SATURDAY 29TH MAY 2021

Mali: Buhari Pleads for Peace As Jonathan Submits Shuttle Report Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday urged disputing parties in the ongoing political crisis in Mali to settle their differences for the peace and unity of the country.

He made this call at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while

receiving his predecessor, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who currently serves as Special Envoy and ECOWAS mediator to Mali.

A military junta, led by Col. Assimi Goita sacked Mali’s Interim President, Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane, last Monday,

thus truncating the country’s transition process. The two leaders were also detained by the junta.

President Buhari said: “A situation where most parts of the country are in the hands of insurgents calls for a consensus and restoration of peace, not a further escalation of the crisis.”

Jonathan briefed the President on the current situation in Mali after meeting with the key political actors, ahead of the meeting of ECOWAS leaders under the Chairmanship of President Nana Akufo-Addo of the Republic of Ghana.

Jonathan said the meeting

of the regional leaders was necessary to urgently find an acceptable solution to the current impasse in that West African nation.

Mediation efforts by the former Nigerian President led to the release of the interim President and Prime Minister from detention by

their captors.

Jonathan travelled to Bamako last Tuesday where he met with the military leaders and other stakeholders following the sudden turn of events in the transition process.

Jonathan’s statement reads Continued on page 5

EFCC Estimates Value of Diezani’s Jewelry at N14.4 billion… Page 5 Saturday 29 May, 2021 Vol 26. No 9546

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Six Years After, President Presents Achievements Predicts critics will give a resounding applause by end of tenure in 2023

Deji Elumoye in Abuja As the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration clocks six years today, the

Presidency has reeled out major achievements of the regime, with a prediction that even known critics of the President would give a

resounding applause to the administration when it finally ends on May 29, 2023.

A statement titled: "The Buhari Administration At

Six: Counting The Blessings One By One", issued yesterday by the Media Adviser to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, captured the President's score

card under 26 subheads, including extension of over N2 trillion to the 36 states as bail out to pay workers' salaries and issuance of nine

executive orders, as well as assenting to 14 legislative bills.

The Presidency stressed Continued on page 5

FG Defends Choice of Farouk Yahaya as Chief of Army Staff Says he was selected based on national interest, not on ethnic, religious sentiments New COAS resumes, Irabor charges him to build on Attahiru’s legacy Charles Ajunwa in Lagos and Kingsley Nweze in Abuja The federal government yesterday defended its choice of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), while also revealing plans to immortalise the former COAS, late General Ibrahim Attahiru and others that perished in a plane crash about a week ago in Kaduna State.

Defending its choice, the government insisted that contrary to public opinion, the appointment of Yahaya, who resumed duty yesterday, was based on national interest and not on ethnic and religious sentiments.

Also yesterday, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, charged the new COAS to build on the legacy of his predecessor, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a plane crash on Friday, Continued on page 5

ALL HAIL SARKIN DAWAKI BABBA OF KANO...

L-R: The Sarkin Dawaki Babba of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Babba; Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, THISDAY & Arise TV, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa; Deputy Governor, Kano State, Alhaji Nasiru Gawuna and the former Director General, Department of State Security, Lawan Daura, during the turbaning of Babba as Sarkin Dawaki Babba in Kano by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero at the Emir’s Palace…yesterday abiodun ajala

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EFCC Estimates Value of Diezani’s Jewelry at N14.4bn Explains delay in disposing assets Adedayo Akinwale ÓØ ÌßÔË The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday revealed that the estimated value in Naira of jewelry seized from former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke is N14.4 billion.

Chairman of the commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa disclosed this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Assessment and Status of

All Recovered loots Movable and Immovable Assets from 2002 to 2020 by Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria for Effective Efficient Management and Utilisation, chaired by Adejoro Adeogun.

Bawa also said the total assets seized from the former minister was estimated at N46 billion.

The EFCC boss said though they got the forfeiture order for assets recovered from the former Petroleum Minister in 2019, they were yet to be

auctioned.

He stated: "The estimated value of Diezani Allison’s jewelry in naira is N14.4 billion. The estimated value of houses for the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison is worth $80 million".

Bawa attributed the delay in disposing of the assets to long court processes and administrative exigencies.

He pointed out that with the setting up of the committee by the government, all assets

recovered by the EFCC, as well as those recovered by other authorised agencies would be disposed of quickly.

The EFCC Chairman assured that once all recovered assets were disposed of, the Commission would be dealing with issues on a case by case basis and would not let them accumulate again.

The chairman of the committee opined that it was not ideal to continue keeping such recoveries as they were

losing value over time.

Adeogun said, “Given the financial situation of Nigeria, shouldn't we just auction these things fast and put the money to use. Why does it take so long to turn these assets into cash to fund the budget?

Speaking to journalists on the continued delay in assets disposal after the hearing, the chairman said the federal government had set up a committee under the chairmanship of the Solicitor

General for the Federation and “I think they are working tirelessly.”

Adeogun noted, "We have EFCC representatives from that committee and we believe at the end of the day Nigerians are going to appreciate what that committee will come out with in terms of the mandate given to them. "This is to ensure that assets that are not only recovered by the EFCC but the entirety of the recovery agencies assets are disposed of."

Meanwhile, General Yahaya formally resumed duty as the nation’s Chief of Army Staff yesterday.

He took over during a ceremony held at the Army Headquarters in Abuja, where on arrival, he inspected a guard of honour at the sentry, thereafter, he proceeded to the conference room.

Before the commencement of the programme, he led others to observe a minute silence in honour of his late predecessor and 10 others, who died in the plane crash.

A statement by Army Spokesman, Brigadier-General Mohammed Yerima, said the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff was received at the Army Headquarters by the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP) Army, Maj Gen BI Ahanotu and thereafter inspected a quarter guards mounted in his honour and the symbolic lowering and hoisting of command flag to signify the end and beginning of a new command in line with army traditions.

"General Yahaya later held

a brief meeting with principal staff officers after observing a minute silence in honour of former COAS, late General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others. He requested maximum cooperation of the senior officers in order to achieve the mandate of safeguarding the country from the multifaceted security challenges facing the country", the statement said.

The COAS further stressed "team work and synergy as the way forward for the Nigerian Army and the nation as no single individual or agency can make it alone".

Making a point of what he expects, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, yesterday charged the new COAS to build on the legacy of his predecessor, describing his appointment as well-deserved.

According to a statement by the Acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier General

Onyema Nwachukwu, Irabor gave the charge when he hosted the new COAS at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja on resumption of duty.

"I urge you to build on the legacy of your predecessor, particularly in the fight against insurgency and armed banditry," declared the CDS. The statement from the DHQ continues: “The CDS also wished him a successful tenure in office as he assumes command. General Irabor further urged the new COAS to build on the legacy of his predecessor, particularly in the fight against insurgency and banditry.” The COAS was accompanied on the visit by the Chief of Policy and Plans Headquarters Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Benjamin Ahanotu.

Highlight of the visit was the presentation of Nigerian Army flag to the new COAS by the CDS, Brigadier General Nwachukwu said in the statement.

President Buhari appointed Gen. Yahaya as the COAS on Thursday, May 27, 2021.

On agriculture, the administration maintained that the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) of the Central Bank of Nigeria, launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015, has made more than N300 billion loans to more than 3.1 million smallholder farmers of 21 different commodities (including Rice, Wheat, Maize, Cotton, Cassava, Poultry, Soya Beans, Groundnut, Fish), cultivating over 3.8 million hectares of farmland.

It noted that the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) has helped anti-corruption agencies devise clearer strategies for obtaining forfeiture of assets suspected to have been acquired fraudulently, mainly from State coffers, before prosecuting suspected culprits.

The Presidency noted that the administration had been able to secure billions of dollars in concessional infrastructure funding for critical road and rail projects. It noted, for instance, that President Buhari’s April 2016 official visit to China has unlocked billions of dollars in infrastructure funding, primarily for road, rail and port projects, as well as the implementation of a Chinese Yuan (CNY) 15 billion Currency Swap Agreement between the Peoples Bank of China and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

It noted that the administration had been able to secure international

recognition within the period of six years and this include the designation of President Buhari as the African Union (AU) Anti-Corruption Champion for 2018, and by ECOWAS Heads of State as West Africa’s COVID-19 Champion in 2020.

It also listed the appointments of eminent Nigerians into international posts. These include, Amina Mohammed, Deputy SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations (UN), appointed 2017;’ Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) (first African and first woman to hold the position, elected 2021; Akin Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, elected in 2015 and re-elected 2020;; Benedict Oramah, President of African ExportImport Bank (Afreximbank), re-elected for a second term in 2020; and - Mohammad Sanusi

Barkindo, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); elected 2016, re-elected 2019, among others.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned President Buhari to use the May 29 speech to accept his lapses in his administration and avoid exasperating Nigerians with his usual prepared text of false performance-claims and empty promises.

In a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the President and the All Progressives Congress (APC) “must know that Nigerians are no longer interested in their stage-managed Presidential addresses, as well as the circus show of their so-called APC Legacy Awareness Campaign, particularly in the face of the horrendous situation they have plunged the nation.”

FG DEFENDS CHOICE OF FAROUK YAHAYA AS CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF May 21.

The appointment of the new COAS on Thursday had elicited fierce criticisms from a wide spectrum of Nigerians who alleged that other more qualified senior army generals were denied the position because they hailed from the south-eastern part of the country.

Critics also argued that the office of Army Chief had been restricted to Northerners in the six years Buhari has spent so far as President and that the President ought to have shifted a bit by picking the new Army Chief from among Southern Generals in the Army, so as to give the rest of the country a sense of belonging.

Apparently reacting to the criticisms yesterday, the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi said the appointment of Yahaya was strategic and was based on national interest and not on ethnic and religious sentiments.

The Minister, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mohammad Abdulkadri,

described the new Army Chief as “an organic infantry general who is tested and trusted to actualise the national aspirations to restore peace in the dark spots and areas of insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry, as well as other allied threats to the nation’s corporate existence.”

Magashi commended President Buhari “for the well thought-out strategic appointment of Yahaya as a replacement for the late Attahiru.

“With the appointment of General Yahaya, President Buhari has expediently put national interest above ethnic and religious chauvinism by fulfilling all requirements necessary. These include his unblemished track records of service, professional, command, and operational competencies among other yardsticks that culminated into his emergence as most suitably qualified new Army boss.”

The Defence Minister expressed optimism in the professional pedigree of General Yahaya, the former

theatre Commander Operation “Hadin Kai”, in sustaining the trajectory of taking offensive and aggressive campaigns to the camps, corridors, and cells of the adversaries to obliterate them.

While pledging the support of the Ministry of Defence under his watch to the new Army boss in carrying out his mandate, the minister said plans were in the pipeline by the federal government to immortalise the late General Attahiru and others who died in the plane crash.

Yahaya is from Sokoto State and he was a member of the 37th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

The choice of Yahaya, according to independent analysis, means Nigeria would lose heavy investments made on about 60 army generals from the Army Regular Courses 35 and 36, who, by army tradition, have to proceed on summary retirement as a result of the choice of the new COAS, who belongs to the course 37 set.

Yahaya Resumes

Build on the Legacy of Attahiru, Irabor Charges New Army Chief

SIX YEARS AFTER, PRESIDENT PRESENTS ACHIEVEMENTS that the six years of Buhari’s administration afforded it an opportunity to reflect, and recount the impact that had been made, “and is being made on different sectors of national life.”

According to the Presidency, the administration is recording giant strides, from infrastructure, to finance, education, healthcare, sports, anti-corruption moves, human development, housing, oil and gas, foreign relations, and many others, enough to make Nigerians proud, "that is, those who are dispassionate and fair-minded, not beclouded by political partisanship and undue cynicism."

The sector by sector breakdown of the achievements of President Buhari from 2015 to 2021, as listed by the Presidency, showed that under infrastructure category, came the Presidential approval, in 2020, for the establishment of InfraCo Plc, a world class infrastructure development vehicle, wholly focused on Nigeria, with combined debt and equity take-off capital of N15 trillion, and managed by an independent infrastructure fund manager.

Other efforts under this category include the establishment in 2020 of the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), with more than $1 billion in funding so far.

On investment committed to rail transportation in the country, the statement listed the 156km Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail nearing

completion; the 327km ItakpeWarri Standard Gauge Rail which was completed and commissioned 33 years after construction began.

Others are the Abuja Light Rail, which was completed in 2018; the ground-breaking for construction of Kano-Maradi Standard Gauge Rail, and revamp of Port-HarcourtMaiduguri Narrow Gauge Rail.

It also listed ongoing financing negotiations for Ibadan-Kano Standard Gauge Rail project.

On road projects, the statement listed the PIDF, the investment of over a billion dollars on three flagship projects: Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Second Niger Bridge and Abuja-KadunaZaria-Kano expressway.

Other efforts in this regards included the Executive Order 7 to mobilise private investment into the development of key roads and bridges like Bodo-Bonny in Rivers and Apapa-Oshodi-OworonshokiOjota in Lagos.

The Buhari administration, according to the statement, has done well in boosting the capacity of the nation’s ports.

Adesina cited such efforts as the completion of new terminals for International Airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt; Construction of New Runway for Abuja and Enugu International Airports and the Presidential approval for four International Airports at Special Economic Zones: Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

Others include, the approval for new private-sector funded deep sea ports: Lekki Deep Sea Port (construction already well underway, for completion in 2022); Bonny Deep Sea Port (ground-breaking done in March 2021); Ibom Deep Sea Port; and Warri Deep Sea Port. The list includes the development of capacity at the Eastern Ports.

In the power sector, Adesina listed President Buhari’s effort to include the implementation of Energising Education Programme, which involves taking clean and reliable energy (Solar and Gas) to Federal Universities and Teaching Hospitals across the country. Projects in four Universities have been completed and commissioned: BUK (Kano), FUNAI (Ebonyi), ATBU (Bauchi) and FUPRE (Delta). Others are ongoing.

He listed another achievement to include the National Mass Metering Programme, which involves the nationwide rollout of electricity meters to all ongrid consumers, launched in August 2020.

Listed as achievements were the ground-breaking on 614km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Project, successful completion of Nigeria’s first Marginal Field Bid Round in almost 20 years, expected to raise in excess of half a billion dollars.

The achievements also included the Policy, Regulatory and Funding Support for the establishment of Modular Refineries across the Niger Delta.

MALI: BUHARI PLEADS FOR PEACE AS JONATHAN SUBMITS SHUTTLE REPORT in part, “The mediator and his team had on Wednesday, obtained the commitment of the military leaders to release Ndaw and Ouane, after visiting them at Kati Barracks, near Bamako where they were being held, to ascertain their health condition.

“Before visiting the President and Prime Minister in detention, Jonathan had met with Colonel Goita where he demanded their unconditional release and urged the authorities to maintain peace

and stability which, according to him, are key to the conduct of the transitional process.

“The release of President Ndaw and Prime Minister Ouane early Thursday morning came three days after they were detained and stripped of their powers, and nine months after they were appointed to lead the transition government.”

Jonathan submitted a report about the situation in Mali to the ECOWAS leadership last Thursday.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺ΁, 2021

NEWS

News Editor Ahamefula Ogbu 08116759810 (sms only) Email ahamefula.ogbu@thisdaylive.com

Alleged Certificate Forgery: Obaseki Wins again Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah ÓØ ÌßÔË ËØÎ Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the appeal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the alleged certificate forgery against Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

The apex court in a unanimous judgment held that the appellants failed to prove their case beyond

reasonable doubt.

The APC and one of its chieftains, Williams Edobor, had appealed the judgment of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which had dismissed their case of certificate forgery against Obaseki on the grounds that the allegations were not proved.

However delivering judgment in the appeal, the apex court just

Emir of Kano Appoints Brother, Aminu Babba, King Makers Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, yesterday turbaned his elder brother, Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero, as the new Wamban Kano.

Bayero also turbaned Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi as the new Sarkin Dawaki Babba and appointed him as District head of Nassarawa local government.

Speaking at the turbaning ceremony, the Emir noted that the installation of the two kingmakers was done through due process.

On the new wambai of Kano, Bayero disclosed that he was the only person in the best position to occupy the traditional stool of Wambai. According to the Emir, Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero was also considered because of his track records in the area of service to the state and humanity, coupled with his philanthropic gestures and sterling leadership qualities.

He called on the new Wambai to use his wealth of experience in service to strengthen the emirate as well as the people.

The Emir described the reappointment of the Sarkin Dawaki Babba as exemplary as it exhibited the spirit of forgiveness.

THISDAY reports that by his appointment and turbaning, the new Wambai of Kano and new Sarkin Dawaki Babba automatically returns to the Kano Emirate Council as a King Maker.

Former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Muhammed Sanusi, who contested for the throne of the emir of Kano upon the death of his father, the Late Ado Bayero, lost the contest to his cousin, Muhammad Sanusi II. Also, until his dethronement in 2003, Aminu Babba Dan Agundi was the District Head of Gabasawa in addition to being the Sarkin Dawaki Maituta.

Wambai had also served in the past as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, while Danagundi served as District head of Gwarzo and Gabasawa local government areas.

Dignitaries who graced the occasion included the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, THISDAY Newspaper publisher, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, Commissioners and other heads of government agencies and departments.

New Olu of Warri to be Crowned August 21 Sylvester Idowu inWarri The crowning of the Oludesignate for Warri Kingdom, Prince Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko, has been slated for Saturday, August 21 in Ode-Itsekiri, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The Acting Chairman of the Olu Advisory Council and Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Johnson Amatserunleghe, made the announcement during a press conference at the palace yesterday in Warri.

He said the Omoba’s choice came after a “rigorous process, which included a painstaking search within and amongst the descendants of the last three Olu’s, as required by tradition, custom and extant laws as well as several consultation and eventual confirmation by the Ifa oracle.”

Chief Amatserunleghe, who is also the chairman of the Warri Council of Chiefs, also announced that the final rites of passage for the late king, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, will begin June 18 in the oil city and last for 14 days.

“The burial rites for our late

king, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, will begin on Friday, June 18; with a commendation service here in Warri, to be followed by traditional burial rites at Ode-Itsekiri, the next day 19th, 2021.

“Burial activities will end on Friday July 2nd – a duration of 14 days. This phase will bring to a close the mourning period throughout Warri Kingdom.

“It is my singular honour to declare to you on behalf of the Warri Council of kingmakers, that Omoba Tsola Emiko will be crowned and formally installed as the 21st Olu of Warri o Saturday, the 21st day of August 2021, by the grace of God,” he stated.

The Iyatsere had proclaimed Prince Emiko as the Omoba, after disclosing the passing of Ogiame Ikenwoli.

He said “ I want to make the following authoritative proclamation. The burial rites for our late king, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, will begin on Friday June 18th with a commendation service in Warri, to be followed by traditional burial rites at OdeItsekiri, the next day 19, 2021.

like the appellate and trial courts held that the appellants failed woefully in their case having not provided any disclaimer from the school that the said result was not issued by it.

The apex court in the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, also agreed with the lower courts that the appellants did not meet sufficient requirement of the law in proving their allegations.

The court accordingly upheld two judgments of the Court of Appeal Abuja and the Federal High Court, Abuja, which had

earlier dismissed the case of the appellants for lacking in merit.

The court in addition awarded a cost of N1 million in favour of Obaseki.

Reacting to the judgment, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hailed the judgement of the Supreme Court which upheld the election of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, describing it as the inevitable triumph of the will of the people over anti-democratic forces.

Also, the Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, described the Nigeria Judiciary

as the referee of Nigeria’s democracy through enforcement of the rule of law, to protect the minorities from the power of the majority, despite their attempts to tilt the playing field against the rules.

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had on March 18, dismissed the appeal of the APC seeking to upturn the judgment of Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court, Abuja which dismissed the case of the plaintiff on grounds of abundant evidence that the certificates Obaseki tendered

to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were genuine and issued by relevant authorities.

APC in the suit was seeking the sack of Obaseki as governor on grounds that he forged documents he submitted to INEC in aid of his qualification for the 2020 governorship election in Edo State.

The 3-man panel did not only dismiss the appeal of the APC for being incompetent and lacking in merit but went ahead to award the sum of N250, 000 as cost in favour of Obaseki.

DIPLOMATIC VISIT. . .

L-R: Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada; Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Ambassador of Liberia to Nigeria, Amb. Al Hassan Conteh, during Dr. Howard-Taylor’s visit to the Presidential Villa , Abuja........yesterday PHOTO:

Ikpeazu Faults Exclusion of S’East from Security Council,Vows to Enforce Anti-open Grazing Law Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in ×ßËÒÓË

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has faulted the exclusion of persons from South-east geopolitical zone in the security architecture of Nigeria, describing such as a worrisome development.

He said that the policy of exclusion had denied the South-east region representation and voice in the highest decision making body on the issue of security despite the fact that the region was a direct victim of the activities

of criminal herdsmen.

Governor Ikpeazu expressed this misgiving while addressing a delegation of high ranking clerics of the Methodist Church of Nigeria led by the Prelate, His Eminence Dr. Samuel Kalu Uche who came to Government House Umuahia.

He vowed that his administration was committed to strict enforcement of the anti-open grazing law, which had been in existence in Abia since 2018.

The governor explained that the anti-open grazing law was enacted in response to

the excesses of the criminal herdsmen, who had been terrorising the people, maiming, killing and raping.

He assured that plans had been concluded “to flush out these criminal herdsmen from our forests”, adding that the present administration was fully committed to the security of lives and properties of Abia people and residents.

The Abia governor emphasised the need for Igbo youths to tread with caution in the prevailing security situation in the country, noting that with meaningful productive engagement, the

young Igbo generation would survive the harsh condition they’ve found themselves.

Ikpeazu further stated that with resilience, dedication and the age-long Igbo apprenticeship mentorship system, Ndigbo would definitely prevail in the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria.

He noted that Abians were known globally for their ingenuity and entrepreneurial skills and had remained the SME capital of Nigeria, noting that no foreign direct investment would be attracted in the midst of insecurity.

Obi, Utomi, Maduka, Others Identify Problems Militating against Aba Businesses, Proffer Solution Charles Ajunwa

Participants at the just concluded Aba Business and Leadership Summit have identified and proffered solutions to the problems militating against the growth of businesses in the commercial centre of Abia State.

They identified lack of business structure, lack of proper corporate governance, lack of partnerships, poor infrastructure and multipletaxation, as major challenges that led to the collapse of the once booming businesses in Aba. Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, at the summit announced plans to establish Aba Business School, a decision the governor said was informed by

the urgent need to preserve the pre-existing business skills and advance the educational capacity of the traders.

He said the business school would train traders to be certified holders of Diploma certificates which would help them advance their businesses.

Former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, who was the keynote speaker at the summit themed: ‘Transferring Tested and Proven Business Models to the Next Generation’ organised

by Abia State Government in conjunction with Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) held at Aba Sports Club, Aba, said businesses in the Enyimba City started to die

when children from individual family owned businesses failed to sustain their family businesses especially with demise of their founders.

Mr. Obi who said that family businesses owned about 80-90 per cent of all the corporations globally and contributed 70 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), said Aba footwear could turn around the economy of Abia State in particular and Nigeria in general.

He compared made-in-Aba footwear to those produced in Vietnam, adding that Vietnam makes $140 billion annually from exporting footwear.

“Aba is known for footwear, clothing and for everything. We

didn’t do the right thing that is why we are where we are today.

No proper mentorship within the family in sustaining family businesses, no proper corporate governance, no company in Aba is listed on Nigeria Stock Exchange. Businesses do well when subjected to the rigours of proper corporate governance.

“Government has a share of the blame too. They don’t have fiscal and monetary policies to support businesses, they are not keen to support businesses, they killed more businesses and even killed what we produced.

Ninety per cent of the problem of Nigeria is caused by politicians, government failing to support businesses.“

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺ΁, 2021

NEWS One Killed in Kwara Cultists, Police Clash Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

GOOD TO SEE YOU. . .

Minister of State Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva in a handshake with Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Mr.CUI Jianchun, during a courtesy call on him, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Tower, Abuja...recently

Engage NASS on Constitution Amendment, Agbakoba Tasks CSOs Ugo Aliogo Former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and Constitutional lawyer, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, has urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to amend some critical aspects of the 1999 Constitution like the exclusive list to reduce the scale of functions, powers and resources of the federal government.

Speaking at a virtual session, Agbakoba advised a dual approach that was tactical in the short term to achieve amendment and strategic in the longer term, “to effect absolute change of constitution when the organising momentum of

civil society is forceful enough to compel it.”

He added: “Civil society should at this time critically engage the National Assembly to amend some critical aspects like the Exclusive List to reduce the scale of functions, powers and resources of the federal government.”

Panelists at the virtual session agreed that the Nigerian 1999 Constitution was faulty and not a true reflection of the genuine will of the citizens #FixPoliticsDialogue have stated.

A statement issued to THISDAY by the Spokesperson, #FixPolitics, Ozioma Ubabukoh hinted that the panelists unanimously agreed that the

subsisting document was flawed, therefore needs to be reformed, “but were different in their view on whether the constitution be changed or amended.”

According to the statement, “The National Assembly and Houses of Assembly hold the paraphernalia on which the constitution can be amended or changed, while the civil society groups are expected to be organised around strategic and tactical engagement with the system of governance. #FixPolitics has initiated the platform to engender conversation for a total change or amendment of the 1999 Constitution in a way that would guarantee and bring about improvement in the quality

of life of the Nigerian citizens.”

On his part, Dr. Usman Bugaje, remarked that the responsibility to reform or replace the constitution rests on the shoulders of the lawmakers.

He noted: “For the moment, I think we have to continue to engage, push for change if we can get change, push for that critical amendment that will give us that incremental inch that will take us to where we want to be.”

On her part, Briggs advocated for a total change of the constitution, stating that the 1999 edition was built on a faulty foundation, and posited that Nigeria had gone through different constitutional reforms since 1914.

French Oil Giant, Total, Changes Name to TotalEnergies Peter Uzoho French oil major, Total, has announced the change of its name to TotalEnergies to reflect its transformation into a broad energy company.

The multinational oil and gas giant in a statement yesterday said its shareholders almost unanimously approved the resolution for the name change at its ordinary and extraordinary meeting held in Paris, France, thereby anchoring its strategic transformation into a broad

energy company in its identity.

In tandem with this name change, TotalEnergies also adopted a new visual identity to reflect the transformation of the company.

It said as part of its effort to contribute to sustainable development of the planet facing the climate challenge, it was moving forward together towards new energies.

“Energy is life. We all need it and it’s a source of progress. So today, to contribute to the sustainable development of the planet

facing the climate, we are moving forward, together, towards new energies.

“Energy is reinventing itself, and this energy journey is ours. Our ambition is to be a world-class player in the energy transition. That is why Total is transforming and becoming TotalEnergies,” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies, said.

According to him, “this new name and new visual identity embody the course TotalEnergies has resolutely charted for itself:

that of a broad energy company committed to producing and providing energies that are ever more affordable, reliable and clean.”

TotalEnergies is a broad energy company that produces and markets energies on a global scale including oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity.

Its over 105,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, clean, reliable and accessible to as many people as possible.

Bandits Kill 8 in Kaduna, 2 Others in Reprisal Attack John Shiklam in Kaduna Eight people including a community leader have been killed by bandits following attacks on communities in Giwa, Igabi and Chikun Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

Two others were also killed in a reprisal attack on a Fulani community.

Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Kaduna.

He said several people sustained injuries while many cows were rustled by the bandits.

According to the statement, the bandits killed three people

in an attack on Na’ikko Village in Giwa LGA, adding that two other people were killed in a reprisal attack by angry youth on a Fulani settlement.

The youth had accused the Fulani community for the killings on Na’ikko Village.

Aruwan said in Igabi LGA, four people were killed in an attack on Dakyauro Village.

The statement said, “Security agencies and community volunteers engaged the bandits and in the ensuing gun duel, three residents were killed, identified as: Alhaji Shafiu, Alhaji Balailu Sani and Abdulsamad Hussaini.

“In a reaction to this, youths of Na’ikko village attacked a

nearby Fulani settlement Rugan Abdulmuminu and killed two persons whom they alleged to be involved in the initial attack.

“They were identified as: Abdulmuminu Agwai and Samaila Agwai.”

The state added that, “In another incident, armed bandits invaded Dakyauro Village, Sabon Birni, Igabi LGA and killed four persons after rustling about 25 cows.

“The four persons killed were listed as: Musbahu Yusuf Basiru Jaafaru, Ja’afaru Yahaya and Umaru Sulaiman” The statement said the bandits also attacked Ungwan Ayaba in Chikun LGA, and killed a com-

munity leader, Dauda Adamu.

Aruwan said the bandits invaded farmlands on the outskirts of Gigani Village, Kerawa, Igabi LGA and rustled about 14 bulls being used by farmers to plough the land.

Aruwan said Governor Nasir el-Rufai had sent condolences to the families of all who lost their lives in the attacks, as he prayed for the repose of their souls and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

“The Governor noted with deep concern the incidents in Na’ikko Village in Giwa LGA, and appealed to residents to embrace recourse to law.

A least one person suspected to be a cultist has been feared killed while others sustained serious injuries during the clash between them and men of the state police command yesterday in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

THISDAY checks revealed that, the suspected cultists from Baboko, Oja Titun and Surulere axis of the ancient town have been engaging themselves in a supremacy battle before it finally turned into bloody situation in the affected areas.

It was further learnt that, it was at this point that men of the police force from Surulere and other divisions were drafted to the troubled areas so as to restore normalcy.

Sources said that, the development led to the arrest of one of the cultists who was handcuffed but later jumped into river canal at Surulere area

of the town.

The aggrieved warring factions it was learnt mobilised for a reprisal and possibly force the release of their arrested colleagues at the Surulere Police Division, thereby leading to fierce exchange of fire from both sides.

Contacted, the state police command Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi who confirmed the incident told our correspondent that, “We had gone to put a situation under control this morning involving two cult groups and we made some arrests.

“These boys mobilised themselves and begin to attack the police as a result of one of them who jumped inside a canal in Surulere while trying to evade arrest.

“We called the Fire Service to retrieve the body but the boys came to disrupt them and then later the police retrieve the corps from the cult guys.”

CSOs Warns of Impending Food Crisis in Katsina over Banditry Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), have warned that the spate of banditry and other security challenges bedeviling some communities in Katsina State may trigger a looming food crisis in the state, if urgent and drastic measures were not taken by government and security agencies.

The CSOs added that the impending food crisis looming in the state as a result of lull in farming activities caused by the heinous activities of bandits and other criminals terrorising the state, should be adequately addressed by the state government.

Speaking yesterday at an event to mark this year’s national day of mourning at the Katsina NUJ Secretariat, the State Chairman of CSOs, Mr. Abdurrahman Abdullahi Dutsinma, said the state government had done well in curtailing insecurity but more needed to

be done to enable farmers to commence farming activities.

He said: “As the rainy season is fast approaching, security measures need to be provided to enable our farmers harvest their farmlands because with the way things are going, farmers will find it difficult to cultivate their land which may cause a serious food security not the state alone but the nation at large.”

He lauded the state government for its plan to assist victims of banditry, particularly orphans and widows, in terms of free education, healthcare services and supportive feeding “but more effort should be put in place to ensure sustainable peace in the state.”

He, therefore, admonished civil society organisations in the state to beam their searchlights on the situation of children and women who lost their parents and husbands to banditry and urged residents to be security conscious and prayerful for God’s intervention.

Immigration: 379,000 Jostle for 4,120 Slots Service to introduce new passport regime June 1 KuniTyessi ÓØ ÌßÔË A total of 370,000 have applied to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) out of which only 4,120 representing federal character and all 774 local governments would secure employment.

The comptroller general, Muhammad Babandede who disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, said out of the total number, 6,145 were invited for the training and all successful officers must undergo a drug test as no officer will be given a guy who is already addicted to drugs.

Also, he said there was no going back on the May 31st deadline of clearance of backlog of passports as so far, 23,907 are yet to be collected by applicants.

The CG who stated that

so far, its Ikoyi office had the highest number of yet-to- be-all collected passports which are over 7,000, was set to produce between 130,000 and 150,000 passports between today and May 31st while locally, 58,000 will be produced to beat the deadline.

Reading that there will be no penalties against applicants who fail to collect their passports before May 31st, Babandede also added that a total of 41,000 new passports would be introduced into the system, adding that the highest production will be in Ikoyi, followed by Alausa.

“397,000 applied for the jobs and there are only 4,120 slots. Each local government was represented and 10 per cent in each state were also invited based on merit and federal character.

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NEWS Three Officers, 2 Others Killed as Gunmen Attack Delta Police Station Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba There was tension yesterday in Delta North communities as three policemen lost their lives following an early morning gun attack on Umutu Police Divisional Headquarters in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.

The gunmen, who reportedly invaded the station at 2a.m., left two police constables who were on night duty dead.

A third o΀cer, an assistant superintendent of police (ASP), died from shock at the coldblooded killing of his men, state police authorities said yesterday morning.

However, arms and ammunition were not stolen by the unidentiÀed invaders of the Umutu Police

FOR BOUYANT ECONOMY …

L-R. Former governor of Anambra State and keynote speaker, Mr. Peter Obi; Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu; President, Coscharis Group and lead discussant, Dr. Cosmos Maduka; and Prof. Barth Nnaji, at the Aba Business and Leadership Summit held at Aba Sports Club, Aba...recently

Many Feared Dead as Bandits Invade Niger Community Laleye Dipo in Minna

Many people were feared dead when bandits yesterday morning invaded some communities in the Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State.

Some of those that died were said to have drowned in the River Kaduna while trying to escape from the bandits.

THISDAY learnt that the bandits who were many were said

to have started their operation at the Akeri Railway Station where they reportedly killed one person before extending their assault to the Àsh market.

It was learnt that many of the traders seeing the bandits ran into the river in a bid to escape. “ Unfortunately many of them could not swim and drowned in the river,µ the eyewitness further told THISDAY.

It was gathered that unknown to some of the villagers another set of bandits were waiting at the other side of the river and as soon as those that swam to “safetyµ got to the river bank the bandits started shooting at them sporadically killing many of the villagers.

All eͿorts to get the Chairman, Wushishi Local Government Area, Alhaji Saidu Wushishi, was abortive as he did

not pick his cell phone despite several calls made to it.

However the member representing the Wushishi constituency in the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Bashir Lokogoma, conÀrmed the story in a telephone interview.

Lokogoma said, “Yes there was an attack in Wushishi by bandits; there are casualties but I can’t say how many because I am not on the ground.µ

Station, the authorities further said.

The gunmen also attacked the Ndemili police divisional o΀ce in the Ukwani area.

The criminals destroyed various facilities at the Ndemili Police Station, though no life was lost at the station.

Speaking on the development, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Ari Muhammed Ali, who conÀrmed the attack on Umutu Police Station, said that two constables were shot dead but an ASP also died apparently from shock or heart attack.

Ali, however, revealed that the police killed two of the gunmen during the invasion, but lamented that the criminals were able to remove “the bodies of their men from the scene of incident.

“We Do not Charge Unauthorised Fee”, Insists Nigerian Embassy in Paris Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Nigerian Embassy in Paris, France has said that it was not into charging any unauthorised fee, insisting that all charges collected were clearly stated and in line with Nigerian government approval.

The embassy in a press statement issued to counter the negative narrative by a dissatisfied Nigerian citizen in France, Henry Abebe said the federal government approved the collection of administrative fees at Nigerian Missions abroad, insisting that all its charges were clearly stated on the Embassy’s website and displayed conspicuously The statement read: “The attention of the Nigerian Embassy in Paris has been drawn to a

defamatory comment made on 27 May 2021 on the social media platform, Twitter, by a certain @henryabebe. In the tweet, @ henryabebe alleges a lack of professionalism by the staff of the Nigerian Embassy in Paris and references arbitrary charges for services rendered.µ The statement added that: “The Embassy categorically refutes these allegations by this individual, who is clearly not familiar with the services rendered by the Embassy and has not been following the regular public notices updated on the website of the Mission (www. nigerianfrance.org), and public areas at the Chancery. Such notices are also regularly transmitted to Nigerian community associations in France, as part of the outreach efforts of the Embassy.µ

Oyebode: Massive Investment in Education can Quell Terrorism Sanwo-Olu Affirms Law against Cultism, David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka was an ideology evolved by ter- is held by terrorists, who in turn speech said the union choose Says Parents of Convicts to be Sanctioned rorists and sold to their followers, pass it to others. the topic to depict the country’s Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law, Prof.

Akin Oyebode, has said that massive investment in the education sector could quell terrorism in Nigeria.

Oyebode stated this while delivering a lecture at the 21st National delegates conference of the Academic StaͿ Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.

The professor said terrorism

but with massive investment in education, the psyche of young people could be reshaped.

Speaking on the topic: State Terrorism and Nigeria Development, Oyebode said: “From terrorism to banditry, to gunmen, insecurity has exposed the under belly of the country’s security.

“Nigeria today has fallen to insecurity and nowhere is safe in the country.

Terrorism is an ideology which

“What we need to do is to educate people who hold this belief to destroy the ideology.

We need to invest massively in education to destroy the ideology already held by terrorists. We will continue to demand that the budgetary allocation for education for our country be enhanced. That is how we can Àght terrorism,µ he said.

Earlier, ASUU National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi who presented a valedictory

current developmental challenges and proͿer solutions.

On his tenure as president of ASUU, he said: “We cautiously celebrate victories on a number of campuses, but we must also admit that it’s not yet Uhuru.

The court case over Governor Yahaya Bello’s purported ban of ASUU and dismissal of over 100 members of the Union at the Kogi State University, Anyingba, has continued to linger for close to three years.

Over 3,000 Delegates to Attend Abidjan Agric Experts Brainstorm on International Security, Defence Exhibition Attaining Food Insecurity Rebecca Ejifoma ShieldAfrica, in collaboration with the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire and COGES Africa, is to host over 3,000 delegates from Europe,America, Africa, Asia and Australia at the 2021 International Exhibition on Security and Defence in Abidjan, CiteD’ivoire.

According to the organisers, ShieldAfrica exhibition is an African initiative to respond to Africa’s security challenges. It is the security and defence exhibition of reference in Africa where the public and private sector, security and defence players meet with global industrial manufacturers.

The event will host manufacturers from across the world, provide networking sessions with authorities, buyers, and users across Africa, as

they attend live demonstrations from African armed and security forces.

The exhibition will showcase appropriate responses to security and defence needs for the development of Africa through various means like managing resources, fighting against cross-border terrorism, and securing fast-growing urbanisation, the organisers further added.

Rising insecurity and violence are major threats resulting from rapid urbanisation. According to UN and other scientific studies, African cities are estimated to have a combined population size of about one billion by the year 2030; six of which (Cairo, Lagos, Kinshasa, Luanda, Dares Salaam and Johannesburg) are projected to have at least 10 million citizens each.

Contemporary issues affecting agribusiness in the country and efforts at achieving sustainable food security will be the central discourse as agric experts converge on Abuja for the International Conference and Expo.

According to the organisers, the event with the theme ‘#EndHunger Today: Building A National Resilience For Sustainable Food Security, was designed to create a forum for the agribusiness innovators and stakeholders from all over the world to exchange views on how best to end hunger.

The Managing Director of Agribusiness Innovation Ltd., Mrs. Stella Oraka, said this year’s event slated for International Conference, Abuja in September

will avail participants with new approaches to crops improvement, value addition on staple foods processing, modern techniques to improve farm yield, Àsh production and animal husbandry; towards stemming the specter of unemployment and food insecurity now confronting the country.

She further explained that AGRICON 2021 was a forum aimed at exposing participants to opportunities and improve the export potentials of Nigerian farmers and agric-entrepreneurs through provision of links with international markets; as well as create awareness on modern farming techniques and sensitisation on export bound certiÀcation procedures.

Funmi Ogundare

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, said a new law against cultism had been introduced by the state government which prescribes punitive measures for parents of young people convicted of cultism.

The governor who made this known, while addressing pupils and students at the Children’s Day Celebration, themed, ‘Unite to Reverse the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Children’, held at Police College Parade Ground, lkeja, advised parents to inculcate the right values in their children and be vigilant, saying it will enable them to shun all social vices.

According to him, “We owe

them a duty to ensure that their dreams and aspirations are realised through continuous training, guidance and mentoring.µ The governor whose speech was delivered by his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Kadri Hamzat, said the theme was quite apt as it undermined the importance of ensuring that the effect of the pandemic did not affect the children, while commending the efforts of teachers and parents/ guardians in protecting the children from various harms of the society.

He said that all kids irrespective of their status and present global situation should enjoy their rights to survival and development, adding that his administration is committed towards providing a safe, habitable learning environment for children.

Runsewe Urges Parents to Protect their Children from Immoral Acts Charles Ajunwa The Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runewe, has urged parents to protect their children from immoral acts sweeping across the globe.

Runsewe, who stated this year’s Children’s Day celebration organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture in collaboration with the Korean

Cultural Centre in Abuja with the theme “Our Children, Our Hopeµ, said children are the hope and future of the country and as such their contributions to the development of the nation cannot be ignored.

He added that children are the building bricks of the future of any nation upon which we must heavily invest in, warning about the negative impact of social media.

SATURDAY MAY 29, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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MAY 29, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

FOR CLTC, IT’S 70 GLORIOUSYEARS

CLTC is bringing out the best in people and creating good citizens and responsible leaders for Nigeria, writes Olusegun Adeniyi

S

eventy years is a remarkable age in the life of an individual or an organisation. For the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, it is especially significant. It is one of the few outfits created during colonial rule that is not only alive, but waxing strong, bringing out the best in people and “creating good citizens and responsible leaders” for the nation. And for the first time since its creation, the Centre, initially known as Man O’ War Bay, has come out with a book, to tell its story in a celebratory tour of its history and geography in a passionate and gripping narrative.

The book, “The Story of Citizenship &Leadership Training Centre,” is a mere 159 pages, with appendix, compiled by the Centre’s Annals Committee, chaired by Dr.Kevin Ihenetu. But it is comprehensive enough to capture the details of the agency from inception in 1951 till date. Divided into 14 chapters, it is a publication about a centre devoted to addressing the challenges of leadership in all spheres of life, a human development outfit established for the training and moulding of Nigerian citizenry to become responsible and respectable citizens and leaders.

The introductory chapter, “The Evolution of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre”, traces the chequered history of the Centre, earlier named as Man O War Bay in Victoria, Southern Cameroun, when it was part of Nigeria. Chapter Two draws attention to the Centre as an Outward-bound organisation with emphasis on adventure and risk-taking, while three examines the philosophy and the nature of the short and intensive trainings which instils discipline, and the virtues of perseverance. Chapter four lists the schools across the country where the training institutions are located, while chapters five and six are on “Man O’ War Organisation,” and all the leaders that have piloted the affairs of the Centre from inception to date respectively. The other chapters examine the vital contributions of the Centre in other spheres of life including other basic achievements of the agency. The book gives details of the centre’s massive contributions to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) from 2006-2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 2015 till date, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, and the National Youth Award Scheme.

With the motto, “Build the Man, Build the Community,” courses at the Centre started in March 1951 with 36 participants drawn essentially from the Cameroun while the second started a month later in April with more participants from Cameroun, Eastern Nigeria and Zaria, with the young men nominated by District Officers, Teacher Training Centres, Missions, and the Native Authorities.

The trainings were, even then, comprehensive, including lectures, educational visits to places of interests, and physical activities designed to instil courage and community development. By an act of Parliament in 1960, and modified in 1989 through Decree No. 38, the Centre was rechristened Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre. Today the Centre, which is a parastatal under Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, has trained hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life, including key personnel in various security and government institutions such as the Police, Military, DSS, NIA, EFCC, Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and many more.

Perhaps the essence of this body of work is to turn the spotlight on an institution of major significance to the development of our nation’s human resource. It certainly needs more attention than ever at this point in our country’s existence. As my brother and friend, Mr. Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports rightly said in the Foreword to the book, all the reasons that informed the establishment of the Centre long ago are still germane today. “The

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO ADMIRE THE BOOK. IT ESTABLISHES ITSELF AS A WELCOME AND LAUDABLE CONTRIBUTION TO OUR NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS

country needs to build a nation where the immense human and natural resources should be harnessed to overcome the prevailing national challenges especially challenges of bribery, corruption, impunity, rising insecurity, insurgency, unemployment, decaying infrastructure, climate change, irrendentism and seeming hopelessness,” Dare stated, and I concur.

Nigeria is in a perpetual state of struggle and soul searching on how best to build a nation and empower its people. This is a pertinent story to aid Nigeria’s self-discovery towards that struggle.

In that sense, it thoroughly embodies the true spirit of Man O’ War in its mission, execution and outcome.

The book introduces many to a new outlook or philosophy of life derived from the Outward-bound educational concept and international network founded in the United Kingdom by Lawrence Holt and Kurt Hahn in 1941. Outward Bound International is a non-profit membership and licensing organisation for the international network of Outward-bound schools in over 35 countries around the world and attended by over 150,000 people every year.

The name outward bound was derived from the nautical term for a ship leaving safe harbour for the open sea. When you say a ship is outward bound it embodies a sense of adventure, courage, and determination to overcome challenges that sailors face at sea.

Hence the focus of the outward-bound model which influenced the Citizens and Leadership Training Centre as well is to inculcate a problem-solving mentality and equip trainees with general skill sets and courage to overcome life’s challenges.

Like the Centre rightly said there are striking similarities in concept with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in areas of community development. Indeed, the organisation was deeply involved in the foundation of the NYSC through one of its revered founding members, Dr. Alec Dickson. But the Centre plays different roles in society and set up for different objectives. In addition to community development, fostering unity amongst Nigerians is at the core of the institution.

Despite its long title, this should be a very thought-provoking book for readers and leaders in Nigeria because it adequately positions the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre as a potent panacea to Nigeria’s youth disenfranchisement as originally intended from inception. It’s evident that the youth of this country are the key to a prosperous future for Nigeria. But to unlock that future requires the kind of character orientation and development that the Centre provides to its trainees.

It is impossible not to admire the book. It establishes itself as a welcome and laudable contribution to our national consciousness.

The Story of Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre is well researched and well- illustrated with photographs. It informs, educates, entertains, and opens the readers’ mind to the power and possibilities for Nigeria if the Centre is adequately empowered.

The present leadership of the institution that drives the agency deserves commendation. The recently established Online Academy for computer-driven training is in accord with the times. There are typos here and there but not enough to disturb the clarity of the prose. The binding could be better done, though. But perhaps more importantly, it will be heartening for the readers if they do not have to wait for another 70 years to see a polished off second edition.

I congratulate the Director General, Mr Jonah Bawa and his entire team on this anniversary as I hope that the CLTC will continue to play critical roles in the development of responsible leadership and citizenship in Nigeria.

Adeniyi is Chairman, THISDAY Editorial Board

PARTNERING TO FIGHT ISIS PROPAGANDA IN AFRICA

Omar Ghobash and Christopher Hodges write that the U.S. and UAE, through partnerships, are equipping communities with the tools to fight extremism

T

he Global Coalition to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) toppled the group from its areas of territorial control in the Middle East, but since then ISIS’s “online Caliphate” has metastasized.

Too often, we have seen ISIS and other extremists misrepresent religion and political grievances to serve their own ends, contributing to the destabilization of fragile states and causing untold suffering. The ideology that lured thousands of fighters to conflict zones continues to spur violence on a global scale, but for every successful attack, law enforcement thwarts many more. To defeat ISIS ideology, we must offer compelling narratives of tolerance, peaceful acceptance, and economic prosperity that counter extremists’ exploitation of religion and politics.

The United States and the United Arab Emirates established the Sawab Center in 2015 to expose the emptiness of ISIS’s hateful propaganda and advance the Global Coalition’s work. Sawab messages daily on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube in Arabic, English, and French. The Center reflects both countries’ robust partnership in the battle against violent extremism, and the need for it has never been greater. These

sentiments of peace and tolerance represent the majority but can drown out in corners of the internet or media where extremist narratives thrive.

The precipitous growth in jihadist activity in sub-Saharan Africa is of particular concern.

Violent extremist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), cause grievous harm to the vast majority of people committed to peace and tolerance. According to the United Nations, in just over a decade these groups have killed 36,000 people and displaced two million from their homes. In several African countries, extremists are targeting humanitarian workers and disrupting efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.

These jihadist attacks in Africa draw from and find their echoes in ISIS propaganda.

Each week, ISIS’s propaganda leaflet “AnNaba’a” touts the bloody toll of ISWAP’s operations, in a desperate attempt to stay relevant and motivate violent attacks throughout the world.

To help amplify local voices that speak out against jihadist activity in sub-Saharan Africa, the Sawab Center launched a five-day messaging campaign on March 7 with the

hashtag #AfricaAgainstExtremism. The campaign highlighted inspirational stories of the struggle against extremism, including excerpts of documentaries and films depicting the struggle against extremism. It stressed the positive role African youth can play in determining their countries’ future.

Sawab’s Africa campaign, and its messages of tolerance and peaceful co-existence, reflect deeply held values shared by the United States and the UAE that contradict the jihadist agenda. ISIS reduced Mosul to ruins, but the UAE has been in the forefront of promoting reconstruction and cultural preservation there, from the Al-Nuri mosque to the Al-Tahira and Al-Saa’a churches. The Pope’s visit to Iraq in early March builds on his visit to Abu Dhabi in 2019, where he signed a document on “Human Fraternity” with Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayyab, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque. An “Abrahamic House,” now under construction in Abu Dhabi, will co-locate a church, synagogue, and mosque on the same plot of land. That initiative complements the historic normalization of UAE’s relations with Israel.

Online messaging is just one part of the tool kit in countering violent extremism, but

it remains vital to contest the online spaces that extremists are trying to exploit. Through international partnerships, combined operations, information sharing, and educational campaigns, the UAE, United States, and other like-minded partners are countering terrorist propaganda, preventing youth from becoming radicalized, and equipping communities with the tools to fight against extremism. This multilateral and multi-dimensional approach has been central to impeding extremist movements and stopping acts of terrorism which destabilize our societies and threaten the security and welfare of our peoples.

The effort to forge global solidarity and consensus against ISIS’s hateful agenda continues. Join us and become one of the Sawab Center’s more than 8.2 million followers. In our shared struggle against extremism, your help can make all the difference.

Ghobash is the Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy at the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC); Hodges is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Press and Public Diplomacy and Assistance Coordination in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs

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MAY 29, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Hoping for a bright future...

African Democratic Congress on LGA Elections in Rivers

F

ollowing the events that occurred during and after the Local Government Area (LGA) elections that held on 17 April, 2021 in Rivers State, we of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) hereby state our displeasure, disapproval and dissatisfaction in the gross electoral misconducts that took place. Our candidates all over the states as well as members of the Diaspora who were in the country and decided to take part in the election processes were highly disappointed with the show of electoral misconduct during the LGA elections.

More alarming and confounding was the fact that some of our candidates who have committed their time, energy and resources to campaign ahead of the elections and already garnered support from their followers who pledged their commitment to the African Democratic Congress, were not allowed to participate in the election.

Against this background, we therefore state as follows: One, we disown any publication made by the Rivers State Electoral Commission (RISEC) and the Rivers State Government that the election was free, fair and credible.

Two, the Rivers State Local Government Elections were marred by several irregularities, electoral malpractices, ballot box hijacking and result sheet manipulations by the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, and their agents. Three, members of the RISEC participated in election malpractice and were involved in thump printing which ADC agents captured on camera. Four, on the day of the election, materials were very scanty and our members and candidates were not allowed to participate in the election because access was denied them to the election venue.

Five, based on these, the election was in actual fact neither free, fair nor credible. Six, we dissociate ourselves from the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and every publication said to have been made by our executive at the IPAC conference, which held after the election. That move was a deliberate and malicious attempt by the IPAC leadership and Rivers State government

to give credence to the illegality.

In conclusion, we categorically state that the position of our party ADC, remains that the local government area elections as with all elections should be held in a credible, free and fair manner to establish a strong and effective political leadership and development at the grassroots level. The fact that the parties in power across Nigeria have reduced the LGA elections to a rascally, demeaning and self-delusional charade is well known to all.

We however call on the Rivers State government to rectify things as soon as possible and give people the assurance and mandate of true democracy, which is hallmarked by free, fair and credible elections. On this note, we won’t hesitate to take legal actions and proceed to the court if the IPAC leadership and Rivers State government doesn’t resolve things as a matter of urgency.

Chief Ralphs Nwosu, National Chairman, African Democratic Congress

Please, Don’t Scrap NYSC

I

t is reported that the House of Representatives is mulling scrapping the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), as a bill to that effect is set for a second reading. The sponsor of the bill, Awaji-Inombek Abiaante, in the exploratory memorandum of the proposal, cited growing insecurity, killing of corps members and other related issues as the main reason. The NYSC scheme was established under decree No 24 on December 22,1973 by the Federal Military Government under the leadership of General Yakubu Gowon to rebuild Nigeria through a programme which was known as 3R’s. The objectives of the scheme are: to enable Nigerian youths acquire the spirit of self-reliance by encouraging them to develop skills for self-employment. To contribute to the accelerated growth of the national economy. To develop common ties among the Nigerian youths and promote national unity and integration.

The NYSC scheme was established such that graduates of Nigeria tertiary institutions are deployed to states in Nigeria other than their states of origin or sometimes their states of residence for a compulsory one year of service to their father land. Since its establishment in the last five decades, NYSC has strengthened the bond of mutual coexistence among the diverse ethnic composition of the country. The scheme has enabled other ethnic groups to appreciate the complexity of the country’s vis-a-vis cultural and religious identities. Graduates who were opportune to attend the mandatory one year service usually share their fond memories with their loved ones. Besides encouraging intra-ethnic marriages,

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR FESTUS AKANBI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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 BOLAJI ADEBIYI, 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 HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

NYSC scheme provides jobs opportunities to graduates as governments and private sector identified and retained best graduating students after service.

It is unarguable to state that corps members are victims of insecurity in the country. Evidence abounds on how they continue to lose their precious lives in the course of the national assignment to Boko Haram, bandits and ethno-religious strife. Notwithstanding the dangers the corps members are being exposed to, NYSC remains the only surviving legacies that promote unity in diversity. No wonder recent opinion polls have indicated that many Nigerians voted in favour of the scheme. Amidst increasing call for secession our parliamentarians should tarry a while not to tinker with this all- important scheme. What the scheme needs at this time now is total reform to reflect the current realities.

Ibrahim Mustapha, Pambegua, Kaduna State

Day I Will Never Forget

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y attempt at bagging an Immigration job between 2012 and 2014 in Nigeria was catastrophic. I grew up loving immigration jobs and navy uniforms. So I thought it could be easier to get into any of these jobs if I could do a foreign immigration course. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy as I initially thought, but I was determined. I thought I could fight for what I want and get my desires, like I walked into Securities and Exchange Commission, Abuja, with confidence, like the go-getter that I was when I first returned to Nigeria (and got a role almost instantly).

During my first attempt to join the Immigration Service in Nigeria, I almost died in a stampede during a field exercise, which was organised in most Nigeria states at the time. That day was a bloody, and claimed scores of unlucky lives who are now buried in the minds of the Nigerian government but never in the minds of their family members. There really should be an inquiry into why the Nigerian government which clearly knew they had no capacity to organise or employ that many people, nor did they have that many job slots, could plan and execute such a deadly arrangement that was bound to fail from the start of the job announcement (which conned the applicants to the tune of billions of naira through application and registration fees) and deceive millions of gullible job seekers and onlookers, many of whom needed to upscale their jobs. Was there no committee in place to oversee the before and aftermath of the event? Is the meagre compensation really a reward to the lost souls? Should someone or people not be questioned, summoned, jailed or in custody or impeached?

Princess Mojisola C.Olajide, makingwavesglobally@gmail.com

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ MAY 29, 2021

SUPER SATURDAY Juliet Ibrahim rahim

I’m Single and Spending Time On Self-Discovery Juliet Ibrahim is one of the celebrated faces in the entertainment world. Fun-loving, g friendlyy and down-to-earth, Juliet is as simple p and as stylish y as she appears. pp As an actress, budding g singer, g movie producer, p compere, p and to add, an author, Juliet has g got it all g going gg good for her, career wise. As a woman, her stories resonate and have shaped p and made her tough g and determined to become successful in life. The Lebanese-Ghanaian-Liberian descent tells it all to Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Y

ou recently celebrated your 35th birthday, how do you feel and how has it been?

It’s been wonderful and I thank God every day for allowing me live my dream. I have been able to use my career in acting to impact many lives and create other avenues for myself and my brand. I spoke in detail on my life experiences in my memoir and indeed my life’s journey is one to be celebrated. So it’s been prayers, appreciation to God Almighty, determinaa tion and consistency.

Is there anything you would change if given the opportunity to turn back the hands of time?

I would not change a thing because all of my experiences moulded me into the woman I am today.

Juliet is a woman of many stories, some like depression, heartbreaks and crashed relationships you have shared with your audience.

Have your stories really been heard?

My stories have been heard and I can’t wait to share the rest of them with the world. Yes I am a woman of many stories that makes up who I fl in my book “A Toast to Life”, am. This reflects published 2019. I have been through a whole lot of experiences that I felt I had to share with my ever-growing fan-base. I’ve had experiences that would probably break the average person; but I survived.

How have these stories and experiences shaped the woman you are today?

My childhood was pretty much easy going yet at the same times frustrating, being the eldest of four kids. I grew up faster and went through experiences both good and bad to be strong for my siblings. I experienced three civil wars. I saw my parents and relatives being harassed right before my eyes. I have been able to use these experiences for moulding into the strong woman I am today. I spent most part of my childhood living as a refugee due to those wars. I grew up in four different countries. My parents were business people; it took us around a lot. I speak and write fl fluent French and English. I Juliet Ibrahim to you? think it inspired my love for traveling and experiencing new As a kid I had always dreamt of growing up and being in environment. Those experiences; in addition to a teenager the spotlight. I used to idolize musicians and runway models. battling colorism, self-esteem issues and a young adult finding fi That’s why throughout my junior and high school years I did love and learning how to embrace her body made me tough a lot of modeling and singing at talent shows, church events and determined to become successful in life. and social gatherings. I actually had my very own talent group; we used to perform at events. I really didn’t think I’ll Who do you consider the greatest influence in your be anything other than what and who I am today. Not every life? kid gets to live their childhood dream. I count myself lucky The greatest infl nfluence in my life would be my mother. She and blessed. So, indeed being in the limelight is a fulfi lfillment. has inspired me so much and has been a source of inspiration all these years.

Your style is one of the reasons you are often focus on and off the screen…what’s your definition of style and You have in some instances had cases where you read what’s your style stakes? stories you think are false about you. How do you really Style exudes your confi n dence…what you wear, and how take these stories and to what extent does it get at you? you wear it speaks to your confi n dence. When a persons’ Being a public figure comes with its ups and downs. esteem is secure; their journey to such confi n dence is worth Not everyone will like you and vice versa. Neither can you embracing. control the content that the press publishes about you nor what people will say about you. . . I don’t feel anything with I read that you are in love with yourself and career, regards to negative rumours or stories especially when people would rather sit around and intentionally create a wrong/false how about being in love again with a man?

I have always been in love with myself. Anyways, I have story or controversy just to sell. However, if at all something false is published about me, I’ll react appropriately or have my been focusing on my career and myself for quite a while now. lawyers do their work. Being a celebrity makes my public side I am single and I have been spending time on self-discovery and self-love. I believe that one must not go looking for a of life for public entertainment. I chose this lifestyle, so I had good partner until you yourself have become a good partner. to be prepared for everything else that comes with it. More You must meet the requirements of your requirements. so, without the critics, media and fans there’ll be no Juliet Ibrahim.

You have strongly objected to being regarded as ‘halfcaste’ because of your skin tone. But instead chose to be You chose being a celebrity and the lifestyle and ‘Black and proud of it’. Looking at it you are born to a everything that comes with it has thrown up challenges.

Lebanese father and a Ghanaian-Liberian mother. Could Would you consider being in the limelight as fulfillment

it be for any reason you abhor such identity?

What I said was: I had a random conversation with someone and it was appalling when he mentioned passively to me that he doesn’t see me as a #Blackwoman! He argued, you are not “black enough” your skin isn’t dark enough, your hair is not kinky enough. And thus my siblings and I do not ‘count’ as Black. Now this is exactly what we are fighting to correct amongst ourselves and the world at large. I am a black woman! When I’m abroad amongst the whites, I am classifi ified and recognized as a black woman, however, right amongst us Africans I’ll be referred to as a Half-Caste! This is the most derogatory term to describe a person of mixed race or mixed ethnicity! Mixed race people are no less black than their dark-skinned counterparts.

Can we talk about some memorable moments in your career?

The fi first time I got my fi first major endorsement deal as a brand ambassador was the fi first time I hosted the Glo Caf Awards as a bilingual Host. I hosted and spoke French and English in-front of a global audience.

If you were not an entertainer, what would you have been?

I grew up dreaming to be a super star. I wanted to be a musician at all cost. But if being in the spot light didn’t work out for me I would have been a translator working with the United Nations or a multinational company, a lawyer, a travel agent or an air hostess.

Seems you have stopped singing?

I haven’t stopped. Singing was my childhood dream. I love music and I still have some songs I intend to drop. I just recorded with Djinee and I have been in the studio working with some producers. I love to use my music to make an impact, celebrate life and tell stories. But I sing because it makes me happy and I love doing it.

How do you balance your other jobs with acting?

I combine it all by the grace of God. To be honest, I’m a superwoman (laughs). Because sometimes I ask myself how I do it all. I am a career woman so I have to juggle them accordingly and I also have a good team I work with that help ease off the work load. My success has been staying consistent in my earlier years as an actress then moving on to produce award winning content.

What’s in the pipeline for you in 2021?

The Launch of www.shadesbyjulietibrahim.com and www. missinternationalafrica.com Miss International Africa is a pet project that will be aired soon on my YouTube channel “Juliet Ibrahim TV” it is a women empowerment reality show. I will be starting a new talk show and reality show and currently in film. You’ll just have to pre-production stage of my personal fi wait and see because there’s so much in the pipeline.

Who is Juliet Ibrahim? Tell us your likes and dislikes; your hobbies; turn on, turn offs; phobia, your favourtie food, favourite colour, and things like that?

I am a determined, fun-loving, hardworking, familyoriented, friendly and down-to-earth lady. I love music, movies, food and anything that pushes my creativity. My favorite colors are Black and Gold. I love Karoake night out with my friends and family. I am very adventurous with food I actually don’t like to name one as a favorite. I love traveling and experiencing different cultures and delicacies.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺ΁, 2021

08054699539

Buhari’s Six Years of Bloodbath and Sectionalism

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n the twinkling of an eye, a man elected President of an entire country turns to a sectional leader, championing only the cause of his Fulani ethnic group amid bloodbath and mounting poverty in his country. This aptly sums up President Muhammadu Buhari’s six years of clannishness, ineptitude and mismanagement, resulting in boundless killings and pains across the country.

From Buhari’s reaction to southern governors’ ban on open grazing, one can safely say that his support for criminal herders and Fulani militias is no longer in doubt. He mischievously described the ban and other resolutions reached by the governors as “acts of politicking intended by its signatories to demonstrate power,” adding: “It is very clear that there was no solution offered from their resolutions to the herder-farmer clashes. It is equally true that their announcement is of questionable legality, given the Constitutional right of all Nigerians to enjoy the same rights and freedoms within every one of our 36 states (and FCT) -regardless of the state of their birth or residence.”

For six years, our supposed President unleashed Fulani herders on the rest of the country, turning our beloved Nigeria into a killing field. He persistently clears the way for herders still trapped in anachronism and cares less about produce farmers and lovers of serene coexistence.

Guerrillas protecting herdsmen roam freely unchecked by security agents. As a result, blood has been flowing freely in communities in Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Taraba, Niger and Plateau states. Children have been turned to orphans and women turned to widows. Clips from the attack on Shikaan Mbagena Kpav community, in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the same Benue State last Thursday, during which several people were killed, reflect the chilling insecurity in our land. Tse Ancha and Agan communities in Makurdi Local Government Area of the same Benue State were also recently invaded by Fulani militias.

Eight people, including a community head were killed. This happened barely 12 hours after scores of victims of the Abegana IDP camp killings by the same Fulani militias were buried.

The blood-spattered story is the same in the South-west and South-east. Even in his North-west, Nigeria’s Chief Security Officer turns a blind eye as criminal herders butcher Hausa farmers. Just last Monday, Fulani militias entered Damaga village in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing scores of farmers on their farmlands.

Buhari came to power in 2015 with an avowal to tame insecurity but Nigeria continues to degenerate along this line.

Aside the problem of criminal herders, bandits and kidnappers continue to maul Nigerians. Boko Haram terrorists have also become emboldened under the Buhari government, expanding territories with intense carnage. In Borno State, the epicenter of Boko Haram, 20 of the 27 local governments are unsafe. It is depressing for a government to persistently make claims of degrading Boko Haram, yet, IDPs can’t return to their homes. They struggle for a meal a day while scores die daily of hunger, disease and malnutrition. After six years of Buhari, there are close to one million troubled people in these IDP camps in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. The big question is: Why would a man, his wives and children remain in a squalid IDP camp if his community had been recovered from Boko Haram? These people can’t return to their homes because Boko Haran controls these towns and villages.

President Buhari saying persistently that he has technically defeated Boko Haram is heartless. Under Buhari’s watch, Boko

Buhari

Haram became the deadliest terror group in the world, with thousands of Nigerians killed in the last six years. Even in IDP camps, these traumatised Nigerians are persistently attacked and killed by Boko Haram.

Our gallant soldiers are struggling to end the Boko Haram war because they are poorly-equipped and poorly-motivated.

They often struggle for allowances and equipment on the war front. Many of them have over-stayed on the war front, contrary to the rules of engagement, yet, they are not rotated. The last six years of Buhari have been awful for the military.

Let’s switch to the flagging Nigerian economy, which is in the three-point agenda of the Buhari government. Our President inherited a robust economy that was the largest in Africa, while Nigerians did their businesses with little encumbrances. Six years after, this country’s economy is in shreds and continues to suffer, with no hope in sight. Thousands of businesses are gasping for breath. Many have closed shop. At a point, inflation was almost at an unparalleled 18.72%. Note that Buhari, in 2015, inherited an inflation rate that oscillated between 7.7 per cent and 8.7 per cent. Daily, the waning economy pushes thousands of Nigerians below the poverty line. The sad news is that Nigeria has surpassed India as the country with the largest number of people living in life-threatening poverty in the world. This is an insignia of disgrace that should task Buhari. Regrettably, he is untroubled.

The Naira, our symbol of nationhood, is now in tatters. As at last Friday, it was trading at N490/$ in the real market. This is the same Naira Buhari inherited at about N220/$. Industrial estates across the country are under-utilised due to infrastructural challenges and inclement operating environment. The likes of Kakuri, Sherada, Bompai, Ogba and Ikeja industrial estates are panting for breath. Manufacturers are puffing for survival, while providing their own electricity, water, road, security, in addition to stifling multiple-taxation by all levels of governments. Power supply is still one big mess. Buhari promised to increase generation to 10,000MW within his first term. Six years after, this is still a mirage.

In Buhari’s six years, Nigeria’s joblessness rate worsened. Millions of Nigerians have lost jobs. The employment rate is a vital measurement of any economy’s health. The latest figures show that unemployment increased to 33.3% in Q4 2020 from 27.1% in Q2 2020. We all now have an army of unemployed youths in our homes.

Unfortunately, this government lacks pragmatic job creation strategy. Buhari is still jumbling in his management of the economy, surrounded by eaglet economists.

Under Buhari, this country is witnessing unprecedented infrastructure decay. Just check out decaying federal health institutions, roads and schools across the country.

Those who use roads like the Lagos-Ibadan, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Aba-Ikot Ekpene, Enugu-Onitsha, Kaduna-Birnin Gwari, Kaduna-Kano, Manchok-Vom, Ilorin-Jebba, understand what I mean. As for health, even the President and his family members are regularly flown abroad to enjoy foreign medicals.

What about Buhari’s scam called war against corruption? The United States’ 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released few weeks back gives a ready answer to this incongruity called war against corruption. The report affirmed massive corruption in Nigeria in 2020, under Buhari’s watch. The United States report only emphasised what many of us have always known about Buhari’s failed war against corruption. I persistently point out the flaws, with a long list of untamed sleazes - NNPCgate, Maihajagate, Mainagate, Barugate, Yusufgate, Babachirgate and the rest of them.

Yes, corruption in MDAs predates the Buhari government, but he told us that it won’t be business as usual under him. This avowal was a sham. Under Buhari, corruption in almost all the MDAs is a bigger monster, depriving Nigeria huge revenues. The sleaze in Nigeria’s defence and security budgets for almost six years is most disgusting.

Security agents are losing grounds to terrorists, yet, money for equipment to help reverse the trend is obstinately mismanaged. The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno pointed this out early this year, but recanted under pressure. In this country, a serving army chief under Buhari bought a $2 million property in Dubai and shamelessly defended it with impunity.

Clearly, Buhari’s much talked about war against corruption remains a fantasy.

Under Buhari’s watch, rent seekers are still collecting the proceeds of crude oil sales.

This is why refineries are still not working; yet, this administration spends billions of Naira on turnaround maintenance.

What about the re-looting of recovered Abacha loot under Buhari’s watch? Despite outcry, dubious fees amounting to $17 million were allegedly paid to lawyers for the recovery of $321 million stolen by former military ruler, Sani Abacha.

Spending on Buhari’s Social Investment Programme has also been puzzling, with doubtful outlays on School Feeding, Trader Money and N-Power programmes.

The biggest sin Buhari committed against this country within his six years as President is the division created with his frightening clannishness. Buhari has spent six years stoking our fault lines with no respect for Federal Character in his appointments. The military, para-military and key departments/agencies are mainly headed by people from a section of this country. This is largely responsible for hatred and bloodshed across our country. Ethnic and religious divides have assumed an unprecedented dimension, with our fault lines persistently stoked. This is certainly not the Nigeria of our dream.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s remark about Buhari’s clannishness in the early days of his government is instructive here. He said: “At no time in our history, except probably during the civil war, has Nigeria been so fractured in the feeling of oneness by the citizenry.” The ex-Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, concurred, saying “Nigeria has

never been as divided as presently, since it’s amalgamation over 100 years ago.”

Bishop Matthew Kukah, hit the nail on the head during his sermon at the burial of Michael Nnadi, a seminarian killed by kidnappers. The cleric remarked that Buhari was running the “most nepotistic and narcissistic government in known history,” and concluded that the President had not only relegated the national interest to the background, but had also introduced nepotism into the military.

After six years, can Buhari, in all honesty, say that he has delivered on his promises of building a new and united Nigeria?

Can he honestly say that Nigerians are better under him than they were under his predecessor? Can he say that he has positively impacted on the lives of the masses of this country in the last six years? Can he honestly say that Nigerians are secure under him? Can he honestly say that he is fighting corruption? The frank answers would be negative. Power supply, federal roads, hospitals and schools are in tatters.

Bandits, kidnappers and Boko Haram are rampaging, with thousands of Nigerians sent to early graves. Poverty and unemployment pervade our country. In six years of Buhari, this country’s unity has been destroyed and diversity persistently mismanaged.

My dear President, you still have two years to amend your ways. The first step is to discharge the legions of sycophants around you and surround yourself with unpretentious and selfless patriots. You must also consistently remember that you were elected President of the whole country, not of a section of the country, and start acting as father to all. This is the way forward for our beloved Nigeria.

Partying After General Attahiru’s Death Clips from the wedding of Rahman Malami, son of the Minister of Justice/Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami in Sokoto State, hours after the death of Army Chief, General Ibrahim Attahiru, were disgusting. Yes, the marriage was planned long before the plane crash that claimed Attahiru and 10 others, but it should have been scaled down, after the plane tragedy, with no razzmatazz at all. This is what is called common sense. It was so depressing seeing five governors - Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Mohammed Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State and Yahaya Inuwa of Gombe State – clinking glasses and posing for photographs at the event, amid the calamity.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), Ahmad Aliyu; Ali Modu Sheriff; and Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, also shamelessly participated at the fiesta. This ought not to happen hours after losing an army chief and several generals. Humanity has evidently gone bunkers among Nigerian politicians.

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SATURDAY MAY 29, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺ΁˜ ͺͮͰͯ

EVENTS

C

aptain Mohammed Ibrahim was a year older last Tuesday.

A surprise birthday party was organized for him in Abuja by Mariam Mohammed Maktoub and his wife, Ameera . An emotional and totally surprised Capt. Ibrahim simply went teary. Here are some the personalities at the party L-R: Nasreen Dantata, Mariam Mohammed Maktoub and Bashir Dantata

L-R: Ameena and Hakeem Shagaya, Kamal Bello, Usiju Haruna, celebrant and wife, Ameera, Bashir and Nasreen Dantata, Sauda and Abu Shehu, Blinko

L-R: Captain Chris Najomo, Mohammed Odunowo, Orshi Nennette, Mariam Mohammed Maktoub, Captain Musa Nuhu

Fatima and Ahmad Salihijo

L-R: Ameera Ibrahim, Nana Buhari and Captain Ibrahim

L-R: Muhammad Bukar and Abdulhalim Babafada

Asma and Mahmood Mamman Lagos

Yomi Frank

L-R: Seyi Tinubu and the celebrant, Captain Ibrahim

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SATURDAY MAY 29, 2021 • T H I S D AY

SATURDAY MAY 29, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 29,2021

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

Angelique Kidjo Features Burna Boy, Mr Eazi in new Album Legendary Beninese singer, Angelique Kidjo joins forces with African stars, mostly Nigerians, in Mother Nature, her forthcoming album. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

A

ngélique Kidjo’s forthcoming album, Mother Nature, due June 1 , will be her Àrst of original music in seven years, following 2019’s album, Celia (a tribute to Afro-Cuban performer, Celia Cruz) and 2018’s remake of Talking Heads’ Remain In Light.

Mother Nature Ànds the four-time Grammywinner joining forces with some of the most captivating new voices across a number of genres in the African continent and its diaspora and represents a newly heightened awareness of her own musical legacy and remarkable inÁuence she’s had on younger generations.

The slew of African music guests on the 13song LP include Burna Boy, Sampa The Great, EarthGang, Mr. Eazi, Yemi Alade, Salif Keita, Shungudzo, Zeynab, Lionel Loueke, Blue Lab Beats, and Ghetto Boy. Kidjo recently made this known via her Instagram page. According to the legendary singer, “Mother Nature” is a celebration of our planet. “I’m so proud to announce my new album, ‘Mother Nature’ coming June 18,” the popular Beninese singer and one of the greatest artistes in international music today announced.

“This album is a love letter to Mother Earth and all the values we hold dear: truth, trust, love, connection. If there’s anything the pandemic has taught us, it’s that we are all a part of the same ecosystem-this planet is all we have. I am very grateful to have so many guests joining me of the album: Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Mr Eazi, Salif Keita, Shungudzo, Sampa The Great, Ghetto Boy, EarthGang, Zeynab Mathieu Chedid – M – Lionel Loueke and many more!” Kidjo then shares a video for her new song “Africa, One of a Kind,” featuring Mr Eazi and Salif Keita.

The track is an exuberant ode to both her own roots, and those of the featured guest artist, Mr Eazi, in addition to the artiste behind the sample, Salif Keita. Of her new single, she said “Mr Eazi has composed for us a beauti-

ful ode to the African continent! The sound and groove are inspired by contemporary Afrobeats but the song takes its roots in the great tradition of African songwriting. This is why it was so important to have Salif Keita singing his signature melody in the intro. Three generations of musicians are united here to celebrate the future of Africa.”

Mr Eazi’s contributions to the project in the “Africa, One of A Kind” track are anchored by a dynamic sampling of Salif Keita’s “Africa”, a song that Kidjo originally planned on performing in a curated Carnegie Hall series in March 2020 honoring 1960’s “Year of Africa” alongside Manu Dibango, before Dibango tragically passed from Covid-19. “Dignity,” collaboration with Yemi Alade, is a direct response to the youth-led uprising against Nigeria’s infamous Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

“Do Yourself” featuring Burna Boy is an empowerment anthem, a plea to put in work for the betterment of everyone. While some songs were inspired through in-depth conversations with her collaborators, for “Free & Equal” (featuring Zambian Sampa The Great), Angélique looked to the initial promise of equality in the Declaration of Independence and how the Black Lives Matter movement continues to Àght for it.

Acreative force with about thirteen albums to her name, Kidjo began writing Mother Nature album and it was created over the past year in quarantine.

Over the course of her three-decade long career, Kidjo, 60, has dipped into the vast well of legendary artists and performers across the black diaspora — taking inspiration from South African artist and activist Miriam Makeba, Cuban salsa icon Celia Cruz, Aretha Franklin, and many more. She has collaborated with many of the continent’s greatest legends, from the bluesy stylings of Boubacar Traoré to Manu Dibango’s Cameroonian jazz saxophone lyricism.

Angelique Kidjo

‘Gone’ Thriller Hits Calgary Black Film Festival Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

Ahead of its premiere in cinemas July 2021, Àlmmaker Daniel Ademinokan’s feature Àlm, ‘Gone’, made the list alongside other titles from across the globe that screened at the Calgary Black Film Festival, which inaugural run opened on May 26 and closes today 30 May. Ademinokan, prior to the screening, took to his Instagram page to share the news: “A huge congratulations to the entire cast and crew of Gone. Catch us at the @calgaryblackÀlmfest from May 26th – 29th. Much respect to the cast for outstanding performances and a production team that worked tirelessly to pull oͿ this masterpiece. @gonethemovie coming soon to a theatre near you”.

The Canadian Àlm festival, which was online, featured 1 Àlms from 10 countries, including features such as South African opener Poppie Nongena, Nigeria’s Gone and Shaina from Zimbabwe.

The closing Àlm will be ‘John Ware Reclaimed’, a hybrid documentary from Calgary author,

screenwriter, and director Cheryl Foggo. Films featuring true Black stories and personalities are shown at the Calgary Black Film Festival. This is the Àlm’s second international Àlm festival selection as earlier on in the year, it was selected to screen at the Halifax Black Film Festival.

ScriptedAdeminokan and award winning Àlmmaker Obi Emelonye, ‘Gone’ is a deeply emotional and dramatic thriller set in Lagos and New York City, and its cinematic spectacle perfectly blends a cast of three generations of Nollywood. The Blue Pictures Studio’s debut production follows the story of Ani who leaves his wife, toddler, and unborn child back in Nigeria as he searches for a better life in New York as a boxer. He gets entangled with the mob and spends 25 years in jail, leaving his estranged family to believe he’s dead. He returns to Nigeria determined to reclaim his family, only to discover his wife in the arms of another man.

It stars Sam Dede, Stella Damasus, Gbenga Atitiloye, Gabriel Afolayan, Bimbo Ademoye, Sophie Alakija, Emma Oh

Ma God, Adejumoke Aderounmu, produced by Joy Odiete and Daniel Ademonikan. Recall that the teaser for the Àlm debuted in February 2020 to impressive reviews. Ademonikan, is regarded as one of the most proliÀc Àlmmakers from Africa today as his works have charted a new course for the Nigerian motion picture industry. For over 12 years, he has written, produced and directed several feature Àlms, shorts, music videos, commercials, PSAs, and documentaries.

He started as a scriptwriter but his eyes have always been on the director’s chair. He is one of those you can describe as natural in the art of directing.

His Àrst passion was music and as a teenager, he toured with major bands as a bass player for several years. Even as a multiinstrumentalist, songwriter, and music producer, Ademinokan still nurtured his love for Àlms and television. In the late 1990s, he penned several screenplays for producers in Nigeria that became very successful movies. This gave him more drive to pursue his vision as a Àlmmaker.

Daniel Ademinokan

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 29,2021

SHOWBIZFLAIR Shakar EL

21

Tosin Clegg

07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

I’m Focused on Preaching Happiness Chukwudi Ezeagwa popularly known as Shakar EL is an Afrobeat artiste who kicked off his music career while living in UK back in 2008. He was one of the first artistes to push and promote the Afrobeat culture in the UK with his singles titled “Orishirishi Swagga” in 2008 and “Anyhow” in 2009 which became an instant hit in the Afrobeat scene in the UK and diaspora at large. Shakar EL moved back to Nigeria in 2011 to pursue his dream in motherland. Shakar EL is known for his diversity in style and sounds. He talks to Tosin Clegg about his career, building his brand and much more

T

own hooks and performing it on stage with popular instrumentals. Everyone that knew me back then knew I exhale entertainment, I Ànally kicked oͿ my musical career professionally in London, UK when I recorded my Àrst single titled “Orishirishi Swagga” in 2008.

Growing up was fun he greatest gift then was the chance to go out and play with other kids indulging in activities like football, making kites, playing table soccer and more.

My childhood dream was to becomeanentertainer.Iwanted to be on stage performing or dancing or whatever, I just wanted to be on stage. My father was one of the reasons why I fell in love with music because he only bought musical videos when we were kids.

I had no choice than to love music even though back then I would have preferred action movies.

Dreams and aspirations as a kid I just wanted to be an entertainer. Back then, I didn’t know how possible it would be but I was determined to be an entertainer even though it wasn’t a popular trade then. Now, it is very lucrative and everyone wants to be part of it. I am living my childhood dreams, today I am a recording and performing artiste and that is all I wanted to be as a child. I once lied that I wanted to be a doctor as a kid because I wanted to make my dad proud. He wanted all his kids to be medical doctors but God knows it is in not my calling.

My musical journey It all started when I was in primary school. We had this Neigbour called Mrs Ricky Eze that had a children variety show on a television in Enugu called ESBS back then. She convinced my mum to

Shakar EL

let me join them in the show along with other kids.

I basically started learning how to perform songs by trending artistes of that time people like Shabba Ranks, LL Cool J and a host of others. As a shy kid, I was never camera shy, I was always camera ready.

The variety show gave me the opportunity to be an entertainer. When I got to secondary school, I continued performing other people’s song in school events and I was going from school to school to perform. I actually organized my own shows too in senior secondary school and it continued like that till I got to university and I started composing my

Orishirishi Music My music is called Orishirishi music. As it’s a cocktail of diͿerent sounds and inÁuences from other genres like highlife, dancehall, Afrobeats, hip hop and more. When you listen to my songs you will notice that it is not monotonous, it is rich and diverse and the delivery is unique. My contents are majorly about enjoyment and happiness but I also have conscious songs. I am very versatile when it comes to the content of my music but I am more focused on preaching happiness because the country is hard and people need hope. I’m the King of Orishirishi because of all the gifts I have and the things I do.

Orishirishi means varieties and apart from my music which I call Orishirishi music I recently started recording and publishing my online cooking show which is also called the King of Orishirishi show.

Many people didn’t know that I can cook but during the recent lockdown I started recording and posting myself cooking some stuͿs and the responses have been amazing. Now some are already calling me a celebrity chef but I prefer to be referred to as The King of Orishirishi. It also entails other stuͿs I do apart from music ranging from acting, fashion, music promotions and more.

I have a brand new single out titled “Sah Sah.” It is a very danceable song which I am promoting at the moment and hopefully I will release my album this year. I am also shooting contents for my King of Orishirishi cooking show plus a book in view, so this year I have a lot planned out which I am still working on at the moment.

My inspiration can come from anything It can be from me listening to another song, it can be from the news or from what I see online, it can be fromapersonalexperienceorpeople’sexperienceand can come from anywhere in general. It all depends once I hear an amazing beat from my producer but most times I come with the inspiration before we make the beat. My inÁuence comes from diͿerent people and I can’t even count but my role models are King Sunny Ade, Sir Shina Peters to mention a few. I love them because of their energy on stage and for the fact that they are still doing amazing on stage even at old age and that inspires me because I want to be able to be performing when I am as old as them.

‘The Wait’ Hits Cinemas Nationwide One of the highly anticipated movies coming out of Nollywood this year, The Wait, directed by the dynamic duo - Yemi “Filmboy” Morafa and Fiyin Gambo and co-produced by Eventful limited and LordTanner Studios - will take over the cinemas on the 30th April of 2021. The Àlm, inspired by the acclaimedbookserieswrittenbyYewandeZaccheaus titled God’s Waiting Room, written as a result of her personal testimony and to encourage couples experiencing delay in childbearing.

YewandeistheFounderandChairmanofEventful Ltd, a leading events planning and consulting company in Nigeria. She is passionate about redeÀning the events and entertainment landscape of Nigeria.

The movie tells the story of Doctor Nara, played by the irrepressible and super talented Nse IkpeEtim, two couples and a job seeker whose lives are unintentionally woven together by the unwitting hands of time and chance as they journey towards their desire to Ànd love, hope, help, redemption and

Yewande Zaccheaus

the fulÀlment of their desperate desires. This intense drama that will take you through a roller coaster of

emotions, has a star- studded cast including Deyemi Okanlawon, Meg Otanwa, Jimmy Odukoya, Ini Dima-Okojie, Chimezie Imo, Kate Henshaw, Joke Silva and others. The Wait is a topical, yet superb visual and dramatic expression intended to capture the human experience of Waiting. It was beautifully written to show the interconnectivity of the lives of diͿerent characters as they wait for things they hope for.

Thepremiereofthismovie,supportedbyEcobank Nigeria, LIRS and Eventful, took place on the 10th ofApril 2021 at the Film House Imax, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. It had a good number of dignitaries and captains of industries in attendance including the wifeoftheVicePresident,Mrs.DolapoOsibanjoand First Lady Ogun State, Mrs BamideleAbiodun.At the premiere event, as part of theApril 30th release marketing, the movie producers, in partnership withAneden,announcedafertilitygrantforfamilies living in Lagos.

ICent’s Debut EP is Ready

ICent

Icent, is shaking up the Pop scene with his debut EP titled, “Its About Time”.

The new EP features Àve solid and sultry tracks and it is a body of work soon to be celebrated. “We hope to see this release push the young talent into the limelight soon.

And with songs like Hello and Odo, we don’t see why that wouldn’t be possible,” said his promoters.

Icent has songs that are sweet enough

to have girls going crazy such as “Hello” but beats hard enough for dudes to bump as well, making it clear that the rising star has what it takes to shine.

When discussing the single “Hello” he said: “I just wanted to create something that was very diͿerent from my other records and I just wanted to have some fun with this single.

And hopefully my fans enjoy hearing ‘Hello’ and love it as much as I do.”

Sean Dante

Sean Dampte, Joey Benks, High Bee in ‘No Regular’ Sean Dampte, Joey Benks and High Bee have proven to be very sensitive and visionary when it comes to the game of music business. As all artistes, during the lockdown, were camped inside, not many thought outside the box. While some entertainers took advantage of it, many saw it as a time to relax.

This trio drew out an opportunity from the pandemic, which they thought would boost their career after the whole pandemic. The outcome of this eͿort is evident in a new song entitled ‘No Regular’, which gives the perfect house party vibe where you have your coolest friends and their girls rock in the ‘VIP’ ambience set up. Meanwhile, on a groovier side, this track would also usher music lovers into highly reserved cozy corners of the club where some mature discussions could further ensue.

They said: “We have the pandemic to thank for teaching us how to party in one million and one chilliestwayspossibleotherthanthesweatydemanding boogie down way we were stuck to. We would think back to the days when the club scene was our only fun spot over long wasteful nights but now in the day, we are committed to a diͿerent fashion of partying that is even more refreshing and that’s where the tune No Regular comes in.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 29, 2021

INTERVIEW Ahmadu Fintiri

Fintiri

Adamawa’s Infrastructure Deficit is Being Pragmatically Tackled On assumption of office, one of the critical areas Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, promised to tackle with all his might was the infrastructure deficit of the state. He has been impressive in this regard, deploying resources accordingly to several sectors simultaneously. Fintiri came prepared for the people with a programme, themed 11-point agenda. The Adamawa State Governor talks to Stanley Nkwazema about his challenges and strides in the last 24 months and plans for his beloved Adamawa

A

damawa continues to experience humanitarian needs, occasioned by Boko Haram attacks. How has it impacted governance and infrastructure development?

I was elected to the state’s House of Assembly twice to represent the good people of Madagali Local Government. During the second term, I became the Speaker, six months into our tenure, which took me to the last days. But in-between, I was opportune by the Almighty Allah to serve in acting capacity as the governor of the state.

Once, when the governor was removed by the Supreme Court and the second one was when he was impeached. That has given me a great deal of opportunity to handle the state’s affairs and it exposed me to governance, which we did well and I performed very well, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and workers’ welfare. I think that has given us a great deal. Within that period, in 2014, was when Boko Haram occupied some parts of Adamawa: about seven local governments – Mubi North, Mubi South, Madagali, Gombi, Maiha, Michika, and Hong, in the northern flank of the state. The occupation did not come without leaving devastating effects on infrastructural development. Here I am again, four years after that, another regime with the responsibility of rebuilding those communities. We have done very well; we have partnered with international donor agencies, including the Lake Chad basin to rebuild those areas, and the Federal Government, through the World Bank, borrowed money and gave us a grant which was tagged as FCRP. And we also got a loan for the state through the African Development Bank (AfDB) to rebuild

the areas affected by the insurgency. We have deployed those resources to rebuilding those areas and bringing out development; the infrastructure in schools, hospitals, roads and redesigning the security architecture of these areas, while assisting the security agencies in the affected areas. Moreso, the state on its part has done a great deal in seeing that we deploy a lot of resources to these seven local governments, in our urban renewal, to also complement the effort of all those agencies. If you go there today, since our assumption of office, the areas are doing very well in terms of the turnaround in their infrastructure. You hardly know that they have gone through occupation by Boko Haram that damaged their lives and infrastructure.

How have you been tackling the development challenges of Adamawa State?

When we came in, we had in mind that the state is suffering from underdevelopment, particularly infrastructure. But we came prepared, having in mind all the challenges. We had the constraint of financing the planned projects. About 6-7 months into our tenure, we were caught by the COVID-19 pandemic, which further dealt with the world, and Adamawa was not exempted. All the same, we had to squeeze ourselves to eliminate a lot of wastes to see that we achieve meaningful infrastructure development, which I feel is of immense benefit to our people, who have been denied of these good things in the past. We felt that each government that came tried to address those areas cosmetically. There was no holistic approach, without giving too many details, attention, and seriousness to all the infrastructural

deficit of the state. In our electioneering plan, we had detailed all the concerns in the state and we felt it had to be approached holistically and giving it the most deserved central attention. We came and looked at what we had and started planning, deploying resources accordingly to each of the sectors. We give glory to the Almighty God that we have been able to come this far in terms of giving attention to the deplorable infrastructural deficit of the state; roads, bridges, hostels in schools, hospitals, and other areas. Our attention went more to the hospitals when COVID-19 exposed our hospital infrastructure deficit. We saw that about six local governments in the state, in this 21st century, didn’t have even a cottage hospital.

We had to quickly go into planning to design brand new hospitals in those areas. Today, we have done about 70 per cent of the works and in the next four to five months they will be commissioned.

The equipment for those hospitals should be arriving in the state soon. We did not stop there. We also had to look at the existing general hospitals in the state and observed that they were behind with the challenges of modern medical practice and the COVID-19 pandemic. We moved into upgrading these hospitals with all the available modern facilities. Today, you also can see that the hospitals are changing, they are becoming more prepared to meet up with the challenges of the present reality. We have also approved for over a thousand staff to be employed to take care of our primary health care at the grassroots. Again, we have approved the employment of 20 consultants, 10 pharmacists, 20 laboratory technologists, and 200 nurses to further strengthen the manpower need of the hospitals in the state. This is what we have been doing to ensure that our people don’t have to travel far. The only Federal Medical Centre in the state

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 29, 2021

INTERVIEW t "%"."8" 4 */'3"4536$563& %&'*$*5 *4 #&*/( 13"(."5*$"--: 5"$,-&% t is overstretched.

What was the outcome of your recent meeting with the Global Director for Health, Nutrition, and Population at the World Bank, Mohamed Ali Pate?

We had a very fruitful meeting with him and discussed a lot of issues of common interest. The gentleman is from the North East, Misau, Bauchi State precisely. Seeing our seriousness that we have been changing the narratives in the health sector, I had to go and meet him to assist in strengthening some of our efforts. The benefit of it all is that we are giving thanks to the gentlemen for connecting us with other international agencies of repute that will help us with equipment to further strengthen our health care delivery.

The equipment is arriving in the country very soon because of our discussions with him. We are going to benefit more.

What have you been doing in terms of urban renewal?

Part of the urban renewal is for us to take away some of the ugly narratives of the state capital and give it a new look so that we can attract investors. Our people trusted us to be elected and not for us to come and work on what is already existing. But to plan and give them something new, better, and something that they can use in the future. That is the essence of our election. We are trying to do justice to the trust and confidence they had in us. Part of it was to take away the roundabouts in Yola, which became very ugly, chaotic, obsolete, and not taking enough of man and vehicular traffic. The recommendation is for us to have, 4-5 flyovers in the state capital to give it a better look, ease traffic and attract investments. We decided to carry it out in phases. In the first instance, we have the two ongoing flyovers; one at the Total junction, which is almost completed, the second one with an under-change and under-pass by the Police headquarters which is also at an advanced stage. In less than six or seven months we will complete it. The attraction of the job is not on the flyover. Just within the state capital, we have about eight Lots of roads in different locations at different levels of completion. One of the Lots will be commissioned next week or in two weeks. The remaining seven are ongoing, including the ones in about seven local government areas. We have already started design and we’re going through the procurement process of urban renewal and infrastructure of about eight local governments.

Can one safely say that you came prepared for this job?

I am one privileged politician; I don’t think there is second to me. I’m somebody who God has ordained to get a shot into the office of the state governor twice on acting capacity and came out to contest for the first time and got elected, defeating an incumbent in a ruling party. I think if I did not come prepared for my people with a programme which was themed 11-point agenda, I think I would have been doing a disservice to my people. That is why you see us with our programmes and policies and we have been executing them religiously for the benefit of our people. Even though we all agree that at the time we came, things didn’t work out for us the way we expected in terms of funds, because of the dwindling world economy as a result of the pandemic, but all the same, we understand governance, having being exposed to this office in an acting capacity. We knew where and how to eliminate waste, squeeze whatever we can squeeze, and deploy them into the right channels so that the electorate can see the benefits and get the best out of it. Within two years, I think it has given the state a lot more benefit than it has ever experienced in the whole lifespan of democracy. For the first time, the people seem to be seeing a very serious and purposeful government in place in the state. I can also state that because of my grassroots background, for the first time a ‘local man’ has been elected as a Governor in the state who understands the dynamics of world politics. Yes, I am local but I am exposed and I understand politics and how best governance and transparency could be applied for the benefit of all. That has given the state an edge, benefiting from our experience.

How have you managed the Christian, Muslim dichotomy in the state?

Interestingly, I am always an original man, I don’t copy people and I don’t plagiarise. I am always myself. I have a very good background on religion that Islam teaches me to be fair to all and sundry. I also come from a mixed background of mixed family and a mixed community of Muslims and Christians living together in harmony. That has helped me to be balanced. If you look at the configuration of Adamawa State, it also carries those characteristics. In almost every community, you find Christians, Muslims, and to some extent in most homes, you find Christians and Muslims in the same place which also trickles down to almost all our communities. If you come and you think that you can survive without anyone because you are privileged to be in power, you will be abusing the teaching of your religion.

Secondly, you will be abusing the trust which you have sworn to defend- the interest of everyone in the state. These two qualities that I was exposed to from childhood have helped me to keep the state in one bond. This has closed the gaps existing in the state which some of the leaders may pretend not to know and have not been able to stitch the differences of the state. Today, we have the confidence of our people, both the Muslims, the Christians, they have been together preaching for peace, unity, and coexistence.

This is adding to the relative peace and security we have been enjoying in the state. They now have a leader who tolerates everyone, who gives everyone his due respect and dividends of democracy.

Some people are obviously against your policy of borrowing through bonds?

The opposition will always talk. They were given opportunities and they failed, particularly in Adamawa. Now we are on

Fintiri board and we are doing wonders, doing what they could not imagine doing. Without even taking the bond, we have changed the narratives in this state. We did not only stop in terms of our infrastructural developments, roads, and hospitals. At the moment, we are building 1000-unit housing estate in the state capital.

This cannot go without funding, without the alternative way of pushing or looking for resources. We did not do it to squeeze and push the state to the wall in terms of borrowing. I know for once or twice we have borrowed; we have borrowed for the right reasons and meaningfully. We have done that with a credit facility to pay back. For the first time, we mortgaged our IGR to borrow in order to finance some of our capital projects. The world over, not only a state, not a country, no state can deploy meaningful infrastructure without backing it with borrowing. But it must be meaningful; it must have a window of how you payback. In this instance, we mortgaged our IGR, raised our IGR, and used it to finance the capital projects. Going forward, we now partner with Arewa Research and Development who came and saw the huge potentials of us raising our IGR and making funds available to the state. Not just for us to fund the capital projects in the state, but also to open up the economy. In the agricultural sector, you will employ about 750,000 youths, offering direct jobs to them; providing about 1.5 million indirect jobs, which is in agro-business. The processing sector is also going to come and we are working on that. The Adamawa agro-business is something that should be celebrated by all, especially in Nigeria that for the first time the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will give an approval for a state to borrow from the capital market for our agricultural business. It has never been done. Most of the bond borrowing from the capital market has always been coming from attaching your FAAC that comes from Abuja. If you don’t mortgage the accounts, you can never access any fund from the capital market. This money that we are borrowing, we are taking the bond for, is being created by this government.

What have you been doing in terms of boosting education in line with theYousafzai Malala declaration?

Education backwardness is a concern in the North, but for us in Adamawa over the years, I think we have been doing very well.

Adamawa is one of the most literate states in the North. We have surpassed Kaduna State. The only thing we may say here is that most of our young educated men and women are not skilled. That is our concern and that is the area we want to work on. When we came, we discovered that education has been put at the back beds of the state’s priorities by the last administration. I will always call the last administration because that was the government that I inherited. It was so bad that even with the declaration of a state of emergency in the state education sector, only two schools were attended to. In the two schools, I think only about N120 million was shared to some cosmetic renovations - the Science School Hong and the one in Sakatu Numan. That was the best they could do. The education sector had so much degenerated to a level that parents were responsible for the purchase of chalks and teaching materials for the teachers. When we came, we saw this huge deficit in the education sector while the state was adjudged as one of the worst states in terms of economy. A state that salaries are not paid for more than seven months, what do you expect to get as results? The businessmen in this state rely mostly on state workers for them to stimulate their market and survive economically. We had to take the bull by the horn. Firstly, by not declaring a state of emergency unnecessarily in education, because for you to deploy meaningful policies actions and policies, it is for you to move into action. This we did by declaring that education is free so that we can pay proper attention to the schools. In Primary or Universal basic education, we have been able to turn around infrastructural deficits. We have so far constructed over 5,000 classrooms at the

primary school level and we are providing over N15 billion to access the counterpart funding at the UBEC headquarters. This has gone down well. At the post-primary level, we have tried to ameliorate the suffering of the poor parents by first raising the feeding allowances of these students by over 300 per cent and also making it free. They don’t contribute a dime. We have purchased more than enough teaching materials for these students. We have gone further since we came to pay for their WAEC, NECO, and other examinations that are conducted in the state. We repeated it this year and will continue. We sent three different consultants into three different zones of the state to do an assessment and evaluation of the state of infrastructure in our schools. It has been submitted to my office, we are going to use the proceeds of this bond to comprehensively renovate and address the infrastructure in the schools. The teachers are not left out.

We have been giving a lot of incentives and welfare to enhance their confidence and boost their morale, strengthening the sector by recruiting quality teachers, employing about 2,000 of them. We have been taking the biodata of existing teachers. As a matter of fact, after the exercise, we discovered that close to 4,000 of these teachers are not existing. This opens the employment opportunities and will go further to 4,000. By implication, it will not shoot up our salaries bill. You can see how terrible and unfocused the opposition in the state is. Instead of them commending our efforts so that we can continue to further squeeze money to develop education, they go out to defend the existence of ghost workers. It’s unfortunate.

When we opened the opportunities for these workers, if they do exist, but they were nowhere to be seen when the biodata was being captured. The places were open for three months. Not up to 100 teachers came forward to complain that they were deliberately excluded from the exercise. For female education in Adamawa, it has not been too bad. It is almost balanced. If you go to some areas of the state, some of the schools are for girls. In some areas, some are female science schools. The education gap between the male and female child in this state, I think, is at par. Not that the girls were not allowed to go to school in Adamawa. For us here, it has been a privilege to allow our daughters to get western education.

The major thing is for government to be serious in terms of quality and programmes in education. The citizenry is ready to go to school and compete. If you go anywhere in Nigeria you will find Adamawa sons are daughters competing and contributing their quota to the development of this country. The same goes for when you travel abroad. You find them schooling and working. We are doing well and my government is very serious to turn around education and make it our mainstay. Any state that doesn’t give topmost seriousness to education will be planting a time bomb.

What have you done differently in terms of rural development?

One thing I have not told you is that I am not just a grassroots man, I am also from a rural community and I think that has given me the exposure that these rural communities need to be developed because that is where you have the population. That is where the business of agriculture takes palace. When we came, we felt that we needed to open up all these rural areas so that they can be at par particularly with our urban renewal drive for us to push the economy and open up. We saw the opportunity with the World Bank through the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) of accessing a loan. That is also our blueprint and seriousness. The fund was granted and we are judiciously using it for what it is meant for.

In the first instance, we have constructed and completed almost 350 kilometers of rural roads across the 21 local government areas of the state. Some communities were hitherto inaccessible, and it took you 3- 4 hours to get there, you now drive smoothly and in less than 15 minutes. Agricultural produce and other economic activities take place in those communities and people come back to the urban areas without too many hassles and time consumption.

It is not just the roads that we are taking to the rural areas, we are also developing the schools and the primary healthcare facilities.

As I speak, we have built over 100 new primary healthcare centers in these rural areas.

This is something I am mentioning for the first time because our achievements are so many that it is only the people that can mention them. If we bring a book and sit down for an interview of about 3-5 hours, I don’t think it will be enough time to devote and mention all our achievements. Most of these communities for the first time are being connected to the national grid. I will be in Tongo, which is the only local government out of the 774 local government area in Nigeria that before now has not been connected to the national grid. We came within this period and actually during my electioneering campaign, I promised that I will ensure and construct and commission the electrification project in six months. I underestimated the enormity of the challenge. Thank God that two years down the line, we would be commissioning it and it will come to light. I think we should be given Kudos. If any government is able to do all these things that I have mentioned to you, and is appreciated by her citizens, then it is enough to keep the party of the government in power flying. Some governments have not done anything in this country and they won the election.

In this state, our people understand the value, they cherish excellence and they know how to reward achievements and I think we will benefit from that.

24

˜ ˾ MAY 29, 2021

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

BY

EBERE WABARA

‘Pool Together’ Incorrect

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ATIONAL News of April 29 welcomes us this week with a bouquet of infractions: “…in their various constituencies to synthesize grass root (sic) opinions on this all important (all-important) project.” Not my view: grassroots opinions….

“In many respect (respects) it is out of tune with modern reality….”

“Nigeria has never degenerated to (into) this level, security wise.”

“That is why the state governments need to be given the impetus to pool their wisdom and resources together….”

Delete the last word in the extract. “…the states and local governments sufficiently financially empowered to take care of its (their) responsibilities.”

There should be a conjunction between ‘sufficiently’ and ‘financially’.

The next two lexical frauds are from the Editorial of the lead review today: “The minister exposed the shock find during an official visit to PHCN’s facilities in (on) the premises of the….” “…contributed to PHCN’s woeful (abysmal) failure to provide regular electricity supply to the nation” National News Back Page of the above edition also contributed to the pool of grammatical disasters: “Ngige had, on Tuesday, drew (drawn) the ire of workers by arguing that….” “…the federal government must embark on some cost saving (cost-saving measures….”

“His arguments on the introduction of N5,000 notes was (were)….”

Still on National News: “FG to sanction DISCOs over over-billing of customers” A rewrite: “FG to sanction DISCOs for overbilling customers” “Teachers employed by the Parents

Teachers Association (PTA) to complement….”Education Today: ParentTeacher Association (PTA)….

“CANNU donates to flood relief (flood-relief) fund” Finally from the major newspaper under review for this edition: “Eduwatch gathers students, scholars together” Yank away the last word in the excerpt.

“Geepee proudly introduces world class (world-class) multilayer (multilayer) composite panels…no painting, no maintainence” Bloated pride: maintenance! What happens when an advertisement copy is grammatically wrong?

THE GUARDIAN of May 27 circulated two improprieties: “With preparations in top gear, and barring any last minute (last-minute) hitches….”

“The final death nail (sic) came with the present political dispensation that began in 2019 that paid lip-service to governance.” Get it right: death knell or just knell. There is nothing like ‘final death nail’!

DAILY INDEPENDENT of April 29 contained copious indiscretions: “If the Abia PDP stalwarts have forgotten, we will gladly remind them that candidates who stand for elections under (on) the platform (platforms) of political parties….”

“Kaduna gears up for LG polls amidst (amid) fears of violence” “Records show that their actions and inactions, in the past, have (had) contributed in….”

“Non-partisan intelligence driven mechanism panacea to Boko Haram” A rewrite: “Non-partisan, intelligencedriven mechanism, panacea to Boko Haram THE PUNCH of April 28 blundered: “Police deploys (deploy) 19,000 officers for…”

Sonny Okosun: Remembering the African Soldier

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arlier this week, those who loved and remembered the music and humanity of late musical freedom fighter and, later, soul searcher, Sonny Okosun, marked his passing at the age of 61 (on May 24, 2008) in diverse ways. Here is our own mode of memorializing his life, time and music...with a tribute dug out of immortality. I suppose worthy and worthwhile people will never really die… in our memories. This is to Oziddism, and its surviving acolytes.

“This job is stifling. I mean this business of collecting your thoughts into a pleasurable article for others to read, understand, and perhaps reflect upon. It is not exactly a helicopter ride across Obudu Ranch. Almost every time I make effort to write a tribute about any one I have a deep respect for, and a level of affinity with, I’m always uncomfortable with the hollowness of the unsolicited ritual. Why? Once, I drag close the laptop, I stop in mid-action, brooding about the “probable” inevitability of someone else performing the same ritual when my own time comes. For in that eerie moment, I simply shift gears into indignation, apologia and mental dawdling… just anything to wipe away the mounting irritation that comes with the stark reminder that no one can stop even the best of men from falling ill …not to mention dying. You see, there I go again.

When I read about Sonny Okosuns’ death, I was not shocked. I simply sighed in deep realization that the older one gets, the closer the exit day from this stressful but unbelievably hopeful world. Since I’ve not written in a long while, and had not seen Okosuns for even longer, I decided to write my fondest thoughts of the militant artiste, and produce a well-researched epistle that will honour the depth and diversity of his musical and relational influences, in African music. You see, I’ve known Okosuns, in the flesh, since I was in Ijero Baptist (Primary) School, Ebute-Meta (Lagos) as while back as the early 70’s. He was my first superstar, living in the flesh down the road.

So, I began an elaborate pre-research process that would allow me cull very old materials and curry former sources that I had allowed to fallow since I “retired” from entertainment reporting. Then, gbam, Elder Steve Rhodes chose that period to die. I was upset. Then I was numbed. And finally, I abandoned any pretension to a rational understanding of the sudden passages of people my family and I cherish without pre-conditions; people we respond warmly to regardless of circumstances, and people we regard with unfailing reverence.

In exasperation of and submission to the cruel logic of inevitability, making mockery of my vain effort at preserving the

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

Next on the itinerary is Rutam House.

The Guardian of May 27 from its window to the inside pages misprinted both editorial and advertorial entries to the point that this columnist lost count: “Let it be a time to re-examine our consciences and tell ourselves (one another) the truth.”

“Between 180,000 to 200,000 barrels of crude oil….” The worsening crude oil theft: Between…and…not ‘to.’

“How skill acquisition, entrepreneurship impacts (impact on/upon) national development” “Poor budget implementation: A drawback on (of/to) national development” “Notice of court ordered meeting of FCMB PLC. (This full stop is useless here)” And this: court-ordered meeting….

Still on THE GUARDIAN: “Non DStv (Non-DStv) subscribers get 3 months (months’) free subscription with every devices (device) purchased.” Which agency wrote this poor copy? I hereby surcharge it!

“In our pursuit of better ways to make our renown (renowned) products available to more Nigerians….” (Halfpage advertisement by CWAY Food and Beverages Limited) ‘Renown’ is a noun—it is its adjectival form that is required here.

From my evergreen file because of recent repetitious obsequies: “The family of…announces with deep sorrow but gratitude to Almighty God the death of our son…following a ghastly road accident….” My sympathies quite all right, but the English language cannot die: a fatal (not ghastly) vehicular accident. And for the second time round, ‘sorrow but gratitude to Almighty God’ cannot—and will never as long as there are seed time and harvest time—co-function in any circumstance. What is amiss with our

immortality of man’s ingenuity, I decided to dump my research. I chose instead to write from the heart. Type whatever comes to my spirit based on my over two decades of professional and personal interactions.

I lived less than 12 houses, and a road, away from the two-storied building Okosuns was living with his small family on Brickfield Road, Ebute-Meta, West Mainland, Lagos. I was barely 12 years old, in the early-to-mid 70’s; always star-struck every evening I had to go on errands. There were two basic “tourist attractions” for me on the lower side of Brickfield Road, at the Iganmu end of my world: the majestic multi-spouting fountain in the foreground of the “Oboyata” mansion, and the large black and white cylindrical painting of the bandana-decked bust of Okosuns’ head, zipped across with arresting moniker - “Ozziddi”… at the door of his small apartment.

I would spend several ‘dangerous’ minutes in front of the “Oboyata” house, killing time while watching the water-spitting aquatic figurines…with constant sideway glances to catch a glimpse of the owner of the Ozziddi head.

The ‘times’ I spent in front of Okosuns’ rented home were ‘dangerous’ to my well-being, since I would always stay out longer than anticipated, and the object of my errand would have been in a sorry or diminished state. My guardian, a notorious advocate of “spare the rod and kill the child” was always at pains to understand what could make a 15-minute errand stretch to two hours. She would beat the dark lights out of me.

On another errand, long after the cane had been forgotten; my entire world would, again, get stuck in-between Oboyata and Okosuns’ spectacle… and the ‘beat’ went on….

Yet, in spite of all my “sacrifices”, I was only fortunate to see Okosuns once. The young man (in his late 20’s) was athleticlooking, small in stature with a constant slightly swaggering bounce when walking, or talking. He didn’t appear as huge and dominating as I had dreamt. He was not tall enough, loud enough or swash-buckling enough, like the heroes of the Bonanza (western TV series) that stole the hearts of the 70’s youth of Lagos.

He certainly did not notice me… or my ambition to hold his hands and hear him sing with his natural “high-octane” voice… until 15 years later.

As a reporter with Punch Newspaper, just breaking into the entertainment circuit of the late 80’s, I visited Okosuns’ palatial home in Ogba, Lagos - expectedly painted mostly in black and white - for an interview appointment. Of course, I did not tell him I had been his beady-eyed fan even before I heard his music; or that I could sing most of his songs (Papa’s Land, Fire in Soweto, etc) without acoustics.

We hit it off brilliantly - like old friends who had missed each

spirituality? Our God does not inhabit in sorrowful environments. So, as His children, let us give thanks to Him in all situations. He knows best why tragedies befall us. Even in the face of fatalities, write obituaries or related issues with cheerfulness/joy/happiness/satisfaction/ angelic punctuation/heavenly intervention…and (not but) gratitude to God, we….Sounds eschatological? Reactions are welcome to this lexico-spiritual intellectualization of Christianity. I insist that this is a contradictory and blasphemous obituary!

Earlier reaction to the above encore from a man of erudition, Mr. Eniola Bello, the Managing Director of ThisDay Newspapers: “Deep sorrow and gratitude…may appear contradictory but I see no reason why they cannot co-function. You cannot take language use from its cultural and religious environment. The contentious phrase has nothing to do with where God inhabits.

It is more about the impact of a tragedy and the acceptance of the unchangeable.

Where on earth will anybody announce the death of a loved one with joy? The sorrow is for the loss; the gratitude for the life lived and in keeping with God’s commandment to give thanks in good or bad times. There is no reason why both cannot go together. Ever seen a woman cry in pain during intercourse yet clings to her partner, moans and pleads that he shouldn’t stop in order not to terminate the immeasurable pleasure? You say it is contradictory? I say it’s paradoxical.”

Eni B’s intervention remains memorable hence this second-time reference.

Fresh perspectives and reactions are still welcome because of the currency of issues raised in the debate.

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

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

Okosun other for 15 years. I met Nkechi, his adorable matronly wife, who ‘finished’ me with her warmth and smile.

After that first major contact, I knew we would gel as both objects of professional interest and bosom friends - a very difficult balance in the entertainment world. Several visits later, I gained more insight into the persona that is Okosuns. I saw his drive to humanize his fame and fortune by visiting me when I was ill; visiting my office to encourage our new publication in the early 90’s; attending my first daughter’s first birthday party; coming over to pray for me, when my media business was under some sort of attack, about seven years before he died.

I saw beyond the man whose politics did not always sit well with me; yet, I understood he was first and foremost an entertainer; then a human being; then a crusading minstrel.

Even the best of us sometimes get our priorities mixed up - and appear less than we set out to be.”

(To be Continued)

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 29, 2021

PERSPECTIVE Ugwuanyi’s Sixth Year: Challenges, Strides, Verdicts Louis Amoke

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potent vision pulls in ideas, people, peace, development and other qualities. It creates the stamina and will to make change happen. It inspires individuals, diverse stakeholders and complementary democratic institutions to commit, to persist and to give their best.

Cut to the bone, this is the story of the Government of Enugu State, under the adroit leadership of the state governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as he circumspectly navigates the mid-term of his concluding tenure amid local, national and global governance challenges.

Leading from the front and directly confronting the avalanche of challenges crisscrossing the economy, dwindling resources, security and public health, in the last six years, Governor Ugwuanyi has simply proved that fear of God, passion, resilience, focus and inclusiveness represent the driving forces behind his administration’s success story.

Significantly, the foregoing challenges were the prevailing hurdles bedeviling the country since Ugwuanyi has been in the saddle as governor of Enugu State. This scenario has drastically and negatively impacted the nation’s financial status as federal allocations dwindled to an all-time low. Consequently, Enugu State’s purse keeps growing leaner with inherited huge debt profile and other wage bills to be serviced.

It is on record that Enugu State, with its capital city Enugu, as the historical capital of Eastern Nigeria, East Central State, old Anambra State, old Enugu State when Abakaliki was part of it and the capital of the present Enugu State, has a huge monthly wage bill to be served in spite of the state’s limited resources.

For instance, a preponderance of retired pensioners from other south east states who served the old states with Enugu as their capital, still receive their monthly pensions and other retirement benefits from the coffer of the Enugu State government. This is a huge financial obligation eating deep into the meager resources of the Enugu State government which Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration has continued to fulfill in spite of the nation’s economic meltdown.

Besides this, the Ugwuanyi administration has been up-todate in the payment of the new N30,000 minimum wage and its consequential adjustment to the state civil servants, on or before 23rd of every month, which is another huge burden on the state’s finances. This is even when some states have discontinued with the payment because of their dwindling resources. It could therefore be imagined what would be left for development issues from the lean federal allocations accruable to Enugu State.

While these challenges have almost derailed many of his peers’ governance journeys, Ugwuanyi’s administration has emerged stronger, as many independent observers have genuinely acknowledged in their verdicts.

Besides Enugu’s huge wage bill, in a dwindling economy, the nation’s security issues, the #EndSARS protests and the unexpected outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) ravaging the world, just like any other state in the country, occupied and hindered the Ugwuanyi administration’s second-term lofty development programmes.

But, remaining focused and pushing further a transformational vision of Enugu State, in line with his inaugural address’ promises, Gov. Ugwuanyi exploited his intimate understanding of his turf to manage key human development, infrastructure, economic and sundry challenges.

To sustain the positive changes he has incepted in the Enugu story, Governor Ugwuanyi has in the first two years of his second term in office maintained the tempo of his giant strides in rural development, healthcare delivery, infrastructural transfor-

The labour leader equally lauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for the ongoing simultaneous construction of two ultramodern secretariat buildings for the state chapters of the NLC and TUC, by his administration, stressing that “this further portrays the present government as an allinclusive one that embraces every group and individuals as partners in governance

Ugwuanyi mation, peace and security, education, investment promotion, youth empowerment innovations and workers’ welfare, among others.

For instance, Ugwuanyi’s administration has covered 690km of roads, largely concentrated in the rural areas; executed 1,355 verifiable projects in various primary and secondary schools across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state, under the ENSUBEB and PPSMB, in line with its vision to improve the learning condition of the students; recruited over 7,030 primary and secondary school teachers; procured and distributed over 50,000 classroom furniture and other learning tools for school children and their teachers across the state; supplied and installed computers to 490 primary and secondary schools; science equipment to 151 secondary schools, and constructed and renovated classroom blocks, offices and hostels.

His administration also provided 100 patrol vans with communication gadgets for the security agencies in the state and 260 security vehicles, 260 motorcycles and 300 bicycles for the repositioned Vigilante/Neighborhood Watch groups and Forest Guards for their community policing operations, among numerous remarkable achievements in other spheres of development.

During this year’s May Day celebration, jubilant workers of Enugu State were bold and proud to commend Gov. Ugwuanyi for his administration’s laudable projects and programmes aimed at improving their living standard and that of the entire people of the state, as well as his unequalled resilience in the approval and payment of the new N30,000 minimum wage and its consequential adjustment to the state workers.

The workers who spoke, through the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Virginus Nwobodo and his Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Benneth Asogwa, also appreciated Gov. Ugwuanyi, who was present at the annual event, for the sustenance of payment of salaries on or before 23rd of every month, other welfare packages, as well as numerous development projects across the state, in spite of the state’s lean resources and “even when the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic was severe”.

Comrade Nwobodo, the NLC chairman who described Ugwuanyi as “the most labour-friendly governor in Nigeria” said that “it is crystal clear that workers of Enugu State have never had it so good since the present democracy, as it is since the inception of the present administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi”.

He thanked the governor, on behalf of the workers, for “regular and prompt payment of workers’ salaries, pensions and other allowances, notwithstanding the high level of wage bill occasioned by the new minimum wage”.

On his part, the TUC Chairman, Comrade Asogwa, said that Gov. Ugwuanyi, through the peaceful implementation of the new N30,000 minimum wage and its consequential adjustment “has broken the long history of industrial unrest, intimidation and neglect that heralded the previous minimum wage implementation in the state”.

Comrade Asogwa also commended the governor for regular payment of the 13th month salary bonus to state workers from 2015 (except for 2020 pandemic year), safety of lives and property, and the peaceful co-existence of Enugu State people, irrespective of their political, social or religious affiliations.

The labour leader equally lauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for the ongoing simultaneous construction of two ultra-modern

secretariat buildings for the state chapters of the NLC and TUC, by his administration, stressing that “this further portrays the present government as an all-inclusive one that embraces every group and individuals as partners in governance”.

Comrade Asogwa went further to commend the governor for “massive road construction, especially in the rural communities; transformation of the state-owned health facilities, particularly the building of a world class infectious disease control center in the former Colliery Hospital Enugu, and unparalleled environmental cleanliness in major cities of Enugu State.

“Your Excellency, workers of Enugu State are not only happy with your labour-friendly disposition, we celebrate your prudency in the management of the meager resource accruable to Enugu State”.

Only recently, members of the Nigeria Guild of Editors were in Enugu for their standing committee meeting ahead of their national convention. They inspected some projects by Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration, such as the state-of-the art 14km Opi-Nsukka dual carriage way, the ongoing first state government’s flyover bridge project at T-Junction Abakpa Nike, Enugu, the massive construction works at the permanent site of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital and College of Medicine, Igbo-Eno, the massively rehabilitated and transformed Enugu State Infectious Diseases Hospital, for isolation and treatment of patients with infectious diseases, formerly known as Colliery Hospital Enugu and quality road infrastructure in the rural areas.

Others include the Type-3 Primary Healthcare Centres, which were newly constructed in seven Local Government Areas of Enugu State and modern Cottage hospitals with Isolation wings ongoing in Awgu, Oji River, Udenu and Igbo Eze North LGAs, in line with the administration’s vision to provide quality, accessible and affordable healthcare services, especially in the rural communities.

The Editors expressed their satisfaction with the massive development strides and other people-oriented programmes the governor is carrying out in the urban and rural communities of Enugu State, stressing that they were highly impressed.

The Guild’s President, Mustapha Isah, disclosed that “the quality of roads we saw in the rural areas, the massive dualized road in Nsukka; the primary and secondary healthcare facilities and even tertiary institution for the ESUT Teaching Hospital and College of Medicine, in Igbo-Eno, are impressive and commendable”.

Isah pointed out that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s decision to invest massively in the health sector is worthy of emulation “in the sense that he has interest in the health of his people of Enugu State”.

He added that through his administration’s massive investment in the health sector especially at the rural areas, the governor “is making huge investments to ensure that in case we have any future outbreak like COVID-19, Enugu State will not be caught unaware.”

“He (Ugwuanyi) is already putting foundations in place to ensure that the state is ready for any such future outbreak”, Isah said.

On his part, the Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, Eze Anaba said: “What we have seen is a determination by a governor to open up the rural areas; that is quite commendable” because “if you develop the rural areas, you develop the state”.

In his verdict, the Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Newspapers, Martins Oloja, added: “I am impressed by what I saw.

I went inside the newly constructed and equipped Type-3 Primary Healthcare Centre and the Cottage Hospital with Isolation wing, the finishing was impressive. They considered so many things that people in the village need. It is very impressive and they even built quarters for doctors and nurses”.

A few days ago, the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital Association of Residents Doctors (ESUTH-ARD) passed a positive verdict on Gov. Ugwuanyi, describing him as “a leader with the hallmarks of leadership”.

The doctors appreciated the governor’s giant strides in the areas of COVID-19 interventions, provision of medical equipment and construction of physical infrastructure, both at the Enugu and Igbo-Eno sections of the state-owned Teaching Hospital, among other health facilities, especially in the rural areas such as the Type-3 Primary Healthcare Centres.

They pointed out that Gov. Ugwuanyi recognized “the well-documented health hazards faced by health workers in the state and started paying a COVID-19 Hazard allowance in April 2020 and has continued till date, notwithstanding the dwindling revenues of the state”, stressing that “other state governors are to learn from and emulate His Excellency (Ugwuanyi) in this regard”.

Similarly, the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) at its 15th National Annual Public Health Lecture Series, graced by the Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, honoured Gov. Ugwuanyi with the “COVID-19 Response Champion” award, for “his sterling performance and dedication to duty during the period the COVID-19 ravaged the globe”.

The foregoing close-up verdicts clearly confirm that Gov. Ugwuanyi, entrusting Enugu State to the hands of God, is effectively delivering on his mandate of positively impacting the lives of the people of the state, against all odds, for sustainable peace and socio-economic growth.

––Amoke writes from Enugu

26

˜ ˾ MAY 29, 2021

TRIBUTE

The Accomplished Life of Helen Okojie Adibe Emenyonu

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f there is any constant, it is the fact that in everything there is change. Nothing has ever remained the same, but it’s subject to modifi ification. This explains the actuality that every human must die one day.

Like the scriptures noted in the book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3: 1&2, “Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. He sets the time for birth and the time for death; the time for planting and the time for harvest.”

The goal of life isn’t to live forever. It is to create something that will, after departure from earthly sojourn, give account of good stewardship. That is why the depth of life is what really matt ters - how you positively affected the lives of those within your surrounding.

The transition of Princess Helen Adaudu Okojie (1930-2020) was like an eagle fl flying home in a blaze of glory. It was like a hero in a story. This explained why her spirit continues to enjoy peace of the Almighty God because of the unfailing and unalloyed praise by her well-wishers.

During her lifetime, she refused to be surrounded with pessimistic and ungodly people or those who distrust God’s promises.

This is because in times of tribulation and cause for worry, she did not despair but turned to God for prayers, believing that standing on the irrevocable promises of God, she and her loved ones can never be abandoned by God the creator of heaven and earth.

Though of noble family, she never quivered in the things of God, as many testifi ified during the elaborate ceremony to mark her transition from the baser metal of being to a pure spiritual gold.

During her lifetime, as many testifi ified, Mamijie, as she was fondly called by her admirers, believed in the mighty power that changes every situation for the best and this in turn, made her give her best to those within her reach, irrespective of whether they are her relative, biological children or not.

Two-time Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hon. Mike Onolememen, an indigene of Uromi, Esan Northeast Local Government Area of Edo State testifi ified to this: “The late Princess Helen Okojie lived to the ripe age of 90 because of her clear vision of others fi first, self, last.

“This informed my coming to pay my last respect to her, because some of her children and I were play mates and school contemporaries. Whenever some of us strolled to her house, she treated us with equal respect.

“She was a mother in a million. You can see her nickname?

Mamijie. That shows you the manner of person she was to everyone. She did not discriminate but treated everyone both low and high the same way. I encourage her children and those of us still alive to emulate her good qualities.”

In a moving tribute to the living memory of Princess Helen Adaudu Okojie, one of her son’s, Prince Joe Okojie, former Special Adviser on Agriculture to the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, described his late mother as someone who taught her children that life without recourse to the upliftment of mankind, especially the downtrodden, was worthless.

“She taught us to be charitable even if it is by flash of smile mostly to the oppressed to uplift their spirit.

“We remained grateful and very proud of the responsible roles she played in the family, in Uromi town and her immediate community when she was alive. They are indelible and we thank God that she lived unblemished life and her good name became a reference point after her demise.

“I, for one, will continue to carry on with that legacy of selfl lflessness. I mean after the age of 50, where you are going is usually closer to where you are coming from. So why not do a little kindness and shine the light for everyone to see. That was what she taught all of us her children,” he said and exclaimed, Okuibuo Mama” meaning farewell mother.

The late Princess Helen Adaudu Okojie (Nee Agboifoh) was survived by 10 children namely, Pastor (Mrs.) Mary Ehichioya, Deacon Emmanuel Okojie, Prince Ayemere Okojie, Princess (Mrs.) Augusta Ikhine and Prince (Dr.) Godwin Okojie.

Others are: Prince Omon Okojie, Prince Joe Okojie, former Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki; Prince Henry Okojie, Prince Ogbidi Okojie and Prince Ordia Okojie, in that order of seniority.

“She was a trader and distributor of Ibru fi fish who used her wealth to give her children proper education, her fi first daughter, Pastor (Mrs.) Mary Ehichioya, stated in her tribute to their mother.

In a short exaltation taken from the book of Job 14:5, with the theme: “Life is Timed”, Pastor Godwin Onowanse of the Assemblies of God Church, Uromi, noted that since a man’s days

Princess Okojie

are ordained, he shall depart.

He said this means that the life allotted to the late Princess had expired. Going further to the book of Ecclesiastes, the man of God said everything has its time and season; time to be born and time to die.

“Princess Helen Okojie was born, she grew up, got married, raised children and the allocated time given to her by God has expired. That is why the children have put up this programme to honour her today.

“God is the ultimate creator. He determines everything on earth. God creates and gives time for everyone to live. Therefore, the time you spent on earth is permitted by God. The grace of God is allocated by God himself; when to be born and when to go.”

He, therefore, admonished those that gathered to give honour to the late Princess Helen Adaudu Okojie to emulate her life of self-possessed, laced with charity, care for humanity and without segregation.

Tribute to Mama Clementina Obi, Mother of a Good Woman Uche Anichukwu

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was caught in a dilemma this week, as Distinguished Senaa tor (Dr.) Joy Emodi clocked 66 on Sunday, May 23, 2021, the same week her mother, Chief (Mrs.) Clementina Ekwutosi Obi (Kwalie Aku), would be sown back to mother earth.

Should I pay a deserving tribute to Distinguished Senaa tor Emodi, Adadioramma Anaocha, Ada-Eji-Eje-Mba Aguleri, Kpakpando of Urum, Ada-Igbo-Gburu-Gburu of Umuchu, educationist, lawyer, entrepreneur, politician, and parliamentarian per excellence? Or should I celebrate the tree that begot the good fruit?

In my many years of interacting with political leaders, Senator Emodi is among those who represent everything a principled, disciplined, contented and courageous politician should be like.

She speaks truth, even to power. You may not always agree with every of her opinion, but she is someone, who would tell you her mind, even if you are Mr. President or her closest friend.

Much as she was christened Joy of the Senate in her days in the Red Chamber, she was also the Lioness of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly. Unlike the growing culture where it appears an anathema for to criticise the policy or action of the ruling party, which sponsored a lawmaker to office, reporters, who covered the 5th and the 6th Senate would readily recall how Emodi called out successive Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administraa tions, whenever she felt that they erred.

Again, as a member of the executive arm and Special Adviser to former President, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan on National Assembly Matters, she did not hesitate to take stands contrary to prevailing sentiments in the presidency or among her colleague presidential aides and even Ministers. On a particular occasion in October 2012 when some presidential aides ran their mouths on the National Assembly leadership, to the extent that a pained Senator David Mark advised Jonathan in plenary to beware of fifth columnists, Emodi was quick to openly come hard on her reckless colleagues. In a statement she personally signed, Emodi washed her hands and that of her boss off the indiscretion. She said: “Let me state categorically that the alleged statements neither reflect the views of the President… Those to whom the statements were credited were on their own and never spoke the mind of Mr. Presidency…. Overzealousness and hasty comments must give way for restraint, maturity, and mutual respect”.

Those who play on our political turf know that it is better to deal with people, who do not leave you in doubt as to whether or not they stand with you than those who run with the hare and hunt with the hounds; those who dine with you in day time and sell you to the enemy at night. Emodi takes principled stands and doesn’t mind standing alone on a choice she believes to be right.

She has been able to sustain this virtue over the years because she

Clementia Emodi

is a very disciplined and content person. She does not have what we call “long throat” in Nigerian parlance. She is neither materialiss tic nor strives to live above her means. The Emodi I know wouldn’t buy gold because it is in vogue. She would only buy it because she needs and can afford it without sacrificing more important needs.

Otherwise, gold gbakwaa oku.

She is an epitome of social grace. As a woman in politics, she knows that Caesars wife must be above board. As we say in Igbo, you will first look at the face of a woman emerging from the labour room before you inquire from her the sex of her baby.

Emodi is a very hardworking, enterprising and resilient woman.

Aperfectionist with an eye for details, she gives her best to whatsoo ever her hands find to do and does not condone indolence.

From whatever God has given her, she equally cares for the poor and less privileged. She is among the few, who see politics as serr vice, not self-aggrandisement. Beside her scholarship programme, under the Joy Emodi foundation, which has seen many through their educational pursuit, the charity programmes of the Foundaa tion has continued to support orphans, widows, the less privileged, the youth and the physically challenged.

It needs to be added that she is down to earth. She relates freely

with the poor and lowly and doesn’t choose her friends on grounds of influence or affluence. As Aminu Kano’s disciple from her school days, she detests injustice; and if she believes in you, poor or rich, she could pluck the moon for you and fight your fights.

For those who have wondered why Senator Joy Emodi is just a rare breed in our political firmament, Madam Clementina Ekwuu tosi Obi holds the answer. In the Nkanu part of Enugu State where I come from, we say that you don’t ask Mba if he is also Amushimeaning that Mba and Amushi are one and the same. Ndigbo say that a snake does not beget a short offspring. The English use the expression, a chip off the old block. Even the Holy books teaches in Matthew 8: 17 that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

Born in 1936 (85 years ago), Mama Clementina Obi, the mother of seven was a renowned businesswoman, multi-entrepreneur, community leader, and philanthropist. Together with her husband, she built many businesses from the scratch. She ran businesses such as bakery, block industry, and school supplies.

If you wonder how Joy Emodi developed the many qualities that stand her out from the crowd, perhaps you only needed to read an excerpt of her moving tribute to Mama. She wrote: “Due to your renowned resourcefulness and discipline, young husbands sent their young wives to you for training in home making preparatory for running their own homes. As a result, our house was always filled with these ladies-in-training. Despite their presence in our house, you still insisted on we your children doing our portion of the domestic chores. Such was the discipline of this highly principled woman who never hesitated to speak the truth at all times notwithstanding who was involved. You remained an epitome of humility and was never proud, despite the material blessings God bestowed on you and our late father.

“Mama, you loathed laziness. You taught me that the only way to make it in life was through hard work, honesty and humility. At the age of eleven (11), I had already started making clothes, a skill I learnt from you. You encouraged me so much and gave me one of your sewing machines that during my College and University undergraduate years, I was making clothes for my family and friends from which I earned small income. That was my great Mother for you. You supported anyone that showed interest in any enterprise whether they are your children or not”.

This is how a good mother begets a good woman. As Mama goes home, it is consoling therefore, that she bequeathed progenies in the mold of Senator Emodi and others through whom all the virtues she represented will continue to shine.

Kwalie Aku, the great daughter of Ichie Okpoko of Okpuifite Village, Agulu in Anambra State and wife of the late Chief Boniface Obi (Ichie Ezeobi), good night as you stroll into your eternal rest in a blaze of glory.

––Anichukwu – writes from Abuja.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

NEWS

HISTORY BECKONS

29.05.2021

Paul Onuachu Heading for Elite Club

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Paul Onuachu...the Belgian League goal king celebrating another goal

Paul Onuachu

Heading for Elite Club With 33 goals in the league; 35 in all competitions, Player of theYear and Golden Boot at the Belgian Pro League awards to crown his efforts, it is obvious that KRC Genk will fruittlessly struggle to hold on to their jewel-Paul Onuachu.

With Liverpool and Arsenal on the prowl, while Seville and RB Leipzig have not hidden their intention to lure the Nigerian, the former Midtjylland striker may indeed have played his last season for the Blue and White

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iverpool are reportedly ready to rival Sevilla and RB Leipzig in pursuit of Genk’s rising sensation, Paul Onuachu this summer. According to an exclusive report from Fichajes, Liverpool are among the clubs interested in the services of Onuachu.

The KRC Genk forward is tipped for a big-money move to a top club in the summer following a highly successful 2020/21 campaign in the Belgian top flight.

A €6 million arrival from Midtjylland in 2019, Onuachu has found the back of the net a whopping 35 times this season, making him one of the best performing centre forwards across Europe, with his contributions in front of goal helping Genk finish second of the Jupiler Pro League.

Onuachu’s performances have not gone unnoticed among the big clubs either, with Liverpool reportedly keen on attaining his services ahead of the upcoming 2021/22 campaign. It appears the Nigerian international has been identified as a potential replacement for Divock Origi, who is widely expected to leave Anfield this summer.

The Reds, however, could face stiff competition from other top clubs across Europe.

Arsenal, in particular, were credited with an interest in the Genk forward earlier this year while the report suggests that Sevilla are, in fact, the front-runners ahead of Liverpool in the race to sign Onuachu.

The 26-year-old striker has emerged as Julen Lopetegui’s desired replacement for the attacking duo of Youssef En-Nesyri and Luuk de Jong, both of whom are likely to depart Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in

the summer transfer window.

For Liverpool, the addition of Onuachu should add some much-needed depth in the goalscoring department for Jurgen Klopp. The German tactician has had a difficult time finding goals, with Mohamed Salah being the only real spark in an otherwise dire campaign.

Roberto Firmino, in particular, has not been able to offer that goalscoring threat going forward, so someone like Onuachu could certainly offer variety in the Liverpool attack. The Reds, though, are indeed exploring other options as well, and more established ones, in fact, having recently been linked with a shock move for Antoine Griezmann.

However, it remains doubtful whether the Merseyside giants will be able to afford star players without offloading one of theirs. It could ultimately force Liverpool to scour through cost-effective alternatives like Onuachu.

Although it remains unknown as to how much the Nigerian forward could exactly cost this summer, he could certainly be a bargain given the potential he has shown in the Belgian league this season. It, therefore, remains to be seen if Liverpool can leapfrog Sevilla in the race to sign the 26-year-old forward this summer.

The Nigerian indeed dropped the biggest hint yet that he is leaving Racing Genk in the summer transfer window after accidentally revealing that it will be difficult for him to repeat his goalscoring exploits of the 2020-2021 campaign ‘where he is going’.

Onuachu had a sensational campaign, plundering an impressive 35 goals in 41 games for Racing Genk in all competitions, which helped the Limburg club finish second in the Belgian

First Division A and win the Belgian Cup. On Monday, he went home with the Player of the Year and Golden Boot at the Belgian Pro League awards held in Brussels.

“This award means a lot to me because the Belgian championship is a very difficult competition,” the Genk forward said.

Having put himself in the shop window, a transfer is certainly in the offing and already he has been linked with possible moves to the Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1.

Speaking to Genk’s official YouTube page, Onuachu said : “For me you never know what the future holds but I think scoring a lot of goals this season for KRC Genk and of course my career it is going to be one of the most important period for me.

“It is going to be difficult to say I’m going to repeat it where I am going but I think the players we have in this team really make all this possible for me, but like I said earlier you don’t know what the future holds.

“As it is now I think I’m really happy for the figure I have in the league and of course for KRC Genk”.

The Nigerian international struggled in his first year in Belgium but won the hearts of many after delivering numerous excellent performances Onuachu has admitted that the Belgian First Division A is a challenging championship, but the determination to push himself beyond the limit helped him become the best in the country.

The 26-year-old only managed nine goals in 22 matches in his maiden campaign last season after completing his switch from Danish side FC Midtjylland.

But his turnaround in fortunes, 12 months

later, has been evident for all to see. Onuachu is clear about how he was able to improve his efficiency in front of goal.

“I struggled a bit when I arrived here. At the start of the season, I said to myself that I had to push myself more and give more.

“I am proud of myself and my team, and I am happy to have the support of my companion, who is always behind me.”

Lazio, Sevilla, and Lyon are among the top European clubs already looking to lure Onuachu to one of the continent’s big five leagues.

The big striker, however, refuses to hide his affection for English Premier League giants Arsenal.

“Arsenal is the club of my dreams,” Onuachu continued.

“It is the club that I support, that I like to watch, and whose style of play I like.

“However, I am still in Belgium, and I am still a player of Genk.”

In a record-making year, Onuachu’s 33 league goals make him the first player since Wesley Sonck in the 2001-2002 season to exceed the 30-goal mark.

The forward has two years left on his current contract but he is unsure of seeing out the deal with a number of European clubs believed to be interested in signing him in the summer.

“For me, you never know what the future holds but I think scoring a lot of goals this season for KRC Genk and of course my career is going to be one of the most important periods for me,” Onuachu told the club’s YouTube channel.

“It is going to be difficult to say I’m going to repeat it where I am going but I think the players we have in this team really make all this possible for me, but like I said earlier you don’t know what the future holds.

“As it is now I think I’m really happy for the figure I have in the league and of course for KRC Genk”.

Onuachu has been with Blue and White since the summer of 2019 when he teamed up with the side from Midtjylland.

The attacker delivered scintillating performances in front of goal during his time with the Danish club to earn a move to Genk.

The forward has also been in fine form for the Nigeria national team recently, scoring in each of their previous two games against the Republic of Benin and Lesotho.

His impactful showings helped the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Onuachu has made 11 appearances for the three-time Africa champions and will be expected to replicate his club’s goalscoring performances when the World Cup qualifiers get underway.

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Chelsea Stand between Man City and Maiden Champions League Trophy Manchester City’s dream of joining top European sides to winning the biggest prize in club football faces a herculean task tonight as they face fellow English side- Chelsea in the final of the European Champions League. Pep Guardiola’s side hope of a quadruple was cut short by tonight’s opponent who stopped them in the semifinal of the FA Cup and further defeated them in the league. Though some would argue that the two losses were against an under-strength City side, the Blues no doubt would be boosted by the two victories. While Guardiola had won the trophy twice with Barcelona, Chelsea Manager, Thomas Tuchel is yet to taste victory in the competition as he lost to Bayern Munich while with PSG in the final last year

All eyes on the Champions League trophy

Manchester City playmaker, Kevin De Bruyne outpaces Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger

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lue is the colour for this year’s Champion League final, as Manchester City and Chelsea board their flights to Porto seeking to end the strangest of seasons with the biggest prize of them all.

Pep Guardiola’s men advanced to the showpiece event after dumping Paris Saint-Germain out in the semi-finals, while all-time greats-Real Madrid were no match for Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.

A raucous 16,500-strong crowd will take their seats at the Estadio do Dragao for tonight’s showpiece event, as City endeavour to win the tournament for the first time while their opponents aim to channel the spirits of the 2012 luminaries.

Barcelona, Bavaria, Manchester - Pep Guardiola has conquered them all.

On the European stage, however, the Catalan coach has flattered to deceive since taking control of the reins at the Etihad Stadium.

City’s dominance of the EFL Cup scene is unparalleled, their fifth Premier League title win was all but wrapped up a couple of months ago, and having tried and failed four times previously to break the quarter-final curse, Guardiola will finally lead his Sky Blues out for the Champions League final.

Despite taking their foot off the gas in the Premier League since the start of the month - which hardly mattered at all in the grand scheme of things - Guardiola’s men have been almost unplayable in Europe, with Borussia Monchengla-

dbach, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain all falling victim to the Citizens’ superiority in the knockout rounds.

After Riyad Mahrez’s intelligent free kick gave City a 2-1 first-leg advantage in their semi-final with PSG, the admirable Algerian was up to his old tricks once again in the second leg, netting in either half to secure a 4-1 aggregate triumph for Guardiola’s side en route to Portugal.

A goalless stalemate with Porto whose stadium is hosting this year’s showpiece event amid never-ending coronavirus controversy - represents the only minor blip during City’s inspiring continental run, as they have secured victories in 11 of their 12 games in the tournament this year, including each of their last seven.

The astute acquisition of Ruben Dias and marked improvement of John Stones at the back has also led to City shipping a mere four goals in the 2020-21 Champions League - although three of those have come in their last four outings and the Premier League champions signed off in style on the final day of the Premier League season last weekend.

Indeed, Everton’s defence was breached at will by Guardiola’s merciless crop, who eased to a 5-0 success over the Toffees.

Guardiola’s name is already etched into managerial folklore, but having led Barcelona to Champions League triumphs in 2009 and 2011, he could join the elite crowd of Bob Paisley, Carlo

Ancelotti, and Zinedine Zidane with a third winners’ medal, and the 50-yearold needs no added incentive to get the job done in Portugal.

The City manager was born nearly nine months after the Sky Blues last added a European trophy to their glistening cabinet - the 1970 Cup Winners’ Cup and with the prospect of a domestic and European treble still on the line, their familiar opponents must produce 90 minutes of near-perfection if they are to prolong City’s continental misery.

Like his adversary, Thomas Tuchel is a man who knows all about European heartache, having come so close yet so far with PSG last year, and one can only begin to imagine the stakes if the German was to come up against his former employers in the showpiece event.

However, while the club that relieved him of his duties was being nullified

by Man City’s impenetrable defence, Tuchel focused on the task at hand against perennial champions Real Madrid, whose talisman Karim Benzema rescued a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their semi-final following Christian Pulisic’s opener.

Even in the absence of the impassioned Stamford Bridge crowd, Chelsea did all of their talking on the pitch in the second leg as they secured a richly-deserved 2-0 success over Los Blancos.

It can be argued that Tuchel is still finding his feet in English football after just six months in the role, which makes Chelsea’s run to the Champions League

final all the more impressive but unlike City, the capital side do not have the wind in their sails ahead of tonight’s showdown.

Indeed, a 1-0 derby defeat to Arsenal on May 12 preceded an FA Cup final loss to Leicester City just a few days later, and despite gaining revenge on the Foxes in front of a roaring Stamford Bridge crowd, Chelsea’s season ended in disappointment with a lowly2-1 to Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League campaign.

Three defeats from four before a continental final is not exactly a recipe for success, but thankfully for Tuchel and the ever-demanding Chelsea board, Leicester’s late defeat to Tottenham Hotspur means that the Blues secured fourth spot and a route into Europe’s premier competition should their efforts in Portugal prove futile.

Furthermore, Tuchel’s commitment to solid defensive foundations has seen the Blues also ship just four goals in their 12 Champions League games so far although Frank Lampard can take some credit for that and Porto’s inconsequential 1-0 win in the quarter-final second leg is their only defeat in the tournament this season.

With the demons of four consecutive last-16 finishes firmly banished, Chelsea’s trigger-happy hierarchy can surely look ahead to a bright future under Tuchel after his overwhelmingly successful time in the dugout, although the story could have panned out a lot differently had the Blues slipped out of the top four.

Nevertheless, having become the first manager in history to reach the Champions League final two years in a row with two different clubs, Tuchel will undoubtedly be desperate to go one better this time around.

However, whatever transpires over the course of 90 or 120 minutes or even a 22-strike penalty shootout at the Estadio do Dragao, one thing is for certain; the Champions League trophy will return home to English soil.

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Governor Oyetola receiving a customised Super Eagles jersey presented to him by NFF President Amaju Pinnick at the State House on Thursday

Oyetola Approves Commencement of Sport Festival, Governor’s, Principal Cups in Osun The Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development in Osun State, Lawal Azeez Olayemi has said the Governor of the state Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola has approved the commencement of Sport Festival, Governor’s Cup and Principal Cup across secondary schools in Osun.

Olayemi, who said this during a visitation to the palace of Aragbiji of Iragbiji Land Oba Ayo Rasheed Olabomi with members of Peculiar Ultimate Concern and the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick for the commencement of a mini-stadium in the ancient city.

He said “the government of Oyetola has just approved the commencement of sports festival, governor’s and principal cups as a way of revitalising the decaying sports sector of our state so the youths can be engaged and shun them from any act that many endanger their lives or the people around.”

The Iragbiji mini-stadium will be a reciprocatory act from Perculiar Ultimate Concern to the government which has promised the smooth running of the ongoing Lanreleke Sports Academy project in the ancient town of Ileogbo.

The Aragbiji of Iragbiji Oba Rasheed Olabomi who couldn’t

hide his joy said “this is a very bigmomentformeandwe shall always cherish it forever. He appreciates and commend the MD of Peculiar Ultimate Concern Lanre Adeleke for his tenacity, love for humanity, quality project deliveryand humility.

Thereafter,theteamproceeded to the palace of Ooni of Ife. TheOonicommendedtheNFF president,JusticeJideFalola,Mutiu Adepoju andAdeleke.

In his remark, HIM Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi said “from different places, I’ve heard many good things about you and I’m glad you’re visiting the source of humanity today.

Man City Battle Chelsea for Champions League Glory on DStv Today DStv customers can look forward to the conclusion of the 2020-21 UEFAChampions League as Manchester City and Chelsea meet in the final at Estadio Do Dragao in Porto this evening at 8pm on SuperSport Grandstand (DStv channel 201 and SuperSport Premier League (DStv channel 203).

The UEFA Champions League will see a third allEnglish final, with this clash following in the footsteps of the Manchester United vs Chelsea(wonbytheRedDevils on penalties after a 1-1 draw) and Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur (won 2-0 by the Reds) matches in 2007-08 and 2018-19

respectively.

Chelsea will be chasing a second Champions League title, adding to their Didier Drogba-inspired triumph over Bayern Munich in 2011-12. The Blues have had a roller-coaster season – which has included the controversial sacking of fan-favourite manager Frank Lampard – but under current boss Thomas Tuchel they have become one of the toughest teams to beat on the continent.

Their victories over Atletico Madrid and Porto in the round of 16 and quarterfinals respectively demonstrated their increasing confidence, while the 3-1 aggregate semi-

finaltriumph over European heavyweights Real Madrid did not truly reflect Chelsea’s dominance – and a place in the final is just rewards for their efforts in Europe this term.

Man City, meanwhile, will be appearing in their firstever Champions League final. However, this stage is not unfamiliar to manager Pep Guardiola, whofamously took Barcelona to continental triumphs in 2009 and 2011. If he can guide the Citizens to a first European crown, it would further cement his legacy as one of the greatest coaches in the sport.

Pedro Assures on New Look Rowe Park The chairman of the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund (LSSTF), Mr. Femi Pedro has promised that the famous Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park would soon wear a new look as rehabilitation work is ongoing to rejuvenate the edifice to international standard.

Pedro who was the special guest at the 2021 NTTF National Championships held in Lagos at the weekend said, efforts are ongoing to give the sports complex located in Yaba, a new look while calling on the private sector to partner Lagos State in empowering the youth through sport.

“I want to assure you that you will soon see a brand-new

Rowe Park that will even look better than Omolade OkoyaThomas Hall because work has started in rejuvenating the edifice to international standard.

“Through huge support from the private sector, we have been able to raise some funds to execute work on the edifice and we hope more private sector can come on board to be part of the efforts to revive sports facilities in Lagos.

“We hope with this edifice in good shape, our youths can have the opportunity to showcase their talents so that we can have more world champions emerging from Lagos to the world,” the former Lagos State Deputy

Governor said.

In his remarks, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare commended the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) for their efforts to put the country on the world map with the performance of its athletes at major international competitions.

The minister who was represented by a director in the ministry Simeon Ebhojiaye expressed satisfaction with the quality of organisation of the National Championships while urging other federations to take a cue from NTTF in staging tournaments that would help to unearth talents for the country.

Ekiti State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Sola Adebayo, who represented Minister for Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo(sponsor) presenting U-14 boys trophy to Oluwaseun Ogunsakin, winner at the Gen Adebayo Junior Tennis Masters held in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.

World Corporate Golf Challenge Berths in Ibom

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orld Corporate Golf Challenge (WCGC), an International amateur golf event will make a big landing in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on June 4 when the second edition of Falcon Golf Development Company organised tournament tees-off in the state.

Billed for the lush greens of Ibom Icon Hotels and Golf Resort, the 2021 edition of the tournament will feature over 60-teams battling for an all-expense paid trip to the world finals of the competition in Cascais, Portugal in November.

Already, all necessary arrangements at making sure that this year’s event goes as planned have been put in place.

Speaking at a pre-tournament media chat in Lagos during the week, Chief Executive Officer of FGDC, Remi Olukoya said he expects a keen contest in Uyo, noting that the ultimate prize of this event is one that every team should vie for.

“I am excited at the prospects of what we will see in Uyo this year. All the players coming are very competitive. So I expect a great outing”, Olukoya said.

Dubbed ‘WCGC 2021’, several corporate organisations have registered to participate in the competition.

Infinity Trust Mortgage, PricewaterhouseCoopers(Pwc), Citec Estate, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Chevron Nigeria, Oil& Gas Free Zone, Xpress Payment Solution, Petan, Universal Offshore, African Golf Tour, Yolas Consultants, Grenwood International Service, Sodium Group, Western Development Company, Konferge Online Photo Shop, Premium Pension, Transoceanic Logistics, Comfortola Nigeria, Uptown Printing, IGPES Group, Adl Solutions, Becon Nigeria, Bolingo Holgings, Zenera, Shuwari Industries, Fairway Technologies, Adecco, Yoke Solutions, Nigeria Economic Zones Association, Ravoa, Alanku Energy, NCDMB, Aeroconsult, Gift Medical Center, Hensek Integrated, Abduljamin, Shore Gas, Different Strokes, Darzinger Nigeria, Maash Engineering, SGS Logistics, Intra Africa Agriculture Consultants, Warams Services, Omars Royal Company, Global Lifting & Engineering Services among others.

We are most grateful to our sponsors, Ibom Icon Hotel & Golf Resort, Ibom Air, NCDMB, Rwanda Air, Premium Pension, Citec, Infinity Trust Mortgage, Shuwari Industries and Singleton.

Apart from the array of prizes and tickets to be won, the ultimate prize for the overall winner in this year’s event a Benin handcrafted Claret bronze Jug. While explaining that the goal of FGDC of building the first of its kind golf academy in Lagos still subsists, Olukoya said the project start this year with the proposed Catch Them Young initiative being put in place Uptown Printing Limited represented by Grace Ihonvbere and Rachel Danjuma won the maiden edition in Abuja last year.

Ekiti Sweeps Medals in Gen. Adebayo Junior Tennis Masters Ekiti State tennis players confirmed their supremacy last Saturday at the maiden Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo South-West Junior Tennis Masters concluded at the state tennis courts, Ado Ekiti.

The closing ceremony of the tournament powered by the Minister of Trades and Investment, Niyi Adebayo in memory of his father, Major Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo had in attendance Governor Kayode Fayemi; Adebayo represented by his brother, Commissioner for Works and Transport, Sola Adebayo.

The tennis tournament organised by Ekiti State Tennis Association chaired by Yemi Owoseni, saw the host winning all the four gold and a silver in both U-14 and U-16 boys and girls, while Oyo and Ondo won two silver and one silver respectively.

Oluwaseun Ogunsakin from Ekiti was the star player of the tournament with two gold after beating his rival from Oyo, Mubarak Abdulganeey in both U-16 and U-14 boys finals played on

Friday, 7/6, 6/3; and on Saturday, 6/7, 6/2, 7/6 consequently.

Similarly, Success Ogunjobi of Ekiti State beat Peace Agbeje from Ondo State 6/3, 6/1 to win the U-14 girls while Esther Oni completed the medals haul for Ekiti by defeating her compatriot, Faith Adeusi 6/3, 6/2 in the U-16 girls category.

Governor Fayemi commended the sponsors and organisers of the five-day tournament that had brought the state into national limelight.

Fayemi noted that government alone cannot develop sports, but needed the support and cooperation of other wellmeaning individuals, corporate bodies to enhance his administration desires in the development of sports across the state.

In his remarks, Owoseni who could not hide his satisfaction at the turnout of players from Oyo, Osun, Ondo and others expressed being fulfilled at the standard exhibited by players at the tournament.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺ΁, 2021

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Olofinjana

Seyi Olofinjana battles a West Brom player during his playing days with Wolves

Seyi Olofinjana Rescue Mission to Grasshopper After helping a relatively small Wolverhampton Wanderers gained promotion to the English elite divisionPremier League, in 2017 and also played in the 2019 -2020 Europa League and got up to the quarter finals, in his capacity as the club’s loan manager, another big challenge now awaits Seyi Olofinjana, as he hopes to help revive Swiss sleeping giant, Grasshopper back to where they once belonged

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x-Wolves and Nigeria midfielder, Seyi Olofinjana has been named as technical director at Switzerland’s most successful club, Grasshopper Zurich as he aims to help “steer the club in the right direction”.

The 40-year-old will oversee the football department at the newly-promoted Super League outfit and immediately find the right candidate to fill the ‘position of the head coach’ .

The former Stoke City, Hull City and Cardiff City player was snapped up from English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he was most recently loan-manager and had previously worked in various roles.

“This is an important role and I look forward to working together with the amazing people at Grasshopper to hopefully steer this massive club in the right direction,” Olofinjana told BBC Sport Africa, after beating off stiff competition from other top applicants.

“A club as decorated and influential as Grasshopper deserves stability and we need to find the right ways of restoring its lost football glory.”

Olofinjana, who holds two master’s degrees as a sports director and project manager, has inherited a club keen to bounce back from the humiliating lows of 2019 when it suffered relegation from the Swiss top flight for the first time in 68 years.

He becomes the latest African to hold the technical director position in Europe after compatriot Michael Emenalo held similar roles at English side Chelsea and French club Monaco.

After two years in the Swiss Challenge League (second tier), the Hoppers sealed promotion last week and the Nigerian insists they are back where they truly belong.

“The history of the club and incredible fanbase clearly reflects a side that deserves better,” he added.

“It is our collective job to set this team in the right direction and among the elite clubs competing for success.”

Olofinjana, who is expected in Zurich in the next few days, will take over from Jimmy Berisha, the interim sports director who will now return to the position of managing director.

One of the first assignments expected of the former Wolverhampton Wanderers star is the appointment of a new head coach.

Having left his role at Wolves as one of the managers in the club’s Academy in April 2021, Olofinjana has expressed his excitement about the move.

“I’m delighted to be part of a historic club like GC. I hope we can re-establish GC at the top of the Super League together,” he told the club’s website.

Grasshoppers, historically the most successful club in Swiss football history, were taken over by a Hong Kong company owned by Jenny Wang, the wife of Fosun boss Gup Guangchang, a year ago having fallen on hard times and being relegated.

Four Wolves players -Leo Bonatini, Connor Ronan, Oskar Buur Rasmussen and Toti Gomes are currently on loan with the Swiss second tier side.

Former Wolves board member Sky Sun is the club’s president, while Wolves’ ex-

chief European scout Bernard Schuiteman had been Grasshoppers’ sporting director before leaving in February.

It’s believed Olofinjana will be named as Schuiteman’s successor in the coming weeks, with the 40-year-old still working at Wolves for now.

Olofinjana became Wolves’ first ‘loans pathway manager’ two years ago having previous helped coach at academy and under-23 level to oversee an expanding group of loan players, who this season include Dion Sanderson (Sunderland), Patrick Cutrone (Valencia), Rafa Mir (Huesca), plus a host of youngsters and the four players at Grasshoppers.

Wolves will look to replace Olofinjana this summer. The ex-Nigeria international midfielder told The Athlectics last year that, having achieved two masters qualifications in sporting directorship and project management (not to mention a degree in chemical engineering) he was looking to land a sporting director role.

Moving to Grasshoppers, a club with close ties to Wolves, appears to be ideal.

He said last year: “If I want to be in football, what’s my strength? Where can I apply my knowledge? I think it’s in the admin side, so I told myself I’m going to learn to be a sporting director.

“I can learn and climb the ladder, hence the role as loans manager. For me, it’s a mini sporting director role.

Olofinjana started his career at Crown FC of Ogbomoso in his native Nigeria, before a stint in the country’s topflight with Kwara United led to a summer 2004 switch to Wolves via Norwegian

club Brann Bergen.

He spent four years at Wolves before moving to Stoke City in July 2008 and after a season he joined rivals Hull City for £3m in August 2019.

Stints at Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday in England followed before ending his European career where it all began in Norway this time with IK Start.

Olofinjana made over 50 appearances for Nigeria and represented the Super Eagles in three Africa Cup of Nations in 2004, 2008 and when they finished third in 2010.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR

THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR

THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN

MANAGING DIRECTOR

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 29, 2021

POLITY

Raising Performance Bar in Ogun State Femi Ogbonnikan

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here is no how the beautiful story of Ogun State can be told, in terms of the accelerated developmental projects, vis-a-vis good road network, security, job creation, affordable housing schemes, among others without recourse to giving credit to the current administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun.

During the electioneering campaign, he promised to make life better for the people of the state, refloat the economy, by widening the frontiers of trade and investment, through the provision of an enabling business environment, enhance political space, and foster peace and harmony between and among the people. True to type, his administration has earned itself, “a promise-keeping administration” in the last two years, since its inception to power.

This is a rare feat in the chequered history of the state, since its creation on February 3, 1976, that any administration could deliver, within a space of two years, the speedy initiation and execution of projects, and provision of laudable programmes that have had direct and indirect positive impacts on its people. His ascension to the throne, at that critical moment when the morale of both the civil and public servants was at the lowest ebb, shortly after the exit of Ibikunle Amosun from office, could be likened to the coming of the Biblical messiah to rescue the sinking ship.

Upon his assumption of office on May 29, 2019, Abiodun did not betray the trust reposed in him. He has been walking the talk. Three days in office, he entered into a social contract with the workers of the state government and pledged the payment of their wages and salaries, with or without FAAC or JAAC, on/ or before the last working day of every month, and it has come to stay.

With effect from October 2020 salaries, the administration was magnanimous enough to commence the payment of the negotiated minimum wage of N30,500 to the workers, the highest of its kind in the entire southwest. The same goes for pensioners in the payment of their gratuities. As a standing order, the current administration, every quarter, has earmarked a sum of N500 million to defray inherited backlogs of the previous administration. Also, he had approved a monthly average payment of N791 million as a pension for retired local government council workers and SUBEB retirees.

To discernible minds and political pundits, the secret behind these successes in every sector can be attributed to the mission statement (roadmap) of the administration which is anchored on the acronym, ISEYA(Infrastructure, Social Welfare and Wellbeing, Education, Youth Development and Agriculture) and they form the most striking features with visible and invaluable interventions by the governor.

In its implementations, infrastructure has remained a centerpiece of the administration. It is a veritable tool for accelerating the economic growth and development of the state. In retrospect, a Business Day newspaper headline, “Investors Dump Lagos as Ogun Becomes (the) New Industrial Hub”, reinforced the new reality on the ground as an investment destination of choice.

Meanwhile, within two years under review, Abiodun has raised the bar of performance with the reconstruction and completion of well over 270.88 kilometres of (34) road(s) and also,

Abiodun

the rehabilitation of well over 322.637 kilometres of 41 roads across the length and breadth of the state. As a quick-fix mechanism to address the inherited deplorable condition of roads, the establishment of the Ogun State Public Works Agency (OGPWA) was saddled with the responsibility of rehabilitating all existing roads that were competing for attention. It is the belief of the Governor that the rehabilitation of the several inner-city roads and freshly constructed ones are a boost for speedy economic activities.

At a recently commissioned 10.25 kilometre Lusada-Igbesa road undertaken by the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, in partnership with the state government, Abiodun said: “We are happy to have the road commissioned, given its benefits for improved investments and individual prosperity of all the people in Igbesa, Lusada, and adjoining towns in this area. But, as an adjoining road, it is important to note that the full benefits of this newly constructed road can be realised only when the Atan-Lusada-Agbara road is rehabilitated and reconstructed. That import is not lost on us. We have just performed the ceremony of the turn of the sod of the Atan-Lusada-Agbara road. All things being equal, the road will be completed soonest and both the AtanLusada-Agbara road and the Lusada-Igbesa Free Trade Zone will complement each other for the full benefits of our people”.

The unyielding commitment and resolve to building a more prosperous, equitable, just, inclusive, participatory, and sustainable society of the Governor is no exception. Also, security is an integral part of the prosperity and growth of any society.

In response to the wake of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes in the country, the administration has left no stone unturned. Athriving business environment requires

an enthronement of peace and tranquility to attract potential investors to open shops where their investments will be safe, protected, and secured. On the strength of the State House of Assembly’s legislation that gave legal backing to the Ogun State Security Trust Fund (OGSSTF) chaired by Mr. Bolaji Balogun, the administration has procured no fewer than 400 patrol vehicles, 200 powered-bikes, communications gadgets, and other kits for effective patrol of all nooks and crannies of the state. Not left out, insurance packages and allowances for the operatives of the police and other sister agencies are the motivational impetus to ginger the men to put in their best to police the state effectively, without let or hindrance.

The recently inaugurated “Amotekun”, a south-west government’s security outfit, in the state, is a model that has contributed significantly to abate the orgy of kidnappings and other violent crimes that have been the order of the day. Through the intervention of the political will of the governor, police aerial patrol has complemented the efforts of the state government in the searchand-rescue operations of kidnapped victims, and the subsequent arrests of suspects, whenever the need arises.

As a popular saying goes, “Health is wealth”, it is an area that the administration has placed more premium, in terms of class, courage, and compassion. Despite recording an index case of the COVID-19 in the country, the state government responded swiftly by converting some existing under-utilised or moribund facilities to health centres which helped to expand and improve the standard of the available health facilities. The procurement of Molecular Laboratory equipment at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, the first Molecular laboratory solely funded by any state in the country, with a capacity for 150 tests per day. Giant strides recorded include the rehabilitation of all the General Hospitals spread across the state; the ongoing rehabilitation of 236 Primary Healthcare Centres in all the wards in the state; recruitment of well over 120 medical personnelresident doctors, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals-in various cadres into the OOUTH, Sagamu; and immunization of almost 1.3 million children against polio. In the period under review, there were upgrades of some selected hospitals to provide the prevention of HIV from Mother-to-Child (PMTCT) and Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) services; purchase of a new collection of medical equipment which includes a Dialysis machine; mobile digital x-ray machine; High-Resolution Ultrasound Machine; new intensive care beds, 12 new ventilators; eight CPAP machines; and the completion of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) floor of the 250-bed hospital at Abeokuta, with capacity for 18 available beds, eight of which are high dependency and 10 ICU. Aside from the inherited five functional ambulances from his predecessor, Abiodun, through his vision to gives the state a focused and qualitative governance, while creating an enabling environment for a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) sector to thrive, has received donations of additional 25 ambulances, including three from BUAGroup under the ASR Africa Initiative, to its fleet to provide emergency medical services.

––Ogbonnikan wrote from Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

Read full article on www.thisdaylive.com

The Work of the Future: Dignity and Encounter Fernando Ocariz

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Monsignor Ocariz

n May 1st we celebrated the International Workers’ Day. The human activity of work involves the person in all his or her dimensions: intelligence, will, affections, and aspirations. “It is Man’s first vocation: to work. And this gives him dignity” (Pope Francis, 1-V-2020). On that day which coincided with the International Workers’ Day, many of us remembered Saint Joseph the Worker.

The pandemic continues to lash out at the work of millions of men and women: lost jobs, and increased instability of all kinds. These two wounds, lack of work and instability, make us ask questions about the future of work. In very many places, the health crisis has replaced face-to-face work with screens in our homes, with positive and negative consequences. In on-line work we become aware of the glory of technology as well as its limits. If, on the one hand, there is an advance in efficiency and seemingly insurmountable obstacles are removed; on the other hand, we confirm that the human person needs real relationships, not virtual ones, in order for each person to share what they have in their heart.

The time that has passed since the beginning of the pandemic also confirms that the crises is transversal, as it affects the whole of humanity, and that work must be in the nucleus of a better future. Conserving and creating jobs, with the creativity of one who seeks the good of the others, is perhaps today one of the imperatives of charity. In the face of very many disrupted personal situations, work offers us the opportunity to progress in another of its dimensions: the capacity of welcoming and being open to others. In the intersection between rupture and welcome arises the nostalgia for tran-

scendence, to go beyond oneself, to care for and to be cared for, to help and to be helped, the first consequences of recognizing vulnerability. A job in which there is room for dignity and encounter, is converted into a dialogue with oneself and with the others. It presents a shared finality, awakens currents of understanding, collaborates in pronouncing “we”, helping to overcome differences and promoting mutual recognition; it enriches through the interchange of human capacities and through the participation in creative processes.

Work thus manifests itself in its true extension, as a “place” where we can all contribute something, and not only in the economic aspect. The common vocation of men and women to work makes us converge in the task of “re-creating” the world and its relations. Therefore, when work loses its dignity in different ways, it distorts the person in their most intimate being in the search for new solutions, because there does not seem to be any turning back, love for the others pushes creativity to find those new ways together with all the other citizens.

There is not only one way, there are many, but guided by service, an integral element of the common good. In any case, the dignity of work is founded on love. “The great privilege of Man is to be able to love, in this way transcending the ephemeral and the transitory. He can love the other creatures, saying a ‘you’ and an ‘I’ which are meaningful. And he can love God who opens to us the gates of heaven, who constitutes us as members of his family, who authorizes us to speak with him also one-on-one, face to face. Because of that, Man should not limit himself to doing things, to constructing objects.

Work is born of love, manifests love, is ordained to love”. (St. Josemaria Escriva, 19-III-1963).

––Monsignor Fernando Ocariz is the Prelate of Opus Dei, a Personal Prelature of the Catholic Church

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 29, 2021

POLITY

Fo r A f r i c a n , B y A f r i c a n s John Ugbe

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frica’s star is rising. The continent is taking its place on the global stage as demand for our unique and exciting contribution to the world increases. Africa’s presence is finding expression in numerous fields but in few areas has it been as pronounced as in the creative arts and entertainment. We were excited to see our cultures taking pride of place in movies like Black Panther and in Beyonce’s extended video for Spirit + Bigger. Listening to Sam Smith’s My Oasis featuring Burna Boy (who just won a Grammy) does warm our African hearts. These are real signs of African achievement and an acknowledgement of the rich culture that has inspired people in so many other parts of the world.

Authentic representation matters: global audiences are hungry for new voices and being positively acknowledged at home and abroad inspires us to create even more. However, these are small steps as there is a lot to be done for Africa’s true potential to be realised. While seeing ourselves on screen is certainly progress, it is not yet true representation because it is mostly through the eyes of others. It is unbelievable that our pre-colonial history is barely told from our perspective. The stories of Vikings, Columbus and many western historical dramas have been used to educate audiences while so many of our stories remain untold. There is a lot of work to be done to ensure that we see ourselves accurately reflected in the content that we consume and that’s where we as consumers, producers, broadcasters, teachers and as a community have roles to play.

Much as Africa is underrepresented in the rest of the world, there is still room for African content to be shared on Africa’s own media platforms. At MultiChoice, we are proud to be a part of this journey, helping to create platforms and make investments that support this evolution. As content producers, we understand how critical it is that we not only tell our own stories but that we do so using the highest possible standards and production values. We need to be the best we can be for our audiences who deserve nothing less and are highly appreciative of the added enjoyment that quality, locally resonant storytelling provides. Quite rightly, they are also unforgiving of anything that falls short of the high standards they have come to expect.

To help realise this vision, we have taken a “hyperlocal” approach, producing relevant content within the respective regions of our continent, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all strategy with generic African and international content. Ahyperlocal approach to content creation also often makes business sense, as even commoditised American studio content is expensive when it must be paid for in US dollars. In our audiences, we have found an almost insatiable appetite for authentic local content. The more local entertainment we offer, the less international content audiences choose to watch! It’s worth remembering that even American content is “local” in the US. The fact that it travels internationally is largely because audiences have become accustomed to it after decades of the US intentionally building and driving demand for their language and culture.

African audiences like others across the world, respond enthusiastically to seeing themselves and their communities represented in home-grown productions done in their own

languages. Afew months ago, we launched the first Pan African lifestyle channel – Honey – which celebrates how we live, what we aspire to and brings style makers from across the continent to a single destination. Arule of thumb is that content will be most successful when it reflects the values, culture and language of its audience. Home-grown, hyperlocal content strikes a blow against the homogenisation of culture by celebrating what makes us unique. At the same time, it creates opportunities for entire industries. Every time we create local content instead of simply purchasing foreign ones, hundreds of opportunities are created for African writers, actors, directors, producers, show-runners, caterers, stylists and others.

In Nigeria, Nollywood has started facilitating international movies, series and commercials. In other countries such as Kenya, Ghana and Uganda, similar nodes of creative and professional excellence are taking root. We look forward to a time when every country on the continent is producing world-class, authentic and locally relevant African content for its own audiences and the diaspora.

As we mark the UNESCO Africa Week with the theme “Peace, innovation and sustainable development in Africa” – we celebrate African excellence in all creative fields. Already, our fascinating, vibrant and powerful continent is reclaiming its rightful place on the world stage. The future looks even brighter as we strive to take African stories to the world. Let us all claim that place in the spotlight because our people deserve to see themselves reflected in our own content, produced by our own people.

Ugbe, CEO MultiChoice Nigeria, contributed this piece in celebration of Africa Week

Liberian Vice President Advocates for Women Representation Michael Olugbode in Abuja

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he Vice President of Liberia, Jewel Taylor has said the only way women would be allowed to fill the minimum 30 per cent political positions already apportioned to them is when electoral commissions in various ECOWAS countries stop political parties from presenting candidates for elections without meeting the quota.

Taylor,whowasawifeofformerLiberianPresident, Charles Taylor said her introduction into politics was made possible by a law in her country in 2005 which stipulated that parties should

not be allowed to participate in election without meeting the required women quota. She said that the made it possible for her and other womeninLiberiatobeelected,butlamentedthatin2011,theprovision was secretly removed and had drastically reduced the number of elected women in her country ever since.

The Liberia Vice President, who yesterday in Abuja addressed members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Female Parliamentary Association (ECOFEPA), said West African politics was mainly run by the men and would be difficult for the womenfolk to get the 30 per cent slot if something radical was not done.

She said the electoral bodies in the countries should force the hands

of political parties by ensuring that they do not go into elections without meeting the women quota.

TaylorhadonThursdayinagoodwillmessageduringtheOpening of the ECOWAS Parliament 1st 2021 Ordinary Session challenged the ECOWAS Parliament to push for appropriate implementation of the community protocol on gender and human equality across regional and local governments.

She said gender equality was a fundamental human right, yet womenwereunderrepresentedinpoweranddecisionmakingroles, lamenting that women around the region did not fully experience equal rights and their potential as economic, social and sustainable change-agents remains untapped.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: President, Africa Health Project, Dr. Ali Johnson Onoja; President, Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas (NAPPSA) Inc., Dr. Anthony Ikeme; Director, Public Private Partnership and Diaspora Unit, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Dr. Omobolanle Olowu; and former President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm Azubuike Okwor, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Health by the NAPPSA president in Abuja...recently

L-R: CEO, FVS Advisory, Vivien Shobo; Photographer, The Bare Exhibition, Kelechi Amadi-Obi; Founder, The Dew Center, Omon Anenih-Mordi; and Founder, Sparkle, Uzoma Dozie, during the VIP preview of ‘Bare’ a photographic exhibition on-going at The Dew Center in Lagos…recently

L-R: Rev. Dr. Ibidola Adeniyi; Provost/Overseer, The Church of The Lord Aladura, Anthony, Rev. Mother Olive Adejobi; Evangelist Ibiwumi Adejobi; Deaconess Adedoja Adejobi; and Deacon Adedayo Adejobi, at the 30th memorial thanksgiving service of The Church of The Lord Aladura, Anthony, Lagos...recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Past President, Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Mrs. Elizabeth Adegbite; guest speaker, Mrs. Omosalewa Are Onilenla; Chairman of INEF Board of Trustees, Chief Richard Chukwunenye Okafor; past president ICAN, Princess Adenike Adenira; and President and Chairman of Council, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Dame Gladys Olajumoke Simplice, during the Imole Noble Education Foundation Scholarship Award ceremony in Lagos...recently

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 29, 2021

POLITY

The Renewed Onslaught on Drug Abuse Kayode Akinmade

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f you have been watching the raid on drug barons, couriers and syndicates in recent weeks, you cannot have missed the decidedly resonant indicators of a new direction in Nigeria’s anti-drug war. Early last month, during a week-long raid, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 31 suspects in Ondo State for being in possession of 276 kg of assorted illicit drugs. On April 20, the agency’s operatives hunted down two Abuja-based partners who allegedly specialised in selling drugged cookies to school children and other inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory.

Astatement by the agency’s media director, Mr Femi Babafemi, indicated that the suspected drug dealers were part of a syndicate involved in the production of cookies with Arizona, a highly psychoactive variant of cannabis; alcohol and Rohypnol, among other ingredients. Four days later, it was the turn of daredevil narcotics couriers who used the statue of Mary, mother of Jesus, to conceal their illicit drugs in Lagos, to be taken out of business: the statue, as well as auto spare parts scheduled to be dispatched to Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were intercepted in a rather long haul involving 140 grammes of methamphetamine, 500 grammes of heroin, 3.1 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed within spices, and a kilogramme of the same drug concealed within local herbs. Couriers are always wise in their own eyes…

Some more data may be necessary. Between January and April 2021, NDLEAarrested 109 suspected drug traffickers in various parts of Kwara State, seizing 48 grammes of cocaine, some 331.261 kilogrammes of assorted drugs and five grammes of swinol from suspects. It emerged that Kwara actually has the highest prevalence rate of 13.0 per cent among states in the North Central. This week witnessed the interception of a container bearing 4,996,200 capsules of tramadol weighing 2,498.2 kilogrammes at the Onne port, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. That was on Tuesday. Previously, on Sunday, May 16, there was a successful operation in Nyibango, Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State, during which a 42-year-old was arrested with 13 sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 166kg, just as a 35-year-old suspect was nabbed with16.1kg of skunk at Ngurore, Yola South area of the state.

On the same day, a team of NDLEAoperatives arrested one James Godspower with 36.5kg of cannabis sativa at Faloye, Ogbese, in Akure North area of Ondo State. The seizures are not fortuitous: they are the direct result of Brigadier-General Buba Marwa’s (Retd) appointment as NDLEAboss. To say the very least, his appointment has been hallmarked by an upsurge in the arrest and detection of drug merchants. Hitherto, many a courier moved rather too freely across the country’s borders and even at airports. But no more: seizures of banned drugs such as cocaine,

Marwa

heroin, cannabis, etc, have become routine, and detention cells are teeming with felons.

In the past, Nigeria was just a transit point for hard drugs. But very unfortunately, it is now a consuming nation, one of the worst in Sub-Saharan Africa. Surely, without the emplacement of drastic measures to curb the menace, the country’s future will simply be ruined. It is beyond disturbing that the youth who constitute the largest percentage of Africa’s largest population are resorting to drugs to navigate the business of existence: poison is available even in candies. In this regard, the NDLEA’s efforts are certainly worthy of applause. Apart from arresting drug traffickers, it is also heightening efforts in the area of public sensitization on the corrosive effects of hard drugs. With the level of insecurity in the country, the upsurge in drug abuse cannot be overlooked. Most of those who are into crime do so as a result of involvement in drugs.

Nobody in his right senses would go out into the streets and start gunning people down at will. But precisely that is what Nigeria witnesses on a daily basis. With their brains buried in drugs, bandits, kidnappers, killer herdsmen and Boko Haram terrorists shed blood with reckless abandon.

Happily, though, NDLEAis taking the campaign to the doorsteps of state governments, various NGOs, and other relevant publics. The objective is to try as much as possible to discourage the younger generation from drugs. Many lives have been destroyed as a result of drugs. Many are in psychiatric wards.

Many have died. So many have lost their jobs and many have lost their homes. In that regard, it’s great news that Nigerians are seeing a renewed vigour in combating the drug epidemic. It is a welcome development. Nigerians can indeed declare without any prevarication that for the first time in a long while, the country has the right candidate manning such a strategic position as the NDLEAchairman’s office. But the NDLEA’s success story really cannot be any surprise given Marwa’s antecedents as a no-nonsense and supremely effective military administrator.

As Lagos Milad, Marwa was able to reduce crime to the barest minimum. He had come into Alausa at a time when the mega city was steeped in crime, a time when Lagos and crime seemed to be inseparable and most residents could barely sleep with two eyes closed.

What did Marwa do? He introduced Operation Swift and within the spate of a few months, he had dealt a huge blow to the bad guys. The work was so great that when he was removed from office, Lagosians could be heard everywhere claomuring for him to govern the state in civilian garb. Such was the level of confidence that the consummate administrator enjoyed among the people. Happily, he is demonstrating his sterling credentials at the NDLEAat the moment. And irrespective of the challenges facing the country in terms of insecurity, the Federal Government definitely got it right this time around. Nigerians are increasingly appreciative of Marwa’s strides, knowing that a country given to drugs necessarily has its future in jeopardy. That is why the US government is, for instance, constantly at loggerheads with drug lords from Mexico attempting to overrun the country and create chaos all around its shores. Gangs and cartels rule substantial portions of Mexico and many other countries. In Philippine, the Duterte-led administration has its hands full with the blood of the outlaws.

Illicit drug trade produces emergency billionaires who sadly become role models for many among the up and coming generations, discouraging honest and legitimate work. Nigeria must not be allowed to become yet another Mexico featuring deadly gun battles among drug lords. General Marwa is moving in the right direction and deserves plaudits. Interestingly, he has been using the operatives he met on the ground at the NDLEA, proving that leadership is key in any organisation. Strategically, Marwa and his team are maintaining an effective digital presence, deploying technology in tracking down the purveyors of illicit drugs. But they cannot do the job alone: public support is crucial. And with the growing support among Nigerians, the future promises to be exciting.

–––Akinmade, former Commissioner of Information, Ondo State contributes this piece through kayodeakinmade809@gmail.com

Digitalising Nigerian Economy and the Pantami Touch Chiweta Igwe

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igeria’s exploitation of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) space received a huge boost on Thursday 6th May 2021 with the launch of two policies that will impact massively on the industry and the economy. These are the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector, and the Revised National Digital Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration.

With the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector now in place, Nigerian start-ups will have the benefits of handling more government contracts. It is in line with the eighth pillar in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) Document, which President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled in November 2019. That was just three months into the tenure of Dr IsaAli Ibrahim Pantami as the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

With the coming into force of the national policy, jobs that are currently being outsourced will be identified and support provided for them to be repatriated to digitally skilled Nigerians.Akey implementation pillar of the new policy is that government will increase the patronage of digital start-ups by enabling them to access a minimum percentage of government-funded jobs.

Making ICT a key driver of the nation’s socio-economic growth has been the driving strategy of Minister Pantami. No wonder the sector has recorded stride after stride, made possible by novel initiatives that he spearheaded and implemented, notably the Digital Economy Projects for Digital Nigeria and his ability to resolve some lingering key issues that had stifled the sector for decades, including resolving the Right of Way (RoW) logjam.

Pantami’s sound understanding of his ministerial assignment started immediately he assumed office when he persuaded the President to rename the Ministry renamed as Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, to reflect the realities of the time.

That move has galvanised the sector into contributing more to Nigeria’s economy.Acase in point is that statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics shows the ICT sector recorded the highest growth rate of all the sectors in both the fourth quarter of 2020 and the entire year 2020. Within two years, Pantami has driven the contribution of the ICT sector to the Gross Domestic Product to more than 18 per cent.

The National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a #DigitalNigeria has provided a framework for a sustainable stronger digital

Pantami

economy for the country.

One can say that Nigerian economy has progressively moved from analogue to digital economy across sectors, principal of which is the Central Bank of Nigeria-led financial inclusion and cashless economy policy and programmes.

The policies of the Ministry have led to the birth of Fintech firms and the rise in technology applications that are enabling faster and convenient mobile banking and internet-based transactions. Endless long queues in our banking halls, malls and shops are fast disappearing as many people transit online.

Before now, building a national database has been a problem that successive administrations could not surmount.As a leading crusader for a harmonised national database, that problem is being solved. With Pantami’s support, the National Identity Management Agency (NIMC), the lead implementing agency in the Presidency driving the National Identification Number (NIN) has, of today, reached record 54 million enrolments. For the first time ever, Nigeria can now have a reliable platform to account for the identity of her citizens, making it lot easier for the government to plan and distribute infrastructure and enhance the welfare of the citizens.

The revolutionary NIN–SIM Data linkage being implemented

by the Nigerian Communications Commission, a key agency of the Ministry, is aimed at enabling Nigerians to access social services faster. This integration has also helped government to correct the past haphazard manner in which biometric data collection of mobile phone users in the country was done previously, beside the loss of huge funds allocated to the project.

Now, everything is linked. You are only required to supply your NIN for passport processing, tax or UTME registration, thus eliminating loss of man-hours.

Gone is the era when Nigerians had to go through the repeated rigour of multiple data capturing to obtain vital documents such as applying for, or renewing travel passport, driver’s licence, voter’s card, or registering SIM cards or transacting business with government. Know Your Customer documentation by banks was another trouble. These often consume precious time.

With SIM-NIN linkage, our security and intelligence system is poised to be better. Security and intelligence agencies can now easily profile, track and arrest criminals.As a good case in point, the Minister has ensured the de-registration of about 9.2 million SIMs, making it impossible for criminals and terrorists to use mobile networks undetected.

For those worrying about safety of personal data, truth is that no single individual is in a position to tamper with data in the national bank. The Minister is sufficiently educated and well-informed about the sanctity of personal information in our database.As a member of many respectedA-list global institutions, he is avowedly committed to strict data protection.

Being well informed of the strategic role of youth in national development, with Nigeria noted for a higher youth population of more than 50 per cent, Pantami has been the lead driver for the establishment of ICT start-up centres across the six geo-political zones to boost youth entrepreneurship and create jobs.

Just recently, his Ministry finalised the training of youths on digital jobs with beneficiaries drawn across 12 states representing the six-geo-political zones.

One thing is outstanding about Pantami: he is a man with uncommon passion for the ICT sector and seeing it make the most of positive impact on the growth of Nigeria across all strata.

No wonder that despite President Buhari’s busy schedule last week, he made out time again as the Special Guest at the launch of the Ministry’s two policy documents. That was no small acknowledgement of Pantami’s contributions to digitalising Nigeria.

–––Igwe, an ICT,Transformation and Innovation Specialist, contributes this piece from Abuja

SATURDAY MAY 29, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 29,2021

AUTO WORLD

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

New Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Combines Perfection, High-tech

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he new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class combines the perfection and high-tech features of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class with the exclusivity and tradition of Maybach. The 18 cm longer wheelbase compared to the long variant of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class entirely benefits the rear. Thanks to Executive seats and the Chauffeur Package as standard, the rear area becomes a comfortable workspace or relaxation area. They are complemented by exclusive details such as large areas of wood trim on the rear of the front seats and between the two rear passengers.

The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is available with a choice of two engine variants in Germany: the S 580 4MATIC (combined fuel consumption: 10.9-10.2 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 248-233 g/ km)[2] is powered by an eight-cylinder petrol engine (M176) with integrated second-generation starter-alternator and 48-volt onboard electrical system; the Mercedes-Maybach S 680 4MATIC (combined fuel consumption: 14.1-13.3 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 322-305 g/km)2 is powered by the familiar V12 (M279), for the first time combined with 4MATIC all-wheel drive.

With active road noise compensation, the interior of the already very quiet Mercedes-Maybach SClass becomes even quieter. In a similar way to headphones with noise suppression, the system reduces unwanted low-frequency noises using counter-phased sound waves. Active road noise compensation is a function of the Burmester® high-end 4D surround sound system.

on gradients. Integration into the infotainment and control system MBUX and Blind Spot Assist ensures a high level of operating convenience and additional safety. In combination with MBUX Interior Assist in the rear, the closing action of the automatic comfort doors can even be started or stopped with a hand gesture.

Thanks to rear-axle steering (1547 euros), the S-Class feels as manoeuvrable as a compact car when driving in town.

Jelani Aliyu: Nigeria Committed to Electric Car Revolution, Cleaner, Environment

T

he Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Jelani Aliyu, has stated that Nigeria is committed to electric car revolution and cleaner, sustainable environment.

Jelani Aliyu said this while delivering a paper, virtually, at the recently held 8th Nigeria Transport Lecture which took place at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

He recalled that “On the 5th of February, 2021 remarkable history was made, when the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, unveiled the first Nigerian Assembled Electric Vehicle in Abuja.

“Two months later, on April 8th, 2021, incredible history was again made when the National Automotive Design and Development Council commissioned Nigeria’s first Solar Powered EV Charging Station in Sokoto.

“With these two bold events, Nigeria courageously joined the league of nations committed to the Electric Car Revolution, committed to protecting the environment and ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable

future”, adding that the NADDC was excited and honoured to be championing and pioneering these developments.

According to Jelani, the NADDC is not just promoting the local production of traditional automobiles, but also seriously committed to the adoption and production of highly advanced technological transportation solutions.

In this vein, the NADDC boss explained the Council is currently strategizing with the following initiatives and programs: Electric Vehicle Policy Development; NADDC direct Research and Development; and Promotion and support of stakeholders’ production.

Others include the development of charging Infrastructure, and collaboration with academia and research institutions, both local and international.

He added that the electric vehicle comes with many advantages.

Other Speakers at the event included the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi; National President of the Association of Nigeria Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA), Hon. Tony Nwabunike; Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, among others.

L-R: Corps Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps, ACM Bisi Kazeem; Head, Marketing & Communication of Massilia Motors/CFAO Automotive, Funmi Abiola; and Editor of Transport Day, Frank Kintum, at the 8th Nigeria Annual Transport Lecture held in Lagos… recently

The Myths and Facts of Speed Reduction

Did you follow my opening teaser on the global clamor for speed reduction in built up areas. Despite the novelty of the global campaign which is in tandem with the identification of excessive speed as the number one killer, there are some who are opposed to cutting down speed in built up areas. This group is basing their standpoint on some myths. There are a total of six myths that this group are brandishing to get the buy-in of road users and policy makers against these resurgent campaign focus.

My focus this week is on these myths. Before dwelling on the kernel of the myths and the facts, please allow me to first list them. The first myth says that 30 km/h limits don’t make a difference while another myth says 30 km/h limits are not popular. Another myth posits that 30km/h are anti motorists, while another holds that 30km/h limits will increase journey times. The last myth holds that 30km/h limits are just to gain income from fines.

In treating these myths, I do not intend to re-event any wheel on the subject button merely share with my readers the views as expressed on the United Nations and World Health Organization webpage debunking these myths with facts and best practices. The first myth says 30km/h limits don’t make a difference. According to the global body, low speed streets save lives. Evidence

SAFE DRIVING with

Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa Assistant Corps Marshal Zonal Commanding Officer Federal Road Safety Corps.

from around the world shows that low speed streets reduce the risk of serious injuries and save lives.

In Tanzania, AMEND’s SARSAI has been shown to cut road injuries by as much as 26percent and has now expanded to 50 high-risk school areas in nine countries.

In Toronto, Canada, road crashes fell by 28percentsince speed limits were reduced from 40 to 30km/h in 2015, which led to a reduction in serious and fatal injuries by two thirds. In Colombia, Bogota has included 30km/h zones in a package of measures in its speed management plan that have reduced traffic fatalities by 32percent. Other studies suggest that there can be a casualty reduction of up to 6percent for each one mph speed reduction for urban roads. The second myth posits that 30km/h limits

How to Maintain Your Car’s Sunroof With the push of a button, a sunroof brings the outside in—and can make your car feel more spacious. So it’s understandable that sunroofs are growing in popularity. The number of new vehicles sporting this bright feature has increased dramatically over the past few years, and market researchers estimate that demand will jump even more in the next five years. Sunroofs are also growing in size, with panoramic versions becoming more common.

And while a sunroof can make driving more pleasurable, it does require regular maintenance, says Pat Goss, a Maryland-based mechanic and co-host of television’s longest-running automotive program. Without attention, your sunroof can be more likely to leak or break down.

Here are Goss’s expert-approved tips on how to help keep that roof over your head working properly.

The new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class interior The most important optional features at a glance: On request, the exclusive appearance of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class can be further enhanced by a two-tone paint finish (14,875 euros) with a fine dividing line. A total of ten colour combinations from the Mercedes-Maybach paint chart are available for this. When the electrically powered comfort doors at the rear (1606.50 euros) are operated, they open and close with no human effort even

TIPS OF THE WEEK

are not popular but available facts shows that people consistently say they want lower speeds where they live.

Over the years, surveys from around the world have consistently shown that the majority of people agree that 30km/h is the correct speed limit for residential roads.

Indeed, low speed streets help reduce congestion and are widely popular. A recent globally YouGov poll in 11 countries for the Child Health Initiative found that 74percent of people supported restrictions on streets around schools as it allowed children to walk or cycle to school more safely, including limits on speed. In UK surveys, 70percent of motorists say that they agree that 20 mph (30 km/h) is the right limit for streets where people live.

Surveys in Scotland suggest 65percent are in favor, and one in four people think that it would make them more likely to walk or cycle in their everyday life.

Evidence also suggests rapid acceptances across Europe.

There are also significant health benefits from slowing traffic, including supporting a shift to active lifestyles through walking and cycling.

The social interactions that people have with others on the street are important for building community and collective wellbeing. Slower traffic also reduces road danger, improves noise and social cohesion. In urban situations, the peak speed between congestion points or junctions rarely impacts on journey times.

Clean It Regularly Regular cleaning of your sunroof is the most effective way to keep it functional. Every time you clean your car, give your sunroof some TLC with these steps: Open the sunroof and clean the entire visible area, using a vacuum if necessary.

Wipe down all moving parts and the gasket around the roof with a soft cloth, automotive cleaner and toothbrush. Clean the slides and tracks.

Use a small amount of lightweight, heat-resistant grease (such as white lithium) to lubricate all moving parts.

For the glass, consider a cleaner that does not contain ammonia or vinegar. (These chemicals can vaporize in warm weather and cause irritation if inhaled.)

Detail It Annually Once a year, it’s a good idea to do a deeper detail on your sunroof. (If you live in a dusty climate or drive on dirt roads, you may want to make this a monthly practice.)

First, clean the sunroof as you normally would.

Then clear the sunroof trough (just inside the rubber seal) by blowing low-pressure air (no more than 10 psi!) through the drain tubes (at the base of the sunroof seal). Finish the process by inserting a skinny, flexible, non-puncturing wire into a drain tube, twisting the wire clockwise and then counterclockwise while gently pushing it deeper into the tube. Make sure to check the length of your drain tubes; the far ends, usually located under the car near the wheels, can be tempting places for insects to build nests that can block the drains and cause leaks.

Then close the sunroof and pour water over the glass. If it leaks into the passenger compartment, look for cracks or jagged edges along the sunroof seal, and scan the area around the seal for any excessive water pooling or mold. Still leaking?

Consider taking your car to a pro for a repair.

Let It Move Freely If your roof is sticking or seems to be slow, inspect the moving parts (if they are visible) for cracked or stripped gears, or a buildup of dirt and debris. Turn on your car engine and cycle the roof through the open, closed and vent positions to identify the area where the problem occurs. If it runs more smoothly after a couple of cycles, clean everything and then lightly and carefully apply a lightweight, heat-resistant grease to any visible moving parts. If it’s still stuck, says Goss, it could be a malfunction of the circuitry that powers most new sunroofs. Take your car to a qualified sunroof repair shop.

Listen For Common Issues Popping and scraping noises are generally not good sounds for cars to make; in a sunroof they may indicate parts that need lubricating, slipping gears, or some other mechanical issue. If you notice any of these noises, clean your sunroof and lubricate any visible components. If you’re still hearing them, close the sunroof and take it to a pro for repair.

Some drivers have reported hearing popping noises right before their sunroofs shatter; if you hear those sounds, take your car to a qualified repair shop.

(Source: GEICO)

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺ΁˜ ͺ͸Ͱͯ

63

NEWSXTRA

Biometrics: Gombe Uncovers 431 Ghost Workers Segun Awofadeji ÓØ Ù×ÌÏ Gombe State Government says it has uncovered 431 ghost workers and suspended them from the state government payroll system for the month of May 2021.

This is as the state government placed over 600 others on investigation, even as govern-

ment saved over N27 million from the exercise this month This was disclosed by the committee for the Integrated Payroll Payment Gateway and Human Resource Management Information System.

Briefing newsmen on the development yesterday, the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Mu-

hammad Gambo Magaji, also disclosed that another 691 staff were billed for investigation due to insufficient attendance as indicated by the biometric data capture machine.

The commissioner explained that from the 431 ghost staff, mostly from the health sector, the state government was able to make savings of N27, 114, 674

while for the 691 staff also from the health billed for investigation for insufficient attendance, the government was able to withhold N62, 888, 621.

He equally revealed that based on the earlier directive issued by the state government for workers on grade levels 1-12 to work from home as part of measures against COVID-19,

2 Star Athletes Grace African Voices Changemakers Nigeria’s Uche Eke, an Olympic medal hopeful, and a Ugandan serial world record holder in athletics, Joshua Cheptegei, will be on CNN African Voices Changemakers this week for an expose on their ambitions and accomplishments.

The 30-minute programme, whichissponsoredbyGlobacom, will parade 23-year-old Eke who

graduated with honours in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan, the United States of America.

He aims to become Nigeria’s first Olympic gymnast. He will feature alongside 24-year-old Cheptegei who is investing in the Ugandan youth through the Joshua Cheptegei Development Foundation where kids aged

Pharmacists Kick against ‘Illegal Taxation’ by NAFDAC PharmaceuticalSocietyofNigeria (PSN) Lagos Branch has decried the imposing of multiple taxes and tariffs on players in the value chain of the Pharmaceutical industry by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and demand that the federal government stop the obnoxious act.

It accused NAFDAC of turning the Pharmacy practice to a major Internally Generated Revenue source through illegal

taxes and tariffs on the pharmaceutical sector.

Inastatement,Mr.Gbolagade Iyiola, Chairman, Lagos State chapter of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), alleged that ‘’NAFDAC inspectors have been invading retail Pharmacy outlets under various guises of regulatory violations, imposing finesonperceivedoffences.Some of the arbitrarily imposed fines areasheavyasN500,000insome instances.

16 and under are introduced to athletics. A statement by Glo said “Eke is well on the way to achievinghisambitionashewon Nigeria’s first-ever gold medal on pommel horse and a bronze medalonparallelbarsatthe2019 All-African Games in Rabat, Morocco. He hopes that more youth will embrace Gymnastics as a sport which helps to build

character,attitudesandhabitsthat can have positive influence on their future life.

“Cheptegei,anemployeeofthe UgandaNationalPolice,became a world champion in the 10,000 meters race in 2019, and has set a world record as the tenth man in history to hold the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters world records concurrently, both set in 2020.

Chemstar Holds Long Service Awards Adedayo Adejobi One of Nigeria’s paint manufacturing companies, Chemstar Paints Industry (Nig.) Limited has held its 6th Long Service Awards amid pomp and ceremony at its premises at Casso Bus Stop, Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway.

The company’s Executive Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Apostle Em-

manuel A. Awode, in his opening speech, stressed that it was pertinent the “company said ‘thank you’” to the awardees for their loyalty.

He also emphasised that the staff were the assets of the organisation.

A total of 75 awardees fell into three different categories of 10 years, 15 years and 20 years of meritorious service to the organisation.

a total of 244 staff with a total salary strength of N7,248, 027 were also captured by the biometric to indicate transparency and accountability.

As for the local government areas, the Finance Commissioner said 45 staff of Kwami LGA have been suspended from the payroll of the local government, thereby saving N704, 488 in the process.

He added that another four staff from same local council have also been sanctioned for incomplete enrollment with a total salary strength of N147, 272. The commissioner said in Gombe local government council, two staff had been suspended while another two

were to be investigated based on insufficient attendance thereby making a saving of N144, 423.

Magaji said the exercise was basically meant to check fraud in the civil service and not intended to witch hunt anyone.

"The exercise will help government ascertain the vacuum in the state's civil service for immediate recruitment from the teeming jobless youths in the state," Magaji said.

Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Alhaji Bappayo Yahaya, advised civil servants in the state not to treat the biometric data capture exercise with disdain so that they would not have themselves to blame.

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Sultan Abubakar on Insecurity “Let us not deceive ourselves that things are alright, things are not alright. Now things are really very bad. It doesn’t take anybody to know that Nigeria is in a very bad situation and it is a fact.”

– Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, lamenting about insecurity in Nigeria.

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PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

President Buhari: From Deification to Demystification

F

ellow Nigerians, let me make a quick confession in my epistle to you today. I truly, and sincerely, pity and sympathise with President Muhammadu Buhari and his family, even if it seems the subject of my pity and sympathy does not appear to care about his legacy or what the future will record for him. I will explain in a jiffy. If you’re addicted to social media like me, you will understand and appreciate the origin of my pity for Buhari and his family. Any mention of Buhari instantly elicits venomous attacks and blistering derision. The last time I witnessed anything of this nature was in those draconian days of the Abacha regime. And it is much worse this time around because of the multiplicity and proliferation of social media platforms. Even if President Buhari is totally oblivious to these vicious attacks, his family must find it hard to swallow these bitter responses to anything Buhari. However, someone told me the Buhari family might not know how terribly bitter the people of Nigeria are against their patriarch because they leave a sheltered, cloistered existence.

Well, if you are ensconced within the gilded cage of the Aso Rock Presidential villa in Abuja, it is possible that you’re not likely to know what is going on outside “the walls of Jericho.”

Unfortunately, Buhari continues to act like a victim of some demonic attacks that makes it impossible for one to consider sensible and reasonable options. Many of his decisions are so bizarre that you begin to wonder what propels him. I will find time and space to discuss this theory as we progress.

Not many people would ever have a second chance to amend and rectify their previous mistakes in life and turn a new leaf. Buhari had been Nigeria’s Head of State from 1984 to 1985. The coup speech that brought him to power was delivered by Sani Abacha. It had identified, dissected, analysed and corrected the intractable problems of Nigeria and came up with the correct verdict that was tagged “War Against Indiscipline!” For this reason, it is important to reproduce the Abacha speech, and I do so below: “Fellow countrymen and women, I, Brigadier Sani Abacha, of the Nigerian Army address you this morning on behalf of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

You are all living witnesses to the great economic predicament and uncertainty, which an inept and corrupt leadership has imposed on our beloved nation for the past four years. I am referring to the harsh, intolerable conditions under which we are now living. Our economy has been hopelessly mismanaged. We have become a debtor and beggar nation. There is inadequacy of food at reasonable prices for our people who are now fed up with endless announcements of importation of foodstuffs. Health services are in shambles as our hospitals are reduced to mere consulting clinics without drugs, water and equipment.

Our educational system is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Unemployment figures including the undergraduates have reached embarrassing and unacceptable proportions. In some states, workers are being owed salary arrears of eight to twelve months and in others there are threats of salary cuts.

Yet our leaders revel in squander mania, corruption and indiscipline, and continue to proliferate public appointments in complete disregard of our stark economic realities. After due consultations over these deplorable conditions, I and my colleagues in the Armed Forces have in the discharge of our national role as promoters and protectors of our national interest decided to effect a change in the leadership of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and form a Federal Military Government. This task has just

Buhari been completed.

The Federal Military Government hereby decrees the suspension of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979 relating to all elective and appointive offices and representative institutions including the office of the President, State governors, federal and state executive councils, special advisers, special assistants, the establishment of the National Assembly and the Houses of Assembly including the formation of political parties.

Accordingly, Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari ceases forthwith to be the President and Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. All the incumbents of the above-named offices shall, if they have not already done so, vacate their formal official residences, surrender all government property in their possession and report to the nearest police station in their constituencies within seven days.

The Clerk of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives shall, within two weeks, render account of all the properties of the National Assembly. All the political parties are banned; the bank account of FEDECO and all the political parties are frozen with immediate effect. All foreigners living in any part of the country are assured of their safety and will be adequately protected.

Henceforth, workers not on essential duties are advised to keep off the streets. All categories of workers on essential duties will, however, report at their places of work immediately. With effect from today, a dusk to dawn curfew will be imposed between 7pm and 6am each day until further notice. All airways flights have been suspended forthwith and all airports, seaports, and border posts closed. External communications have been cut. The Customs and Excise, Immigration and the Police will maintain vigilance and ensure watertight security at the borders. The area administrators or commanders will have themselves to blame if any of the wanted people escape.

Fellow countrymen and women, the change in government has been a bloodless and painstaking operation and we do not want anyone to lose his or her life. People are warned in their own interest to be law abiding and to give the Federal Military Government maximum cooperation.

Anyone caught disturbing public order will be summarily dealt with. For avoidance of doubt, you are forewarned that we shall not hesitate to declare martial law in any area or State of the Federation in which disturbances occur.

Fellow countrymen and women and comrades

at arms, I will like to assure you that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is ready to lay its life for our dear nation but not for the present irresponsible leadership of the past civilian administration. You are to await further announcements...”

Majority of Nigerians were happy and jubilant that the Messiah had arrived finally who would instil the fear of God in our corrupt and profligate politicians. Nigerians were ready to endure any hardship as long as it would lead the country to its Eldorado.

Unfortunately, the honeymoon did not last long before it was dealt more than a body blow and the house of straw that the military adventurers had built collapsed like a pack of cards. The hypocrisy of a government that promised so much but delivered so little was soon exposed.

Its worst offense was its rabid and undisguised nepotism. Just imagine sacking a democratically elected government and clamping virtually every actor from one part of the country into detention. Many were tried in kangaroo manner and awarded impossible sentences some of which amounted to many lifetimes, many hundreds of years. It was soon obvious that this neurotic and schizophrenic government was on a vengeful mission to punish some targeted persons and tribes. Laws were made to be enforced for some and to be broken by others. Deposed President Shehu Shagari, a Northerner, was kept under house arrest while Dr Alex Ekwueme, the Vice President, an Easterner, was subjected to indignity and excruciating pains in a maximum-security prison. The hatred against the Igbo, long since established, was further cemented in concrete.

Buhari and his fearsome partner, Brigadier Babatunde Idiagbon, ruled by decrees, some of which took effect retroactively. And people were killed under such laws, mainly Southerners. The real economic saboteurs escaped justice while those who had no godfathers languished in most wicked detentions. It was a government of “do as I say and not as I do.” It was only a matter of time before the chickens would come home to roost. This happened in August 1985, when the military struck again, and the speech read by Joshua Nimyel Dongoyaro adumbrated and also elucidated on why Buhari had to be sacked. The “DOGONYARO COUP SPEECH” follows below: I, Brigadier Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro, of the Nigerian Army, hereby make the following declaration on behalf of my colleagues and members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Fellow countrymen, the intervention of the military at the end of 1983 was welcomed by the nation with unprecedented enthusiasm. Nigerians were unified in accepting the intervention and looked forward hopefully to progressive changes for the better. Almost two years later, it has become clear that the fulfilment of expectations is not forthcoming.

Because this generation of Nigerians and indeed future generations have no other country but Nigeria, we could not stay passive and watch a small group of individuals misuse power to the detriment of our national aspirations and interest.

No nation can ever achieve meaningful strides in its development where there is an absence of cohesion in the hierarchy of government; where it has become clear that positive action by the policy makers is hindered, because as a body it lacks a unity of purpose.

It is evident that the nation would be endangered with the risk of continuous misdirection. We are presently confronted with that danger. In such a situation, if action can be taken to arrest further damage, it should and must be taken.

This is precisely what we have done.

The Nigerian public has been made to believe that the slow pace of action of the Federal Government headed by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari was due to the enormity of the problems left by the last civilian administration.

Although it is true that a lot of problems were left behind by the last civilian government, the real reason, however, for the very slow pace of action is due to lack of unanimity of purpose among the ruling body; subsequently, the business of governance has gradually been subjected to ill-motivated power play considerations. The ruling body, the Supreme Military Council, has, therefore, progressively been made redundant by the actions of a select few members charged with the day-to-day implementation of the SMC’s policies and decision.

The concept of collective leadership has been substituted by stubborn and ill-advised unilateral actions, thereby destroying the principles upon which the government came to power. Any effort made to advise the leadership, met with stubborn resistance and was viewed as a challenge to authority or disloyalty.

Thus, the scene was being set for systematic elimination of what, was termed oppositions.

All the energies of the rulership were directed at this imaginary opposition rather than to effective leadership.

The result of this misdirected effort is now very evident in the country as a whole. The government has started to drift. The economy does not seem to be getting any better as we witness daily increased inflation.

The nation’s meagre resources are once again being wasted on unproductive ventures.

Government has distanced itself from the people and the yearnings and aspirations of the people as constantly reflected in the media have been ignored.

This is because a few people have arrogated to themselves the right to make the decisions for the larger part of the ruling body. All these events have shown that the present composition of our country’s leadership cannot, therefore, justify its continued occupation of that position.

Furthermore, the initial objectives and programmes of action which were meant to have been implemented since the ascension to power of the Buhari Administration in January 1984 have been betrayed and discarded. The present state of uncertainty and stagnation cannot be permitted to degenerate into suppression and retrogression.

We feel duty bound to use the resources and means at our disposal to restore hope in the minds of Nigerians and renew aspirations for a better future. We are no prophets of doom for our beloved country, Nigeria. We, therefore, count on everyone’s cooperation and assistance.

I appeal to you, fellow countrymen, particularly my colleagues in arms to refrain from any act that will lead to unnecessary violence and bloodshed among us. Rest assured that our action is in the interest of the nation and the Armed Forces.

In order to enable a new order to be introduced, the following bodies are dissolved forthwith pending further announcements: (a) The Supreme Military Council (b) The Federal Executive Council (c) The National Council of States. All seaports and airports are closed, all borders remain closed.

Finally, a dusk to dawn curfew is hereby imposed in Lagos and all state capitals until further notice. All military commanders will ensure effective maintenance of law and order.

Further announcements will be made in due course. God bless Nigeria...”

NOTE: This piece continues in the online edition on www.thisdayliive.com

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