SATURDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2022 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Confusion as 4 Oil Companies Named by NNPC as Liable for Imported Substandard Petrol Deny Accusation Peter Uzoho Four of the oil companies accused by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC)

Limited, Mele Kyari, of importing substandard petrol have all in writing denied the allegation, thus creating more confusion in the drive to unmask shippers of the bad fuel.

In their separate publications, the four companies - MRS, Emadeb, Brittania-U and Oando - vehemently denied importing the high methanol petrol that is unacceptable in

Nigeria. Only Duke Oil, NNPC's trading arm, also engaged in the Direct-Sale-Direct-Purchase arrangement with NNPC, has been mute about the allegation

of importing the bad fuel. Surprisingly, the NNPC boss has been silent about the renunciations by the companies he earlier accused of importing the toxic fuel. Efforts to speak

to Kyari on the issue last night proved abortive. A source told THISDAY last night that NNPC’s Duke Oil is Continued on page 5

Abba Kyari: PSC Angry, Orders Fresh Probe with 2-Week Ultimatum...Page 5 Saturday 12 February, 2022 Vol 27. No 9804

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2023: APC to Determine Presidential Candidate By Consensus, Says Zulum Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum yesterday gave an indication that the 2023 presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)

will be determined by consensus, saying the party will rely on President Muhammadu Buhari, its governors and other party leaders “to decide on who emerges as the presidential flag-bearer of the party.”

Speaking while welcoming members of the Pro-Osinbajo Progressive Consolidation Group (PCG) to his office in Maiduguri, Zulum said contending interests in the forthcoming presidential primaries and other elections

will not stop the APC from establishing a consensus that would consolidate party unity and national progress. He emphasised that Borno State will work with the party’s hierarchy, members of the

National Assembly, and leaders at ward and state levels to ensure actualisation of decisions to be made by Buhari who is the party’s leader. Members of the pro-Osinbajo PCG met with Zulum, the Secre-

tary to Borno State Government, Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa, and members of the state cabinet with a strong message on the need for a united front towards Continued on page 5

S’Court Annuls Buhari’s Order 10 on Financial Autonomy for States’ Judiciary, Legislature

The Constitution provides a clear delineation of powers between the states and the federal government. The President has overstepped the limit of his constitutional powers by issuing the Executive Order 10, which is inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution and therefore unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever

Alex Enumah in Abuja Efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure independence of the judicial and legislative arms of government at the state levels suffered a major setback at the Supreme Court yesterday following the invalidation of his Executive Order 10 signed in June 2020. The Order cited as “the implementation of financial autonomy for state legislature and judiciary 2020”, has a key provision which gives the Accountant-General of the Federation the power to deduct from the allocations due to a state from the Federation Account, any sums appropriated for the legislature or judiciary of that state, which the state fails to release to its legislature or judiciary as the case may be, and to pay the funds directly to the state’s legislature or judiciary concerned.

The Supreme Court in a split Judgment delivered in a suit by the 36 state governors challenging the order of the president voided the Order 10 on the grounds that the president exceeded his powers when he initiated the Order to compel the governors to implement the constitutional provisions on financial autonomy for states’ judiciary and legislature. The apex court said by the Order, President Buhari usurped the powers of heads of other arms of government. Miffed by the Presidential Order, the 36 states of the federation, had through their attorneys-general, filed a suit on September 17, 2020, at the apex court to challenge the constitutionality of the Executive Order 10, as well as for the court to make an order compelling the Continued on page 5

SHOWCASING AGRIC POTENTIAL IN BAYELSA...

L-R: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; and Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, during the inauguration of the maiden dry season farming in the state at Otuasega community, Ogbia Local Government Area…yesterday.

Finally, Obi Okonjo II Takes Possession of 150-year Ogwashi-Uku Palace... Page 8

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Abba Kyari: PSC Angry, Orders Fresh Probe with 2-Week Ultimatum Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

An apparently angry Police Service Commission (PSC) yesterday ordered a fresh investigation into the allegations of fraud levelled against the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, who was the officer in charge of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT). The commission also ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to constitute a new panel to undertake the probe and submit the report in two weeks. Kyari was indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States

for alleged involvement with an internet fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known as Hussipuppi. A statement by the commission yesterday said it deferred decision on the case involving Kyari, pending the new probe. The statement signed by the Spokesman of the Commission, Ikechukwu Ani, said the commission also directed that "further necessary investigation should take half the time it took the police to conduct the original investigation and that the investigation should be carried out by a different panel." The commission took the decision at the continuation of its14th Plenary Meeting which

ended in Abuja on Thursday, February 11, 2022, and chaired by Alhaji Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police. After Kyari’s indictment by the FBI, he was also investigated by a special panel set up by the Inspector-General of Police. The report was forwarded to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for legal advice by the Inspector-General of Police. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), said Monday that the federal government may consider the request to extradite Kyari to the United States to face trial over

his alleged involvement with Hussipuppi. Malami, who spoke in a media interview, stated that “reasonable ground for suspicion” was established against DCP Kyari in the report of the police panel that investigated corruption allegations levelled against him by the FBI. Noting that the case had both national and international dimensions, Malami said government would not rule out the possibility of Kyari’s extradition to the US or his prosecution in Nigeria. A US District Court had, following an FBI investigation, indicted Kyari and six others. The six defendants, including Kyari, indicted in the case were

CONFUSION AS 4 OIL COMPANIES NAMED BY NNPC AS LIABLE FOR IMPORTED SUBSTANDARD PETROL DENY ACCUSATION the most likely source of the entire bad fuel and that Kyari was trying to be clever by half, by lumping it on some other DSDP contractors. The source added: “You can see that he (Kyari) kept quiet immediately the denials of the accused companies started rolling in. He has nothing to say again. Kyari has been economical with the truth.” However, before Kyari's revelation, MRS had in a newspaper advertorial last Wednesday, in response to reports linking it with the saga, stated that it remained a responsible corporate citizen and would not be involved in the purchase, importation, distribution or marketing of substandard petroleum products in the country. MRS said: “Due to the current subsidy regime, NNPC is the sole supplier of all PMS in Nigeria. Consequently, the NNPC through their trading arm, Duke Oil, supplied a cargo of PMS purchased from international trader Litasco and delivered it with Motor Tanker (MT) Nord Gainer. This vessel discharged in Apapa between the 24th and 30th of January, 2022.” As one of the beneficiaries, MRS said it received the product in its depot and distributed it to only eight of its stations in Lagos. In its reaction to the allegation, Brittania-U, in a public notice in newspapers yesterday, denied involvement in the importation of the off-spec petrol in circulation. The management of BrittaniaU exonerated the company from the ongoing controversy over off-spec Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in circulation in the country, saying its products that arrived and discharged during 4th to 19th January, 2022, through five daughter vessels, were duly certified as meeting

NNPC’s product specifications. "Brittania-U management is aware of the publication by Emadeb/Hyde/AYMaikifi consortium partners and while we do not want to join issues with these companies, we want to affirm that what they stated does not relate to the issues at hand," the company stated. It maintained that its record in the oil and gas industry, which covers the entire spectrum of upstream, midstream and downstream was impeccable, saying it had remained consistent and compliant and had never fallen foul of any infraction by regulatory authorities since it commenced operation. Brittania-U stated categorically that it never imported off-spec products, as claimed in publications making the rounds, “as our imported products were all as per NNPC product quality requirements, so to state otherwise will be unfair.” Brittania-U continued: "Our imported products from our mother vessel, MT Torm Hilde, met all NNPC/NMDPRA product specifications, and we're duly cleared by DPR (now NMDPRA) in line with Appendix 1 of the NNPC-DSDP Agreement. "All the PMS from our mother vessel, MT Torm Hilde were discharged with all relevant certificate of quality after laboratory analysis as it was adjudged lead-free, ethanol-free, water-free, suspended matter-free and had a sulphur content of 0.0174 as against 0.05, which is within the acceptable content allowable by Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Authority..." It explained further that the quality certification and its recertification issued at the point of discharge by NMDPRA cleared all the vessels as being on-spec. "Brittania-U is concerned that while its consortium products had been discharged at retail

outlets in January, it was unwittingly now being linked with an issue of off-spec fuel-induced scarcity that began around Monday, the 7th of February, 2022. "In order to clear our company's name, we have made all the documents available, which clearly exonerated our company from the negative publication making rounds, which are all aimed at trying to tarnish our image of repute built over the decade," the company added. Also reacting to the allegation, Emadeb-consortium on Thursday exonerated itself from having a hand in the importation of bad fuel, saying listing it among those partly responsible for the importation of the off-specification petrol by the NNPC was misleading. The group in a statement issued in Abuja by the Lead Consortium, Emadeb Energy Services Limited, immaturely urged NNPC to single out Brittania-U, an initial member of the coalition, which it claimed opted out of the arrangement instead of lumping everyone in the consortium together. An analyst told THISDAY last night that members of the consortium had been operating independently since the signing of the DSDP contract with NNPC, and urged Emadeb Energy Services to speak for itself instead of trying to blackmail Brittania-U. On its part, Oando Plc., in a rejoinder issued Thursday night and signed by the Company's Secretary, Ayotola Jagun, denied any involvement in the importation of methanol-blended petrol into the country. Oando stated, “Following media reports listing Oando as one of four importers that supplied methanol-blended Premium Motor Spirits (PMS) into the country, we hereby state that Oando did not import and supply PMS that was

adulterated or substandard. The PMS supplied by Oando met Nigeria’s import specification. “We are committed to working assiduously with the NNPC and industry to identify the root cause(s) of the subsequent contamination of the PMS supplied. “We want to assure the public that Oando as a responsible corporate citizen would not partake in the importation, distribution, or marketing of substandard petroleum products.” However, since all the companies mentioned in connection with the importation of this adulterated fuel (except Duke Oil) have denied culpability, the million dollar question on the lips of many concerned Nigerians is, who then imported this off-spec petrol that has caused pains and embarrassment to the government and people of Nigeria? Where was the NMDPRA when this dirty fuel arrived on the high sea, landed at the Atlas Cove, discharged into smaller vessels to depots and finally made it to the market without detection by the agency that ought to be up and doing as a new creation of the law? The subsequent stoppage of off-spec petrol sales by marketers resulted in the disruption of petrol supply chain and attendant scarcity and queues in some parts of the country, particularly Lagos, Ogun, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and other cities, since last weekend. The product has caused severe pains to unsuspecting users, with some now suffering damage done to their vehicles and generators after using the bad petrol. Angered by the ugly development, the federal government has ordered a full scale investigation into the matter to unmask the culprits for appropriate sanction.

2023: APC TO DETERMINE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BY CONSENSUS, SAYS ZULUM making Professor Yemi Osinbajo President in 2023. Zulum: “I am solidly behind initiatives aimed towards enhancing the unity of our party and progress of Nigeria; at this crucial time, no one and nothing will prevent the party from moving in unison. “We have to identify the right individuals to lead the nation and the task requires governors, party hierarchy and the President working together in concert. “Individual aspirations may have to be downplayed because we all have to concur with the decision of the leader of our party.

“Borno State under me will promote unity and all efforts to ensure the success of APC; we shall work with the party hierarchy, our leaders at the National Assembly and our party leaders at ward and state levels, to arrive at best solutions for taking the country forward.”. Zulum emphasised his humble beginnings as a village boy, adding that his major priority is seeing how the people of Borno State would do well within a flourishing economic climate that is achievable in Nigeria. Earlier, Chairman of the PCG, Dr. Aliyu Rabiu Kurfi stressed the need for Zulum, other state

governors, and party leaders at the ward, state and federal levels to forge a consensus towards making Osinbajo Nigeria’s next president. “The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo deserves the right of first refusal and even in a crowded race with great individuals, he stands out as an insider with the right level of competence and intellect to do the job better than all others,” said the PCG chieftain. He urged party leaders to reach a solid consensus on ensuring that Osinbajo become Nigeria’s next President in 2023, adding that self-discipline, moral qualities and competency

demonstrated during President Buhari’s absence has made Osinbajo the best candidate for APC’s presidential ticket. Some of those on the PCG entourage to Borno State were its Deputy Chairman (North), Mr. Musa Liman Kwande; its Deputy Chairman (South), Dr. Ebenezer Faji; and former Managing Director of African Petroleum Plc, Shettima Abba-Gana who was a former commissioner in Borno State. Others were the PCG Women Leader, Hajia Rabi Dauda; Barrister Emmanuel Pippa (Publicity Secretary); and Mr. Jeff O. Ozomegwa, the Deputy Secretary-General.

alleged co-conspirators in the $1.1million fraud coordinated by a Hushpuppi, the FBI said in court documents released last July. A Qatari business man was said to be one of the victims of the heist spearheaded by Hushpuppi between November 2019 and April 2020. Hushpuppi, known for flaunting his wealth on his Instagram, had pleaded guilty to various fraud activities including the $1.1million scheme in another case before the U.S. District Court in California. Kyari, allegedly played a role in the $1.1million scam by helping Hushpuppi to detain a disenchanted co-conspirator, who wanted to warn the business man about the scam. The Police Service Commission suspended Kyari as a result of the allegations. Meanwhile, the PSC statement said the plenary meeting also considered 20 pending disciplinary matters and five appeals and petitions from the IG and aggrieved serving and ex-police officers. It also considered five promotion appeals. The commission reaffirmed its earlier decision to exonerate SP Shaaba Adamu Gboyako a former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to former Inspector-General of Police taken at its I9th Plenary Meeting

of 28th and 29th September, 2020. It said the commission was mindful of the need to safeguard its corporate image and defend its institutional integrity and directed the Inspector-General of Police to implement its decision as its affects the officer without delay. The commission also directed that the judgment of a Kano High Court in an application for enforcement of the fundamental right to life brought by the father of one Abdulkadir Nasiru (now deceased) be forwarded to the Inspector General of Police for implementation of the orders of the court. The appellant sought justice for the alleged torture of his son to death by police. The appeal for accelerated/ notional promotion based on merit from CSP Ita Lazarus Udom was also considered and approved by the Plenary. "The commission also approved the adjustments of promotion dates of the officer from the rank of Superintendent of Police to a Deputy Commissioner of Police in line with his course mates", it said. The commission also considered and promoted 89 staff of the commission with a promise to ensure that staff promotion will continue to receive priority attention while urging them reciprocate management's gesture.

S’COURT ANNULS BUHARI’S ORDER 10 ON FINANCIAL AUTONOMY FOR STATES’ JUDICIARY, LEGISLATURE federal government to take up funding of capital projects of superior courts in the states. The superior courts listed were the High Courts, Sharia Court of Appeal and Customary Court of Appeal. Delivering judgment in the suit, six justices of the apex court agreed with the position of the plaintiffs that President Buhari exceeded his powers by initiating and signing Order 10. According to the majority decision, the Executive Order 10 was inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution and therefore unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever. Those who held this view include Justices Muhammed Dattijo, Centus Nweze, Ejembi Eko, Adamu Jairo, Helen Ogunwunmiju and Emmanuel Agim. The lead Judgment written by Mohammed held that the contentious Executive Order 10 violated the provisions of the 1999 Construction which clearly stipulates the functions and powers of heads of each arm of the government. "This country is still a federation and the 1999 Constitution it operates is a federal one. The Constitution provides a clear delineation of powers between the states and the federal government. The President has overstepped the limit of his constitutional powers by issuing the Executive Order 10. "The country is run on the basis of the rule of law," Justice Mohammed said in the lead majority judgment. However, in her dissenting judgment, Justice Abba-Aji, held that President Buhari was in order as the Executive Order 10 was aimed at enhancing the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. According to her, “the action of the president is justifiable taking into consideration the hanky panky subterfuge played by state governors against the independence and financial autonomy of state judiciary. "It is a pitiable eyesore what judicial officers and staff go through financially at the hands

of state executives, who often flout constitutional and court orders to their whims and caprices. "Thus, the presidential Executive Order 10 is meant to facilitate the implementation of the constitutional provisions...the Executive Order is to aid the states’ legislature and judiciary in curing the constitutional wrong of their financial autonomy which the states have always denied. This is not unconstitutional,"Abaa-Aji held. Meanwhile, on the demand by the plaintiffs that the defendant be ordered to assume responsibility of funding of capital projects of the three courts, four out of the justices however held that the federal government cannot bear responsibility of current and capital expenditures of the affected courts. The Justices, who included Mohammed, Nweze, Aba-aAji and Ogunwunmiju, also refused to grant reliefs of the states for payment of N66 billion being expenses incurred so far on capital projects for the three courts in their respective states. The four Justices upheld the opposition of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, SAN, and two other senior lawyers, Mahmud Magaji, SAN, and Musibau Adetunmbi, SAN, on the issue, which submitted that capital projects for the three courts should be funded by the states and not by the federal government. The apex court’s Justices specifically agreed with Adetunmbi, SAN, who was one of the amici curiae, that the 1999 Constitution has sufficiently provided the manner the federal and states should fund their courts. They further upheld his submission that part of the load that the Constitution wants the federal government to carry is narrowed down in Section 84 (7), while Section 121 also narrows down the load it wants the state governments to carry. Adetunmbi's opposition against the Executive Order 10 and his prayer that it should be declared illegal, unconstitutional, voided and set aside was also upheld.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2022

NEWS

News Editor Charles Ajunwa 09157401421 (sms only) Email charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

Power Shift: PANDEF Rebukes Northern Group for Chiding Akeredolu Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has described remarks by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) over a recent statement on the 2023 presidency by the Governor of

Ondo State and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu, as “irrational and delusional”. The coalition had in a statement on Thursday described Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, as a big threat to democracy

Three Killed, Scores Displaced as Gunmen Attack Communities in Niger Laleye Dipo in Minna

Three villagers have been killed and scores of others rendered homeless as gunmen invaded communities in the Gulbinboka district of Mariga Local Government of Niger State. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday. A report from the area indicates that several of the villagers who escaped to the mountain top during the invasion are still unable to come down for fear of being attacked. The eyewitness said the bandits riding on over 90 motorcycles carrying assault rifles and other dangerous weapons also set on

fire the houses of the villagers and their food bans. The Councilor representing Gulbinboka Ward, Alhaji Isa Mohammed who confirmed the report said most of those kidnapped were women and children claiming that the security operatives are yet to arrive in the area. Mohammed said those villagers on the mountain top are already facing food shortage and other essential commodities urging the government to come to their rescue. The state government and the state police command have not reacted to the latest invasion by bandits.

in Nigeria following his comments that any party who fields a Northern candidate for the presidency in 2023 would lose the election. Akeredolu had while receiving members of the Power Rotation Movement (PRM) in his office in Akure on Tuesday, reiterated the need for parties to field Southern candidates, insisting that it was the turn of the South to produce the next Nigerian President. PANDEF in reaction to the attack on Governor Akeredolu, insisted on its position on power shift and restated the resolution of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum at its meeting of January 13, 2022, that any politi-

cal party that fields a Northern candidate should not count on the support of the four regions in the 2023 presidential election. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson, the group said it wondered “Why is it difficult for people to accept the truth,” adding “it is simply unthinkable that anyone would consider another Northern presidency after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years.” Robinson said organisations like the so-called Coalition of Northern Groups seem incorrigibly apathetic about the peace, unity and stability

of Nigeria. According to PANDEF, “They have, by their utterances, presented themselves as assemblages of unpatriotic individuals, who, perhaps, benefit from the inglorious goings-on in the country. “PANDEF urges these groups to strive to appreciate the true tenets of democracy and stop the hallucination. The North should not and cannot retain Nigeria’s presidency beyond 29th May 2023, in the interest of national harmony. “Defining the just and rightful demands for zoning and power rotation as threats and blackmail is a logical fallacy. Nobody is

threatening nor attempting to intimidate anyone; the South, and other patriotic Nigerians who are concerned about the future of Nigeria, are simply insisting that the fundamental principles of fairness, justice and equity must be respected and upheld in the power equation of Nigeria. “Let’s remind the said Coalition of Northern Groups and their sympathisers that the appropriation of rights by any section of the country must be measured against the rights of the others. Undoubtedly, no group or section of Nigeria can arrogate to itself or colonise the presidency of Nigeria.”

55 Chairmanship Candidates Battle as FCT Holds Election Today Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

No fewer than 55 chairmanship candidates and 363 councilorship candidates are contesting today as 1.4 million registered voters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) elect new council executives. The FCT election which is conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be held in all polling units throughout the six Area Councils to fill empty seats in 68 constituencies, including six chairmanships and 62 councilorships. Addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, the Executive Director, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), Ms. Faith Nwadishi, said INEC has declared that 14 political parties would be fielding candidates for the slots. She said as part of CTA’s pre-election observation, there

is better coordination amongst the security personnel and the police as lead of the security team has assured of adequate security and coordination across the polling units. Nwadishi commended the election management body for its preparedness and readiness to conduct the election, saying the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials have been smooth as observed at the FCT INEC office The Executive Director reminded INEC that the FCT election should be taken seriously just like any other election because its failure or success counts towards its credibility. She stated: “The FCT elections will hold in polling units throughout the six Area Councils to fill empty seats in 68 constituencies, including six chairmanships and 62 councillorships.

Gunmen Assassinate Kaduna Government Official John Shiklam in Kaduna The Director of Operations of the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), Malam Dauda, has been killed by gunmen. The gunmen, about five in number, were said to have killed him in the early hours of yesterday at his Barakallahu residence, Igabi Local Government Area of the state. Sources said the gunmen killed him and fled without taking anything from the house. The District Head of the Barkallahu community, Alhaji Muhammad Abdullahi, confirmed the incident, saying the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of Rigachikun and Barnawa, who are residents of the community, visited the scene of the crime. He described the incident as “a case of assassination as

the gunmen only went to the victim’s house, killed him and left the community without taking anything neither did they attack the guard.” Abdullahi said a neighbouring community was also attacked by the criminals, but there was no casualty. “We feel they just attacked the community to make it look like an attack,” he said. Speaking on the security situation in the area, the District Head said, “We have been facing various security breaches in the community informed by the vast ungoverned land taken over by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Muhammad Jalige, did not respond to telephone calls when contacted.

IN SEARCH OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY… L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Finance/Chief Economic Adviser, Dapo Okubadejo; the ﬁrst ever Secretary General to Africa Continental Free Trade Area, Mr. Wamkele Mene; President/CEO, Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah; and Governor Dapo Abiodun, discussing impact of the África continental free trade agreement as it aﬀects trade and investment police in Ogun State and Nigeria in Cairo, Egypt… Thursday.

Kwara Govt, Former Gov Squabble over AMCON’s Seizure of State’s Properties, Shonga Farms Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Kwara State Government and immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed have traded words over the recent takeover of the government properties in Abuja and Shonga Farms by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). At a press briefing in Ilorin to explain the recent takeover of two Kwara State properties by AMCON owing to about N1.7bn debts of the farm, the government said more than a cumulative sum of N5bn of public funds and loans secured with the government as guarantor had allegedly been sunk into the agricultural project with no traces of any dividends

The press briefing was jointly addressed by the stateAttorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Salman Jawondo (SAN); Commissioner for Communication Hon. Bode Towoju; Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Lateef Alakawa; Special Adviser to the Governor of Political Communication, Bashir Adigun; and Group Managing Director of Harmony Holdings, Abdullahi Abdulmajeed. The government said that out of the 13 autonomous farms set up with public funds, nine had been sold out with no kobo paid to the public coffers, even when the government is supposed to hold a paltry 10 per cent equity in each of the farms. The state government said it had been fraudulently

negotiated into underwriting the debts incurred by the former administrations in the name of Shonga Farms, a venture it said was funded 100 per cent at inception with taxpayers’ money without any gains to the people of the state. The government explained that the reason AMCON took over the Kwara properties in Abuja is to recover the bad loans that the Farm owes a consortium of banks that invested in it dating back to 2007 because the Shonga Farm Holdings could not payback on the agreed timeline. It said AMCON had to hold the state responsible because it is listed among the shareholders of Shonga Farms Holdings Ltd, even though its share - allocated to it only after

public noise in the early 2000 - is not anywhere commensurate with its huge investments in the project. Asked why the government has not taken legal action against the perpetrators of the alleged fraud, Jawondo said crimes perpetrated through fronts and companies take years to unravel and that the government will take action once it gathers every document necessary to do so, including files and transactions tucked away by previous officials. But the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmed claimed that the allegations that his government and the Bukola Saraki administration guaranteed bank loans for Shonga Farms Holdings (SFH) are uninformed and false.

VC Hails Ishaku Over Compensation to Host Communities Wole Ayodele in Jalingo The Vice Chancellor, Federal University Wukari, Prof. Jude Samani Rebo, has commended Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State for his acceptance to pay compensation to the original owners of the university land. Fielding questions at a press conference ahead of the university’s convocation ceremony scheduled for today (Saturday), the VC described the governor’s decision as a

right step in the right direction. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is expected to represent President Muhammadu Buhari at the convocation ceremony during which some distinguished Nigerians would be conferred with honorary awards. The original owners of the university land have been embroiled in a legal tussle with the government for a decade to press home their demand for compensation which had generated serious tension between the institution and

its host community. Appealing to the land owners to exercise restraint and have confidence in the governor, Prof. Rebo assured them that the matter would be finally resolved very soon since the governor has promised to pay the compensation. According to him, “the university authorities met with the governor and he has promised to pay the land owners their compensations and I want to passionately appeal to

the land owners to exercise patience and believe in the governor as he makes efforts towards the payment.” He praised the late AkuUka of Wukari, Dr. Shekarau Angyu Masa-Ibi for the critical roles he played to enhance the cordial relationship between the university and its host community just as he commended the newly installed Aku Uka for his promise to improve on the existing cordial relationship between the institution and the community.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2022 • T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2022

NEWS

Finally, Obi Okonjo II Takes Possession of 150-year-old Ogwashi-Uku Palace Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Traditional ruler of OgwashiUku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM Obi Ifechukwude Aninsi Okonjo II, has taken formal possession of the ancient palace of the kingdom which has been under legal contention for decades. This followed a judicial Certificate of Final Possession issued to the Ogwashi-Uku royal family by the law courts based on the 2007 judgement of the Supreme Court granting the Umu-Obahai Ruling Family of Ogwashi-Uku the ownership rights of the ancient palace. Although the Supreme Court judgement was given in 2007, verdict on the final appeal was given in October 2021, the monarch told journalists yesterday at his palace in Ogwashi-Uku on the 7th February 2022 execution of the court order. The final possession of the ancient palace brings to an end the 36 years legal tussle between the traditional family of Umudei and the royal family of Umuoba Obahai, the age-long custodians of the Ogwashi-Uku stool. Obi Okonjo II, however, denied certain reports especially in the

social media that he had stormed Ogwashi-Uku with a horde of heavily armed security operatives to take over the ancient palace, which had not been occupied by his predecessor on the throne, the late Obi (Prof) Benjamin Chukwuka Anisin Okonjo, because there was a usurpation that lasted for more than 100 (one hundred) years. He said that the police were compelled to get reinforcement to take over the ancient palace simply because a group of persons, mainly youths, who were armed with dangerous weapons, had attempted to prevent the court bailiffs from executing the Warrant of Possession from the courts in Asaba. “What happened was that on the 7th February, 2022, legal officers from the courts, specifically bailiffs from Asaba, came to Ogwashi-Uku for an execution ordered by the courts. There was a Warrant of Possession for the ancient palace of Ogwashi-Uku. “The family was in a legal tussle for 23 years with Umudei, who are our relatives. In 2007, a judgement was given by the late Justice Osaji; and, that judgement gave the rulership of Ogwasi-Uku to Umuoba Obahai

Terrorists Raid Kaduna Community, Abduct Nursing Mother, Baby, Others Benneth Oghifo Terrorists in the early hours of yesterday abducted a nursing mother, her baby and two other residents during an attack on Tudun Mun Tsira Village of Zangon Shanu, Samaru in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The name of the nursing woman was not given but the two others were identified as Mallam Abubakar Garba Aliyu and his son, Salimi Abubakar. Some petrified residents of the

village, which is near the main campus of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, told journalists that a large number of bandits on motorcycles carrying high calibre guns stormed the area. “The bandits came in large numbers. They rode on motorcycles, each wielding dangerous weapons “There is the possibility that they came in from Kasuwar Da’a axis in Giwa Local Government Area which is very close to our settlement,” one of the residents said.

NUJ Warns against Politicising Contaminated Fuel Issue Alex Enumah in Abuja The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has warned against the politicisation of the contaminated fuel issue, so as not to bring unbearable hardship on the citizens. The body in a statement issued yesterday by its National President, Mr. Chris Isiguzo, noted that it was high time the blame game be put behind the nation so that efforts towards recalling the bad fuel and appropriate compensation to victims be put in place. Isiguzo, who lamented that the issue of scarcity is coming up after over four years of uninterrupted availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), tasked the alleged importers of the contaminated fuel to take full responsibility and seek restitution for this national mishap. According to the NUJ, “with the measures already undertaken by the management of the NNPC, especially with a presidential inquest on the way, there should be limit to politicising of such a sensitive

economic matter.” The body added that what ought to be obtained now is for a demand that the probe panel as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari is conclusive, while compensation be paid to all verifiable claims of those whose vehicles may have been affected by the high methanol PMS. “Also, the NUJ after having appraised efforts by the Mele Kyari-led NNPC management notes with satisfaction measures to shore up supply of recalled contaminated fuel to ensure that Nigerians do not suffer needlessly. “We enjoin the NNPC through the Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority to monitor filling stations to ensure that those with products dispense them appropriately to curb artificial scarcity and undue pump adjustments. “At a time such as this national emergency, it is our duty as citizens to support initiatives to stem such ugly situation,” the statement noted.

Royal Family. Specifically, there was a Warrant of Possession given as far back as 2007. “We could have executed that warrant at the time. However, the sleeping Obi, late Prof. Chukwuka Aninsi Okonjo I, felt that it would be premature to do that since the people had a right of appeal. They subsequently went to the

Court of Appeals.” He said that the Umudei family proceeded to the Supreme Court after again failing at the appellate court between 2009 and 2010. “They appealed to Supreme Court and the case was held on 1st November, 2021. The Supreme Court, led by Justice Mary Odili, delivered

a judgment dismissing their appeal to the Apex Court,” the Ogwashi-Uku monarch explained, noting that the Umudei family was asked to hand over “all the symbols, emblems as well as property belonging to Royal Family, including the old palace,” to the Umuoba-Obahai (Okonjo) family.

Nevertheless, the OgwashiUku king said that there was no cause for alarm as he will continue to regard all the people, including the litigants and appellants as one under the Ogwashi-Uku kingdom, assuring that he has not derailed from the socio-economic blueprint he promised his people at his coronation.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS. . . L-R: Managing Director, Starzs Investments Company Limited, Iroghama Ogbeifun; Chairman of the company, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun; his wife, Victoria and son, Efosa, during the inauguration of Diverse Autocare Centre at Edo Production Centre built by Greg Ogbeifun to mark his 71st birthday in Benin, Edo State… yesterday.

Bamidele: I Have Dropped Court Action against Ekiti APC Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District of Ekiti State and a governorship aspirant in the just concluded party’s primary, Opeyemi Bamidele, has declared that he won’t be challenging in court the victory of the party’s candidate, Hon. Biodun Oyebanji, in the shadow poll for the sake of unity and cohesion in the All Progressives Congress (APC). Bamidele posited that, though,

he still harbour resentment against the January 27 primary, which he described as a sham, charade and flagrant abrasion of democracy ethos, restating that it won’t seek redress in court or defect from APC, despite the electoral malfeasance that dogged the poll. Bamidele, had shortly after the primary threatened to challenge the primary that produced the former Secretary to the State Government as a candidate in a controversial fashion legally, alleging that it was brazenly

skewed and manipulated by Governor Abubakar Badaru-led APC committee. But in a statement he personally signed yesterday , 10th February, 2022 and made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti, Bamidele said he recanted on his earlier position after critical stakeholders had intervened and appealed to him to sheathe his sword. Bamidele maintained that he was ruffled by the alleged abysmal turn the shadow poll went and the betrayal of

confidence therein, but said his action didn’t connote that he had abandoned the struggle to right the wrongs and make the party truly democratic. “Yet, in spite of my strong convictions as expressed above, I have come to some irreversible conclusions and these are the messages I need to pass on to all and sundry today as I temporarily break my silence on the way forward. One is to say that I have chosen to drop the option of going to court to sue the party.

One Killed, Many Injured as PMS, Federal Boys Clash in Ibadan Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan A member of the Oyo State Park Management System (PMS), Afiz Agate, was yesterday shot dead in a clash between the group and the Federal Boys, while several others were injured in the clash that lasted for several hours. While details of the clash were yet to be known, it was learnt

that security personnel alongside Southwest Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, had taken over the area to ensure peace and orderliness. It was however gathered that the crisis started on Thursday evening at Oremeji Agugu area of the ancient city of Ibadan. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of PMS in the state, Alhaji

Emiola Jelili, who confirmed the clash, said the Federal Boys are not drivers but area boys who extort motorists in the Oremeji area. He said, “There was no fight among us. What happened is that there are area boys called Federal Boys, they are not drivers but they extort drivers. We have reported them to the police at Agugu Police Station but nothing

has been done about it. Someone told us that the police could not do anything to them because some of the policemen connived with them. “But yesterday, while the robbery at Iwo Road was going on, there was gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and these Federal Boys used that also to rob people in the traffic.

Buhari Promises to Support Election of Credible Youths at APC’s National Convention Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the teeming youth in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of his readiness to support credible and committed youngsters vying for elective positions during the party’s national convention on February 26, 2022. While canvassing for the assistance of the youth in the quest of the ruling party to retain the gubernatorial seats in Osun and Ekiti States later this year, he also directed his Chief of Staff (CoS) and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to ensure that experienced youngsters are appointed into boards of Federal agencies yet to be constituted. The President, who spoke at

the State House, Abuja, yesterday, while playing host to members of the APC National Youth Lobby Group, affirmed that the leadership of the party would ensure full participation of young people at all levels. He said: ‘’I will also support the aspirations of credible and committed young people who are vying for positions in the upcoming convention. ‘’It is also in our interest to ensure the longevity of our party by standardising and institutionalising the leadership recruitment system. Hard working and exemplary individuals should be identified and encouraged and mentored. ‘’It should be a deliberate policy of the progressives in

ensuring that we have a robust succession plan in place.’’ Commending members of the APC National Youth Lobby Group for the work they are doing for the party, the President said: ‘’You are not begging, but negotiating, staking a claim and seeking to add value, which is admirable.’’ He urged them to help the party achieve a successful Convention on February 26, 2022 and in subsequent elections in Ekiti and Osun states. President Buhari declared that APC must be made attractive for younger people to continuously take ownership of it because that is the future, and ‘’that is what progress means.’’ He said young people’s inclusion in governance would

encourage learning and mentoring in government and politics. The President asked the SGF to submit a report on the inclusion of young people on boards and committees that are yet to be constituted, next month. He further directed Prof Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff, and the SGF to ensure monthly engagements with the APC Youth Lobby Group for better synergy and cross pollination of ideas and opportunities. President Buhari urged both senior government officials to explore the establishment of a Committee of young people to form the monitoring and evaluation team of ongoing federal government projects across the country.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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FEBRUARY 12, 2022 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

TAMING THE MENACE OF CULTISM All critical stakeholders should join forces to contain the scourge, writes Tayo Ogunbiyi

t was on a fateful Thursday morning. I could still vividly recollect the ugly episode. It was around 6:00 am. As usual, I set out early from home with the intent of beating the early morning trafﬁc build up. However, by the time I approached the main road, it was going to be a different kind of day. It was, indeed, a day that Satan came visiting and hell was literally let loose. Pandemonium was everywhere. Looking from a reasonable distance, I saw young men, in their early 20s, brandishing different assault weapons- cutlasses, pistols, broken bottles, hammers and knives among others. As it could only be imagined in movies, they were having a go at one another. It was a free-for-all combat. They were quite daring. Blood was flowing ceaselessly. Not to be caught in the melee, commuters, including yours sincerely, were running helter-skelter. The whole incident lasted for over one horrible hour. What was, however, amazing was that, till the madness lasted, no law enforcement agent was in sight. After the whole insanity ended, it was gathered that the satanic show of shame was produced and directed by rival cult groups enmeshed in an evil battle for supremacy. Sadly, the dreadful incident has become a pattern across the country, in both cities and villages. It is clear evidence of how dreadful the menace of cultism has become in our nation. It has become so bad that, aside from the universities where it has become an institution of sorts, cultism is already gaining inroad into primary and secondary schools. It has also become deeply rooted among artisans, transport workers and even people who work in corporate offices. It has gotten so bad! No doubt, cultism is one of the social vices that have been tormenting our society. It has been in existence for quite some time, and has gotten so bad that it is almost becoming something we have to live with. It is a ritual practice of a group of people whose membership and mode of operations are shrouded in secrecy. Their language is that of violence, which makes their activities to have negative effects on both members and non members. Although the history of cultism in the country dates back to some 50 years ago, its violent trend became really evident some two decades ago. Today, cult groups in schools and communities are brutally violent. They maim, kill, destroy and rape among other dastardly acts. In most cases, their evil activities have led to the closure of many schools, thus leading to the disruption of academic calendars. A number of factors account for the increasing nuisance of cultism in our society. These include family background, peer pressure, unemployment, poverty and decadence in societal moral value, among others. Considering its metropolitan status, Lagos has its own fair share of the nuisance of cultism. But then, the government has been investing heavily in the beefing up of the State’s security architecture, just to ensure that cultists and other such reprehensible groups do not have a field day of terror on the society. Toward this end, the Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration has rebranded and repositioned the State’s special crime-bursting outfit, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS). Not only this, the administration donated security equipment worth N8.7bn to the State Police Command. The equipment, which

TO STEM THE TIDE OF CULTISM, SCHOOLS, RELIGIOUS BODIES, COMMUNITY LEADERS, TRADITIONAL RULERS, THE MEDIA AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS (NGOS) MUST STEP UP THEIR CAMPAIGNS AGAINST THE PERIL AND ITS DESTRUCTIVE TENDENCIES

was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari for the use of the police and other security agencies in the State, includes 150 double cabin vehicles, 30 saloon patrol vehicles, 1000 ballistic vests, 1000 ballistic helmets, 1000 handheld police radios/walkie talkies and 100 security patrol bikes. It also comprises two Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), four High-Capacity Troop Carriers and two Anti-Riot Water Cannon Vehicles. As massive as this intervention is, the Sanwo-Olu administration has continued to promote the course of public security in the State. Similarly, Governor Sanwo-Olu has signed the bill for the Prohibition of Unlawful Societies and Cultism of 2021 into law, which stipulates a 21-year jail term for convicted cultists in the State. The State’s House of Assembly, in February 2021, passed the anti-cultism bill, which also stipulates 15-year jail term for anyone found guilty of abetting cultists and residents who willfully allow their property to be used as meeting points by cultists. The anti-cultism law repeals the Cultism (Prohibition) Law of 2007 (now Cap. C18, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015) and provides for more stringent punitive measures, as well as makes its application all-encompassing and applicable to the general public, as against the restriction of the previous law to students of tertiary institutions. According to Sanwo-Olu, the State had suffered the negative effects of unlawful societies and cultism. He, thus, stressed that the new law sought to make parents more responsible and show more interest in the up-bringing of their children and wards to ensure that they do not become a burden to the society. It must, however, be stressed that all the efforts of the government might not really achieve much results except every stakeholder in the society join hands with the government in the war against cultism. Parents, in particular, are enjoined to play more active role in the proper upbringing of their children and wards. They should create and spend quality time with their children. Also, they should become more vigilant concerning their children’s/wards’ activities within and outside the home. The schools also have a role to play. There must be a renewed effort to inculcate moral and civic education into the academic curriculum. More emphasis should be placed on the need for peaceful co-existence as well as the rewards that await good and evil doers in the society. In same vein, the services of professional counselors should be engaged in schools to properly counsel the pupils/students on the right path of life No doubt, many parents have failed woefully in their parental duties. All in the name of trying to eke out a living for the family, most parents rarely have time for their children again. To stem the tide of cultism, schools, religious bodies, community leaders, traditional rulers, the media and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) must step up their campaigns against the peril and its destructive tendencies. This is not the time to sit on the fence. The evil nature of cultism makes it a terrible whirlwind that does no one any good. The socialeconomic and emotional traumas caused by cultism are enormous. It is, therefore, important that all hands are on deck in the battle to surmount the menace in our society. Everyone has a role to play. Ogunbiyi is Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

CAC AND EASE OF DOING BUSINESS

Dele S. Dina writes that there is remarkable improvement in the day- to-day activities at the commission

t will be recalled that Professor Yemi Osinbajo signed a Presidential Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business in 2017 and Corporate Affairs Commission is taking appropriate steps to leverage on the provisions of the order by encouraging a seamless procedure for the registration of business entities. It became more dramatic and attenuated under the present Registrar General, Mr. Garuba Abubakar, who had come with over 17 years in service experience in the Commission at a management cadre level and was at a time acted in the capacity of a special assistant to the erstwhile registrar Mohammud Bello. Alhaji Abubakar has upgraded Company Registration Portal (CRP) to serve as an endto-end electronic registration solution which allows accredited customers and the general public to initiate and complete registration and post registration applications electronically as well as generate outputs remotely. This digital solution was to improve access to and reduce timelines for the commission’s services while shrinking processes and standardizing service requirements. The upgraded company registration portal has an interface for the integration of data submission and document upload for seamless transactions, recognition of electronic signature; e-certificates with quick response (QR) code for instant validation. The registrar general as part of his over sight function has introduced the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) and the Limited Partnership (LP) incorporation as a novel business entity

in Nigeria. To this end, it has deployed the registration interfaces for LLPs and LPs on the Company Registration Portal (CRP). The LLP is a partnership arrangement with legal personality separate from the partners. The liabilities of the partners of an LLP are limited to the amount agreed to be contributed or what is outstanding in the event of winding up. An LLP shall have at least two “designated partners” who will be responsible for compliance with the requirements of the Act by the LLP. The designated partners shall be individuals at least one of whom must be resident in Nigeria. The name of an LLP shall end with the word “Limited Liability Partnership” or the abbreviation “LLP”. The Commission corporate portal now has distinguishing features such as the support center which is aimed at streamlining and tracking support requests from customers for enhanced efficiency. Each support request is assigned a unique ticket number which may be used to track the progress and resolution of the request (complaint) online. Complete archives and history of all support requests by a Customer are available for reference. A valid email address is required to submit a ticket. Current timelines for registration of companies, incorporated trustees , PPL or PL, enquiries, complaints. Today, business names search in Nigeria corporate registry can be done within four hours while the registration of companies and incorporated trustees can be done within 24 Hours. Change of names and deed of release can

be done within seven working days. Today in furtherance of the vision of the Presidency, all certificate issued by the Commission now carries the embedded Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Tax Identification Number (TIN) upon issuance. Mr Abubakar is passionate about the company registry motivation through egalitarian administration by ensuring promotion of employees as at when due. Take for instance the 2019 examination which was held on 10th October, 2020 at JAMB CBT Centers in Abuja, Kano and Lagos. The result of the examination was published the same day at the Commission’s website upon receipt from JAMB. Staff that qualifies for promotion have their cases brought before the board of the commission for approval in consultation with the national salaries, wages and income commission. Critical staffers were presented with working tools that can help them to work from their respective homes as a prompt for employee productivity enhancement, effectiveness, and efficiency and to work outside official working days. The Commission after extensive engagement with stakeholders has also introduced the publication of the companies regulations 2021 approved by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo. The purpose of the regulations which came into force on 1st January 2021 is primarily designed to complement the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) and to also simplify

the procedural regulations for an interface with clients of CAC. In partial fulfillment of his role as the RG of CAC, Garuba Abubakar led the Commission to participate at the three days Pakistani Business Investing Community Event in Nigeria which provided a promotional interface with officials of the Commission to scale up sales marketing to target audience, exhibitors /participants. No fewer than 30 companies indicated their willingness to set up their investment in Nigeria. As the campaign for open government initiative increases worldwide, Mr. Abubakar is quickly following after this trend with a vision of institutionalizing the Open Government Initiatives (OGP) at the CAC. Under his watch CAC received a grant of USD400,000 from the World Bank under the OGP multi-Donor Trust Fund for the development and deployment of electronic register. According to the Registrar General, the year in view (2021) was one of our best in terms of Internally Generated Revenue, as we recorded a surge in registration above the previous years. We had projected a revenue target of N18.2 billion for the year 2021 , but this was surpassed. For the first time in more than a decade, we are able to give more money to the federal government as operating surplus remittance. According to Abubakar, with the new CAMA law, it is now easier for companies to file their returns without going through any lawyer, accountant or chartered secretary. Dina wrote from Abuja

FEBRUARY 12, 2022 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Do we laugh or cry?

Towards Citizens-Driven FCT Council Election

Maduekwe Gears for Governance

s Abia State gets ready for the governorship election in 2023, political bigwigs are already declaring their interests and marshalling out plans on what they have in stock for the people. Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation seems to possess the wherewithal and indeed has a grasp of the yawning needs of the state. As the son of a headmaster who by dint of hard work studied medicine at the University of Ibadan, Dr. Maduekwe has done a surgical analysis of the developmental problems of Abia State, which have led to its backwardness despite being an oil producing state, and the commercial hub of the South East region. Flowing from this realisation, he sees education, skills acquisition, technology and innovation, health and infrastructural development as key elements in the renaissance of a new Abia State under his watch. Going into the historical evolution of the state which held a lot of promise in the early 50’s and 60’s, and which produced personages like late premier of the Eastern region, Dr. M.I. Okpara, Maduekwe will want to re-enact the glorious days of the past, and with the help of technology and other modern implements of governance surpass the achievements of the past and restore hope, dignity and confidence to the people. It is on record that the Eastern region was adjudged one of the fastest growing regions in the world in the 60’s, and Aba the commercial nerve centre of the region played

t is quite contradicting that the elections closest to the people are the ones that people are either least interested in or are even oblivious of. A typical Nigerian voter gets more excited about who becomes the President or their Governor rather than the election of a Chairman or Councillor whose office is a stone’s throw from their residences. In most cases, a lot of citizens seem not to be aware of the role of councillors and Chairmen of their local councils which makes it even more difficult to demand accountability and good governance. Twenty-two years after the return of democracy, local government areas in Nigeria struggle with poor governance, the absence of periodic and credible elections, and almost non-existent governance structures that promote citizen engagement and accountability. This reality was glaring during a community outreach by Yiaga Africa in Gwarinpa community located at the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Dutse market in Bwari Area council ahead of the February 12th council elections in the Federal Capital territory. The outreach revealed that an average resident is anticipating the 2023 general elections while oblivious of area council elections which will determine leadership at the local level. Another major takeaway from recent engagement with residents revealed how agitated and disillusioned Nigerians have become about governance especially at the local level. There are major complaints about multiple taxation by taxi drivers, Keke Napep drivers, market men and women, store owners amongst other challenges of poor infrastructure such as primary healthcare and basic education in local communities amongst others. Just as it is in most states in Nigeria, there are constant calls for improved governance in the FCT, especially in the area of infrastructure and issues around multiple taxation. This is T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R even as residents battle to understand the role of the area EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE councils. DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU However, residents do not either seem to know who MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU to make these demands to or are tired of banking on CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI unfulfilled promises over the years. But another important EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN thing citizens are yet to realise is that they have the power MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI to vote out underperforming representatives and vote in THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE leaders they can call to account for their stewardship. For example, there are resources that are allocated to local councils monthly that must be accounted for; yet, citizens hardly are able to hold leadership at this level accountable T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D for how they manage these resources. This is why the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA conduct of periodic elections is important as it provides GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI an opportunity for engagement especially in empowering DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE the people to choose their leaders. DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI Being the only ‘state’ where the Independent National SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts Local GovernASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI ment Elections, the FCT area council elections have CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI been consistently conducted every three years to fill the DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO position of six chairmanship positions and 62 councillors’ TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com positions.

Moshood Isah, media ofﬁcer, Yiaga Africa

a pivotal role. To achieve this lofty goals, the creation of three major urban cities as envisaged by Dr. Maduekwe will be a sine qua non, while the depletion of the humongous security vote to as low as 20%, which has become a source of pillaging the common patrimony will be used to jumpstart the health sector through the creation of cottage hospitals within a period of 18 months from the day of inauguration as a governor. One striking feature of the condensed manifesto of Dr. Maduekwe who is aspiring as governor of Abia State on the ticket of All Progressives Congress is that he plans to replicate the achievements of the President Buhari administration at the federal level in Abia State. As a side-line observer one can only establish the fact that Dr. Maduekwe is a discerning leader, visionary and full of workable ideas towards the elevation of Abia State to an African business hub, and this is doable going by the several programmes and policies which he plans to deploy if elected as a governor.

Chukwudi Enekwechi, Kwechis19@yahoo.com

Bandito Doctrinaire

ctually, the art of banditry is an established order of things, a full-bodied system sort of, by which a man covets his neighbour’s goods and his neighbour’s wife. Recall that those of us brought up in the Roman Catholic faith were taught in our catechism classes that the Ninth and Tenth Commandments are the following, viz: Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbour’s Goods and Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbour’s Wife, just hoping I have my ordering right here. This is moral teaching of the Christian faith. Alas, the established system of banditry goes beyond just coveting thy neighbour’s goods and wife to snatching these “items” by means of violence and then keeping these “spoils” for one’s personal enjoyment. This is the rule. He who can, let him go a-snatching and he who has been victimised let him continue a-gnashing. But, he who can take vengeance and do “reverse coveting and snatching,” provided he is of the “same stock” as “The House,” let him do his heart’s desire. Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 12, 2022

NEWS Abductors of IPMAN Top Member in Edo Demand N80m for His Release Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The abductors of a top member of the Independent Petroleum Markets of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Abdul-Hamid Egele, have demanded the sum of N80 million before they will let him oͿ the hook This latest development is coming Àve days after Alhaji Egele popularly called ‘Baba Petrol’ was kidnapped in front of his house in Jattu, Etsako

West Local Government Area of area of Edo 6tate A source close to the family hinted yesterday in Auchi that “The kidnappers contacted the family today morning (Friday) and they are demanding for N80m before he will be released That is the development as at today and this is the Àrst time they are contacting the family since Monday evening µ Egele, it would be recalled

was kidnapped Monday evening in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area at around p m An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said that the incident happened when Egele was returning home after the day’s business and he was accosted by the gunmen He said, “The gunmen ambushed the IPMAN chieftain with two vehicles without plate number and Àred at his jeep

and killed his driver “Alhaji Egele was later taken away after the security attached to him were overpowered by the gunmen who injured the security operatives,µ the eyewitness said The Police Public Relations 2΀cer, Bello .otongs, when contacted, said the police was yet to get any new information about the kidnap and that the family has not informed the police of any attack

Rivers Waterfront Residents Sue State Government Over Demolition Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Residents of Diobu Waterfront in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, have approached a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, seeking to stop the state government from further demolition of their houses At the case sitting yesterday, the trial Judge, Justice S H Aprioku admitted the application for amendment of court process by counsel for the residents whose properties where already destroyed by the state government Counsel for victims, Gift Atiedo, had approached the court for an order to stop the government

from going ahead to destroy the properties It would be recalled that the state governor, Nyesom Wike, in his New Year address, announced that the state government in its bid to tackle insecurity, would dislodge illegal settlements at the waterfront Following the announcement, an eviction letter from the state government was served on the occupants of the waterfronts on January 19, 2022, with seven-day ultimatum to vacate Residents of the shanties and makeshift structures in the area, however, raised alarm and urged the governor to show human face by providing an alternative settlement or at least pay compensation

APC Chairmanship Hopeful Lifts IDPs With Food Items, Cash Laleye Dipo in Minna

GRASSROOTS MOBILISATION… L-R: Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, acknowledges cheers from a crowd of supporters, Oganiru Enugu, a nonpartisan group mobilising for the emergence of most competent candidate as Governor of Enugu State in 2023...recently

Abiodun Visits Ethiopia, Egypt, Woos Investors James Sowole Poised to increase direct foreign investment into Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun, has embarked on visits to Egypt and Ethiopia The governor during investment tour met with the Ethiopian Minister of Industry, Ato Melaku Alebal, in Addis Ababa, and sought for area of investment and collaboration between Ethiopia and Ogun, particularly in the area of industry and trade

Abiodun, in company of Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, also evaluated the beneÀts of and possible collaboration opportunities in the Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZs) which are a product of the African Development Bank (AfDB) While meeting with the Elsewedy Group, one of the largest conglomerates in Egypt, the governor, accompanied by the State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic

Adviser, Dapo Okubadejo and his Agriculture counterpart, Samson Odedina and Afreximbank President, Dr Benedict Okey Oramah, said the meeting with the group with signiÀcant investment opportunities across Africa and Europe, was to seek partnerships with it He explained that the meeting was also to facilitate Elsewedy’s investments into Ogun State in healthcare, industrial park development, real estate, intelligent transport systems network and management, tolling systems

and in power sector “The group is the largest producer of prepaid meters in the world After this meeting, the investment team would be hosted in Ogun State to further evaluate and structure these investment opportunities, after which the President & CEO Elsewedy Group Ahmed El Sewedy who was on ground to receive us, would come to Ogun State to sign a document in these areas and execute relevant deÀnitive transaction agreements on these investments

APC Caretaker C’ttee Notifies Members on Hijab Crisis: Kwara Gov Constitutes Proposed Amendments to Party’s Constitution 12-person Inter-religious Council Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Ahead of the February 26 National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) has served a notice of proposed amendments to the party’s constitution to members The National Secretary of CECPC of the party, Senator John Akpanudodehe, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday, saying the proposed amendment was in accordance with Article 30 of the party’s constitution In the proposed amendment, the ruling party wants to replace the Board of Trustees (BoT) under a

new title called National Advisory Council (NAC) with streamlined memberships and clear powers and functions According to him, “In accordance with Article 30 (iii) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Constitution, the Governor Mai Mala Buni-chaired Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) has served a notice of proposed amendments to the party’s constitution on members of the National Convention “Article 30 (iii) stipulates that the notice is served at least fourteen (14) days before the date of the National Convention at which the proposed amendments are to be considered µ

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Piqued by the last week Friday’s violence at Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo in .wara State over the wearing of Hijab, the state governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq yesterday constituted a 12-member Inter-Religious Council (IREC) The governor said that the council comprises elder statesmen, women and clergies drawn from the Muslim and Christian communities in the state The chairman of the IREC is the Emir of Shonga and renowned peace advocate, Dr Haliru Yahya Ndanusa

Other members are former Grand .hadi Justice Idris Haroon; Justice Olatunji Bamgbola; Special Assistant to the Governor on Religion (Islam) Zubair Ibrahim Dan Maigoro and soon-to-be named Special Assistant to the Governor on Religion (Christianity) Also include are former Commissioner of Education and FOMWAN leader, Hajia Halimat Yusuf; former Permanent Secretary, Dr Mrs Rhoda Ajiboye; Dr Soburu Alaaya; Venerable Moses Lasisi Abegunde; Prof Feyi Grace Adepoju; Elder Stephen Wole Oke; and Director, Ministry of Special Duties, Ishola Maryam Idowu (Secretary)

A national chairmanship hopeful of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator representing Niger East Senatorial zone in the National Assembly, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, has lifted the internally displaced persons in three camps in Shiroro local government with the donation of food items and cash The items donated include 150 bags of rice, 20 bags of garri, 15 bales of blankets, 60 bales of mats, three bales of children clothes, groceries, seasonings as well as N1 5m cash A statement by the Concerned Shiroro Youths made available to newsmen in Minna yesterday, said the organisation was on “ground to have Àrst hand information about the humanitar-

ian gestureµ The statement signed by Comrades Sani Abubakar Yusuf .okki, and Bello Ibrahim co-conveners of the group said the presentation of the items was done on behalf of Senator Sani Musa by Alhaji Babasule Bissala, Chairman of the Sani Musa Advisory Council According to them, the items were distributed to the IDPs in Gwada, .uta and Zumba camps at diͿerent times “This humanitarian gesture wouldn’t have come at a better time than now considering how the target beneÀciaries are in dire need of intervention of this nature Fleeing people have been impoverished as a result of low purchasing power arising from abject poverty which now force them to depend solely on handouts,µ the statement said

Gunmen Attack Anambra Police Station, Abandon Vehicle to Superior Firepower David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Armed men operating in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State yesterday attacked Uli Police Station, but were repelled by police operatives on duty THISDAY gathered that the men were engaged by police men on duty, causing them to abandon one of their operational vehicles, a Lexus 0 saloon Details of the attack were still sketchy as at the time of Àlling this report, but it was gathered that the police station and it’s environs are safe and have been cordoned oͿ Meanwhile, the state police command has conÀrmed the

attack, while also hailing the gallantry of the policemen on duty at the police station at the time of the attack A short press release by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga quoted the state Commissioner of Police CP Echeng Echeng as hailing the operatives, and also assuring that the state is ready to carry out its duty of securing members of public The release read: “The commissioner, CP Echeng Echeng has today 11/2/2022 assures the residence of Anambra that the command is Àrm and ready to enhance public safety and peace in the state

Police Proposes Legislation to Compel Installation of CCTVs in Govt Agencies, Corporate Bodies Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja In furtherance of its intelligence policing drive, the police high command has proposed a legislation to compel government agencies and corporate bodies to install Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) in government agencies and corporate bodies The Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, also charged Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners

of Police to embrace intelligencedriven approaches towards effective policing of the nation A communique issued at end of the police annual retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, “emphasised intelligence as the core of policing and proposed a legislation that will place an obligation on government agencies, corporate bodies, estate developers and private individuals to install CCTV cameras and security sensors on their facilities as a standard practice amongst others µ

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2022

08054699539

Nigeria as Hunger Hotspot

t did not come as a surprise that Nigeria was listed as one of the “20 hunger hotspots” in the world in a joint report by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). Hunger is real in beloved Nigeria. In the report released last week, the two agencies warned that acute food insecurity was likely to deteriorate further in Nigeria and 19 other countries, particularly between February and May 2022. The FAO and WFP thereafter issued an early warning for urgent humanitarian action in Nigeria and the 19 other countries where part of the population is likely to face a significant deterioration of food insecurity that will put their lives and livelihoods at risk. The report noted that Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen remained at the highest alert level and humanitarian actions are critical to prevent starvation and death. Giving specific reasons for the impending hunger in Nigeria, the report stated that attacks by non-state armed groups in the North-east, coupled with banditry and intercommunal violence in the North-central and North-west would continue to disrupt agricultural and market activities. These, it added, would lead to reduced production, incomes and new displacement, including in areas that are projected to face catastrophe. The report adds: “Precarious security conditions and high inflation rates are likely to further aggravate acute foodinsecurity levels beyond Borno State in the outlook period. Countrywide, about 620,000 people – over 74 per cent of them in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe – are projected to face emergency food need.” Other countries listed in the 2022 “20 huge hotspots” were Mozambique, Syria, Myanmar, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Sudan, Madagascar, Afghanistan and Angola, among others. The FAO and WFP’s story of hunger in Nigeria is indeed real. First, let’s look at the millions of Nigerians pushed into hunger by terrorists. Guerrillas have taken over so many towns and villages in the North, forcing millions of people to flee their farms and homes, to become Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in safe places. Daily, millions of these IDPs in wretched camps in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Katsina, Zamfara Kaduna, Benue, Niger, Taraba, Plateau and Sokoto states struggle for food, which is hardly enough. Everyday, scores die of starvation and malnutrition in these camps. Maiduguri alone is home to about a million IDPs; all victims of the Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks from across Borno State. There are official IDP camps in this town, with scores of other informal ones. The camps in Auno; Stadium, Bakassi, Muna Garage, Gubio, Dalori I & II, are some of the sites overflowing with IDPs struggling

Aside from the millions of Nigerians pushed into hunger by the activities of terrorists, the disastrous economic policy of the Buhari government in almost seven years has pushed millions of other Nigerians into starvation, as poverty and unemployment pervade our country. Many have slipped into abject poverty. For example, 1.1 million Nigerians slipped into extreme poverty just in four for limited food. There is severe hunger in these encampments. A peep into Damba community (inside Gusau, Zamfara State) where an IDP camp has developed, shows women (some pregnant) and children sleeping on bare floor, with little food for survival. In Benue State, the three camps in Makurdi town and one other in Logo Local Government Area are filled with people that barely get enough food. In Kaduna State, the IDPs in Goningora, Udawa Mararaban Rido and Kujama, (Chikun LGA) and those in Zonkwa and Samaru Kataf in Zangon Kataf LGA are all starving. Sometimes, for a whole day, there will be no food supply. Hunger and disease permeate these camps. The responses of the federal and state governments to the hunger in IDP camps have been lethargic. In fact, many have been exploiting the IDPs to make money. Money allocated for their welfare hardly gets to them. More often than not, cash and goods donated by local and international organisations are stolen. Aside from the millions of Nigerians pushed into hunger by the activities of terrorists, the disastrous economic policy of the Buhari government in almost seven years has pushed millions of other Nigerians into starvation, as poverty and unemployment pervade our country. Many have slipped into abject poverty. For example, 1.1 million Nigerians slipped into extreme poverty just in four months – June, July, August and September – of 2018. Under Buhari, Nigeria’s joblessness rate worsened, thus, stimulating hunger. Millions have lost jobs with hundreds of factories shutting down. The employment rate is a vital measurement of any

economy’s health. The latest figures show that unemployment increased to 33.3% in Q4 2020 from 27.1% in Q2 2020, with 23.18 million Nigerians jobless. Everyday, these jobless people struggle to feed. Over 88 million Nigerians now live in extreme poverty - below $1.90 a day. Earlier in June 2018, the Brookings Institution named Nigeria as the poverty capital of the world, with 86.9 million extremely poor people. Nigeria overtook India as the world’s poverty capital, despite being six times smaller in population than the Asian country. Between 2016 and 2019, the Buhari government spent N470.8 billion on the implementation of its social safety programme. Yes, N470.8 billion. How I wish the Presidential Adviser on National Social Welfare Programme, Maryam Uwais, would pick up courage and give Nigerians a transparent report on the activities of this comical National Social Investment Programme since its inauguration. The truth is that this programme that aims at improving the living conditions of Nigerians, through capacity building, investment and direct support, has failed woefully. Millions of Nigerians are slipping into hunger and abject poverty, notwithstanding this comical social welfare programme. The programme has failed to change the fortunes of the poorest of the poor in our dear country. The Tradermoni, Farmermoni, and Marketmoni remain charades incapable of reducing poverty in Nigeria. This is why poverty is on the rise in mother Nigeria. The astronomical rise in the prices of staple foods in Nigeria in the last seven years is also a major cause of hunger among millions of Nigerians. So many go to bed without meals and wake up not sure of breakfast. Poor man’s Garri is beyond the reach of the masses. A bag of beans is selling for N90,000. Kerosene, poor man’s cooking fuel is selling for a frightening N400 per litre. In beloved Nigeria, a 50kg bag of local rice sells for between N25,000 and N32,000, depending on the part of the country you are in. This is the same rice that was selling at N7000 for a 50kg bag when Buhari assumed office about seven years ago. Our local rice is now beyond the reach of the masses. A bag of local rice is selling for this much in a country where the minimum wage is N30,000 monthly. The billions of Naira spent on subsidising rice production has failed to bring down the price. The Buhari government should come up with pragmatic steps to pull Nigerians out of hunger and poverty, instead of regaling us with stories of a failed social welfare programme. The N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfers, National Home-Grown School Feeding and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programmes, are lousy projects incapable of truly impacting on the lives of the masses of the people.

Terror Kingpin, Ada Aleru Still Killing Unhindered

or those who don’t know him, Ada Aleru is one of the terror kingpins operating in Zamfara and Katsina states. He makes money from killings, kidnappings and levies imposed on several communities in these two states. Aleru and his boys are visible in Faskari part of Katsina State; Tsafe, Bungudu and Bakura LGAs of Zamfara State. Last week, three communities controlled by Aleru in the Zamfara local governments mentioned were brutalised for failing to pay the levies he imposed. The attacked communities were Nasarawar Mai Fara, Yar Katsina and Nasarawa. Aleru imposed N40 million levy on Nasarawar Mai Fara, which the poor people could not raise; 20 people were subsequently killed by Aleru in the village.

In Bakura, a health worker, Masud Kyambarawa, said three people, including the chief imam of the area, Akilu Dan Malam, were killed by Aleru and his boys, also for failing to raise the levy demanded. Aleru is also behind the terror attacks last Tuesday in three communities in Bakori and Funtua local government areas of Katsina State that led to the death of 13 residents. The terrorists began their operation last Monday night at Dukawa village in Bakori LGA, moving from house to house and looting shops; then to Gidan Kanawa where they killed three residents. They later attacked two communities in Funtua LGA where they murdered 10 residents and abducted the village head, Mohammed Umar. Aleru’s boys are also suspected to have

carried out the attack in Magama area of Jibia town, Jibia LG of Katsina State last Wednesday, during which they killed a Divisional Police Officer, Abdulkadir Rano. The terrorists likewise stormed the home of a businessman in the town, Alhaji Lauwali Magama and abducted his wife and daughter. This terrorist is operating openly unimpeded. It can only happen in Nigeria. Security agents can claim to be unaware of Aleru’s whereabouts. In a related bad news, in the first three weeks of 2022 alone, at least 486 people were killed by non-state actors across Nigeria, over half of them by terrorists in the North-west and Niger State. Residents of communities along the Kontagora-Rijau road in Mariga and Rijau local government areas of Niger State are fleeing their homes as a result of unending terror attacks.

Aregbesola

Enough of Aregbesola’s Mischiefs in Osun

he Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola is a lucky chap. This former governor of Osun State has been going about destabilising the state unobstructed. He is lucky because incumbent governor Gboyega Oyetola is a gentleman. Aregbesola goes about with a prickly sense of entitlement; that he should be the godfather of Osun State after his eight useless years as governor. Oyetola has not firmly resisted this. Aregbesola uses his “The Osun Progressives” (TOP), a group within the All Progressives Congress in the state to cause anarchy and confusion. This former governor also runs parallel APC Executives from the wards to the state level. This week, a court in Ikire, presided over by Justice Sikiru Oke, struck out a suit instituted by TOP, challenging the legality of the Osun State APC EXCO loyal to Oyetola and recognised by the party’s headquarters. Aregbesola wanted the court to invalidate the state Congress that produced the Gboyega Famodun-led state executive and declare his faction as the authentic state officials of the party. The congress that produced Gboyega Famodun, was conducted by a team sent by the party’s headquarters in Abuja. He failed in this mission. Still, Aregbesola will not end his disruptions. He is often boasting that his TOP members are firmly in control of the state, especially in all the local government areas, and are ready to stop Oyetola from getting a 2nd term. This man made the job of the reconciliation committee sent from Abuja difficult by insisting that Oyetola must give TOP half of the political offices in the state and that his factional EXCO must be recognised as authentic. He wants to impose even commissioners on Oyetola. This is silly. This former governor is aiming to reap where he did not sow. Aregbesola has been going about, using men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to cause chaos across the state. This Interior Minister can’t try one tenth of what he is doing in Osun State with the likes of Governor Yahaya Inuwa of Gombe State and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State. We all know how Inuwa and Ganduje checkmated Danjuma Goje and Rabiu Kwankwaso when they tried playing the godfather. Oyetola has to wake up and put Aregbesola where he belongs. Enough of this current Osun governor’s gentleman politics, else, Aregbesola will mortify him further. My dear Oyetola, you must put your foot down as the leader of the party in the state and end the reign of those undermining your authority. Above all, you must deal ruthlessly with people destabilising your state. The likes of Aregbesola must not continue to enjoy a free rein. Enough is enough!

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 12, 2022

NEWS Religious Group Launches Campaign against Ritual Killings Sylvester Idowu in Warri Christ Universal Youth Fellowship, the youth wing of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star has launched a campaign against ritual killings, kidnappings and other social vices amongst the youths in the country. Kick starting the campaign which will include lectures, road walks, Christ Universal Youth Fellowship yesterday unveiled an advocacy billboard at Agbor, Delta State which highlighted some of the ills in the society which included and

READY FOR ELECTIONS… L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari receives a document from the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Lobby Committee, Barrister Ismaeel Ahmad, when the committee members paid a courtesy visit to the President at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja...yesterday

Air Strikes Decimate 20 Terrorists Advancing Towards NDA Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Rockets Àred by military helicopters yesterday killed 20 armed bandits advancing towards the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Sources said the terrorists on over 50 motorcycles were seen advancing towards the military institution in Kaduna State. Some gunmen suspected to be armed bandits, invaded the

institution in June last year. During the previous attack, a Nigerian army captain was abducted as the criminals shot two soldiers dead. Following a tip-oͿ on the movement of bandits through the military school’s general area on Thursday, it was gathered that two Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter gunships were dispatched to engage the criminals, who had taken oͿ from Damari Village

in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area. The bandits were reportedly sighted in makeshift tents and 50 motorcycles. “On sighting the aircraft, the bandits started Áeeing into the fringes of the forest. This brought about an objective and very decisive air strikes as surviving bandits were seen scampering for safety from the air interdiction as they were eͿectively mopped up.

“Moreso as it is customary, feedback received on Friday after the operation from both the ground forces and local sources, revealed that the bandits were eͿectively disoriented and suͿered a loss of about 20 bandits,” the source said. “Also, their plans of harassing and shaming the Nigerian Defence Academy and the government of the day were eͿectively thwarted,” he said.

Constitution Review: Speakers Push for Restructuring, State Police, LG Autonomy Sunday Aborisade in Abuja Speakers of the 36 state Houses of Assembly yesterday asked the National Assembly Joint Conference on the Review of the 1999 Constitution to consider the inclusion of restructuring, devolution of powers, and state police in the proposed amendments. The Chairman Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria, Abubakar Suleiman, stated this in Abuja at a retreat

organised for speakers and clerks of the state Houses of Assembly. Suleiman, who is also the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, has urged the ad hoc committees of the federal parliament, to carry critical stakeholders along before coming up with its report. He said, “We are being confronted with certain challenges in the country that borders on insecurity, economy, devolution of powers, weak institutions. “The conference of speakers

subscribes to the call that the review of the constitution is one of the legislative actions at our disposal that could be explored to address these challenges. “We therefore call on the members of the National Assembly and the state House of Assemblies to take this opportunity of yet another alteration exercise to address many agitated issues such as restructuring, devolution of powers, community and state police.

“We appreciate the inclusiveness in the exercise. We call on the National Assembly to endeavour to carry along other major stakeholders like the Presidency and the executive governors in the ongoing exercise. “We are particular about the executive arms at both tiers of government due to the previous experience and reluctance or selective considerations for presidential assent by the presidency and challenges of implementation at the state level.

ASUU Appeals to Prominent Nigerians to Runsewe to Host NANTA, Prevail on Buhari to Avert another Strike Others to Dinner in Abuja Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has made a passionate appeal to religious leaders, traditional rulers and other prominent Nigerians to prevail on the federal government on the need to implement all the Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) and Memorandum of Agreements (MoAs) entered into with the union in order to avert the looming strike action. The appeal was made by the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the end of its Congress held yesterday, insisting that unless positive steps were taken, the strike action will resume and even more total than previous ones. The union also called on President Muhammadu Buhari

to be sincere and decisive in his intervention in the crisis in order to salvage what is remaining in the quality of the country’s educational sector. The ASUU branch chairman, Dr. Ibrahim Inuwa who addressed journalists after their meeting said that, “The Congress, just as it had done in the past three meetings, has given us to inform the national that it is ready to go along in the resuming of the strike action. Enough is enough since the government is not sincere with the Union.” According to Inuwa, “Since 2009 members of ASUU have remained on the same salary grade level. The agreement is that promotion shall be based on the current exchange rate of the Dollar. You can imagine what we are going through now considering the economic situation.”

Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, will host a dinner party to honour and appreciate the leadership of National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), for being the most peaceful, impactful hardworking industry trade group in the country. Runsewe insisted that the 47 years old association has kept its head high and enthroned an effective succession plan devoid of bad blood and bitterness which had led to the disappearance of other similar trade groups in the industry, noting that NANTA is the top flag bearer of the hope and expectations for Nigeria’s cultural tourism sector. He disclosed that the get together will be held in Abuja, at a date which will be announced later and will bear the trappings of apex government cultural tourism organisation with foreign diplomats and industry big-

wigs in cultural tourism, aviation and the corporate world in attendance. “We cannot pretend that NANTA has not made us proud. Indeed, the association under the watch of Mrs. Susan Akporiaye has kept us on our toes, reached out in the most strategic manner and connected to sharing the pictures of how government could join hands with the private sector players to serve Nigerians well. Mrs. Akporiaye and NANTA have made us proud and deserve to be appreciated and celebrated,” Runsewe said. The NCAC boss who is also President, Africa region of World Craft Council, further paid glowing tribute to the founders of the association and urged other trade groups to eschew bickering in their affairs, remain focused and find ways and means to navigate the process of inter government and private sector relationships to the gains of the industry.

not limited to ritual killings, kidnappings, hate, abortion, rape, prostitution, illicit drugs, alcoholism, cybercrime amongst others. The campaign is part of an evangelical programme of the church tagged ‘Spiritual ConÁuence’. The International Chairman, Christ Universal Youth Fellowship, Amb. IÀokabasi Udo, who unveiled the advocacy billboard, expressed concern over the increasing social vices in the society and called for collaborative eͿort to stem the tide.

Forget the Past, Pursue Your Ambition, NOA Director Advises Kaduna Baptist School Students John Shiklam in Kaduna Students of the Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna, who were victims of kidnapping have been advised to put the ugly experience behind and pursue their goals in life. The Kaduna State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Zubairu Galadima-Soba, gave the advice at a three-day trauma and rehabilitation programme for the students in Kaduna. Galadima-Soba called on the students not to allow the unfortunate incident to weigh them down.

“Today is the day of lifting the burden oͿ your minds, it is also a day we should discuss and bring healing to you,” he said. According to him, those behind the dastardly act were people who do not mean well for the future of this country. The NOA director said further that the programme was organised to help the students out emotional and psychological trauma to enable them move on with their lives. Also speaking, UNICEF’s child right expert, Dr. Wilfred Mamah, commended the students for attending the programme.

Abia APC Sets Out 2023 Mission to Free State Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia With its newly elected leadership structure now Àrmly in place following the inauguration of the executive committees at the state, local government and ward levels, the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has deÀned its mission ahead of the 2023 general election. State chairman of Abia APC, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, said that the task facing the main Abia opposition party “is to free Abia from vicious cycle of underdevelopment being perpetrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).” In a statement he personally signed and made available to the media, Ononogbu declared

that “Abia must be free”, noting that all well-meaning indigenes of Abia have continued to look up to the main opposition party to liberate God’s Own State from the hands of bad leaders. The brand new Abia APC chairman, who was inaugurated at Abuja along with other state chairmen on February 3, 2022 by the national leadership, said that his mission was anchored on “three unshakable pillars”, namely liberate, rescue and reposition (LRR). He sent out a clarion call to the elites of Abia to take a position and join in the battle to free their beloved state from those that have vowed to hold it down perpetually just to satisfy their selÀsh interests of aggrandisement.

Lagos Govt Pays 222 Retirees Over N1bn Benefits Rebecca Ejifoma The Lagos State Government has paid 222 retirees over N1 billion as their past service benefits. The 2019 pensioners were sorted at the 91st Batch Retirement Benefit Bond Certificate presentation ceremony in the Ikeja area of the state. This move is to acknowledge the labours and sacrifices of the retirees while in service, which contributed to the development of the state. According to the Director General, Lagos State Pension Commission, Mr. Babalola Obilana, the over N1bn has been credited to their retirement savings account.

He emphasised: “This means that the governor has gradually reduced the waiting period. We are probably rounding off 2019 for the mainstream and next we’ll start paying 2020 retirees.” Obilana also recalled that the state has consistently implemented the Contributory Pension Scheme since inception in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Pension Reform Law of 19 March 2007 now amended. The Director General assured the over 1,000 retirees left that before the end of the first tenure of the current administration, “We would have cut off all the outstanding and it will be earned as you go basis.”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 12, 2022

Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Temi Otedola Stars in ‘The Man for the Job’ Ferdinand Ekechukwu

star studded crime drama titled ‘The Man for The Job’ has commenced filming in Lagos. According to the synopsis, the crime drama follows the life of a young, ambitious man who is disturbed by the actions of the CEO of a highly optimistic startup company while fighting to balance his personal life and work life. Director Niyi Akinmolayan announced the start of production which promises to be packed with exciting drama, suspense and gut-wrenching twists and turns. Akinmolayan, whose production company, Anthill studios recently secured a global exclusive licensing deal with Amazon Studios will release ‘The Man For The Job,’ on Amazon Prime Video exclusively on its platform after the film must have made its local theatre run. This follows the

the founder and creative director of Anthill Productions, a media production facility, produced his debut movie ‘Kajola’ in 2010. He has since produced or directed several movies including ‘The Arbitration’ ‘The Wedding Party 2’, ‘The Set up’, ‘Chief Daddy’, and the ‘Elevator Baby’ which won two astounding awards at the 2020 AMVCA. Giving update on the forthcoming feature film while posting behind the scene footages, the award-winning filmmaker wrote on his Instagram page. “Have a fine week!!! I’m very excited about Anthill Studios next film. It’s my favourite work so far and we are still filming. #TheManForTheJob#”.

successful theatrical releases in 2021 of “Day of Destiny (DOD)”, “Prophetess”, and “Progressive Tailors Club”. Set in Lagos, ‘The Man for the Job’ will explore the buzzing Fintech industry. Written and directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, ‘The Man for the Job’ stars Temi Otedola, Alibaba, Ini Edo, Uzor Arukwe, Ibrahim Sulaiman, Baba Rex, and a couple of others. The lifestyle vlogger, Temi Otedola, who appears to be the lead character, made her movie debut in Kunle Afolayan’s “Citation” in 2020. Her role in “Citation” caught many by surprise, as she peerlessly interpreted her character beyond expectation. Akinmolayan, who is

Temi Otedola

Olamide’ Coming Album Might Be His Last Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Olamide

hough his next body of work titled ‘Unruly’ is yet to get a release date, Olamide Adedeji professionally known as Olamide, has announced that it would most likely be his last studio album. ‘Unruly’ which will be his 10th album is coming after ‘UY Scuti’, Olamide’s ninth album released in 2021. He said he’s putting on finishing touches to make it “the best ever”. The rapper said after ‘Unruly’, he would subsequently drop only singles intermittently. Disclosing this via his Twitter handle, the YBNL honcho said ‘Unruly’ is about 95 percent done. He believes he has had a “mad run” with his musical achievements thus far. “Next Album ‘Unrul’ 95% ready. Release date, I don’t know. Taking my time to make it the best ever. Probably my last album, though I’ll drop singles once in a blue moon

when I feel like it. It’s been a mad ass run giving albums back to back,” Olamide wrote. The 32-year-old artiste appears to be following in the same pattern when he announced his last studio album, Uy Scuti, telling to his fans that it was difficult for him to keep the album to himself for one month before releasing it. Baddo or BaddoSneh as he is widely called also has a list of top-selling studio albums like ‘Carpe Diem’, his international entry in 2020, YBNL in 2012, and Baddest Guy Ever Liveth in 2013. His 2014 album Street OT, Eyan Mayweather (2015), and The Glory (2016) were other albums he released. So far, he has had a total of nine studio albums to his name alongside EPs and multiple singles, aside his collaborative efforts which includes ‘2 Kings’ (with Phyno 2015), ‘YBNL Mafia Family’ (2018), and ‘999’ (2020). After releasing ‘YBNL’, his second studio album, he launched YBNL Nation,

Adesuwa Etomi Delves into Music Ferdinand Ekechukwu

n Nigeria, it is common knowledge that every great actress has at one point in their career delved into music. Talk about the likes of Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade, Tonto Dikeh and a couple of others who launched their music career after decades in Nollywood but how they fared is another matter altogether. TV Sweet-faced Adesua EtomiWellington, just like her colleagues, has launched her music career with the release of her first single, So Natural, under the stage name Susu, which she’s well known as. The song dropped 12pm yesterday. Taking to her social media pages last Thursday to announce the single release, the Nollywood actress who has performed

alongside her hubby, Banky W and as video vixen, shared a snippet from the music video. She wrote, “This is the year of ‘Do’. All the things I want to do, I’m doing this year. All the Territories I want to conquer, I will conquer this year. “Starting with this. Song and video out tomorrow at 12pm. Subscribe so you don’t miss the premiere,” she wrote. Adesua’s sonorous voice stuns on the Cobhams Asuquo produced track. She sings about the love she shares with her husband, noting that it not only comes natural but is also magical. Susu croons that what she shares with her husband is real and made for them. At the song’s bridge, she makes a surprising switch into reggae tempo. Susu stuns in the beach-themed music

video which followed with clips reminiscing Beyonce’s Naughty Girl. The colourful video featured the likes of Big Brother Naija’s Bisola Aiyeola and Jemima Osunde. Adesua’s music video was directed by her husband, Olubankole Wellington, who is the founder of record label turned talent management company, Empire Mates Entertainment. Banky W, as he is popularly known, is a prolific singer and songwriter who debuted at acting in 2016. He featured alongside Adesua as the lead actor in the blockbuster, The Wedding Party. Both couple is billed to headline the ‘Buckwyld n Breathless’ BAAD Experience concert this weekend for the valentine with an exhilarating love story delivered in hybrid musical/ concert style.

Adesuwa Etomi

his independent label imprint. This company produced talented musicians like Lil Kesh, Adekunle Gold, and Chinko Ekun. While a few have since left him in acrimony, most retain respect for him. In February of 2020, Olamide agreed to a partnership between his record label YBNL Nation and San Francisco based music company, Empire. The joint venture gives the multiple award-winning artiste and any his other artistes a global platform and access to Empire resources and expertise. Since he burst onto the Nigeria music scene with his monster hit single, “Eni Eduro,”…. Olamide never remained the same. The song received critical acclaim nationwide and instantly shot Olamide to limelight. At the time, he was signed to ID Cabasa’s record label, Coded Tunes alongside Seriki and Kayefi. Under the label, he released his first album, Rapsodi.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 12, 2022

SHOWBIZFLAIR MONALISA CHINDA

‘Philomena’ Aligns with My Foundation A sterling cast of Nollywood actors yesterday converged on one performance space for a production titled ‘Philomena’. The all-star theatrical phenomenon, which opened with command performances in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is scheduled till the 14th at the Atlantic Hall of the Hotel Presidential. The lead character, and co-executive producer, Monalisa Chinda tells Ferdinand Ekechukwu more about the production

ou have spent the last few years of acting carefully choosing the projects you get involved in, what drew you to this play? You are right about the choices I have made in the recent past about the productions I play in. One needs to constantly evaluate and re-evaluate not just professional vision but life as a whole, make decisions that help push the long term vision. I have a foundation that is focused on autism and other cognitive challenges as well as youth empowerment. That social work and youth development part of me drew me to the play ‘Philomena’. In the way, it speaks to society about the plights of the many unseen and unheard youth in our nation. What was the thing about the script/play that you are most excited about? I am particularly excited about the way the author Bimbo Manuel treated such a taboo matter as prostitution in a way that makes us laugh at ourselves while yet delivering heavy punches that make us pause to think. Tell us about your character I am playing the lead character, Philomena, in the play. Philomena is the young girl who became sexually active as a sixteen year old and got pregnant in the process. That early, unplanned and unwanted pregnancy changed

the course of her entire life, getting raped by those she should trust and becoming a prostitute just to keep head above water. Though she is a prostitute, she is proud and demands to be respected because no one has lived the life that brought her into her present position.

Tell us about the other characters and how their roles complement each other? The three dramatic characters complement one another richly in the way they reflect different colours of a segment of society, Area the highly educated frustrated teacher, drowning out his sorrows in drink, Wesley the journalist who was fired over the phone seeking to get back at society for what he considers the injustice of his sack and Philo who gives them all succor for money. They all have a lot in common, all in the same social class, yet different. The actors also complement each other, Tammy Abusi and I, Charles Inojie and Ejike Asiegbu, Don Kester and Francis Duru, each bringing a different dynamic and energy that others feed off. Does this play mirror some of the socio-economic issues you are passionate about, especially about women? How does it relate with your brand? Oh yes, in a number of ways. The Monalisa Chinda brand value drives the vision and mission of The Arise Monalisa Foundation

Monalisa Chinda

brand, giving back, development, supporting the helpless. Though, women issues are on the fringe of our core areas of interest at The Arise Monalisa Foundation. The issues of early pregnancy and how it can change the course of a young girl’s life ﬁts smugly into our empowerment agenda. On another level, I am personally interested also in the question of unemployment and underemployment as represented in the story by Area the underemployed teacher.

Personally, not many people know you are just more than a screen actor and talk show host, how much do you think this detracts from your stage acting pedigree? That’s a function of the power of the media, I suppose. A lot more attention has been focused on my works in ﬁlm and television and of course, the limitations of stage productions in terms of its comparative limited audience and the kind of media attention it commands has made it seem like some of us are alien to stage but I trained on stage, at the University of Port

Gospel Act, Folabi Nuel’s 5th Album is Complete Tosin Clegg

olabi Nuel has over the years served many life-changing songs and albums. He is best known for his singles “Yeshua” and “In my Boat” which ranked in the top 5 of the gospel music chart for weeks in Nigeria. Nuel is an exceptional songwriter/musician with four albums to his credit. He makes use of a fusion of rock and jazz to create an outstanding sound that draws people to the consciousness of who God is and His unfailing love. Speaking about his forthcoming ﬁfth album, he said: “My new project is perhaps one of the biggest projects I have ever done. It’s a live recording album called ‘Revival is in the air’ and it was recorded in September 2021 with over a thousand young people in attendance. It features a couple of amazing musicians such as Joe Mettle from Ghana, Sola Allyson among others. “I have always had a passion for recording live albums as you get to feel the energy of the audience and as the moment and sound

are being captured. This album is one that I look forward to sharing with the world. It’s a body of work that’s excellently created for a global audience. “In the past two years, we have had to adapt to a new way of life as a result of the COVID-19. A lot of people have lost hope, a lot of people are tired and in need of strength. Revival means a reawakening; that’s what this album is about. It shares the truth about the personality of God, how much he loves us and the strength we have in him.” With collaborations involving various artistes, both locally and internationally, this latest project is undoubtedly one that would be ﬁlled artistry of a unique kind. Nuel, co-founder of the creative community called Uplift NG is also the author of two devotionals - “In my Boat, a 14-day devotional and Hunger, a 5-day devotional” on the award winning bible app, “Youversion” with over 30,000 subscriptions. Nuel was isted by Voyage ATL Magazine Atlanta, United States as one of 10 inspiring creatives with diﬀerent nominations that have proven he is tested and assured.

Folabi Nuel

Harcourt, in fact most of us on the show. By the way, that was not by any deliberate design.

What is your personal acting trick that served you best over the years? Firstly, I research the story and the role, then I begin to disengage from myself to wear the garment of that character in the diﬀerent situations it is presented, like me playing the role of ‘Philomena’, the prostitute. I mean someone has got to play the devil (chuckles). One needs to do extra to interpret roles perfectly, from the vocals to the body, to brain stimuli (brain exercise). They are all very crucial. What do you want people to take away after seeing Philomena? I think ‘Philomena’ speaks to a cross section of society. We cannot continue to blame others for everything that happens to us. Some of it are entirely our doing or within us, to aﬀect the course of our own lives. There is hope, if only we make the decision to rise up and take charge of our own lives.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 12, 2022

PERSPECTIVE

Al-Makura

APC Chairmanship: Factors Counting for Al-Makura Sadiq Suleiman

fter the long wait, the All Progressives Congress (APC) finally fixed February 26, 2022 for its long-awaited elective convention. Every doubt was also finally laid to rest, recently, when the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to notify it of the convention date. Expectedly, all eyes are now trained on the jostlers for the position of the National Chairman of the party. Being the ruling party, this has continued to generate wide interest, not only among the party’s chieftains and faithful, but also among Nigerians in general. Both the print and electronic media have equally continued to serve reports, analyses, permutations, and the horsetrading on the chairmanship race hot on their menu, separating the contenders from the pretenders. If these reports and analyses are anything to go by, the former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura blazes the trail, as he appears to be in the good books of the critical interests and tendencies within the party. Among the major contenders, Al-Makura appears to be the only aspirant that enjoys the explicit endorsement and support of his state governor. He is also the only aspirant that has been endorsed by his state’s APC stakeholders and delegates. This was done in an elaborate ceremony in Nasarawa last month. It is recalled that he was also turbaned Sarduanan Gwandara by his people last year in an event attended by Governor Sule and all the who-is-who in Nasarawa State and beyond. The tradition is that for obvious reasons, most governors are not at ease having someone from their state at the helms of their party’s affairs. But while the open or cold wars between some chairmanship aspirants and their governors, have in some cases manifested in parallel congresses, the ward, local government, and state congresses in Nasarawa came without any

Al-Makura is experienced in party administration. He was the Youth Leader of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old Plateau State in the Second Republic. Decades later, the Senator served as the Secretary of the National Republican Convention in the Third Republic (NRC) in the old Plateau State from 1990 to 1992. But perhaps even more important is that he was among the founding fathers, who sat around the table to midwife the APC issues. Going by the common saying that charity begins at home or by the Latin saying, Nemo dat quod non habet (no one can give what they do not have), many believe that any aspirant, who promises to reign in the many crisis bedeviling the APC should ﬁrst showcase his home front as an example. Governor Abdullahi Sule’s endorsement and open campaign for Al-Makaura is also considered not only good for national optics, but also strategic in wooing other critical interests. In particular, it is a major ticket into the heart of the Progressives Governors Forum, which is a very major tendency in the emergence of new party leadership. It is considered that this, coupled with the fact that Al-Makura was once a member of the Forum, gives him a head start. Whereas some contenders from North Central where the party appear to be unoﬃcially headed to in search of a new National Chairman were once governors, they were governors under the PDP or before the formation of the APC and may not enjoy the same camaraderie as Al-Makura. With the esprit de corps, he is likely to enjoy more of their solidarity, seen as one of their own and easier to relate with. Another major tendency within the party are the National Assembly

members, who are also delegates to the convention. As a serving senator, he is already a member of this large constituency as one of them and will be in good position to manage the relationship between the party and its National Assembly constituency. Besides, the democratic and republican values imbued by the parliament would also naturally temper domineering propensities usually associated with the executive powers of a governor or president. While a governor’s word is a command, even as a presiding officer, is only a first among equals as decisions are reached through debate, dialogue, concession, and votes. It is also believed that he is more likely to command the votes of the youth, women, and people living with disability, who would see him as more disposed to them. It could be recalled that as governor in 2013, Al-Makura appointed the first female Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Nasawara, if not the entire North in the person of Hajia Zainab Abdulmumini. In yet another statement-making step in 2019, he appointed five women as commissioners in a 17-member cabinet in one fell swoop: Hajiya Halima Jabiru, Dr. Roseline Kera, Mary Enwongulu, Hajiya Jamila Sarki, and Hajiya Sa’adatu Yahaya. By antecedents, Al-Makura is known

to be well-disposed to people living with disabilities. In a recent interview he granted to THISDAY, the Senator said: “On a lighter mood, I am a person living with a disability. I have a hearing impairment and I believe the constituency of people living with disability will find in me someone that is part and parcel of them and someone that knows about how they feel, how they want things done and I believe I will attract a tremendous amount of confidence from them”. As governor, Al-Makura built the Comprehensive Special School, Lafia. Out of office, he was at the school in November 2021 to celebrate his birthday and donated equipment such as wheelchairs to the school. It is further recalled that in celebrating his 66th birthday with the children in 2018, AlMakura said he always loved to be with such category of people in order to build their confidence, hope, and inspire them to fulfill their dreams and great destinies, noting that if he could rise to become a governor, despite his challenges, they could even do more. His success in managing a highly multiethnic, multi-lingual, and multi-religious state like Nasarawa State for eight years is also seen as a plus for him managing the diversities and different tendencies of a national party like the APC with over 40 million registered members. Although the second least populous state going by the projected populations published by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics in 2016, what Nasarawa lacks in landmass and population, it has in abundance in diversity. The state consists of many ethnic groups like Aguta, Alago, Basa, Ebira, Eggon, Gbagyi, Gwandara, Megili, Fulani, Hausa, Kanuri and Tiv, Eloyi, Nungu, among other, although there are at least 29 languages, including Agatu, Basa, Eggon, Gbagyi, Gade, Goemai, Gwandara, Ham, Kofyar, Lijili, etc. These are apart from Nigerians from every ethnic group such as the Igbo and Yoruba living and plying their trades in the State. For this reason, Nasarawa is often described as a mini Nigeria. Al-Makura’s management of his succession as governor is considered by many as the icing on the cake of his diversity management capacity, as he showed that the state belongs to all, including the ethnic minorities. He equally showcased his adept skills in conflict resolution as the chairman of the panel that reconciled members of the party in the North East. He is reputed to have handled the assignment so well that the panel was able to traverse the states, identifying all areas of conflicts arising from the last primary elections, identifying aggrieved groups and persons, and proffer political solutions acceptable by most members and leaders in the affected states. The Al-Makura panel was able to restore confidence and renew commitment and trust among party members and groups by assuaging their feelings. He was equally chaired the governorship primary election in Ekiti State in 2018. The primary, which eventually produced Governor Kayode Fayemi as APC’s standard bearer, was rated as one of the party’s best. Such feats have been attributed to his sense of justice and non-aligned nature whereby he hardly panders strongly to any tendencies within the party. More like President Muhammadu Buhari, who in his inaugural speech, said he was for everybody and was for nobody. Furthermore, Al-Makura is believed to be experienced in party administration. He was the Youth Leader of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old Plateau State in the Second Republic. Decades later, the Senator served as the Secretary of the National Republican Convention in the Third Republic (NRC) in the old Plateau State from 1990 to 1992. But perhaps even more important is that he was among the founding fathers, who sat around the table to midwife the APC. Besides the fact that as the only governor elected on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) founded by Buhari, and therefore the party’s sole ticket to the merger, he was said to have played a major role in the negotiations that culminated in the merger. Read full Article on - www.thisdaylive.com

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2022 •T H I S D AY WWW.ARISEPLAY.COM

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SATURDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2022 • T H I S D AY

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2022 •T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2022

POLITY Ekiti APC Primaries: The Myths, the Law, the Realities Kabir Akingbolu

n every society, there must be a leader or leaders. These leaders are the controller of men and their affairs, as well as the managers of state resources. At times, some are born as leaders, some have leadership thrust upon them by nature or sometimes fight to reach a level that everybody believes in no other persons but them as leaders. However, in modern societies, leadership came about as a result of a kind of conscious and deliberate acceptance of certain people as leaders. This deliberate acceptance is usually expressed in democratic way, that is, through periodic voting in elections. That being the case, it goes without saying that for someone or anybody to be a leader in any society, he cannot impose himself on the people except he presents himself to the people to be elected, and this election comes in stages because of the variegated interests of the people or players on the democratic or electoral field. In recognition of the foregoing, the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) has put in place certain procedures to be followed in governorship election; and these procedures include the conduct of primaries before the real election, which for the purpose of this discourse, is governorship election in Ekiti State on 27th January,2022. For the purpose of clarity and elucidation, Section 87(i) of the Electoral Act provides that, “a political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions”. In the same vein, paragraph 14 of the All Progressives Congress (APC) guidelines for the conduct of primary election for candidates for the Ekiti State Governorship Election 2022 made adequate provisions for the purpose of assured transparency. A dispassionate consideration of the above provision of the law and the guidelines would reveal that holding of primaries is sine qua non to holding of a governorship election in any State. That being the case, and in religious obedience to the provisions of the law and the APC guidelines, the APC National Working Committee, put in place the guidelines for the conduct of the Ekiti State primary election slated for 27th January, 2022. As expected, the Seven Member Election Committee put in place by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC began work in earnest by setting up the various organs or bodies that are recognized by the guidelines toward holding a hitch free primary election in the State. A day to the day slated for the primaries, certain concerns were raised by the contestants, in persons of my noble Prince, Chief Dayo Adeyeye, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, Kajode Ojo, Demola Popoola, Femi Bamisile, Bamidele Faparusi and Afolabi Oluwasola. Chief amongst these concerns was that certain officers of the Party were selected to participate in the conduct of the primaries and as it were, they could compromise the process. To clear their doubts and ensure a peaceful primary election, the Election Committee, hearkened to their yearnings by requesting each of them to select or appoint at least Twenty (20) persons of unquestionable integrity, in their own judgement, to act as Electoral Officers, who would represent their interest in the election, and they did. With this deliberate choice of representative, one would expect that all was well, but alas! Few hours to the election, they all pulled out of the contest, citing compromise, predetermination of winners, lack of trust in the process, and all sorts of pedestrian reasons. They did not stop there, they marched to the Party Secretariat in the State and made it known to the whole world that they were not parties to the election primaries. The questions to ask are many, and part of them are: were they right to pull out of the process? Was cutting off the head the solution to headache? Are they not bound by their earlier resolve to abide by their rules during the stakeholders meeting held on 26th July, 2022 before the election where they chose their own representatives? Having pulled out of the race, do they have cause of action thereafter? All these Posers are the deluge of questions at the flood gate of my mind. According to Professor Dias of Cambridge University, “originality of thought is ensured by a breath of view, a sense of perceptive and sympathetic appreciation of what people have said and are still saying”. What have the people said in respect of this type of situation where people abandon their rights and obligations for sheer public outcry, self-pity or sheer deliberate attempt to attract sympathy? To answer this poser, I will draw strength and wisdom from the statement of jurists which, of course, are derived from judicial pronouncements. In the case of Thomas V. Olufosoye (1986) 1 NWLR (pt.18) 669, the court, even though it agreed with the plaintiffs that they were communicants of the Anglican Church, it declared that they were meddlesome interlopers (busy bodies) who had no right to challenge the appointment made by the church. Based on the foregoing, since some actually backed out of the primary election conducted by the APC in Ekiti State on 27th January, 2022, can they challenge the outcome of such exercise in a Court of Law? With profound respect and sublime humility, they have no right to challenge the outcome of the Governorship primary election in question because they lacked what is called, locus standi, that is, the right to sue, in law. Although, Mr. Bamidele boasted to high heaven that there will be legal Tsunami; I laughed at such dramatic outburst borne out of sheer emotion and sentiments. Unfortunately, emotions and sentiments, however well scripted, has no place in judicial proceedings. See the dictum of Dongban Mensem in Agballah V. Nnamani (2005) ALL FWLR (pt. 245) 1052 at 1078 – 1079, where his Lordship declared that “a Court of Law is not a father Christmas, neither is it a charitable house where decisions are based on sympathy and compassion”. Similarly, in Osadebey V. AG. Bendel State (1991) NWLR (pt.

169) 525 at 563, the Supreme Court held that “if sympathy is to dominate our judicial task, we will falter and be unable to discharge our paramount duty of preserving the rule of law”. Strictly speaking, and without being, immodest, the outburst of emotions by these aspirants that never be, may, no doubt, have its admirers but those can only come from the market place and their disappointed supporters across the State and no more. I boldly say this because as players in Political field, they should know that contest for political offices have two end results, viz: winning and losing. Therefore, since losing is an integral part of the game, it would have been better if they lose honourably than chicken out of the contest midway and leave their supporters at cross roads. Although, some people believe that part of their grouse was the alleged endorsement of Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, whatever that means, it is submitted that even if it were so, almost all of them have benefitted one way or the other from such endorsements by the same Governor Fayemi even in more conspicuous occasions in the past. Therefore, what is the need for the unnecessary fuss? Back to the basics, in recent time, our Superior Courts have had occasions to pronounce on similar scenario and their conclusions have been so consistent and constant that it has now snowballed or crystallized to a legal concept that is as strong as the rock of Gibraltar and thus, remains the law. In Isah V. INEC (2016) 18 NWLR (Pt.1544) 175 at 226, the Court declared as follows; “the rule on locus standi developed to protect the courts from being used as a playground by professional litigants and meddlesome interlopers who have no real interest in the subject matter of the litigation. Applying the above to the facts of the case, the Appellant has been unable to show how his civil rights and obligations have been or are in danger of being infringed in an election in which he did not participate. It becomes clear that he has no interest in the gubernatorial elections held on 31/12/11 for Kogi State”. In essence, going by these arrays of judicial pronouncements, it is very clear that only those who participated in a primary election can sue or challenge the outcome of same in a Court of Law. In other words, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Chief Dayo Adeyeye, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, Kajode Ojo, Demola Popoola, Femi Bamisile, Bamidele Faparusi and Afolabi Oluwasola, who all failed to participate in the primary election held in Ekiti State on 27th January, 2022, cannot challenge the result of the election or any perceived wrongs complained of in any Court of Law. See the case of Alhassan V. Ishaku (2017) ALL FWLR (pt. 866) 209 at 274-275, where Rhodes Vivour JSC, had this to say; “after examination of decided authorities, it is so clear that Party primaries are the domestic affairs of the political Party which no outsider can complain about. Only aspirants at the primaries can complain about the conduct of Party primaries”. While contributing to the judgement in Alhassan V. Ishaku (Supra), Odili JSC, declared that “it is only a candidate/aspirant at the primaries of a Party that has the locus standi to complain about the conduct of such primaries and so, the grouse of the appellants have nothing to stand on as they are clearly inter lopers in regard to how the 1st respondent emerged as candidate and also how, where and when the 2nd respondent produced its candidate. Therefore, no matter how loudly the appellants shout on the irregularity, impropriety of the primaries of the 1st and 2nd respondents, the noise will remain unheard and unattended to coming from those whose voices ought not to be heard in the internal matters of another. See also, Daniel V. INEC (2015) ALL FWLR (pt. 1463) 113 at 155-157, Tarzoor V. Ortom (2016) All FWLR (P +865) 1 at 22-25 and Kolawole V. Folusho (2009) NWLR ( pt. 1143) 338 at 399”. To cap it up, Section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, put a hard seal on the fate of these never be aspirants when it provides that; “notwithstanding the provisions of this Acts or Rules of a political party, an aspirant who complains that any of the provisions of the Act and the guidelines of a political party has not been complied with in the selection or nomination of a candidate of a political party for election, may apply to the Federal High Court or The High Court of a State or FCT for redress”. Taking a cue from the above, it is very clear that for these aspirants that never be to challenge the outcome of the primaries, they ought to have participated. In a nutshell, It is submitted that having failed to participate in the election, they have shot themselves on the legs and barred legally from contesting or challenging the primary election so held. And in the unlikely event that they do, their case or cases are dead on arrival as they have no right to present a case to challenge the election in which they did not participate. They are meddlesome interlopers for all

Riding on the shoulder of the above provision of the law, it is not only clear but save to conclude that if any suit is ﬁled,it will be nothing more than a mere barren, otiose, kite ﬂying and sheer distraction. Again,the open withdrawal by them constitutes an admission against interest which, in law, is the strongest evidence against someone when issues concern him

Oyebanji intent and purposes. It may be argued though, that certain votes were recorded, received or credited to them and as a result of this, the obvious conclusion will be that they participated in the primary election. To this puerile contention, it is humbly submitted, that good attempt it seems though, it is a wingless bird that cannot fly however hard it tries. The reason for this is that since the seven of them did not only say they were not party to the primaries but also protested and granted interviews telling the whole world that they were not party or partakers in the primary election. That being the case, the only obvious conclusion to any reasonable man is that the votes credited to them must have come from some of their supporters who did not receive notice of their last minute withdrawal from the race. The question to ask therefore, is; what are the implications of the votes credited to them? The answer, it is submitted, is that such votes are wasted voted. This is because nobody or authority can forcefully give to a person what he has rejected openly. And since no one can foist votes on unwilling aspirants, any votes purportedly cast for them are wasted and invalid votes. Put differently, their open withdrawal from the race constitutes a binding notice to the whole world that they were not aspirants at the said election and nothing can change that because their open assertion constitutes an estoppel which principle, in law, forbids them from resiling from their position which they communicated to the whole world. For proper appreciation of this principle, section 169 of the Evidence Act, 2011 provides; “where one person has either by virtue of an existing court judgment,deed or agreement,or by his Declaration, Act or Omission intentionally caused or permitted another person to believe a thing to be true and to act upon such belief, neither he nor his representative in interest shall be allowed, in any proceedings between himself and such person or such person’s representative in interest,to deny the truth of that thing”. Riding on the shoulder of the above provision of the law, it is not only clear but save to conclude that if any suit is filed,it will be nothing more than a mere barren, otiose, kite flying and sheer distraction. Again,the open withdrawal by them constitutes an admission against interest which, in law, is the strongest evidence against someone when issues concern him.. See the case of Seismograph v. Eyuafe (1976) 9-10 S.C. 135. In other words,it is highly impossible for them to now turn around 360 degree and claim they participated in the primary election so as to willy-nilly, cloth themselves with the requisite locus standi to be able to challenge the outcome of the primary election which said they wont participate. On the whole, viewed from any reasonable angle, it is not in doubt by any shred of imagination that for these seven wise men, it is head they lose,tail they lose,because whatever happens, call rose by whatever name,it will still smell sweet as bitter leaf will forever retain its bitter tastes whether it is cooked or squeezed. In essence, from whatever angle any case for them is couched or framed, it will end in shambles. t "LJOHCPMV B $POTUJUVUJPOBM -BXZFS XSJUFT GSPN -BHPT

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2022

POLITY

Nigeria Leading Development in Sustainable Energy To achieve universal access to electricity and clean cooking by 2030, countries need an integrated approach to energy access that takes full advantage of all available energy solutions. Recently, the federal government launched the Nigeria Integrated Energy Planning Tool in collaboration with Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). With support from the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and funding from The Rockefeller Foundation, this tool makes use of geospatial data and modeling to provide a low-cost, dynamic, and data-driven way of identifying the mix of technologies and spending required for achieving universal energy access by 2030. Sunday Ehigiator reports

L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; CEO/Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General for SEforAll, Damilola Ogunbiyi; Minister for Power, Abubakar Aliyu; United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Mrs. Amina Muhammed and President, Rockefeller Foundation, Dr. Rajiv Shah; all participants at the launch of the Nigeria Integrated Energy Planning Tool…recently.

he recently launched Nigeria Integrated Energy Planning Tool (IEP) on February 3rd, 2022 is an exemplar of a world-class IEP that includes electrification, clean cooking, and productive use. The tool identifies the least-cost mix of solutions to meet demand for a variety of energy services. In addition, the plan also models a variety of scenarios to deliver these solutions. The tool, which was launched by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo alongside global leaders in the energy sector, is the first wholly integrated energy planner for Nigeria. While traditional energy plans focus primarily on electrification, the Nigeria IEP includes electrification, clean cooking, and productive uses for the entire country. The Nigeria IEP was developed by the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with SEforALL, with support from the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and funding from The Rockefeller Foundation. Through this online geospatial visualization platform, energy access data, analysis, and results are publicly available, benefitting a broad range of users, including the public and private sectors. Osinbajo at the global launch of the Energy Planning Tool, which was held virtually, noted that sustainable energy access was crucial for the country’s development. He said, “Establishing clean, sustainable, and reliable energy access is intertwined with so many of Nigeria’s development goals. We have proven that transforming our energy system is a national priority through our Economic Sustainability Plan, and most recently, with our announcement at COP26 in Glasgow to achieve net zero emissions by 2060. Osinbajo noted that the Tool would be essential for government to achieve its universal access and clean cooking targets and he committed that all arms of government would promote and use it broadly. He also urged the international community to support Nigeria’s transition efforts with more realistic climate finance support. Enumerating the benefits of this initiative to Nigeria, experts estimates that the least-cost plan for providing universal electrification through grid, mini-grid and solar home systems would amount to USD 25.8 billion. And for Nigeria to achieve universal access by 2030, the tool estimates that 19.3 million additional connections would be required across the country. This is exclusive of the expected 11.3 million additional connections in places that already have access to electricity due to population growth. According to research pulled from the IEP platform,

a mini-grid represents the least-cost technology for the bulk of these connections (8.9 million connections), with grid (5.4 million) and solar home system (5.0 million) sharing a similar number of connections between them. When productive use demand from agricultural activities is also included in the analysis, such as maize and rice milling activities, this increases the number of mini-grid least cost communities by around 200,000, it stated. Though it is capital intensive as the total cost to deliver these connections is estimated to be $22.9 billion, of which $20 billion needs to be invested as up-front capital, given the main technologies being used (i.e., solar) do not consume any fuel and therefore have limited operating cost. It is estimated that around 53% of households in mini-grid settlements and 92% of households in solar home system settlements would require public support to afford the total cost of ownership of the electrification solution. Another aspect of energy sustainability being pursued by Nigeria with the tool is the potential for clean cooking solutions which is 3.7 million for LPG, 3.5 million for e-cooking, and 4.3 million for biogas. The Nigeria IEP estimates that under a business-asusual scenario, the country would have over 40 million households cooking with emissions intensive and polluting cooking methods by 2030. To address this, there is an overall opportunity to expand clean cooking solutions to 3.7 million households with LPG cooking solutions; 3.5 million households with e-cooking solutions; or 4.3 million households with biogas cooking solutions. The overall cost of implementing these solutions would be $478 million for LPG, $83 million for e-cooking, and $847 million for biogas. The cost of rolling out these technologies is split between stoves, accessories, and the infrastructure required to deliver fuel or electricity. On its impact and based on the technology that has gone into the tool, it will be vital for the private sector as it will help solution providers identify promising markets and provide useful market intelligence as they roll-out electrification and clean cooking. Another highpoint of the tool is its ability to identify risks associated with technology choice and strategies to promote productive-use demand to unlock economic viability of mini-grids. Speaking further at the launch about the tool and the determination of the administration to transform the energy sector in Nigeria, Osinbajo said President Mu-

hammadu Buhari is still committed to lifting 100 million people out of poverty and driving economic growth. The government is also keen on managing long-term job losses in the oil sector that will result from global decarbonization, calling on the international community to support Nigeria’s energy access and energy transition efforts through much-needed climate finance commitments, he noted. According to Nigeria’s vice president, the tool promotes a holistic approach to achieving SDG7 and energy development while also supporting local manufacturing, expanding local solar technology value chains, and potentially creating 250,000 new jobs in Nigeria’s energy sector. Also speaking at the event, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed commended the federal government for its bold vision in closing its energy access gaps and for its ambitious Energy Transition Plan that outlines a pathway to net zero by 2060. She said, “Without prioritising universal energy access, including clean cooking, we will not achieve our global net zero targets. Energy is also critical to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including improved healthcare, better jobs and livelihoods, and greater gender equality.” Also in her remarks, the CEO and Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), Damilola Ogunbiyi, said: “Nigeria is leading the charge with their ambitious commitment to achieve net zero by 2060.” SEforALL helmswoman noted, “I believe access to accurate and transparent data is critical to decisionmaking. I hope this demonstrates to other countries an invaluable tool for achieving their own energy access goals.” Ogunbiyi came on a four-day trip in Nigeria for highlevel meetings to harness the potential of the Nigeria IEP in the implementation of Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan. On his part, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, said as the world strives to turn the commitments from COP26 into action, the Foundation was proud to partner with Nigeria and SEforALL to help communities connect and transition to quality renewable energy. “The Nigeria Integrated Energy Planning Tool is transformative in its approach to integrated electrification. Not only will it advance our efforts to empower millions of people in Nigeria, it will also provide a model for clean electrification programs, showing the world how to change energy for good,” said Dr Shah.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2022

POLITY

Funding of Bua Cement: Emefiele’s Passion for Economy Bennett Oghifo

he Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele has led the apex bank to frontiers beyond monetary economics in a bid to save a fragile economy. His interventions are a turnip for the books as far as Nigeria’s economic development is concerned. He looks set to write his name in the development annals of the

economy. Hiss presence at the commissioning of BUA Group’s three million metric tonnes (3MMT) per annum Cement Line 4 Factory in Sokoto was not an accident neither was he there as a mere guest. Emefiele’s presence was necessitated by the financing role of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to get the project off the ground with the objective of achieving self-sufficiency for the country in cement production. That event in Sokoto speaks directly to Emefiele’s passion and philosophy for the economy. It is the reason his CBN has gone far beyond the normal call of Central Banks, which is price stability to also include that of fortifying strategic sectors of the economy from agriculture to power, healthcare and SMEs among others. “With our various development finance support for the real sector and administrative measures to deal with excess liquidity, recovery of the Nigerian economy is strengthening,” he said, just as the economy exited the last recession. If anything, this establishes his understanding of the need for monetary policy and fiscal policy to be in sync for any meaningful growth to the economy. The trajectory of the economy since the headwinds occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic vindicates his position as the economy has since vaulted from a trough of - 3.62 percent in Q3 2020 to 0.11 per cent in the three months between October and December from a year earlier. At the time, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said of the growth, that it reflected the gradual return of economic activities following the easing of restricted movements and limited local and international commercial activities in the preceding quarters. The economy has since grown to 4.03 per cent as of Q3 2021. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have estimated the economy to grow more than 2 per cent in 2022. This is as local analysts Augusto and Co. sees the economy growing over 4 per cent. Since his appointment as governor of the CBN on June 3rd, 2014, Emefiele has steered monetary policy towards stability in exchange rate and interest rate (as seen in the Monetary

Emeﬁele Policy Rate MPR). Although the Naira has weakened in the period, it reflects the real value of the currency in the face of economic realities. Allowing the Naira to find its real value has the potential to encourage exports, which will ultimately help the Naira to appreciate. To that end, the CBN has done everything to protect it from speculators including stopping Bureau De Change (BDC) operators from participating in the forex market because of the leakages they cause in the system that allows the Naira to make progressive losses; the naira has thus stayed at just over N400 to the dollar, give or take. “We are concerned that BDCs have allowed themselves to be used for graft,” Emefiele was quoted as saying. His concern as a patriot is that the BDCs circumvent the system by channeling forex to the black market than use the official Investors and Exporters (I&E) window, otherwise known as Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Rate Fixing, NAFEX. Exchange rate management and setting an appropriate interest rate through the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) by the CBN, has helped the economy achieve price stability over the years. Price stability has the effect of bolstering confidence in the economy by foreign and local investors. This is in keeping with

the CBN exchange rate policy objective to preserve the value of the domestic currency, maintain a favourable external reserves position and ensure external balance without compromising the need for internal balance and the overall goal of macroeconomic stability. An indicator that has consistently shown that the economy is on the right growth trajectory as a result of the CBN intervention is the December Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), which has a reading of 52. According to Investopedia, “the PMI is a number from 0 to 100. A PMI above 50 represents an expansion when compared with the previous month. A PMI reading under 50 represents a contraction, and a reading at 50 indicates no change. The further away from 50 the greater the level of change”. What this means is that the Nigerian economy is set to expand further. But Emefiele has gone beyond creating an enabling macroeconomic environment to actually empowering players in the economy to contribute to the planned economic expansion by dolling out financial support to industry players. Perhaps the biggest impact of Emefiele’s genius is felt in the Agric sector where the CBN has intervened by way of funding and materials. An easy reference is the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) which has benefited over 4 million farmers from across the country to the tune of almost a trillion naira. This agricultural loan scheme launched in 2015, was designed to boost agricultural yields, halt large volumes of food importation and address negative trade balance. The fund disbursed under the ABP, according to the CBN is to over 4.5 million smallholder farmers, who are cultivating 21 commodities across the country. Part of the fallout is the recent Rice Pyramid that towered off the ground in Abuja this January to the applause of the public with Mr. President in attendance. A novelty in the programme is that “all excess output aggregated from the financed farmers will be released to the Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX) to help moderate the prices of food in the market”. This is especially expedient in a period that there is a global food inflation, of which Nigeria is not spared. Beyond agriculture, the Bank’s intervention programmes are focused on boosting productivity in manufacturing/industries, energy/infrastructure, healthcare, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

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PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Sales Manager West, ISN Medical, Mr. Victor Ngene; General Manager, Diabetes Care, ISN Medical, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Chioke; Managing Director, Pipette Nigeria/winner of 2o21 ISN Medical Hyundia car, Mr. Chinwuba Ezennie; his wife, Amaka; and Managing Director, ISN Ltd., Mr. Felix Ofungwu,at the ISN Medical 2021 customers’ forum in Lagos… yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Director, Central Africa, Ariston Group, Richmond Aguiar; a Staﬀ of La Roche Equipment Nigeria Limited, Johnny Saba; Marketing Manager, Central Africa, Ariston Group, Habeeb Somoye; a Staﬀ of Alancaray Technical Limited, Prasad Kunder; and Sales Manager-Central Africa, Ariston Group, Solomon Umoh, during the launch of a regional partnership between Ariston and Juventus FC in Lagos... yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Member, Coalition of Concerned Groups, Okapanachi Jacob; Convener, Femi Osabinu; Convener, L-R: Head, Client Coverage Nigeria, Olu Delano; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Demola Shogunle; and United Northern Youth Forum, Mohammed Salihu; and National Coordinator North, Ibrahim Rabiu Chief Finance Officer, Lagos Free Zone, Ashish Khemka, during the formal opening of Stanbic IBTC Bank at during a press conference on power shift to the South and need for a younger presidential candi- Lagos Free Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos... recently date to emerge in 2023. held in Abuja...recently

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 12, 2022

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

English: St. Val’s Language

OU are welcome to the 2022 pre-Valentine’s Day edition of this column: did you know that English is the most romantic language of love? A sage once said there was no romance without finance—this is sweet and pleasant to my ears! Do you agree with that declaration? Is it also true that there cannot be ‘genuine love’ without money? Let us converse. Now, back to business: “Bill to increase minimum educational qualification for president, lawmakers scale (scales) first hurdle” “Importers raise alarm (the alarm) over private jetties operating illegally as container terminals” (Maritime, February 2) “Rivers communities threaten to shutdown (shut down) NLNG Train 7 project (sic)” “Residents, monarch hail Uzodinma’s flood control (flood-control) project at Amaraku” “…as you can easily settle your children’s school fees (children’s tuition, preferably) and pay back (and repay) over a 36 month (36-month) period.” (First Bank advertisement in major national newspapers, February 2, 2022) National News of February 2 falsified the English language on four occasions: “Ad, media stakeholders partners on value addition” Brands and marketing partner “Winners emerge in LG win a trip to Dubai promo” Life is Good: LG’s win-a-trip-to-Dubai promo “His depth and finesse as a professional stands (stand) him out amongst equal….” Current trend: among equal…. “Fire guts ATM machine, office equipment at MMA2” (sic) It is mandatory to drop ‘machine’ from that headline! “Communities benefit from World Bank assisted dev project” Voice of The Nation: World Bank-assisted dev (dev.) project

“All strategic decisions in the All Progressives Congress under the tepid and visionless presidency of Muhammadu Buhari are taken by a caucus of mediocres.” (The Moment, February 8) Get it right by using any of these: mediocrities, mediocrists or the mediocrity. ‘Mediocre’ is exclusively an adjective. “Ex-head of states, who have cracked and liquidated the nation’s coffers, are to be paid N2.1 billion this year.” (Daily Trust, February 8) Building a new nation: Ex-heads of state “Vocational equipments, basic infrastructures and qualified personnels must be given priority in our scheme of things.” (Blueprint, February 7) Uncountable words: equipment and personnel. “The news of the death of…via a ghastly motor accident recently came as a rude shock to us.” (The Pilot, February 8) Advert condolence: fatal (not ghastly) motor accident. Beyond the correction, since the man died, there was no need for the inclusion of the mode of mishap. Simply: a motor accident. Got the point? “But suffice it to say that those rooting to unseat a recalcitrant lawmaker should be abreast with (of) the legal bottlenecks rather than arm-twisting.” (DAILY CHAMPION ONLINE, February 8) “Even there is a lacunae in the recall clause.” (Source: as above) Singular: lacuna; plural: lacunae or lacunas. “It is very easy for a moneybag (moneybags) who has….” (Leadership, February 9) “…our eating and living habits can predispose our systems for (to) such diseases as....” (Nigerian Tribune, February 8) “2 vigilante men roasted” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, February 8) First: 2 vigilance men; second: the men were burnt, not roasted! Have we lost the human dignity? “…that is a prerequisite for development in (on) the African continent.” (THISDAY, February 8)

DAILY INDEPENDENT of February 8 disseminated the next three errors: “UN abandons troubled spots in Africa” Get it right: trouble spots. “This is tragic and a degradation of human specie (species).” “Staff of the Federal Ministry of Education and its agencies in Lagos has (have) been told they have till next weekend to present their papers.” “As he spoke to the admiration of the labour leaders and journalists at (on) the occasion….” (THE GUARDIAN, February 8) “The stories, in the opinion of the trial judge, was (why these recurring discords?) considered embarrassing to the government.” (Vanguard, February 8) “Journalism schools should include courses on shedding crocodile tears to (in) their curricula.” (The PUNCH, February 8) “The police has an image problem, too.” Bound to correction: The police have…. “I have persistently advocated, without much success, the need to align policymaking to (with) crime control….” “But if the House Ethics Committee fails to sanitise (sanitize, according to latest lexicography) affairs, then we would be setting a dangerous precedence contrary to the Buhari and Enwerem example.” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, February 8) Not yet: a dangerous precedent. “Additionally, signals suggest that a lot of work still need (needs) to be done to get us on the democratic superhighway.” (THE GUARDIAN, February 8) “The purchasing power in the hands of consumers have (has) been going down; it means that effective demand for goods and services are (is) reducing.” “Houses, furnitures and domestic helps are not provided for as government regulation, as we do here.” No question about this: ‘furniture’ is uncountable.

Perceptions 2022: Tambuwal, Kwankwaso

ith a little over a year to the next general elections in Nigeria, the temperature of partisan politics has warmed up a bit, with all sorts of postulations and suppositions about the character, temperament and qualities of the individuals who fancy themselves as a possible replacement for the incumbent president, former army general, Muhammadu Buhari. We continue with the fifth installment in our perceptual explorations of selected individuals from the motley chorus of probable aspirants. AMINU TAMBUWAL, 56 The 10th Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, and incumbent governor of Sokoto State has etched a colourful imprint on the political landscape of the fourth republic, even in his favourite monotonic apparels. The young lawyer (called to the bar in 1992, a year after leaving Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto) dived into Nigerian politics at the lowest rung; he was a personal assistant on Legislative Affairs to the then Senate Leader, Abdullahi Wali, in 1999. Subsequently, he started trudging up the ladder methodically: in June 2003, he entered the House of Representatives under the banner of the ANPP, and served briefly as the Minority Leader (2005). For the 2007 elections, he switched to the Democratic People’s Party, DPP, alongside former governor, Attahiru Bafarawa when ANPP became too hot to perch on. However, when DPP denied the Bafarawa entourage of legislators opportunity to contest the election on her platform, Tambuwal returned to the ANPP, and retrieved his candidacy. Then again, ticked by the fickle nature of Nigerian politics, he had to travel on someone else’s coattails when his governor, ANPP’s Aliyu Wamakko shifted to PDP - all, before the 2007 elections. Fortunately, both political ‘brothers’ were returned to their seats. Tambuwal also rose to occupy the position of the Deputy Chief Whip during his second four years in the House. By 2011, Tambuwal not only returned as a

ranking member of the House of Representatives, he was elected as the tenth speaker, and one of the longest running holders of that often turbulent office (June, 2011 - June, 2015). He succeeded Dimeji Bankole. Tambuwal jumped alongside the aggrieved rump of the PDP chieftains to co-found the APC in 2014.. On the strength and diversity of that nascent political party, Tambuwal succeeded Wamakko as the governor of Sokoto State. Many pundits ascribed his success in upending the power-grip of PDP in the Northwest to the Buhari heatwave and frenzy that whip-lashed through most of the northern parts of Nigeria in 2015. But by August, 2018, Tambuwal had had enough of APC and its shifting dynamics. He strolled back to PDP. Yet, like a Phoenix, shrugging off the backlash of the waning Buhari phenomenon, Tambuwal soared to regain the governor’s seat as a PDP man in the 2019 elections, though in a very close race. He barely beat his APC opponent, Ahmad Aliyu (backed by Tambuwal former godfather, Wamakko) by less than 400 votes - 512,002 to Aliyu’s 511,660 votes! A man of graduated ambition, he was one of the top five contestants in the 2019 PDP presidential primaries (alongside Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Bukola Saraki, etc); he came a distant second to Atiku Abubakar. Tambuwal has worked hard to nurture a clean image in a pool infested with shady and disreputable characters. His success in the 2023 race, within the PDP, will be dependent on several factors, including the ethno-geopolitical dimensions of APC flag-bearer, stemming agitations within the ranks of the most marginalized voting blocs within that party, and the multifarious tendencies primed to short circuit individual and regional ambitions across both major parties. And of course, the little matter of his stewardship in Sokoto, and its concomitant baggage. The best advice for Umaru Tambuwal: Goodluck on the tortuous road to 2023. RABIU KWANKWASO, 65 A Fulani prince from Madobi whose forays into politics predates the fourth republic. He was first

elected into the House of Representatives as a member of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, during the ill-fated political transition rigmarole of the Babangida administration - after he resigned from the civil service as a water engineer in 1992. But his first political romance was with the People’s Front group (and subsequently People’s Democratic Movement, PDM) led by former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. He was an active member from 1989 till 1993, when the so-called third republic collapsed. He represented the people of Madobi Federal Constituency in 1992 House, where he later became a deputy speaker. He jumped from IBB’s SDP contraption, to one of the infamous “fiveleprous-hands” Sanni Abacha parties, Democratic Party of Nigeria, DPN. A political tactician imbued with chameleonic agility to leverage on prevailing political trends and movements, for his ultimate advantage. Kwankwaso joined PDP in 1998, and contested its Kano gubernatorial primaries, alongside current governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who lost out, but became Kwankwaso’s running mate. They handily won the 1999 election. For the grave sin of empathising with Obasanjo, against his rambunctious vice president, Abubakar, Kwankwaso incurred the wrath of some Kano power brokers, and he lost the return ticket in the 2003 elections to Ibrahim Shekarau. Eight years later, the wily political chameleon wriggled his way back to the hearts of the power brokers, and returned to the governor’s office in 2011, of course, with his dependable deputy, Ganduje, beside him. Even while out of state power for about eight years, he was not exactly in a political desert. Obasanjo, in a thank-you gesture, appointed him as the first minister of defence without a military background in the fourth republic (between 2003 and 2007). His attempt to contest the governorship election in 2007 turned up sour grapes all across the Kano plains. A government white paper, from recommendations of a panel of inquiry, was briskly approved by his successor, Shekarau,

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“The executive cannot acquiesce to a patently wrong situation in demur in a similar situation.” (Leadership, February 8) The legislature we deserve: acquiesce in (not to). “It was later gathered that the mayhem was as a result of conflict (a conflict or conflicts) between two cult groups.” (THISDAY, February 8) My own preference: delete ‘two’ to avoid headaches (even as it is acceptable to some people and curious reference materials). “A general strike began on June 1, 1964 (another comma) which did not only shutdown the entire country but also led to violent protests and anarchy.” (The PUNCH, February 8) This way, again: shut down. “Punishments should also be similar to what they meted out on (to) the innocent noncult students.” (THE GUARDIAN, February 8) Henceforth, I will try as hard as possible to be diagnostic in error identification (and correction). I do not want to be dismissed as a surgeon who cures ailments without knowing their names by the Managing Director of The Guardian Newspapers and profound language activist who shares ‘grammatical cousinship’ with me, Mr. Martins Oloja. By the way, one of my professorial friends pointed out last week that, indeed, some nouns (accountancy profession/highway patrol, etc.) can double as adjectives contrary to my inadvertent assertion last week! Again, there is no infallibility or perfection in information management—we keep striving after excellence without, however, falling below universally acceptable level of communicative quintessence which informs this column. The only challenge I have is that such didactic comprehensiveness may make this column boring to numerous readers—and even the columnist! It is not for lack of classical scholarship, but a function of style.

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

which nailed Kwankwaso on many counts, and promptly shut down any hope of a glorious return. He was later compensated with an appointment as Special Envoy to Somalia and Darfur by Obasanjo. After his second term as Kano governor in 2015, he turned over his massive statewide apparatus to the APC, as he joined the PDP renegades that co-founded the “change” party. He successfully installed his longtime friend and deputy as Kano governor, and he moved to the senate, representing the Kano Central senatorial district. All that was after he had attempted to wrest the presidential flag from the eventual winner, Buhari, in the APC primaries of 2015. He came a distant second to the Daura ex-military ruler, and promptly endorsed him. He returned to PDP three years later, like a few co-travellers, to contest the 2019 presidential primaries. When he lost, once again, to Atiku Abubakar, he also quickly endorsed the winner, but refused to return to the senate. Kwankwaso is quite a popular and an effective mobiliser in Kano politics. His smartly contrived political movement, Kwankwasiyya, leveraged on government patronage, building infrastructures, and investing in manpower, among other hands-on strategies. Some of the epaulets pinned on Kwankwaso during his two tours of duty in Kano were the establishment of two universities (Kano State University of Technology and North West University); he was reputed as the first fourth republic governor to introduce free school feeding and uniforms for primary school pupils - thus exploding enrolment by over 200%. Education was free at all levels, while more than 250 new secondary schools and training institutes were created. Readers can read full article online www.thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

NEWS

ANOTHER GAMBLE ?

12.2.2022

PAGE. 29

Moses Simon

Super Eagles’ New Money Man?

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

Super Eagles shinning light at the 2021 AFCON, Moses Simon may be dumping Ligue 1 for the Premier League

Moses Simon Super Eagles’ New Money Man? Nigeria may not have had a good outing at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon after bowing out in the Round of 16 toTunisia, but one Super Eagles player- Moses Simon, may have made a big impression not only on the minds of soccer fans on the home front but also scouts and club agents across the globe culminating in Newcastle’s readiness to lure the winger to St. James’Park with a £100,000-a-week contract

ut for the £8m Nantes was demanding which Leeds United could not afford, Super Eagles winger Moses Simon would today have been plying his trade in the Premier League before his deadline day move to Elland Road fell through. However, the former K.A.A. Gent of Belgium player may not have to wait too long for his dream England move comes to pass as new Premier League money bag-Newcastle have marked down Simon for a summer transfer. Newcastle are ready to hand Nigerian forward, Moses Simon, a £100,000-a-week contract to join them in the summer. According to OwnGoalNigeria, the Premier League side have made Simon, who currently plays for Nantes in France’s Ligue 1, their top priority ahead of next season. The Super Eagles star will cost the Magpies around £20million in transfer fees. But Newcastle are not deterred by the money involved in the deal, as they are very eager to bring in Simon. Nantes will also be ready to do business, despite blocking Simon from moving to Leeds United in the January window. The 26-year-old, who impressed for Nigeria at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, has scored twice and provided six assists in the French topflight this season.

He was on duty for 78 minutes in Nantes 2-0 defeat of SC Bastia to progress to the next stage of the Coupe de France. The Nigeria international was also close to joining Brighton in 2020 but a deal could not be agreed with his former club Gent. Following his impressive performance for the Super Eagles at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations he was proposed to Leeds and Brentford by his agent but it fell through. Simon, who has two and a half years left on his current deal with the Yellow Canaries is however not deterred by the botched move, as he is hopeful of playing in the Premier League when the time is right. “I still dream of playing in the Premier League someday. And I believe everything will work well for my good. When it is time, I will make the move. I didn’t expect we will crash out of the tournament so early but that happens in football.” Before joining the Super Eagles party to Cameroon, the former Levante attacker had been in fine form for FC Nantes this season, having been involved in eight goals in 16 matches for the Ligue 1 outfit. Simon was voted FC Nantes Player of the Season for the 2019/2020 campaign after scooping 40 per cent of the total vote cast by the fans to be named the Canaridelasaison

for the year. Simon has enjoyed his best season with Nantes since moving to Europe as he finished as the club’s top scorer with nine goals in 2020, he recorded eight assists which is the highest by any player in the French Lig 1 and also bagged one hattrick to his name. Simon arrived at the club penultimate summer on loan from Spanish Premiere Liga side UD Levante and the former Gent man has proven to be an instant hit at the club, which has encouraged Nantes to be interested in taking up the option that allows them to sign the player permanently for €5 million in the Summer. The 25-year-old made 30 appearances for the French side in the last campaign scoring nine goals and registered eight assists. “It can only be God. I became the Player of the Season in FC Nantes a traditional club. I am so excited it gives me a sense of recognition in my career,” he had said. Life for Simon in Spain was far from rosy as he failed to establish himself in Levante’s starting 11. He then decided to take his trade to French Ligue 1 side, Nantes, and the move has proved to be a success story. The 25-year-old had been impressive since joining FC Nante on loan from Spanish side, Levante. Simon revealed he is thoroughly enjoying

a new lease of life in France. “I am more relaxed and settled at Nantes, no pressure. I am also playing to my full potentials because here I am a very offensive winger,” he explained. “At Levante, I had to fall back to help out in the defence. Now, I am a winger in a 4-3-3 formation as against the 3-5-2 we played in Spain.And so, the goals and assists are coming now.” Simon is however optimistic his current scoring form for FC Nantes will continue with the Super Eagles. “It’s been an amazing season for me so far here in France; the team is doing well and I hope to also take the same form to the national team,” Simon said. Simon moved to Levante UD for about five million Euros, which is a figure far from the 20 million Euros a top official had predicted KAA Gent will eventually sell him. Gent sports director Michel Louwagie proudly predicted that his club break transfer records when they eventually sell the Nigerian winger after they bought him from Slovak club AS Trencin for 650,000 Euros in January 2015. “The transfer record in Belgium will have to be shattered when we sell Moses. We will be talking of about 20 million Euros,” Louwagie had predicted. The prediction was prompted by the fact that Moses was an instant sensation in Belgium. But the player will go on to suffer injuries and lack of consistency for such huge hope not to be fulfilled in the three and a half seasons he was there. Altogether, he scored 21 goals and provided 18 assists in 136 appearances for ‘The Buffaloes’. He won the Belgian league with Gent in his first season after his transfer from Slovak club AS Trencin. KAA Gent paid glowing tributes to Simon after the player secured a move to Spanish club, Levante. “He leaves the club with his head up and will forever belong to the select group of players who won the first league title in the history for our club and then became part of an historic Champions League campaign stamped in the collective Belgian football memory. The following season, he was also a member of the group of players that beat Tottenham at Wembley in the Europa League,” the club said in its official website then.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

Man City Set to Halt Norwich’s New Found Form Two in-form Premier League teams at opposite ends of the table will lock horns at Carrow Road this evening when Norwich City host Manchester City. While the Canaries would be hoping to come out with a respectable scoreline in their quest to swim out of relegation waters, the Citizens will be gunning for the three points to establish their grip on top of the league table Premiership Table

Man City Liverpool Chelsea West Ham Arsenal Man Utd Tottenham Wolves Brighton Southampton Aston Villa Leicester Crystal Palace Brentford Leeds Everton Newcastle Norwich Watford Burnley

24 23 24 24 22 23 21 22 22 23 22 21 23 24 22 21 22 23 22 20

43 41 30 11 9 6 1 2 0 -7 -4 -5 -3 -14 -16 -1 -20 -32 -18 -11

60 51 47 40 39 39 36 34 30 28 27 26 25 23 23 3 19 18 17 15 14

Premier League TODAY Manchester City were on rampage against Norwich when both sides met in the ﬁrst leg at the Etihad Stadium

orwich City are unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions, while the Manchester City last tasted defeat domestically back in October last year. The Canaries have boosted their hopes of Premier League survival over the past few weeks, as they have accumulated seven points from a possible nine available, only one fewer than they claimed in their previous 12 league matches. Two important victories in January against fellow relegation candidates Everton and Watford were followed by a 1-1 draw at home against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night. Teemu Pukki scored the fastest Premier League goal of the season so far, when he put the Canaries in front after just 38 seconds, before Wilfried Zaha equalised with a brilliant right-footed strike on the hour mark. Zaha then had the chance to put Palace ahead from the penalty spot just a few minutes later; however, he scuffed his effort from 12 yards well wide of the post. Despite claiming just a point, Dean Smith will have taken plenty of positives from the game, considering they were beaten 3-0 in the reverse fixture just six weeks ago. After Newcastle United’s midweek win put Norwich back into the relegation zone, the draw against Palace was not enough for Smith’s side to escape the bottom three, and they have now played at least one more game than the other teams in the bottom six. Canaries will now prepare for arguably their biggest challenge yet this weekend when they face leaders Man City, a team they have lost against in eight of their last 12 Premier League games, conceding 41 goals in the process. Norwich have suffered defeat in 13 of their last 15 top-flight matches against the previous season’s champions, but both exceptions during this run were 3-2 triumphs against Man City in May 2013 and September 2019, results which should provide plenty of confidence and hope for Smith’s men as they bid to

cause another upset on Saturday. After seeing their impressive 12-game winning run come to an end with a 1-1 draw at Southampton, Manchester City returned to winning ways with a routine 2-0 success at home to Brentford on Wednesday night. City’s top goalscorer Riyad Mahrez broke the deadlock from the penalty spot five minutes before half time, netting his 16th goal of the season across all competitions, before Kevin De Bruyne swept in the second to put the game to bed. Pep Guardiola’s side now boast a commanding nine-point advantage at the summit, though Liverpool in second do have a game in hand. The Citizens head to Carrow Road with an unsurprisingly impressive record against teams who begin the day inside the relegation zone, losing only one of their last 36 top-flight matches; however, that lone defeat was in their last such visit to Norwich, as mentioned earlier back in September 2019. After losing 1-0 away at Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the season, Man City head to Carrow Road unbeaten in their last 11 top-flight games on the road and they currently have the best away record in the division, accumulating 29 points from their 12 matches, five more than their nearest challengers. City will certainly have one eye on their Champions League last-16 tie against Sporting Lisbon next Tuesday, but for now, Guardiola’s men will be focused on securing all three points against the Canaries. Meanwhile, two sides who suffered contrasting fortunes in midweek prepare for battle in today’s Premier League lunchtime clash as Manchester United welcome Southampton to Old Trafford. The Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley in midweek, while Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men ran out 3-2 winners in a pulsating clash with Tottenham Hotspur. All eyes were on the impending mammoth battle between Man United’s Harry Maguire and Burnley’s new talisman Wout Weghorst at Turf Moor, but it was the ex-Wolfsburg striker who towered over his opposite number

physically and metaphorically in a welldeserved point for the Clarets. The long line of underwhelming results for Man United continues, with Ralf Rangnick unable to inspire an immediate upturn in fortunes following their miserable FA Cup exit, and the Red Devils have now dropped to fifth in the table after West Ham United’s win over Watford. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are both breathing down the Red Devils’ necks as the race for Champions League football hots up, and while the draw with Burnley did extend Man United’s unbeaten streak in the Premier League to four matches, it was certainly two points dropped rather than one gained. However, Rangnick’s side can boast a positive record of four wins from their last five in the Premier League at Old Trafford ahead of this contest, but Southampton are no strangers to taking points off Big Six sides on their own turf, as evidenced in midweek. Allowing James Ward-Prowse all the time in the world to pick out his intended target often has fatal consequences for the opposition, and Tottenham Hotspur were simply outplayed by the dead-ball specialist and his team in North London on Wednesday night. The emotion of the occasion so very nearly got the better of Ralph Hasenhuttl once again, with the Austrian’s side now boasting four wins from their last six in all competitions and occupying 10th spot in the table as a result. While such an impressive victory at the home of Tottenham may cause some apprehension within the hosts’ ranks at Old Trafford, the Saints have now conceded at least two goals in their last eight away matches in all competitions, with their Premier League tally of 26 conceded on the road the joint-worst record in the division alongside Leeds United. The Red Devils will need no second invitation to expose such frailties as they did at Old Trafford last season - nine was fine for the Devils on that unforgettable occasion and a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s earlier this season extended Southampton’s winless run against Man United to 12 games in all competitions.

Chelsea Man Utd Brentford Everton Watford Norwich

v Tottenham v Southampton vCrystal Palace v Leeds Utd v Brighton v Man City

16:30 12:30 15:00 15:00 15:00 17:30

v Liverpool v Aston Villa v Wolves v West Ham

14:00 14:00 15:00 16:30

SUNDAY

Burnley Newcastle Tottenham Leicester

La Liga TODAY

Cádiz Villarreal Vallecano Atlético

v Celta Vigo v Madrid v Osasuna v Getafe

13:00 15:15 17:30 20:00

v Valencia v Real Betis v Granada v Barcelona

13:00 15:15 17:30 20:00

v Bilbao

20:00

SUNDAY

Alavés Levante Sociedad Espanyol MONDAY

Mallorca

Hot Shot PLAYERS

CLUB

Mo Salah Liverpool Diogo Jota Liverpool Heung Son Tottenham Jamie Vardy Leicester Emmanuel Dennis Watford Michail Antonio West Ham Cristiano Ronaldo Man Utd Emile Smith Rowe Arsenal Raphinha Leeds Sadio Mané Liverpool Mason Mount Chelsea Bruno Fernandes Man Utd Conor Gallagher Palace Raheem Sterling Man City Neal Maupay Brighton Bernardo Silva Man City Jarrod Bowen West Ham Kevin De Bruyne Man City Riyad Mahrez Man City Bukayo Saka Arsenal James Maddison Leicester Ward-Prowse Southampton Luiz Jorginho Chelsea Maxwel Cornet Burnley Callum Wilson Newcastle

GOALS

16 12 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 6

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

General Manager of BS Promotions, Femi Folarin presenting the logo of the Mushin Boxing Show to His Royal Majesty Oba Fatai Ayinla Aileru

Ighalo

Pinnick Confirms Ighalo for Nigeria’s World Cup Playoffs against Ghana Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick says Odion Ighalo will be back for Nigeria’s World Cup playoff games against Ghana in March after the Al-Hilal forward missed Nigeria’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, but he is set to return for the team’s two games next month Ighalo was included in Nigeria’s 2021 AFCON squad after coming out of retirement, but the former Manchester United striker could not honour the callup because of club issues. However, Pinnick has now confirmed that the 32-year-old attacker will be back for the two massive

games against Ghana next month. The NFF president said this after visiting Ighalo in Qatar where he is currently representing his new club Al-Hilal at the FIFA Club World Cup. Pinnick said: “I just met with @ighalojude, the highest goalscorer at the 2019 edition of the AFCON, now playing and still scoring goals for Saudi Arabia’s biggest football club. Odion has assured that playing for his country will always come first and he is ready to ensure that we do play at this year’s @FIFAWorldCup in Qatar. Ighalo had initially retired

from national duty in 2019, but he came out of retirement after speaking to Pinnick and ex-Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr. The former Watford man played in the 1-1 draw in the World Cup qualifying clash against Cape Verde last year and should have represented Nigeria at the AFCON, but was denied the chance by his former club Al-Shabab. Meanwhile, Pinnick also expressed his happiness over Ademola Lookman’s availability for selection. The Leicester City winger has now been cleared by FIFA to represent Nigeria after playing for England’s youth teams.

FCAAN Appoints Sunju-Abbey as Global Technical Director The Management of Football Coaches Association of African Nations (FCAAN) has announced the appointment of Eldred Sunju-Abbey as its Global Technical Director. Before his appointment, SunjuAbbey was Lead Instructor/ Faculty and South-South Regional Coordinator for the coaching education body. Multi-certificated and vastly experienced, Sunju-Abbey flaunts a lifetime involvement in the beautiful game, in the areas of coaching, training, scouting, branding and promotion, and has worked in several capacities and climes including in the United States

of America. He is presently Director of Coaching, Rivers State and also playing the same role concurrently with the nascent Real Madrid Football Academy in the Garden City. “FCAAN’s dream for Nigerian Football is to see our coaches in the forefront of football development and coaching education in the country and in Africa as a whole. The appointment of a Global Technical Director of the quality of Mr Eldred Sunju-Abbey is in line with that vision, and we will continue to take practical steps that will lead us to our goals and objec-

tives,” FCAAN President, Dr Terry Eguaoje said. He called on the new appointee to bring his vast knowledge and experience to bear in the development of coaches in every country the association operates, and in gaining new grounds in football education for the FCAAN around the world. Responding to his appointment, Sunju-Abbey expressed his delight for the confidence reposed in him by the FCAAN. “I am enamoured by the FCAAN’s DNA of collectivism and inclusion.

NBBF Ecstatic over D’Tigress’ 2022 World Cup Ticket D’Tigress have qualified for the 2022 FIBA Women World Cup to be hosted later in the year after a 67-65 point win against world number five, France. The team led by Coach Otis Hughley did just enough to rally back from a 17pt deficit in the first quarter to snatch a win and book their second consecutive world cup outing with a game to spare. Second quarter saw a more purposeful and dominant D’Tigress crawl their way back into the game with a 16-10pts win to close the first half 27-38. Not comfortable with the scores, the team applied more pressure to win the third quarter 21-14 before another impressive 19-13pts finish in the 4th quarter to seal the win. An ecstatic President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engr Musa Kida described the

win as a result of hard work and steady growth since 2017. “We are excited about where we are and what we have been able to achieve. This is not just another result because it is a result that we are going to celebrate for a long time to come”. “We are seeing a team that learnt a lot from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2021 Afrobasket win. The growth has been steady and consistent and we are not surprised that the results have continued to bear testament to what we are trying to achieve” Victoria Macaulay shouldered the scoring burden on the night with 19 points while contributing 4 assists. The Galatasaray of Turkey centre also did some work defensively with 4 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 blocks to help the team secure its first ever

win against France. “We will like to appreciate His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari for his fatherly support towards the team. The Minister of Youth and Sports, Chief Sunday Dare has also been solidly behind us through thick and thin”. “This victory and ticket would not have been possible without them”. The French girls will not forget Oderah Chidom in a hurry after contributing 13pts, 5assts and 6rebs to avenge the 2020 Olympics and 2018 FIBA World Cup defeats. Promise Amukamara and Adaora Elonu added 10pts each to seal a victory for the team. Second placed Nigeria will face Mali at noon tomorrow while France will hope to bounce back when they meet China.

Moses Extends Contract with Spartak Moscow Spartak Moscow have announced through their official website that Victor Moses has signed a new deal with the club. The additional contract extension will keep the former Chelsea wing-back at the Muscovites until the end of the 2023-2024 season. Moses initially joined Spartak Moscow on loan in October 2020 before the deal was made permanent the following

season after the Red and Whites exercised the option to purchase him from Chelsea for five million euros. The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner has totaled 42 appearances for Spartak, scoring six goals and assisting eight others. In his first words after putting pen to paper, Moses said: “I can say with full confidence that Spartak is my club. “I’m happy to be part of the

red-white family until at least 2024; I will continue to help the team achieve their goals. “I fell in love with everyone at Spartak. I’m really happy to be here!” Moses also spent time on loan with Liverpool, Stoke City, West Ham United, Fenerbahce and Inter Milan during his time with Chelsea, with whom he won the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.

LASG Announces Traffic Diversion for Access Bank Lagos City Marathon The Lagos State Government has announced diversions of traffic, as some designated roads will be closed for few hours the 7th edition of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will be holding in the city on today. The marathon, which will be flagged off at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, will be rounded up by the runners at the Eko Atlantic City on Lagos Island. In order to create smooth passage for the runners and not to inconvenient motorists during the period, the Lagos State Government says arrangement has been put in

place to divert traffic while the marathon is ongoing. A statement from the Lagos State Sports Commission announced that motorists from Eko Bridge coming from Apongbon to Costain Roundabout will be connected to Ebute-Metta, Orile, Nigeria Breweries/Abebe Village, Eric Moore, Bode Thomas, Adeniran Ogunsanya for them to link their destinations as appropriate. From Alaka Estate, motorists shall be diverted to Iponri or Iponri Estate to link Bode Thomas, Adeniran Ogunsanya or Babs Animasahun to con-

nect their destinations. Motorists from Masha inwards the National Stadium to be diverted through Shitta Roundabout, Akerele Street for onward movement through Falolu or Adeniran Ogunsanya to connect their destinations. Motorists from Apapa/ Orile Iganmu going towards Funsho Williams Avenue shall be diverted to Apapa Road or Nigerian Breweries/ Abebe Village to link Eric Moore, Bode Thomas, Babs Animashaun or Adeniran Ogunsanya to connect their destinations.

Oba of Mushin Endorses Boxing Show His Royal Majesty Oba Fatai Ayinla Aileru, the Olu of Mushin, has given his full support to a boxing event that will be held in his honour in the month of May. The traditional ruler of Mushin gave his blessings when Femi Folarin, the General Manager of BS Promotions, the sports marketing outfit organising the event paid him a courtesy visit in his palace and to formally present the logo of the boxing show to the king. Oba Aileru expressed satisfaction with the initia-

tive, validating it as a noble opportunity that will benefit young people in his kingdom and promote boxing in general in Nigeria. According to the promoter, the boxing tournament will be a yearly event that will coincide with the birthday of the monarch who is a lover of boxing and a strong grassroots empowerment enthusiast. Speaking further, the promoter explained the need to encourage and groom young boys and girls to stardom and expose them to international fame is one of the major

reasons for the show which is expected to feature boxers from Mushin and beyond. According to him, “This show will help among other things to project Mushin in a positive light and change the narrative about the domain. A lot of people have a distorted view about Mushin. I was born and raised in Mushin, in fact the first 22 years of my life were spent in Mushin, and so we believe that this show will be able to show to the world that Mushin has a lot of good to contribute to the world”

West Ham Pick Zouma against Leicester Despite ‘Diabolic Actions’ West Ham boss David Moyes says Kurt Zouma is available for Sunday’s game at Leicester amid the controversy of the defender being filmed kicking his cat. Animal charity the RSPCA has taken the 27-year-old’s two cats off him as they investigate the incident. Moyes was criticised for picking Zouma against Watford

on Tuesday after the video of the defender emerged. “There are different views whether he should be available. We decided he should. I stand by that,” said Moyes. Zouma has been fined the maximum amount possible by the Hammers, with the fee being donated to animal welfare charities. “I don’t think a club could have taken more action any

quicker than what they’ve done at the moment. West Ham have done a really good job,” added Moyes. “I’m not condoning him, his actions were terrible. They were diabolical but we’ve chosen to play him and we stand by that. “We will get him some help. We are trying to do as much as we can as a club, as a team, to help him.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

Emmanuel Amuneke Another NFF Gamble? Emmanuel Amuneke

Though he has never been afraid to throw his cap into the ring as far as the Super Eagles’job is concern but the powers that be felt Emmanuel Amuneke was not yet ripe for the senior national team’s job. However, after Augustine Eguavoen could not lead the Eagles past the Round of 16 in the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and the failure of NFF to tidy up a deal with Portuguese manager- Jose Peseiro, the egg heads of the football house have decided to take a gamble on the former FC Barcelona winger with the Nigeria versus Ghana’s next month’s ﬁnal World Cup qualifying game as his ﬁrst test

ith the appointment of Portuguese Jose Peseiro having failed due to contractual disagreement, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) appointed former Tanzania national team coach, Emmanuel Amuneke as chief coach of the Super Eagles ahead of Nigeria’s next month’s final World Cup qualifier encounter against Ghana, while Augustine Eguavoen, who led the team to the African Nations Cup in Cameroon will continue as the Technical Director/Technical Adviser (interim). “The NFF Board has approved a recommendation of the Technical and Development Committee retaining Augustine Eguavoen as Technical Director/Technical Adviser (interim) while Emmanuel Amuneke becomes the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi announced. The NFF had initially stated it has appointed Jose Peseiro to replace Gernot Rohr, but the statement was later debunked as the Portuguese coach failed to agree with some of the contractual terms, though the football house is not ruling out the possibility of Peseiro coaching Nigeria in the future. “We acknowledge and appreciate the interest that Mr. Jose Peseiro has shown in Nigeria Football during our very cordial discussions and have absolutely no doubt about his capacity. We believe that perhaps in the future, there could be an opportunity to work with him,” the NFF statement explained. “However, in view of the positive performance of the Super Eagles at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations which has given hope to Nigerians and boosted our confidence in the present coaching crew to qualify us for the World Cup in Qatar, we have decided to accept the recommendation of the Technical and Development Committee to retain the Eguavoen-led coaching crew and strengthen it with the addition of Emmanuel Amuneke.”

Critics of Eguavoen pointed to his poor game management against Tunisia in the Round of 16 of the just concluded AFCON in Cameroon leading to Nigeria’s exit in the competition - hence the decision to draft in Amuneke, who led Tanzania to the 2019 Nations Cup. NFF President Amaju Pinnick had recently told Channels TV that he had informed former Porto and Sporting CP boss Peseiro to wait until the end of March for possible employment. “I am still talking to him,” Pinnick said. “Maybe he has to wait till after the World Cup qualifiers and if, in the course of his waiting, he got another job, we wish him well. The good news is that we did not sign the contract officially.” Former Nigerian international Amuneke, who has never hidden his desire to managing the senior national team since quitting active football has expressed his gratitude to Nigerians and the Nigerian Football Federation for considering him for the job, while remaining modest about the details of the contractual agreement between him and the federation. “I’m always available to serve my country. I’m grateful to Nigerians and the federation for looking in my direction. For now, there’s no use speaking much,” Amuneke said. Meanwhile, Eguavoen has hailed the addition of Amuneke as coach to the national team. “He has been my good friend for a very long time. He has been my brother and we have worked together for a long time. “He’s a quality addition to the coaching crew and he will bring a lot of value to the Super Eagles,” he said. In a chat with THISDAY, former national team goalkeeper Christian Obi said it was just unfortunate that Nigerian coaches are not given the respect they deserve on the home front, but optimistic that Amuneke would do well with the Super Eagles.

“A prophet is not without honour except in his own country. It is just unfortunate that we don’t appreciate what we have in this country. Nigerian coaches are very good if given the right atmosphere to work and Amuneke is a very good example. He is technically and tactically sound and he is also has his coaching Grade A license,” Obi said. The 1985 U-20 World Cup bronze winner indeed charged the eggheads of the Nigeria Football Federation to always consider Nigerian coaches first for the national team’s job. “Its high time the NFF should start reconsidering its stand and attitude towards Nigerian coaches. It should start giving them the respect they deserve. Given the necessary support, Nigerian coaches would take the country’s football to a position of envy,” the former Heartland of Owerri goalkeeper trainer opined. Obi is indeed optimistic that Amuneke would do well with the Super Eagles. “I know Amuneke very well; I have worked with him before. He knew his onions and he would impact his knowledge on the players,” Obi said. Amuneke was at the 2018 World Cup in Russia as a member of the panel set up by FIFA to shortlist the 2017/2018 season men’s footballers and coaches of the year. Speaking on his appointment to the FIFA Russia 2018 Technical Study Group, the former Africa Footballer of the Year said, “This role is a good one for me and Nigeria football as it goes to show that our football has grown.” In his playing days, his goals were always crucial and had given Nigeria victory on a number of occasions. From the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, to the Afro-Asian Cup at the National Stadium in 1998 and many others. Many soccer fans were bemused that dare devil winger was kept on the bench by Dutch tactician, Clement Westerhof for almost the entire duration of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. But in

the final game against a stubborn Zambian side, the former Julius Berger of Lagos player was introduced and he scored the two goals that secured Nigeria’s second Nations Cup victory after winning an earlier one in 1980 on home soil. An injury forced Amuneke to quit football in 2004, and the former left-winger took to coaching after earning his licence. He handled both Julius Berger and Ocean Boys before he was drafted as an assistant coach to Manu Garba for the Golden Eaglets’ side that won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Two years later, Amuneke guided the cadet team to defend the title in Chile as the head coach, cementing his status as an astute youth coach. And he successfully made the step up to international football after leading Tanzania to qualify for the 2019 AFCON, the country’s second-ever appearance at the tournament.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMIFULA OGBU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2022

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 12, 2022

AUTO WORLD

Bennett Oghifo 07052343083 Email:bennett.oghifo@thisdaylive.com

TIPS OF THE WEEK

Tips to Repair Your Car’s Brake Calipers One of the most crucial parts of your automobile’s braking system is the brake caliper. This piece is the main component responsible for stopping your car when r you y hit the brake. Most vehicles utilise a disc-brake system, on either the front or the front and back. The wheels are connected to rotors (metal discs) that spin. When you push the brake, the caliper (which has attached brake pads on the inside) causes friction with the rotor, thus i slowing down the car. The shape of the caliper is like that of a clamp. The clamp closes tighter to cause more friction. This vitally important part of your braking v system should be routinely inspected for wear and tear along with other potential w issues. i Let’s take a closer look at the brake caliper and where to go for help. Signs that Your Brake Calipers May Be Worn, Weakened, or Damaged W Ы Your car jerks or pulls abruptly to one side or the other when you press the brake. b

The all-new Nissan Navara

All-new Nissan Navara Arrives Nigerian Showrooms

he all-new and most advanced Nissan Navara has arrived Nigerian showrooms, courtesy of Stallion NMN Limited, the nation’s exclusive representative of Nissan brand. Launched in Lagos on Saturday, the new Navara pickup, which was also released to motoring journalists for a test-drive, delivers an enhanced level of safety, comfort and driving pleasure, while continuing to bring the durability, reliability, and versatility that it is known for. Addressing newsmen at the launch, the General Manager, Stallion NMN Limited, Amit Sharma, revealed that his company had concluded plans

to start assembling the new Navara pick-up in Nigeria from June 2022. The Nissan NMN boss described the new Navara as a reliable partner for work or travel and a workhorse that comes with many best-in-class technologies, including an array of Nissan Intelligent Mobility features and safety systems, making it the most advanced Navara yet. He said: “This new Navara brings the best of what Nissan has to offer in one package. Rugged, tough and smart, the pick-up offers premium comfort, all at a price that provides customers great value for money. “This particular NAVARA is made in Africa for Africa. So it comes with a capability to

withstand even the toughest tropical terrains of the continent, especially Nigeria. “Building on more than 85 years of Nissan pickup heritage, the new Nissan Navara represents the pinnacle of the company’s experience in building tough and reliable pickups. According to Sharma, Nissan is offering Nigerian market a comprehensive range, starting with double cabin 4x2. Further elevating the pickup’s rugged character is the introduction of the range topper PRO-4; grade – a first for the Navara nameplate. “PRO-4; offers an even more impressive, eye-catching style to appeal to extreme adventure lovers who crave an escape from the daily routine,” he added.

Hyundai Santa Fe Named Large SUV of the Year at British 2022 Awards

yundai’s fast start to 2022 continues at pace with a third major awards success in January. The Hyundai Santa Fe has been hailed ‘Large SUV of the Year’ in the prestigious 2022 What Car" Car of the Year Awards. The What Car" judges also named the Hyundai i10 ‘Best Small Car for the City’ and the Hyundai TUCSON ‘Best Family SUV for Practicality’ in the magazine’s ‘Best Buy’ categories, in which Santa Fe also won ‘Best Plug-in Hybrid for Big Families.’ The new Hyundai Santa Fe, provides ample seating for a family of seven, drew praise from the What Car" judges for a raft of improvements, which have elevated the elegantly styled, hightechnology SUV to another level. What Car? Editor, Steve Huntingford, said: “Hyundai has proven that small changes can make all the diͿerence, with the addition of hybrid and plug-in hybrid power options turning this already good large SUV into a great one. Running costs are reduced and reÀnement improved. Plus, you still get a well-controlled ride, outstanding value for money and a nicely Ànished interior with seating for seven.” OͿered with a range of highly e΀cient petrol engines that ensure impressively low running costs, the Hyundai i10 beneÀts from the same sophisticated technology and intelligent safety systems found on the marque’s larger models. Backed by a Àve-year unlimited mileage warranty, like every Hyundai, the i10 is designed

The Hyundai Santa Fe

and engineered to meet whatever challenges the road throws at it, a fact that was clearly not lost on the What Car? road test team when putting the car through its paces. What Car? Editor, Steve Huntingford, said: “Living in the urban sprawl demands speciÀc attributes from a car. These include light controls to take the eͿort out of manoeuvring, for example, as well as a peppy engine and a ride that’s comfortable enough to soak up potholes with ease. And the Hyundai i10 excels in all these areas. However, don’t go thinking that it’s only

good at low speeds – once the road opens up, it impresses with nicely weighted steering and plenty of grip.” Before being hailed, What Car? ‘Best Family SUV for Practicality,’ the Hyundai TUCSON’s industry accolades included Car Buyer ‘Car of the Year’, Auto Express ‘Mid-Size SUV of the Year’ and Scottish Car of the Year ‘Best Family SUV’, the Hyundai Tucson oͿers a broad range of cutting-edge petrol, mild hybrid, hybrid and plug-in-hybrid drivetrains, combined with, as What Car? highlighted, unmatched family appeal.

Ы Repeated pumping of the brakes is needed for them to operate properly. Ы Visible brake Áuid is leaking near the engine or wheels. Ы ABS (anti lock brake system) warning light illuminates. Ы Loud screeching, grinding, squealing, or squeaking noises are constantly being made by brakes. Ы Burning smell while driving or stopping. Ы Brake pedal feels too soft or sponge like when pushed. Ы When stopping abruptly or over a short distance, car seems to bounce up and down instead of a smooth motion. Why do brake calipers stick or become damaged? If no issues have presented themselves, it is recommended that brake calipers should be replaced just as precautionary maintenance between 201168 kilometers and 281635.2 kilometers. However, there are factors that can make a replacement needed sooner than that. If the brake pads that are found on the calipers wear out, the calipers can not apply the necessary force to the rotor. This may cause the caliper to stick. Brake Áuid is sent through a hose, providing the proper amount of pressure to engage the calipers. Over time, the hose can deteriorate and it will unevenly distribute the Áuid. Again, the result is extreme stickiness of the calipers. Sometimes, during a brake pad replacement, rubber surrounding the pistons sticking out from the calibers can be torn. This tear makes the area vulnerable to residue, dirt, and debris which leads to a damaging build up inside the caliber itself. Such build up greatly aͿects the performance of the entire braking system. Tips to Avoid Brake Caliper Problems Simply put, the best way to avoid caliper problems is to take care of them. In fact, regular attention should be given to your entire braking system. Replacing worn brake pads as soon as possible is the Àrst step to protecting your brake calipers. You should also keep brake Áuid full and top it oͿ as needed. Routine maintenance and periodic inspections can keep the calipers on your car lasting through the life of the vehicle. However, if you Ànd yourself suͿering from braking system breakdowns, you should consult a professional immediately. Such issues can cause safety concerns and be detrimental to your driving.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 12, 2022

AUTO WORLD

Coscharis Motors Serenades Valentine Winners With Drive Experience

ith love in the air, the foremost auto dealer, Coscharis Motors Plc is set to delight lovebirds that are customers and prospects through its “On-the-Highway-to-Love” campaign from February 5 to February 15, 2022. According to the General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Abiona Babarinde, the company has lined up the following packages for 3 top winners during the week long social media campaign including: Winning couples will be serenade with special couples’ drive experiences in select Coscharis Motors vehicles with transfer to and fro a Five Star Hotel for dinner, accommodation and spa in Lagos. In his words, Babarinde said, “knowing fully well how Nigerians like to celebrate love on Valentine day and as the representative of several globally respected auto brands in Nigeria, Coscharis Motors would love to equally celebrate some of our stakeholders during this love season by providing chauͿeur – driven vehicles from our brand portfolio on that day for the winning couples. We believe

this ease of logistics in brand new vehicles for that day even if you are an existing car owner will add to your love story which by extension makes the Coscharis brand part of your home building with an experience in one of our auto brands.” The online campaign which goes strictly only on Coscharis’ social media platforms, i.e., Facebook, Instagram and Twitter respectively is streamlined to married couples who are expected to recount their special meeting scenario which led to courtship and subsequent marriage. This should be supported with a picture post of their marriage consummation. In addition, Coscharis Motors will also oͿer the top two winners, free service packages on their existing vehicles either bought or not at their aftersales Quicklane facilities at their preferred location in either Yaba or Victoria Island both in Lagos. Coscharis Motors Plc is a multi-automobile dealership with exclusive franchise for BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, Rolls Royce and Renault vehicles in Nigeria. The Company equally delivers aftersales oͿerings with original parts and tools managed by certiÀed technicians in top class workshops across the six geo – political zones in Nigeria. Range Rover Sport 2023

PAN Nigeria Ready to Roll Out Chery, Higer Vehicles

AN Nigeria Limited, one of Nigeria’s foremost automobile assembly plants, has dismissed reports that its Kaduna-based factory has been bought over. The auto Àrm stressed that it is operationally doing well in its auto business as a separate entity from Dangote PAN. A source at PAN Nigeria Limited disclosed that the Kaduna-based auto assembler has ceased to be assemblers of Peugeot vehicles in Nigeria and now evolved as a multi-brand assembler of reputable international brands. PAN Nigeria, which incidentally will be marking the 50th anniversary of its incorporation in Nigeria during the year, will be rolling out exciting new brands designed to meet the high expectations of its target market. It was learnt that PAN had already signed deals with two leading Chinese companies, Chery Automobile and Higer Bus Company, which specialise in the

Chery Figgo

production of passenger cars and commercial vehicles. While Chery is a leading manufacturer of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) and Sedans, Higer is a reputable producer of mini and city buses. The assembly of multiple brands at the PAN plant, will increase capacity utilisation, create new jobs, and promote local content development. A source from the plant said, “we have a wide range of exciting new products ranging from pickups, buses, sedans, SUVs, and ambulances which will be produced in our plant to serve needs of the important segments.” He also disclosed that the new products would be competitively priced, oͿering high value for money in the PAN Nigeria tradition. To this end, the source said that the company would bring its extensive experience as the foremost auto manufacturer to bear on the production, distribution, and maintenance of the new brands.

The Burden of Excessive Speeding It was a shot from the hip. Frank and sincere. The frank talk came from the helmsman of the Federal Road Safety Corps. The Corps Marshal of the Corps,Dr Boboye Oyeyemi did not fire blank but hit the nail on the right spot when he opened up on the ongoing compulsory enforcement of the installation of speed limiting device by commercial vehicle owners. In his candid assessment, Dr Oyeyemi gave the FRSC as well as the general public an average score. Fifty-six percent he said was his rating for the ongoing enforcement as well as compliance. According to him, the Corps has not done as much as should be expected in enforcing this novelty that is meant to tilt road traffic crashes In my piece published a fortnight ago, I reminded us of the 2016 the Presidential directives to the Corps to enforce the compulsory installation of speed limiting device in commercial vehicles as a strategy to checkmate the rising trend of road traffic crashes nationwide involving commercial vehicles. Dr Oyeyemi noted that instead of possibly a 98percent compliance level, which should provide a template to enable the corps extend the directive to private owners, the general performance is still at a low pace. Dr Oyeyemi frank tack and verdict is meant to jerk up weak enforcement. To buttress his worry, just shortly after his salvo, series of crashes were reported across the country which is obviously my cause for worry. And I must confess that I am really disturbed because the early trend according to my boss, reveals the obvious that excessive speeding and lack of concentrations accounts for 52percent of road traffic crashes. This underscores his directives for sustained enforcement on the directives.

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa Assistant Corps Marshal Zonal Commanding Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. Although reports from across the country reveals a positive response, I am still worried that some transporters as well as commuters are yet to fully embrace this intervention for their own safety. The reported crashes attest to this. Between February 6,2022 and February 7,2022, there were three crashes which were all fatal. All the three were speed related. All the crashes involved commercial vehicles. Let me start with the crash of February 6,2022 which occurred along the Kano-Zaria road at Chiromawa caused by speed violation and loss of control involving a hummer bus and a truck. A total of 19people were involved with 17 out of this 19 killed. This was followed by a crash at the same Chiromawa town involving a hiace bus which got burnt and killed another 17people. On 7 February 2022 on the same Kano Zaria road by Kura, a crash involving a commercial vehicle-a Toyota bus and a tanker involving 16people occurred. Although nobody was killed, this crash was also caused by speed and loss of control. On the same date ahead of jada bridge, two Toyota vehicles crashed killing 7adults. Excessive speed was

also the causative factor. I know there were other crashes recorded cross other parts of the country but I am particular with the crashes on the Kano Zaria record. It raises serious concern on our driving behaviour especially because of the state of the roads across critical corridor due to the rehabilitation, palliatives as well as ongoing construction of these corridors which has thrown open the challenge of over speeding among motorists and the imperatives for every concern stakeholder to ponder on the alarm raised by the Corps Marshal. The provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations spell out the speed limits for various categories of vehicles on our roads. While the law specifies 100km/h for private cars on the expressway, the same law specifies a speed limit of 90km/h for taxis and buses. Trailers and Tankers have a maximum speed of 60km/h and 45km/h for towing vehicles while in a build-up area, the speed limit could be between 20-30km/h to 50km/h although the current global campaign is to achieve a maximum of 30km/ph in built up areas. Despite this prohibition on speed, excessive speeding remains on the increase even though research findings indicate that at a speed of 100km/h, your vehicle does 28 metres per seconds. This is why I need to again remind you that road traffic crashes yearly kills 1.35 million people, meaning that an average of about 32 – 42 people are killed daily on the world’s roads while 20 million to 50 million people are injured or disabled in road collisions. According to the World Health Organization, 90percent of these deaths occur in low and middle

income countries where 5098 people or 81percent of the world’s population live and own about 20percent of the total number of vehicles in the world. Nigeria has its fair share of this madness called road traffic crashes. This explains why the leadership of the FRSC is constantly rejigging various strategies such as the deployment of technology to enhancing enforcement, the driver’s licence scheme, standardization of driving schools and the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme, RTSSS among others to redress the trend. Meanwhile, the WHO maintains that the African Region tops the worlds road accident index with the highest mortality rate of 28.3 deaths per 100, 000 populations. More than half of all global road traffic deaths occur among young adults between 15 and 44 years of age. It notes that 73percent of all global road traffic fatalities are males. Vulnerable road users- pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, it further notes account for a much greater proportion of road traffic collisions in low income and middle income countries than in high income countries. As a response to this epidemic, the WHO report on Road Traffic injury identifies a number of risk factors influencing crash involvement which amongst others are inappropriate and excessive speed, presence of alcohol, medicinal or recreational drugs, Fatigue, travelling in drunkenness, what we call night travel, defects in road designs, layout and maintenance, having youth driving in the same car and poor eye sight of road users. The same report identifies non-use of seatbelt and child restraints, inappropriate or excessive speed among other factors influencing crash severity.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2022 •T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 12, 2022

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L-R: Lagos State First Lady, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; MD/CEO, Lagos Waste Management Authority, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni and MD/CEO. Wastecare Solutions, Mr. Oluwole Shitta-Bey, during the ﬁrst lady’s inspection of the Bins‘ showroom , for “Adopt-A-Bin” project, at the LAWMA’s Simpson Transfer Loading Station (TLS) in Lagos Island....recently

L-R: Partner/COO, Verod Capital, Ms. Nieros Oyegun Soerensen; Founder/Managing Partner, Aruwa Capital Management,Mrs. Adesuwa Okunbo-Rhodes; CEO 100 Women in Finance, Ms. Amanda Pullinger; Vice President, Africa Finance Corporation,Ms.Taiwo Okwor;and CEO, ARM Harith Infrastructure Investment Corporation, Ms. Tariye Gbadegesin, at a roundtable lunch of ‘100 Women in Finance’ in Lagos... recently

Goodlife Magik Engages Consumers, Traders Fruit juice brand, GoodLife Magik has embarked on an exciting market activation across the South-west to connect closely with its audience at the grassroots. The brand also engaged popular Nollywood Yoruba Actress, Ronke Ojo better known as Ronke Oshodi Oke to relate with shoppers and traders in a bid to drive the brand’s message. According to the organisation, the activation will go round five major markets in Lagos State - Oke Arin- Lagos Island; Ojuwoye, Mushin; Ladega market, Ikorodu; Ikotun market and Agege market. Thereafter, the team will move to Oyo state, Ibadan to excite major markets in the town where shoppers will be educated more on the brand. Speaking at the activation centre in

Ojuwoye market, Ojo commended mothers on their ability to multi task, describing them as the strong pillar of families. She also urged them to always go for healthy choice for their children with regards to what they consume. She said, “Every mother wants the best for her child, and should naturally opt for products that have been confirmed to contain essential nutrient requirements for their development. A pack of 215ml size of Magik drink is all a child needs consisting of Vitamin C and glucose. The handy and easy to open pack design is most suitable in a school lunch pack to provide the energy required to perform at the peak. “While carrying out your role as a mother looking out for others, you also need a

good source of energy; a daily dose of essential immunity-boosting properties, to keep the candle burning. 1-liter pack is designed to take care of adult needs or sharing amongst family and friends”. Also speaking, National BTL Manager of Goodlife Magik drink, Isaac Egbe reiterated the health benefits of the drink, amongst other attributes. “From the stable of Tolaram Nutri Beverage Limited, GoodLife Magik is a healthy fruit drink riding on three unique selling propositions of ‘Healthy, Nutritious and Great Taste’. The fruit drink, fortified with key nutrients such as Vitamin C and Glucose, is targeted at both adults and especially children, who require all the beneficial nutrients at this stage, to grow and function optimally.

Expert Proposes Regulation of CBN by Int’l Body to Enhance Performance A financial expert, Dr. Folashade Adeyemo has advised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to submit itself to international organisations for regular monitoring, to be able to discharge its duty efficiently. Adeyemo took this position in her new book, “Banking Regulation in Africa: The Case of Nigeria and Other Developing Economies” which is set for virtual launch next month. According to her, where apex banks should ideally discharge their duties independently, the poor performance of CBN over time required that it should be watched and guided by external body.

Adeyemo in the book also faulted CBN’s reactive approach to solving crisis. She said, “The regulators must pay closer attention to having a proactive approach to the act of regulation, rather than adopting a reactive measure for the instances of a banking crisis or failure”. She also stressed the need for Nigerian regulators to cultivate a clear commitment to the ongoing improvement of the regulatory framework to allow for a sustainable and viable economy. The author in the book detailed the historical analysis of Nigeria’s banking regulation trajectory, which included the

creation of Nigeria’s first banking Act, Bank Ordinance in 1952, induced by the Paton Report and the deregulation of the Nigerian banking sector under the then President Babangida in 1986. Others are the banking consolidation in 2004 which saw a substantial development to the Nigerian banking system; and the introduction of the Banks and Other Financial Institution Act 2020. She also provided a holistic examination of banking regulation in Africa which she specifically explored the banking regulatory architectures of South Africa and Kenya, arguing that both have evolved over time.

FG, CITN Tasked on Improved Collaboration The federal government has been charged to bolster its relationship with the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), with regards to tax matters. Stakeholders who made this call at CITN 40th Anniversary Dinner in Lagos recently, held that such was necessary to enhance economic growth and development. Speaking at the function, Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki stressed the role of CITN as a major inÁuence in taxation practice and the need for all stakeholders including the government to join force with the institute. Obaseki who was represented by the Chairman TaxForce on Internally Generated Revenue, Edo State, John Inegbedio tasked the institute to focus more on coordinating, energising and educating general public on taxation, being their civic responsibility. “40 years is a unique achievement for the institute and is worth celebrating, especially now that taxation has become the national discourse as we all can see now that the oil revenue can no longer sustain the country. “It is thus important that the institute provide the needed information to the

public on what form of tax to pay, the way the tax should be collected, the rights of taxpayers and the rights of various governments that collect tax.” On her part, a Founding member of CITN, Mrs Morenike Babington-Ashaye urged government to take full advantage of CITN’s presence in the country, rather than relying on external bodies to handle issues relating to budgetary and taxation. She enthused that CITN was well positioned to carry out extensive research concerning all expenditures, Ànance bills and budget Ànances before its execution. “We are grateful to all who have contributed to the success of the institute in 40 years, those who have worked, those still working and those to work in future. But, we still need to do more. ”At the moment, government still spend a lot of money on invisible activities, hiring foreign bodies like International Monetary Fund IMF) or World Bank to come to our aid on issues of taxation/budget, whereas the CITN is here.” Earlier, President of CITN, Adesina Adedayo expressed optimism on the future of the institute to expand frontiers for taxation development far beyond local impact.

Rite Foods Gets Halal Certification Nutraboom Launches New Range Popular snack brand, Rite Foods Limited has been certiÀed with Halal CertiÀcation Authority. The certiÀcation rea΀rmed that products from the stable of the brand were healthy, acceptable and pure for consumption by consumers globally. Halal certiÀcate is a document that guarantees that products and services aimed at about 1.8 billion consumers globally meet all necessary safety requirements and therefore, are suitable for consumption. The certiÀcation is a process that ensures the features and quality of the products by allowing the use of the Halal mark. Speaking at the certiÀcate presentation, Director, Compliance and Regulation, Halal CertiÀcation Authority, Nigeria, Mr. Abdulazeez Ajala stated that the authority found the brand worthy of the certiÀcation after subjecting its products to all kinds of test and research. He said, “Having done all research, we have found that all Rite Foods products are acceptable, healthy, pure and edible to be taken

by consumers anywhere in the world, having met all food safety requirements in accordance with the Halal regulations.” Also present at the ceremony, SecretaryGeneral, Halal CertiÀcation Authority, Dr. Ajani Abidemi reiterated that Halal CertiÀcation was synonymous with quality, hence its identiÀcation with Rite Foods products which have passed all quality tests in accordance with Halal regulations. He added, “This is backed by all required evidence used by the authorization body during the certiÀcation process. In the area of wholesomeness and purity, the products stand out in quality which expands its penetration globally, thereby making it Àt for consumption by consumers, not just within the shores of Nigeria but globally. “Going forward, all products of the brand will carry the Halal mark, assuring consumers globally that the products are hygienic, healthy and follows halal procedures.”

of Products for Children Food production Àrm, Nutraboom has announced the launch of new range of cereal products for children. According to the organisation, the launch of the new products was part its ongoing rebranding project and part of the move to realise its vision of becoming leading provider of child nutrition in Africa. Speaking on the new products, Founder of Nutraboom, Oluwakemi Laniyan said the new products placed premium on children’s health in line with the brand’s proposition. She added that the new cereal come in four diͿerent Áavours being made from natural food materials. “We use natural food materials to develop nutritious products for the nourishment of both children and adults. Nutraboom’s current product series is in four separate Áavours made from

diͿerent combination of popular nutritious fruits, grains and vegetables. “The Áavours include the Foodies Cereal made of sweet potatoes and carrots; Yummy Tummy made of bananas; Tummy Wize made of vegetables and nut cereal and Baby Brainy made of oats and carrot meal”. She added that the products contain all essential nutrients needed for child development between the age of six months and Àve years as recommended by the World Health Organisation. Laniyan also commended the support of indigenous brand strategy Àrm, Zenera Consulting towards the rebranding eͿorts of the organisation. Commenting, Managing Partner of Zenera Consulting, Meka Olowola stated that the support was in fulÀllment of the company’s commitment to promoting Smes.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 12, 2022

NEWSXTRA

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PUSHING FOR VICTORY… Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (left) being received by the Senator who represented Enugu West Senatorial District in the 2nd Republic, Hyde Onuaguluchi, during the campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Oji River Local Government Area, yesterday, ahead of the February 23, 2022 Local Government Elections in Enugu State… yesterday

‘Detribalised Nigerian Like Akpabio is the President Nigeria Desires’ A group of professionals, Godswill Akpabio Uncommon Transformational Support Organisation (GAUTSO) wants a detribalised Nigerian who can foster unity among all parts of the country to be elected as president come 2023. Speaking at an interactive session with stakeholders, Chief Bennett Akar, the Spokesperson of the group noted that the person who the cap Àts is none other than incumbent Minister of the Niger Delta AͿairs and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio. According to Chief Akar, “What we need now as a nation is someone in the mold of Godswill

Akpabio who can heal the land and lead the nation in 2023 as a president and commander in chief of the armed forces. He has shown capacity and the ability to connect with people from the North, East, West and South of this country”. He noted that Akpabio ticks all the boxes. “He was born in the South-South, grew up in South-West and is married to someone from the South East. In addition, he has worked extensively in Northern Nigeria.” That is not all; the fact that Akpabio holds chieftaincy titles in all parts of Nigeria is a clear indication of his open hearted nature and penchant for interacting

as well as connecting with others across religious and ethnic lines. “These attributes place him way ahead of other aspirants as the man who can unify the nation and galvanize citizens to thrive in these tough times. He went further to state that while Akpabio was Governor of Akwa Ibom State, he operated an open door policy where Nigerians from all walks of life and ethnicity beneÀted from his uncommon transformation agenda. “We believe in a healthy, strong, vibrant and energetic young man like Akapabio who will be ready to hit the ground running from day one if elected president”.

Awodun: It’s Dangerous that 30 States Can’t Survive without Federal Allocations The Chief Revenue Consultant to CSDC Consulting Enterprise Solutions and Tree Four Consult, Prof. Muritala Awodun, has lamented that out of the 36 states in Nigeria, one can hardly count up to six states that can survive without federal allocation, going by the Àgures of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the 36 states. Speaking during an interview, he said it was not that these other states cannot generate su΀cient IGR but because they are solely dependent on the money that comes from the Federal sources, “which come with little or no eͿort and because it is barely adequate for them to pay salaries and do

some other things, they tend to be contented with that status, adding that what if that federal allocations stop today, how are those other states going to survive?” Awodun, who is Professor of Business and Entrepreneurship, and Director, Centre for Enterprise and Human Capital Development, Crown-Hill University, Eiyenkorin, Kwara State, said all the states of the federation and FCT can be self-sustaining if they develop and maximise their resources and IGR collection. He, however, decried that none of the 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja, have reached their full potential in internally generated

HACEY Organises Capacity Building Workshop for Health Workers Ugo Aliogo In an effort to improve the water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and public schools across project states of Delta, Imo and Ondo), HACEY Health Initiative through its clean water project has organised a capacity building workshop to further build the knowledge of health and education workforce as well as community leaders on safe water, proper sanitation and hygiene practices. Speaking at the workshop, the Project Lead, Chioma Osakwe, stated that the workshop was

aimed at strengthening and increasing the capacity of the health and education workforce and community leaders on knowledge, attitude, and skills needed to improve the school, health centre and community water, sanitation and hygiene. Osakwe highlighted some of the impacts of poor access to WASH facilities, including increased incidence of maternal and neonatal mortality, increased prevalence of water-borne diseases, and school absenteeism, especially amongst girls and minimised earning potential due to poor health outcomes.

revenue collection. Awodun, who is a former Chief Executive O΀cer of Kwara State Internal Revenue Services, urged the 36 states of the federation and FCT to develop the resources in their domains and optimise their IGR collection for sustainability rather than depend on federal allocations. He said, “All the 36 states of the Federation including the FCT have not reached their full potential. The six states that are said to be doing well can still do far better based on the revenue potentials of those states.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as OJO OMOWUNMI HANNAH, now wish to be known and address as IKOTO OMOWUNMI HANNAH and my DoB was wrongly written as 23rd September 1982 instead of 23rd September 1980. All former documents remain valid, the general public should please take note I formerly known and addressed as UWANDU FREDRICK CHINONSO now wish to be known and addressed as ANTHONY FREDRICK CHINONSO. All documents bearing both names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to notify the general public that SOMIARI ADAOBI ABIYE and SOMIARI ADAOBI ASSUMPTA refers to one person. Henceforth, the bearer wishes to be known and addressed as SOMIARI ADAOBI ASSUMPTA ABIYE. All documents bearing all names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 12, 2022

SPORTS XTRA

Reims Coach Warns his Players of theThreat Simon can Pose

head of Sunday’s Ligue 1 clash between Nantes and Reims, the visitors’ manager Oscar García speaking at a press conference yesterday warned his players of the danger Super Eagles attackerMoses Simon pose and also

singled out another Nantes star to keep an eye on. Reims travel to the Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau on Sunday for a Ligue 1 match against Nantes. Garcia noted that Nantes will be looking to punish them on the counter-attack with their pacy strikers Simon and Randal Kolo Muani.

Simon is back in the Nantes squad after missing their first five games of 2022 due to his participation in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. The former Gent and AS Trencin star proved to be the Super Eagles’ most potent attacking threat during the tournament in Cameroon with his pace and trickery

causing problems for the opposition defenders. “They are a very strong team. They have won three of the last four games played. “We also know that at home, in front of their home crowd, they are very solid but each match is different and we are going to Nantes hoping to win, “ Garcia told

reporters. “I expect a team this weekend that will leave the ball to better operate on the counterattack, in particular thanks to players like Simon and Kolo Muani”. Simon has directly participated in eight goals in nineteen appearances in the French top-flight so far this season. Meanwhile, highly-rated Belgian defender Jules Van Cleemput has chosen Simon as the attacker that made him suffer most in a match. The 24-year-old Belgian centre-back who now plays for Charleroi made his Belgian First Division A debut for Mechelen on July 1, 2016, against K.A.S Eupen. In an interview with Belgian TV outlet RTBF, Van Cleemput stated that it was a nightmare

defending against the 26-yearold Nantes winger because of his pace. Van Cleemput said: “The forward who made me suffer the most was Moses Simon with Gent, during my first season in D1A, 4 years ago. “I had no experience; I didn’t know how to defend against such a fast player: it was a real nightmare… but the match taught me a lot.” Van Cleemput and Moses Simon faced each other four times during Moses Simon’s three-year stint at KAA Gent between 2015 and 2018. The Super Eagles winger was at his best during the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon where he recorded one goal and an assist in three games.

20-Year-Old Man Hacks Neymar’s Bank Account, Steals $40,000

Taiwo Awoniyi ﬂanked by Naby Keita (l) and Sadio Mane (r) during his stint at Liverpool, but still dreams Premier League return

Awoniyi Plans Premier League Return Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi has revealed that he wants to return to the English Premier League. The striker joined Liverpool in 2015, but he did not play for the first team before leaving for the German Bundesliga. The 24-year-old star left Liverpool after an unproductive six years at Anfield. Awoniyi, who was one of the standout performers at

the 2013 World Cup, sealed a move to Liverpool in 2015. However, as a youngster, Awoniyi had to go on different loan spells in Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. Also, because of his inability to secure a work permit, the Nigerian star could not feature for the Reds. But last season, when he finally got his permit, Liverpool opted to let him go to Union

Berlin, where he had impressed a season before. Since Awoniyi secured a permanent deal at Die Eisernen, he has been on fire. The Nigeria international has rattled the net 14 times in 28 appearances. Nonetheless, the Super Eagles talisman is keen on returning to the Premier League. “The Premier League is my dream,” Awoniyi told

LFC transfer room. “Everyone knows that, even here in Union. The decisive difference for me is that if I lived in England, it would be easier for my wife and kid, not just because of the language. In addition, my sister & brother live there.” With Awoniyi’s fantastic performances this season, a return to the Premier League could be in the making.

Rangers Coach Plays Down Balogun’s Injury Rangers coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst provided an injury update with regards to Leon Balogun at yesterday’s press conference ahead of his side’s Scottish FA cup clash against Annan Athletic. The latest update from Van Bronckhorst will be sweet music to the ears of Rangers and Super Eagles fans, with the Dutchman revealing that

the injury suffered by Balogun is not as bad as first thought. The Nigeria international was replaced after 15 minutes due to an undisclosed ailment as the Light Blues defeated Hibernian on Wednesday Balogun returned to action threeweeksagoaftersustaining a back injury that kept him on the sidelines for two months and saw him pull out of the

Nigeria squad to the Africa Cup of Nations. After his comeback against Stirling Albion, he suffered a setback, missing the next two matches played by Rangers in the Premiership before he was passed fit for the derby against “Leon had a scan which was very positive, the injury isn’t bad so hopefully he can return soon to join the team in

training,” Van Bronckhorst told reporters. Balogun has few months to make his case for a contract extension as his deal with the Scottish champions runs out at the end of the season. The 33-year-old has made four appearances under Van Bronckhorst who was appointed to replace Steven Gerrard last November.

Shoretire Ranked Among 50 Most Exciting Teenagers in World Football

Arsenal First Team’s Call-up Delights Awe

Shola Shoretire has been ranked among the fifty most exciting teenagers in world football by United Kingdombased football magazine FourFourTwo. The Manchester United winger is one of two Nigeriaeligible teenagers that made the cut, the other being PSV rising star Nonso Madueke. While Shoretire was ranked 44th,EnglandU21international Madueke is in nineteenth place. Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham is the top teenager in the world followed by Barcelona duo Pedri and Ansu Fati, Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott and BayernMunich’sJamalMusiala in that order. Also on the prestigious list are Gavi (Barcelona), Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax

Zach Awe has taken to social media to express his happiness at receiving his first call-up to Arsenal’s first team for their Premier League meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Thursday night. The 2004-born central defender of Nigerian descent watched proceedings from the bench as the Gunners recorded their first win this calendar year. Brazilian defender Gabriel was the hero for the north London club, netting the game-winninggoalinthe25th minuteaftertakingadvantage of chaos in the Wolves box. Manager Mikel Arteta opted to go for experience, picking Rob Holding over

Amsterdam), Jeremy Doku (Rennes), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Anthony Elanga (Manchester United), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal), Cole Palmer (Manchester City) and Charlie Patino (Arsenal). On Shoretire, Mark White wrote: “Shoretire has been used out wide but is devastating in between the lines on the left, using his right foot to pick out passes and his diminutive frame to jink past defenders. “The youngster is improving all the time and could well get moreminutesinthefirstteamnext season,shouldPaulPogbaleavethis summer.” Manchester United’s current YoungPlayeroftheYear,Shoretire hasmade debuts in the Champions League, Europa League and Premier League.

Awe to shore up the defence in the 71st minute following the red card shown to Gabriel Martinelli. Awe has forced his way into Arsenal U23s starting lineup since the year started, going the distance in four consecutive matches in the Premier League 2. Writing on Instagram,Awe stated : “What an amazing experience last night “. The 18-year-old Awe, who signed his first professional contract a year ago, has played non-binding games for England at U16 level. Had he made his senior debut against Wolves, he would have stepped out onto the Molineux Stadium turf wearing the number 75 at the back of his jersey.

Brazilian police have arrested a man they believe hacked into Neymar’s bank accounts and repeatedly stole small sums of money amounting to more than $40,000, officials in São Paulo said. The hacker worked at an unnamed bank where the Paris St Germain and Brazil player and his business manager father had accounts. Police said the alleged hacker worked at an unnamed bank where the Paris St Germain and Brazil player and his business manager father had accounts, the18.com reports. They arrested the 20-year-old on Wednesday “for defrauding bank clients,” a police statement said. Although the police did not name the player in the statement, the officer in charge of the case said it was Neymar and

explained how the alleged theft occurred to Brazilian TV show Brasil Urgente. “What did this lad do?” said Fabio Pinheiro Lopes. “He got the password of his office colleague and stole small amounts of money from famous people with high net worth. These people didn’t notice. He made (a transfer) of $1,912.59, then another of $1,912.59, then $3,854.90, and then $9,637.26 and the total came to over $40,000.” Lopes said the account affected was Neymar’s and that his father likely controlled the funds. “When they discovered they called the bank. The bank reimbursed the victim and investigated who was behind it,” he said. Neymar’s press officer did not comment on the case when contacted by Reuters.

Winning Matches Now Harder than 13 Years Ago, Says Guardiola Pep Guardiola explains why being the best is harder than before and argues that copying others is a big mistake. “I have never known this level before,” Pep Guardiola tells Sky Sports. “Of course, there are managers in Germany, Italy and Spain, but in the Premier League, these are the best managers, the elite managers. The quality, the preparation. The level is so high.” Manchester City’s head coach is preparing his team to play Norwich today. Carrow Road happens to be the only Premier League ground to which he has taken a team and never won a point. “We made a mistake, they were brilliant, and they beat us.” But it is not the identity of the opponents that causes Guardiola to reflect on the quality of the coaching in the Premier League right now. It is a view that has formed over time as new ideas take hold, styles change and the game that many thought they knew evolves. Perhaps surprisingly, Guardiola is among those learning. “Compared to when I started at Barcelona, it has gone much, much further. The level has improved a lot. The quality, the methodology, the training sessions, the analysis of what exactly the opponent is going to do and what your team can do to punish them. “You cannot imagine the hard work that goes in behind the scenes. That is why it is so much more difficult to win games now than when I started 13 or 14 years ago.” Guardiola’s own results do not suggest that is the case, but fellow Champions League winners Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez have lost jobs in the Premier League in the past 12 months. There is a sense that the competition among coaches has increased.

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Akeredolu on Power Rotation “What we stand for is fair and equitable power rotation. The only thing fair is that after 8 years in the north, it should come to the south. Some of us believe in one Nigeria that’s fair and equitable.”––Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu warning that any party that ﬁelds a northern candidate in the 2023 Presidential election will lose.

OKEYIKECHUKWU EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

Avoiding Burlington’s Blunder on Policing T hings are looking up for personnel of the Nigeria Police. The recent approval of a 20% pay raise for the force by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is good news for this routinely maligned, often under preforming and certainly under-paid state instrument for law and order. Also approved for the police is a 6% Duty Tour Allowance (DTA), effective this month. Beyond that, the sum of N1.2 billion is to be released for the payment of uninsured benefits. Another N1.2 billion is also to be released for the payment of outstanding allowances. Whether or not this is President Buhari’s fulfillment of the promise to enhance police personnel pay as demanded by #EndSARS protesters, and as announced by the Minister for Police Affairs, the Federal Government deserves commendation for the development. It is a matter of experience and record that every policeman or woman is a human being. Every policeman or policewoman is somebody’s son, daughter, aunt, uncle, father, mother, sister, brother, etc. Policemen and policewomen work very long hours and are often owed backlogs of allowances. Most of them rarely have the full complement of their professional gear while on duty. They are also often too underequipped to fight crime and criminality. Being the official face of the state in everyday law enforcement, the police is also the first target on which to vent public displeasure. That is why anything that could alleviate, even in small measure, the odds stacked against police personnel, in terms of what would aid effective performance, is commendable. The question of whether the proposed new pay will affect retirees, and whether it is part of the 2022 budget, is secondary to the primary fact that a positive, and irreversible, step has been taken towards improving the conditions of service for police personnel in Nigeria. It has been long in coming, but it is here at last. Let us not hear, months later, that administrative lapses and other hiccups are standing in the way of this cheerful news. No, let it not end up as another sour tale of unfulfilled government promise. The current national security situation has been repeatedly blamed on failure of preemptive intelligence, poor funding of the police and lack of equipment for effective policing. Some observers have gone so far as to say that the “defunding” and suppression of the police during the years of military rule are the twin factors responsible for its long, and debilitating, history of underperformance. We say nothing about the widely help view, true or not, that corruption of the High Command over the years only compounded the problem and that what we are seeing today is the evidence of prolonged abuse and rot. The point to note here is that the regular outsourcing of policing duties to the military, which has become the norm, is not right. Give us the right type of police and that would be the end of the matter. There is a lesson to be learnt by Nigeria from

IG Usman Baba

the now-celebrated mistakes of Burlington, Vt. in the management of its police service and personnel. This college town near the Canadian border was recently gripped by a comprehensive backlash against the police. Though the origin of it all is partly rooted in history, the globally condemned George Floyd incident brought the simmering mood of the populace in Burlington to a new boil. Just as in the EndSARS saga, not many in the security and municipal authorities saw what was coming, when protesters began their walk around the city. The protesters eventually gathered outside the police department office (read Lekki), demanding defunding of the police and termination of the job positions of officers involved in past use-of-force incidents in their area. Are the similarities striking? Just juggle SARS and a few other words in this paragraph and see for yourself. But we are digressing. Blaring calls saying “Enough performing” by the police became dominant in Burlington. More ominous than this call, and one which eventually pulled through, was the call to “Defund the Burlington Police Department.” With activists at their implacable best, with modalities for action presented and freely debated all over the city, and with the police being simultaneously excoriated, the City Council eventually passed a resolution. A dramatic change in the policing template was born. Sadly, no one foresaw that this would be a change for the worse – as events have now shown. Burlinton was not alone in this matter of

a general negative reaction to police service delivery, after George Floyd. Cities with a ‘Burlinton-like’ policing profile, especially college towns whose demographics indicated a white majority population, took a cue and cut back on police funding. There were confirmed reports about the cities of Northampton and Massachusetts pulling out a whopping 10% from the police budget. Cities like Oklahoma and Norman were said to have removed 4% from the police budget and put same into community services. Burlington, where the reputable University of Vermont is located, is one place where, unlike in other cities, Counties and even states, loud quarrels and cleavages are between Burlington City Council members are usually about progressive and non progressive ideas. It is rarely about being Republicans, Democrats, or some other political divides. Burlington was always known as home and bastion of progressive ideas, especially in politics and police service delivery. The city always managed to maintain a violent crime rate that is lower than the national average. Until the defunding of the police, most of the police personnel spent more than half of their time dealing with complaints from citizens who had issues with noise pollution, bad behaviour from intoxicated neighbours, etc. It was a police department that dealt mostly with handling quality-of-life matters, etc. The story has changed since the defunding. At the peak of the demonization of the Burlington police, following the reprehensible murder of Floyd, many overlooked the

fact that Burlington was also known for a progressive police department that put a lot of emphasis on community policing. Its record on the management of the opioid crisis, for example, was still in the public domain. So was the praise it received for that. But all the good got drowned out by the one very significant, ctoss-border negative incident of Floyd’s murder. The fact that its police chiefs were often among the first to implement reforms didn’t then matter. The fact that some 74% of its current strength has Bachelors and higher degrees, or that it was ahead of other police departments in mandating body-worn cameras and cutting ties with a federal program that gives military equipment to police departments, was all forgotten – or was not reckoned with anymore. The cut down of 30% has, over the last one and half years, created problems around overall neighbourhood security, public safety, the tenor and texture of social activities and nearly all public engagements. Today, less than two years after the cheerful resolve to defund the police in Burlinton, those who celebrated the move, including even the Councilor who proposed the solution, are not happy. The Mayor, Miro Weinberger, had this to say in the media recently: “There’s a lot of damage that has been done in the last 16 months.” To reduce your police force through attrition, by asking those who wished to leave to step forward, as Burlington was constrained to do, is what created new dangers, because of the unanticipated dangers now lurking everywhere. It has become debilitating, for city-wide security and the quality of life; as large numbers of police personnel have since zoomed off by the truckloads to find other means of livelihood. Many felt underappreciated and even probably stigmatized, as the went away; to deploy their others, unexplored but present, skills and capacities. But enough about Burlington. What we need in Nigeria today are solutions to the many problems bedeviling our Police Service. We must start by admitting that the current security situation in the country has more to do with poor political leadership and the national economic downturn, than just police and policing. Inflation, loss of jobs, graduate unemployment and the collapse of local economies have been working together for some time now, to increase the number of otherwise law-abiding citizens who are driven to desperation and criminality by poverty and hunger. Some of the above factors, or combinations of them, are responsible to varying degrees for the present situation of the Nigeria police and the Nigerian State today. What is important now is to rescue the police, for our collective good With the move by the federal government, with regards to the pay packet of police personnel, a beginning has been made. But it must be seen as just one of the many positive steps that we must take in order to give ourselves the police we need at a time like this in our national life.

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