SATURDAY 31TH JULY 2021 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Royal Dutch Shell Commences Major Divestment of Assets in Nigeria Shallow water and onshore assets to be offloaded Sale documents issued, EOIs due September 10 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Royal Dutch Shell has launched a major divestment of its Nigerian assets, especially those in the shallow water

and onshore, several sources familiar with the matter said yesterday. Sources close to the company disclosed that the oil giant had already hired

Standard Chartered Bank to sell its Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) subsidiary, in deal which could be one of the hugest

in the oil and gas industry in Africa ever. When contacted, a Shell spokesman, who confirmed the talks, told THISDAY last night that although

consultations were ongoing about the planned sale, they were still at the early stages. “Discussions with the Nigerian government are ongoing on the next steps

for our onshore business in Nigeria. We are in the early stages of reviewing the commercial options,” the shell Continued on page 5

FG: US Senators Didn’t Block Sale of Ammunitions to Nigeria… Page 5 Saturday 31 July, 2021 Vol 26. No 9608

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Kaduna Files Terrorism, Treasonable Felony Charges Against El-Zakzaky Case instituted two days before IMN's leader was freed by court John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Dari Bayero yesterday confirmed to THISDAY that

the government had filed fresh charges bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony against the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh

Ibraheem El-Zakzaky. He said the new charges were filed on July 26, at the federal High Court, Kaduna, just two days before the IMN's leader and his wife,

Zeenat, were freed by Justice Gideon Kurada on eight count charge of culpable homicide, disruption of public peace, unlawful assembly among others.

Bayero said the fresh charges of terrorism and treasonable felony against El-Zakzaky would be jointly prosecuted by the Federal and Kaduna State governments.

He said: “The terrorism case was filed based on the utterances of El-Zakzaky, under section 17 (A) of the Continued on page 5

Banking on Malami’s Rule of Law, APC Holds Ward Congresses Today Threatens sanctions against members scheming parallel meetings Buni considers his options Party chieftain wants court to stop congresses, National Convention over Buni’s chairmanship Adedayo Akinwale and Alex Enumah in Abuja Rattled by last Wednesday’s minority judgement of the Supreme Court on the Ondo State governorship election, which punched holes in the legality of the actions of its National Caretaker Committee’s Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, members of the All Progressives Congress’ Caretaker Committee yesterday scampered to the Minister of Justice/Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, for advice on whether to go ahead with today’s ward congresses. On the same day, a chieftain of the APC from Abia State, Kalu Agu, asked a High

Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the APC from going ahead with its ward congresses today, as well as subsequent local governments, states, zonal congresses, and the party's National Convention. As for Buni, sources said he was also distressed by the Supreme Court indictment, and “he is seriously weighing his options about either staying as party Chair or returning to his job as Yobe State governor." Another source said the decision to consult Malami on the issue was in conformity with the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari. Of course, Malami, after Continued on page 5

FCT Cholera Death Toll Now 69... Page 10

TALKING INFRASTRUCTURE REVOLUTION... L-R: Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Chairman, Business Hallmark Public Policy Forum, Chief Marc Wabara and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; during a Town Hall Meeting on Infrastructure Revolution in Nigeria, in Abuja...Thursday

SATURDAY JULY 31, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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FG: US Senators Didn’t Block Sale of Ammunitions to Nigeria Says the only contract existing with US is for Super Tucano fighter jets The federal government has denied reports that some lawmakers in the United States had blocked the planned sale of $875 million ammunitions to Nigeria due to poor human rights record. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja yesterday, said government “is not aware of any $875 million ammunitions deal with the United States which is being purportedly blocked by some lawmakers in that

country.” He said there was no contract of such nature and sum between Nigeria and the United States The minister said: “There is no contract for arms between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United States of America today apart from the 12 Super Tucano attack jets of which six had been delivered. “We are quite satisfied with the progress and cooperation that we received from the government of the US on this issue.

“As a matter of fact, six of the Tucano fighter jets will be launched on Aug. 3, this year. “We are not aware of the so called $875 million arms contract or some helicopters which they said some lawmakers in the US are trying to persuade the president of the US not to honour. “The relationship between Nigeria and the US is smooth and waxing stronger.” There had been reports that influential United States lawmakers were masterminding a hold on a proposed sale

of ammunitions and attack helicopters to Nigeria over allegations of human rights abuses and anti-democratic actions of the present administration. Citing U.S. officials and congressional aides privy to the blocked ammunitions deals worth $875 million, Foreign Policy, a U.S. newspaper, said power brokers in Washington, particularly the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were hell bent on pushing the Biden administration to rethink

the U.S. relations with Nigeria to ensure balance between national security and human rights. It reported further that influential U.S. lawmakers were masterminding a hold on a proposed sale of attack helicopters to Nigeria over concerns that the Buhari administration was drifting towards authoritarianism. Foreign Policy said state documents it saw showed that the blocked proposed sale included, 12 AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters accompanied by

defense systems, 28 helicopter engines produced by GE Aviation, 14 military-grade aircraft navigation systems made by Honeywell, and 2,000 advanced precision kill weapon systems i.e. laser-guided rocket munitions. Earlier in June, the chairperson of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez, during a Senate hearing with Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, called for a “fundamental rethink of the framework of our overall engagement with Nigeria.”

an offence and the court was emphatic that none of the events on December 12, 2015 can be attributed to the defendants for an offence.”

El-Zakzaky and his wife were arrested in December 2015, following a clash between his followers and soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna State. His followers, who were observing a religious ritual, allegedly blocked the highway and refused to allow passage of the convoy of the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (now retired), who was in Zaria for the Passing Out Parade of the military school in the area. The IMN members allegedly turned down all appeal to allow the convoy of the army chief go pass, leading to confrontation. The following day, soldiers allegedly sealed off the headquarters of the IMN in Zaria, and that there was a bloody clash.

No fewer than 347 members of the IMN were killed and buried in a mass grave in the Mando area of Kaduna metropolis. While in detention, his followers persistently protested in major cities, like Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Sokoto, demanding for his release. Some of their protests often resulted in deaths, following violent clashes with security agencies, especially the police. In December 2016, an Abuja Federal High Court under trial Justice Gabriel Kolawole ordered the release of the IMN's leader and his wife on the grounds that their continuous incarceration was unconstitutional and an infringement on their fundamental human rights. The court had also awarded N50 million compensation to the duo and ordered the federal government to provide a new accommodation for them in Zaria or any northern town of their choice. But the federal government refused to free him until the eventual judgement on Wednesday that set him free.

company for the degradation in the Niger Delta environment. In February, a Dutch court held Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary responsible for multiple oil pipeline leaks in the Niger Delta and ordered it to pay damages to farmers, leading van Beurden to call its Nigerian onshore assets a “headache”. The company’s onshore joint venture SPDC has sold about 50 per cent of its oil assets over the past decade, with its stake in SPDC giving it 156,000 barrels per day of oil equivalent in 2020, of which 66,000 barrels were oil. SPDC operates the company’s shallow-water and onshore asset interests via its 30 per cent interest in the SPDC joint venture, which supplies around 10 per cent of Nigeria’s gas demand.

It owns 360 producing oil wells, 60 producing gas wells and a network of 4,000 kilometres of oil and gas pipelines and flowlines, according to the Shell website. On January 15, this year, SPDC completed the sale of its 30 per cent interest in OML 17 in the Eastern Niger Delta, and associated infrastructure, to TNOG Oil and Gas Ltd, a related company of Heirs Holdings Ltd and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, for a consideration of $533 million. In 2020, output from the SPDC JV, together with Shell’s SNEPCo subsidiary, fell from the record highs of 2019 but, at around 620kbpd of oil equivalent, remained close to the five-year average of 625,000bpd.

assurances, issued a statement yesterday, saying today’s ward congresses would go ahead as planned. Akpanudoedehe warned that any parallel congress, parallel party organ and or parallel party office would not be tolerated by the national leadership of the party ahead of the ward congresses. In a notice to party members, he said the APC would deploy the full weight of the law as stipulated in Section 21(D) of the party's Constitution on any one who engaged in such act. In the notice, the party said it was important that the

attention of all party faithful be drawn to the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of 8th December, 2020, which subsists and extends to the conduct of party members during the congresses. The APC re-stated that all pending litigations instituted by members against the party should be withdrawn forthwith, “and going forward, no member should institute matters against the party, without exhausting the internal mechanism for conflict resolution, as enshrined in the party's constitution.”

KADUNA FILES TERRORISM, TREASONABLE FELONY CHARGES AGAINST EL-ZAKZAKY Terrorism Prevention Act 2013. He will face a nine-count charge at the Federal High Court, Kaduna. We even attempted to serve him while in prison before the ruling, he refused to collect it. There is evidence to that effect. An affidavit will be duly sworn to that effect. We couldn't move forward quickly because the Federal High Court is on vacation. “This case is supposed to be done in conjunction with the federal government. The Federal Ministry of Justice will send a team to come and prosecute with us.” Bayero also said the state government would appeal against the no case ruling of the state High Court in favour of the IMN's leader. “Of course we will appeal against the ruling. We have applied for the ruling and as soon as that is made available to us, we will go on appeal. Definitely we will go on appeal. We have informed the court on our decision to appeal against the ruling,” he said. However, in his reaction, the

spokesman of the IMN, Ibrahim Musa, said he was not aware of any new case filed against El-Zakzaky in any court. “My findings indicated that there are no court papers served to our leader. Definitely we are not aware of the charge in another court,” Musa said. He, however, admitted that a day before the judgement of the state High Court, there was an attempt to serve El-Zakzaky some court papers. “We are aware that a day before the judgment at the state High Court, they tried to make such moves but there was no judge assigned, no court assigned for the case and we were not served with the papers. “So it might be an attempt by them. But in reality our Sheikh or his lawyers have not been served any court papers,” the IMN spokesman told THISDAY. In the no case submission filed by El-Zakzaky’s counsels, led by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Justice Kurada declared that the IMN's leader and his wife, who had been in detention for over five years, had no case to answer,

because the Kaduna government failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendants, and accordingly discharged and acquitted them. Shortly after his victory in court on Wednesday, El-Zakzaky and his wife were immediately discharged from the Kaduna Correctional Centre. Sources said they were taken to a resident of one of his followers in Abuja, “because his Zaria residence and properties of the IMN had been demolished by the Kaduna State Government after his arrest in December 2015.” The source said El-Zakzaky’s family members, his followers and well-wishers, had been visiting him in his new abode in Abuja since Thursday. Musa said the IMN leader's left Kaduna for Abuja on Thursday. “He is now in Abuja, I can’t say he has a house in Abuja, but you know as somebody with many followers, he will not lack a place to stay,” Musa said.

Defence Team Celebrates Victory

After El-Zakzaky’s victory in court last Wednesday, an elated counsel to the defendants, Marshal Abubakar who represented the lead counsel in the suit, Falana, declared: The trial of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat has come to an end as the court found them not guilty of the alleged crime filed against them by the Kaduna State Government. “The court found that the charges that were filed in 2018 pursuant to the Penal Law enacted by the state government in 2017 over an alleged offence committed in 2015, were incompetent. “The court ruled that the charge was not supposed to be filed in the first place, as the government cannot arraign someone for a said crime that was not an offence at the time. “The court ruled that the charge was incompetent, as the court agreed that El-Zakzaky and his wife had committed no offence. “The court also holds that the event of December 12, 2015 and December 15, 2015 was not

El-Zakzaky, Wife Arrested in December 2015

ROYAL DUTCH SHELL COMMENCES MAJOR DIVESTMENT OF ASSETS IN NIGERIA official stated. Sources close to the transaction said that sale documents were issued earlier this week and Expressions of Interest (EoI) are due by September 10, with the vendor asking for non-binding offers in the subsequent second phase. The source said: “Shell is selling the business because it no longer views its activities in the Niger Delta as core to its ongoing strategy, which is driven by the pressure from its investors, as confirmed by its CEO earlier this year. “Also, several of the Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) have upcoming development costs, which Shell does not intend to fund, one of the sources added, but noted that the company will still retain its deep water assets

in the country. “The business will be worth several billions of dollars and Shell will want full-value offers for the deal but is strategically driven in this disposal and will likely prefer low execution risk to waiting for a knockout offer. “It is very likely too large for any single acquiror,” another source said, adding that the valuation will ultimately be derived from different views on the separate assets, the shallow-water fields, the onshore fields and the infrastructure, for which there could be separate buyers. The source adds: “Alternatively, Shell may sell portions of equity in the whole of SPDC to different consortia of buyers. But either way, buyers will need to have a

local Nigerian element, it was understood. “Several options were being weighed, because while private equity would struggle with the associated risk and with the expected necessary investment in the portfolio, public-listed entities would struggle to raise equity to execute the deal, given the ESG-derived sentiment for oil and gas in the public markets. “Local sponsors may be interested, but this would constitute a very transformational deal, and would need significant lender support, the source said, noting that an international, private group with operating expertise, for example Perenco, or a Chinese player might make most sense.” The SPDC Joint Venture (JV)

is co-owned with Eni via its NAOC subsidiary with five per cent, TotalEnergies via its Total E&P Nigeria subsidiary with 10 per cent, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with the remaining 55 per cent. In May, Royal Dutch Shell’s Chief Executive Officer, Ben van Beurden, while speaking at the company’s annual general meeting, said that Shell could no longer afford to be exposed to the risk of theft and sabotage. Shell, operator of Nigeria’s onshore oil and gas joint venture SPDC, has struggled for years with spills in the Niger Delta as a result of vandalism, as well as operational issues, leading to costly repair operations and high-profile lawsuits. Many people, however, blame the

BANKING ON MALAMI’S RULE OF LAW, APC HOLDS WARD CONGRESSES TODAY an elaborate analysis, cleared the Caretaker Committee to proceed with the ward congresses, assuring that Buni’s continued stay as Chair would not portend any crisis for the party. The sources said Malami told the caretaker members that the Supreme Court judgement did not render the committee illegal and that it still “has legal capacity to undertake any action on behalf and in the name of the party.” Malami said further that the judgement did not question the legality of all the actions taken by the Buni-committee since inception.

A member of Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Prof. Mamman Tahir, who confirmed this development, while addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, said Malami assured that Buni’s stay was legal, and would not turn the congresses into a nullity. Tahir stated: "I am here this afternoon to reconfirm that our Congresses are on course to hold tomorrow (Saturday) and this Committee is working closely with the Attorney-General of the Federation and he has offered advice that we are on good ground and we are comfortable

with that position. "So, our programmes will continue to roll on in the normal course of things. We want to assure teeming members of the APC across the country to come out and elect officers at the ward levels. This party believes so much in grassroots politics, grassroots democracy; that is the strength of the party. “I call on all members to come out tomorrow and elect leaders of their choice at the Ward level before the party moves to the next stage of the democratisation process.” Asked if Congresses will hold in Zamfara and Anambra, Tahir

said: "Another date is being fixed for those states because we have an election coming up in Anambra. We don't want to jeopardise our position there. Though in Zamfara, only recently, they are still doing their validation and continuation of membership registration. So that is the position."

APC Reads Riot Act, Warns against Parallel Congress The National Secretary of APC’s CECPC, John Akpanudoedehe, was also buoyed by Malami’s

Continued on page 25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͻ͹, 2021

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Appeal Court Declares Jarigbe Senator-elect for C’River North, Sacks Odey Bassey Inyang in Calabar The Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar has declared the Member representing Obudu/Yala Federal Constituency Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Senator-elect for Cross River North senatorial district. In a judgement delivered yesterday, the three-man Appeal Tribunal headed by Hon. Justice Chioma I. Nwosu, held that Jarigbe was the lawful candidate of the PDP for the December 5th, 2020 by-election, and not Dr. Steven Odey. Consequently, the court invalidated the Certificate of Return earlier issued to Odey by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Friday’s judgement invalidated the June 18th, 2021 judgement of the Cross River State Election Petitions Tribunal which declared that Odey was the authentic candidate of the PDP. Delivering judgement in consolidated Suit No CAL/C/ NAEA/SEN/167/2021, the Appeal Court said the election tribunal, erred in law by ignoring earlier judgements by superior courts that recognised and declared Jarigbe as candidate of the PDP and winner of the by-election. “It is our humble and firm view that the issue calls for consideration whether the tribunal was right to jettison the decision of the High Court, Appeal Court and Supreme Court and declare the 1st Respondent (Odey) as

validly elected,” the Appeal Court said. Continuing, the court said, “The tribunal is bound by the decisions of superior courts on the same issue,” adding that “The law does not allow the tribunal to take a different position as the law hasalreadyaffirmedthatHon.Jarigbe is the lawful candidate of the PDP.” Stressing that the Appeal Court was bound by decisions of courts superior to the trial courts, theAppeal CourtpanelheadedbyJusticeNwosu declared Jarigbe the Senator-eect for Cross River North Senatorial

District. The Appeal Court also stated that the PDP held the primary election that threw up Odey in contempt of a court order that had directed that only the authentic list of delegates for the nomination of candidate should be used for the secondary election. In ordering INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to Jarigbe, the Appeal Court said: “Two Certificates of Return cannot exist in the eye of the law. The judgment of

the election tribunal is hereby set aside.” The petition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Joe Agi, SAN, whose case against the Jarigbe and Odey, was part of the consolidated appeal, was dismissed for lack of merit. Agi had argued that while Odey was an impostor having failed to clinch the ticket of the PDP to contest the by-election, Jarigbe though recognised as the candidate of the PDP by the Supreme Court didn’t contest the election of December

5, 2020, because he didn’t submit nomination forms to INEC, and didn’t participate in all stages of elections as required by Section 141 of Electoral Act and Section 285(13) of 1999 Constitution as amended. Reacting to the judgment, Jarigbe counsel, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, who was represented by Mr. Joe Oloko, said the judgement was a welcome development for deepening the roots of democracy in the country, especially as it related to intraparty democracy.

Abductors of Baptist School Students Demand Another N50m Ransom After Collecting N100m

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Abductors of the students of Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna, are said to have demanded for another N50 million ransom after collecting N100 million for the release of the remaining 83 students. The bandits had yesterday, released 28 of the students, after a N100m was paid, insisting that the remaining 83 students will be released in batches. A source who disclosed this to THISDAY in an interview yesterday said the parents have been destabilised and heartbroken about the latest development. According to the source, “After the parents contributed N100 million for the release of their children, the bandits ended up releasing only 28 of them, promising that others will be released in batches. “Now they are demanding an additional ransom of N50 million to release the remaining 83 students

in their custody. “Look, the parents are hopeless and devastated by this development having sold everything they had to raise N100 million that was given to the bandits.” President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Israel Akanji, on Sunday, denied that the church did not pay any ransom for the release of the students. Akanji however said he was not in a position to say whether the parents and well-wishers paid ransom to the bandits. “There are parents, well-wishers and neighbours who are struggling for the children to be released, therefore we cannot really restrict people from their actions in getting the children out, but as a group we do not believe in paying ransom. “I cannot answer for those who probably must have been involved in certain ways” Akanji said in an interview last Sunday after reuniting the 28 students with their parents.

Experts Worry over Increasing Cases of Hearing Impairment With a growing number of people suffering from hearing impairment and lack of access to cochlear implants for treatment, health experts have called for public-private sector collaboration to curb the trend. Less than five per cent of the people suffering from hearing impairment have access to cochlear implants due to different circumstances and factors limiting their access to the treatment. This was according to Dr. Afolabi Simeon, Clinical Audiologist and authorised cochlear distributor in Nigeria who noted that providing cochlear implants was a way to help people with hearing impairment, especially those that do not benefit from hearing aids. Speaking in Abuja, after a Cochlear Nuclues implant programme with 11 patients implanted in three states of National Hospital Abuja, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Simeon

lamented the increasing cases. He called for public-private sector collaboration, involving government; NGOs, corporate organisations, public-spirited individuals, and others would help to address the health menace. He listed the effects of hearing defects as poor performance at school, low output at workplaces, accidents; including domestic, road accidents among others. “We don’t really have any other option, but to provide the cochlear implant and make it available for those with profound hearing loss to hear and succeed in their career,” he said. Simeon, who has been in practice for over two decades at BSA Hearing Centre, argued that Cochlear saves Nigerians with hearing impairment from the cost of travelling abroad for surgery and implant by providing the services in the country. Cochlear has implanted more than 55 persons both adults and children.

ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS . .. L-R: Ogun State deputy governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Governor Dapo Abiodun and Chairman, All Progressives Congress Ward Elections Committee, Wale Ohu, during the Stakeholders meeting at Conference Hotel, Abeokuta ...Thursday

Atiku Laments Rising Cost of Food Items, Calls for Drastic Action to Stop Looming Crisis Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has decried the rising cost of food items in the market, calling for drastic action to address it before it turns into a calamity. In a statement he signed,

Atiku said that the warning given by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations on Wednesday, July 29, 2021, of a looming acute food crisis in Northern Nigeria should not be ignored. According to him, “That dire warning should be seen and heard as a whistleblowing moment that ought to draw the focus of the federal government,

NSCIA Disowns Rogue State Chapters Ahamefula Ogbu

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar II-led Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), yesterday disowned bodies operating under its name at the states level and dismissed them as charlatans masquerading for political gains that should not be taken seriously. The Sultan, through Femi Abbas, Chairman, NSCIA Media Committee, explained in a special press statement that there were no state chapters of the body, especially in the South-west, warning that any group that wanted to operate under its umbrella must seek formal registration. “Some charlatans claiming to be Muslim scholars/clerics, have been parading themselves as leaders of Nigerian Supreme for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) in some States, especially in the South-west of Nigeria.

“Through the use of that nomenclature, such charlatans are said to be clandestinely affiliating themselves to certain political demagogues for the purpose of gaining personal benefits. “As the apex body for the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) hereby officially declares as follows: That the NSCIA has no branches at the State level and no group or Association is authorised to bear that duly registered name in any State. “That the Muslim Communities in any state in Nigeria, which legally form the components of NSCIA are either called State Muslim Council or State Muslim Community by name and such State Councils or Communities must have duly registered with the apex body and recognised as members of the NSCIA.

being that Northern Nigeria is the food basket of the nation, and any famine there will have a national impact on the rest of the country and cross border impacts in the West African subregion. “The laissez-faire approach taken by the federal government to this most important issue

is regrettable. Food security is a vital part of national security, and where this issue is not resolved, the resultant crisis may unsettle the nation and her immediate neighbours,” Atiku stated. He stressed that now was the time to proffer solutions, so that Nigerians do not starve in a land with so much prospective abundance.

S’Court Ruling: APC Now Invalid, Says PDP Chuks Okocha in Abuja Ripples of the Wednesday Supreme Court judgement on the Ondo State governorship election continued as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday alerted Nigerians and the international community that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has become technically invalidated and now lacks the statutory structure to operate as a political party in the country. Addressing a press conference yesterday at the PDP national secretariat, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the pronouncement of the Supreme Court clearly pointed to the nullity of APC’s subsistence and activities as a political party for having a sitting Governor, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, as its Chairman,

in total violation of Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as well as the provisions of Article 17(4) of the APC constitution. According to PDP, “a further interpretation of the pronouncement of the Supreme Court showed that all activities of the APC under Mai Mala Buni, including nomination of candidates for elections, agreements, official decision reached, establishment of committees for statutory activities as well as its planned ward, local government and states congresses now hang loosely on the threat of invalidity. “The fate of the APC as a defunct party is already sealed and the party cannot come out of this self-inflicted quagmire even if it engages in the drama of appointing a new National Chairman in place of Mai Mala Buni.

SATURDAY JULY 31, 2021 • T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͻ͹, 2021

NEWS FCT Cholera Death Toll Now 69 Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Council. Kawu said the medical committee had gone to the affected locations and had directed the important steps that needed to be taken in order to mitigate another outbreak next year. “What we are doing to avoid another outbreak is to ensure we provide potable water to all communities in FCT and good sanitation because as you know, Cholera is a disease of poor hygiene and lack of potable water. The minister has directed that FCT Water Board and Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) should work with us closely. We are directed to come out with what FCT should do so that the issue of Cholera is overcome. “The most important thing is that the cases have gone down and there are more important things to be done in those areas so that next year we won’t go through the same circle again,” Kawu said.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said that 69 persons have so far died from Cholera outbreak in the territory. This is also as the FCT has reported 22 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The Acting Secretary, Health and Human Secretariat, Dr. Mohammed Kawu, gave the figures yesterday at a media briefing after the FCT Emergency Operation Treatment Committee met with the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, to review the situation. Kawu, who appeared L-R: National President of National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) and 2nd deputy president FTAN, Susan Akporiaye; President, with Dr. Sadik Sani, DirecFederation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; FTAN tor Public Health, said the ﬁrst deputy president, Aliu Badaki; and vice president, North-west FTAN, John Best Likita, during a courtesy visit to NCAC DG in his oﬃce in Abuja... Cholera cases that were recently recorded out of suspected 1,000 cases had been treated and discharged. He identified the epicentre of the gastro enteritis disease in the territory as PDP, Ozigbo describe ruling as victory for democracy the Byzhin community in Kubwa, Ushafa in Bwari Alex Enumah and Chuks Dissatisfied with the Area Council and Gwagwa Valentine Ozigbo, have in the conduct of the Okocha in Abuja and Davidhailed the judgement of the South-east Zonal congress decision of the FCT High in Abuja Municipal Area Chyddy Eleke in Awka Court of Appeal, describing of March 6, 2021 and Court, the PDP and Mr. the ruling as victory for the appointments made Uchenna Obiorah in their separate appeals marked: All Set for APC Ward Congress in Abia as therein. The Abuja Division of the democracy. The suit at the trial court CA/A/359/2021 and CA/A/ The judgment was nulliCourt of Appeal yesterday nullified the judgment fied on grounds that the FCT marked: HC/CV/774/2021 CV/368/2021 respectively Stakeholders Vow to Make Party Stronger of a High Court of the High Court lacked territorial was filed by Samuel Anya- approached the appellate ward to national level. Federal Capital Territory jurisdiction to hear and kolah (for himself and all court to upturn the decision Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in ×ßËÒÓË Goli, who represents Brass/ (FCT) which ordered the decide a matter bordering local government chairmen of the trial court. The appellate court in two Nembe federal constituency in sack of the Anambra State on the leadership of the and ward executives that emerged from the Anambra judgments delivered by Justice Executive Committee of the PDP in Anambra State. The Abia State chapter of Bayelsa State, was accompanied It would be recalled that PDP congress conducted on Stephen Adah and Elfreda the All Progressives Congress by other members of the ward Peoples Democratic Party Justice Olukayode Adeniyi November 28 and December Williams-Daudu, upheld the (APC) yesterday put finishing congress committee, including (PDP). This is as the PDP and its had on June 9, sacked the 1, 2017 under the supervision two appeals and accordingly touches to the preparations for the secretary, Rt. Hon. Muktar governorship candidate in Anambra State executive of Sir Chukwudi Umeaba, set aside the judgment of the the nationwide ward congress Bajeh. He further assured Abia the November 6 elections on grounds that the PDP as Acting Chairman State FCT High Court delivered of the ruling party with party on June 9, 2021. in Anambra State, Mr. violated its constitution Caretaker Committee). chieftains engaged in full APC faithful that results of mobilisation of authentic the ward congress would be collated and announced at the party faithful. At a well attended meeting various wards. “We want a stronger APC in of stakeholders from the 184 wards in Abia held at Umuahia, Abia that can take over power Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja ment of the Federation and tion of COVID-19 infection in COVID-19. the party leaders vowed to use from PDP,” he said, urging all Chairman Presidential Steering communities across the nation. “The PSC therefore cautions all the ward congress to lay a solid stakeholders to join hands to The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Mr. He cautioned political parties to political parties to institute public foundation on which the party make this aspiration a reality. In her remarks, the Deputy Committee on COVID-19 Boss Mustapha, issued the ensure that political campaigns health and social measures in all would take over power in 2023. The seven-member Ward Chief Whip of the House of has implored the Independent warning yesterday. are properly regulated to ensure locations where political events In the statement, he appealed maximum public safety in will occur,” the statement said. Congress Committee for Representatives, Hon. Nkiruka National Electoral Commission Some of the measures, the Abia was received at the Onyejeocha, urged party (INEC) and State Independent to all concerned to ensure strict terms of risk of transmitting the Electoral Commissions (SIECs), compliance to the COVID-19 infection among the vulnerable PSC noted, are to include stakeholders meeting where members to ensure that only the mandatory use of face they assured the party faithful committed loyal party members state governments and all protocols following the continued population. political parties, to curb mega rising number of infections and “The PSC wishes to reiterate mask by everyone attending that the congress would go were elected at the congress. Onyejeocha, who represents political rallies in the country in hospitalisation across the country. the significance of the publicised those political events, while ahead as scheduled. He warned that political INEC policy on the conduct of political parties should also Chairman of the ward Isuikwuato/Umunneochi the wake of the confirmation of more cases of the Delta variant mass gatherings should not political events and the code of prevent individuals without congress committee, Rt. Hon. federal constituency, said of COVID-19 in several states. be allowed to serve as super- conduct for voters and political face masks from gaining access Sonny Goli, said that the team that APC as an opposition was in Abia to conduct a free, party in Abia should not The Secretary to the Govern- spreader events for the propaga- parties within the context of to political venues. fair and transparent ward give anything to chance congress for authentic APC in its quest to take over Our Primary Schools Now Bandits’ Abia Government House. members. “So we must elect people “Tomorrow (Saturday), Den, Katsina Children Cry Out we are going on with our of substance and integrity Francis Sardauna in Katsina “Another big history, land- congresses nationwide,” he so that other political parties Batsari Constituency, Umma Bennett Oghi fo slide win and party success assured, adding that the ruling would not start harvesting Abdulbasir, said most primary A Member of the House recorded at our polls, both party was desirous of handing from our party (due to weak The Katsina State Children’s schools in the state, especially Parliament yesterday lamented those in rural villages were not of Representatives, Oshodi/ in Isolo and Ejigbo LCDAs over to elected leadership from leadership),” she said. Isolo2 federal constituency, where I represent, as Hon. the spate of banditry and other operating due to the persistent Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson, Bayo Olasoju and Hon. Super TV MD, Usifo Ataga Buried in Lagos crimes bedevilling the state, attacks by the bandits. The sitting was sponsored by has said the peaceful conduct Monsuru Oloyede Bello, adding that most primary The 50-year-old media of the Lagos State council elections emerge the next Chairmen of schools in the state had been Save the Children International Super TV Managing Direclast Saturday was on account of Isolo Local Council Develop- tor, Usifo Ataga who died in magnate was discovered dead taken over by the hoodlums (SCI), through its Reaching and the steadfastness of the chieftains of ment Area (LCDA) and Ejigbo controversial circumstances in an apartment at Adebowale as their hideouts in rural Empowering Adolescents to make informed Choices for the All Progressives Congress Local Council Development the police said they were still Oshin Street, Leekki Phase 1 settlements across the state. Area (LCDA) with our wards investigating has been buried where he allegedly went for (APC). The parliament during its their Health (REACH) and a tryst with one 21-year-old Congratulating the Isolo councillors in both communities. in Ikoyi, Lagos. fourth sitting at the State House Towards Ending Child Mar“It is with note of joy and Ataga was interred at Ebony Chidinma Ojukwu said to of Assembly, called on the state riage (TECM) projects funded LCDA/Ejigbo LCDA chairgovernment, to as a matter by Global Affairs Canada and men, councilors, yesterday, fulfillment from myself and the Vaults yesterday afternoon be a 300 level student of the Hon. Johnson said, “We entire good people of the two in what family members University of Lagos. of urgency, intensify efforts Netherland in collaboration Chidinma, according to the celebrate yet another signifi- communities to share in this who lamented that he was in checkmating the carnage with the Katsina State House cant points in the political great success and thank the undeserving of such a cruel police, was later arrested in and inaugurate the State of Assembly. She explained that primary advancement of our great party leadership for the ever fate called “low key” burial. their apartment at Yaba before Child Protection Law (CPL) Though the ceremony she confessed to having had party, APC, it’s indeed victory unrelenting strength, support, Implementation Committee schools in Batsari, Safana, proper discharge of efforts appeared an open one, some a minor scuffle with the late earned and well-deserved. to avert sexual and other Danmusa, Jibia, Faskari and people who claimed to be fam- Ataga before he was stabbed. “No better way to express and and push at all times issues afflicting children in Kankara have been christened She allegedly claimed they “Also to the great party ily members firmly but coolly as “no go areas because the restate the strategic, relentless the state. In a motion titled, ‘Per- bandits are always present to and undaunted drive of the members, chieftains for un- insisted that some aspects of had done some drugs and were sistent Insecurity in the strike, going with their guns in party and its given template, bridled loyalty and formidable the solemn ceremony were not high before the misunderstandwhich continues to build the tradition that’s geared towards for public consumption and ing that led to the death of Katsina State’, the Parlia- broad daylight ridingmotorclyces Ataga. party’s desirable large empire. common good and prosperity.” gently enforced the same. ment Member representing in tens.”

UNITED WE STAND. . .

A’ Court Nulliﬁes Judgment Sacking Anambra PDP’s EXCO

COVID-19 3rd Wave: PSC Cautions INEC, States, Parties on Political Mega Rallies

Rep Lauds APC Chieftains for Peaceful Council Election

SATURDAY JULY 31, 2021 • T H I S D AY

JULY 31, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

EDEVBIE: A MAN OF PASSION Allison Abanum pays tribute to David Edevbie, a technocrat and administrator

ate last month, Olorogun David Edevbie delivered the 2021 Annual Public Service Lecture of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA), Asaba Chapter. The lecture was titled, “2023: The Role of Technocrats in Government.” It is a lecture which cannot be forgotten in a hurry because of its rich and enriching contents. It’s important to note that Edevbie never attended the University of Ibadan. Anyone who is informed about the structure and functioning of alumni associations knows that they never lack in human resources. Dr. Felicia Adun who chairs the association stated that these annual lectures are “aimed at building an association committed to best practices and robust articulation of ideas to move the state and the country to enviable heights.” It’s only someone who has attained an enviable height to articulate ideas that can take anyone or institution to an enviable height. Edevbie is one such man. His experiences in the world of technology and his political sojourns as a politician who takes the core values of democracy as personal values, a democrat par excellence, makes him the most suitable person to deliver a lecture that links technocracy to government. Putting his submission succinctly and firmly he said, “The [Nigeria] nation’s development lies not in a shift from democracy in the conventional sense to technocracy, but in the manner that democracy and technocracy were synchronized into a symbiotic relationship.” Edevbie who’s both a technocrat and a democrat, in theory and in practice, is an excellent example of the power of this symbiotic relationship. It is important at this point to take a peek into the life of the man who has shown that with passion, productivity, diligence, determination and integrity, we can open doors that connections and connectionism cannot open. Like a ubiquitous magician, Edevbie has conquered territories and built impossible bridges with passion. After quality training from both the home front and some citadel of learning, David Edevbie started as a trainee manager, Graduate Development Programme, Barclays Bank, London in October, 1988 immediately after graduating from the University of Wales. He was branch manager from 1988-1989 and became credit analyst from 1989-1990. Due to his passion for work, discipline and financial prudence, Edevbie was promoted to assistant manager, corporate lending from 1990-1992. He was corporate finance executive, Hill Samuel Bank Ltd, United Kingdom, 1992-1993; manager, Corporate Recoveries,1994-1995; investment officer, Asia and Pacific, Common Wealth Development Corporation, United kingdom, 1995-96; deputy country head, Philippines,1996-98; investment manager, Minerals, Oil and Gas dept, 1998-99. David Edevbie is a member of Chartered institute of Bankers; Chartered institute of Marketing. He was Finance Commissioner under the James Ibori-led Government in Delta State and became the Principal Secretary to President

DAVID EDEVBIE IS BRAVE. HE HAS COME TO SEE LIFE AS A BATTLEFIELD, JUST LIKE THE BIBLICAL DAVID. TO WIN ANY BATTLE REQUIRES COURAGE

Umaru Yar’Adua. Because Edevbie had been seen as a man of passion, he was again appointed as Commissioner for Finance in the first tenure of Okowa-led administration and became Chief of staff to the same government in the second tenure. He has always left uncompromising standard everywhere he headed. Many have cited Edevbie’s inaccessibility as the reason for frugal information on him. I disagree. All over the world it is our duty to penetrate the impregnable world of this enigma to give mankind a peep into his almost surreal planet. The summary of my intense probe is that our youths need to know how Edevbie has built a good life. The good people of Delta State need to understand this man of passion who is delivering with Integrity. I will cite few examples. The first is hard work. David Edevbie is a workaholic. Many of those close to him are forced to share in his amazing penchant for work and more work. The second is his sharp vision. He has clear sight on any project he wants to embark on. Three, he personally supervises every project because he doesn’t want anyone to disappoint him. He sometimes sends different people on a similar mission to have an effective backup. Four, he is a risk taker. Edevbie hates the word impossibility. He does his homework first and once he’s convinced in his heart, he will take the plunge. Five, David Edevbie is brave. He has come to see life as a battlefield, just like the biblical David. To win any battle requires courage. Six, despite his influence, Edevbie is a very simple man. I sometimes wonder if he has not turned work into relaxation while relaxation is a difficult thing for him. He is not an extravagant man. He spends most of his wealth on others. Seven, unknown to many, David Edevbie is a very shy and humble man. He would bend down to greet most people. Eight, Edevbie is extremely loyal to his friends. And he demands unflinching allegiance in return. If he loves you, he can almost pluck his eyes for you. No amount is too big for him to give away. Edevbie is passionate in everything he does. I like to describe him as a spirit because he has not ceased to amaze me about his passion for work. It seems inevitable that there should be a deluge of tributes to this iconic son of Nigeria, a man who had touched nothing that he did not adorn. Hard work, civility, integrity, initiative, a sense of purpose and of caring and commitment had been the building blocks of his monumental achievements in his public and professional life. David Edevbie’s success story is the product of the confluence of talent and passion and he used both to the advantage of his community, his state, his country and his global constituency. His enduring epitaph will surely feature, inter alia, as the harmonious blend of politics, governance and a technocrat. Abanum is the Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communication and Documentation to the Governor of Bayelsa State

ABDULRASAK AND THE EMIRATE The suspension of the Durbar is ill-advised, writes Wahab Oba

his is not politics. And it’s not funny. It’s absurd, ridiculous, provocative and contemptuous. The ongoing assault on the Emirate, the Emir and the contempt in Kwara State in the form of governance reached another horrible peak during the Ileya festival. The governor decided it was not safe to observe the Durbar; the most anticipated part of the annual Islamic rites of Eid Adha. In reaching that decision you would think he would cite the need to tackle the emerging third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic where Kwara is now on the list of states of interest. But no, the governor cited a seemingly fallacious ‘security reason’; few hours after himself and other political leaders in Ilorin and environment had observed the Eid prayers. Though keen observers of trend of events in the last two years of this government would not be surprised by the ‘suspension’ of the people’s festival, this action further demonstrates the insensitivity to the sensibility of the people of the Emirate by our governor. Will those food vendors and hawkers who possibly have taken loans ever forgive this unilateral action of the governor? Even more sacrilegious is the shout of 4 + 4 at the prayer ground. There is a political price for every political action! For the avoidance of doubt, our Durbar is not a government programme. It is the Emirate’s programme. The Emir should announce whatever would happen

to it and not the governor. For those who have followed the history of political dissent in this state, particularly in the emirate, our people often express their acceptance or disgust with political leaders at the Eid prayer ground. At the 2019 Eid, it was evident the people had something against the then establishment. As unethical and unreligious it was, they told their story with protest. But the then administration of Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed did not cancel the Durbar the following day. At this year’s Eidul Adha the people spoke to Dr Saraki, in a tone of apparent forgiveness, endorsement and restoration. The message was loud and clear: they have seen the ineptitude that has been foisted on our state with AA as governor and they are ostensibly rejecting it. Was that why Abdulrahman Abdulrasak (AA) cancelled the Durbar, fearing that another appearance by Saraki, the Waziri Ngeri of Ilorin, at the event would be the ultimate burial of the AA political empire? Or was it a punishment for the loud anti-AA statement at the prayer ground? Kwarans cannot wait to see the end of this shenanigans parading our streets in the name of governance. It was a panic measure to curtail the resurgence of the Saraki enigma. But would it work? Definitely not. Not with the notoriety this governor has attracted to himself as a disappointment. *But indeed, the governor would have

needed ‘security at the Durbar. He would have needed it against the horses of APC members who are daily facing frustrations from his lacklustre style of leadership; he would have been made to answer questions by protesting Sunset workers, or local government officials. He would have been made to answer questions from supporters of the only opposition member of the House of Assembly who was suspended for asking questions about governance in a democratic government. He would have been made to answer questions on the dubious and bogus loans he has been taking which opposition parties argue have not followed due process. I guess workers too might have used the occasion to ask him why he has not fulfilled his promise of paying them the minimum wage but resorted to the ‘Geri Gedi’ salary he once condemned. He would have been taken to task by some of his political allies on why governance in the state has suddenly become a family affair. He would have been made to answer questions on why he described Saraki as a dictator when he is now seen as worse than a dictator. Why we must ask ourselves, is this governor up in arms against virtually everyone? Apart from Saraki, everyone knows his treachery against the palace. Even in his own political house, there is much unrest. Every day we keep hearing various stories on radio and in the newspapers about his ineptitude as a leader. The other

day, the Minister of Information apologized for the error in choosing AA as a governor. Probably, people would have asked AA why did he deceive them to clinch the trophy. You see now why AA had to cancel the Durbar against all entreaties by those who matter in the emirate? Someone has asked that if the government could not guarantee security at the Durbar in Ilorin, how would it guarantee the same across the state? The answer is simple: has the government not abandoned the pursuit of security in every part of the state? But for the gallantry of our security forces, does this administration appear to be interested in securing lives and property? Has the security situation not taken a turn for the worse in this state since the assumption of AA in office? Truth be told, a government whose legislative arm can suspend a lawmaker for expressing an opposing view is a government that is scared of the people’s verdict. Deep down, I guess AA is afraid, even of his own shadow. Otherwise, let him organise local government elections to test the waters. If you would cancel or suspend the Durbar in 2021, what would you then do in 2022, when real politicking would have gained steam? Will you also cancel or suspend the 2023 elections as you have done to local government elections in the state? Oba wrote from Ilorin

JULY 31, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Hunters to the rescue?

Toro Hospital Deserves Special Intervention

In Praise of Mohammed Monguno

t is a steady transformational drive for the people of Monguno, Marte and Nganzai as federal lawmaker representing the area who is also the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Barrister Mohammed Tahir Monguno continues to explore avenues to pave way for acceleration of sustainable development and food security for his constituency and the nation as a whole. The recent publication of bills tally of the House of Representatives by OrderPaper apparently showed the untiring commitment and resilience of Mohammed Monguno in raising the bar and delivering exceptional nationalistic and historical impetus in the legislative chamber with 43 bills within two years period of the ninth National Assembly. The federal lawmaker pioneered many innovative ideas both locally and nationally that have direct bearings on the livelihood of the citizenry. Monguno spearheaded tremendous developmental initiatives including the renowned Petroleum Industry Bill that saw the light of the day, a historic milestone and a key economic turning point for Nigeria. He is the driving force behind huge projects such as the ongoing state- of- the- art N560million Monguno Water Project which was conceived to tackle growing water needs occasioned by the decade-long Boko Haram insurgency and influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the area and at the same time complimenting government recovery and resettlement drive. Monguno’s strategic giant strides in meeting contemporary needs of his constituents holistically fine-tuned an all-encompassing empowerment programme from the agricultural sector, education, small scale business development and skills acquisition programmes which are gradually fading away the traumatic experiences of the Boko Haram insurgency. In the area of education, Monguno has issued scholarship to students and so far distributed over one thousand laptop computers to students of higher institutions of learning in their quest for attainment of excellence. Taking into consideration the agrarian nature of Borno especially his constituency Monguno, Marte and Nganzai, the lawmaker committed time, energy and resources to the sector to ensure a turn-around in the area of knowledge and skills. The vocational skills development and empowerment covers areas such as tailoring, enterprise promotion, and boosting irrigation among other activities to enhance the livelihood of the people, mostly IDPs and the living standards of returnees to once devastated communities is yielding positive fallouts across all strata of human endeavors. This is by way of supplementing and ensuring sustainability of the means of living of mostly women and youth to support their immediate families and communities. In this parlance, hundreds of youths were trained

and empowered with start-up capitals, start-up packs in addition to collaborative psychosocial reorientation on modern trends in attaining development by Mohammed Monguno. He has continued to train and retrain peasant farmers on up-to-date agro-allied know-how to sharpen and enhance their expertise towards harnessing production to increase yield, imbibe modern procedures for storage and export in addition to distribution of improved variety of seedlings and agricultural equipment. These items include rain boots, industrial safety equipment, chemical sprayer, hand gloves, among others in addition to distribution of millions of naira to the farmers. In the area of internal security, Monguno introduced peace and security reengineering programme in conjunction with Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution purposely to orient the mindset of young people, women and Civilian Joint Task Force on modern best practices to ensure security of lives and properties as well as supporting the visionary leadership of Professor Babagana Umara Zulum- led administration. The lawmaker continues to stand firm at the lower chamber of the National Assembly projecting the concerns, immediate and future needs of his constituents. Monguno is no doubt a lawmaker with a difference through his unwavering visionary commitment to transforming not only the landscape of his constituency but directly touching the lives of the people. Umaru Yakubu Kirawa, Maiduguri.

oro Local Government Area of Bauchi State is one of the most populous local councils in Nigeria. Toro has nearly 1.2 million people, largely into small-scale businesses. The local government area shares boundary with Plateau, Kaduna, and Kano States. Despite its large population, the General Hospital in Toro is the only government hospital yet is inadequately staffed yet local councils like Jos North, Jos East, Lere in Kaduna and parts of Bauchi local council are dependent on Toro for medical attention. Every day, the hospital attends to no fewer than 200 patients from these local government areas. Consequently, the General Hospital Toro has become the busiest health facility in Bauchi State after Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital and the Specialist Hospital in Bauchi metropolis. This implies that approximately 1.5 million people share the facility from five local government areas. However, the main concern here is not the issue of population. The concern is on inadequate facilities in the hospital in terms of professional medical practitioners and

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: ﬁrst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

adequate bed spaces, among others, that can serve the need of the people sharing a single health institution. This has resulted in a situation where patients are being neglected not because the medical personnel are not doing their best but because the issue is far beyond their control. Every single unit at the General Hospital Toro is occupied and congested especially the antenatal clinic to the extent that a pregnant woman can take three to four days before seeing a doctor unless it’s an emergency situation. Still there is the inadequacy of beds in the hospital; patients are receiving treatment on mats due to insufficient beds. Therefore, people of Toro and its neighbouring local government areas need urgent intervention especially in this pandemic period. This can be done by upgrading the General Hospital Toro to a Federal Medical Centre or provide the hospital with more facilities as well as staff in order to save lives. Ukasha Rabiu Magama, Toro Local Government Area, Bauchi State

Sit Down Bravely

ince when has mental health been more important than a gold medal? ALWAYS! It is unfortunate that more people haven’t prioritised their mental, and physical, health over their sport, work, or any performances. The recent withdrawals of Simone Biles form some Olympic gymnastics events and Naomi Osaka from the Wimbledon tennis championships highlight the pressure top level sportspeople can face and yes some of them can lead fantastic lives travelling the world but not all of them. It is not a situation I ever faced but there were always nerves before any games and that was only in front of teammates, school mates and occasionally parents in competitions that did not really matter and have long been forgotten. There is so much that we have to worry about that perhaps we should all stop and ask for help when needed or even when we just want to talk to someone. Wise choices Simone and Naomi. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 31, 2021

SUPER SATURDAY

Princess Zahra Ado Bayero Uncut Princess Zahra, second daughter of Nasir Ado Bayero, the Emir of Bichi in Kano State, came into limelight just few weeks back when she was unmasked as the ﬁancé of President Muhammadu Buhari’s son, Yusuf. Ferdinand Ekechukwu digs into the background of this cute and quiet princess

he is 19-yearold, naturally preened and pristine. That is Princess Zahra Ado-Bayero, second daughter of the Emir of Bichi in Kano State, Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero. Zahra, the soon-to-be bride to Yusuf Buhari, son of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, is the Kano Princess who has ensnared the heart of Yusuf, the president’s only male child. High society is fixated already on this maiden whose wedding preparations have started in earnest. Not surprising, the blogosphere is on their trail to mill whatever bit of information available. Such was it that a recent picture of the Architecture graduate went viral shortly after being spotted quietly hanging out with her friends and sisters at an unnamed location. Zahra studied Architecture at Brighton University in the United Kingdom. Going by the tradition in Northern Nigeria, the groom’s family recently delivered boxes diamond and gold jewelry, cash, underwear, among other items known as Kayan Lefe to the bride to the delight of her mother, Farida Imam, the daughter of famous Kano educationist, Mai Abubakar Imam. Zahra and Yusuf will tie the knot on the 20th of August, 2021 in Kano. As her big day draws closer, a high-powered Presidential delegation visited the Emir of Kano’s palace few weeks ago where talks about the royal wedding were held. Pictures from that important visitation trended. The delegation to the palace was led by the Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru on Sunday, June 27, alongside other governors and top government official including the Attorney-General and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN. They were hosted by the Emir of Kano, who is the brother of the bride’s father, Emir of Bichi. This necessitated a 145-man committee inaugurated to facilitate a hitch-free wedding Fatiha between Zahra and Yusuf. The committee members were charged to use their wealth of experience to ensure a befitting royal wedding. The young lovers, Yusuf and Zahra met in the United Kingdom, where they both had their undergraduate studies. Yusuf graduated from the University of Surrey, Guildford, in 2016 alongside her sister, Zahra, now Zahra Indimi.

Princess Zahra

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͻ͹, 2021

08054699539

The Nigerian State Has Never Been This Weak

ast Saturday, Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists gleefully released pictures of two Nigerian soldiers captured on the Damaturu/Maiduguri highway. Bello Abubakar and Oyediran Adedotun of the Nigerian Army were seized with two other civilians who are protocol officers with the Yobe State Government. The notorious Damaturu/Maiduguri highway is controlled by the terrorists. Here, scores of people are abducted daily, yet, security agencies have not responded appropriately. The terrorists were seen taunting the captured Nigerian soldiers with their posts because they know there are hardly penalties. This is the level the Nigerian state has degenerated in the last six years. Civilians, gallant men and officers of the Nigerian Army are captured and killed by terrorists without repercussions. They even kill senior officers and get away with it. In the last six years, some of the senior officers who lost their lives to Boko Haram without repercussions include Colonel D.C Bako, Lt. Colonel O. Umusu, Lt. Colonel K Yusuf, Lt. Colonel Abu Ali, Lt. Colonel B. U. Umar, Lt. Col. Yusuf Aminu, Lt. Col. A. E Mamudu, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Sakaba, Lt. Col. Azubuike and Captain Victor Ulasi. I will never forget one of the deadliest massacres of Nigerian soldiers by Boko Haram in Metele, Borno State, in November 2018, when scores of soldiers were killed at 157 Task Force Battalion in the town. The terrorists that carried out the operation were never smoked out and slaughtered. I will also not forget in a hurry the massacre of soldiers in places like Sasawa, Magumeri, Malam Fatori, Gashigha, Rann, Kanama, Gamboru-Ngala, Mafa, Kunduga, Pridang-Bitta and the rest. The Nigerian state did not respond lethally. Several days after terrorists downed Nigeria’s fighter jet in the Zamfara State forest, thus, threatening the sovereignty of this nation, there are still no consequences for the guerrillas. It’s so difficult to comprehend that several months after a Nigerian Air Force fighter jet was downed in Borno State, the military is still struggling to locate the crash spot. They can’t even account

Terrorists roam in hundreds while state security agents move around in tens. So, how will the state curtail the terrorists? Rapid response to attacks hardly comes these days. That was what happened few days back when terrorists attacked Jaya settlements in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The terrorists invaded the village in hundreds, with 100 motorbikes counted; operated for several hours, killing many innocent people for the pilot and co-pilot on that crashed Alpha jet. Boko Haram’s claim that it shot the jet is looking real. In beloved Nigeria, a serving Army General, Husseini Ahmed, is killed by terrorists. Weeks after, the killers have not been apprehended. So sad, terrorists are on a killing spree in my cherished Nigeria. Boko Haram, bandits, Fulani militia and kidnappers are rampaging unhindered. Unfortunately, the security and welfare of the people is no longer on the priority list of this jaded federal government we have in place. The state governors collecting huge money as security votes have also been a huge disappointment. The statistics of killings by nonstate actors are frightening. A mid-year report by Global Rights, an international human rights organisation based in the United States revealed that 3,868 persons were killed by terrorists in different states of Nigeria between January and June 2021 alone. This represents an increase of 54.5 per cent, compared to 2,503 cases recorded within the same period in 2020. The statistics were compiled from reported killings. Hundreds of other killings by terrorists in Nigeria are unreported. Global Rights, which

tracks daily incidents of mass atrocities across the country, also put the number of persons who were abducted within the timeframe at 3,016, a 79.6 per cent increase compared to 615 incidents recorded within the same period in 2020. As at press time, 116 pupils, some of them as young as four years old, have spent 63 days in the dungeons of kidnappers in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State without repercussions. The pupils were abducted at Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School in the town. Parents and sympathizers have sent N50 million ransom, yet, the abductors have refused to release the kids. This is happening in a country supposedly with a government. Few days back, the terrorists called some parents and told them that three of the kids had died in their prison. They promised to send the burial videos to the distraught parents. Yes, just like that. Many of the remaining students are seriously ill resulting from hunger, cold and trauma; still, the terrorists will not release them. The abductors will not budge because they know there will be no repercussions. Abductors of the Tegina pupils are still

Time to Sack DCP Abba Kyari

Kyari

The evidence against super policemen and leader of IG’s Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari is overwhelming. The transcript of his voice call with Nigeria’s serial internet fraudster, Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas is incriminating, embarrassing and indelible. How can a well-trained officer be this stupid? Twice, he provided account details for Hushpuppi to send money to. Indeed, Kyari had a secret

relationship with the lawless Nigerian called Hushpuppi, who has pleaded guilty to numerous frauds in a United States court. According to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s court documents, Kyari abandoned his duties in Nigeria sometime in 2019 and flew to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, to “enjoy a good time” with Hushpuppi, who lived at Palazzo Versace in the Emirati commercial capital. DCP Kyari has not denied this. He can’t deny this. Because of this relationship, Hushpuppi in 2019 used Kyari to arrest and detain a co-criminal, Chibuzo Vincent, after a dispute arose from the $1.1 million fraudulent scheme the criminal and members of his gang committed against a Qatari businessman. It was a job for his man. Vincent was detained for over a month and Hushpuppi paid Kyari for the job. Now, a United States District Court has ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation to arrest Kyari and produce him in the US for his role in a multi-million dollar fraud perpetrated by Hushpuppi and his co-conspirators. Kyari’s defence, posted on the social media on Thursday, was childish. With just a phone

call from Husspuppi, alleging that somebody in Nigeria threatened to kill his family in Nigeria, he rushed to arrest Vincent, detained him and sent his pictures to Hushpuppi. It’s almost impossible for Kyari to clear himself on the issue of money sent twice by Hushpuppi to account details supplied by Kyari. The policeman claimed one of the remittances by Hushpuppi was for local attires the fraudster saw on his page and liked, and that the money was sent directly to the tailor. So, DCP Kyari served as an intermediary between Hushpuppi and the tailor? How does this sound? When did Kyari become a style consultant to Hushpuppi? Wonders will never end in Nigeria. Kyari’s story is balderdash. He has soiled his hands in this Hushpuppi case. Kyari should be sacked and handed over to the FBI immediately. It is bizarre that this top policeman is often seen frolicking with suspicious characters. The other day, he was seen skipping with Obi Cubana and his gang who were abusing the Naira. You also need to see his video dancing at MC Oluomo’s party. The party is over for Kyari. He should just leave the Force.

Ikpeazu Should Pay College of Education Workers Workers of the Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu (ASCETA), have not been paid salaries for 31 months. Strange things are happening in Abia State. These workers and their families have been going through hell. That was why the workers staged a number of protests in the last few weeks, hoping that God will touch Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, to amend his ways and pay them. The Chairman, ASCETA, Kelvin Onyema remarked: “We have just finished the part one at Arochukwu where the

college is situated. So, next week Thursday, we will be coming to Umuahia to do the next protest. It will continue daily till July 29.” The workers carried out the protests as announced, but Governor Ikpeazu’s heart is still hardened. ASCETA workers are yet to be paid. I guess the Abia State governor is so happy inflicting pain on innocent people. Well, it’s only for the moment. Most of these guys in power don’t learn from history. Ikpeazu will eventually account for the pain inflicted on ASCETA workers.

Ikpeazu

within Rafi. They call parents regularly using GSM phones and frequently come out to collect food and money from parents and supporters of the abductees. It can only happen in Nigeria. In Kaduna State, terrorists have been holding 87 pupils of Bethel Baptist High School for 27 days. They strolled into the school, operated for over an hour unchallenged, and walked out with 121 children. In all, 34 pupils were either released or escaped from the beast. The office of the terrorists in Kaduna State is an open secret; it is along the Kaduna-Abuja highway. They saunter in and out of the forest unhindered. Notwithstanding, security agents are unwilling to storm the place. Abductors of the Bethel pupils have collected over N20 million in the last 27 days. This is in addition to the bags of food collected daily from the troubled parents. They are simply terrorising the parents and abducting pupils because they know that the Nigerian state is incapable of helping traumatised citizens. No fewer than 83 students and seven staff of the Federal Government College, Yauri, have spent 31 days in the forest with terrorists, who abducted them within the school premises. Three of the students died during separate weird rescue operations. While on their way out of Yauri, the abductors ran into men of the Joint Taskforce of Operation Hadarin Daji in the North-West Zone, and still escaped with ease. Terrorists roam in hundreds while state security agents move around in tens. So, how will the state curtail the terrorists? Rapid response to attacks hardly comes these days. That was what happened few days back when terrorists attacked Jaya settlements in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The terrorists invaded the village in hundreds, with 100 motorbikes counted; operated for several hours, killing many innocent people. There was no response to S.O.S messages from the villages by the Nigerian state. What a country! The Nigerian state, under Muhammadu Buhari as leader, is a disaster. Nigeria can’t protect its citizens. Its weakness is unprecedented. Only a miracle can save this country.

Weird Stories around Rising Price of Cooking Gas Most homes using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas, are groaning as the price hit a record high of almost N500 per kilogramme, amid raging unemployment and poverty in the country. People in semi-urban and rural areas, who are the main target of LPG expansion, have started dumping their cylinders. A 12.5kg LPG is now selling for as high as N6,500 in some parts of this country. The price of 20MT of LPG sold by terminal operators and importers surged by 30.91 per cent in six months to N7.2 million last week. Here is the bizarre news on LPG. The bulk of the LPG used in Nigeria is imported. This is happening in a country that is a major producer and exporter of LPG. Is this not strange? The Nigerian LNG and other multi-national oil companies have the capacity to meet all the LPG needs of the Nigerian market, but they are not doing this. The NLNG provides about 40 per cent of the LPG needs in Nigeria. It pumps 450,000 mtpa into the local market and export the bulk of their LPG to meet commitments abroad. Domestic demand is about 1.125 million mtpa. Strangely, Nigerian businessmen will now import the same LPG from abroad to cover the supply gap in the Nigerian market. This is evidently weird. One would expect the Nigerian government to ensure that NLNG and the other producers supply the local market in accordance with demand, rather than having a fixed quantity delivered per annum. This has not happened. For now, as the Naira continues to crumble against the Dollar, Nigerians will continue to pay more for LPG because importation is done with Dollars. Nigeria, a major exporter of LPG, imports the same product to meet domestic demand. This is another tragedy of the Nigerian nation.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY31, 2021

IMAGES

t was an afternoon of pomp and pageantry when Ansar-UdDeen High School, Surulere, Lagos Old Students’ Association (AHOSA) celebrated one of their own, an Insurance guru, Mr. Segun Balogun who recently retired as Managing Director/ CEO of LASACO Assurance Plc at the mandatory age of 60. The Retirement Lunch held in Lagos paraded some of the celebrant’s old classmates who came out in large number to celebrate this gentleman who has been a great Ambassador of the school by distinguishing himself in his profession. Here are some of the guests who graced the occasion.

Alumni Member, AHOSA, Alhaji Raﬁu Adisa Ebiti and wife, Alhaja Adebisi Ebiti

Chairman of the occasion/Chairman, Nigerian Insurance Association, Alhaji Alhaji Ajibola Shitta-Bey Ganiyu Musa

L-R: Alhaji Junaid Lateef, Dr. Ezekiel Adeleye, and Alhaji Waliu Abiodun Onibon

L–R: Current Principal, Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, Surulere, Lagos, Mrs. Folashade Moronkeji and Mr. Dele Awe

Celebrant and former Managing Director/CEO of LASACO Assurance Plc, Mr. Segun Balogun and his wife, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Balogun

President, Ansar-Ud-Deen High School Old Students’ Association (AHOSA), Mr. Raﬁu Williams

L-R: Mrs. Yemisi Ajayi Ramos, Chief Ayinla Ajileye (a.k.a King of Boys) former AHOSA President, Alhaji Tayo Lawal

L-R: Arch. Femi Lawal and Social Secretary, AHOSA, L-R: Pastor Pius Bamidele, Mrs. Clementina Osugo, Baby Catherine Mrs. April Taiwo-Jegede Osugo and Alhaji Bolarinwa Musbau

L–R: Son of the celebrant, Tolu Balogun, Mr. Gerald Osugo and Mr. Musliu Fasesan

L-R: Mr. Wale Oshodi, Alhaji Tajudeen Okerinde and Director of News, Radio Lagos, Mrs. Morenike Selem-Umaru

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY31, 2021

Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

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Tunbosun Aiyedehin

I’m that Basic Family Woman… Take your mind back to the days of the television series called Doctor’s Quarters on Mnet. The name, “Tunbosun Aiyedehin” should be familiar now. Her name and face are relatively contrasting features that make her brand unique as a thespian, in that you could easily recall her face on screen but same may not be said of her name, and the much it evokes on her identity. As one of the most sought after persons in the industry, Aiyedehin has won hearts gratifying viewers at home with her craft that not a few will readily admit to watching her star in movies, TV series, shorts, documentaries and TV commercials. Interestingly chatty and friendly, Aiyedehin talks about her life as an actress and passion for the profession in this chat with Ferdinand Ekechukwu

ho is Tunbosun Aiyedehin? I’m your family woman. I’m that basicfamilywoman. I do what I’m supposed to do as a feminine gender. But on the side occasionally, I do business. I have been doing business that’s buying and selling. I remember starting concretely in 1990 before I delved into acting. I went as far as even having a mini shop. ‘Mumsy’ had a boutique. So, it was something all of us just basically did leisurely. But it was fun. So I kind of learnt some little business tricks from her. I think she also found that I was very good with ÀJXUHV VR VKH DOORZHG PH WR DOZD\V GR WKH EDVLF accounting you know. Money she delivered I do the counting, I take down the amount. But I will do that in her presence. I maybe like 8 to 10 years old at that time. So I grew up with that. And of course, going to her shop everyday And we would always go in there on a daily basis to; well it wasn’t daily for me because she was very strict about me going to school and all of that, so my older ones, yes. But then maybe a Friday and Saturday, yes. We could come in after school for me. So all of that is something I grew up with. And I basically just continued doing that. So now when I’m in the mood, I say when I’m in the mood because work has really taken over now. Then I also teach on the side. I teach Speech Dynamics. It’s something I take very seriously once I have a student. So somewhere along the line that could also take over if I have some students who need my attention. So you never set out to be in entertainment? Tell us a bit of your journey into acting? Funny enough, I did, but you look at it. . . As a child, it was nothing for me. For some reason, my mum would always say ‘you are very empathic.’ She and my dad went as far as getting my own ÀUVW DLG NLWV DW KRPH EHFDXVH , ORYH WR DOZD\V look out for people who had little issues here DQG WKHUH 6R , KDG P\ RZQ ÀUVW DLG NLWV $V , grow older, I started hearing ‘no you can’t do nursing o it’s a job for prostitute.’ What? Where is that coming from? That completely blew me away. Gradually, that started fading away. Later, for some reasons, I started considering Theatre Arts. Why? I had started reading scripts for my immediate older sister. She was already in LASU and she had started doing work in Badagry. I didn’t have the opportunity to go to Badagry to see anything but then I like what I was doing for KHU ,W ZHQW RQ WR GHVWLQ\ , ZDV LQ P\ ÀQDO \HDU (studying BusinessAdministration) somewhere along the line I met up with Uncle Olu Jacobs in Lagos and we had a chat and he said ‘oh I will call you to the National Theatre you never mind. And that was it…

me his full support as far back as 10-12 years ago and he’s ever so supportive. And I’m ever so grateful for that.

Being in the entertainment can a;ect one’s lifestyle. To what extent has it a;ected yours? 2K ZHOO DͿHFWHG P\ OLIHVW\OH" 2K PHQ LW can be crazy. You just have to know how to EDODQFH LW )RU PH OLNH ÀUVW RI DOO , WKLQN P\ friends who understand a bit of what I do had come to the conclusions that they just have to let me be. And fortunately or unfortunately, I don’t have too many friends. I kind of like my kind of clandestine, if I may use it that word, lifestyle. And I am somebody who grew up to kind of like being on her own. I’m too much in P\ RZQ ZRUOG 6R LW·V HYHQ VDQHU IRU PH ÀUVW RI all with respect to work. So, occasionally, I try to make sure I show up at one function or the other because I don’t want a situation where ,·P WRWDOO\ FXWRͿ 'R \RX NQRZ DV ,·P WDONLQJ to you now I’m looking at four scripts in front of me? And I’m looking at my calendar?! What are the things you treasure most in life? What would I say? Friendship, family there are some friends I have who stay closer than even siblings you know. I cherish them. I have alumni that I said to you earlier on; we are called the 90’s babes. That is one alumni that I am just crazy about because the way God has so helped us to stick to each other; we are like lechers! Very positive ones if you know what I mean. We feed RͿ HDFK RWKHU VR EHDXWLIXOO\ \RX NQRZ ZH DUH there for each other. I don’t have too many friends. We have been together over 30 years so you can imagine what I’m talking about. As a whole, I value friendship; I treasure what we have to RͿHU HDFK RWKHU Would you say you have found fulÀllment acting? At this point I think I’m still within a 25-50% IXOÀOOPHQW UDQJH 7KHUH DUH FHUWDLQ WKLQJV , VWLOO have in mind that I would love to do with certain persons in the industry which I haven’t yet been able to achieve workwise.

What excites you most as an actress and what inspires you? talk about me and do their interviews, do the Thank God she didn’t put me in the previous one What excites me? Funny enough these are researches they can do whatever. But I don’t want because that one took a month and a half. And I things I haven’t thought about . . . what excites to be there in anybody’s face. So that’s it really. wouldn’t have been able to stay away that long me… what excites me… I don’t know! Nothing because I was just coming out from another one really I don’t know about that really. You know Between stage and screen acting, which one that had taken me away for 34 days. I don’t think why? I think I’m very cautious of my health came Àrst? it’s fair to just leave the home front for so long. right now so I try not to be unnecessarily excited Which was it now? I have to look at my resume I turned down the one she brought after that I’m almost 50. But you know how we are as because I was… I can’t remember. I do stage and because it will have me play Hajia all through. individuals; we all have one thing or the other I do screen. Stage is to help rebuild my entire I didn’t want to be enmeshed in that character. that maybe underlining and you know it. So you person; screen is to come back from stage to So I turned it down. That’s one of the reasons I try to guard against something that should not carry on. So I try stage every year which I haven’t turned that down. I didn’t like that character on let something happen. So those are things I try been able to do in the past three years really UHOLJLRXV EDVLV 2WKHUV DUH VRPHWKLQJ ÀQDQFLDO to be very mindful of. So I try to stay as calm as because workload has just been crazy. I think WKH\ DUH RͿHULQJ \RX , PHDQ VRPH SHRSOH MXVW possible. Inspiration basically each day comes WKH 6K\ORFN ZDV P\ ÀUVW ZKLFK ZDV WKH VWDJH think you are there for a 2 kobo thing. They are It appears you don’t really care how much with its own inspiration. But I think work now is Then I went on to Doctor’s Quarters (TV series), ready to pay you 10,000 to please come put your of your brand is out there as an actor? my major inspiration. I love the fact that I always P\ ÀUVW VFUHHQ RQ 0QHW face in their script. I’m not in for all that. I stopped Erm my brand could be out there but I’m get to work now. doing pro bono some 5 to 6 years ago. If you really not an out there person. It’s in this era It appears you are one of the most sought FDQ·W DͿRUG PH GRQ·W ERWKHU What do you keep up with when you are that this acting career has become such a big after actors. Maybe not but how many movies not on set? issue. I started out because it was what I had a You mentioned not going far from the home do you get to act in a year on the average? I love watching TV; that’s basically what I do. SDVVLRQ IRU , PHDQ , UHPHPEHU P\ YHU\ ÀUVW MRE It may not be that many. I may have had to front for so long like having a script that requires And that’s the only way I get to calm myself yeah my producer said ‘oh you are part of the turn down a few. you 34 days away. To some extent, you have down. I love comedy. So I love to just watch; house so what I’m I paying you for?’ I worked successfully kept distinct your status to the I like to rest a lot when I’m not on set because for four weeks. I was handling both welfare and Why would you turn down a script? point that some doubt if you are even married ZKHQ , JHW WR ZRUN WKHUH DUH GD\V , ÀQG P\VHOI then I had a character that was also playing in There’s a movie on TV right now. When the as you said also. How have you been able to working for some three weeks non-stop. And if that stage play it was titled ‘Shylock: His True production manager called me, he said ‘I’m manage that as regards – home and work? I’m not careful, I will breakdown. I love to listen 6WRU\· ,W NLQG RI JRW WR PH EXW WKHQ , VZLWFKHG RͿ For me, the most important thing is what the sending you a script aunty. Please read because to music; I’m an R&B person I love gospel music. So, that brand being out there yeah…let people I wasn’t able to put you in the previous one.’ head of the family thinks about it.And he’s given Tunbosun Aiyedehin

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY31, 2021

SHOWBIZFLAIR

‘Lugard’ is Set for Cinemas XWHV WUDLOHU IRU WKH XSFRPLQJ WKULOOHU VKRZV LWV SDFNHG FDVW PHPEHUV VWDUULQJ *DEULHO $IROD\DQ .HKLQGH %DQNROH 5RWLPL 6DODPL XJDUG D PRYLH E\ .QLJKWV $GHQL\L -RKQVRQ +DÀ] ¶6DND· 2\HWRUR 'HER Film Production, B5Films ¶0U 0DFDURQL· $GHED\R 2PRZXQPL 'DGD DQG 0RQRPDQLD (QWHU- =DFN 2UML 1RUEHUW <RXQJ DPRQJ RWKHU ELJ tainment is set for release QDPHV ([SHFW WR VHH WKHVH PRYLH VWDUV LQ LQ FLQHPDV QDWLRQZLGH RQ WKHLU PRVW WHUULÀF SHUIRUPDQFH HVSHFLDOO\ WKH RI $XJXVW 7KH WKH OHDG DFW *DEULHO $IROD\DQ +H H[SODLQV LW ÀOP FHQWHUV RQ KRZ UHYHQJH DV RQH RI KLV EHVW PRYLHV HYHU LQ D UHOHDVHG and jealousy put the social movement of VWDWHPHQW IRU WKH SUHVV D UHIRUPHG UDGLFDO LQ MHRSDUG\ ZKHQ KLV $IROD\DQ VDLG ´, OLNH P\ UROH LQ /XJDUG SDVW FRPHV WR OLJKW IROORZLQJ WKH LQWULJXLQJ , FDQ EROGO\ VD\ LW LV RQH RI P\ EHVW MREV VWRU\ RI DQ LQWHOOLJHQW QHZ HQWU\ XQLYHUVLW\ HYHU ,W ZDV VXFK D VWURQJ PRYLH 7KH VWRU\ VWXGHQW ZKR ZDV LQLWLDWHG LQWR FXOWLVP GXH is a story that pulls you to the very centre WR KLV LQWLPLGDWLQJ EUDLQ SRZHU $IWHU KLV RI \RXU KHDUW ,W LV DERXW ORYH FXOWLVP DQG ÀUVW DVVLJQPHQW ZKLFK OHG WR WKH GHDWK RI \RXWKV 7KH SHUIRUPDQFH LV RXW RI WKLV ZRUOG a rival confraternity leader, Lugard’s life is 7KH FUHZ PHPEHUV DUH VRPH RI WKH EHVW SXW LQ GDQJHU hands in the country and my co-actors are 'LUHFWHG E\ 7XQGH 2ODR\H DQG H[HFXWLYH JUHDW DV \RX DOUHDG\ NQRZ PRVW RI WKHP , SURGXFHG E\ +DNHHP 2ODJHVKLQ D WZR PLQ- UHDOO\ OLNH WKLV ÀOP ,W LV D PRYLH RQ VHULRXV

Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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‘Juju Stories’ to Premiere At Locarno Film Festival

GHVFULEHV WKHP DV WKUHH XUEDQ OHJHQGV WKUHH GLUHFWRUV &RQÀUPLQJ WKH UHSRUW FR GLUHFWRU &- 2EDVL ZURWH The Surreal16 Collective, makers ´+RQRXUHG WR ÀQDOO\ DQQRXQFH WKDW of “Juju Stories”, has announced RXU DQWKRORJ\ ÀOP #MXMXVWRULHV WKDW WKH DQWKRORJ\ ÀOP D VXEJHQUH FRQVLVWLQJ RI VHYHUDO VKRUW ÀOPV ZLOO ZULWWHQ DQG GLUHFWHG ZLWK P\ EURWKHUV IURP WKH #VXUUHDO FROOHFWLYH SUHPLHUH DW WKH WK /RFDUQR ÀOP ZLOO :RUOG SUHPLHUH LQ WKH &RQFRUVR IHVWLYDO LQ 6ZLW]HUODQG 7KH IHVWLYDO ,QWHUQD]LRQDOH 0DLQ FRPSHWLWLRQ RI is slated to hold from August 4-14, 7KH FROOHFWLRQ ZLOO IHDWXUH LQ WKH WKH WK #ÀOPIHVWORFDUQR LQ $XJXVW µ 7KH ÀOP H[SORUHV VXSHUVWLWLRQV /RFDUQR·V &RQFRUVR ,QWHUQD]LRQDOH DQG P\WK DURXQG ¶MXMX· WR LQFOXGH ZKLFK LV WKH IHVWLYDO·V PDLQ FRPSHWLWLRQ :LWK WKLV DQQRXQFHPHQW WKH &- 2EDVL·V ¶6XͿHU WKH :LWFK· 0DNDPD·V 2EDVL $EED 7 0DNDPD DQG 0LFKDHO ¶<DP· DQG 2PRQXD·V ¶/RYH 3RWLRQ· For long, the producers kept under 2PRQXD·V DQWKRORJ\ ÀOP LV ÀQDOO\ ZUDSV GHWDLOHG R΀FLDO PDWHULDOV IRU VHW IRU UHOHDVH the sophomore anthology feature The group also released a one minXWH WZHQW\ ÀYH VHFRQGV WUDLOHU ZKLFK ÀOP ´:H DUH WDNLQJ LW VORZO\ VR Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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upcoming stories rooted in folklore DQG XUEDQ OHJHQG The shots, devoid of dialogue, VKRZ D VHPEODQFH RI DQ ,ID SULHVW LQ WKH ÀUVW VFHQH ,Q D IROORZ XS VFHQH D \RXQJ PDQ DSSHDUV WR EH UXQQLQJ RXW RI GDQJHU 6KRW E\ )HPL $ZRMLGH the Surreal16 Collective production thrives on the intents to create artistiFDOO\ PLQGHG ÀOPV WKDW PRYH DZD\ from the reigning domination of 1ROO\ZRRG DHVWKHWLFV DQG SURGXFWLRQ SUDFWLFHV 3URGXFHG E\ )UDQFLV 1HERW 2JH 2EDVL DQG $GDXJR 8]RPD DXGLHQFH ZRXOG KDYH WR UHO\ much on visual details to connect ZLWK WKH QDUUDWLYHV LQ WKLV ERG\ RI ZRUNV

Sonorous: Road to Success Not Smooth Omokanye Olasunkanmi Muhamed, stage name Sonorous, is one artiste, whose confidence lies in his passion for music, unique voice texture and skills that he has developed over time. “Paramedic”, the first single from his forthcoming album “Kanye West”, is ready. According to Sonorous, who started his professional music journey at the age of 15, the track, released to the digital music stores on July 20th, is filled with catchy and well-crafted tunes that appeal to people of all ages. Known for his versatility, sonorous dabbles into different music genres. He is dynamic in terms of adaptability to most genres of music. His music is embedded with philosophy, soul piercing, melodic beats, hard lyrics and hooks that stay stuck in the listener’s head for good, even as his energy, rhythmic flow and undeniable flair capture you instantly. With a thrilling stage presence, his mixture of boldness and witty lyricism stands him out as an artiste who is not afraid to be different. He shares more in this interview with Ferdinand Ekechukwu

ow early did you develop interest in music and how far would you say you have gone?

I started music at a tender age of 15 years old, and going so far LQ WKH 0XVLFDO MRXUQH\ ZDV TXLWH GHPDQGLQJ DQG FRXUDJHRXV

How were you able to gain acceptance from your audience? 7KH OLNHV DFFHSWDQFH DQG LQWHUHVW ZDV JHWWLQJ KH·V PDMRU EUHDN DIWHU UHFRUGLQJ P\ ÀUVW VLQJOH VRQJ WLWOHG ,QYLVLEOH 'HVWLQ\ LQ Most times musicians sing for their lives ones, including girlfriends. Do you do the same? 7KH EUDQG QDPH 6RQRURXV VLQJV IRU P\ Lives ones, lovers, fans and for thecCulture What challenges will you say musicians

are facing today? The road to success is certainly not VPRRWK KDYLQJ LWV XSV DQG GRZQV ÀQDQFLDO DVVLVWV EXW FRQVLVWHQF\ DQG JUDFH OHG WR meeting PNAJ records

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How have you been coping since the covid-19 pandemic lockdown?

Which artiste would you say inÁuenced your career? I got the inspiration for my career from P\ GDG ZKR LV D PXVLF ORYHU DQG ZDV DOZD\V SOD\LQJ RQH UHFRUG RU WKH RWKHU

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What should your fans expect from you, any exciting project coming up? The music act is set to turn up the heat LQ WKH PXVLF LQGXVWU\ P\ IDQV VKRXOG EH H[SHFWLQJ P\ )LUVW 6WXGLR 0LQL $OEXP (3 ´.$1<( :(67µ WKH (3

What inspired the new album? 7KH ZKROH LGHD RI WKH VRQJ LWVHOI LV PRUH RI D ÀUVW VLJKW HPRWLRQDO ([SUHVVLRQ WR D ORYLQJ EOXVKLQJ DQJHO D VHOI HPRWLRQDO

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Sonorous

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͻ͹˜ ͺͮͰͯ

STYLE FILE

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͻ͹˜ ͺͮͰͯ

INTERVIEW Umo Eno

Gov Udom Has Reformed Water, Land Sectors ÕáË ÌÙ× ÞËÞÏ Ù××ÓÝÝÓÙØÏÜ ÐÙÜ ËØÎÝ ËØÎ ËÞÏÜ ÏÝÙßÜÍÏÝ˜ ËÝÞÙÜ ×Ù ØÙ ÝÚÙÕÏ áÓÞÒ ÝÏÖÏÍÞ ÔÙßÜØËÖÓÝÞÝ ËÌÙßÞ ÞÒÏ ËÑÑÜÏÝÝÓàÏ ÜÏÐÙÜ×Ý ÒÏ ÓØÞÜÙÎßÍÏÎ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÖËØÎ ËØÎ áËÞÏÜ ÝÏÍÞÙÜÝ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ˜ Ë ÐÏËÞ ÒÏ ËÞÞÜÓÌßÞÏÎ ÞÙ àÓÝÓÙØËÜã ÖÏËÎÏÜÝÒÓÚ ÚÜÙàÓÎÏÎ Ìã ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÎÙ× ××ËØßÏÖ˛ Charles Ajunwa áËÝ ÞÒÏÜÏ˛˛˛ ÏâÍÏÜÚÞÝ

hat have you achieved sinceyourappointment as Commissioner of Land and Water Resources? Ï ÒËàÏ ÎÙØÏ Ë ÐÏá ÞÒÓØÑÝ ÓØ ×ã ×ÓØÓÝÞÜã ÝÓØÍÏ ÍË×Ï ÙØ ÌÙËÜÎ ÙØ ËØßËÜã Ͳ˜ ͰͮͰͯ˛ Ï ÒËàÏ ÏâÏÍßÞÏÎ ÞÒÏ ÏÙÑÜËÚÒÓÍ

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ÐÙßÜ ÍÙÚÓÏÝ ËØÎ ãÙß ÒËàÏ ËÌÙßÞ ËÖ×ÙÝÞ ͱ˜ͮͮͮ ÖãÓØÑ ÎÙáØ˛ ÒÏØ áÙßÖÎ ÞÒÏ ÑÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÒËàÏ ÞÓ×Ï ÓØ ËÖÖ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÏâÏÍßÞÓàÏ ÎßÞÓÏÝ ØÙÞ ÌÏÍËßÝÏ ÒÏ ÎÙÏÝØ˪Þ áËØÞ ÞÙ ÝÓÑØ ÌßÞ ÓÞ˪Ý ËÖ×ÙÝÞ ØÏËÜ Ó×ÚÙÝÝÓÌÖÏ˛ Ù ÞÒËÞ ÓÝ ÙØÏ ËÜÏË áÏ ÒËàÏ áÙÜÕ ÎÙØÏ ËØÎ áÏ áÏØÞ ÙØ ÞÙ ÑÏÞ ÞÒËÞ ÝÓ×ÚÖÓÐÓÏÎ˛ ßÝÞ ÜÏÍÏØÞÖã˜ ÝÏÞ ßÚ Ë ÍÙ××ÓÞÞÏÏ ÞÙ ÜÏàÓÏá ÞÒÏ ËÞÏÜ ÓÖÖÝ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ ÌÏÍËßÝÏ áÏ ÒËàÏ ØÙÞ ÒËÎ Ë áËÞÏÜ ÚÙÖÓÍã ËØÎ áÏ ÍËØ˪Þ ÑÏÞ ÎÙØÙÜ ËÑÏØÍÓÏÝ ÞÙ ÝßÚÚÙÜÞ áÒËÞ áÏ ËÜÏ ÎÙÓØÑ˛ ÖÙÞ ÙÐ ÎÙØÙÜ ËÑÏØÍÓÏÝ ÞÒËÞ ËÜÏ áÓÖÖÓØÑ ÞÙ áÙÜÕ áÓÞÒ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ ÑÙàÏÜØ×ÏØÞ ÌßÞ ÞÒÏã áËØÞ ÞÙ ÝÏÏ ãÙßÜ ËÞÏÜ ÓÖÖ˜ ÞÒÏã áËØÞ ÞÙ ÝÏÏ ÞÒÏ ÚÙÖÓÍÓÏÝ ãÙß ËÜÏ ÜßØØÓØÑ ÞÒËÞ ÓÝ ÓØ ÍÙØÝÙØËØÍÏ áÓÞÒ ÞÒÏ ßÝÞËÓØËÌÖÏ ÏàÏÖÙÚ×ÏØÞ ÙËÖÝ ̙ Ý̚ ÑÏØÏÜËÖÖã ËØÎ ÞÒËÞ ÍËØ ÌÏ ÎÏÐÓØÏÎ ÓØ ãÙßÜ ÚÙÖÓÍã˛ Ù áÏ ÎÓÝÍÙàÏÜÏÎ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒÙÝÏ ÚÙÖÓÍÓÏÝ ËÜÏ ØÙÞ ÞÒÏÜÏ˜ áÏ ÒËàÏ ÙØÏ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒÏã ÒËÎ ÎÙØÏ ×ËØã ãÏËÜÝ ÌËÍÕ ÌßÞ ØÙÌÙÎã ÚßÜÝßÏÎ ÓÞ˛ ÒÏ áËÞÏÜ ÝÏÍÞÙÜ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ ×ßÍÒ ËÝ ÞÒÏ ÑÙàÏÜØ×ÏØÞ ÓÝ Úß×ÚÓØÑ ÓØ ×ÙØÏã ãÙß ÎÙØ˪Þ ÒËàÏ ÍÙßØÞÏÜÚËÜÞ ÐßØÎÓØÑ ÞÙ ÚßÝÒ˜ ÝÙ áÏ ÒËàÏ ÞÙ áÙÜÕ ÞÙÑÏÞÒÏÜ áÓÞÒ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ ÙßÝÏ ÙÐ ÝÝÏ×ÌÖã ÞÙ ÞËÖÕ ËÌÙßÞ ÓÞ˛ Ø ßÖã ͯͷ˜ ͰͮͰͯ˜ ÓØËßÑßÜËÞÏÎ ÞÒÏ áËÞÏÜ ÍÙ××ÓÞÞÏÏ ÞÙ ÜÏàÓÏá ÞÒÙÝÏ ËÞÏÜ ÓÖÖÝ ÝÙ ÞÒËÞ áÏ ÍËØ ÑÏÞ Ë ÎÜËÐÞ ËØÎ ÝÏØÎ ÓÞ ÞÙ ÞÒÏ ÞÞÙÜØÏã ÏØÏÜËÖ˛ Ð ÍÙßÜÝÏ˜ ÞÒÏ ÞÞÙÜØÏã ÏØÏÜËÖ ØÙ×ÓØËÞÏÎ ÜÏÚÜÏÝÏØÞËÞÓàÏÝ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÎÜËÐÞ ÞÏË× ÐÜÙ× ÞÒÏ ÏÑËÖ ÏÚËÜÞ×ÏØÞ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÞÞÙÜØÏã ÏØÏÜËÖ˪Ý ÙÐÐÓÍÏ˛ ÒÏ ØÓØÏ̋×Ï×ÌÏÜ ÍÙ××ÓÞÞÏÏ ÞÒÏã ÒËàÏ ÞáÙ áÏÏÕÝ ÞÙ ÝßÌ×ÓÞ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÜÏÚÙÜÞ ÝÙ ÞÒËÞ áÏ ÍËØ ÞËÖÕ áÓÞÒ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ ÙßÝÏ ÙÐ ÝÝÏ×ÌÖã ËØÎ ÞÒÏ ÏâÏÍßÞÓàÏ ÍËØ ÐÙÜ×ËÖÖã ÝÏØÎ ÞÒËÞ ÌÓÖÖ ÞÙ ÞÒÏ×˛ ÒËÞ ÌÓÖÖ ÜÏÑßÖËÞÏÝ ÜßÜËÖ áËÞÏÜ˜ ßÜÌËØ áËÞÏÜ˜ ãÙß ÜÏÑßÖËÞÏ ÞÒÏ ÚËÜÞÓÏÝ ËØÎ ØÙá ÌÏ ËÌÖÏ ÞÙ ÑÏÞ ÎÙØÙÜ ËÑÏØÍÓÏÝ ÞÙ ÝÏÏ ÞÒËÞ áÒËÞÏàÏÜ ÐßØÎÓØÑ ÞÒÏã ÑÏÞ áÏ ÒËàÏ Ë ÚÙÖÓÍã˛ ÒÏÝÏ ËÜÏ ÞÒÓØÑÝ áÏ ÍËØ ÎÙ ÞÙ ÑÏÞ ÌßÝÓØÏÝÝ áÙÜÕÓØÑ˛

This Water Bill is the main thrust and how does it affect the common man?

Þ ÎÙÏÝ ÌÏÍËßÝÏ áÓÞÒÙßÞ ÞÒÙÝÏ ÌÓÖÖÝ ãÙß ÍËØ˪Þ ÎÙ ÐÙÜ ÏâË×ÚÖÏ˜ ÑÙÓØÑ ÞÙ ×ã àÓÖÖËÑÏ ÞÙ ÎÜÓÖÖ áËÞÏÜ áÒËÞ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ãËÜÎÝÞÓÍÕ˜ ÒÙá ÎÓÎ ãÙß ÎÙ ãÙßÜ ÏØß×ÏÜËÞÓÙØ˜

ÒÙá ÎÓÎ ãÙß ËÜÜÓàÏ ËÞ ÞÒËÞ˜ áÒËÞ ÓÝ ãÙßÜ ÌËÝÏÖÓØÏ ÝÞßÎãˣ ÖÖ ÙÐ ÞÒÙÝÏ ËÜÏ ÍÙØÞËÓØÏÎ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ËÞÏÜ ÓÖÖ˜ ÞÒÏ ÚÜÙÍÏÎßÜÏ ÐÙÜ ÏØÝßÜÓØÑ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒËÞ ×ËØ ÓØ ×ã àÓÖÖËÑÏ ÒËÝ áËÞÏÜ ËØÎ áÒÏØ ÒÏ ÒËÝ áËÞÏÜ ËÝÝß×ÓØÑ ˪× ÑÓàÏØ ×ÙØÏã˜ ÞÒÏ ËÚÚÖÓÍËÞÓÙØ ÙÐ ÝßÍÒ ÐßØÎÝ˜ ËÍÍÙßØÞËÌÓÖÓÞã˛ Ùß ÕØÙá ËÖÖ ÙÐ ÞÒÏÝÏ ËÑÏØÍÓÏÝ˜ ÞÒÏ ˟

Does it require people taking permission to drill boreholes? ÏÝ˛ Ùß áÓÖÖ áÙÜÕ áÓÞÒ ÞÒÏ ËÝÝÙÍÓËÞÓÙØÝ ËØÎ ãÙß ÕØÙá ÞÒÏ×˛ ßÞ ËÑËÓØ ×ÙÝÞ ÚÏÙÚÖÏ ÔßÝÞ ÎÜÓÖÖ˜ áÒËÞ ËÜÏ ÞÒÏ ÝÞÏÚÝ ÞÒËÞ ãÙß ÒËàÏ ÞÙ ÞËÕÏ ÞÙ ÌÏ ËÌÖÏ ÞÙ ßØÎÏÜÝÞËØÎ ÞÒËÞ ÞÙ ÎÜÓÖÖ ÐÙÜ ÞÒÓÝ ËÜÏË ÞÒÓÝ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÖÏàÏÖ ãÙß ×ßÝÞ ÎÜÓÖÖ˜ ÝÙ ËÖÖ ÙÐ ÞÒÙÝÏ ËÜÏ ÍÙØÞËÓØÏÎ ÓØ ÞÒËÞ ÎÙÍß×ÏØÞ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒÏã ËÜÏ ÜÏàÓÏáÓØÑ ÜÓÑÒÞ ØÙá˛ ÖÝÙ ÐÙÜ ÞÒÏ ÕáË ÌÙ× ËÞÏÜ ÙÜÚÙÜËÞÓÙØ ÞÒËÞ ÞËÕÏÝ ÍËÜÏ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ßÜÌËØ˜ ÒÙá ÍËØ ÞÒÏã ÜËÓÝÏ ×ÙØÏãˣ ÙÎËã˜ áÏ ÒËàÏ ÞÒÏ áËÞÏÜ ÍÙÜÚÙÜËÞÓÙØ ÞÒËÞ ÓÝ ÖÓ×ÓÞÏÎ ÖÓËÌÓÖÓÞã ÍÙ×ÚËØã ÞÒËÞ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ ÑÙàÏÜØ×ÏØÞ ÓÝ ÝÞÓÖÖ ÚËãÓØÑ ÝËÖËÜÓÏÝ˛ Ù áÒã ÞÒÓÝ ÖÓ×ÓÞÏÎ ÖÓËÌÓÖÓÞã ÍÙ×ÚËØãˣ ÏÜÒËÚÝ˜ ÞÒÏã ÎÙØ˪Þ ÒËàÏ Ë ÎÙÍß×ÏØÞ ÞÙ ÏàÏØ ÕØÙá ÒÙá ÞÙ ÏØÐÙÜÍÏ˛ ÕËã ÒÙá ÎÙ ÑÏÞ áËÞÏÜ ÒÏÜÏ ÞÒËÞ ÓÝ ÙßÝÓØÑ ÝÞËÞÏ ÞÒËÞ ÓÐ ÝßÚÚÖã áËÞÏÜ ÒÏÜÏ˜ ÒÙá ×ßÍÒ ÍËØ ×ËÕÏˣ ÒËÞ ÌÓÖÖ Ï×ÚÙáÏÜÝ ãÙß ÞÙ ßÝÏ ×ÏÞÏÜ ÙÜ ÞÙ ÍÒËÜÑÏ˜ ÞÙ ÑÏØÏÜËÞÏ ÌÓÖÖÝ˛ ÒÏÝÏ ÞÒÓØÑÝ ËÜÏ ËÖÖ ÖÙÙÝÏ ËØÎ ÝÙ ÖÙØÑ ËÝ ãÙß ÍÙØÞÓØßÏ ÖÙÝÓØÑ ÞÒÏÝÏ ÞÒÓØÑÝ˜ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ ÑÙàÏÜØ×ÏØÞ ÓÝ ÖÙÝÓØÑ ÜÏàÏØßÏ˛ ßÞ ×ÙÝÞ Ó×ÚÙÜÞËØÞÖã˜ ÞÒÏ ÚÏÙÚÖÏ ÎÜÓÖÖÓØÑ ÌÙÜÏÒÙÖÏ ØÙá ãÙß ÝÏÏ áËÞÏÜ ÌßÞ áÒÏØ ÞÒÏ áËÞÏÜ ÓÝ ÞËÝÞÏÎ ËØÎ ËØËÖãÝÏÎ ãÙß ÕØÙá ÞÒËÞ ãÙß ÚÏÙÚÖÏ ËÜÏ ÔßÝÞ ÎÜÓØÕÓØÑ ÜßÌÌÓÝÒ˛ Ù ÞÒÏÝÏ ËÜÏ ËÖÖ ÍÙØÞËÓØÏÎ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÌÓÖÖ˜ ÞÒÏÜÏ áÓÖÖ ÌÏ ÝÙ×Ï ÍÏÜÞÓÐÓÍËÞÓÙØ ÓØ ÞÒÏ áËÞÏÜ ÞÒËÞ ÚÏÙÚÖÏ ÐÓØËÖÖã ÑÏÞ˛ Ùß ÍËØ˪Þ ÎÙ ÞÒÏ ËÑÜÓÍßÖÞßÜËÖ ËØÎ ËßâÓÖÓËÜã ÝÏÜàÓÍÏÝ ÝßÍÍÏÝÝÐßÖÖã áÓÞÒÙßÞ Ë ÍÖÏËØ ÍßÞ áËÞÏÜ ÚÙÖÓÍã˛ Ð ÐÙÜ ÏâË×ÚÖÏ˜ ÕáË ÌÙ× ÞËÞÏ ÙàÏÜØ×ÏØÞ áËØÞÝ ÞÙ ÑÙ ÓØÞÙ ÍÙÖÖËÌÙÜËÞÓÙØ áÓÞÒ ÐÜÓÍËØ ÏàÏÖÙÚ×ÏØÞ ËØÕ ÙØ ÞÒÏ ÓÝÝßÏ ÙÐ ÜßÜËÖ ËÑÜÓÍßÖÞßÜÏ ÞÒÏÜÏ áÓÖÖ ÌÏ ØÏÏÎ ÐÙÜ ÓÜÜÓÑËÞÓÙØ ÚÜÙÔÏÍÞ ËØÎ ËÖÖ ÙÐ ÞÒËÞ˛ Ù ÐÜÙ× ÞÒÏ áËÞÏÜ ÚÙÖÓÍã ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ ãÙß áÓÖÖ ÌÏ ËÌÖÏ ÞÙ ÕØÙá ßÚÐÜÙØÞ ÞÒÏ ÏâÚÏÍÞËÞÓÙØÝ ÙÐ ÑÙàÏÜØ×ÏØÞ˜ ÓØÞÏÜØËÞÓÙØËÖ

What about the huge investment made under Obong Victor Attah in the water sector through the support of African Development Bank. Water infrastructure was developed, pipes were laid across many parts of the state but in the course of development and expansion a lot of distortions have been done to those facilities and this accounted for why you are not having water in Ewet Housing, Five Star, the state secretariat like we used to have. This will also require some level of synergy with the Ministry of Works. What are you doing about this because most of the infrastructure in the capital city has been destroyed in the course of expansionˣ ÒÏ ÝË×Ï áËÞÏÜ ÚÙÖÓÍã ãÙß ËÜÏ ÞËÖÕÓØÑ ËÌÙßÞ áÓÖÖ ÎÏËÖ áÓÞÒ ÚÓÚÏÝ ÎÏÝÞÜÙãÏÎ ÖÓÕÏ ãÙß ÝËÓÎ ÌßÞ ãÙß ÝÏÏ ÒÙá ÎÙ ãÙß ÏØÐÙÜÍÏ˜ áÒËÞ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÚÜÙÞÏÍÞÓÙØ ÞÙ ÞÒÏÝÏ áËÞÏÜ ÍÙ×ÚËØÓÏÝ ÌÏÍËßÝÏ ÏàÏØ ÓÐ ãÙß áËØÞ ÞÙ ÏØÐÙÜÍÏ ÞÒËÞ˜ ÞÒÏã áÓÖÖ ÞÏÖÖ ãÙß ÞÒËÞ ÚÙÖÓÍã áÓÖÖ ×ËÕÏ ÞÒÏ ÓØÓÝÞÜã ÙÐ ÙÜÕÝ ÞÙ ßØÎÏÜÝÞËØÎ ÞÒËÞ ÓÐ ãÙß ÑÓàÏ ÍÙØÞÜËÍÞ ÞÒÏ ÚÏÙÚÖÏ ×ßÝÞ ßØÎÏÜÝÞËØÎ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒÏÜÏ ËÜÏ ÚÓÚÏÝ ÑÙÓØÑ ÞÒÜÙßÑÒ ÒÏÜÏ˜ ÑÏÞ ÞÒÏ ÐÓØËÖ ×ËÚÝ ÓÐ ãÙß ÎÏÝÞÜÙã ÓÞ ãÙß áÓÖÖ ÌÏ ÜÏÝÚÙØÝÓÌÖÏ ËØÎ ÞÒÏØ ÞÒÏ áËÞÏÜ ÍÙ×ÚËØÓÏÝ ÍËØ ÏØÐÙÜÍÏ ÞÒËÞ˛ ßÞ áÒÏØ ãÙß ÎÙØ˪Þ ÒËàÏ Ë ÚÙÖÓÍã˜ ÙÐ ÍÙßÜÝÏ ãÙß ÕØÙá ÞÒÏ ÚÙÖÓÍã áÒÏÜÏ ÞÒÏÜÏ ÓÝ ØÙ ÜßÖÏ˜ ÞÒÏÜÏ ÓÝ ØÙ ÝÓØ ÝÙ ÚÏÙÚÖÏ ÔßÝÞ ÎÙ ÓÞ ËØÎ ÑÏÞ ËáËã áÓÞÒ ÓÞ˛ Ù ÞÒÓØÕ ÞÒËÞ ÓÝ áÒã ÞÒÓÝ ÚÙÖÓÍã ÓÝ ÑÙÓØÑ ÞÙ ÌÏ àÏÜã ØÏÍÏÝÝËÜã˛ ÒËÞ áÏ ËÜÏ ËÖÝÙ ÞÜãÓØÑ ÞÙ ÎÙ áÓÞÒ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ ÓØ ÞÏÜ×Ý ÙÐ ÖËØÎ ËÖÖÙÍËÞÓÙØ ÓÝ ÞÙ ÚÜÓÙÜÓÞÓÝÏ ÓØÝÞÏËÎ ÙÐ ÚÏÙÚÖÏ ÔßÝÞ ÍÙ×ÓØÑ ÓØÞÙ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ ÑÜËÌÌÓØÑ ÖËØÎ ÖÓÕÏ ÞÒÏã ßÝÏÎ ÞÙ ÑÜËÌ˜ áÏ áÓÖÖ ÖÓÕÏ ÞÙ ÕØÙá áÒËÞ ãÙß áËØÞ ÞÙ ÎÙ áÓÞÒ ÞÒÏ ÖËØÎ˜ áÏ áÓÖÖ ÑÓàÏ ãÙß Ë ÞÓ×Ï ÖÓØÏ ËØÎ ãÙß ÚËã ÞÒÏ ÜÓÑÒÞ ÚÜÏ×Óß×˛ Ù ÞÒÏÝÏ áÒÙÖÏ ÖÙÞÝ ÙÐ ÜÏÐÙÜ×Ý áÓÞÒÓØ ÞÒÏ ÓØÓÝÞÜã ÙÐ ËØÎÝ áÒÏØ ãÙß ÍÙ×Ï ÞÒÏÜÏ ãÙß ʨØÎ ÞÒËÞ ÓÞ˪Ý ØÙ ÖÙØÑÏÜ ÌßÝÓØÏÝÝ ËÝ ßÝßËÖ˛ Ï ËÜÏ ÞÜãÓØÑ˛ ÏÐÙÜÏ ÌÏÍË×Ï ÞÒÏ ÍÙ××ÓÝÝÓÙØÏÜ˜ áËÝ ÞÒÏ âÏÍßÞÓàÏ ÓÜÏÍÞÙÜ ÑÜÓÍßÖÞßÜËÖ ØàÏÝÞ×ÏØÞ ØÏá ÎÓÜÏÍÞÙÜËÞÏ ÞÒËÞ áËÝ ÍÜÏËÞÏÎ Ìã ÞÒÏ ÑÙàÏÜØÙÜ ËÝ Ë ÎÓÜÏÍÞÙÜËÞÏ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÕáË ÌÙ× ÞËÞÏ ØàÏÝÞ×ÏØÞ ÙÜÚÙÜËÞÓÙØ˛ ÒËÞ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÔÙÌ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ËÑÜÓÍ ÓØàÏÝÞ×ÏØÞ ÎÓÜÏÍÞÙÜËÞÏˣ Ù ÏØÝßÜÏ ÝßÝÞËÓØËÌÓÖÓÞã ÙÐ ËÖÖ ÑÙàÏÜØ×ÏØÞ ÓØàÏÝÞ̋ ×ÏØÞÝ ÓØ ËÑÜÓÍßÖÞßÜÏ ËØÎ ÞßÜØ ÞÒÏ× ÞÙ ËÑÜÓÍ ÌßÝÓØÏÝÝ ÎßÜÓØÑ ÞÒÏ ÖÓÐÏ ÙÐ ÞÒÓÝ ËÎ×ÓØÓÝÞÜËÞÓÙØ˛ ÙÜÞßØËÞÏÖã ÙÜ ßØÐÙÜÞßØËÞÏÖã˜ ÞÒÏ ÑÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÒËÝ ËÝÕÏÎ ×Ï ÞÙ ÍÙØÞÓØßÏ ÓØ ÞÒËÞ ÜÙÖÏ˛ Ù ËÝ ÞÒÏ Ù××ÓÝÝÓÙØÏÜ ÙÐ ËØÎÝ ËØÎ ËÞÏÜ ÏÝÙßÜÍÏÝ ˪× ÝÞÓÖÖ ÞÒÏ âÏÍßÞÓàÏ ÓÜÏÍÞÙÜ ÑÜÓÍßÖÞßÜËÖ ØàÏÝÞ×ÏØÞ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ ËØÎ ÝÞÜÙØÑÖã ÌÏÖÓÏàÏ ÞÒËÞ ËÑÜÓÍßÖÞßÜÏ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ØÏâÞ ÎÏÝÞÓØËÞÓÙØ ÐÙÜ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ˛ Ù ÓÞ ÑÓàÏÝ ×Ï ËØ ÙÚÚÙÜÞßØÓÞã ÞÙ ÚßÞ Ë ÐÏá ÞÒÓØÑÝ ÓØ ÚÖËÍÏ˛

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͻ͹˜ ͺͮͰͯ

INTERVIEW Imansuangbon: Investment in Education, Vital for Nigeria’s Development ÓÞÒ ËØ ÏÝÞÓ×ËÞÏÎ ͹ͻ ×ÓÖÖÓÙØ ÙßÞ̋ÙÐ̋ÝÍÒÙÙÖ ÍÒÓÖÎÜÏØ ÓØ ÓÑÏÜÓË˜ ËØ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØÓÝÞÝ ËØÎ ÒËÓÜ×ËØ˜ ËÍÏÝÏÞÞÏÜÝ˪ ÜÙßÚ ÙÐ ÍÒÙÙÖÝ˜ ÌßÔË˜ ËÜÜ˛ ÏØØÏÞÒ ×ËØÝßËØÑÌÙØ˜ ÓÝ áÙÜÜÓÏÎ˛ ×ËØÝßËØÑÌÙØ ÝËãÝ ÑÙàÏÜØ×ÏØÞ ËÞ ËÖÖ ÖÏàÏÖÝ ÝÒÙßÖÎØ˪Þ ÐÙÖÎ ÞÒÏÓÜ ËÜ×Ý ËÝ ÓØàÏÝÞ×ÏØÞÝ ÓØ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ËÜÏ àÓÞËÖ ÐÙÜ ØËÞÓÙØËÖ ÎÏàÏÖÙÚ×ÏØÞ˛ Ï ÞÏÖÖÝ Funmi Ogundare ÞÒËÞ Ë ÝÞËÞÏ ÙÐ Ï×ÏÜÑÏØÍã ÝÒÙßÖÎ ÌÏ ÎÏÍÖËÜÏÎ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÝÏÍÞÙÜ ËØÎ ÞÒËÞ ÞÏËÍÒÏÜÝ ×ßÝÞ ÌÏ ÑÓàÏØ ØÏÍÏÝÝËÜã ÝßÚÚÙÜÞ

former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesile said recently in a report that 9 out of 10 children are unable to read or identify numbers at the age of 10, are you worried about this as an educationist?

Þ ÓÝ àÏÜã áÙÜÜÓÝÙ×Ï ËØÎ ÞÜÙßÌÖÓØÑ˛ ÒÏ ÓÝ ÙØÏ ÙÐ ÓÑÏÜÓË˪Ý ʨØÏÝÞ ËØÎ àÏÜã ÏÜßÎÓÞÏ˛ ÍËØØÙÞ ËÑÜÏÏ ×ÙÜÏ˛ ÒËÞ ÝÞËÞÏ×ÏØÞ ÝÒÙßÖÎ ÌÏ Ë ÍÙØÍÏÜØ ÞÙ àËÜÓÙßÝ ÑÙàÏÜØ×ÏØÞ ËØÎ ËÖÝÙ ÚÜËÍÞÓÞÓÙØÏÜÝ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÝÏÍÞÙÜ˛ ÒÏ ÝÞËØÎËÜÎ ÙÐ ÏÎßÍË̋ ÞÓÙØ ÓØ ÓÑÏÜÓË ÞÙÎËã ÓÝ áÙÜÜÓÝÙ×Ï ÌÏÍËßÝÏ ÙÐ ÚÙÙÜ ÐßØÎÓØÑ˛ ÒËÞ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÚÏÜÍÏØÞËÑÏ ÙÐ ÌßÎÑÏÞ ÙÐ ËÖÖÙÍËÞÓÙØ ÞÙ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØˣ ÒËÞ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÚÙÖÓÍã ÙÐ ÓÑÏÜÓË ÙØ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØˣ ÒËÞ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÎÏÖÓÌÏÜËÞÏ ÝÞßÎã ÙØ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØˣ ÒËÞ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÓØàÏÝÞ×ÏØÞ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÏÖÓÞÏÝ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÍÙßØÞÜã áÒÙ ÒËàÏ ÌÏØÏʨʵÏÎ ÝÙ ×ßÍÒ ÙØ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØˣ ÒËÞ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ×ßÖÞÓØËÞÓÙØËÖÝ˪ ÍÙØÞÜÓÌßÞÓÙØ ÞÙ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØˣ ÒËÞ ÓÝ ÙßÜ ÎÏÖÓÌÏÜËÞÏ ÝÞÜËÞÏÑã ÙØ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØˣ ÒËÞ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÐßØÎÓØÑ ÝãÝÞÏ× ÐÙÜ ÙßÜ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØˣ ÙÙÜ ÐßØÎÓØÑ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÌËØÏ ÙÐ ÓÑÏÜÓË˪Ý ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÝÏÍÞÙÜ ÞÙÎËã˛ ÙßØÞÜÓÏÝ ÞÒËÞ ËÜÏ ÝÏÜÓÙßÝ ÑÓàÏ ØÙÞ ÖÏÝÝ ÞÒËØ Ͱͮ ÚÏÜ ÍÏØÞ ÙÐ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÌßÎÑÏÞ ÞÙ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÌÏÍËßÝÏ ÏàÏÜãÞÒÓØÑ ÜÏàÙÖàÏÝ ÜÙßØÎ ÓÞ˛ ×ËØ áÒÙ ÓÝ áÏÖÖ ÏÎßÍËÞÏÎ˜ áÓÖÖ ØÙÞ ÖÙÙÞ ÞÒÏ ÍÙßØÞÜã˪Ý ÞÜÏËÝßÜã˛ ÒÏ ÚÜÙÐÏÝÝÙÜÝ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÐÏÎÏÜËÖ ßØÓàÏÜÝÓÞÓÏÝ ËÜÏ ÚÙÙÜÖã ÚËÓÎ˞ áÏ ×ßÝÞ ÜÏàÏÜÝÏ ÞÒÏ ÞÜÏØÎ ÛßÓÍÕÖã˛ ÒÏ ×ÓÝÝÓØÑ ÖÓØÕ ÓØ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÓÝ ÐßØÎÓØÑ˛ Ùá áÙßÖÎ ãÙß ÞÜËÓØ Ë ÎÙÍÞÙÜ˜ ÏØÑÓØÏÏÜ ÞÒÜÙßÑÒ ÞÒÏ ÝÍÒÙÙÖ ÝãÝÞÏ×ˣ Ùá áÓÖÖ ÚÙÖÓÞÓÍÓËØÝ ÌÏ ÞÜËÓØÏÎ ÓØ ÜÏÞßÜØˣ ÒÏã ÝÒÙßÖÎ ÎÏÍÖËÜÏ Ë ÝÞËÞÏ ÙÐ Ï×ÏÜÑÏØÍã ÙØ ÙßÜ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÝÏÍÞÙÜ áÒÏÜÏ ÚÜÙÐÏÝÝÙÜÝ ËØÎ ÞÏËÍÒÏÜÝ ×ßÝÞ ÌÏ ÑÓàÏØ ÞÒÏ ËʵÏØÞÓÙØ ÞÒÏã ØÏÏÎÏÎ˛ ßÜ ÍÖËÝÝÜÙÙ× ×ßÝÞ ×ÏÏÞ ÓØÞÏÜØËÞÓÙØËÖ ÝÞËØÎËÜÎ áÒÏÜÏ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ×ËÓØ ÞÒÓØÑ ÔßÝÞ ÖÓÕÏ áÒËÞ ÎÙ ÓÝ ÎÙÓØÑ ØÙá˛ ÌËÝÏÕÓ ÓÝ Ë ÜÏÐÏÜÏØÍÏ ÚÙÓØÞ ËØÎ ÞÒÏ ×ÓØÓ×ß× ÌËÝÓÍ ÞÙ áÒËÞ ÐÜÓÍËØ ÝÍÒÙÙÖ ÝãÝÞÏ× ÝÒÙßÖÎ ÌÏ˛ ÍÙ××ÏØÎ ÞÒÏ ÚÜÙÚÜÓÏÞÙÜÝ ÙÐ ÝÍÒÙÙÖÝ˜ ÓÞ ÓÝ Ë ÌÓÑ ÍÒËÖÖÏØÑÏ˜ ËØÎ ÞÒÏã ÝÒÙßÖÎ ØÙÞ ÌÏ ÎÓÝÍÙßÜËÑÏÎ˛ You intend to establish a university, what motivated this idea? Ï ËÜÏ ÎßÏ ØÙá ËÐÞÏÜ Ͱͮ ãÏËÜÝ ÙÐ ÝÙÖÓÎ ÚÜÓ×ËÜã ËØÎ ÝÏÍÙØÎËÜã ÝÍÒÙÙÖÝ˛ Ï ÒËàÏ ÌÏÏØ ËÌÖÏ ÞÙ ÞÙßÍÒ ÞÒÏ ÐÙßØÎËÞÓÙØ ÙÐ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ˛ ʰÏÜ Ͱͮ ãÏËÜÝ ÙÐ ÒËÜÎ áÙÜÕ ËØÎ ÝßÚÚÙÜÞ ÝãÝÞÏ× ÐÙÜ ÞÒÏ ÎÏàÏÖÙÚ×ÏØÞ ÙÐ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÓØ ÓÑÏÜÓË˜ ÓÞ ÓÝ ÞÓ×Ï ÐÙÜ ßÝ ÞÙ ×ÙàÏ ÞÙ ÞÒÏ ØÏâÞ ÖÏàÏÖ˛ ßÜ ÝßÍÍÏÝÝ ËÞ ÞÒÏ ØßÜÝÏÜã˜ ÚÜÓ×ËÜã ËØÎ ÝÏÍÙØÎËÜã ÝÍÒÙÙÖÝ ÖÏàÏÖÝ ÑËàÏ ßÝ ÞÒÏ ÍÙØʨÎÏØÍÏ ËØÎ ÍÙØàÓÍÞÓÙØ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒÏÜÏ ÓÝ Ë ØÏÏÎ ÐÙÜ ßÝ ÞÙ ÍÙØÞÓØßÏ ÞÒÏ ÑÙÙÎ áÙÜÕ áÏ ËÜÏ ÎÙÓØÑ ËÞ ÞÒÏ ÞÏÜÞÓËÜã ÖÏàÏÖ˛ ÒÏÜÏ ÓÝ ØÙ ØÏÏÎ ÐÙÜ ßÝ ÞÙ ÞËÕÏ ÙßÜ ×ÙØÏã ÙßÞÝÓÎÏ ÞÒÏ ÍÙßØÞÜã ÝÏÏÕÓØÑ ÐÙÜ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ˛ ÒÏ ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÙÐ ÎÙ ÞËÞÏ˜ Ü˛ ÙÎáÓØ ÌËÝÏÕÓ ÙÚÓØÏÎ ÎßÜÓØÑ ÙßÜ ÖËÝÞ ÑÜËÎßËÞÓÙØ ÍÏÜÏ×ÙØã ÞÒËÞ ÞÒÏ ÍÒÓÖÎÜÏØ ÒÏ ÝËá áÏÜÏ ÍÙØÞÏØÞ ËØÎ ÍÙ×ÚËÜËÌÖÏ ÞÙ ËØã ÓØ ÞÒÏ áÙÜÖÎ ËØÎ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒÏã ÍËØ ÝÞËØÎ ÞÙ ÍÙ×ÚÏÞÏ ÑÖÙÌËÖÖã˛ ÒËÞ áÏ ËÜÏ ÎÙÓØÑ ÓØ ËÍÏÝÏʵÏÜÝ ÓÝ ÝÞËØÎËÜÎ ËØÎ ÛßËÖÓÞã ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ˛ ÒËÞ ÓÝ áÒËÞ áÏ ÓØÞÏØÎ ÞÙ ÞËÕÏ ÓØÞÙ ÞÒÏ ÞÏÜÞÓËÜã ÖÏàÏÖ˛ ËØ ãÙß Ó×ËÑÓØÏ ÓÑÏÜÓËØÝ ÑÙÓØÑ ÞÙ ÝÞßÎã ÓØ ÒËØËˠ ØÎ ÞËÕÓØÑ ÙßÜ ×ÙØÏã ÓØ ÎÙÖÖËÜÝ ÞÙ ÏØÓØ ÏÚßÌÖÓÍ˜ ÙÑÙ ËØÎ ÒËØËˠ ÒÓÝ˜ áÏ ÓØÞÏØÎ ÞÙ ÝÞÙÚ Ìã ÞÒÏ ÞÓ×Ï ËÍÏÝÏʵÏÜÝ ÍÙ×Ï ÖÓÕÏ Ë ÌÓÑ ÌËØÑ˛ Ï ÒËàÏ ÑÙʵÏØ ÓØÞÏÜØËÞÓÙØËÖ ÝßÚÚÙÜÞ ËØÎ áÏ ÒËàÏ ×ËÎÏ ÙßÜ ËÚÚÖÓÍËÞÓÙØ ÞÙ ˜ áÏ ËÜÏ áËÓÞÓØÑ ÐÙÜ ÞÒÏÓÜ ËÚÚÜÙàËÖ˛ ÏÙÚÖÏ ËÜÏ ËÖÜÏËÎã ÝÒÙáÓØÑ ÓØÞÏÜÏÝÞ ÓØ ÓÞ˛ ÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÓÝ ÝÙ×ÏÞÒÓØÑ ãÙß ×ßÝÞ ÎÙ áÓÞÒ ÚËÝÝÓÙØ˜ ÍÙ××ÓÞ×ÏØÞ ËØÎ àÓÝÓÙØ˛ Ùß ×ßÝÞ ÒËàÏ ÞÒÏ ×ÏØ ËØÎ ×ËÞÏÜÓËÖ˛ ÒÏØ ÞÒÏ ßØÓàÏÜÝÓÞã ÍÙ×ÏÝ˜ ÓÞ ÓÝ ÑÙÓØÑ ÞÙ ÌÏ ÙØÏ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ʨØÏÝÞ ÓØ ÐÜÓÍË˜ ÓÞ˪Ý ×ã ÎÜÏË× ËØÎ ÓÞ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÎÜÏË× ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÙËÜÎ ÙÐ ÜßÝÞÏÏÝ ̙ Ù ̚ ÞÙ ÒËàÏ Ë ßØÓàÏÜÝÓÞã ÞÒËÞ áÓÖÖ ÖÓàÏ ÓÞÝ ØË×Ï ËØÎ ÚßÜÚÙÝÏ˛ ÒÏØ áËÝ ÑÜÙáÓØÑ ßÚ˜ ÚÏÙÚÖÏ ßÝÏÎ ÞÙ ÍÙ×Ï ÞÙ ØÓàÏÜÝÓÞã ÙÐ ÌËÎËØ ÞÙ ÝÞßÎã˜ ÌßÞ

The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki with Imansuangbon during the School’s graduation ceremony in Abuja... recently

áÏ ÖÙÝÞ ÞÒËÞ áÒÏØ áÏ ÖÙÝÞ ÙßÜ ÝÏØÝÏ ÙÐ ÚßÜÚÙÝÏ ËØÎ ÑÙàÏÜØËØÍÏ˛ Þ ÌÏÍË×Ï ÎÓÜÏÍÞÓÙØÖÏÝÝ áÒÏØ ÚÏÙÚÖÏ ÚßÞ ×ÙØÏã ËØÎ ×ËÞÏÜÓËÖÓÝ× ÌÏÐÙÜÏ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ˜ ÑÙËÖÝ ËØÎ àËÖßÏÝ˛ ßÞ áÏ ÓØÞÏØÎ ÞÙ ÌÜÓØÑ ÌËÍÕ ÞÒÏ ÝÍÒÙÙÖ ÝãÝÞÏ×˛

What is your view about the Edo Best initiative of Governor Obaseki? ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÌËÝÏÕÓ ×ßÝÞ ÌÏ ÍÙ××ÏØÎÏÎ àÏÜã ÒÓÑÒÖã˛ Ï ÒËÝ ÌÏÏØ ËÌÖÏ ÞÙ ×ËÕÏ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÓØ ÎÙ ÞËÞÏ Ë ÜÏÐÏÜÏØÍÏ ÚÙÓØÞ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÖËÝÞ ÞÒÜÏÏ ãÏËÜÝ˛ Ï ÍÙßÖÎ ×ÙØÓÞÙÜ ÍÖËÝÝÜÙÙ×Ý ÞÙ ÕØÙá áÒÏÞÒÏÜ ÞÒÏÜÏ ËÜÏ ÞÏËÍÒÏÜÝ ÞÒÏÜÏ˛ ÓÞÒ ˜ ÒÏ ÒËÝ ÌÏÏØ ËÌÖÏ ÞÙ ßØÌßÜÎÏØ ÞÒËÞ˜ ×ÙÜÏ ÍÙ×ÚßÞÏÜÝ ÒËàÏ ÌÏÏØ ÌÙßÑÒÞ˜ Ë ÖÙÞ ÙÐ ÞÜËÓØÓØÑÝ ÒËàÏ ÌÏÏØ ÑÓàÏØ ÞÙ ÞÏËÍÒÏÜÝ ÙØ áÒËÞ ×ÙÎÏÜØ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÜÏÛßÓÜÏÝ˛ ÎÙ ÍÒÓÖÎÜÏØ ÒËàÏ Ó×ÚÜÙàÏÎ ØÙá ËØÎ ÞÒÏã ÎÙ ÌÏʵÏÜ ÓØ ËØÎ ÝÓØÍÏ ÌËÝÏÕÓ ÍË×Ï ÓØ˛ ÞËÞÓÝÞÓÍÝ ÒËÝ ÓÞ ÞÒËÞ ÎÙ ÒËÝ ×ÙàÏÎ ÐÜÙ× ËØ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØËÖÖã áÏËÕ ÞÙ Ë àÏÜã ÏØàÓËÌÖÏ ÚÙÝÓÞÓÙØ ÍÙ×ÚËÜÏÎ áÓÞÒ ÞÒÏ ÚËÝÞ˛ ÒÏ ÚßÚÓÖÝ ÍÙßÖÎ ÜÏËÎ ÌÏʵÏÜ ËØÎ ËÝÝÓ×ÓÖËÞÏ ÌÏʵÏÜ˜ ÞÏËÍÒÏÜÝ ËÜÏ ÚËÓÎ ËÝ ËØÎ áÒÏØ ÎßÏ˛ Ï ÓÝ ØÙÞ ÙáÓØÑ ÞÏËÍÒÏÜÝ˪ ÝËÖËÜÓÏÝ˜ ÏÖÝÏ ÓÞ áÓÖÖ ÕÓÖÖ ÞÒÏÓÜ ×ÙÜËÖÏ˛ ÒÏØ ÞÏËÍÒÏÜÝ˪ ×ÙÜËÖÏ ËÜÏ ÎË×ÚÏØÏÎ˜ ÞÏËÍÒÓØÑ ÓÝ ÎË×ÚÏØÏÎ˛ The Governor of Edo State was one of the dignitaries at your school’s graduation ceremony held recently, how was he able to motivate the students? ËÍÏÝÏʵÏÜÝ ÓÝ ØÙÞ Ë ÝÍÒÙÙÖ ÓØ ÏØÓØ˜ ÌßÞ ÌËÝÏÕÓ ʮÏá ÞÙ ÌßÔË ÞÙ ÒÙØÙßÜ ÞÒÏ ÍÒÓÖÎÜÏØ ÓØ ÌßÔË˛ ÒËÞ ÞÏÖÖÝ ãÙß ÒÓÝ àËÖßÏ ÐÙÜ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ˛ ÓÝ àÓÝÓÞ ËÞ ÙßÜ ÑÜËÎßËÞÓÙØ ÍÏÜÏ×ÙØã áÙßÖÎ ÒËàÏ ÓØÝÚÓÜÏÎ ÞÒÏ ÑÜËÎßËÞÓØÑ ÝÞßÎÏØÞÝ˛ ÒÏ ÍÒÓÖÎÜÏØ áÒÙ ÖÓÝÞÏØÏÎ ÞÙ ÒÓ× ÞËÖÕ ÍËØ ØÏàÏÜ ÌÏ ÞÒÏ ÝË×Ï˛ Ï ÓØÝÚÓÜÏÎ ÞÒÏ×˛ ÒÏØ ÐÙÜ×ÏÜ ÜÏÝÓÎÏØÞ ÓÖÖ ÖÓØÞÙØ ÝËÓÎ ÒÏ ×ÏÞ ÏØØÏÎã ÓØ ͯͷʹͮ˜ ÒÏ ×ËÎÏ ßÚ ÒÓÝ ×ÓØÎ ËÝ Ë ãÙßØÑ ÝÍÒÙÙÖ ÌÙã ÞÒËÞ ÒÏ áËÝ ÑÙÓØÑ ÞÙ ÌÏ ÞÒÏ ÚÜÏÝÓÎÏØÞ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ØÓÞÏÎ ÞËÞÏÝ

ÙÐ ×ÏÜÓÍË ËØÎ ÒÏ ÐßÖʨÖÖÏÎ ÒÓÝ ÎÜÏË×Ý˛ ÒÏØ

áËÝ ÓØ ÑÙ áÙãÏ ÏÍÙØÎËÜã ÍÒÙÙÖ ÓØ ÑßØ ÞËÞÏ˜ ÖËÞÏ ÒÓÏÐ ÌËÐÏ×Ó áÙÖÙáÙ àÓÝÓÞÏÎ ÑÙ

áÙãÏ˛ Ù×Ï ÙÐ ßÝ ÞÜÏÕÕÏÎ ÐÜÙ× ÞÒÏ ÝÍÒÙÙÖ˜ ÞÙ ÑÙ ËØÎ ÝÏÏ ÒÓ×˛ ã ÞÒÏ ÞÓ×Ï áÏ ÑÙÞ ÞÙ ÞÒÏ ÞÒÏÜÏ˜ ÒÏ ÒËÎ ÎÓÝÏ×ÌËÜÕÏÎ ÐÜÙ× Ë ÒÏÖÓÍÙÚÞÏÜ áÓÞÒ ÒÓÝ ÜÙßØÎ ÝÚÏÍÞËÍÖÏÝ ËØÎ ÍËÚ˛ ÒÏØ ÝËá áÙÖÙáÙ˜ ÞÒËÞ ËÖÙØÏ ÓØÝÚÓÜÏÎ ×Ï ËÖÖ ÞÒÜÙßÑÒ ×ã ÖÓÐÏ˛ ÒËÞ ÓÝ áÒã ÞÙÙÕ ×ã ÝÙßÜÍÏ ÐÜÙ× ÞÒÏ ÌÖÏÝÝÓØÑÝ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÖËÞÏ ÝËÑÏ ÞÒËÞ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÓÝ ÕÏã˛ ÒÏ ÖËÞÏ ÏÖÝÙØ ËØÎÏÖË ËÖÝÙ ÝËÓÎ ÞÒËÞ ËØã ÝÏÜÓÙßÝ ÑÙàÏÜØ×ÏØÞ ×ßÝÞ ×ËÕÏ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ Ë ÚÜÓÙÜÓÞã˛ Øã ÝÏÜÓÙßÝ ÍÙ××ßØÓÞã ×ßÝÞ ×ËÕÏ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ Ë ÚÜÓÙÜÓÞã ÌÏÍËßÝÏ ÓÞ ÓÝ ÚÜÓÍÏÖÏÝÝ˛ ÒÏ ÐÏÎÏÜËÖ˜ ÝÞËÞÏ ËØÎ ÖÙÍËÖ ÑÙàÏÜØ×ÏØÞ ÍÙßØÍÓÖÝ ×ßÝÞ ×ËÕÏ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ Ë ÚÜÓÙÜÓÞã ÓØ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÌßÎÑÏÞ ËØÎ ÞÒÏÓÜ ËÍÞÓÙØÝ˛

Your school is over 20 years, what would you say is the secret? ßÜ ÚÜÙÎßÍÞÝ ËÜÏ ÎÙÓØÑ áÏÖÖ˜ ÞÒÏã ËÜÏ ʨÜÝÞ ÍÖËÝÝ ×ËÞÏÜÓËÖ ËÖÖ ÙàÏÜ ÞÒÏ áÙÜÖÎ˛ ØÏ ÙÐ ÙßÜ ÝÞßÎÏØÞ ÒËÎ Ë ʨÜÝÞ ÍÖËÝÝ ÓØ ÏÎÓÍÓØÏ ËÞ ØÓàÏÜÝÓÞã ÙÖÖÏÑÏ˜ ÙØÎÙØ˛ ÒËÞ ÓÝ áÒËÞ ÞÒÏã ËÜÏ ËÍÒÓÏàÓØÑ ÓØ ßÜÙÚÏ˛ Ï ÒËàÏ ÙÞÒÏÜÝ áÒÙ ËÜÏ ÎÙÓØÑ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÎÙÍÞÙÜËÞÏ ÎÏÑÜÏÏ ÓØ ÒÓØË˜ ËÞÓØ ×ÏÜÓÍË ËØÎ ËÖÖ ÙàÏÜ ÞÒÏ áÙÜÖÎ˛ ÓÞÒ ÞÒÏ ÝÞÜÓÎÏÝ ËÜÏ ÚÜÙÎßÍÞÝ ËÜÏ ×ËÕÓØÑ˜ áÏ ËÜÏ ÍÙØàÓØÍÏÎ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒÓÝ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÜÓÑÒÞ ÞÓ×Ï ÞÙ ÒËàÏ ÙßÜ ßØÓàÏÜÝÓÞã˜ ÓÞ ÓÝ ÑÙÓØÑ ÞÙ ÌÏ ÙØÏ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ʨØÏÝÞ ÓØ ÞÒÏ áÙÜÖÎ áÒÏØ ÓÞ ÍÙ×ÏÝ˛ In the process of trying to ensure success everywhere in your six schools in Abuja, what challenges did you encounter and how were you able to surmount them? Ù ÜßØ ÝÍÒÙÙÖÝ ËØÎ ÏÎßÍËÞÏ ÞÒÏ ÝÙÍÓÏÞã ÓÝ ÙØÏ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ×ÙÝÞ ÞËÝÕÓØÑ ÏØÎÏËàÙßÜÝ˛ Ï ÒËÎ ʨØËØÍÓËÖ ÚÜÙÌÖÏ×Ý˜ áÏ ËÜÏ ØÙÞ ÐßØÎÏÎ Ìã ÑÙàÏÜØ×ÏØÞ˜ ÌßÞ áÏ ×ßÝÞ ÞÒËØÕ Ë ÐÏá ÓÑÏÜÓËØ ʨØËØÍÓËÖ ÓØÝÞÓÞßÞÓÙØÝ ÞÒËÞ ÒËàÏ ÝßÚÚÙÜÞÏÎ ßÝ

ÙàÏÜ ÞÒÏ ãÏËÜÝ˛ ßÞ ÞÒÏ ßÖÞÓ×ËÞÏ ÑÙËÖ ÓÝ ÐÙÜ ÞÒÏ ÝÞßÎÏØÞÝ ËØÎ ÝÞËʥ ×Ï×ÌÏÜÝ ÞÙ ÌÏØÏʨÞ ÐÜÙ× ÙßÜ ÍÙ××ÓÞ×ÏØÞ˛ ßÜ ÝÞßÎÏØÞÝ ËÜÏ ÍÏÜÏÌÜËÖ ËØÎ ÎÓÝÍÓÚÖÓØÏÎ˛ ÒÏã ÒËàÏ ÝÏÏØ ÞÒÏ ØÏÏÎ ÞÙ ÌÏ ÐÙÍßÝÏÎ ÝÙ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒÏã ÍÙßÖÎ ÑÏÞ ÞÒÏ ÍÙßØÞÜã ÌËÍÕ ÙØ ÞÜËÍÕ˛

How has Pacesetters Schools been able to impact their community in terms of giving scholarships to indigent children? ØÏ ÙÐ ÙßÜ ÑÜÏËÞÏÝÞ ÝÞÜÏØÑÞÒ ÓÝ ÙßÜ ÚÙÖÓÍã ÙØ ÝÍÒÙÖËÜÝÒÓÚ˛ Ø ÞÒÏ ÚËÝÞ Ͱͮ ãÏËÜÝ˜ ÞÒÏ ÍÒÓÖÎÜÏØ ÙÐ ×ÏØ ËØÎ áÙ×ÏØ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÓÑÏÜÓËØ ËÜ×ÏÎ ÐÙÜÍÏÝ ÒËàÏ ÌÏÏØ ÏØÔÙãÓØÑ Ͱͮ ÚÏÜ ÍÏØÞ ÎÓÝÍÙßØÞ˛ Þ ßÝÏÎ ÞÙ ÌÏ ͳͮ ÚÏÜ ÍÏØÞ˜ ÌßÞ ÞÒÏ ÍÙÝÞ ÙÐ ÞÒÓØÑÝ ×ËÎÏ ÓÞ Ó×ÚÙÝÝÓÌÖÏ ÐÙÜ ßÝ ÞÙ ÍÙØÞÓØßÏ áÓÞÒ ÓÞ˛ ØÏ ÙÐ ÙßÜ ÑÜÏËÞÏÝÞ ÝÞÜÏØÑÞÒ ÓÝ ÙßÜ ÚÙÖÓÍã ÙØ ÝÍÒÙÖËÜÝÒÓÚ˛ Ð ãÙß ËÜÏ Ë ×ÓÖÓÞËÜã áÙ×ËØ ËØÎ ãÙß ÎÓÏ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÍÙßÜÝÏ ÙÐ ÝÏÜàÓÍÏ˜ ãÙßÜ ÍÒÓÖÎ ÓÝ ÞÜËÓØÏÎ ÐÜÏÏ ÞÒÜÙßÑÒÙßÞ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÝÞËã ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÝÍÒÙÙÖ˛ ÏãÙØÎ ÞÒËÞ˜ ËÝ Ë ÝÞßÎÏØÞ ÓØ ËÍÏÝÏÞÞÏÜÝ˜ ÓÐ ãÙß ÖÙÝÏ Ë ÚËÜÏØÞ˜ ãÙß ÎÙØ˪Þ ÚËã ÐÏÏÝ ËØã×ÙÜÏ˛ ßÜÓØÑ ÙßÜ ÍÙ××ÙØ ÏØÞÜËØÍÏ ÏâË×˜ ÓÐ ãÙß Ï×ÏÜÑÏ ÞÒÏ ÏÓÞÒÏÜ ÞÒÏ ʨÜÝÞ˜ ÝÏÍÙØÎ ÙÜ ÞÒÓÜÎ ÚÙÝÓÞÓÙØ˜ ãÙß ÏØÔÙã ͳͮ ÚÏÜ ÍÏØÞ ÎÓÝÍÙßØÞ˛ ÙÜ àÏÜã ÚÙÙÜ ÍÒÓÖÎÜÏØ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÍÙ××ßØÓÞã˜ ÞÒÏã ÍÙ×Ï ËØÎ áÏ ÖÓÝÞÏØ ÞÙ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÝÞÙÜÓÏÝ˜ áÏ ÑÓàÏ ÞÒÏ× ÝÍÒÙÖËÜÝÒÓÚ˛ Ù˜ ËÍÏÝÏʵÏÜÝ ÍÒÙÙÖÝ ÍËØ ÚËÝÝ ÐÙÜ ÍÒËÜÓÞã ÙÜÑËØÓÝËÞÓÙØ˛ Ý Ë ×ËʵÏÜ ÙÐ ÐËÍÞ˜ áÏ ÒËàÏ ÙàÏÜ ͯͮͮ ÓØÎÓÑÏØÞ ÝÞßÎÏØÞÝ áÒÙ áÏ ÒËàÏ ÑÓàÏØ ÝÍÒÙÖËÜÝÒÓÚ ÓØ ÔßÝÞ ÙØÏ ÙÐ ÙßÜ ÖÙÍËÞÓÙØÝ˛ ËÖÐ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÍÒÓÖÎÜÏØ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÝÍÒÙÙÖ ËÜÏ ÙØ ÝÍÒÙÖËÜÝÒÓÚÝ˛ ÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÓÝ Ë ÞÙÙÖ ÞÒËÞ áÏ ÍËØ ßÝÏ ÞÙ ÍÒËØÑÏ ÙßÜ ÍÙßØÞÜã ÐÙÜ ÞÒÏ ÌÏʵÏÜ˛ Øã ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÞÒËÞ ÍËØØÙÞ ÍÒËØÑÏ ÞÒÏ ×ÓØÎ˜ ÞÙ ÍÒËØÑÏ ÞÒÏ ÍÙßØÞÜã˜ ÓÝ ØÙÞ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ˛ ÙÙÎ ÏÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ×ßÝÞ ÌÏ ËÌÖÏ ÞÙ ÌÜÓØÑ ËÌÙßÞ ÍÒËØÑÏ ËØÎ ÎÏàÏÖÙÚ×ÏØÞ ËØÎ ×ËÕÏ ÞÒÏ ÝÙÍÓÏÞã Ë ÌÏʵÏÜ ÚÖËÍÏ˛

SATURDAY JULY 31, 2021 • T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 31, 2021

POLITY

Chike Nwosu

Soludo’s One of the Best Brains for Public Service Dr. Chike Nwosu is the Director-General of the Greater Anambra Initiative for Development (GAIN). He holds degrees in Law, Leadership and Public Policy from Harvard, London School of Economics and Walden University. Nwosu is at present, a Senior Law Lecturer at Gregory University. In this interview with select journalists, including Olaoluwakitan Babatunde, he analyses recent political developments in Anambra State, particularly the forthcoming governorship election ments are elitist. He has been around for a long time so I believe he connects well with the masses, the middle class, the entrepreneurs, the political class, domestic and international partners and stakeholders in development. Prof Soludo is a technocrat of no mean repute, an expert in the public sector and a global citizen that connects well with the neighbor next door. He promises to ensure youth development and employment, to build capacity, to intervene in Agriculture, provide access to capital and to provide credible leadership and good governance. These should resonate with everybody.

Your organization GAIN is not affiliated with any political party. What particular role does it play in political contests in Anambra State?

reater Anambra Initiative for Development (GAIN) is made up of professionals, members of the academia, captains of industry, students and other stakeholders in the Diaspora. It is a leadership and good governance advocacy Initiative. It is non-partisan, and non-aligned organization with the objective is to galvanize all Anambrarians for good governance and sustainable development. We have contributed and made interventions in good governance through our advocacies and consultations since the inception of the present Republic. We also observe the primaries of the parties that choose to invite us.

The party nomination contests for governorship in Anambra State have come to an end. Are you satisfied with the outcome? Well, the Greater Anambra Initiative for Development (GAIN) actually observed the governorship primaries of some of these parties. Parties like APGA and PDP posted successful primaries while others like ADC and Labour Party etc. resorted to adoption of candidates. You know the usual Anambra state scenario is still playing out; a scenario in which after primary elections or even substantive elections, many people lay claim to tickets and victories. Therefore, because of litany of judicial pronouncements, we do not want to comment on these litigations or be speculative to avoid being contemptuous of any court. So we may not have the capacity to make categorically statements now, unless the parties exhaust their litigations. How would you rate the candidature of Prof Soludo of APGA? Prof Chukwuma Soludo is one of the best brains to offer himself for public service in Nigeria. His candidature has been well received in Anambra and across Nigeria. Anambra is looking forward to having a Governor with the required local, national and international contacts that can be leveraged to galvanize all the potentials in the state for the next phase of development. And how does Soludo’s candidature square up to other candidates who have also been nominated? To a large extent, Val Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds similar shining credentials and both men are the leading candidates in this election. It may interest you to know that Anambra state indigenes in Diaspora have the capacity - financial and entrepreneurial wherewithal - to sustain the state? They want to invest here if we have a governor that has character and competence. This is where Prof Soludo and Ozigbo have edge, especially Soludo. Ozigbo has piled up private sector experience but Prof Soludo has much public sector experience and international exposure. We think that Prof Soludo has an edge for now and he appears better prepared. He has built a collateral of integrity which endeared him to both domestic and international stakeholders. A lot has been said about Governor Obiano’s

Dr. Chike Nwosu

preference of Soludo as his successor, how much will this impact the contest? GAIN’s major objective is leadership and good governance. Most of our members are non-partisan; so we do not necessarily jump on that ObianoSoludo relationship. We are looking at the bigger picture. Anambra has been relatively lucky with Governors. Ngige did well despite the contradictions. Governor Obi posted a stellar performance and Governor Obiano has equally done well especially when you factor in the airport he built. What we need now is sustainability and if past records are a factor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has an edge. He has demonstrated the amazing results of intense focus and vision and he has struggled to excel in everything he sets his mind to. On most leadership credentials, governance indices and other important factors, he stands out. Peter Obi’s endorsement of Obiano 8 years ago was critical to his emergence as governor. Can Obi repeat the feat with his endorsement of Val Ozigbo of PDP? Again, we in GAIN are not concerned with those endorsements, which does not remove from the stature of Obi as an astute administrator or the other men involved in the endorsements; we are more interested in credible leadership and good governance. Anambra is looking for a governor with character and gravitas to sustain the tempo the past and the present governors have put in place. Many people criticize Soludo’s policy pronouncements as elitist. How much does he connect with the grassroots? I don’t share the view that his policy pronounce-

The campaigns will soon get underway, what issues in your opinion will dominate the contest? The issues that will dominate this guber campaign, in my view, are security, economic development and the capacity to sustain the tempo of infrastructural development while opening up other areas of investment. Anambra is a peculiar state. It is a state where people yearn for opportunities to excel in business and entrepreneurship. The people are leading industrialists and the state is the centre of commerce in Nigeria. To that extent expectations are high that the next governor will open up other areas of the economy, for instance in agriculture. Very importantly, the candidate’s pedigree, ideas and previous performances will endear voters more than the party he represents. We are looking forward to having a governor with charisma, motivation, confidence, maturity, character and the necessary gravitas to deliver. You referred to the litany of court pronouncements following the party primaries; how desirable are these pr o c e s s e s ? They are desirable to the extent that judiciary is an integral part of our democ r a t i c p r a c t i c e . H o w e v e r, i t i s w o r r i s o m e that most times, Anambra state alone acc o u n t s f o r m o re t h a n 2 5 % o f e l e c t i o n c a s e s i n t h e C o u r t s , r a n g i n g f ro m p re - e l e c t i o n t o post-election matters. Like I said we do not want to comment on the cases in various courts because of issues of sub judice, but we a re o p t i m i s t i c t h a t v e r y s o o n , t h e s e m a t t e r s w o u l d b e re s o l v ed.

Does GAIN intend to campaign openly for a particular candidate, if so, who? In line with our policy of advocacy, there is a consensus that we shall mobilize for the best candidate, the one we adjudge with the best pedigree and ideas. But as I said we are still waiting for all the factors to play out. What projects or Programs do you rate as Governor Obiano’s most important achievement as governor? Governor Obiano has intervened in some area like security, agriculture and infrastructure. He kept the state relatively peaceful and engaged in developmental strides like, the Anambra Cargo Airport. Anambra is looking forward to having a governor who will consolidate on the gains of the present and previous governors.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 31, 2021

POLITY

Between Bishop Kukah and Garba Shehu Francis Damina

n the build-up to 2015 presidential elections, my benefactor and teacher, Malam Mohammed Haruna, had introduced me to Malam Garba Shehu who was then head of His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s media crew. I immediately linked up with him at their office in Utako where we discussed issues related to the presidential campaign of the then APC flagbearer -General Muhammadu Buhari. Obvious in the conversation was Garba Shehu’s mastery and understanding of his calling as a journalist. I was also to meet him twice at the Buhari Support Organization’s Secretariat somewhere in Lobito Crescent with Malam Adamu Adamu, MM Abdallah and Hameed Ali, among many others. Now as then, one can, like the Pope, infallibly assert that Shehu knows his onions and how to fry them too. I was therefore not taken aback when he got appointed as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communication. Since then, knowing that a friend in government is a friend lost, my relationship with him, mostly from the sidelines, has been that of a learning disposition especially that he stands out as one of those fine intellects produced by the Northern region. Not unaware that those who speak for politicians usually cry more than the bereaved, cum the controversies that greeted General Buhari’s ascend to Power, I didn’t wait for any seer to prophesy to me the troubles Shehu would be ensmeshed in. Since then, I have been quietly waiting to see, as a Media guru, how he will deploy his sagacity, wisdom and professionalism in dealing with the obvious issues relating to the troubles of selling the Buhari product. Unfortunately, inspite of his expertise, the last five years have epiphanized his folly as one who, in defending his principal, neither places premium on logic nor on respect and decorum as ground rules for disagreeing with others. Out of a litany of examples, I was recently pained with the way and manner he disrespectfully engaged our revered Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed in an interview on Channels TV. It was so embarrassing that one would imagine it was interviews like this that made our very own Chinua Achebe to write “Things Fall Apart” as a mirror reflecting our fast diminishing value of respect for elders. But this is a topic for another day since my concern here is his recent vituperative response to Bishop Matthew Kukah’s testimony to the Tom Lantos Human Rights’ Commission, Washington DC, on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Among other things, Garba Shehu in response to the

Bishop Matthew Kukah revered Bishop, said: “It takes a warped frame of mind for a critic to believe ethnicity is of primary importance in public appointments.” He then described His Lordship as “so-called man of the Church.” His grouse on behalf of other image-makers of the president is that, the Bishop had testified before the Commission of how the Buhari government privileges only members of his Faith, and the terrorists, target Christian Schools which Shehu took out of context inspite of the Bishop’s very glaring assertion that more Muslims have been killed, and on education and living conditions, northern Muslims are the most hit, which shows clearly that the Bishop was merely referring to a tiny orligachy of Northern Muslim elite who have become specialists in the instrumentalization of religion and ethnicity for their survival. And this is why it can be argued that, currently in Nigeria, there are only two tribes and two religions: these northern oligarchists and the rest of us. My argument is that, by his response, Garba Shehu has only succeeded in reinforcing the point that government has been involved in deploying different standards in dealing with its citizens depending on their religious, regional and ethnic identities. Otherwise, where was Garba Shehu when my good friend and benefactor, the straightforward and unevasive Sheikh Dr. Ahmad

Gummi, was in a video clip shown telling the Fulani that non-muslim soldiers are responsible for their atrocities but that the Fulani, unfortunately, retaliate by attacking both Muslims and non-muslims altogether? Where was Garba Shehu when the Sheikh accused the military of being complicit to the insecurity in our land? Perhaps, he didn’t deserve any response from him for obvious reasons. Or, has the cleric not been calling on the president to resign for years now? Again, the presidential aid is perhaps yet to hear about the recent pronouncement made by the Emir of Muri in Taraba State, HRH Abbas Tafida, which, according to Ibrahim Abdullahi, the National Secretary of GAFDAN, “is nothing but a call for lawlessness, extrajudicial killings and anarchy.” But there may not be a response to address him because, like the Sheikh, he is also an honourable man that expressions such as “so-called” or “warped frame of mind” cannot be used on. Imagine that pronouncement was made by the “Sarkin Katafawa”! The greatest undoing of the Garbas is their continuous denial that our nation is currently faced with challenges some of which cannot be referenced in our history books as precedents. Unfortunately, Shehu keeps responding to Shadows rather than the substances of these submissions. For instance, he should have been seen to be dealing with specific issues in the Kukah submission to say that: one, it is not true that in cases where we have Christian minorities, Christian children in public schools have no access to the teachings of their Faith traditions. Two, it is not true that even within the Deradicalisation and Rehabilitation programme for the so-called repentant terrorists, the teaching of Christian Religious Knowledge is not included. Or that, it is not true that the purveyors of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and murders of our people continue to appeal to Islam as their source of inspiration. For me, the absence of Christian Religious Knowledge in the Deradicalisation and Rehabilitation programme is deliberately aimed at saying, on this matter, we can exercise some monopoly because those involved are our children. This makes me wonder why the Bishop would complain about the noninclusion of CRK knowing full well that the recipients of this knowledge do not belong to this constituency.

t %BNJOB XSPUF GSPN ,BEVOB BOE DBO CF reached via: francisdamina@gmail.com Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

CBN’s Big Stick on BDCs: Taking the Bull by the Horn Chidiebere Nwobodo

n a bid to streamline the nation’s forex market and bring sanity in the foreign exchange system, the regulatory watchdog of Nigeria’s monetary system, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, displayed uncommon supervisory courage with the recent embargo placed on weekly supply of forex to Bureau de Change (BDCs) in the country. This decision came like a thunderbolt to a lot of investors, market watchers and pundits. Many Nigerians did not see it coming. What the apex bank just did is tantamount to taking the recalcitrant bull by the horn in its noble quest to save the naira from downward spiral of depreciation and preserving depleting foreign reserve, amidst dwindling forex inflows from crude oil sales and increasingly rising debt burden. Nigeria’s economy is hemorrhaging; this is not time to pander to public sentiments and emotions. Most of the times, tough economic decisions does not resonate with populist yearnings. Godwin Emefiele, like a proverbial leader of a group of surgeons in the intensive care unit, trying hard to save an endangered patient, got to that crescendo and needed to act pragmatically before it was too late. The CBN has managed BDCs like cancerous tumors for decades now, with little or no positive impact on the economy, especially naira. The cancerous cells kept expanding; eating deep into the fabrics of the economy, while the CBN struggled to manage it, at the same time ensured that the economy did not bleed profusely to death. Arriving at a crossroad, the CBN had to wield the big stick—the cancerous tumor had to be surgically exorcised to save the rest of the body because a chain is as strong as its weakest link. The monetary policy watchdog is not oblivious of the temporary pains and fluctuations that this timely decision has heralded in the system—as seen in further depreciation of naira in response to the decision. Every regulatory body that worth its name will always prioritize long term benefits over immediate disruptions. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, under the leader-

ship of Godwin Emefiele has once again lived up to its core mandate of ensuring monetary stability and restoring investors’ confidence in the system. By stopping weekly supply of forex to the BDCs and transferring same to commercial banks, the apex bank has strategically positioned the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to lead the new phase of forex regime in the country. It has become extremely difficult to regulate the activities of BDCs operators in the last few years. Most of them have become notorious conduit pipes for illicit financial transactions. Money laundering, round tripping, rent-seeking, funding of terrorism and hoarding of forex, are usually associated with some of the BDCs operators because of how difficult it is to painstakingly regulate their daily transactions. When majority of the BDCs hoard forex and round-trips for the selfish purposes of exploiting Nigerians by creating artificial scarcity, the essence of funding the BDCs by the apex bank, has been defeated—it becomes drainpipe used by economic saboteurs to stifle the economy. Some of the “black market” sellers of forex go beyond their stipulated daily benchmark and to ‘dollarise’ the system, thereby putting naira under intensed pressure. Geometrical rise in the number of BDCs in the country and increasing amount of prospective operators applying for licences, should had sounded a note of warning to a vigilant regulator like the CBN. In 2000, Nigeria had only 74 licensed BDCs. Within a decade interval, the number has risen to 2000 BDCs—by year 2000. In another ten-year gap, it got to alarming number of over 5000 BDCs. It is ironically that why Nigeria’s foreign reserve kept dwindling, the number of BDCs putting pressure on it, kept going upward. The CBN sells estimated $5.7billion dollars annually to over 5000 BDCs. This figure is not only outrageous but highly unsustainable. Imagine selling most of the forex to BDCs on official rate while manufacturers—the people that really need the forex struggles to access forex needed to import raw materials. It is like starving one’s asset portfolio and funding his liability portfolio; bankruptcy is in the offing. And yet we

Emeﬁele

wonder why naira is depreciating and unemployment rate is skyrocketing. It is not only self-harming but self-defeatist. In a World Trade Organization, WTO, report released few months ago tagged: “Leading Exporters and Importers of Commercial services excluding intra-EU Trade 2020”, Nigeria was ranked number one importer in Africa and 25th largest importer in the world. The pathetic aspect of the report is that, when it came to ranking of largest exporters of commercial activities, Nigeria got missing.

Chidiebere Nwobodo wrote from Abuja via chidieberenwobodo@yahoo.com. Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 31, 2021

Cont’d from Pg. 5 The ruling party said as a result of the above, party members should note that all activities that may be carried out by persons to put the party and its officers in bad light, before, during and after the congresses should be jettisoned. It added: “All activities or processes congresses and thereafter which do not have the approval of the CECPC are exercises in futility. This is to say that: any purported; parallel congress, parallel party organ and or parallel party office, is to say the least a nullity. These divisive activities will not be tolerated. In its split judgment of four against three by the seven member-panel, which sat on the Ondo governorship election petition, the Supreme Court had contended that the reason it did not sack Governor Akeredolu, was because the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in the October 10, 2020 election, Eyitayo Jegede, failed to join Buni in the suit, even when the issues revolved around him. Although Justice Mary Odili, in a dissenting minority verdict, upheld Jegede’s appeal that the nomination of Akeredolu, which was signed by Buni, was not valid under Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution.

NEWS Banking on Malami’s Rule of Law, APC Holds Ward Congresses Today After the judgement, the Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, was the first to advise the APC to halt all preparations and conduct of congresses nationwide forthwith, having analysed the implications of the judgment. Said Keyamo: “The planned congresses across the country slated for this weekend must immediately be suspended, because it will be an exercise in futility as analysed above. The competence of Governor Buni to organise the congresses has been called to question by the Supreme Court.”

Buni Sues for Peace Meanwhile, Buni, has enjoined party stakeholders and members to conduct the exercise peacefully. Buni, in a statement issued yesterday called on officials conducting the Congress to be fair and objective to all candidates contesting the election. The chairman warned that the party would not hesitate to take decisive measures against anyone who deliberately sabotage the Congress He noted that adequate arrangements had been made by the party to conduct successful and acceptable congresses across the country.

Buni said: “As stakeholders of the party, we have great responsibility to make the ward Congress in all the participating states successful. We should endeavour to place the party and members’ interests above personal interests. “We have come a long way repositioning the party, we have reconciled many groups and individuals, we must not allow personal interests in this election to divide us and draw us back.” The Chairman also charged aggrieved members to channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters at the party secretariat.

Court Stops Imo Congress

The APC Ward congresses in Imo State have been stopped by an Abuja federal high court. Justice Valentine Oriji, in his ruling on the suit filed by Okey Anyikwa, who is the APC Chairman in Ideato South Local Government Area, threatened to invalidate the outcome of congresses if the party disregards the position of the Court. Anyikwa had approached the court to stop the APC in the state from going

ahead with the congresses because of the judgement of the Appeal Court that upheld the tenure of the state’s Exco elected in 2018. All action regarding APC congresses in the state are to be placed on hold, pending the hearing of the application slated for August 10.

APC Chieftain, Kalu Asks Court to Halt Party’s Congresses

A chieftain of the APC from Abia State, Mr Kalu Agu, yesterday asked a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the APC from going ahead with its planned Ward congress scheduled for today as well as subsequent local governments, states, zonal Congresses and the party’s National Convention. Agu in the suit marked CV/1812/2021, dated July 29 and filed July 30, 2021 is also asking the court to declare as null and void, any of the APC’s congresses and convention held under the current acting National Chairman of the APC’s Caretaker Committee. The suit filed by his lawyer, Ukpai Ukairo, has the APC and Buni as first and second defendants respectively. The plaintiff by the suit is claiming that the second

defendant was never elected at any congress to run the affairs of the APC, adding that the party’s Constitution does not allow any person who holds an executive position to occupy any position in any of its organs. In a 38 paragraph affidavit deposed to in support of the suit, the plaintiff, stated that Buni “is being sued solely in his capacity as henchman of the usurpers of the functions of the organs and elected officers of the first defendant and as representing the other usurpers of the functions of the organs and elected officers of the first defendant.” Agu, who disclosed that he intends to contest for the position of National Legal Adviser of the APC during the party’s next convention said his interest would be affected by “a coñduct of a congress superintended by the second defendant who is a sitting Governor of Yobe State and also discharging the functions of the elected National Chairman and the National Working Committee of the first defendant”. While claiming that APC does not have an elected ward congress and that Buni is not also elected, the deponent added that “some persons not known to the Constitution of the party are

determined to come together and appoint themselves as ward executive committee, thereby excluding him from the process of contesting for the said position. Among the issues he wants the court to determine are: whether the APC can conduct a ward congress when there is no elected ward executive committee of the APC. He further wants the court to determine whether the APC can lawfully conduct a ward congress, local government congress, state congress, zonal congress, national convention for the election of officers into the various levels of the structure of the APC established by the constitution of the APC for its administration when it has usurpers of the functions of the organs and elected officers of the APC who are not elected in accordance with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and the APC’s Constitution. He sought an order of mandatory injunction setting aside any decision, act, steps, notifications taken or made out for the purpose of holding any ward, Local Government, State, Zonal Congresses or National Convention of the party. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Minister in Charge of Events, Trinity House, Mr. Jolomi Guoti; Managing Director/CEO, Lagos State Number Plate Production Authority (LSNNPA), Mr. Adebola Sofeka; and Minister in Charge of Welfare, Trinity House, Mr. Ken Okochu during the Trinity House CareClinic Outreach presentation to the Children and Adults of Aroloya, Lagos Island to mark the Anniversary….recently

L-R: The Managing Director /CEO, AFKAR Printing and Publishing Company Limited, Dr. Adesola Falaiye; the Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission, Mr. John Asein; Special Guest of Honor, Apostle Folorunso Alakija, the Chairman Nigerian Book Fair Trust, Mr Gbadega Adedapo and the Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah during the 2021 Nigerian International Book Fair held in Lagos... recently

L-R: Director, Lagos State Vocational Training Centre, Mr. Dele Obaba; Director, Lagos State Agency for Mass Education(AME), Mrs. Oluwakemi Kalesanwo; Principal, Rotary Vocational Training L- R: Renowned Author and Playwright, Tunde Leye; Author’s Father, Surveyor Ayokunnu Adesina: Centre, Igbogbo, Mrs. Adebola Onabanjo; Liaison Officer, Lagos State Employment Trust Funds Permanent Secretary/Surveyor General of Lagos State, Surveyor Olutomi Sangowawa; Author of (LSETF), Mr. Matti Jubril; and his assistant, Mr. Akinlabi Yusuff,at the LSETF/ AME sensitisation The Black Dragon, Bemiwo Adesina; and his Mother, Mrs. Titilayo Adesina, at the Official Launch workshop for trainees/ graduates of Lagos State Vocational Centres on accessing government of The Black Dragon held in Lagos….recently loan for business development, held in Igbogbo, Lagos ...recently ETOP UKUTT

˜ ˾ JULY31, 2021

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

Standard-bearer, not ‘Flag bearer’

“T

HE 4 (four) Nigerian flagbearers (standard-bearers) in Tokyo, Japan….” “Governors biting more than they can chew” A rewrite: Governors biting off

more than they can chew A subscriber to this column sent a message to me last weekend on the correctness of “wake” and “wake-keep”. There are no such words as “wakekeeping” and “wake-keep”. The right expression is “wake.” Virtually all funeral announcements in this part of the world disseminate this blunder in blissful flamboyance. And for clarity or emphasis: Christian wake. “He is frank to the point of recklessness and does not bath (bat) an eyelid about sensibilities.” “Successful candidates in the exam are placed into (in) universities depending on their performances and choices.” “The picture one is likely to get is that of lawmakers yet to come to grip (grips) with the seriousness of what their duties entail.” “Both palatable and heart-rending news are (is) most often broken there.”‘News’ is uncountable. “…his skin must have toughen (you mean toughened?) such that nothing can stir his emotion as to make him cry.” “They were, in their primes (prime), sent on a journey from which nobody returns.” “Its police, too, began investigations culminating into (in) arrest of some suspects.” “Since last week Tuesday....” Either last Tuesday or Tuesday, last week—‘Last week Tuesday’ indicates lexical ignorance. “…our politicians should realise that if they can hold the country into (to) ransom for their jumbo pay, then footballers should not be blamed if they do same (the same).” “In Nigeria, it was designed by the military dictators as bait to divert the attention of the people from the enormity of their loots.” No questions: ‘loot’ is non-count.

“…it was seen as a child of necessity aimed at restoring the primary education sub- sector which was in crisis then back to a sound foundation.” Scrap ‘back’ to avoid being charged with word abuse. ‘Restoration’ has taken care of the verbiage. “All that we have in the present Nigerian society is an hostile (a hostile) environment for the youths and children.” Either youths (without the article ‘the’) or the youth “Having succeeded in intimidating their opponents at primaries, the electorate became a work-over....” A time to learn: walk-over. “A nearby police station in Benin has (had) rebuffed the request for a police report on the ground of jurisdiction.” Simply put: on grounds of jurisdiction. “Anyone who monitored the mobilization of women in the last fifteen years in Nigeria could imagine positive results that could have been achieved if the First Ladies have (had) been sincere.” “We do not have to wait for this sporadic attacks by foreign armed bandits to metamorphose into a full blown (a hyphen, please) security threat.” Why the discord (this attacks)? And, of course, banditry without arms: vide a standard dictionary. “Because of an improved revenue base, the governor said that the government is (was) in a good position….” “What stops us from returning to the heydays (heyday) of the school…?” “This does not mean that a lady should not be congratulated for (on/upon) a safe delivery.” “…many of the specie (species) had run amuck simply on the suspicion that another woman is (was) nipping at the apple.” “Industry players blamed the high cost of borrowing from the money market to (on) a number of factors.” “It is high time we make (made) such people pay....” “…especially with regards to human development” This way: as regards or with regard to. “…as the North would be placed on an even keel or competing favourably with their kiths and kin in the South.” Fixed expression: kith and kin

“Tears of instability of power has (have) caused many Nigerians to turn their attention to alternative sources of power supply.” “The most cheering news item in recent times is the marching order given to the NPF....” Stock phrase: marching orders. “The police strenght is inadequate to cope with the security of a large population of 150 million Nigerians.” Spell-check: strength. Similarly: straight. “News from reliable sources tend (tends) to portray a government tendency itching (do you mean inching?) towards sustenance.…” “Ex-head of states, who have cracked and liquidated the nation’s coffers are to be paid or are receiving N350,000 every month.” Building a new nation: Ex-heads of state who had (not have)…. “Vocational equipments, basic infrastructures and qualified personnels must be given priority in our scheme of things.” Uncountable words: equipment and personnel. “The news of the death of…via a ghastly motor accident recently came as a rude shock to us.” 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 bottleneck rather than arm-twisting.” “It is very easy for a moneybag (sic) who (that) has….”‘Moneybags’ (plural unchanged) (especially informal and derogatory) is a rich person. (Source: OXFORD Advanced Learner’s DICTIONARY) ‘Moneybag’ is a bag for containing money. From the Archives THE first set of blunders in this novel segment comes from The PUNCH of June 30, 2020, beginning from its editorial: “Two people, the BBC says, have been arrested over (for) the incident and….” “Don’t let Igbo resort to self-help—Ohaneze faction leader” Another view: factional leader “The review is to ensure a service reflective (service-reflective) tariff that will enable Eko Electricity attains (attain) the required….” (Full-page public

July: Of Exuberance and Melancholy

Today, the peculiar month of July, 2021, extinguishes - yet, it has accommodated quite a distinguished list of Nigerian creative talents. Some were born without aplomb in a July, and quite a bunch stepped out of the stage permanently in one July or the other, trailed by exclamations of regrets or condolences. We have been blessed in the outgoing month as families, friends and fans felicitated their reigning stars celebrating birthdays; or memorialised the passage of their fallen stars. Method actor, Norbert Young was 61 on July 3; Richard Mofe Damijo, mostly known as RMD, was 60, and his favorite director and friend, Tade Ogidan was 61 on the same day - July 6; and notable documentarian and filmmaker, Mahmood Ali Balogun, was 62 on July 19. On the other side of life, it was on July 7, 2010, that theatre empress, Toun ‘Mama T’ Oni excused herself from our gathering, at 72; then certified industry grandma, Bukky Zainab Ajayi, followed in her footsteps on July 6, 2017 at 82; much earlier, the chief exponent of reversal film in Nigeria, before the advent of video Production, Adeyemi Meshioye (of Meshfilms) had crashed out of our space on January 5, 2008 - he was just 49 years old (born July 9, 1957). We anchor this admixture of exuberance and melancholy on two significant players in the annals of the creative process: one alive and well at 79, on July 11; the other is of lingering fond memory whose legacy stands unimpeachable - he bowed finally on July 23, 2017. OLU JACOBS, MFR Big in all ramifications. Nigerian’s most regarded active actor (male or female) is an icon on stage, film, television and video. Born July 11, 1942, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs has passed the great portals of the British National Theatre; has worked with some of the fathers of British post-modern feature films and television adventure dramas. With credits in Ashanti, Dogs of War, Pirates and Vigilante, few if any, can measure up to the pearly acting skills of this Ogun State-born thespian. Let’s look up some of his big-screen credits for clarity - Movies: Customs Officer in The Dogs of War (1980), Col. Nsogbu in Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985); Boomako in Pirates (1986), and the crime celluloid, Vigilante (1988). Longevity doesn’t necessarily bestow prestige; it’s deep in his haystacks of creative credits. Look and see his bulging TV series portfolio: The Goodies (1971), Spyder’s Web (1972), Till Death Us Do Part (1974 and 1981), The Venturers, Barlow (both 1975), Centre Play, The Crezz (both 1976); Musa Ladipo in Angels (1976-1983), 1990, The Tomorrow People, Storyteller in Jackanory (all 1978),

Ashanti, Sylvester in The Professionals, Not the Nine O’Clock News (all 1979); President Gadin in Squadron (1982), African Doctor in The Mad Death (1983), Rumpole of the Bailey, Mr. Alabaster in The Witches and the Grinnygog (both 1983); Play for Today (1984); and Inspector Best Idafa in The Third Eye (1990–1993). OJ-Naija, as pals of yore were fond of calling him, is married to the talented veteran actress, Joke Silva since 1985, and has consistently worked hard at his craft to amaze his audiences in every of his performances - irrespective of the locale or the culture. When he deigned to check out what all the fuss about Nollywood was, he got sucked in...to the tune of no less than 500 flicks! He had an uncanny capacity to morph into the Igbo cosmology, and typecast a troubled or somnolent Eze (king) effectively… helped by his imposing gait and big tremulous voice. Here is another shortlist: Iva (1993), Another Love (1996), Obstacles (1998), Twins of the Rain Forest (short), Endtime, Oganigwe, Aba Riot (all 1999); Private Sin, The Kingmaker, Ago Kan Oru, Mission to Africa (all 2003); Eye of the Gods, Turn Table (both 2004); Soul on Fire,To Love a Stranger, Ultimate Crisis, Women in Power, A Time to Die, Omaliko, One God One Nation, Opin Irin Ajo (all 2005); The Prince and Me, One-Bullet, Royal Doom (all 2006).... The phrase “home alone” was non-existent for Jacob in 2007 with almost 40 videos shot that year alone! ...About 12 years ago, getting close to 70, the chief-incarnate began to slow down, a little; but he still gave us a handful: Bent Arrows, Bitter Generation, Power of a Kiss (all 2010); Sacred Lies (all 2011), Potomanto, Covert Operation (both 2013); Oba Ekpen in The Antique (2014), Oloibiri (2015), as Richard in The Royal Hibiscus Hotel (2017). It is therefore not out of place that most of today’s budding stars gaze at OJ-Naija as a beacon, an inspirational fire-fly whose influence on the acting world is phenomenal. It feels really great to have an Olu Jacobs amongst us. ADEBAYO FALETI, OON His legacies are seething in several pioneering efforts. For a man who was meticulous in the use, deployment and transfer of correct information, the several strands of misinformation about his biodata is staggering. Contrary to fancy stories that portrayed him as (born in 1921), that he was young, restless and unable to get his primary education dream flying, thus resorting to founding a theatre group, Oyo Youth Operatic Society (in 1949)... blah, blah, blah...most of what you see online are largely bunkum. The official documentation accessed in the blerf.org, the Nigerian encyclopaedia run by foremost librarian, Nyannkno Osso, gives the avuncular multi-pioneer, Ajibade Mosobalaje Adebayo Faleti a fairly

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

notice by Eko Electricity Distribution Company, The PUNCH, June 30, 2020) “Hearty cheers on your 70” (Full-page congratulatory advertorial by Fidelity Bank PLC, The PUNCH, June 30) Get it right: 70th Birthday—‘70th’ is adjectival and cannot function as a stand-alone. “We use motor jack to open burglary proof installed in homes, offices—suspect” (News around the city, July 1, 2020) Crime, court & living: burglar-proof N60m up for grab (grabs) as NB flags-off (flags off) 2020 Maltina teacher award” (NATIONAL NEWS, July 1, 2020) This way: Maltina Teacher Award “Ndigbo in Lagos APC appoints (appoint) executive” (Source: as above) The next two faults are contained in a public notice by the EFCC: “The public is hereby notified that the persons whose photographs appears (sic) below are wanted by the EFCC.” The challenge with templates and associated slothfulness: Just one man and his picture are involved, but vide the faux pas-ridden text! Yet another cliché from the EFCC bag of flaws: “Anybody with useful information as to her whereabouts should please contact….” Would it have been useless information? I am just curious! FEEDBACK I am a regular reader of your column. It lifts me. I want you to put this across to writers: Igbo language does not admit ‘s’ in plural formation. To say ‘Igbos’ is neither Igbo nor English. Barrister Ikedi E. Chukwu, Mbano, Imo State (08037891800) COLUMNIST’S ADDENDUM I have asserted this etymological standpoint copiously over the years! Reading habit is very poor in this part of the world largely because of all manner of developmental challenges. This drawback, of course, affects intellectual exploration and acquisition/regeneration hence the constancy of grammatical blunders, among other retrogressive throw-ups which confront us.

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

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

well-storied, robust educational and administrative trajectory which paint those other interesting biographies as colourful conjectures. The Blerf bio was updated six months before his demise. Here are the cold facts - “Education: Native Authority School, Masifa-Ogbomosho, 1940; Baptist Day School, Isokun, Oyo, 1941-1944; St Joseph’s Catholic School, Oyo, 1945; Ibadan Boys’ High School, 1951-1955; University of Ibadan, 1965-1968; University of Dakar, Senegal - summer of 1968; Radio Netherlands Training Centre, Hilversum, Holland, 1971.” Sieving through his career high points is more illuminating. Let’s focus on areas relevant to our remit. He served as a ‘Cinema Commentator’ at the Western Region’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Information (1956 - 1959); pioneer Film Editor and Film Librarian, Western Nigeria Radiovision Services (WNTV-WNBS), 1959; Executive Producer - Television Entertainment, WNTV-WNBS, 1974; Executive Producer, Radio Entertainment, 1975 (WNBS); Controller, Radio Programmes, 1976 (WNBS); Controller, Radio O.Y.O. Programmes, 1976-1977; Director, Programme Services, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Ibadan, 1977; General Manager, BCOS, 1981 - 1985; Permanent Secretary, BCOS, 1983; and lastly, the Director of Arts and Culture, Oyo State, 1984. The pioneer newscaster, arguably Nigeria’s first film editor and librarian, Faleti has over the years nursed a formidable reputation as a notable poet, playwright, writer, astute translator, and occasional actor. Adebayo Faleti had written several important plays (and some have been adapted to movies, and quite a number used in Nigerian literature classes) - all in Yoruba language. His publications include: Won Ro Pe Were Ni (play, University Press, Ibadan, 1965); Omo Olokun-Esin (novel, University of London Press, 1969); Paadi Mikailu (play, Onibonoje, Ibadan, 1971); and Basorun Gaa (play, Onibonoje, 1972). Untamed by age, undaunted by modernity, his later works revealed a mind confident of his position in history. He acted, wrote, and produced a number of movies, which include: Eda Ko Laropin (1995), Thunderbolt: Magun (2001), Afonja (2002), Basorun Gaa (2004), Sawo-Sogberi (2005), and Okun Ife Yi (2007). Faleti died about 6am on Sunday, July 23, 2017 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State. His official bio insists he was born on December 26, 1935 (meaning he died at 81). (With extracts from Reflections: Anthology of Thoughts on Nigerian Movie Industry).

GLOBAL SOCCER

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

31.07.2021

NEWS

A SHATTERED DREAM

Henry Onyekuru Hazy Road to Next Destination

PAGE. 29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͻ͹, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

Henry Onyekuru Hazy Road to Next Destination Henry Onyekuru...his future still at crossroads

Following the expiration of his one-year loan deal at Galatasaray and considered surplus to requirement by his parent club, Monaco, Henry Onyekuru is in a fix as to his next destination. However,Turkish side, Fenerbahce are showing big intent to sign him, a succour to the Nigerian international

urkishgiants, Fenerbahceareclose to signing Super Eagles attacker, Henry Onyekuru in an attempt to bolster the team ahead of the new season. TheYellow Canaries are closing in on the Nigerian international as they attempt to bolster their squad ahead of the new season. Onyekuru looks to be closing in on a move to Fenerbahce after he is considered surplus to Monaco’s requirements, and he is searching for a new club following the expiration of his one-year loan deal at Galatasaray. According to Turkish news outlet MILIGAZETE, Fenerbahce are close to confirming a deal for the Nigerian International. The Yellow Canaries have reportedly agreed to pay €4m to Monaco to secure the services of Onyekuru. The fee is expected to be paid in two installments. However, whilst terms seem to have been settled between Monaco and Fenerbahce, the former Super Lig Champions still have to agree on personal terms with the forward. Onyekuru has a lot of experience playing in Turkey. He has played his best football in the Super Lig. The former Eupen striker has had three separate loan spells with Galatasaray, scoring 16 goals in all competitions in his first stint as the Lions won the league and cup double. He scored five goals in 14 league appearances for Galatasaray last season, and he stated that he would love to stay at the club, but they haven’t made an official bid for him. Meanwhile, other reports emanating from GreecestatedthatOnyekuruhascompletedaloan move to Greek Süper League side Olympiacos, that the forward penned a deal with Olympiacos until the end of the 2021/22 campaign, after they reached agreement with his parent club AS Monaco.

Onyekurucametolimelightafterhisimpressive 2017 campaign with Belgian sideAS Eupen. Since then, he has signed for Everton, Anderlecht and Monaco and Galatasaray. However, if reports from Fotospor is anything to go by, Onyekuru’s move to Galatasaray is all but dead as the Turkish giants are no longer interested in resigning the Super Eagles winger either temporarily or permanently. After manager Fatih Terim retained his job following the election of Burak Elmas as the new President of Galatasaray, it was expected that the Istanbul Lions would hasten to complete Onyekuru’s €4.5 million switch from Monaco. But the Yellow-Reds reportedly only offered €2.5 million for the 23-year-old’s services, a bid which the Ligue 1 side rejected without delay. Galatasaray have since moved on to other targets, encouraging Onyekuru’s agent to equally approach Fenerbahce and Besiktas as both clubs are known admirers of the Nigerian. However, Besiktas are no longer interested in Onyekuru’s services, while Fenerbahce are not willing to cough out the transfer fee demanded by Monaco. Instead, Fenerbahce want a direct player swap involving Onyekuru and another player of Nigerian descent, Bright Osayi-Samuel, a deal that does not catch the fancy of the decision-makers at Monaco. Greek champions Olympiacos are the only side ready to pay €4.5 million for the former Eupen star but Onyekuru favours remaining in Turkey’s mega-city Istanbul, where he has spent much of the last three years. That’s why negotiations have not proceeded to a concrete conclusion. 2020 Super Lig champions Istanbul Baakehir could, however, offer Onyekuru a way out of the impasse, having been credited with an interest

in the Nigerian forward. The Gray Owls’ manager Aykut Kocaman is a big fan of Onyekuru and had been following the attacker’s progress since he was in charge of Fenerbahce. Onyekuru’s contract with Monaco, a side he joined for €13.5 million in 2019, does not expire until the summer of 2024. An exciting player who can hurt opponents in a varietyofwayswithhisexplosive,game-changing set of attributes, he’s certainly a nightmare for defenders to come up against. Blessed with scintillating pace, acceleration and agility, these characteristics ensure he’s such a threat with and without the ball. Firstly, when embarking on his runs, he does so in a thoughtful fashion, as he times, angles and directs his run smartly to get the edge on his adversaries. So quick and aware when a teammate is in a position to pinpoint him, he gets on his bike swiftly to give himself every chance to latch onto through balls first. The way he uses little hesitation moves, double movements, zig-zags, wicked out-to-in diagonal runs, pins markers and exploits the blindside of his marker adds to his menace. In addition, when bursting into the box, the way he attacks the six-yard box, knows when to go to the near or far post and has the presence of mind to hold his runs as the defence collapses is a bonus. Meanwhile, when it comes to his work with the ball at his feet, Onyekuru poses a very unpredictable and elusive proposition. On top of his aforementioned athleticism, his mazy dribbling ensures he can breeze by his man with his sheer pace, cut infield in an instant or beat his man with feints, shoulder drops, stepovers or searing changes of pace and direction. Moreover, the fact he’s so dangerous on the ball often attracts

multiple markers, which has the key byproduct of freeing up space for teammates and destabilising his foes’ shape. His close control when dribbling at speed notably places doubt in defenders minds, for if they step in he can quickly shift the ball to outfox them or draw a foul, thus making him an even more challenging adversary. It must be said, however, that he can overdo it sometimes on the dribble, which means he gets cornered or fails to see a teammate in a better position. But all in all, any negatives are outweighed by the big positives attached to his confident and eye-catching work here. While it’s not really his game to create chances or orchestrate passing moves, there’s been some signs of his aptitude here, as he can combine nicely in around the box, calmly recycle possession and play the odd splitting through ball if the option is there. Probably the most effective tool in this regard is how he plays some slick onetwos which help unlock deep sitting defences while allowing him to receive the return pass in a goal facing posture so he can continue his momentum. Onyekuru’s finishing complements his intriguing game nicely, for this ever-improving area of his armoury allows him to reward all his good work. Instinctive and with a keen eye for goal, the man who finished sixth in the Turkish Super League scoring charts despite playing predominantly as a winger, can crucially score in a variety of ways. Onyekuru has four years to run on his contract with Monaco, whom he joined from Everton last summer. The 24-year-old has capped 11 times forNigeria andwaspartoftheSuperEaglesteamthatclinched bronze at the lastAfrica Cup of Nations in Egypt. Onyekuru began his football career with the Aspire Academy in 2010, and graduated in 2015 joining their partner club, KAS Eupen and helped theteamgetpromotiontotheBelgiumFirstDivision A in his debut season. After a successful season in the Belgium first division, Onyekuru finished as one of the top scorers in the league, attracting the attention of various big teams in Europe. He finished the 2016/2017 season as joint topscorer with 22 goals, but the trophy was handed to his rival as he scored more away goals than Onyekuru. He made his senior debut for Nigeria in a 3-0 friendly win over Togo last year’s July.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͻ͹, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER T O K Y O 2 0 2 0 . . .T O K Y O 2 0 2 0 . . .T O K Y O 2 0 2 0 . . .

Who Rules the Track as 100m Gets to Nitty-gritty In spite of sports like football and basketball getting huge followership at Olympic Games, the 100m men till date remains the blue ribbon of the quadrennial competition. As the 100m gets to the nitty-gritty, here is taking a look as to who could emerge as king of the tracks

Akani Simbine

Andre De Grasse

Fred Kerley

Nigeria’s Mixed 4x400m Team Excited by African Although they would have been hoping to at least make the final of their event at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, Nigeria’s Mixed 4x400m quartet comprising Emmanuel Ojeli, Imaobong Nse Uko, Samson Nathaniel and Patience Okon-George will leave the competition with their heads held high after storming to a newAfrican Record of 3:13.60 to finish 5th in their semi final race. Speaking after the race, Okon-George revealed that the squad is consoled by the African Record they set while competing at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo. She said, “The last race we ran back in June was 3:14.09 and the 3:13.60 we ran today is good. We are happy with the new African Record. It was not easy running with 43second runners on the anchor leg. Nowthatwehaven’tmadeittothefinal,I’m justgoingtobefocusedandgetreadyforthe 400m.IthinkI’mgoodto go”. Teammate Emmanuel Ojeli also revelled in the fact that the quartet made history by becoming the firstAfrican team to qualify for and compete at the Olympics.

Nigerian Athletes not Banned for Drugs, Says AFN

Yohan Blake

Trayvon Bromell

Ronnie Baker

After more than a decade of dominance, the era of Usain Bolt is over and someone other than the Jamaican great would be crowned men’s 100m champion at the Tokyo Olympics. Bolt will go down as one of the greatest athletes of all time having stormed to 100m victory at the Beijing, London and Rio Games, adding three successive 200m golds for good measure. But the world record holder retired from athletics in 2017, finally giving someone else a chance of glory. With time having also caught up with 2004 gold medallist Justin Gatlin, and world champion Christian Coleman serving an 18-month anti-doping ban, this feels very much like the start of a new era in the Olympics’ traditional blue ribbon event. Who is ready to write their name in the history books? Here are some of the contenders

Best time this year: 9.86 A former US champion at 400m, Fred Kerley raised eyebrows when he chose to race at 100m and 200m, but showed he is more than capable over shorter distances by setting a personal best of 9.86 to come third in the 100m at the US Olympic trials. A personal best of 19.90 seconds in the 200m makes him only the third man to break the 10, 20 and 44-second barriers over 100m, 200m and 400m. A man of many talents, he cannot be discounted here.

Championships. Injury and illness have hampered his progress since then, although he ran a season’s best 9.92 in Jacksonville in May. If he can win gold he would follow in the footsteps of Donavan Bailey, who won the 100m title for Canada at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

TRAYVON BROMELL Trayvon Bromell won the men’s 100m in 9.98 seconds at British Grand Prix Diamond League event in Gateshead this month Age: 26 Country: USA Personal best: 9.77 Best time this year: 9.77 Once considered a potential heir to Bolt’s throne, Trayvon Bromell endured three injury-ravaged years that included tearing his achilles tendon during the 4x100m relay at Rio in 2016. However, the 26-year-old is back and heads to Tokyo as the fastest man in 2021, posting a time of 9.77 seconds in June. He went on to win the US trials in a similarly rapid 9.80. After leaving the track at the previous Olympics in a wheelchair, a coronation in Tokyo would feel like a moment of redemption.

FRED KERLEY Fred Kerley won 400m bronze at the 2019 World Championships and says his longterm plan is to race at that distance Age: 26 Country: USA Personal best: 9.86

RONNIE BAKER Ronnie Baker’s only defeats this season have been in the semi-final and final of the US Olympic trials Age: 27 Country: USA Personal best: 9.85 Best time this year: 9.85 Ronnie Baker is another athlete who looks to have put his injury problems behind him. The 27-year-old’s best year to date came in 2018 when he earned world indoor 60m bronze and set personal bests over that distance and 100m. Persistent injuries then hampered him throughout 2019 and he missed out on a place at the World Championships. However, he shaved 0.02 off his lifetime best when finishing second at this year’s Olympic trials in 9.85 seconds - one of just two defeats this season, which has included Diamond League wins in Stockholm and Monaco.

ANDRE DE GRASSE Andre de Grasse trains alongside fellow 100m contender Trayvon Bromell under coach Rana Reider Age: 26 Country: Canada Personal best: 9.90 Best time this year: 9.92 Andre de Grasse heads to Tokyo with an impressive track record. He won the 100m bronze, 200m silver and sprint relay bronze in Rio, following that up with bronze in the 100m and silver in 200m at the 2019 World

AKANI SIMBINE Simbine is bidding to become the first African Olympic 100m champion since 1908 Age: 27 Country: South Africa Personal best: 9.84 Best time this year: 9.84 Akani Simbine is aiming to become the first African to win the Olympic 100m title since South Africa’s Reggie Walker at the 1908 London Games. He is another sprinter with decent pedigree, having finished fourth at the 2019 World Championships, and fifth at the 2017 Worlds and the 2016 Rio Olympics. He is also the reigning Commonwealth champion and has run sub-10 seconds in seven successive years. The 27-year-old set an African record of 9.84 seconds in Hungary in July, shaving 0.01 off the previous mark set in 2006. It also bettered the national record of 9.89 he had set at the same meeting five years ago.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has described as misleading the headline in some national dailies (not THISDAY) which described as a ban the ineligiblity of 10 Nigerian athletes to compete at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to non-completion of their mandatory three out of competition test (OCT). Adeniyi Beyioku, Secretary General of the federation says in a statement the athletes have done nothing wrong to be labelled ‘banned’ as the screaming headline in a few Nigerian dailies indicated. ‘The attention of the federation has been drawn to reports in some in some Nigerian newspapers that our athletes have been banned. This is far from the truth. The athletes were only declared ineligible to compete because they did not complete the three out of competition test that would have made them eligible for only the Tokyo Olympic Games. ‘Why the federation regrets the unfortunate incident, we however plead on behalf of the athletes who have complained about the negative tag that they are not banned from track and field as they have not violated any antidoping rules. ‘ The athletes are free to compete in the many track meetings that will hold immediately after the Olympics across the globe and it will be inappropriate and unpatriotic to tag them as banned athletes.

YOHAN BLAKE Age: 31 Country: Jamaica Personal best: 9.69 Best time this year: 9.98 Could the 100m gold stay in Jamaica? Yohan Blake has long been tipped as a potential successor to Bolt, with his personal best of 9.69 only bettered by his more celebrated compatriot. He won 100m gold at the 2011 World Championships and is a 2012 double Olympic silver medallist. However, he hasn’t dipped below 9.90 seconds since those heady days and it is nine years since he won an individual major medal, with his season’s best 9.98 in the Jamaican Championship semi-finals.

President, World Athletics, Sebastine Coe congratulates newly elected President of AFN, Tony Okowa at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan yesterday

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Blessing Okagbare and Grace Nwokocha on course for 100m ﬁnal at Tokyo Olympics

Tokyo 2020 OLYMPICS

Okagbare, Nwokocha Target 100m Final Two Nigerians in semis ﬁrst time since 2012 For the first time since 2012, two Nigerian athletes will be running in the semifinals of the women’s 100m after Blessing Okagbare and Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha qualified from their respective heats yesterday in Tokyo, Japan. Nwokocha had to run a new personal best of 11.00 seconds to secure her qualification to the semifinals in her debut at the Games. The 20 year old has also moved into fifth in the Nigeria all-time list behind Okagbare (10.79), Glory Alozie (10.90) Mary Onyali (10.97) and Damola Osayomi (10.99). The home-based athlete who ran 11.09 seconds to secure her

qualification for the Olympics in March at the MOC Grand Prix in Lagos will however need to make further history by breaking the 11 seconds barrier as the fifth Nigerian woman to do so to stand a chance of joining Onyali and Okagbare as debutants who ran all the way to the final of the event. She has been drawn to run from lane nine in the third semifinal heat with the fastest woman alive, Shelly-Ann FraserPryce of Jamaica, Daryl Neita of Great Britain, Teahna Daniels of the USA and fellow African, Muriel Ahoure of Ivory Coast. While Nwokocha qualified for her first semifinal, Okagbare will be running in her third since she

made her debut in the event at the 2012 Olympics in London. The 32-year-old ran 11.05 seconds to win her first round heat. She has been drawn in the first semifinal heat alongside two heavyweights of the event, defending champion Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica who ran 10.82 seconds to win her first round heat and Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, the 200m world champion two years ago in Doha, Qatar who ran 11.07 seconds to come second in her first round heat. The 2008 Beijing Olympics Long Jump silver medallist will be in action at exactly 11.15 am Nigerian time today.

Zverev Ends Djokovic’s ‘Golden Slam’ Dream Novak Djokovic’s bid for a ‘Golden Slam’ is over after defeat to Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The world No 1 was aiming to become the first man to win all four majors and an Olympic singles gold medal in the same calendar year. Steffi Graf is the only tennis player to have achieved this feat previously. After a productive series of matches in Tokyo, and Djokovic

flying through the opening set of the semi-final, his bid to create more tennis history looked secure. However, 24-year-old Zverev showed an exceptional level of determination and character to turn his own game around and triumph 1-6 6-3 6-1. Zverev will now face Karen Khachanov in the final. The world No 1 must dust himself off and meet Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain in the bronze

medal match. Djokovic, who was on a 23-match winning streak taking in French Open and Wimbledon titles, looked set for another easy victory when he raced through the opening set and broke Zverev for 3-2 in the second. From there, the match turned on its head, as the powerful German started to achieve the seemingly impossible and hit through his opponent.

Titans Win VBank Flag Football Season 5 Championship The V Shitsuke Flag Football league championship (Season 5) came to a climax with the Titans lifting the trophy for the season. The defending champions, Titans, had defeated (Lagos) Rebels 61 to 41 in a spectacular outing that was every inch a final after nine consecutive Sundays of nine teams going head-to-head. Title sponsor of the game, VBank, was present to cheer

the players and colour the occasion. For the second season in a row, VBank, Nigeria’s digital banking platform and Banking app of the year 2020, has supported the V Shistsuke Flag Football league. For the last one year, the platform, powered by VFD Microfinance bank, has sponsored one sporting event after the other. Speaking on this, Head of Marketing and Corporate

Communication, VFD Group, Efeturi Doghudje said, “VFD as a corporate establishment believes in promoting social cohesion in our local environments and that is why sponsoring sporting activities will remain an attraction for us. In addition to keeping people fit, team sports like flag football encourage more people to bond either by watching and cheering their favourite teams

TITAN Farms Boss Pledges Support to Boxing, Host WBF Champ, ‘Scorpion’ The Chairman of a leading agro and allied firm in Ibadan, TITAN Farms, Chief Gbenga Eyiolawi has pledged support to the boxing sport while receiving the current WBF Champ, Ridwan Scorpion Oyekola in his office today. The CEO of Core Afrique Boxing Promotion (COABOX), Sola Ayodele who doubles as the manager of Oyekola while making a

speech explained challenges faced before winning the title and challenges they are facing defending it. COABOX boss however pointed out potentials and mileage derivable from boxing as a sport due to awareness raised by many successes of Nigerian boxers in recent times. TITAN boss in his response reiterated his support to sport

in general, saying the focus of his brand has always centered on entertainment before but had recently shifted towards sports because of its unifying factor. He urged Scorpion not to allow challenges faced before or after becoming a champion to dampen his morale, as there’s more ground for him to cover if he doesn’t allow challenges faced to slow him down.

Olanrewaju Kayode continued his Europa League goalscoring form with 35 minut strike against CS Petroclub

Olarenwaju’s Shoots Sivasspor to Europa League Knockout Stage Sivasspor of Turkey loanee Kayode Olarenwaju’s quest for a return to Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles received a big boost on Thursday night after his lone strike for his club in the Europa League qualifier ensured that Sivasspor will participate in the competition group stages. Olarenwaju, who has been in top form recently was the competition’s top scorer in the group stage last season and he does not look to be slowing down. The forward who rejoined Turkish Super Lig Sivasspor on loan from Shakhtar Donesk ended the dream of stubborn CS Petroclub side with his 35th minute strike which was enough for Sivasspor to progress to the competition proper. The 28-year-old spent last season on loan at Sivasspor and was one of the standout performers for the club. “An agreement has been reached with Shakhtar Donetsk for the loan of our football player Olarenwaju Kayode, whose contract has expired at the end of the season, until the end of the 2021-2022 season,” reads a statement on the club official website. Kayode was on target four times in five matches in the group stages of Europa League for Slvasspor last season and said those were the kinds of performances coaches don’t easily ignore. “When you continue to put up your grade A game on a weekly basis, you will definitely draw the attention of the national team coaches and that is something I’m working hard to achieve,” he said.

Preparations for 2021 Nigeria Cup Golf Competition Gather Momentum As preparations for the 2021 Nigeria Cup series of golf competitions gather momentum, there are indications that this year ’s edition, the 24th in the annual series of tournaments, will raise the bar for excellent golf, the exposure for sponsors corporate marketing interests and overall spectator ’s enjoyment. Already, the golf practice range of the Ikoyi Club, Golf Section course, the venue of the annual competition is now a beehive of activities and golfers take to the range in preparations for the coming competition. Potential corporate sponsors of the event have also been making inquiries with respect to partnering the organisers for the competition. Expectedly, effort is also being made to make the fairways, greens and bunkers in the best playing conditions. The tournament Organising Committee headed by Mr. Frank Igbene and assisted by Mr. Tade Adekunle and Mrs. Ronke Iyola, has been set up to provide the best Nigeria Cup tournament ever. The team is also responsible

for raising funds and executes plans for the week-long competitions. The Nigeria Cup is a competition for six different categories of golfers, organised annually by the Ikoyi Golf Community Nigeria Association, (IGCNA), and hosted by Ikoyi Club 1938, to celebrate the nations Independence Anniversary. Since its debut in 1997, The Nigeria Cup has grown to become the most popular and glamorous amateur golf event in Africa. Apart from the golf course competitions which will involve Staff, Caddies, Professional golfers, male and female golfers of Ikoyi Club, The Nigeria Cup has become a financial vehicle which impacts on its immediate environment through strategic investments in the golf infrastructure of Ikoyi Club Golf course, as well as donating to charities in Lagos State. The theme of the 2021 Nigeria Cup is ‘Tapping Back To The Fairway’. It connotes a desire to strengthen golf etiquettes and the organisation of golf activities in Ikoyi.

StarTimes to Air FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Africa’s leading digital TV operator, StarTimes is going to broadcast the African Championship of Nations, FIBA AfroBasket Rwanda 2021 live and exclusive. The 30th edition of the AfroBasket, men’s basketball continental championship of Africa, is scheduled to take place between August 24 and September 5, in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city. 16 national teams divided into four groups will be competing to get crowned African cham-

pions. In Group A, host Rwanda will face DR Congo, Cape Verde, and 11-time AfroBasket winners Angola. Group B will see reigning champion Tunisia compete alongside the Central African Republic, Egypt and Guinea. In Group C, 2015 champions Nigeria is opposed to Ivory Coast, Kenya and Mali. And in Group D, Senegal, Cameroon, South Sudan and Uganda will clash to get a qualification spot. The Group Phase of AfroBasket 2021 will take

place from August 24-29 with the top team from each group automatically advancing to the quarterfinals. The eight teams that finish second and third place in Groups A, B, C and D will compete from August 30-31 for the remai n i n g f o u r s p o t s i n the Quarter-Finals. The t hird-place game and the final will be played on September 5. All matches will be aired live and exclusiveonStarTimes sportschannels-STSportsLife and ST Sports Focus.

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Aruna Quadri A Shattered Dream Aruna Quadri’s Tokyo Olympics medal dream ended in a third round defeat

Before departing for the Tokyo Olympics, Africa’s number one ping ponger, Aruna Quadri was not only optimistic of returning with a medal but vowed to end the dominance of the Chinese. It was however not to be as the Nigerian failed to replicate his Rio feat where he booked a quarter final berth

henArunaQuadri became the first African Ping Ponger to play in the quarter finals of the Olympics at the Rio edition of the quadrennial event, many followers of the game back home felt it was just a matter of time before the German-based player establish his dominance in the competition. Instead, he was bundled out in the third round by Brazilian Gustavo Tsuboi. The Team Nigeria’s Captain has lamented his ouster from the Tokyo Olympics, saying he had disappointed Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, who deserves more for his efforts in turning Nigerian sports around. Much was expected from the Nigerian but he succumbed to the Brazilian who was ranked lower than him “Without doubt, Sports Minister Dare has done a lot to change our sports and athlete’s welfare in his short time in charge. His adopt-anathlete initiative has impacted so much on many athletes. I feel disappointed I could not get a medal to say thank you,” Quadri lamented at the Games Village Mixed Zone in Tokyo shortly after his exit. Continuing he said: “If I’m to say the truth, the Sports Minister

has done very well. I have played at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and Africa Games. During this short time, he has taken charge, Chief Dare has done what no minister in the past has done. I feel disappointed,” Quadri said genuinely. He however confessed that his Brazilian opponent was better than him. “That’s sports for you. I am a better player than him in ranking but he played very much better to win. You know anyone in top 100 can spring a surprise at any time. I did not underrate him because we play in Bundesliga and I know what he’s capable of doing.” He however insisted that getting ousted from the Olympic was not the end of his career. “It’s not the end of life. We’ll continue to work to see what will happen in future.” Meanwhile, Quadri’s exit in the third round of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Male’s single table tennis event has dampened the morale of Team Nigeria for successful outing at the Games. After the trio of Funke Oshonaike, Jide Omotayo and Offiong Edem crashed from the table tennis events, as well as the early elimination of the country’s athletes from rowing, gymnastics, taekwondo and badminton events, all eyes were on Aruna, seeded among the top 15 players in the Tokyo Games

and the highest rated African in the world, to lift Team Nigeria’s spirit for medals chase ahead of the athletics event kicking off yesterday. But the 2016 Rio Olympics quarterfinalist bowed out of the competition despite that Quadri started the game on a bright note winning the first set 15-13, he lost in the latter sets as it ended 4-2 in favour of Tsuboi. Following the shock elimination of the Team Nigeria captain, one of Nigeria’s star athletes and medal prospects, Ese Brume, urged Nigerians to keep praying for the team. “I’m praying and hoping for God. Let’s keep praying,” she simply said. Before jetting out to Tokyo, the 32-year-old, who secured the qualification by virtue of his position on the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Olympic qualification ranking, disclosed that he hopes to be “lucky” to stop the domination of China at the games. China has established itself as a powerhouse in the sport, winning all the table tennis events at the last three Olympics to emphasise its hegemony. Quadri said he has what it takes to pull a surprise on the Chinese participants in Tokyo. “Table tennis is the number one sport in China. They put a lot of money into the sport, and they

have the best coaches who understand the game,” he said. “But I think it is possible to pull a surprise in Tokyo. My target is to win a medal, and I hope to be lucky.” Tokyo is Quadri’s third Olympics, having represented the country in London 2012 and Rio 2016. In Brazil, he defeated Chuang Chih-yuan, the then 5th seed, in four straight sets before edging Timo Boll, a renowned German player, 4-1. He was, however, stopped by Ma Long, the eventual winner, in the quarter-final. Meanwhile, Egypt’s Omar Assar has equaled Quadri’s Olympic Games record as the second African player to reach the quarterfinal stage of the men’s singles table tennis event at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR

THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR DEPUTY EDITOR THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN MANAGING DIRECTOR DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

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

TIPS OF THE WEEK A Complete Guide to Car Fire Prevention and Control

L-R: Deputy General Manager, Ford Sales, Coscharis Motors Plc., Justin Ngini, with General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, Abiona Babarinde, unveiling the All New Ford Explorer, while others watch, at the Lagos Motor Fair… recently.

Coscharis Motors Reveals All New Ford Explorer at 2021 Lagos Motor Fair

t was one of the highlights of the fair when the leading auto dealership in Nigeria, Coscharis Motors Plc recently introduced the all new Ford Explorer at the recently held 2021 Lagos Motor Fair, which took place at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. Coscharis’s participation at this edition of the Motor Fair was in a bid to ensure customers get the opportunity to experience the new Ford Explorer among other Ford variants on display. Speaking at the fair ground, Abiona Babarinde, General Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group expressed excitement at the company’s participation in the fair. In his words, “we are excited to showcase all the variants of our Ford brand at this fair to the delight of everyone that visited our stand; most especially the new Ford Explorer on display with all its unique features that has been one of the most sorted after through the duration of the fair and beyond.”

“The platform equally was a perfect place where we showcased the Ford Escape that is currently on a special promotional discount - nearly up to two million naira for every purchase, amongst other packages. “To complete the total package we offered at the fair was to give finance scheme support to discerning prospects as a way to ease ownership of any of our vehicles through any of our finance partners like Coscharis Mobility and Polaris Bank. With as low as 10% to 30% initial payment of the principal amount of any vehicle of your choice, you are good to drive home your dream vehicle with the finance partners that will help complete the full payment based on agreed terms and conditions attainable.” In addition, the Deputy General Manager, Ford Sales, Coscharis Motors Plc, Justin Ngini went further, “The Explorer is available as Base, XLT and the rangetopping Limited Edition, with 10-speed A/T 2.3L EcoBoost to 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 engines. Despite serious competition from several other brands, our target will

be to position it as the benchmark, as quite a bit of work had been done on the vehicle to upgrade it.” Major upgrades include: Interior Spacing as it is Sophisticated The All-New EXPLORER offers a more spacious interior with increased cargo space compared to the previous generation. With seating for up to 7, passengers in all 3 rows will benefit. The All-New EXPLORER has best-in-class 1st- and 2nd-row hip room and 2nd-row headroom, while 3rd-row passengers enjoy unsurpassed headroom. Should someone unbuckle their safety belt, a new Belt Monitor System will alert the driver as to which belt is unbuckled through the instrument cluster productivity screen. And thanks to a new dual-wall dashboard between the engine and passenger compartments, as well as acoustic glass for the windshield and 1st-row windows, everyone will enjoy the quietest All-New EXPLORER cabin ever.

All-new Jaguar F-PACE SVR now in Nigeria

ollectors of the Jaguar piece of machinery are in for a treat as the new Jaguar F-PACE SVR is now available to order in Nigeria through Coscharis Motors immediately after the introduction of the All new S and R-Dynamic SE models to the media next month. All Jaguar vehicles come with a standard 5-year/100,000km Jaguar Care Plan and warranty. The new Jaguar F-PACE SVR is now faster, PRUH G\QDPLF DQG PRUH UHÀQHG WKDQ HYHU 7KH pinnacle of the performance SUV range is elevated to another level thanks to the latest enhancements by the Jaguar SV team. The updates are delivered by a combination of new hardware and the move to Jaguar’s advanced Electronic Vehicle Architecture – dubbed EVA 2.0 – and include motorsport-inspired design details, a luxurious and performance-focused interior and the latest connected convenience technologies. The new F-PACE SVR is available exclusively with Jaguar’s 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged petrol engine, which produces 405kW and 700Nm torque – an increase of 20Nm. This uplift in torque delivers enhanced performance, with the F-PACE SVR capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in 4.0 seconds, three-tenths faster than before, and a top speed of 286km/h. The powertrain now features the same torque converter used in the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 super sedan, to withstand the higher loads produced. As well as the improved torque and acceleration, CO2 emissions are reduced from 281g/km to 275g/km with fuel economy now down to 12.2l/100km*. The transmission and dynamics systems KDYH DOVR EHQHÀWWHG IURP LQFUHPHQWDO WZHDNV The uprated Dynamic mode features unique

The new Jaguar F-PACE SVR

tuning, delivering a focused and honed driving experience. A new Dynamic Launch feature also uses driveline inertia to maintain power to the wheels during gear changes, contributing to the SVR’s sharper acceleration from a standstill. At the same time, F-PACE SVR is now more comfortable and enjoyable to drive at a relaxed pace, without compromising its high-speed dynamics, further underlining the new model’s duality of purpose. The steering system is enhanced with a new electronic power-assistance system delivering greater

immediacy, providing a heightened connection EHWZHHQ WKH YHKLFOH DQG GULYHU 0RGLÀHG WXQLQJ RI WKH DGDSWLYH GDPSLQJ SURYLGHV D PRUH UHÀQHG ride at low speeds, which is further improved by revised chassis bushes. 'ULYHUV DOVR EHQHÀW IURP LPSURYHG EUDNH IHHO in the new F-PACE SVR. The 395mm (front) and 396mm (rear) two-piece disc brakes are now supported by a new Integrated Power Booster which, along with a recalibration of the system, delivers a sportier and shorter brake pedal.

Vehicle fire or auto fires are one of the scariest things that can happen to anyone on the road. Many people have a notion that car fires rarely happen and that it isn’t something anyone should worry about. But reports from the NPFA (The National Fire Protection Association) say otherwise. In the US alone, about 33 car fires are reported every hour. 18% of these fires occur either on a road or high way. Young adults and teens with driver’s licenses are most likely to be involved in fire-related accidents as reported by the National Fire Incident Reporting System According to a report from the USFA, about 171,500 fires occurred in the United States from 2014 to 2016. These fires resulted in an annual average of 1.1 billion dollars in property loss, 345 deaths, and 1,300 injuries. While the above statistics are sobering and somewhat frightening, they don’t mean that your car is suddenly going to catch a fire while you are driving. As you guessed, car fires don’t happen without reason. Dangerous driving and a handful of other factors can cause it. In this article, we are going to be looking at the causes of car fires, steps to take when your vehicle is on fire, signs that your car may catch fire, fire safety tools you should have in your car at all times, the right fire extinguisher for cars, and some car fire safety tips. Before we dive right into the meat of this article, we are first going to be looking at some of the worst car fires that occurred over the last couple of years. As you probably know, automobile fires don’t just happen. Most times, human error, mechanical or electrical failure, or malfunction results in a car fire. In some cases, two or more factors combine to cause a car fire or increase its intensity. Knowing these factors can potentially help you avoid a dangerous situation or reduce the odds of your car going up in flames, but there are no guarantees. And remember that when your car is on fire, the factors or things that caused it will be of little significance because your car is on fire (although that information can potentially help car manufacturer fix design or mechanical flaw). Don’t worry about the fluid that might have spilled and caused the fire or if your engine overheated. Right now, it is critical that you get as far away from your burning car as possible. Keep in mind that a small car fire isn’t going to remain small for long. Other complications can make the situation much worse. Read on to find out some common causes of car fires. 1. Poor Maintenance Human error is likely one of the major causes of automobile related fire. Human error isn’t as direct or intentional like striking a match. But if you are lazy and don’t take car maintenance seriously, your car is figuratively going to be like a moving timebomb. If you don’t take care of your car, you are indirectly increasing the odds of it going up in flames. Forgetting to take your car to an auto shop to have it fixed or maintained every now and then is understandable. But neglecting or continuously procrastinating taking your car to a repair shop to have it looked at is unacceptable, to say the least. The obvious reason for this is that faulty wiring, leaky seals, and broken parts can make a car more inhospitable or prone to the conditions that may cause a fire. Frayed wiring is likely going to spark and even worse make contact with flammable materials. Also, an engine with a bad gasket is likely going to drip flammable fluid. See, don’t save a few bucks and skip car maintenance at the expense of your life and that of your family. 2. Arson Arson, which is the criminal act of setting a car on fire is becoming more and more popular these days. In the last couple of years, there have been a lot of reports of arson in different parts of the world. Now, you are probably wondering why anyone would deliberately set a vehicle on fire. Well, there are a lot of reasons why people may want to set a working automobile ablaze. For example, it could be to cover up the evidence of another crime or to cover up a theft. It could also be plain old vandalism, which is destroying something for the thrill. There are several more reasons why people set their car on fire, but let’s leave that to the criminal masterminds. As you probably know, setting a car on fire is pretty easy. However, doing it without being detected is difficult. But a skilled auto arsonist who knows what he is doing can easily set a car ablaze and get away with it. 3. Electric Vehicle Batteries A Few years back, a Tesla Model S, which was awarded the title of the safest car in the world by the media, caught fire in late 2013. The incident was a terrible blow for Tesla, who has implied on several occasions that its electric Model S was immune to the battery-related issues that have affected electric cars in the past.

(Source: Firesafetytips)

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NAIDP Will Become Law by 2021, Says NADDC DG

KH )HGHUDO *RYHUQPHQW LV incorporating electric vehicles into the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP). Director General of the National Automotive Design and 'HYHORSPHQW &RXQFLO 1$''& 0U -HODQL $OL\X also expressed optimism that the NAIDP would be passed into law before the end of the year. +H VSRNH RQ 7KXUVGD\ GXULQJ WKH WK DQQXDO training and workshop of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in Lagos. The DG who joined virtually reiterated that electric vehicles remains the future of automobile globally with many countries setting target for migration into electric vehicles, saying Nigeria is also toeing similar path. The DG who spoke at the workshop with the WKHPH ´0LJUDWLRQ WR (OHFWULF 9HKLFOHV DQG *DV powered Vehicles; Opportunities & Challenges for Nigeria,” said the EV is being incorporated into the NAIDP which he assured would be passed before the end of the year. According to him, a lot of developments like the EVs as well as gas-powered vehicles are VSULQJLQJ XS DV WKH JRYHUQPHQW ÀQH WXQHV WKH auto policy bill. He said all the new developments would be incorporated in the NAIDP.

On the charging stations for electric vehicle, the DG stressed that it is not the business of the )HGHUDO *RYHUQPHQW WR SXW FKDUJLQJ VWDWLRQV DFURVV the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. 7KH &RUSV 0DUVKDO RI WKH )HGHUDO 5RDG 6DIHW\ &RUSV )56& 'U %RER\H 2\H\HPL VDLG PLJUDWLRQ into electric vehicles would reduce the dangerous emissions from fossil fuel vehicles mostly second KDQG ÁRRGLQJ WKH 1LJHULDQ PDUNHW Oyeyemi represented by the Lagos Sector Commander, Olusegun Ogungbemide disclosed that 80 percent of vehicles are second hand. ´6RPH RI WKHP DUH DV ROG DV \HDUV DQG ZKHQ they come in, we embrace them as new vehicles, we subject them to the same activities that the new vehicles are being subjected to, not minding the costs,” he said. +H VDLG ´7KLV PLJUDWLRQ LV VR LPSRUWDQW WR 1LJHULD HVSHFLDOO\ LQ WKH DUHD RI KHDOWK 0DQ\ people are in the hospital in Lagos today which hitherto wouldn’t have been if our atmosphere has been so sanitized. ´7KH FORVHVW WR LW WKDW ZH KDG LQ /DJRV ZDV during the lockdown when we had less vehicles on Nigerian roads. The commissioner for health WHVWLÀHG WR LW ZKHQ , YLVLWHG KLP 'XULQJ WKH ORFNGRZQ WR SHU FHQW RI vehicles with all these emissions were erased from the system with the exception of the articulated vehicles.”

L-R: Assistant Director, PR, National Automotive Design and Development Council, Mrs. Felicia Oyebolu; Corps Commander, Olusegun Ogungbemide, Lagos State Sector Command, Federal Road Safety Corps; General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, Mr. Abiona Babarinde; and Chairman, Nigeria Auto Journalists Association Mr. Mike Ochonma, at the 7th Nigeria Auto Journalists Association Annual Training Workshop held in Lagos, recently with Coscharis Group as one of the sponsors

Autochek Partners Appzone to Deliver Innovative Auto Loan Solution

utochek, the automotive technology company facilitating auto ÀQDQFLQJ DFURVV $IULFD KDV announced a partnership with Appzone Group, the continent’s OHDGLQJ )LQ7HFK RUJDQL]DWLRQ WR provide Nigerians with quick and ÁH[LEOH DFFHVV WR FDU ÀQDQFLQJ 7KH SDUWQHUVKLS ZLOO see the Autochek platform integrating with Appzone’s proprietary digital core banking service, BankOne, in IDFLOLWDWLQJ DFFHVV WR FUHGLW IURP RYHU 0LFURÀQDQFH institutions for Nigerians across the length and breadth of the country. The credit sourcing process starts with the listing of SUH TXDOLÀHG YHKLFOHV IURP WKH GHDOHUV RQ $XWRFKHN·V platform. Potential customers have the opportunity to select their choice from a pool of cars that have gone WKURXJK D SRLQW LQVSHFWLRQ SURFHVV FDUULHG RXW E\ Autochek’s accredited technical experts. The customers are then able to submit their loan applications digitally WKURXJK WKH DXWRFKHN ZHEVLWH WR RYHU ÀQDQFLDO partners currently available on Appzone’s BankOne QHWZRUN :LWKLQ KRXUV FXVWRPHUV UHFHLYH PXOWLSOH RͿHUV DQG KDYH WKH RSWLRQ WR VHOHFW WKHLU PRVW SUHIHUUHG ÀQDQFLDO SDUWQHU $SS]RQH WUDQVLWLRQV DOO DFFHSWHG ORDQ applications into the BankOne’s proprietary credit administration module which automatically enables the account opening, underwriting and eventual disbursement. The customer is now able to get a transparent

step by step update throughout the whole process. 6SHDNLQJ DW WKH R΀FLDO VLJQLQJ HYHQW &KLHI 7HFKQRORJ\ 2΀FHU DW $XWRFKHN &KHWDQ 6HWK VDLG ´/LNH PXFK RI 6XE VDKDUDQ $IULFD REWDLQLQJ DFFHVV WR ÀQDQFLQJ in Nigeria is a tedious process. At Autochek, we are committed to providing consumers with seamless access to credit in order for them to own their vehicles. With technology, we are able to provide vehicle ÀQDQFLQJ DW VFDOH DQG WKLV ZLOO EH DFFHOHUDWHG HYHQ further by integrating with Appzone’s network. We are very much customer-focussed and we operate in an on-demand economy, we therefore recognise the QHHG WR H΀FLHQWO\ SURYLGH D SOHWKRUD RI RSWLRQV IRU customers to access loans from; our partnership with Appzone will enable us to further increase their options WKURXJK DFFHVV WR WKH PLFURÀQDQFH EDQNV FXUUHQWO\ available on their platform.” 0U 0XGLDJD 8PXNRUR WKH &(2 RI $SS]RQH &RUH D VXEVLGLDU\ FRPSDQ\ RI $SS]RQH *URXS VDLG ´%DQN2QH LV RXU ÁDJVKLS SURGXFW DQG $IULFD·V IRUHPRVW %DQNLQJ DV D 3ODWIRUP %DD3 VROXWLRQ 2YHU WKH ODVW \HDUV ZH KDYH IRFXVHG RQ GLJLWL]LQJ WKH 0LFURÀQDQFH VHFWRU :H KDYH HQDEOHG RYHU 0LFURÀQDQFH ,QVWLWXWLRQV spread across the entire country, with the capability for fully digital banking operations And now through our partnership with Autochek, these Institutions available can now provide quick digital loans to prospective car owners anywhere in Nigeria. What this ensures is a ZLQ ZLQ DSSURDFK DV 0)%V FDQ WDUJHW PRUH FXVWRPHUV

L-R: Chief Financial Officer, Autocheck, Olajide Adamolekun; Chief Executive Officer, Autocheck, Etop Ikpe,; Chief Executive Officer Appzone Core, Mudiaga Umukoro; and Chief Marketing Officer, Appzone Core, Yvonne Ige, at the Autocheck and Appzone Core partnership announcement in Lagos… recently DV ZHOO DV LQFUHDVH UHYHQXH WKURXJK ORDQ RͿHULQJV whilst customers across the country, either in urban or remote areas, are more easily empowered with EXVLQHVV DQG RU SHUVRQDO YHKLFOHV ZLWK OLWWOH KDVVOH µ

Safety Rules For Buying Tyres A couple of weeks ago, I did a piece titled, DRIVING IN THE RAIN. In my usual practice during the rainy season, I wish to focus on tyres because of the need to guard against tyre burst or blowout. Tyres are among the most important part of the vehicle but unfortunately the least understood. Without the tyres, your vehicle is useless. You need the tyres to start, move and stop the vehicle. So buying tyres is a task you need to undertake very carefully otherwise your safety and that of other could be put in great danger. Before you buy any tyre, give serious consideration into the size of the tyre, the age of the tyre and the physical conditions of the tyre. Tyre size: On the side wall of your tyres, you ZLOO VHH ÀJXUHV OLNH U U and so on. These are designations for your tyre sizes. Check your own tyre to know what LV ZULWWHQ RQ LW 7KH ÀUVW ÀJXUH IURP WKH OHIW is the width (from side wall to side wall) of the tyre in millimeters; the middle number is what is known as the aspect ratio used to calculate the height of the side wall of the tyre. The last number is the ream diameter. When you go to buy tyres you will mention DOO RI WKRVH ÀJXUH WR WKH W\UH VHOOHU VR WKDW KH will give you exactly what you want, there are various sizes of tyres in the market that FDQ ÀW \RXU W\SH RI YHKLFOH EXW WKDW GRHV QRW PHDQ WKDW WKRVH VL]HV DUH JRRG VDIH IRU \RXU

SAFE DRIVING with

can make to get sizes apart from what the PDQXIDFWXUHU VSHFLÀHG WKDW ZLOO JLYH \RX WKH VDPH UHVXOW DV WKH RULJLQDO VSHFLÀFDWLRQ EXW you need to know how to do the calculations RWKHUZLVH VWLFN WR WKH RULJLQDO VSHFLÀFDWLRQ Jonas Agwu Even more important that the size of the tyre amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa is its age. Unfortunately most motorists as well Assistant Corps Marshal as tyre sellers themselves don’t know how to Zonal Commanding Officer check for the tyre age, they depend only on Federal Road Safety Corps. visual inspection of the physical conditions. Some will invite a vulcanize+-er who will do a press up (or is it press down) on the tyre to vehicle. certify if it is okay what a wrong and dangerous (YHU\ YHKLFOH KDV W\UH VL]HV VSHFLÀHG E\ WKH thing to do. vehicle manufacturer. If you check the tyre placard Why the emphasis on the emphasis on age of by the end of your driver’s door, hood or the a tyre? Just as age could disqualify and otherwise YHKLFOH·V PDQXDO \RX ZLOO VHH WKH VSHFLÀFDWLRQ promising marriage mate, age will disqualify for your vehicles tyre sizes, please stick to these a tyre even if every other thing seems alright VSHFLÀFDWLRQ ZKLOH EX\LQJ UHSODFHPHQW W\UH from a visual inspection. Do not be deceived Don’t let the tyre seller give you something else. E\ D W\UH·V ORRNV HYHU\ W\UH KDV DQ HͿHFWLYH The manufacturer of your vehicle have taken a life span beyond which you will be entering lot of factors into consideration before specifying the danger zone. As a general rule, any tyre your vehicle tyre sizes. If you change that, your PRUH WKDQ \HDUV ROG VKRXOG EH GLVFDUGHG vehicle may not handle well, may be risking a This rule, however, applies to quality tyres with blowout and a crash. Changing to fatter tyres branded known names. Less quality tyres of like some people do may look better but not course, may not last that long. So how do you safer. In most cases, the manufacture provides determine the age of a tyre? DOWHUQDWLYH VL]HV VKRXOG \RX QRW ÀQG WKH RULJLQDO Unlike humans who can hide their ages, sizes the vehicle came with. The tyre placard every tyre provides information about its age will specify these alternatives. but in a coded form. Look at the side walls of However, there are some calculations you your tyre and check for the letters dot. Look

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around the dot (to the left or to the right) until you get to either a three digit or four digit number boldly imprinted on the tyre without any alphabet attached to it. Some tyres though, may not have the letters dot printed on them. -XVW ORRN DURXQG WKH VLGH ZDOO \RX GHÀQLWHO\ ZLOO VHH D RU GLJLW QXPEHU FOHDUO\ LPSULQWHG on the tyre. 7KH RU GLJLW QXPEHU LV WKH FRGH GHVLJQDWLQJ the date of manufacture of the tyre. Since it is a code, you need to decode it to get the age of the tyre. So lets decode it. If it is a 3 digit number, check to see if it has a triangle sign attached to it. A 3 digit number without a triangle means the tyre was manufactured LQ WKH ·V WKH ÀUVW WZR QXPEHU IURP WKH OHIW tells you the week in the year while the last number tells you the year in the 80’s. +RZHYHU LI \RX KDYH WKH QXPEHU ZLWKRXW D WULDQJOH LW PHDQV ZHHN RI LV WKH ÀUVW WZR QXPEHUV IURP WKH OHIW LQGLFDWLQJ WKH ZHHN ZKLOH LV WKH ODVW QXPEHU LQGLFDWLQJ WKH year in the 80’s) if the 3 digit number has a triangle it means the tyre was made in the ·V 6R ZLWK D WULDQJOH PHDQV WKH W\UH ZDV PDGH LQ WKH WK ZHHN LQ ,I LW LV D digit number, it means the tyre was made any \HDU IURP \HDU )RU H[DPSOH D W\UH ZLWK PHDQV WKH UG ZHHN RI \HDU 7KH ÀUVW WZR QXPEHUV IURP WKH OHIW LQGLFDWLQJ WKH week while the last two numbers indicating the \HDU )RXU GLJLW QXPEHUV GR QRW KDYH WULDQJOH signs with them.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 31, 2021

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

L-R: CEO, Ghana National Pension Regulatory Authority, Koﬁ Anokye Owusu-Darko; Group Marketing Director, JOTNA Nigeria (The La Casera Company), Emmanuel Agu and Group Portfolio Marketing Manager, JOTNA Nigeria (The La Casera Company), Onyekachim Okoli, as La Casera emerges Best CSD Brand of the Year at the 10th Marketing World Awards, 2021 held in Accra, Ghana....recently

Chi Exotic Unveils Mixology Campaign Chi Exotic has launched a new mixology campaign to showcase numerous exotic mocktail recipes that are sure to excite, inspire, delight, and encourage consumers to explore creative ways to mix and enjoy their great tasting Chi Exotic fruit juice nectar brand. Whether relaxing at home, hanging out with friends, or celebrating a special occasion, exotic drinks are always in style. In partnership with a Mixologist, Chi Exotic developed a series of videos that showcase a range of easyto-prepare mocktail drinks. The

GLͿHUHQW UHFLSHV DUH HDV\ WR replicate and consumers can try any of them at home to derive that exotic taste they always love. The great-tasting mocktails include Chi Exotic Sunset, Fruity Chivita Mocktail, Exotic Ginger-Orange, Oliver Twist by Chivita, Chi Exotic Passion-Berry, and Exotic Passion Magnito, and can be reviewed on the Chi Exotic brand’s social media pages. Consumers are encouraged to follow the brand’s social media pages (YouTube, Facebook and Instagram: @ChivitaJuices) to

experience the delightful recipes and get inspiration for their exotic drinks for every occasion. Marketing Director for CHI Limited, Toyin Nnodi, stated that the Chi Exotic mixology campaign is one of the creative ways the brand seeks to engage and inspire consumers, by showing them easy-to-prepare mocktail recipes using their favourite Chi Exotic variants. “Although the campaign showcases the lead Chi Exotic Pineapple Coconut variant in the videos, consumers should remember that their favourite Mocktails can also

be made using the other Chi Exotic variants, Multifruita DQG 0DQJR :H DUH FRQÀGHQW that as consumers get inspired by the campaign, they will continue to enjoy the unique, exciting, and superior taste of the Chi Exotic range of variants in their favourite mocktail drinks during any occasion” she stated. Chi Exotic Pineapple Coconut Nectar is available in 1Litre, 500ml, 315ml, 150ml and 330ml Cans, while Chi Exotic Mango Nectar and Chi Exotic Multifruita Nectar are available in 1Litre packs.

‘Blame Lack of Adequate Education and Exposure on Nation’s Insecurity’ The lack of adequate education and exposure which culminated in the stunted development of some parts of the country has largely been blamed for the debilitating insecurity plaguing the country. This has also promoted conflict and a lack of understanding amongst the various segments of the Nigerian society. However, our contributions as an association passionate about people development would help bridge this gap and ultimately create better understanding amongst Nigerians from the different regions of the country. This assertion was made by Mr.

Harrison Sam-Amoye, an executive council member of the Association of Professional Facilitators and Trainers in Africa (APFTiA) during the commemoration of the association’s second year anniversary which recently took place in Lagos with a grand finale scheduled for December 2021. According to Mr. Sam-Amoye, “APFTiA is meeting the capacity building and development needs of the nation” noting that “as manpower is developed in terms of competencies, so would productivity and service delivery be positively impacted for businesses and organisations. This he said, “will contribute immensely to

the Nigerian economy and nationbuilding”. As part of the anniversary celebration, Mr. Sam-Amoye told reporters that the association had two webinar sessions bordering on re-positioning for better performance for trainers and facilitators adding that “our plan is to have a programme towards the end of the year for all members; continue to grow and transform people; meeting the current needs of individuals and organisations while also preparing for their future developmental demands”. On what informed the need for the association, the APFTiA council member noted that “many organisa-

tions usually have challenges with getting external facilitators as there was no specific place where facilitators could be sought” Consequently, according to him, it became apparent that the question of ensuring standards and quality was a major concern for businesses. As he puts it therefore, “we have spent the last two years building a solid foundation and our second-year anniversary marks a take-off point with the registration of APFTiA Learning and Development Academy for members and third parties, boasting that “we will be the best in whatever we do”.

GSK Partners NSNS to Develop FiRS, SystemSpecs Parley Guideline for Epilepsy Management to Ease Tax Remittance GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Nigeria Ltd (GSK) has joined force with the Nigerian Society of Neurological Sciences (NSNS) to produce a new “Guideline for the Management of Epilepsy in Nigeria”. This is in furtherance of Nigerian government efforts to standardise the treatment of epilepsy patients in Nigeria. The document which was developed to guide healthcare providers, was achieved through the efforts of a 23-man team of NSNS and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) (Nigerian Chapter) members led by Prof. Adesola Ogunniyi, a Professor of Medicine at the University College Hospital. Speaking at the launch, former Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole stated that the initiative which was supported by the Federal government would enhance uniformity in the

treatment of epileptic patients. He also expressed delight in the efforts of the professionals who put the guideline together. “ This will help all practitioners to acknowledge the existence of the disease; standardize our approach to epilepsy management and enable our professionals to be able to write better reports when things are standardised”. Adewole added, “The 119-page document is presented in a simple and easy to understand format. It is filled with facts about epilepsy and approaches to the management of patients either in a stable state or during acute exacerbations. Also present at the launch of the guideline in Ibadan,Managing Director of GSK, Kunle Oyelana expressed fulfilment on the company’s partnership with the society to develop, print and launch the first ever guideline for the management of epilepsy in the country.

)LQDQFLDO WHFKQRORJ\ ÀUP 6\VWHPSpecs has joined hands with Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to strengthen tax administration through its Remita Payment Gateway which powers payments on ‘TaxPro-Max’. The ‘TaxPro-Max’ is a new VROXWLRQ WKDW XVHG IRU ÀOLQJ RI WD[ returns. The Remita Payment Gateway platform for private sector and government payments, has been integrated with the FIRS’ new 7D[3UR 0D[ H ÀOOLQJ SODWIRUP WR DXWRPDWH WD[ ÀOLQJ HQDEOH KDVVOH IUHH registration, ease tax payments as well as provide a single-view of transaction records. Speaking, the Divisional Head, Business Development at SystemSpecs,Abayomi Oniku stated that the partnership would promote digitalisation of tax administration in Nigeria, while Remita Payment

Gateway will continue to meet the payment needs of individuals, businesses and governments at all levels. He said, “In furtherance of our support for various sectors of the Nigerian economy, we have now also advanced our brand proposition to ensure that tax payment is IDVWHU PRUH FRQYHQLHQW DQG H΀FLHQW Our latest partnership with the FIRS is geared towards helping individuals, corporate organisations and government agencies enjoy a convenient process of paying their taxes, anywhere and at any time to facilitate compliance.” Oniku added that one of the EHQHÀWV RI SD\LQJ WD[HV ZLWK 5HPLWD on TaxPro-Max, is the availability of multiple payment channels, including internet banking, card, transfer, USSD and if preferred, payers can also walk into a bank branch for their tax payments.

Executive Council Member, Association of Professional Facilitators and Trainers in Africa, Mr. Harrison Sam Amoye

Rotary Club of Akowonjo Plans Multi-million Naira Projects As the new Rotary year begins, Rotary Club of Akowonjo has promised not to relent on its oars in community development by providing multi-million naira modern day borehole water facilities to communities within Akowonjo and the renovation of dilapidated classroom structures at the State Senior High School Alimosho, in the Alimosho Local Government area of Lagos State as its priority projects for the Rotary year 2021/2022. Speaking at the Presidential Handover Ceremony and Awards Night which took place recently at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja amidst pomp and pageantry, witnessed by Rotary dignitaries from the Rotary International District 9110, Rotarians from other clubs, guests and friends; the new President of Rotary Club of Akowonjo, Rotarian Victor Amaraegbu told reporters that in continuing with the good work past presidents of the club have done for over thirty five years especially his predecessor, Rotarian Olamide Abegunde, he will make the club proud by ensuring that all the areas of focus for Rotary are adequately covered with quality projects and programmes within the year. In his acceptance speech as the new president of the club, Rotarian Victor Amaraegbu said “it was with great delight on behalf of myself and

the entire board of directors, that I welcome you all to the new Rotary year full of happiness and success in our personal and professional lives”. According to him, “having reviewed Rotary Club of Akowonjo’s performance and achievements in the past six years, we are compelled to set new objectives and priorities for the future of the club and it is a collective responsibilities to commit ourselves to implementing them” noting “ to this end, I shall be inaugurating an implementation committee that will be assigned specific roles and task to evaluate our goals on monthly basis in this Rotary year and draw up a five year roadmap that will see us lead in the district once again”. Rotarian Amaraegbu reeled out his plan for the Rotary year and areas of intervention of the club which included “organise skills awareness programs and partnering with mini companies within Akowonjo and beyond; organise security awareness program tagged “security my business” in the Akowonjo community, organise schools’ debate competition among the four interact clubs sponsored by Rotary club of Akowonjo with the best school going home with a cup and the best student to be sponsored by the club for WAEC/GCE exams and organise a special programme with focus on helping the Nigerian girl child”.

Microsoft Appoints OlaWilliams as Country Manager for Nigeria Ola Williams has been announced as the new Country Manager for Microsoft Nigeria. Previously the Specialist Sales Leader working with the extended team and the company’s partner organizations to grow cloud revenue across enterprise customers, she takes over from Akin Banuso who is the Enterprise Commercial Lead for Middle East and Africa– Multi market region. In her new role, Ola will lead Microsoft efforts to accelerate Nigeria’s Digital transformation and cloud adoption across all our customer segments. She will work to identify new opportunities and mobilize internal organization resources as well as external stakeholders. Ola joins Microsoft’s Middle East and Africa – Multi market region’s Leadership team reporting directly to Microsoft’s Middle East and Africa – Multi market region’s General Manager, Ibrahim Youssry. “I’m proud of the significant contributions Akin has put in to accelerate the transformation journey our customers in Nigeria,” Ibrahim said. “I’m thrilled that Ola will bring her unique expertise

to take the country to new heights and also play a part in the larger leadership team to design how we address the Africa’s business landscape. “It’s a great honour to be taking on this exciting journey at a time when the organisation is focused on growing and accelerating Africa’s transformation,” said OIa. “I am very optimistic of where Africa is headed and how we have a unique opportunity to use technology to really transform the lives and business in this region.” Ola joined Microsoft in 2010 as the Enterprise Voice Technology Specialist. She has also held various positions including Partner Technology Manager, Dynamics Partner Sales Executive as well as Account Technology Strategist. Ola has over 21 years of Information technology experience which spans through Solution implementation, Solution Sales and Channels Management. She is graduate of Computer Science from the Federal Polytechnic, Offa and has a Master’s in Business Administration from University of Liverpool.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 31,2021

NEWS Ooni Think-tank Visits Alaafin to Seek Support of Traditional Ruler Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The monarch however did not attend to the delegation. The delegation which inThe 28-member think-tank comprising prominent indi- cluded Osuntokun, Dr. Doyin viduals from the South-west, Okupe, Mr. Muyiwa Ige, and set up by the Ooni of Ife, Oba other members waited at the Enitan Ogunwusi, to serve as palace for about three hours. ,W ZDV OHDUQW WKDW WKH ÀUVW his advisers and companions in moving forward the insti- class monarch complained tutionalisation of the ancient that some members of the Oodua stool, yesterday visited group had been critical of WKH SDODFH RI WKH $ODDÀQ RI the present administration Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. of President Muhammadu The think-tank headed by Buhari. Sources further disclosed Mr. Akin Osuntokun, during WKH YLVLW WR WKH $ODDÀQ \HVWHU- WKDW $ODDÀQ FRPSODLQHG WKDW day, sought the support of the some members of the Ooni monarch for the actualisation Caucus had been relentless critics of Buhari. of the group’s mandate.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY… Former Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, plants a tree during a tree planting event organised by District 9142, Rotary Club at the New Trade Fair Complex, GRA, Enugu at the weekend.

British Envoy Applauds Nigeria for Committing to Increasing Education Budget Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for committing to expend 20 per cent of Nigeria’s public expenditure on education. A statement by British High Commission yesterday read: “I am very pleased to learn about President Buhari’s commitment to increase Nigeria’s education budget by 50% over the next two years. “This is an ambitious commit-

ment and a game changer. We highly welcome that Nigeria is looking to prioritise expenditure in the education sector in order to move to a future where every child in Nigeria can receive quality education.” President Buhari at the Global Education Summit in London which was co-hosted by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, pledged to increase education spending by 50 per cent over the next two years and up to 100 per cent by 2025 in order

to reach the global benchmark of 20 per cent of public expenditure allocated to education. According to the statement, President Buhari joined a panel session on Financing for Transformation where himself and other Heads of State of GPE partner countries discussed the way forward for transforming education outcomes. The two-day hybrid event brought together leaders from governments, businesses, private foundations and development banks to commit funding and

support to children’s education in the world’s lowest-income countries. The statement quoted UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to have said during the summit that: “The funds raised at this Summit will transform the lives of millions of children around the world. The UK was proud to contribute £430 million to the Global Partnership for Education and it is fantastic to see others step up and contribute to the goal of ensuring a quality education for every child.”

Akpabio: No Amount of Protest Katsina Police Nabs Suspected Can Complete East-west Road Female Gun-runner with N2.4m Ndubuisi FrancisinAbuja The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has stated that protests cannot complete the East-west Road, appealing to protesting Niger Delta youths to vacate Section 3 of the road to enable contractors commence work. Akpabio, who made the appeal in Abuja during a meeting with stakeholders and contractors handling different sections of the road, acknowledged that the youths were justified to stage a protest over the delay in handling the road. The minister, who disclosed that the federal government had released an additional N2.5 billion for payment of compensation to property owners along the road corridor, however regretted that the initial N4.5 billion budgeted for compensation could not meet up with demands. According to him, the Niger Delta Development Commis-

sion (NDDC) has also budgeted another N35 billion to support the project, adding that the ministry had channelled funds met for over 304 projects into the East-west Road project. He further disclosed that the ministry proposed an extra-budgetary intervention for inclusion of the East-west Road Sections I-IV in the 2020 SUKUK Issuance Programme of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Debt Management Office. According to him, this is part of the efforts made by the ministry to access adequate funding for the completion of the East-west Road project. The minister explained that the initial contracts for dualisation of the 338km road linking Warri to Oron through Kaima, Ahoada, Port Harcourt, Ogoni and Eket Townships (Section I-IV) was initially awarded in four sections to four different contractors in 2006.

Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Katsina State Police Command has apprehended a 27-year-old woman, Aisha Nura, suspected to be a notorious gun-runner with the sum of N2,405,000:00 in Batsari Local Government Area of the state. Aisha, who hails from Baranda Village, a Fulani settlement in Batsari local government, according to police, is the wife of one Nura Murnai, a notorious bandit terrorising Katsina and Kaduna states. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Gambo Isah, who paraded the suspected gun-runner alongside other suspected criminals yesterday, said Aisha admitted that she collected the N2.4 million on behalf of her husband (Nura) from his counterparts in an undisclosed forest in Kaduna. He said: “On 25th July, 2021 at about 0900hrs, based on a tip

off, the Command succeeded in arresting one Aisha Nura, F, aged 27 years of Baranda Village, a Fulani settlement at Batsari LGA of Katsina State. “Nemesis caught up with the suspect when she was arrested in a suspicious manner, concealing her presence and trying to board a motorcycle from Batsari town heading towards Nahuta Village.” He added: “Immediately she was searched, the sum of N2,405,000:0OK was found in her possession reasonably suspected to be proceeds of arms supplies to bandits in Kaduna State. “In the course of investigation the suspect confessed to the commission of the offence and admitted that she was sent by her husband one Nura Alh. Murnai, a notorious bandit, belonging to the camp of bandits leader, one Abu Radda, to collect the money on his behalf from his counterparts in Kaduna forest. Investigation is ongoing.”

Experts Harp on Ajinomoto’s Nutritional Value

Martins Ifijeh

Food experts have called on Nigerians to use Ajinomoto as part of their seasoning because of the nutritional value it represents. Speaking during the commemoration of Umami Seasoning Day in Lagos recently, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University Dutse, Prof.

Abdulkarim Sabo Mohammed, said Ajinomoto also known as Monosodium Glutamate was safe for consumption and that LW ZDV EHQHÀFLDO WR WKH EUDLQ as well as the nervous system. He said: “MSG is found naturally in some foods including tomatoes and cheese. Glutamate is essential for living bodies,

it is a good energy source of the brain and helps boost good feeling by regulating impulsetransmission in the nerves. “In fact, 30 to 40 per cent salt reduction can be achieved by adding MSG without changing the taste of the food. It is a healthy product that has been consumed by Billions of people

across the Globe and there is no VFLHQWLÀF SURRI \HW WR GLUHFWO\ associate MSG with any health issues as suggested,” he added. The Managing Director, West African Seasoning Company Limited (WASCO), Niki Junichi, said safety of Ajinomoto has long EHHQ VFLHQWLÀFDOO\ SURYHQ DQG LWV safety approved by authorised agencies of the United Nations.

Gunmen Kill Four in Plateau Communities Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The Nche-Tahu community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State yesterday was thrown into grief following an attack by gunmen in the community which left three persons dead. Also, one person was shot dead by the gunmen in another attack which occurred in Gwa-Rim Community in Riyom Local Government Area of the state yesterday morning. At Nche-Tahu, no fewer than 10 houses belonging to the natives were also set ablaze by the gunmen during the attack which occurred in the early hours of Friday. The Publicity Secretary of the Miango Youth Develop-

ment Association Nuhu %LWUXV ZKR FRQÀUPHG WKH Bassa killings, gave the names of the victims as Timothy Yakubu, Audu Dara, and Irimia David. He said that two other SHUVRQV LGHQWLÀHG DV )UDQFLV Ayuba and Anah Dickson sustained gunshot injuries during the attack and were evacuated to Jos University Teaching Hospital. Nitrous said, “It was last night that the gunmen attacked Nche-Tahu community in Miango ,Bassa LGA and killed three of our people and injured two other persons. Ten houses were burnt to ashes in the same Nche-Tahu Village and valuable items and domestic animals carted away by the Fulani herdsmen.

Runsewe Lauds NCAC, FTAN Cooperation The newly elected executives of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) have been assured of greater cooperation to move the association to higher heights. The Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, who gave the assurance when the newly elected executives of the federation paid him a courtesy call in KLV R΀FH LQ $EXMD VDLG KH IHOW highly honoured by the visit, which he described as not only timely but testament to the fact that NCAC is a dependable ally in the movement to change the narratives in the arts and culture sector in the country. Runsewe who maintained that the tourism and culture sector were like Siamese twins, said that people were yet to really understand this relationship

which he likened to a production DQG PDUNHWLQJ RXWÀWV ZKHUH “culture produces the content while tourism markets and sustains the system.” The NCAC boss however, decried the high level of insecurity in the country and advised government to partner with FTAN in the area of monitoring and screening of various hotels which he said often served as hiding grounds for criminal elements in our society. He therefore reiterated the need for a higher level of participation by stakeholders and practitioners in the sector which according to him is the highest employer of labour. Runsewe assured the executives of FTAN that NCAC will DOORFDWH DQ R΀FH VSDFH IRU WKH federation when the NCAC Cultural Village becomes fully operational.

Lagos State Govt Shuts Ladipo Market Segun James The Lagos State Government has shut down the nation’s largest auto spare part market, Ladipo Market, in Mushin Local Government Area of the state LQGHÀQLWHO\ The government accused the traders of contravening repeated environmental warnings against indiscriminate dumping of junk auto parts THISDAY checks has it that

the order from government was carried out by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) which sealed the market in the early hours of yesterday. Closure of the market was FRQÀUPHG WKURXJK D VWDWHPHQW by Assistant Director of Public $ͿDLUV IRU /$:0$ +DNHHP Akinleye, who lamented that the deplorable state of the environment within and around the market is appalling.

˾ THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2021

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Declines by 20bps The dŚŝƐĚĂǇ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞǆ ĨĞůů ďǇ ϮϬďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

1,607.87 points. This was on the back of sell pressure on ZENITH (-1.6%), ACCECC (-1.1%), and UBA (-1.3%). These

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůǇ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘ϰй͘

Sustained Sell Pressure Drags Performance... ASI down

1,607.87

-0.20%

9.5%

60.8%

15.0%

3.5%

615.00

0.0%

25.0%

-27.8%

10.0%

3.5%

71.00

0.0%

11.4%

-8.2%

19.1%

11.2%

34.1x

6.4x

29.55

0.0%

9.4%

-8.7%

26.6%

4.3%

4.3x

1.1x

10.2%

23.5% 30.4%

Yesterday, the local bourse extended its bearish perfor-

3 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC 4 Zenith Bank PLC 5 Dangote Cement PLC 6 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

index fell by 3bps to 38,791.03 points. Consequently, YTD

8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC

loss weakened ƚŽ ϯ͘ϳй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĚĞͲ

10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc

clined ďǇ േϱ͘ϴďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϮƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĨĞůů by 2.3% and 0.9% to Ϯϯϳ͘ϱŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϭ͘ϵďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ stocks by volume were OANDO (44.3m units), UBA (19.3m units), and WEMABANK (14.2m units) while ZENITH ;േϮϳϬ͘ϴŵͿ͕ MTNN ;േϮϲϰ͘ϯŵͿ͕ and OANDO ;േϮϯϯ͘ϬŵͿ led by value.

12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 14 International Brew eries PLC 15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Energy PLC 17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc

26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ was mixed as 3 ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕ Ϯ indices lost, while the Industrial Goods index remained ŇĂƚ͘ >ĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ Oil & Gas index, up 1.7% on the back of ďƵǇŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ

28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29 United Capital PLC 30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 Total Nigeria PLC

OANDO (+9.8%) and ARDOVA (+1.1%). In the same vein,

34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Wema Bank PLC

the AFR-ICT and Consumer Goods indices rose by 0.1%

36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 37 Oando PLC

ĂƉŝĞĐĞ͕

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC

ĚƵĞ

ƚŽ

ŐĂŝŶƐ

in MTNN (+0.3%), HONYFLOUR (+1.8%), and DANGSUGAR

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

(+1.4%). KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝͲ ces lost 1.0% and 0.9% ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ͕ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ on ZENITH (-1.6%), ACCESS (-1.1%), CHIPLC (-10.0%), and AIICO

(-0.9%).

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďǇ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϴǆ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϭǆ ƌĞĐͲ

ROA

P/E

P/BV

5.5x

0.7x

5.5%

ot Applicable

2.6% 2.9%

-1.6%

7.3%

-1.6%

23.1%

2.9%

3.3x

0.7x

12.1%

0.0%

6.7%

1.3%

32.0%

15.5%

13.9x

4.4x

6.5%

7.2%

163.50

0.2%

5.2%

-3.8%

97.1%

11.4%

14.6x

13.2x

5.7%

6.8%

1,540.00

0.0%

4.5%

2.3%

104.8%

17.8%

31.1x

41.7x

4.4%

3.2%

22.90

0.0%

4.0%

8.8%

6.2%

11.5x

1.0x

4.4%

8.7%

9.30

-1.1%

3.4%

10.1%

16.4%

1.4%

2.8x

0.4x

8.6%

35.4%

7.70

-1.3%

2.7%

-11.0%

2.3x

0.4x

6.7%

44.2%

7.45

-0.7%

2.8%

4.2%

11.1%

1.1%

4.0x

0.4x

6.0%

25.2%

58.00

0.0%

2.3%

3.6%

5.6%

2.2%

48.6x

2.7x

1.6%

2.1%

41.00

0.0%

2.4%

8.6%

20.7%

2.9%

7.3x

1.4x

8.2%

13.7%

-5.9%

-2.5%

5.10

0.0%

1.5%

-14.3%

30.75

0.0%

1.4%

18.3%

770.00

0.0%

2.2%

91.4%

1.6%

0.9%

-100.0%

7.4%

3.2%

0.9x

-7.1%

0.8x

5.4%

45.1x

0.6x

5.4%

0.0%

1.1%

20.9%

24.6%

16.0%

13.4x

3.0x

6.4%

7.5%

2.41

-3.6%

0.7%

-4.4%

11.4%

1.1%

2.4x

0.3x

8.9%

41.6%

13.2%

5.35

1.9%

0.7%

-10.8%

1.5%

0.1%

17.8x

0.2x

18.50

1.4%

0.7%

5.1%

25.5%

12.6%

7.6x

1.8x

8.1%

3.02

-1.9%

0.5%

-9.3%

5.0%

30.5%

1.54

0.0%

0.3%

-24.5%

8.8%

0.9%

4.0x

0.3x

3.2%

25.2%

15.00

0.0%

0.4%

3.4%

22.5%

6.8%

8.7x

0.93

-1.1%

0.4%

3.3%

-1.3%

-0.3%

70.00

0.0%

0.3%

-1.3%

17.9%

7.3%

14.15

0.0%

0.2%

1.8%

-6.2%

-4.1%

6.00

0.0%

0.3%

13.2%

6.90

-0.7%

0.3%

46.5%

35.5%

4.2%

31.65

0.0%

0.4%

66.6%

-17.8%

-9.0%

6.25

0.0%

0.2%

6.8%

25.0%

7.8%

3.1x

0.8x

1.07

-0.9%

0.2%

-5.3%

20.5%

3.3%

2.9x

0.2x

203.20

0.0%

0.3%

56.3%

22.50

0.0%

0.2%

27.7%

8.3%

1.1%

9.9x

0.85

-1.2%

0.2%

23.2%

1.9%

0.0%

5.26

9.8%

0.2%

62.50

0.0%

52.95 3.57

5.6%

3.3x

13.3x

3.1x

2.7%

11.5%

0.6x

1.1%

-2.3%

2.3x

2.9%

1.3x

5.3x

1.7x

10.1%

1.0x

19.0% -20.5%

8.8%

32.5% 34.0%

6.5x

2.0%

15.5%

0.8x

1.8%

10.1%

23.2%

8.4%

0.5%

6.7x

0.5x

4.9%

15.0%

-100.0%

7.4%

0.9%

6.1x

0.6x

4.6%

16.3%

42.2%

14.5%

2.6%

2.3x

0.3x

44.2%

0.1%

0.0%

-28.7%

-7.6%

1.9x

-16.8%

0.0%

0.1%

-4.4%

9.3%

6.4%

0.0%

-0.8%

-10.6%

-5.5%

7.6x

0.7x

2.0%

0.6x

13.1% -22.5%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

OA N D O

4.36

9.8%

F ID ELIT YB K

30.5

2.9%

F T N C OC OA

0.45

9.8%

A C C ESS

14.7

2.2%

A R D OVA

17.45

9.7%

UB A

13.8

0.6%

B OC GA S

8.45

9.7%

GT C O

12.8

0.2%

LIVEST OC K

2.16

9.6%

WEM A B A N K

11.3

-1.1%

UA C N

11.40

8.6%

UN IVIN SUR E

10.9

-9.1%

J B ER GER

21.90

7.9%

C OUR T VILLE

9.7

0.0%

WA P C O

22.90

5.3%

ST ER LN B A N K

9.4

2.6%

3.34

4.4%

FCM B

8.2

0.0%

4.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

8.1

-0.8%

0.49

7.5% -4.9%

P ric e C hg %

SUN UA SSUR

2.2%

110.00

P ric e

R ED ST A R EX

13.2%

24.40

T o p 10 G a i n e r s T ic k er

ROE

248.00

0.0%

23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

Mixed Sector Performance

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

3bps

VITAFOAM (-1.6%), and ACCESS (-1.1%) as the All-Share

Price Change Index to Date

Ticker

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 BUA Cement Plc

mance on the back of sell pressure in ZENITH (-1.6%),

Price Previous Current Change Price YTD Weighting Change

Current Price

ŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ϭϴ stocks advanced T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s

while 23 stocks declined. CAPHOTEL (+9.8%), OANP ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

UN IVIN SUR E

0.20

-9.1%

GT C O

378.3

0.2%

LIN KA SSUR E

0.65

-7.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

199.8

-0.8%

SOVR EN IN S

0.27

-6.9%

A C C ESS

136.7

2.2%

A F R IP R UD

6.45

-6.5%

A IR T ELA F R I

123.2

2.3%

R EGA LIN S

0.45

-6.2%

UB A

108.6

0.6%

H ON YF LOUR

1.65

-5.2%

D A N GC EM

104.4

0.0%

IKEJ A H OT EL

1.19

-4.8%

SEP LA T

96.4

0.0%

T ic k er

DO (+9.8%), and BOCGAS ;нϴ͘ϵйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ CHIPLC (-10.0%), TRIPPLEG (-10.0%), and PHARMDEKO (9.9%) led decliners. In today’s ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ĞǆͲ pect sell pressure to persist as investors adjust their holdŝŶŐƐ ŝŶ ůŝŐŚƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EΖƐ ŚĂůƚ ŽĨ &y ƐƵƉƉůǇ ƚŽ ͘

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

P ric e C hg %

UC A P

7.04

-4.2%

UA C N

82.9

8.6%

VER IT A SKA P

0.23

-4.2%

F LOUR M ILL

77.5

3.0%

C H IP LC

0.60

-3.2%

N EST LE

74.8

0.0%

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com Taiwo Ogundipe | togundi-

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͻ͹, 2021

SPORTS XTRA

Banned Nigerian Athletes Protest in Streets of Tokyo Ten would-be Olympians were banned from competing in the track and field competition after Nigerian sports officials allegedly failed to properly register them for three mandatory out-of-competition tests. Nigerian athletes protested in Tokyo on yesterday after they were disqualified from the Olympics for failing to meet anti-doping testing requirements. The Ministry of Sports and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria said the athletes’ tests did not meet collection and analysis standards and the Athletics Integrity Unit, which handles the anti-doping program for the sport, said the athletes didn’t meet the testing requirements, the outlet reported. “The AFN bears responsibility for any lapses that may have

occurred during the process and reassures Nigerians that our performances will not be negatively impacted,” theAFN said in response. “All our athletes resident in Nigeria and who qualified for the Olympic Games completed the three mandatory tests. Most of our top athletes resident in the USA also completed their tests. However, a few athletes in theAmerican collegiate system were tested but those tests were deemed not to have complied with sample collection and analysis standards.” But the star runners claim the snafu wasn’t their fault and held signs with messages like “Why should we suffer for someone else’s negligence” and “We are not just alternates but potential medalists.” The AFN noted no Nigerian athlete tested positive for pro-

hibited substances. Blessing Okagbare, one of Nigeria’s brightest hope in the games, is leading the pack of those speaking out against the apparent mismanagement. “I have said it before and I will say it again. If you do not know the sport, not passionate about it/us (the athletes), then you have no business there as an administrator,” Okagbare said while reacting to the decision of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), an independent body created by World Athletics. “The sport system in Nigeria is so flaw(ed) and we athletes are always at the receiving end of the damages.” The country’s highestranking table tennis player Quadri Aruna is miffed at the country’s sports administrators’ treatment of athletes.

D’Tigress Q’ﬁnals Hope Hangs in the Balance as France Outdunks Nigeria Nigeria’s women basketball team, D’Tigress are one the country’s medal hopefuls before the start of the Tokyo Olympics after losing their first two games to America and France respectively, their hope of progressing further in the now hangs in the balance. D’Tigress were outclassed by France in its second group basketball game, losing 87-62 to put Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the quarterfinals out of their hands at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Japan. D’Tigress have lost its second game at the Olympics after falling to Team USAin the opening

encounter. Coach Otis Hughley named Adaora Elonu, Promise Amukamara, Ezinne Kalu, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, and Victoria Macaulay as the starting five against France. Nigeria lost the first three quarters; 18-12, 26-15, 23-15 and drew the fourth 20-20. Yesterday’s performance was a far cry from what was expected of the ladies as they performed better in the loss to Team USA. Poor defensive play and unyielding offenses from D’Tigress have all but slimmed the chances of qualifying to the next round of the competition.

Nigeria will need to beat hosts Japan in the final game to stand a chance of advancing from the group. Victory over Japan would however not be enough for the Nigerian ladies, who would also need for the other result between USA and Japan to go their way. D’Tigress will have to performed better defensively and improve its offence if they are to progress. Team USA beat Japan 86-69 at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, making it two wins in the preliminary round of Olympic women’s basketball yesterday.

Super Eagles Striker, Mofﬁ Wins Club’s Player of the Season The new Ligue 1 season is still a week away from kick-off, but one of the Nigerian stars in the league has picked up an awardalbeit for last season’s performance Super Eagles forward Terem Moffi has been voted by readers of Ouest France as Lorient’s Ligue 1 player for last season. Moffi won the award despite only signing for Les Merlus from Kortrijk

in October- two months after last season’s Ligue 1 campaign had started. It’s a deserved award for the 21-year-old, who was one of the revelations in the French top-flight last season, even though he had a mixed start. Moffi scored on his debut for Lorient, but he failed to score again in the next two months. However, at the turn of the year, he went on a brilliant run of form

with 13 league goals to finish with 14 goals overall. His goal proved crucial as Lorient managed to avoid the drop. Moffi’s display also earned him a national team call up, winning his first two Super Eagles caps in June’s back-back friendly games against Cameroon. The ex-Kortrijk striker has already been linked with a move to Galatasaray, but he is only focused on Lorient at the moment.

Nigeria Eligible, Odubanjo Signs for QPR Nigeria-eligible, Moses Odubajo has finally put pen to paper for Qpr after he spent the entire month training at Loftus Road at the expiration of his contract at Sheffield Wednesday, intending to convince the QPR hierarchy to give him a contract. The versatile player took his chance against Manchester United over the weekend when he scored a screamer

from outside the box to help his side to a 4-2 win over the Red Devils. That was enough to earn himself a contract at the Hoops. The Red Devils were stunned in their pre-season friendly at Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium last Saturday, and that has earned of one the stand out performers a contract The club announced via their website this evening

that the 28-year-old has signed on a one-year deal with an option of a year extension. The move means the former Brentford man reunites with his former boss, Mark Warburton, who is the coach of QPR. Odubajo is a former England youth international, but he is still eligible to play for the Super Eagles according to FIFA rules.

COVID-19: UEFA Okays 13,000 Fans for Chelsea-Villareal Super Cup Final Next month’s European Super Cup match between Chelsea and Villarreal in Belfast can be attended by up to 13,000 fans, the European continent’s football ruling body UEFA said yesterday. UEFA said ticket applications

for the August 11 game at Win d s or Park have s tarted . It ad d ed that all tic ket-hold ers require a negative coronavirus test to enter the stadium and supporters

from abroad are subject to local coronavirus regulations. The curtain-raising Super Cup brings together winners of the last Champions League (Chelsea) and Europa League (Villarreal)

Saturday, July 31, 2021

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“I have never seen it (insecurity) this bad. I am 70 years plus, I have never seen it this bad in terms of security challenges, in terms of economy, in terms of unemployment. This is the worst” – Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, lamenting about the shoddy state of Nigeria.

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26 years

MIKEOZEKHOME GUEST COLUMNIST

The Banana Peel Under APC’s Ricketty Chair

he APC has ruled Nigeria for over 6 years. It has failed in all indices of governance. The three core areas on which President Muhammadu Buhari campaigned as its candidate, have been honoured more in breach than in observance. They are economy, security and corruption. Each pigeon hole oozes with the putrefaction of non-performance and abysmal failure. Nigeria is worse off today under the APC than she was in 2015. Not a few Nigerians pray every day that the Party should be booted out of power with the urgency of yesterday. Some Nigerians have since mounted a calendar, counting how many days more Buhari has to remain in office before vacating same upon effluxion of his mandatory 2 terms tenure of 4 years each. Just 668 days. Only 668 days for Buhari to leave power; many celebrate. They count days. Some count weeks; some others, months. A beleaguered Nigerian wrote to me that he is only counting hours (16, 032 hours). Another added humorously that he prefers to count minutes (961,920 minutes)! Such is the disillusionments and regrets of the APC- Buhari administration. The realization that Buhari under Nigeria’s constitutional organogram cannot have a third term gladdens many hearts, giving them a ray of hope; some light at the end of Nigeria’s dingy asphyxiating and strangulating tunnel. But, Nigerians do not know how to go about ensuring that another Emperor Buhari does not come back. They fear there would be no free and fair elections in 2023. What with Senate’s unpatriotic and undemocratic rejection of electronic transmission of votes, and the House of Representatives’ double-speak on it! Not few Nigerians believe that the outright rejection of electronic voting is preparatory to APC’s readiness to massively rig the 2023 elections, knowing it has performed below average in service and democratic dividends-delivery. So, Nigerians belly-ache. They gnash teeth. However, Nigerians may now heave a sigh of relieve. Unwittingly. From the most unexpected source: the Supreme Court. There are many ways to kill a stubborn rat that enters a calabash without breaking the calabash itself. The cheapest opportunity is the current banana peel that sits like an emancipator under the APC’s rickety and crincky chair of nepotism, sectionalism, prebendalism, cronynism, apaque3ness in governance and poverty spread. It is the Wednesday, July 28, 2021, Supreme Court judgment in the Eyitayo Jegede V. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Appeal Nos: SC/448/21; SC/501/21; SC/508/21; and SC/509/21. The judgment was a very narrow 4 – 3 split decision in favour of Akeredolu. What a narrow escape! Aketi needs to go to Church for special thanksgiving. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ondo election, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, and his party, the PDP, had challenged the competence of Akeredolu, SAN’s nomination/sponsorship for the election by the APC, contending that the letter conveying his nomination/sponsorship to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was incompetent, having been signed by Buni and others. They specifically urged the Court to determine whether Buni as a sitting Governor of Yobe State, could simultaneously double as

Buni

the National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC (NCCC) to sign the nomination of Akeredolu, SAN, for the said governorship election. They contended that by the provisions of Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 17 (4) of the APC constitution, Buni had acted unlawfully by being the Yobe Governor and serving as APC’s NCCC Chairman, all at the same time. They contended that because of this vice, the nomination/sponsorship letter Buni signed for the APC, notifying INEC of the candidacy of Akeredolu and Lucky Aiydatiwa (as APC’s Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates) was void. They then urged the apex court to void the July, 16, 2021 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, which had validated Akeredolu’s election. In his lead majority split judgment, Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim held that, since Jegede and the PDP made Buni the centre of their allegations of constitutional breaches, he ought to have been made a party in the case to enable him defend himself in line with the doctrine of fair hearing. The Supreme Court proceeded to uphold the earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, to the effect that the petition filed by Jegede and his party to the election tribunal was incompetent because they failed to join Buni as a party. Justice Agim held: “The appeal was based on the ground that Mai Mala Buni, the Chairman of the NCCC of the second respondent (APC), was holding office as the Governor of Yobe State, contrary to the provisions of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999). “All the issues raised, revolved around Mala Buni. But, Mala Buni, who is at the centre of the dispute was not made party to the petition. It is obvious that the determination of the said issues will affect him. “Therefore, the court below was right to have held that he was a necessary party to this suit. Failure to join him renders the determination of the matter impossible. To proceed to do so would have violated the fair trial of the case. “Therefore, we affirm the lower court’s decision that the petitioner was incompetent. There is no dispute that the third and fourth respondents (Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa)

were nominated by the second respondent (APC) as its candidates for the election; that the second respondent submitted their names to the first respondent (INEC) as its candidates, in accordance with Section 31(1) of the Electoral Act. “They were therefore sponsored by the second in accordance with Section 177(c) of the Constitution (1999). It is not in dispute that Mai Mala Buni is acting as the National Chairman of the second respondent,” he said. Justice Agim therefore held that the decision to allow Buni act as its National Committee Chairman (in the interim) was made by the APC, despite the provisions of Article 17 (4 of its Constitution, thereby making the decision internal to the party. He added: “The second respondent (APC) allowed him (Buni) to be its Chairman in the interim inspite of Article 17 of its constitution. The vires of this decision of the party is non-justiciable. This appeal fails and it is hereby dismissed,” he held. The minority judgment differed in all material particular from this majority opinion. In the lead minority judgment, Justice Mary Peter-Odili (who also presided on the panel) upheld Jegede’s appeal and dismissed the cross-appeals by INEC), APC, Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa; just as the same majority Justices had also done. Justice Odili was of the firm view that since the APC, for which Buni acted, was already a party in the case, there was no need to include him as a party. She added that having allowed Buni to act on its behalf in signing the nomination/ sponsorship letter of its candidates in Ondo despite the clear provisions of section 183 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 17(4) of the APC Constitution, the party should live by the consequences of its lawlessness. “I do not agree with the majority judgment,” she dilated emphatically, noting that the APC, by Article 17(4) of its Constitution has provided for how its affairs should be managed and what offices its members should occupy at a time. “This Article draws strength from Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution. Therefore when the second respondent (APC) put up a person not qualified to author its nomination by virtue of the provision of Article 17(4) of its Constitution and Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution to do so, that document has no validity, and thereby void,” she said. She noted that the implication was that the nomination and candidacy of Akeredolu and his Deputy was a complete nullity and that the person, who ought to be declared winner of the election” is the first appellant (Jegede), who has the majority of valid votes.” Justice Peter-Odili further held that it was unlawful and amounted to a violation of Article 17(4) of the APC Constitution and section 183 of the 1999 Constitution for Buni to be serving as the National Chairman of the APC and the Governor of Yobe State at the same time. Justices Ejembi Eko and Mohammed Saulawa concurred with Justice Peter-Odili in upholding the appeal and dismissing the cross-appeals filed by INEC, APC, Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa. Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution provides as follows: ‘‘The Governor shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any

other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever’’. If there was any doubt as to the dangerous implications of this section in Buni acting as the APC National Caretaker Committee Chairman, section 17 (iv) of the APC Constitution is quite clear and unambiguous on this. It provides that “No official of the party shall at the same time hold any Government position in any Government institution”. Thus, while the 1999 Constitution views Buni’s appointment from the position of Governor (Executive) to the party, the APC Constitution takes the reverse view of Buni’s appointment from the APC to the Governor (Executive). So, head or tail, position APC is in trouble. Canons of statutory interpretation are clear to the effect that when a statute is enacted in clear words, such words should be given their natural, usual and ordinary meaning in their interpretation. This shows the intent of the Legislature. The Supreme Court’s majority judgment did not disagree with the fact that Mai Mala Buni as Governor of Yobe State was not competent to function as National Chairman of a political party (APC) and nominate a candidate for election through the INEC. Its view (and this must be respected) is based mostly on the rather technical stance (also earlier adopted by the Court of Appeal), that the non-joinder of Buni as a party in the suit was fatal to the PDP and Jegede’s appeal. Was it really? How, when the APC, which sponsored Buni, and for whom Buni at all material times acted as an agent was already a party to the suit? I do not and cannot understand this. Or, do you? The law is trite that you do not need to go after an agent (Buni) where there is a disclosed principal (APC). Such a disclosed principal is solely liable for its agent’s authorized actions, as the agent is not personally liable. The simple conclusion is that if Buni had been joined as a party in the suit, the story would have been different, as the APC would have lost Ondo State to the PDP. Pronto! It is that simple. Indeed, it is rare to see such a close shave of 4-3 split judgment by the Supreme Court. Minority decisions are usually more rigorous and better researched as they seek to swim against the tide of the majority opinion that may be tyrannical. The Supreme Court’s judgment has simply furiously (perhaps, inadvertently), weaponised all those that would be aggrieved by the APC’s forthcoming Congresses and other elections. They only need to go to court to challenge the competence of the Buni-led NCCC to organise the forthcoming Congresses and National Convention. Thus from bottom to top, the APC’s amorphous structures made up of disparate tendencies have been irretrievably damaged, nay, destroyed. All Congresses, meetings, conventions and elections that henceforth have the imprimatur of Governor Mai Mala Buni are subject to being quashed by the court at the instance of any aggrieved party member. Indeed, all actions so far taken by the Buni-led NCCC in that capacity can be quashed by any aggrieved member of the APC. Such a member has locus standi if he can show his membership card. Here comes the banana peel! APC will slip. And the fall will be thunderous. And Nigerians will applaud. God, how mighty thou Art!

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