven days on different channels of Supersport.

Odoh and Oparaku won eight days apart in Abuja and Ilara-Mokin after holding off fierce challengers from Ghana and Cameroon. Odoh’s remarkable victory in Abuja, when he turned a four shots deficit into victory against Ghanaians Vincent Torgah and Emos

Korblah in play off, is a must see performance for golf fans.

The player caught fire in the closing stage and famously holed out for par from the fringe of the 18th green to stretch the contest into extra holes. He won the tournament after his Ghanaian adversaries dropped shots on the 18th, the first sudden death hole.

Last Sunday was Oparaku’s turn to win his first title since he turned professional 15 years ago. The player, who is a member of MENA Tour of United Arab Emirates, led Torgah by one shot after 54 holes.

But following a momentary blip that saw Torgah reach the summit, he took charge with birdies at holes 6, 9 and 11.

He sank a long par putt on the 18th for a level par 288 victory as compatriot Odoh trailed by three shots, while Mvondo Ebela Desire of Cameroon, Kamilu Bako of Nigeria and Torgah tied for third at 3 over par.

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High Life

WITH LANRE ALFRED 08076885752, lanre_alfred@yahoo.com

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

Lagos: All the Governor’s Men

L

ike the fabled musketeers, they never said ‘farewell’ when the road darkened.

Rather, they girded their loins and steeled their spirit to brave the long haul with their friend, brother and co-traveler in Lagos’ political wild lands.

Eventually, their loyalty paid off and Akinwumi Ambode emerged as governor, Lagos State. Predictably, Governor Ambode has chosen to reward loyalty, comradeship and merit in his modern day quartet of the legendary musketeers, thus Bunmi Ariyo, Adeniji Kazeem, Ademola Abass and Deji Williams have emerged as the most powerful and influential figures on his watch as number one citizen of Lagos State. Governor Ambode, according to HighLife findings, is particularly impressed that the foundation stones for balanced success which include honesty, character, integrity, love and loyalty are clearly evident in his four friends and henchmen.

Therefore, he keeps them extremely close to him so that they could continue to serve

him in running the government, behind the scene. As a result, the quartet currently enjoy the attention and respect of the governor and are highly influential in his government that they determine who sees the governor and who does business with him. Bunmi Ariyo, though publicity shy, is gathered to be the main man with a decade of service as Personal Assistant (P.A) to Governor Ambode since his days in Lagos State Civil Service. Adeniji Kazeem, he is one of Governor Ambode’s closest confidants. Adeniji has served with Ambode for a long while even before he became governor hence it was hardly surprising that the latter decided to appoint him as the Attorney General for Lagos State. Dr. Ademola Abass is another man in Ambode’s government that is highly placed by the governor. The Professor of Law with specialty in International Law is the guy through which everything is signed out for approval. He also has the ears of the governor and has remained loyal to him. mother follows her online communication and that of her siblings. Recently, she claimed that her mother had been stalking her on the internet.

As the beautiful mother of two puts it in an Instagram missive, “Dear Mother, it is quite creepy when you stalk me on every social media.

Wetin you wan see? This is from all of us (since they are too scared to speak up).

Can‘t even post pictures with guys in peace anymore.

Mother thinks anyone is the one. She commented on my brother ’s post, asking, “Who is she?” Apparently advising her mother to get a life, the Awka Etiti born former model ended the post with “Abigail, please please face your work eh!”

Adaeze Yobo and mum

DEAR MOTHER, GET A LIFE! ADAEZE YOBO DISSES MOM ON INSTAGRAM A nosy mother in the end, attracts the spite of her loved ones; like a tiresome, hairy hog, forever trampling the mounds and drawing the ire of the peasant farmer.

This perhaps explains Adaeze Yobo’s undisguised beef with her mother, Abigail. The former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (2008) is unhappy with her mother for her unhealthy interest in her marriage and that of her siblings. Married to international soccer star, Joseph Yobo, Adaeze is unhappy with the way her

TIED TO DADDY’S STRINGS! LADI ADEBUTU SEEKS FATHER’S BLESSING FOR OGUN GOVERNORSHIP SEAT A bull has the greatest influence on its own dunghill. In the same vein, a covetous politician seeks power where his name and his deeds excite the loudest cheer. Little wonder Ladi Adebutu, the son of Chief Kessington Adebutu, carves his path to power aided by the blade of a sturdy benefactor. Among the ruling class of Ogun state in particular, many believe that the governorship position should be held by a candidate who is man enough to dig a fresh fount, not the one who continually

Akinwunmi Ambode

Ladi Adebutu

draws from estuaries dug by his father.

Although we are still in 2016, the quest for the 2019 general elections has already begun as politicians and men with ambition are secretly and openly declaring their intentions.

Hon. Ladi Adebutu, son of popular billionaire, Chief Kensington Adebutu, is one of such men. Ladi intends to contest the governorship election in Ogun state come 2019. Already, Ladi has a contender for the post in Senator Kashamu Buruji. The two lawmakers representing Ogun state at the National Assembly intend to govern the state come 2019. Even though they belong to the same party and they both hail from the same area in

the Ijebu axis of the state, Ladi and Kashamu are not ready to back down for each other. While Kashamu is banking on his wide influence in the politics of the state, Ladi is banking on the wealth of his father as well as the support of former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who is a strong associate of Chief Kensington Adebutu.

Though the Adebutus are known to be from Iperu, in Remo area of the state, it was gathered that Ladi would be flying his ticket from Odogbolu, since the zoning formula won’t favour Iperu Remo in 2019. Pundits however believe that despite Ladi’s present status as the Chairman, House Committee on Rural Development, he does not have the guts and outstanding track record to lead a sophisticated state like Ogun. He reportedly depends on the clout and wealth of his father to actualise his ambition. That is why the political power blocs in the state are wary of throwing their weight behind him. They do not like the way he brags about the wealth of his father, “That is a major put-off,” according to a highly placed politician in the state.

SEGUN FOWORA TO GIVE FATHER A FUNERAL TO REMEMBER Nobody ever makes a lovely corpse but when he was alive. Segun Fowora’s father characterized the essence of loveliness and

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Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, Beware of Fair-weather Friends!

•As new UBA boss becomes the darling of all

K

ennedy Uzoka has climbed to the top of the greasy pole; like a Bengali bride, he has become the object of lust and high affection of every element and juggernaut prowling the cutthroat halls of the United Bank of Africa (UBA), They are milling around him and singing his praises to high heavens.

Everybody wishes to befriend the new UBA MD designate.

Suddenly, Uzoka has become the darling of everyone. The very gentle and reserved dude attracts UBA power blocs to himself as the pollen nectar attracts butterflies. He has become the toast of many favourseekers and bootlickers who feel their lot would be bettered by patronising the new UBA boss. When he eventually becomes

substantive MD/CEO of UBA later this year, there are fears that the new UBA boss may find it extremely difficult to separate his true friends from fair-weather friends.

Uzoka was appointed as MD designate of the bank to replace Philip Oduoza who will be stepping down soon, having occupied the post for six years or thereabouts. At a recent function in Lagos, Uzoka had to contend with a mammoth crowd as several dignitaries struggled to collect his phone number or business card. As the case always is in this part of the world, we heard that a committee of friends is already finalising plans to throw a party for the man of the moment. Uzoka just needs to know that such gestures from the so-called ‘well-wishers’ always come with some attendant favours. funeral for his late father, Pa Eric Ademola Fowora, the Fesogbade of Ikija Ijebu, on April 14, in Ijebu-Ode. Until he died at 86, Otunba Ademola Fowora was a wellknown Engineer who bagged his electrical engineering degree in 1955 from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Since he graduated he worked on many notable electrical projects and has been part of the designs of many Engineering systems

Segun Fowora

more. Pa Eric Fowora could not witness his funeral; nobody ever does. And if, somehow, he earned a sneak peek, no one could know what he thought of it. All those flowers and all those wishes; the pageant train and wreath of sorrows unhesitatingly cast for a full life coming to a close.

The wistful wishes and pomp of homage probably elicited from his soul, the hapless tribute of a sigh and perhaps a gleeful tear.

But whatever feelings his funeral ceremony evoked in his heart, the father of Segun, would no doubt find little or nothing to fault about the farewell rite given him by his children.

Now that he has passed on, Segun, the estranged husband of Senator Gbemi Saraki, would fight the battle of his life never to let go, the wonderful, sweet memories bequeathed to him by his father. In few weeks, Segun will give what is in all respects, a befitting

IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH KEMI OLUNLOYO? INTRIGUES AS FORMER GOVERNOR’S DAUGHTER CALLS HER FATHER MONSTER AND OCCULTIST

Kennedy Uzoka

according to several of her fans and critics in the social media space. Outspoken and unapologetically blunt, Kemi’s demeanor, many a time has attracted flak and virulent criticism from folks who can’t stomach it. Her critics have even accused her of being mentally unstable in time past. The controversial native of Ibadan, Oyo State, is in the news again following her recent revelation that her father is an occultist. Kemi who has engaged virtually every member of her family in a verbal war of sort, particularly when she thinks they have exceeded their bounds, has redirected her caustic tongue this time around, to her father. In a free podcast, Kemi recently claimed that her father, who had been a recipient of her praise various times in the past, is an occultist. In the podcast, Kemi spoke about rituals, people dying and

Kemi Oluloyo

It is her rational banter which mostly frightens us in a mad woman but does stark, raving mad actually describe Kemi Omololu Olunloyo? The daughter of former Oyo State governor, Victor Omololu Olunloyo, seems to suffer from a greater sort of affliction,

John Fashanu and gilfriend

a whole lot of unprintable things that no sane person should ever say or reveal about his or her father. Kemi hinted at her announcement in a press release. Not a few people have described her latest revelation as another antic from her bag of tricks but many more are saying she may be unstable.

Whatever the case, Kemi certainly deserves the prayers and support of her friends, family and virulent critics. This is no doubt beyond a publicity stunt.

Something is wrong with Kemi Olunloyo.

JOHN FASHANU FALLS IN LOVE WITH TV GIRL RACHEL BAKAM EX-SOCCER STAR MADLY IN LOVE WITH BROADCASTER Again, John Fashanu has fallen for the lure of supple thighs, ample busts and dazzling eyes. As you read, the serial divorcee and estranged husband of Abigail, ex-Super Eagles

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HIGHLIFE

Alex Otti Bounces Back •Former Diamond Bank GMD explores hospitality sector following failed gubernatorial bid

O

ne of the lessons from the Darwinian world is that the excellence of an organism’s nervous system helps determine its ability to sense change and adapt to it, thereby surviving or thriving even in the worst conditions. In the same vein, Alex Otti’s knack for thinking on his feet and plying a visionary course may be described as suitable for the times. But recently, the former Group Managing Director (GMD) of Diamond Bank goofed by wading into the murky waters of Nigerian politics. Had he known that his foray into the political wilderness of Abia state would be unsuccessful, he would have beaten a retreat early enough. More importantly, he wouldn’t have resigned his lucrative position as GMD of the bank in pursuit of his political ambition. It would be recalled that his tenure as Diamond Bank’s GMD was recently described as “the brightest years of Diamond Bank’s 24 year-history.” On the wings of

such complimentary reviews, Otti yearned to replicate his sterling achievements in politics too; he desired to become Governor of Abia state but he lost.

Today, Otti has counted his losses and moved on.

Although many people in Abia believes he has the power to rescue the state from the doldrums of decay, Otti has decided to take his chances elsewhere. Having failed in his mission to rescue Abia, he is investing in the luxury hotel business. His luxury hotel, the Morning Side Suites, has been described as one of the most fascinating and inspiring establishments in the country’s hospitality sector. Located at Teslim Alias close, Victoria Island, Lagos, the five-star hotel which gulped resources running into millions of naira, has been giving other hotels in Lagos a good run for their money. Though the hotel is owned by Dr. Alex Otti, and managed by Fahrenheit Hospitality Group, Anselm Tabansi is its Managing Director.

defender, Joseph Yobo’s mother-in-law, is singing the song of the merry man and pliant maiden. He is belting the notes of the moping mum whose heart is heavy and whose soul is sad.

Fashanu, ex-international soccer star, is singing the melody that conquers the heart of the soldier whose glance was glum, who sipped no soup, and who craved no crumb, because he pines for the love of a maiden. Fashanu is in love,

in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); they even embark on trips together and anchor television shows together. It would be recalled that Fashanu and Abigail separated when their love turned sour; things got awry between the two and they broke up over allegations of infidelity.

WITH OCHOLI’S DEATH, FEAR GRIPS MINISTERS Terror is the fiercest emissary of death. It is

James Ocholi

for the umpteenth time, and the object of his affection is none other but ravishing broadcaster, Rachel Bakam.

Nobody knows where or how they got together but the lovebirds, who both reside in Abuja, are currently painting the town red with their love.

They look inseparable as they attend events together

what the grim reaper sends to cow the most valiant of men just before it delivers its masterstroke of anguish and interminable torment.

This perhaps informed the mad scramble for life by late James Ocholi’s peers.

Soon after the death of the former Minister of State for Labour and Employment

Alex Otti

in a gory accident, his colleagues in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet have started running helter-skelter, in search of spiritual protection.

Like starved greyhounds jostling for mouthfuls of fetish sacrifices placed at communal crossroads. And the reason is not far-fetched.

Ocholi’s demise occurred few months after a Nigerian pastor predicted the death of a top minister in President Buhari’s cabinet. The pastor made the prediction during the Yuletide, when many pastors seeking to make a name, reveal their prophecies for the new year.

When the pastor made the prediction, many people dismissed it as the desperate antic of a pastor seeking cheap publicity and acclaim; ministers in the presidential cabinet scoffed at him calling him a charlatan.

However, immediately James Ocholi died in an auto crash along with his wife and first son, President Buhari’s ministers became jittery.

Immediately, they believed that the Ocholis’ death is a fulfillment of the pastor ’s grim prediction for 2016.

Highlife findings revealed certain prominent ministers in the presidential cabinet are now consulting senior pastors in the country, as you read, for prayers for their safety at work and at home.

WHITHER THE ‘FIRST LADIES’ OF BANKING? Like wilted roses, the

wives of certain bank chiefs have faded in charm and grandeur. Just as the droopy rose fades off the green meadow, these powerful women have virtually faded off the social scene. Despite their past acclaim, these beautiful wives of top bank MDs have disappeared from the social scene thus prompting questions about their whereabouts.

Prominent members of the pack: Elizabeth Atuche, Ebele Mike-Chukwu, Kate Nwosu, Tolu Akingbola, Dudun Peterside, Omotayo Akinfenwa, Adenike JacobAjekigbe, Ayoade AdebisiOmoyeni and Amaka Mbonu were notable for their capacities to assert themselves and impose their worth in the global stratosphere while their husbands held sway in the banking sector. It is indeed shocking that these society ladies cum party freaks who bestrode Nigeria’s social scene like diehard amazons could suddenly fade away from the limelight. No more do they cruise about town in exotic cars with customized plate numbers. No more do they traverse European cities like Amsterdam, Brussels and Berlin while they make London their second home.

And no more do they excite enviable eulogies from various local musicians.

These former ‘first ladies’ of banking, like snow men at sunrise, are no longer the darlings of high society.

Loyalty and acclaim are indeed transient.

TR

Sunday March 13, 2016

UT H

& RE A S O

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Price: N300

MISSILE

Lai Mohammed to NNPC Unions

“Finally, the unfortunate strike by the unions at the NNPC over the restructuring of the Corporation shut down the Itarogun Power Station, the biggest in the country. Due to these factors, only 13 out of 24 power stations in the country are currently functioning. It is this same kind of unsavoury situation that has affected fuel supply and subjected Nigerians to hardship.”

– Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, blaming the current power situation on sabotage and vandalisation.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

Shall We Tell The President?

I

f I may quickly say this, I was not really a fan of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari until I read his interview in TheNEWS magazine sometime in 1994 — nine years after he was overthrown in a coup by General Ibrahim Babangida. Questioned on the things he got wrong as military head of state, Buhari replied candidly (and I paraphrase): “We made mistakes, but they were genuine mistakes... we were in a hurry to change Nigeria.” That instantly won me over. His perceived highhandedness was not for personal profit; it was in desperation to reform Nigerians. In one sentence, I saw honesty, I saw patriotism and I saw authenticity. I became his disciple from a distance.

I started dreaming of a Buhari presidency precisely in 1998. I can’t remember everything now, but I was then the Features Editor of THISDAY. Mr. Victor Ifijeh, then the Editor, drew my attention to a public lecture on leadership

by Buhari and asked me to write a “Man in the News” feature on him for the Friday Review section. After going through Buhari’s speech, whose details I cannot now recollect (which means I’m finally getting old), I convinced myself that this was the kind of leader Nigeria badly needed. I started praying that one day, Buhari would lead Nigeria again. The inimitable Gen. Sani Abacha was the head of state then.

I would later get close to Buhari. I sized him up at close quarters and made my conclusions.

One, he is very passionate about the progress of Nigeria. He believes that the country can be far better than this. Two, he believes the major problem obstructing our progress is leadership deficiency. In an interview I had with him in March 2001, he complained about the growing lawlessness in the land under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s leadership, concluding: “Instead of the dog wagging the tail, it is the tail that is wagging the dog.” Three, he told me in May 2009 that Nigeria had been ruled by “leaders without conscience”, and that was why we had not developed “despite all our resources”.

I saw in Buhari a leader who would not spend his days in office feathering his nest. I saw a leader who would not condone stealing of public funds. I saw in him a strong personality who would take a decision and stand by it, not being tossed by every wind of doctrine. However, unlike most of the modern-day Buhari fans, I was very much aware of his limitations. I knew he would be highly constrained by his worldview.

I worried about his economic philosophy. I also worried about his likely choice of core team members. Above all, I knew his handling of the Nigerian situation as a military man was not replicable in a democracy. I was quite realistic.

In truth, I was not expecting magic in the event of him becoming president. I did not expect him to change Nigeria and Nigerians in four years, much less in 10 months. It so happened that in 2015, after three failed attempts, Buhari became the choice presidential candidate. The anti-Jonathan movement found a ready symbol of change in Buhari. They quickly created him in the image they wanted: a flawless magician, the ultimate messiah. I was very worried for Buhari at some point. For instance, on January 25, 2015 — more than two months before he won the election — I did foresee trouble in an article with the title: “Buhari and the Burden of Expectations.”

Buhari I wrote: “To be honest, I don’t know whether to rejoice or sympathise with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari anytime I read all the sweet comments about him on social media — especially on Twitter.

I don’t know any presidential candidate who has been so idolised in recent times — which is an excellent accolade any politician will gladly take. On the one hand, it is good for him. He will not be complaining at all. No politician will complain about such good fortune, especially with only a few weeks to an election. On the other hand, my God! The expectations are sky-high.

Incredible. From what I am reading, Buhari is expected to perform nothing short of magic in Aso Rock...”

I am, therefore, not surprised by the increasing murmurings and grumblings against Buhari in less than 10 months. A country perpetually reliant on fuel imports, littered with bad roads and sick hospitals, living in darkness, churning out illiterates as graduates — let’s face it: the turn-around maintenance of Nigeria will take longer than 10 months. I’ve always told my friends no president can transform Nigeria in four years or even eight years. The most important thing, I keep emphasising, is to have patriotic and competent leadership taking us in the right direction. That way, we would know that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory ahead.

There is no proper articulation so that we can have an idea of how they are linked and where we are headed. There are so many dots that are not connecting. I have this impression everybody is just doing their own thing without any overarching strategy to connect these dots

Having said that, however, I am really getting worried about Buhari’s second coming. Yes, he has confronted Boko Haram decisively. Although the jury is still out, at least the soldiers are no longer running away to Cameroon on “tactical manoeuvre” or complaining about embezzled allowances. For once, there is sustained seriousness in the war on terror. Yes, Buhari has laid down the marker in his anti-graft war, even if it is not all-encompassing. At least, there is some activity on that front. We could use a more comprehensive strategy that includes moral suasion as well as institutional and administrative reforms, in addition to enforcement. Something is happening all the same.

But I worry about Buhari’s speed and economic philosophy. I admit that he met enormous challenges on ground. Only a magician would have killed all the cockroaches, mosquitoes and rats within 10 months. The PDP brigade, still hurting from their humiliation in the general election, are trying to force the issue, trying to brand Buhari as a failure already — yet their party had 16 whole years to address power shortage, dependence on fuel imports, infrastructural decay, comatose healthcare and stunted education. They wasted a golden opportunity. They are certainly not in a good position to describe Buhari as a failure before his first anniversary in office.

Nevertheless, I am very disturbed that Buhari does not yet have an economic direction. Neither is there an anchor. There is no clarity. What we are getting are mixed messages, bits and pieces here and there. I am hearing sweet statements and poetic promises, a lot of rhymes and alliterations, from APC leaders and ministers. There is no proper articulation so that we can have an idea of where we are headed. There are so many dots that are not connecting. I have this impression everybody is just doing their own thing without any overarching strategy to connect these dots.

I can’t see coherence. I can’t see a roadmap. I can’t see what to hold on to.

Agreed, Buhari is not an economist. But you don’t have to be an economist to lead a nation to prosperity. All you need is a damn good economic team worth its onions. The team must have an anchor. We are neck-deep in an economic crisis and this requires emergency reaction. Even though Buhari is a strong character who stands by what he believes in, there must also be some flexibility. Economic crises are better tackled with a combination of antidotes. It is good that Buhari is a patriot and an honest man. It is good that Buhari means well. But meaning well does not solve these problems. He must also do well. The economy is in limbo, let’s be honest about it.

Mr. President, it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee. We need to see your development blueprint. We want to understand your policies, programmes and strategies. We want to see the goals and the goalposts. Your party says one thing today, you say another tomorrow.

That you met a mess on ground is the same reason the majority of voters chose you. If they wanted the mess to continue, they would have maintained the status quo. And while we cannot expect you to clear the mess in 10 months, we need a mental picture of where you are taking us. I have no doubt that you can turn out to be the best Nigerian president ever, but where is the beef?

And Four Other Things...

BUHARI AND MTN On Tuesday, when President Muhammadu Buhari accused MTN of “aiding” the killing of 10,000 Nigerians by Boko Haram, I shuddered a bit. The president shouldn’t be making such public statements, I told myself. MTN clearly erred by failing to register 5.1 million subscribers and many of us have condemned the telecoms giant, but such a weighty allegation coming from the president is unnecessary — in my opinion. It is good that there finally seems to be a headway in the resolution of the issue, and I hope a good lesson has been learnt by all concerned, from operators to regulators.

Valuable.

NNPC CONFUSION Kindly give me a call if you understand what Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, is up to. When he became NNPC GMD last year, he reduced the directorates to four, saying we needed a “trim” organisation. Now that he is minister, he has increased them to seven “fat” units. He calls them “independent” units, meaning they are... erm... independent. Yet he says this is not “unbundling”. Independent but not unbundled? Independent? And I understand NNPC is fast becoming family business.

At this rate, Diezani Alison-Madueke, former petroleum minister, may end up as a saint in record time. Nigeria!

SEAT BELTS One lesson to be learnt from Sunday’s tragic accident that claimed the lives of James Ocholi, minister of state for labour, his wife and son, is that using seat belts is advisable no matter where you sit. Generally, only those on the front seats use belts. There is also the issue of overspeeding. Without excessive speeding, many accidents would not be fatal. Vehicles are easier to control within reasonable speeding, although our lawmakers are fighting to prevent the introduction of speed limiters by FRSC. Ocholi was such a lovely and lively man.

My heartfelt condolences to his young family. Heart-rending.

MILES APART Nigeria’s fault lines are easily magnified, as we saw yet again in the Mile 12 market crisis in Lagos. We were told a pregnant Yoruba woman was knocked down by a “Hausa” (probably not Hausa but a northerner or even Chadian) motorcyclist. In a normal society, the first thing is to get emergency treatment for the victim, not to ask of the culprit’s ethnicity. (It could well have been a Yoruba or Ibibio motorcyclist!) You then take the offender to the police for the law to take its course. But it ended up as Hausa vs Yoruba. Such a primitive pattern. Senseless.

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