SUNDAY 17TH MARCH 2024

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, yesterday ordered the arrest and investigation of the killers of a commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers, deployed to quell a communal crisis in Okuoma community in Ughelli South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State.

Delta State Governor, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has also condemned, in very strong terms, the unprovoked killing of officers and soldiers attached to 63 Brigade at Okuama community.

This is just as the senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone; human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN); Alumni Association of the National Institute L-R: Senator representing Lagos Central, Senator Wasiu Esinlokun-Sanni;

First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senator representing Lagos East and Chairman of Senate

representing Lagos West, Senator Idayat Oluranti Akinbule, when the senators representing

US Assistant Secretary of State, Satterfield Visits Nigeria Today

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The United States Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Lee Satterfield, will visit Nigeria from today.

According to a statement released by the US Mission on

its website on Friday, Satterfield’s trip will take place from March 17 - 22, 2024.

During the visit, the Assistant Secretary will reinforce the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to Africa by focusing on people-to-people connections between Americans

and Nigerians. Satterfield will also build on a recent visit by Secretary of State, Mr. Antony Blinken to Nigeria. Blinken’s visit to Nigeria in January, according to the US State Department, was part of a bid to forge a united front with key African democracies

as crisis engulfed the world.

According to the statement on the US Mission website, Satterfield will visit Abuja and Lagos State during her visit.

The statement read, “From March 17-22, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield

will travel to Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria.

“While in Nigeria, Assistant Secretary Satterfield will advance key bilateral priorities, including expanding access to education and bolstering economic opportunities through the creative arts.

“Assistant Secretary Satterfield’s trip to Nigeria builds on a recent visit by Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken and reinforces the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to Africa by focusing on peopleto-people connections between Americans and Nigerians.”

LABOUR PARTY, NLC FIGHT DIRTY OVER SCHEDULED NATIONAL CONVENTION, CALL FOR ABURE, AJAERO’S RESIGNATIONS

party in Umuahia, Abia State.

The NLC Political Commission also asked the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Julius Abure, to resign immediately to give way for a caretaker transition committee, which will organise a legitimate and all-inclusive national convention.

In a statement signed by the Chairperson of the NLC Political Commission, Comrade Titus Amba, and the Secretary, Comrade Chris Uyot, the labour movement said it no longer has confidence in Abure's leadership and urged him to resign immediately.

The labour movement accused Abure of acting as a sole proprietorship of the party by seeking to single-handedly organise a national convention without the consent and input of other key stakeholders.

NLC said the leadership of LP never informed it of plans to hold a National Convention.

It accused Abure of deploying all manner of subterfuge to undermine the efforts of NLC to reposition the LP as the number one political party in Nigeria, including shunning invitations to meet with the NLC Political Commission.

The union alleged that Abure had in April 2023 also tried to unilaterally extend his tenure in office by two years.

It said the action of Abure was in contravention of the consent judgment delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court on March 20, 2018, as part of the resolution of the crisis that bedeviled the party.

But responding to the NLC in a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, the party insisted that the proposed convention would go ahead as the constitution of the party already stipulated those who could take part in it.

The party said the rascality of the NLC President, Ajaero had destroyed successes already recorded by the party.

It said the undue interference of the NLC in its affairs had become worrisome, adding that it had become needful to emphasize that the party had a life of its own different from that of the NLC.

According to the LP, the interference of the present leadership of the NLC on the party was “really choking and we can hardly breathe.”

The statement read: “The NLC letter did not come to us as a surprise or a shock; it was long expected before now, having known that the NLC was going to engage itself in this misadventure.

“Nigerians will recall that in 2014, NLC has been involved in a war of blackmail and attrition against the Labour Party and its leadership. It was only recently, following the civil and diplomatic approach adopted by Barrister Julius Abure when he assumed leadership that he was able to get the then President of the NLC, Ayuba Waba, and the then President of the Trade Union Congress, Olaleye Quadri to a truce where the NLC, TUC and Labour Party agreed to work together in harmony.

“Unfortunately, the rascality of the current President of the NLC, Joe Ajero has destroyed the successes already recorded. It must be noted that the NLC and its political commission have become a bundle of contradiction and paradox.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress has written several letters to the

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and to the party on the need to conduct a national convention. In fact, the NLC has questioned even the rationale behind the one-year extension, which was graciously granted by the NEC in session in Asaba, which is in line with the party constitution.

“The leadership of the party in its wisdom has decided to yield to their agitation for a convocation of a national convention. Article 14:4(b) of our party constitution mandates the National Secretary in consultation with the National Chairman to issue notices of meetings of National Convention, NEC, NWC amongst others. It is in the exercise of this power that the national chairman and national Secretary have called for the convention following the decision of the national executive council of the party. It is therefore ironic for the same NLC which has been agitating for a convention to now be demanding the rationale for the call for a convention.

“At this point, the leadership of the party wants to ask the NLC, what exactly do they want? If Joe Ajero is interested in the leadership of the party, he is therefore advised to resign as the President of the NLC and join in the contest for the national chairmanship of the party that is scheduled for the convention on the 27th of March, 2024.

“We must note that undue interference by the Nigeria Labour

Congress on the affairs of the party has become worrisome and it has become needful to emphasize here the distinction that the Labour Party has a life of its own different from that of the Nigeria Labour Congress. In fact, the 1999 Constitution states clearly that once a political party is registered, it has a life of its own whereby it can run its own affairs without any interference,”

LP explained.

“The Electoral Act and the Constitution provide that no organisation can own any other organisation. The NLC as an organisation cannot claim the ownership of the Labour Party. The constitution of the party is clear that it is only those who subscribe to the party and those who are financial members of the party

are the owners of the party and therefore can have a say on the affairs of the party,” LP added.

“The interference of the present leadership of the NLC on the party is really choking and we can hardly breathe. It is this NLC leadership which pressured the Party not to give His Excellency, Alex Otti the governorship ticket for the 2023 general election on the ground that he was allegedly not

workers’ friendly when he was a Chief Executive of a bank. But today, that same Alex Otti is doing the Labour Party proud with the work he is doing in Abia State.

“It will shock Nigerians to know that members and officials of the NLC are not even card-carrying members of the Labour Party. All over the country, NLC members are supporting either the APC or the PDP,” LP explained.

GBAJABIAMILA: TINUBU DETERMINED TO RESOLVE POWER SUPPLY SHORTFALL, ENERGY THEFT, ESTIMATED BILLING

rather than damage them.

Gbajabiamila disclosed these in Lagos at the inauguration of two 20MVA injection substations in the Surulere area of the state, which were installed by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKEDC).

Represented by the lawmaker representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun, Gbajabiamila said that President Tinubu was also concerned about cases of energy theft, estimated billing, and stealing of power infrastructure.

He said the citizens must protect power infrastructure in their various communities as the federal government expects the electricity distribution companies (Discos) to address cases of estimated billing and poor meter distribution.

"As we always say, access to reliable electricity is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right that drives

productivity, fosters innovation, and improves the quality of life for all citizens. I like that the mantra of Eko Disco resonates with that," Gbajabiamila said.

Gbajabiamila stated: "It is with immense pride and excitement that I stand before you today on this momentous occasion of the commissioning of the Randle 2 X 20MVA Injection Substation located in and for the use of the good people of my very own constituency, Surulere, Lagos.

The Chief of Staff pointed out that the inauguration of the injection substations was a testament to the power of partnership and the tireless efforts of all stakeholders involved.

He stressed that the government's collaboration with Eko Disco alongside other stakeholders, had been pivotal in bringing the project to fruition.

"We have demonstrated what

can be achieved when public and private entities join forces with a shared purpose. As earlier mentioned, one of the two units of the 20MVA Injection substations was facilitated during my tenure as Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives to restate our commitment to the improvement of electricity supply in our community," he revealed.

In his remarks at the event, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, said, “We are working very well to ensure that in the coming years, there will be segments in this city that would say goodbye to darkness. Pay bills, don’t beat up staff, don’t bypass meters or involved in anything that would hinder their business.”

On his part, the Chairman of

the Board of Directors of EKEDC, Dr. Dere Otubu, said the company, being an advocate of improving the quality of lives of Lagos residents, was positioned to ensure the sustenance of the feat that had brought happiness to the people of the area.

Otubu said: "For this reason, we are here to witness the commissioning of the 2 by 20 MVA injection substation which will help boost power availability and supply to Lagos, especially, the residents of the Surulere Constituency.

"Light brings happiness, growth, development, and economic empowerment. Over the years, there have been tales of instability of power supply, but it has been resolved. For this project, the efforts of everyone from inception to completion are commendable. We urge the Surulere people to ensure that it is protected.”

CDS ORDERS MANHUNT FOR KILLERS OF LT COL, TWO MAJORS, CAPTAIN, 12 SOLDIERS IN DELTA

(AANI); and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), have called for an investigation into the incident.

While the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed that 16 officers and men were killed, community sources put the death toll at 22.

It was gathered that the military personnel were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Confirming the incident in a terse statement issued yesterday, the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, said the CDS, General Musa, has ordered the arrest and investigation of all those involved in the killing.

He said the incident was reported to the Delta State government.

The statement titled: ‘Situation Report on the Attack and Killing of Military Personnel on Peace Mission By Okuoma Community’, said the defence chief ordered the immediate arrest and investigation of all those involved.

"The troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State while on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March 2024.

"The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuoma and Okoloba communities both in Delta State," it said.

"The reinforcement team led by the commanding officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers.

"The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime.

"The occurrence has been reported to the Delta State government," it said.

The statement affirmed, however, that the military remained focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country.

"So far, a few arrests have been made while steps are in place to unravel the motive behind the attack," it said.

THISDAY gathered that the events leading to the killings began on Wednesday when the Bomadi Division of the Joint Task Force (JTF) led by a major embarked on a rescue mission to the Okuoma community to free a kidnapped youth said to be an indigene of the neighbouring Okoloba community in Bomadi LGA, who was abducted over the lingering land dispute between the two communities.

However, on the following day, another team of military personnel led by the commanding officer, a Lieutenant Colonel, went to the community to rescue the youth held hostage by the armed group but were all killed.

According to one of the survivors of the attack, a civilian who was in the military team, as well as the commander and his men were taken unaware while on their way back to the waterfront after a deadlocked roundtable discussion in the Okuoma community hall over the fate of the kidnapped youth.

"We were coming back to our boats after the unfruitful discussion to release the kidnapped victim from the Okoloba community. Suddenly, there were rains of bullets coming from all directions and some of us managed to escape. Many people were killed during the ambush, including a former lawmaker from the Okoloba community, who reported the matter to the JTF.

"But the commander and other

officers were held hostage and taken to an unknown destination towards the creek opposite the community", he explained.

It was learnt that 22 military officers and men, including the Lieutenant Colonel, two majors, one captain, and 18 soldiers were later confirmed dead.

Meanwhile, the lifeless body of the kidnapped youth has been recovered from the River Forcados, near the Ayakoromor community.

“Like other victims, he was blindfolded with hands tied behind his back," said a community source.

Oborevwori Condemns Killings, Condoles Military, Families of Victims

Delta State Governor, Oborevwori, has condemned the unprovoked killing of officers and soldiers.

He condoled with the military and the families of officers and soldiers who died in the attack.

Oborevwori, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, said: "The Government of Delta State is gravely disturbed by the violence and unprovoked killing of the officers and soldiers, which he described as alien to the culture of Deltans.”

The governor described the incident as despicable, adding also that it is not in sync with the culture and tradition of Deltans.

"On behalf of the government and good people of Delta State, I wish to condole, in particular, the families of the killed gallant officers and soldiers, the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces of Nigeria in general, over this sad occurrence,” the governor said.

The governor promised that the state government shall take all measures necessary to fish out

all those behind this dastardly act and ensure they are made to face the full wrath of the law.

According to him, the state is governed within the tenets of the rule of law and human decency, adding that such incidents cannot and will not be tolerated.

Dafinone, Falana, AANI, HURIWA Demand Probe

In a related development, the senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone; human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN); Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI); and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), have called for an investigation into the incident.

Reacting to the incident, Dafinone called on the federal and Delta State governments to urgently intervene to de-escalate the crisis in the Okuoma community in Ughelli South LGA. He also pleaded with the dramatis personae to sheath their swords for the sake of humanity.

Dafinone recalled that the leadership of the Okuoma community had raised an alarm of an alleged military invasion of their community on Thursday, March 14, 2024, following a land dispute with neighbouring community of Okoloba in Bomadi LGA, which led to the death of three young men, with women and children displaced, and with many buildings razed down.

While sympathising with the military authority over the loss of their men, he called on them to observe the military rules of engagement while dealing with civilians.

"I wish to appeal to the authority of the Nigerian army to act discreetly in this situation, that they should

not allow their emotions to take the better part of their professional judgment by toning down their operations and observing the rules of engagement while dealing with civilians at Okuoma.

"I also wish to call on our people in Okuoma to shun any act of violence that could further escalate this crisis, which could have been avoided if both parties allowed reason to prevail", he said.

Also reacting, Falana called on the Nigeria Police to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted into the case to prosecute the suspects without any delay.

“We join the members of the civilised humanity in condemning the brutality meted out to the military officers and soldiers as they were deployed for the peace-keeping mission to resolve the crisis in two warring communities in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.

“We are, however, pleased to note that the military remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country.

“Having regard to the massacre of innocent people when the military invaded Odi in Bayelsa State and Zaki Biam in Benue State in similar circumstances, we commend the military authorities for resisting the temptation to subject the two warring communities to a reprisal attack. By all means, the army should avoid a repeat of the history of having multiple tragedies.”

“The Delta State Government, the respective local governments, and the leaders of two warring communities should assist the police to identify and isolate the remaining reckless murderers and unravel the motive behind the heinous crime,” Falana added.

Continued on page 6

HONOURING THE DEPARTED…

L-R: Rivers State Governor, Mr. Siminalayi

Opobo Town…yesterday

and

Governor,

Service Disruption: Repair Works Have Commenced on Undersea Cable Cuts, Says NCC

Glo 1 remains unaffected by internet outage NCC demands transparency from AI developers to earn consumers' trust

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said repair works have commenced on the undersea cable cuts resulting in equipment faults on the major undersea cables along the West African Coast on Thursday.

However, Glo 1, which is owned by Globacom, the largest provider of digital services in Nigeria, was untouched by the damage and is still running as usual.

The incident negatively impacted data and fixed telecoms services in several countries of West Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Cote d’Ivoire, among others, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said.

Meanwhile, the NCC has urged

developers of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to be transparent and to consider consumers' trust when developing devices that have to do with consumer rights protection and privacy.

NCC in a statement said operators of these cables have commenced repairs already, and services are gradually being restored.

The NCC said the cuts occurred somewhere in Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal, with an attendant disruption in Portugal, the NCC in the statement added.

“Cable companies – West African Cable System (WACS) and African Coast to Europe (ACE) in the West Coast route from Europe have experienced faults while SAT3 and MainOne have downtime. Similar undersea cables providing traffic from Europe to the East Coast of Africa,

like Seacom, Europe India Gateway (EIG), and Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE1), are said to have been cut at some point around the Red Sea, resulting in degradation of services across on these routes.

“In Nigeria and other West African countries, Internet access and speed have experienced disruptions in the networks of service providers in the affected countries,” the NCC explained.

Meanwhile, Glo 1, which is owned by Globacom, the largest provider of digital services in Nigeria, was untouched by the damage and is still running as usual.

Glo 1-powered financial institutions, internet service providers, and data consumers have all carried on with business as usual. Industry observers are of the view that Glo 1 International Submarine Cable's

resilient construction and durability are the reasons the damage did not compromise the cable.

In another development, the NCC has urged developers of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to be transparent and to consider consumers' trust when developing devices that have to do with consumer rights protection and privacy. The NCC Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Dr. Aminu Maida gave the advice during the celebration of World Consumer Rights Day, in Abuja with the theme "Fair and Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Consumer”

He enjoined developers of AI systems that have to do with consumers to be transparent in developing problem-solving solutions that will enable issues to be traced,

US Emerges World’s Biggest Methane Emitter Despite Pressure on Nigeria to Jettison Fossil Fuels

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

A new report has listed the United States as the world’s highest methane emitter, despite sending a number of delegations to convince Nigeria and other fossil fuels-rich African countries to abandon their natural resources.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) in its latest report said that the US was followed by Russia and then China, which is one of the biggest coal energy users in the world.

Methane emissions from the energy sector, the IEA said, remained near a record high in 2023 – but stated that substantial policies and regulations announced in recent months have the potential to put them into decline soon.

The IEA’s latest update of its “Global Methane Tracker” is the first comprehensive assessment of

global methane emissions since the COP28 climate summit concluded in December.

The new IEA analysis found that the production and use of fossil fuels resulted in close to 120 million tonnes of methane emissions in 2023, a small rise compared with 2022.

Another 10 million tonnes of methane emissions came from bioenergy, mostly from the traditional use of biomass for activities such as cooking, it said.

According to the report, the top 10 emitting countries were responsible for around 80 million tonnes of methane emissions from fossil fuels in 2023, two-thirds of the global total.

Aside the Special Envoy to President Joe Biden on Climate, John Kerry, being in Nigeria recently with several other US bigwigs to convince the country to

embrace renewables, many delegations from Europe had also visited Nigeria for the same reason.

However, Nigeria has always maintained that it will deploy its God-given resources to transit to net zero by 2060.

“The United States – the largest global producer of oil and gas – is also the largest emitter from oil and gas operations, closely followed by Russia. China is by far the highest emitter in the coal sector,” the IEA report said.

According to the report, satellites identified a substantial increase in major fossil fuel leaks in 2023 compared with 2022, with more than 5 million tonnes of emissions detected.

“According to the IEA’s new analysis, around 40 per cent of methane emissions from fossil fuel operations

CDS ORDERS MANHUNT FOR KILLERS

OF LT

in 2023 could have been avoided at no net cost, since the value of the captured methane was higher than the cost of the abatement measure.

“Reducing methane emissions from fossil fuels by 75 per cent by 2030 would require about $170 billion in spending – less than 5 per cent of the income generated by the fossil fuel industry in 2023,” it added.

According to the IEA, this includes around $100 billion of spending in the oil and gas sector and $70 billion in the coal industry.

Earlier in the month, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, affirmed that Nigeria will not be cajoled into jettisoning the production of fossil fuels, insisting that the country will handle the energy transition programme on its own terms.

COL, TWO MAJORS, CAPTAIN, 12 SOLDIERS IN DELTA

On its part, the AANI has demanded justice for the brave soldiers with no leniency to the perpetrators while describing the killings as unforgivable.

A statement by the President of the association, Ambassador Emmanuel Okafor added that the act was an affront to the nation’s values.

“This is an unforgivable affront to our nation’s values, therefore our hearts bleed for the families

of these fallen soldiers. “The perpetrators, including the community leaders, must face the full force of the law. No one who dares to spill the blood of our defenders and attack Nigeria should escape justice. The perpetrators must face swift justice, with no leniency shown to those who dare to spill the blood of our beloved soldiers, for whatever reason,” he said. Also reacting, HURIWA,

in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, described the killings as insensitive, senseless, misdirected, absolutely reprehensible, and an act of terrorism.

HURIWA has also thrown her support to the order made by the Chief of Defence Staff for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the killers.

HURIWA said the killers of those soldiers aimed to expand

the frontiers of the conflicts and to draw in the armed forces of Nigeria to become a party in the needless infighting amongst the gangsters.

The rights group praised the Nigeria Army for exercising restraints, saying that for the Chief of Defence Staff to opt for observing the principles of rule of law shows a high level of compliance to the rules of engagement which is highly encouraging.

and mistakes corrected.

Maida who was represented by the NCC Executive Commissioner, Technical Services Designate, Abraham Oshadami, said AI developers must be transparent to make sure that consumers trust the outcome of AI in transactions.

"AI developers need to be transparent about the data, algorithms, and models used in AI systems. This ensures that decisions made by AI can be explained and mistakes can be fixed to ensure everyone is treated fairly, regardless of their background.

"This helps prevent biased decisions or discrimination thereby promoting inclusivity and equality.

"Protecting citizens’ privacy is extremely important when using AI. Organisations should handle personal data responsibly, following strict privacy regulations. Respecting privacy builds trust in AI systems," he said.

According to him, for consumers not to doubt AI solutions, "responsible

AI requires mechanisms for holding systems accountable and explaining their decisions. Consumers should understand how AI systems work and have a way to address issues or biases."

He noted that the regulatory challenges come with AI, adding that "developing regulations and policies to govern AI deployment can be complex and as well as playing catch up due to technological advancements."

"Although most Legislative and governing Bodies are looking to regulate this technology, there has been a continuous struggle to strike the right balance between risk mitigation and stifling innovation, while promoting innovation and ensuring security and trust.

"In this era that has seen the rise of AI and IoT cybersecurity, it is important to break silos and foster collaboration of the Quadruple Helix Innovation model comprising of the Academia, the industry, government, and society to share ideas.

Panic as Armed Soldiers Abduct FirstNews Editor in Lagos

Segun James

Suspected soldiers on Friday allegedly abducted the Editor of FirstNews and former Kaduna Bureau Chief of The PUNCH, Segun Olatunji. Olatuni was said to have been picked up at his home in the Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State.

The management of the online newspaper linked the action to a recent story published by FirstNews titled, "Revealed: "Defence Chief Running Office like Family Business - Public Interest Lawyers," published by many other online platforms.

The abduction was also linked to another report titled: ‘Exclusive: How a contractor and company stole N100 billion, laundered funds for top govt officials – Investigation,' ' which was later pulled down. The arrest has caused panic among the staff of the newspaper. Narrating the incident, his wife, Abiodun Olatunji, said the armed men numbering about 10 arrived at their residence, a few minutes after 6pm and whisked her husband away without leaving any information behind as to where they were taking him to. She said her husband's abductors seized his phone immediately after

they arrived before bundling him into a van like a common criminal and zoomed off.

While further narrating the incident, she said efforts to know his offence or where they were taking him to were rebuffed by the stern-looking men.

"Some armed men dressed in military uniform totaling 10 in number (two in uniform and the remaining eight in mufti but all armed) arrived at our residence at Dauda Oriyomi Street, Iyana Odo along Joke Ayo in Abule Egba area of Lagos State and took away my husband.

"They refused to state his offence and where they were taking him to despite all the efforts to make them do so", she said.

The Publisher of FirstNews, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, who also confirmed the incident, said there has been no trace of Olatunji, as his phone line has been switched off, nor has anyone contacted his family or the management of FirstNews to disclose the real reason behind his abduction.

While condemning the way and manner Olatunji was whisked away, Iworiso-Markson stated that he was never invited formally to answer any issue that bothered national security.

Fubara; his wife, Valerie;

Bayelsa State

Senator Douye Diri, at the funeral service for Fubara’s mother in-law, Mrs. Adeline Ndalu Jaja, at the St. Paul's Anglican Church,

SIXTY HEARTY CHEERS…

L-R: Chairman, Sylva Frank International Limited, Chief Francis Chukudebelu; General Manager, Retail Airtel, Mrs. Linda Amechi; Managing Director, Sylva Frank International Limited, Dr. Chinyere Chukwudebelu; Chairman, Tomez Group, Chief Tony Ezeani; Director, Tomez

60th birthday celebrations of Tony Ezeani in Lagos…yesterday

Obi: It’s Reckless, Insensitive to Nigerians for OAGF to Hold Workshop in UK

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in last year’s election, Peter Obi, has criticised the holding of a workshop in London by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) for

Accountant Generals and Commissioners for Finance of the 36 states of the federation, saying it smacks of insensitivity to the worrisome plight of suffering Nigerians.

The OAGF held a meeting for the 36 state commissioners of finance and state accountant

general in London last week.

Obi, who said Nigerians must resist and denounce such recklessness as a clear show of insensitivity, warned on his X handle yesterday, that: “Nigerians must vehemently denounce and condemn the decision of Nigeria’s Accountant-General’s Office to

School Feeding Programme to Cover Basic Education, Says FG

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The federal government has said the suspended Home Grown School Feeding Programme would now cover basic education and not just the primary schools when the suspension order is lifted.

The Director of Basic Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Folake Olatunji-David, said this at the official launch and fundraiser of the Create that Change Development Initiative (CCDI) yesterday in Abuja.

“This programme (CCD launch) is a lofty idea and it demonstrates your unwavering demonstration in addressing the critical issues that we have in education that is advancing the well-being and development of children, adolescent and the society at large. Your innovative align with the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“We all know that we have the homegrown programme that is being put on hold for now. It is coming back stronger and better. Before now it only cover a segment of primary school.

The President (Tinubu) has said it will be for basic education in its entirety.

“We are planning, we don’t just want to come out without planning to ensure as soon as we receive the directives proper implementation is done. If it is the whole of primary school or basic education it will be done properly. We await further directives on this,” she said.

Speaking earlier, Mrs Sharon Ayeni, the Executive Director CCDI, said that, the initiative is a vision God gave her to make a meaningful difference in the world, to address pressing challenges and to uplift those in need in

Nigeria. “The vision CCDI has is big. Our goal is to take our flagship programme Enhancing Nutrition, Exercise and Reading Initiative (ENERI) to every state in the federation, we call this the ENERI effect! Our next target is to implement ENERI in three new schools, and we also have other initiatives in the pipeline,” Ayeni said.

She listed the initiative to include ‘Build Her Initiative’ meant to empower and uplift girls and young mothers addressing critical areas such as girl power, personal hygiene, education, skills acquisition, and protection from societal vices; and ‘Toilet Angels Initiative’ to construct essential toilet and hand washing facilities in schools participating in the ENERI program.

“This is the reason I left my former employment with the UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office of over three decades to return to Nigeria to set up the organisation and work towards changing today for a brighter tomorrow for the children and youth of Nigeria,” she said.

On his part, Dr. Fidelis Elom, Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of CCDI, said that Nigeria is confronted with staggering statistics that underscore the urgency of the CCDI cause.

“Nearly 350,000 lives have been lost to conflicts with extremist groups like Boko Haram, while millions more have been displaced from their homes. Additionally, youth unemployment stands at a concerning 32.5% perpetuating cycles of poverty and insecurity.

“Amidst these formidable challenges, however, lies a beacon of hope. Through

initiatives like the ENERI Project, CCDI stands ready to effect tangible change in the lives of our youth. By addressing critical needs such as nutrition, exercise, and access to education, we possess the power to reshape the trajectories of countless young lives,” Elom said.

hold a workshop in London. This decision is not only unacceptable but also deeply troubling on multiple levels.”

According to Obi, “Given the prevailing hardship in the country and the pitiable state of our national currency, any public function abroad amounts to insensitivity on the part of the government and any agency or individuals involved.

“First and foremost, it represents a blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility and prudent expenditure of public funds. At a time when Nigeria is grappling with economic challenges, including inflation, currency devaluation, and a widening budget deficit, it is utterly irresponsible to squander taxpayer’s money on extravagant overseas workshops.

“The resources allocated for such purposes should be

directed towards addressing pressing domestic needs, such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and poverty alleviation.

“Furthermore, holding a workshop in London sends the wrong message to the Nigerian people and the international community. It perpetuates the perception of government officials indulging in luxury and extravagance at the expense of the common citizen. It fosters a culture of elitism and detachment from the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians, who struggle daily to make ends meet amidst rising living costs and limited access to essential services.

“Moreover, there are serious questions regarding the necessity and effectiveness of conducting a workshop abroad, particularly in a city as expensive as London. Nigeria is home to numerous

highly qualified professionals and experts who are more than capable of providing the required training and expertise.

“By outsourcing such activities to foreign countries, the government not only undermines local expertise but also fails to leverage the wealth of knowledge and experience within the nation’s borders.

“Additionally, holding a workshop in London raises concerns about transparency and accountability in government procurement processes.

“There must be full disclosure and justification for why London was chosen as the venue, as well as how the selection of vendors and contractors was made.

“Any hint of impropriety or favouritism in awarding contracts for such events must be thoroughly investigated and addressed," Obi added.

Budget Padding Controversy: ACF Kicks against Ningi’s Suspension

Action is democratic, but despotic and tyrannical, says senior lawyer

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna

The pan-northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), yesterday condemned the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi over the alleged padding of the 2024 budget to the tune of N3.7 trillion by the Senate.

This is as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jubril Samuel Okutekpa, said the suspension was democratic but smacked of despotism and tyranny.

Ningi had in an earlier interview with the BBC made the allegations that culminated in his three-month suspension for what the Senate labelled an unfounded allegation.

However, the pan-northern organisation noted with regret that rather than suspending the Senator representing Bauchi North, the red chamber should have allowed an independent investigation into the matter.

The ACF, through its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur-

Baba, in a statement in Kaduna, said the process that culminated in Ningi’s suspension appeared rushed, “looking more on the messenger rather than his message.”

According to the forum, with the suspension of Ningi, who had served as the leader of the Northern Senators Forum, the interests of many communities in the region are at stake.

The ACF noted that rather than taking a rushed suspension of Ningi, it preferred a thorough investigation of the allegation by a statutory or ad hoc committee of the Senate.

The statement was titled, ‘ACF regrets suspension of Senator Ningi from 10th Senate, calls for more open debates on issues.’

It read in parts, “ACF does not wish to engage in debate with the Senate. Still, on the whole, the process appeared nimbly rushed, with concerns looking more at the messenger rather than his message.

“ACF notes that the allegation has since been denied by the 10th

Senate as lacking in veracity. However, the interests of many communities in Northern Nigeria are at stake.

“Rather than the route of a rushed suspension of Senator Ningi, ACF prefers a thorough investigation of the allegation by some statutory or ad hoc committee of the Senate.

“ACF regrets that Bauchi Central will be without representation in the 10th Senate for three months, and stands with Senator Ningi and his supporters in whatever constitutional means they seek to respond for a satisfactory denouement to this sad development.

“ACF also calls on the 10th Senate to act with more circumspection and sensitivity in processing criticism of its operations. Robust debates on public policy issues undoubtedly strengthen the development of the democratic project.”

Meanwhile, a senior lawyer, Samuel Okutekpa (SAN), has said the suspension of the senator

though democratic, smacks of despotism and tyranny.

In a statement on his X account, Okutekpa said:

“No one, it is also said can be the accuser, prosecutor, and judge at the same time. That is what the Senate and the Senate President have done in the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi. It is against the letter and the spirit of Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999”.

"In suspending Senator Abdul Ningi from the Senate for the next three months, the Senate relied on and invoked its powers under the Senate Rules to suspend the distinguished Senator. How the Senate suspended distinguished Senator Abdul Ningi raises fundamental constitutional questions of grave importance to constitutional democracy," he stressed.

"For me, what was on display at the suspension was democratic rascality not rooted in good conscience. It was a cover-up decision.”

Group, Mrs. Edith Ezeani; and Principal Partner, Perimeter Associates, Mr. Ikenna Amechi, at the

NASARAWA AFFAIR…

Police Begin Operation to Rescue Kidnapped Edo PDP Chairman as Party Demands Urgent Release from Captivity

The Edo State Police Command yesterday commenced rescue operations following the kidnap of the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Tony Aziegbemi.

This is as the national leadership of the party demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Aziegbemi.

Aziegbemi was kidnapped on Friday at a spot close to his residence at the Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Benin City, the state capital.

His abduction happened less than a month after the party’s primary election was held ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state.

A source said the abductors, operating in two Toyota Corolla cars, double-crossed the PDP chairman’s jeep at a speed bump in the area and abducted him.

Aziegbemi was said to be returning from a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki when the incident took place.

Narrating the ordeal, the driver to Aziegbemi said: “When we left Government House and headed home at about 11p.m, I noticed the cars trailing us; so, I decided to take a diversion. We never knew they were kidnappers.

“A few minutes later, the same cars appeared behind us at a speed breaker and blocked our car in the

front.”

He added that other gang members took over the chairman’s jeep and abandoned it on Sapele Road.

After confirming the incident in a statement, the Edo State Government said it was working closely with security operatives to ensure the victim regains freedom.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor, called on Edo residents to avail the police of useful information that would lead to the timely rescue of the PDP chairman.

He said the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, received the report of the incident with shock.

“The Commissioner of Police Edo State Command, Funsho Adegboye, who received the report of the incident with a shock, immediately gave a marching order to the tactical team leaders to conduct a rescue party, in collaboration with the vigilante’s group and the hunters to rescue him unhurt,” the statement read.

“He, however, solicited the cooperation of the law-abiding citizens of Edo State and urged them to give information to the police that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators and the rescue of the victim unhurt,” the statement explained.

Meanwhile, the national leadership of the PDP has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Aziegbemi.

The PDP on a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, expressed serious concerns over Aziegbemi’s abduction which it said, further points to the alarming failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled federal government in its primary duty to ensure the security and welfare of Nigerians as provided under Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

According to the PDP spokesman, "Our party is distressed by the alarming spate of abduction of helpless Nigerians in various parts of the country, particularly the recent kidnap of about 286 school children in Kaduna State and others in Sokoto State, who are still being held in horrifying and traumatising conditions in their abductor’s den.

"It is heartrending that the APC administration continues to give false assurances while Nigerians are left at the mercies of kidnappers, bandits, terrorists and marauders without corresponding concrete effort to check the ugly occurrences."

The party called on the federal government to end its laidback attitude to security by immediately rejigging the national security architecture, especially in the areas of intelligence gathering, security command and control coordination in a manner that not only proactively ensure the safety of citizens, but also guarantees rapid respond and

Reject FG's Demand for Grazing Lands, Middle Belt Group Tells Govs

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

A Middle Belt group, Middle Belt Patriots, has urged state governors to reject pressure from the federal government to cede lands in their states to herders for grazing, adding that yielding to such demands will worsen the security situation in the region and indeed other parts of the country.

In a statement issued yesterday and signed by its Director of Media and Strategic Communications, Mr. Steven Kefas, the group expressed concern over the manner the federal government constantly panders to the interests of the pastoralists at the detriment and displacement of the indigenous populations whose lands and lives are being overrun by the armed ethnic militias affiliated with the herders.

Warning that the people of the Middle Belt would resist any attempt to dispossess them of their God-given heritage, the group described the

stance of the federal government on grazing land as provocative.

The group said, “We vehemently condemn and reject the recent directive from the federal government asking state governors to make land available for grazing by Fulani herdsmen. This provocative and ill-advised order shows a shocking disregard for the already tenuous security situation in the Middle Belt region that has been under sustained violent attack by armed Fulani ethnic militias.

“We sternly warn the political leaders, monarchs, and youth/ community leaders of the Middle Belt region-Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, and sections of Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, Southern Kaduna, and Gombe states to outright disregard and defy this reckless federal directive.

“Capitulating to these demands and ceding more land for grazers will only fan the flames of the ethnic clashes, further the genocidal

massacres, escalate the violent displacement of indigenes from their ancestral lands, and jeopardize the fragile peace in a region that has already suffered immensely.

“The grazing of cattle is a private business enterprise; it leaves more questions than answers as to why the federal government is deliberately arrogating farmlands to themselves to be handed over to private herders?

We forcefully remind the authorities in Abuja that pig farmers in the core northern Sharia states like Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, Jigawa and Sokoto have to struggle, invest and acquire land for their vocations without any such unconstitutional government directives.

“The same should apply to the cattle herders - if they need land for their trade, they should approach willing farmers and residents to lease or purchase lands for grazing through legitimate means. No farmer or landowner should be forcibly dispossessed of their property.

effective rescue operations.

It commended the gallant security personnel in their patriotic effort to secure the nation and urges them not to relent despite the daunting challenges.

The party also commended the efforts of Governor Obaseki

particularly in the deployment of effective security frameworks and structures which the security agencies should leverage on to further guarantee the safety of citizens in Edo State and other parts of the country. While calling on Nigerians to

be prayerful, alert and continue to support the security agencies, the party charged the security high command to take urgent steps to secure the release of Aziegbemi and all other Nigerians trapped in abductors’ camps in various parts of the country.

APC Vows Not to Register Members Without PVCs

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Ahead of its forthcoming membership registration, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that only those with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will be admitted into the party.

It added that it would no longer delude itself with postulations by some of its past leaders that it has over 40 million members, even when it got less than nine million votes in the last presidential election.

The Chairman of APC in Cross River state and Secretary of Forum of APC State Chairmen, Alphonsus Ogah disclosed this yesterday after a meeting with the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje in Abuja.

He said: "It is time to face the reality because we have a president who is a progressive. We have a national chairman, who is a progressive. You have state chairmen who are very progressive-minded, and therefore, we will be most comfortable if today we know we have 10 million registered members in APC but we must match them with their PVCs.

"If you don't have any PVC,

we would wait until the time you get your PVCs to now register with us so that we can match your registration with the PVC and we will be able to make a prognostication on what can be the outcome of an election even before 2027".

On the visit to the president, the forum explained its call for the sack of non-performing security chiefs, alleging that some persons are out to distract him.

Ogah added: "We took the opportunity too to speak on some very important national issues. We align ourselves with the efforts of the economic reforms being made by Mr. President, but we didn't lose sight of letting the president know that as good as these economic reforms are, we are concerned about the insecurity in Nigeria.

"We are concerned about the hunger and hardship and therefore, it was a moment for us too to commend Mr. President because we all agreed and you too will agree, that this country is on a voyage, it would have been thrown into oblivion if subsidy was not removed, and if the floating of the naira which through another name you can

comfortably call subsidy on the dollar, were not replaced by Mr. President.

The reality of these reforms today is only the headway that can give us light in this country and we wasted no time in commending Mr. President on that.

"We made it very clear to Mr. President that no reasonable person will expect him as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to take up arms and go round the crannies of Nigeria to fight the criminal elements, bandits, kidnappers, and armed robbers. And that is why the Constitution of Nigeria has created the security agencies saddled with this responsibility."

Ganduje who described the meeting as very important said the president had granted the requests of the chairmen, especially about political appointments.

He said; "This is a very important courtesy call you made on Mr. President. He is so happy with it and it will continue like this. He has granted your requests, especially on political appointments. He is doing something about it.

Suswam Declares Ambition to Succeed Ayu as PDP National Chairman

George Okoh in Makurdi

Former Benue State Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, has declared his ambition for the position of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He is seeking to replace Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, a Benue State indigene, who was last year sacked by the court.

The former senator for Benue North East declared this to the state chapter of the PDP, State Working Committee (SWC), and PDP Caucus of the Benue North East Senatorial Zone at separate meetings in Makurdi and Katsina-Ala town, respectively.

Suswam had represented

Katsina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2007 before he served as Governor from 2007 to 2015.

He lost his bid to go to the Senate in 2015 but got elected into the Red Chamber in 2019. He lost his re-election bid in 2023.

Speaking at both meetings, Suswam said in line with the tradition of the PDP, he is the right person to replace the former PDP National Chairman, Ayu.

He solicited the support of PDP members from the Benue North East Senatorial zone and the SWC of the PDP in Benue State.

He said the support of the leaders of the party, including former Governor Samuel Ortom, Senator David Mark, Senator Abba

Moro, and the SWC was crucial for his ambition.

A member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Mrs. Margaret Icheen; governorship candidate of PDP in 2023, Hon. Titus Uba; the zonal chairman of the party, Hon. Azua Ashongu; North-central secretary of the party, Hon. Maurice Tsav; a member of Benue State House of Assembly representing Logo constituency, Hon. Samuel Shimapever Jiji; Hon. Terhemen Ndiirsaa; Mrs. Mwuese Ubebe; Wuayolna, Bemgba Chia, Hon. Paul Ubwa, Hon. Alfred Iorpav and Bob Tyough, were some of the party leaders who spoke at the event and passed a vote of confidence on Suswam.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-City

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Tingo Mobile, Auwal Maude-Tahi; Media Consultant, Adeniyi Ifetayo; Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasarawa State, Aliyu Bello; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Nasarawa State; Mr. Labaran Shuaibu; and Founder, Tingo Group, Mr. Dozy Mmobuosi; during the meeting on Nasarawa grassroots sports development in Abuja… yesterday.

Northern Governors Recommend Non-kinetic Approach to Tackle Security Challenges

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has echoed the growing consensus among

stakeholders that addressing the complex security challenges plaguing the northern region and Nigeria at large requires a united front and coordinated

Gowon, Obasanjo, Jonathan, Anyaoku, Others for 10th Confab Anniversary

Eminent Nigerians, including former Heads of State and Presidents of Nigeria, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Emeka Anyaoku, Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, Former Chief of Army Staff, TY Danjuma, are now set to address the constitutional dialogue on the future of Nigeria holding on Monday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.

Others are the Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, Ango Abdullahi, Leader of the Niger Delta, Edwin Clark, Former Chief of Defence Staff, Alani Akinriade, Northern Elder,

Tanko Yakassai, Leader of Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, serving and former governors and legislators and eminent northern and southern leaders.

The Chairman of the Patriots, a group of eminent leaders of thought in Nigeria, Chief Anyaoku, in a statement said the dialogue titled: “Lawful Procedures for Actualising a People’s Constitution For Nigeria,” is designed to help build national consensus, especially among the Nigerian elite on the constitutional future of Nigeria, particularly on how to make Nigeria work for all its diverse peoples and citizens.

MACBAN Seeks Retention of Nomadic Education

The National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Baba Ngelzarma, has called on President Bola Tinubu to retain the National Commission for Nomadic Education as an agency under the Ministry of Education.

According to him, the commission has a special mandate of providing basic education to nomadic communities in the country.

The federal government on February 28, 2024, stated that parts of the recommendations in the 12-year-old Oronsaye report would be implemented.

The 800-page report recommended that 263 of the statutory agencies be slashed to 161; 38 agencies be scrapped; 52 be

merged and 14 be reverted to departments in various ministries, among others.

Speaking while reading a communique issued after a security summit on Saturday, Ngelzarma stated that not retaining the commission with adequate funding to educate the children is an imminent danger to the country.

He said, “The committee constituted to implement the recommendations of the Orasanya Report, to consider as a necessity the retention of the National Commission for Nomadic Education as an Agency of the Federal Ministry of Education with the specialised mandate of ensuring the delivery of functional basic education to nomadic communities.

action among security forces and government agencies at all levels.

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, who spoke on behalf of the governors affirmed the readiness of northern governors to complement the kinetic approach advocated by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, with non-kinetic strategies.

Governor Yahaya made this assertion during a high-level security meeting involving

the 19 Northern Governors, Ministers of Defence, Police Affairs, and Interior, as well as the nation’s security chiefs.

The meeting, convened by the National Security Adviser, Ribadu in Abuja with Service Chiefs, was aimed at strategising on combating the escalating security threats in the northern region.

The Director-General (Press Affairs), Government House, Gombe, Ismaila Uba Misilli, in a statement made available to THISDAY said: “Expressing deep concern over the

prevailing security situation, Governor Inuwa reiterated the commitment of northern governors to work closely with security agencies in seeking enduring solutions.

“He stressed the need for exploring alternative approaches to achieve better results in combating security challenges.

“In view of the security situation across the North, we are increasingly concerned and recognise the necessity to deliberate, review, and consider alternative options to improve outcomes,”

Governor Inuwa stated.

The NSGF Chairman emphasised the importance of combining both approaches to enhance the overall security situation in the country.

“We are open to the kinetic approach proposed by the NSA. Our deliberation with key stakeholders in the security sector has been productive. While acknowledging their commendable efforts, we recognise the need to adopt a different approach, particularly by integrating nonkinetic methods,” Inuwa added.

Yobe Emerges Best State in Subnational Audit Efficacy

Michael Olugbode in Damaturu|

Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, has assured that his administration would strengthen accountability and transparency in governance for effective service delivery and to get value for money.

The governor made the promise on Saturday while responding to the first position clinched by Yobe State in the 2023 subnational Audit Efficacy Index report on accountability and transparency in public funds.

He said: “The state gov-

ernment, through the Fiscal Responsibility Board, instituted reforms in public finance which have translated into worthy investments, accountability and transparency in government transactions.

“I am glad to say that our audit department and institutions like the Bureau for Public Procurement are independent and ensure transparency and accountability of government expenditure, which has placed the state above board.

“We will continue to

strengthen these institutions to promote accountability and transparency in every expenditure of public funds,” Governor. Buni said.

Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (Plsi), an internationally recognized civil society group noted for tracking public accountability and transparency in the expenditure of public funds, scored Yobe and Ekiti states as the overall best among the 36 states in the country.

According to Plsi, critical factors including getting value

for public funds, audit legal framework and operationalization, annual activity report, publication of annual audit report, and performances were considered in the assessment process.

Other critical components of the assessment include citizens’ account reports, civil societies and media participation reports, and monitoring and oversight functions of the legislative committee on public accounts.

Yobe State won the first position for the 2023 subnational Audit Efficacy Index report after winning the second position in 2022.

Digitalisation of Health Record Key to Tinubu’sVision for Nigeria, Says Pate

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has said that digitising the Nigeria’s healthcare data is one key transformational agenda of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

Speaking at the weekend during the inauguration of the committee on the implementation

of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) platforms in Abuja, Pate said the main thrust of the initiative is to make patient healthcare services more efficient and cost-effective.

He said the aim is to keep track of patient data, promote research, provide treatment, and manage operations and resources in the country’s health sector. According to the minister, the

effort will not lead to improvement in the healthcare delivery system but assist the government in maintaining accurate and believable health data for effective intervention and planning.

The 20-member committee headed by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa is expected to midwife data policy, regulation, and repository management and serve as an ombudsman

to establish a national digital health environment that will support the scale-up of digital health interventions such as our national unified EMR platform. The coordinating minister said that the technology behind the health data digitalisation initiative will be largely driven by the private sector and enable Nigeria to process and maintain accurate data for policy and development interventions.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Police Rescue Four Kidnapped Victims in Akwa Ibom, Arrest 52 Crime Suspects

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The Nigeria Police Force, Akwa Ibom State Command has rescued four kidnapped victims including a woman, who faked her kidnap, and arrested 52 other suspects for various crimes.

Some of the offences included;

murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, child trafficking, cultism, and fraud.

The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, CP Waheed Ayilara, disclosed this in a press conference in Uyo weekend.

Ayilara, who assumed duty recently said that one of the rescued

Ghanaian High Commissioner, Rashid Bawa, Dies in Abuja, Buried in Accra

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Ghanaian High Commission in Nigeria has announced the sudden passing of its High Commissioner to Nigeria, Rashid Bawa.

According to a statement yesterday, Bawa passed away on March 14, 2024 in Abuja.

The statement revealed that the funeral proceedings were promptly carried out, and his body was transported to Accra for burial according to Islamic rites.

The statement read: “In memory of His Excellency Alhaji Rashid Bawa, a Book of Condolence will be available for signing at the Chancery in Abuja on the following dates and times: Wednesday, 20th March 2024 to Friday, 22nd March 2024, from 11 am to 4 pm; Monday, 25th March 2024 to Wednesday, 27th March 2024, from 11 am to 4 pm.”

The High Commission urged all to join in paying respects and honouring the legacy of the departed High Commissioner.

victims, Imaobong Sampson (f) of Nung Oku Village in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, who arranged her kidnap and demanded for N4 million was arrested by operatives of the command.

“On March 11, 2024, at 1000hrs, a report was received from one Enobong Sampson that her sister Imaobong Sampson Francis Sampson was kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding N4 million as ransom.

“As a result, operatives of Anti kidnapping squad of the Command embarked on an intense

and intelligence-driven operation, to track down the perpetrators and rescue the victim.

“On March 12, 2024, at about 2315hrs the said purported victim, one Imaobong Sampson, and her boyfriend, Beltus Ebong, were arrested in a hideout at Mbierebe Obio, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.

“She confessed to having conspired with her boyfriend, Beltus, and three others to proclaim her kidnap to raise money from her aunt, who is based abroad,” Ayilara said.

The CP added that within the

period, on March 13, based on intelligence, the operatives of the command arrested one Okon Edet (m) of Uruting village in Okobo LGA for killing his father, Chief Okon Edet aged 75, of the same address by beating him mercilessly machete, leading to his death.

Edet alleged that the late father had sold all the parcels of land he had, including the one that he gave to him to build his house as the reason for his action.

Ayilara further said that on March 8, the operatives of anti robbery squad of the command

arrested one Akanimo Akpan of Efa Ayam village in Etinan LGA, who was involved in adulterated fruits drinks and other products.

He added that also on March 8, at about 1600hrs, one Akan Edet was arrested for using Point Of Sale (POS) to defraud innocent citizens and was to be set ablaze but was rescued by operatives of COMPOL Monitoring Unit.

He added that most of those Akan Edet defrauded have identified him and the sum of N350,000 cash was recovered from him at the time of arrest.

FG Makes Case for Quality Assurance Mechanisms to Strengthen Open Universities

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has charged the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other regulatory agencies to come up with quality assurance mechanisms to strengthen open universities in Nigeria.

Mamman spoke in Abuja at the weekend at the unveiling and maiden matriculation ceremony of

the Al-Muhibbah Open University.

He asked the management of Al-Muhibbah Open University to offer programmes that are relevant to the local communities.

The minister said owing to the large pool of students searching for university education, there was a need to open up the system for private education to meet the educational yearnings of the youths.

Mamman said: “Open distance

learning education is a relatively new frontier for us and that is the direction our tertiary education is moving.

“I know for a fact; that the government ownership of open university has risen to over 700,000 students, the largest in Africa and the pool of young men and women who are interested in education is unsearchable and very large; so, certainly the government cannot meet these

demands.

“So, it is appropriate that we open the system to the private sector which is committed to the provision of this level of education.”

He said: “What we have at the moment is largely focused on conventional institutions, as we strengthen this level of university education; the public must have the assurance that they deliver the quality programmes, which they approve.

a q t m i m

Rising Beer Prices Compound Frustration Amid Economic Strains

As Nigerians grapple with persistent economic challenges, the recent wave of relentless beer price hikes threatens to extinguish one of the last vestiges of solace for ordinary citizens, as a cherished tradition in Nigerian culture becomes a luxury beyond reach for many, writes Festus Akanbi

Nothing better illustrates the seeming drift of the condition of living of the Nigerian people from better to worse than the recent erosion of Nigeria’s position from the ranking of the happiest people in Africa.

Unfortunately, Nigeria which was adjudged the happiest people in the world in 2003, by the World Values Survey, fell from the eminent position to emerge the eighth happiest people in Africa in a poll announced a fortnight ago. However, in the 2023 ranking, Mauritius emerged as the happiest country in Africa.

In explaining the prevailing experience in Nigeria, analysts said the harsh economic climate in Nigeria devastates people, fractures families and cripples businesses. This is be-

is still the one forced to provide alternative power supply, pay more for diesel, ply bad roads, deal with insecurity, and confront an uncertain future.

Sociologists said this explains why some take to alcohol consumption to suppress their anger, disappointment, and frustration, and of course to prepare them for what the future holds for them.

Season of Price Wars in Beer

Market

Last week, a new price regime began in the beer market as the nation’s major beer manufacturers announced new product prices.

Interestingly, the Nigerian Brewery, which a similar price increase on February 19, prompting beer consumers to wonder if the dispensation has become a monthly exercise.

The company unveiled the new pricetomers around the South-west zone signed by its zonal business manager.

The notice read: “As earlier informed, we will review the prices of some of our Stock March 2024. This review has become necessary because of the continued rising input cost and the need to mitigate the impact.”

Earlier in February, the Nigerian Breweries price hike was premised on rising production costs and the need to insulate the company against it. According to the report then, it was the third upward price review in a year.

Nigerian Breweries is the producer of Star lager beer, Gulder lager beer, Legend Extra Stout, Heineken lager beer, Life Continental lager, Ace Passion, Star Lite and Star Radler, 33 Export lager beer, Williams dark ale, Turbo Kings dark ale, More lager beer, Star Radler Red Fruits, and Desperados, among others.

Non-alcoholic drinks produced by the company include Maltina, Amstel Malta, Fayrouz, Climax Energy drink, and Malta Gold.

On February 19, when the old pricingup from N700.

from N490.

Similarly, Guinness Nigeria Plc and International Breweries Plc have also announced an upward increase in the prices of their beer, malt, and other range of products. They ascribed the latest price increase to the rising cost of production and the cost of doing business.

Guinness Nigeria said in a notice titled, “Price Increase by Guinness Nigeria Plc –Selected Brands,” which was signed by its Acting. Commercial Director, Mr. Olusanya Adesanya, said that the new range of prices

13, 2024.

Guinness stated: “Following the prevailing economic realities which have impacted materials and cost of doing business, this

is to inform you that we plan to take a price increase on selected SKUs in our Beer and MSS category.

“This new price structure will be 13, 2024, (Go-Live date) and further details will be communicated subsequently.”

Wholesalers, Retailers Count Losses

The latest spate of price increases has already caused some wholesalers and retailers of liquor and beverages sleepless nights as they decried the low level of patronage of their products amidst soaring costs.

According to a report, the stakeholders said there has been a 100 per cent price increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Since the removal of the subsidy on petrol by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023, there has been a steady increase in the prices of basic items and staples.

Companies in the manufacturing and FMCG space in the past 12 months have over the depreciation of the naira as imported raw materials become more expensive. part of a broader trend. In 2023, Nigeria’s challenging macroeconomic conditions severely impacted the functioning of international, within the country. This led to notable departures and shutdowns by the year’s end.

Amplifying Frustrations of Ev- eryday Life

that the recent price hikes imposed by beer manufacturers have threatened to sever the cherished bond between average Nigerians and their beloved brew, arguing that as the cost of indulging in this cultural staple climbs ever higher, access to the simple pleasure of sharing a cold beer with friends becomes a luxury beyond reach for many.

For a nation where camaraderie and

serve as barriers, erecting walls between people and the moments of respite they seek.

A Lagos-based businessman, Mr, Oladosu strain not only denies individuals the solace they once found in a refreshing drink but also the surface of everyday life, exacerbating the burdens of an already strained populace.

“This is because in the bustling streets of Nigeria, amidst the vibrant chaos and the hum of daily life, there exists a silent refuge sought by many—a refuge found in the amber hues of beer and the intoxicating embrace of alcohol,” he stated.

The practice is that in the dimly lit corners of bustling taverns and the lively chatter of roadside bars, Nigerians seek solace from the burdens that weigh heavy on their hearts. Frustration and depression, like uninvited guests, often linger in the minds of the weary, driven by the relentless demands of life. Yet, within the frothy respite—a reprieve from the harsh realities that confront them daily.

In these moments, laughter mingles with the clink of glasses, and worries are momentarily forgotten as the warmth of camaraderie washes over them. For many, the allure of alcohol is not merely a means of escape, but a ritual of release—a sacred ceremony of letting go, if only for a while. And so, amidst the trials and tribulations of Nigerian life, the embrace of alcohol servesing comfort to those who seek solace in its numbing embrace.

To maintain the role of beer as a bulwark to ordinary Nigerians in a period of economic uncertainty, there is a need to urgently address all the issues driving beer producers out of business. It is given that when the price keeps increasing, patronage and company revenue will shrink and in the the circle of misery will continue.

Aig-Imoukhuede’s Return to Access Holdings Plc

Festus Akanbi

For many reasons, the invitation of the pioneer Group Chief Exsoon.

Like Aig-Imoukhuede, Like Elumelu, Ovia and Others to return as the chairman of the institution he the appointment of Mr. Tony Elumelu as his retirement.

Expectations from Aig- Imoukhuede

of experience in the institution in particular

transform from a minor player into

The Man Aig-Imoukhuede

Aig-Imoukhuede

THE MYSTERY GUNMAN AND OTHER MYTHS FROM THE EAST

Many of the unknown gunmen are known, writes

CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU

See Page 20

OF FOREIGN RELATIONS AND ARAB-AFRICAN TRADE

FELIX OLADEJI argues the need for negotiation between Arab states and African countries for better market access

See Page 20

EDITORIAL ISSUES IN THE

2024 BUDGET CONTROVERSY

See Page 21

In affluence and avarice, both pastors and politicians operate on same frequencies, reckons MICHAEL OWHOKO

BETWEEN PENTECOSTAL PASTORS AND POLITICIANS

Disparity of roles between ecclesiastics and politicians are generally expected to translate to differences in values, lifestyles and creeds, but this pattern has been disrupted and bridged in Nigeria by materialism. Moral disconnects, lust and insatiability for money, wealth, fame, the men of God to the level of politicians. This is evident in the Pentecostal ministries where some founding pastors and general overseers {GOs} no longer exhibit ascetic disposition and restraints from material allures.

Men of God are ordained servants positioned to constantly communicate God’s values and work of Jesus Christ for redemption of mankind with humility women with devotion of brewed capitalists,

with responsibility of running government to primarily provide welfare and security of lives and properties for the people, but opt to make politics a career and business for generating wealth for themselves.

both pastors and politicians now operate in same frequencies. They buy private jets, lodge in diplomatic suits in 5-star hotels during local and foreign travels, send their children to expensive schools abroad, buy houses abroad, procure citizenship of foreign countries for themselves and immediate families, live in highbrow areas, enjoy retinue of domestic staff, and site projects funded with church or government money in their villages and home towns.

Besides, they also drive expensive exotic cars and SUVs with convoy of security escorts for protection. Use of escorts by politicians is understandable because they are vulnerable to public attacks owing to lifestyle of lies and deceit. But where men of God who preach truth and regularly assure members of divine protection, fail to invoke celestial powers on themselves, but rely on security agencies for defence, leaves much to be desired.

Process for funding their voracious and lavish lifestyles is similar. While politicians deploy all sort of illusions to embezzle public funds, including collection and diversion of constituency funds for private interests, some men of God obtain pecuniary advantage over their members through hoaxes, guilt and fear. They ensure management of tithes, offerings, seed and including compelled donations orchestrated to look voluntary, but mechanically designed to appeal to emotions of congregates.

There is no accountability and transparency. Financial management and utilization of these sources of income are shrouded in secrecy, except to the knowledge

of immediate families of pastors and GOs or a few carefully selected loyal church members. Members are generally advised are utilized, as enquiries are viewed as recalcitrant handiwork of devil, and attracts consequences ranging from warning, suspension or outright expulsion.

In abroad, church’s offerings and tithes transparency and accountability. Members are at liberty to ask for receipts for such levies, as they serve as evidence of contributions to charity. Such receipts are presented to government for purposes of tax rebates, enabling members to enjoy tax relief.

Pentecostal churches are not liable to members on how levies and contributions are managed, just like government where there is no accountability and transparency. as personal incomes to service their lives. When citizens demand accountability over management of revenues in the face of glaring corruption, politicians in power are quick to accuse or label such persons as agents of destabilization working for opposition parties. When such criticism persists, such citizens are either hounded, warned, blackmailed, intimated or silenced, using state security apparatus.

Due to seemingly shared values, politicians who contested election and won through rigging and other fraudulent processes, are offered opportunities in the Pentecostal churches to offer thanksgiving to God for a “successful” election. They are even allowed to step on pulpit to share testimonies and minister to congregation, with prayers offered to them thereafter, and sometimes, along with prophesies. Before departure, the politicians make donations to the church, most of which are redeemed

with looted funds.

Looted funds are accepted as donations, gift, seed, tithes or offering. Pastors and GOs are not bothered about the sources of funds nor the integrity or character of donors. As long as it swells the revenue base of the church, it is acceptable. This is the attraction accounting for proliferation of Pentecostal churches in Nigeria. It is doubtful if the National Bureau of Statistics {NBC} knows the exact number of these churches. They target locations populated by high net-worth individuals to set up branches in order to inhabited by the poor. Lekki in Lagos is a major target, accounting for high presence of key Pentecostal churches.

While politicians have made politics a lucrative business, violating purpose gains, these men of God in the Pentecostal movement have also made the gospel a business, failing to resist the lures of earthly wealth under the guise of kingdom expansion pursuit. While it is true 1 Corinthians nine: 13-14 says preachers can live from the gospel, making it an obligation for church members to support their pastors, men of God have taken this verse out of context by taking advantage of vulnerability and ignorance of members to fund their ostentatious and extravagant lifestyles.

The need to sustain and maintain their expensive lifestyles is also responsible for the absence of clear succession plans. Having

Dr. Owhoko, Lagos-based public policy analyst, author, and journalist can be reached at www.mikeowhoko.com, and followed on X @michaelowhoko

Many of the unknown gunmen are known, writes CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU

THE MYSTERY GUNMAN AND OTHER MYTHS FROM THE EAST

uncertainty and violence raged in Western Nigeria, a primetime radio broadcast the appointed hour, an armed, unmasked and bearded young man appeared in the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (WNBC) gunman. At the appointed hour, the entire turmoil and go. His mission accomplished, the gunman promptly vanished into the night, leaving with some questions to answer. The incident would later result in criminal proceedings Soyinka, at the time a lecturer at the Soyinka set up an alibi, claiming that he

that they had both attended a departmental the incident but the Wole Soyinka with whom he attended the meeting, according could grow a bushy beard in less than two

beyond Nigeria, immortalized this story Gunman.”

incident in Ibadan, soldiers brutally attacked

perpetrators and recommend suitable accountability became evidently illusory.

In south-east Nigeria, where a metastasis

unknown gunmen.” But one month later,

abductions, and violence occur in and around the region, many people have taken

the community reportedly led to the killing serial killings and arsons in the community”, ruler.

commitment it deserves. Most victims and But they are equally mostly unwilling to go perpetrators is a misnomer. In most cases, and insecurity in the region. It is by no means

a narrative space at both national and state levels unwilling to look beyond separatism policy space attuned only to expeditionary and kinetic responses.

These myths have sustained the misthe violence in south-east Nigeria. Anyone interested in addressing this situation must whoever is prepared to do so, the pursuit could prove both revealing and richly rewarding.

Nigeria generally and in the south-east more particularly. In reality, he is neither new nor indeed unknown. on his way to his community in Nanka, A

OF FOREIGN RELATIONS AND ARAB-AFRICAN TRADE

FELIX OLADEJI argues the need for negotiation between Arab states and African countries for better market access

Historically, the Arab states close-knit ties, despite the geographic, cultural and policy proximity between

have only recently started to gain importance recent crises and related economic dynamics collaboration between both regions to explore

Their heavy reliance on energy and minerals exposes them to various risks, such as creation or low domestic value added, and

can help Arab states broaden their export base, reducing their vulnerability to external shocks and promoting economic stability.

market, characterized by a growing demand. As the continent continues to integrate its regional markets and streamline trade, it

exports to Arab states rely heavily on minerals promising export potential in other key

Arab states. The associated increase in non-mineral closer ties between both regions could be

by Arab investors aiming to channel their

In this way, both regions can reduce their markets, and suppliers and enhance their resilience to external shocks.

based) untapped export potential can take a

and the procedures associated with complying with them.

products, the quantity traded, or both. Given the is crucial to have a comprehensive and global trade regulations. ITC uses an NTM Survey

to suit a business survey approach.

NTMs includes technical measures, such as sanitary or environmental protection measures, and others used as commercial policy instruments, like quotas, price controls, export restrictions, or contingent trade protective measures. It also covers behind-the-border measures, including competition, trade-related investment measures, government procurement, and system does not evaluate the legitimacy,

ITC Business Surveys on NTMs collected in suggests that regulatory and procedural obstacles can hinder trade between the Arab reported experiencing restrictive regulations or procedural obstacles when exporting to exporting to the Arab states.

the petrochemical products polyethylene and polypropylene. The results are not these products relies heavily on natural gas,

the unrealized export potential ($17 billion). Whereas the other two-thirds are driven by the expected growth in demand ($3 billion). polypropylene products has been on the

solutions, particularly in the healthcare and

Increasing investments in the production crucial to tapping into export opportunities exporters in the sector, has already recognized petrochemicals as a priority sector in its national development plan—the diminish dependence on hydrocarbon added products.

Investing in research and development experts more sustainable ways to produce, use, and dispose the petrochemical products would be advisable.

ISSUES IN THE 2024 BUDGET

The lawmakers should take their assignment much more seriously

This allegations

him

The

not to release wrongly budgeted monies,” said then ICPC chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye. Indeed,

arms to account. That accounts by the national interest. more seriously. They must begin to diligently

Tony Elumelu at 61: Lessons on Enterprise, Fatherhood, Love

The arithmetic of Tony Elumelu’s ascent of the ladder of success is absolute, like the third movement of Beethoven’s Minor Quartet. His fortune has often been adduced to his sweet patronage by fate. But that is simply one way to look at his lot. If he hadn’t shed sweat via honest labour, providence wouldn’t have graced his porch, writes Lanre Alfred

From young adulthood to the present, the Chairman, United Bank of Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu has spared no effort in the pursuit and attainment of his dreams. Even as he clocks 61 in few days, March 22nd he has shown no traces of fatigue; as you read, the indices of fortune unite with the cosmic elements to grease his endeavours thus enriching him with unimaginable success.

Even fate acknowledges his genius. Perhaps because it is intrepid and eager, and the fruits of its achievement manifest beyond abstraction. Ask UBA rank and file. Ask his family too; his beloved wife and children to be precise.

If you ask the latter, they would tell you a story fragrant with depth and wholly resonant of sweet-scented childhood. For Elumelu’s children, everyday unfurls with a rare boon because they are prodigious wards of an exceptional father. Watching Elumelu play the part of a father to his wards validates the loftiest notions of fatherhood: that the heart of a father is a masterpiece of nature.

Some would call it the earthly root of all benevolence and wisdom. For some, it subsists as the hearth of parental love and care, priceless for the warmth it gives, and its luminous flare of compassion. The depth of Elumelu’s love for his children is matchless, and the reason is not farfetched. Very early in life, the UBA Chairman laboured to situate fatherhood at the core of his universe. Thus, whether within or outside the confines of the boardroom, Elumelu adorns fatherhood like an expensive cloak, taking ultimate care of every fibre and strand of its priceless habiliment.

He is, in every sense, unlike the proverbial father who evades the prickly and glosses over the painful. He is not the kind of father that teases and deceives. He neither toys with his children nor subjects them to bitter, manifold sarcasm when--as is always the case--sarcasm is the last thing they need. He is not the kind of father with pretension to knowledge he doesn’t possess; he is not the type of father that tries to impose wisdom on his wards with implacable gratuitousness. Elumelu is a far cry from a walking cliché. If you ask, he would tell you that a father’s presence in the life of his child is a priceless gift, that holds more value in the child’s life than any presents he might present to the

child.

Elumelu understands that a father’s love for his kids is not bound by his expensive gifts to them but by his relationship with them. Thus, while he builds a titanic enterprise and an enviable dynasty to match, he painstakingly commits to sacrifices that establish him as the shine in his daughters’ eyes and the icons in his sons’ mirror.

Apart from being a provider and a leader, Elumelu personifies the endearing traits of the phenomenal father. Many dads could learn a thing or two from the billionaire chairman of UBA about parenting and raising smart, powerful, compassionate children primed to make the world a better place.

The Elumelu wards are indeed a lucky bunch. Unlike too many of their peers, they do not suffer the misfortune of watching their father fail and see his failures multiply like an explosion of virulent cells - failure to amass a fortune and the failure to keep it; failure to speak clearly; failure to attain repute; failure to develop the money habit; failure in attitude; failure in ambition and ability; failure indeed in everything.

Elumelu spares no expenses at pampering his children even as he sets out to raise them right. The endearing traits of a real man are personified in how he extends and redefines the yards of fatherhood goals.

Awele: His Pillar and Partner in Progress

The story of his journey into fatherhood would, however, be inaccurate without acknowledging the crucial role played by his wife, Awele, in his life. While Awele would always tell all those who care to listen that Elumelu is the perfect husband to her and a wonderful father to their kids, Elumelu also considers Awele a boon from Almighty God. The Chairman of UBA treasures Awele, like the proverbial jewel of inestimable value and the kids she bore him, like priceless heirlooms - this explains his predilection to flaunt them to the world.

Through fortunate seasons and her most trying spell, Elumelu stood unflinchingly by Awele, urging her to seek solace in God’s ceaseless mercies. Lest you begin to think that Awele must have been fraught with disaster, she wasn’t. The wife of UBA’s most powerful man simply rued her inability to bear him a son.

Having borne him five girls, it was her heartfelt wish to bear the one of Africa’s most powerful banking moguls a son. Not that the Elumelus considered their girls lesser humans, it simply felt inappropriate for their lineage to be without a male scion, if you ask Awele.

Elumelu, however, was reportedly satisfied with his girls. To him, they meant the world thus he never shied away from treating them to the best perks his affluence could afford.

But while he appreciated his girls as the best gifts heaven could accord him and his wife, heaven blessed his household with two wonderful cherubs bearing gifts of life and indescribable joy.

After five beautiful girls, Awele eventually bore Tony a pair of twin handsome boys. It was a delight to see her glow with pride and contentment over her feat. Her heartfelt wish had been granted and unlike so many of her peers, she never had to endure heartache or abuse from her husband before she bore him sons. While friends, family and business associates rejoiced with the Elumelus, sources close to the family commended the couple for setting a good example by treating their daughters like special, heavenly gifts all along.

Elumelu, in particular, was applauded for exhibiting enviable maturity and tact. While so many other men would have taken mistresses outside wedlock and subjected their wives to emotional and physical torture for failing to bear them sons, the UBA Chairman stood lovingly by his wife.

His Philanthropy

Aside from his extraordinary capacity to cater to and care for his family’s material and emotional needs, Elumelu equally shows uninhibited love and support to ambitious youth and society’s less privileged. His inclination to help the impoverished and less privileged is borne from a belief that every privileged individual, group, and corporate citizen must contribute their quota even as the government must play its part in facilitating an enabling business environment for businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive.

He said, “First, it is a great responsibility of the government to create the right operating environment. Governments should try to make their business environment hospitable and attractive for investment. When the government makes the country attractive, when that country opens up, investors can invest. When investors

arrive, they invest in energy, telecommunications, road, port, airport, and rail infrastructure. All the government needs to do is create the right conditions that will attract investors, and create the right environment to attract investment to the country.

“When this investment happens, in what we call Africa-capitalism, when the private sector invests in the long run, Investors profit, but at the same time they help provide the services and equipment companies need. It is therefore up to governments to continue to work on laws that guarantee property rights, creating the right macroeconomic environment that ensures predictability.” However, Elumelu is not all mere talk. To assert his commitment to his professed purpose, Elumelu devotes every resource at his disposal to wealth creation and propagation acrossAfrica.

Like the proverbial nurturant spirit, the billionaire magnate and bank chief shoulders a self-appointed task to nurse both wilting and fresh seeds to full bloom. And that was why he established the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF).

Elumelu understands that donations and philanthropic gestures from his ilk, while appreciable, must not be restricted to pitiable handouts in cash and kind, hence he established the TEF as a more dependable vehicle of spreading prosperity and providing a fairer economic system.

While he recognises that philanthropic giving plays an important role in tackling poverty, he adopts a more constructive means to ending poverty and fighting inequality via his foundation.

Founded in 2010 by Elumelu, the foundation has grown to become Nigeria’s leading philanthropic organisation, and this is attributable to its ingenious means of philanthropy including a culture of empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalysing job creation across all 54 African countries, and ensuring inclusive economic empowerment.

Since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has trained over 1.5 million youngAfricans on its digital hub, TEFConnect, and disbursed nearly USD$100 million in direct funding to 18,000 African women and men, who have collectively created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs. The Foundation’s mission is rooted in Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent.

The foundation’s ability to fund, train, mentor, and network young African entrepreneurs, has also created a unique platform for catalysing growth across the African continent.

The Elumelus

Elumelu

‘Madu,’‘Loot and the Lost Kingdoms,’ Others to Headline iREP

Vanessa Obioha

With the 14th edition of the iREP International Documentary Film Festival just days away, the organisers have unveiled the lineup of 10 documentary films set to headline the event. Among them is the Disney-helmed ‘Madu,’ which follows the journey of 12-year-old Anthony Madu as he pursues his dreams of ballet dancing in the UK.

Co-directed by Nigerian filmmaker Joel Benson, the screening at iREP will mark the African premiere of this inspiring tale.

“‘Madu’ is a journey of discovery, growth, belonging, and acceptance,” shared Benson. “Making Anthony’s voice heard has been our ultimate drive. Ultimately, we are both conduits to allow Anthony to tell his story rather than our observational points of view. Our shared journey is about curiosity and creating an understanding of different cultures through our connection with each other. It brings us great pride to be bringing this story to the continent for the first time, with an African premiere at the iREP film festival in Lagos, Nigeria.”

Other documentaries headlining the festival include Gbemi Shasore’s ‘Loot and the Lost Kingdoms,’ which delves into the story of Africa’s stolen artefacts, with a focus on Nigeria; Saheed Aderinto’s ‘The Fuji Documentary’ pays homage to the Yoruba musical sound and its influences on other genres; and Nika Saravanja’s ‘Jump Out’ offers an inspiring narrative about children and youngsters chasing their dreams without succumbing to the notion that money is the only path to success, among others.

These films comprise part of the over 45 selections for this year’s festival, all of which reflect the theme ‘Righting the Future.’ This deliberate choice aims to spark conversations about the present and future of the continent while fostering deeper dialogue between the younger generation and their elders.

Rising Profiles of Zeof Records New Talents

Zeof Records, founded by High Chief (Barr) Jideofor Ezeofor, is unrelenting in discovering, nurturing, projecting and promoting young music talents.

Over the years, the record label has fearlessly ventured into territories where other music companies and promoters hesitate to tread. Even at the risk of personal financial loss, Ezeofor persists in sponsoring music shows, recognizing them as vital avenues for discovering talented upcoming musicians.

“Zeof Records supports artists by organising music shows that showcase the craft of different artists, both artists under Zeof Records management and other artists from different managements,” said Ezeofor.

In line with its avowed commitment to support upcoming artists, the record label has just brought under its canopy, three budding musical talents two of whom are Ezeofor’s sons.

Denzel-Armani

Born Ifenna Denzel-Armani Ezeofor, DenzelArmani is a talented songwriter and composer, who studied law at the University of Nigeria, Enugu. Arguably one of the few artists redefining the unique music genre, Afrobeat, originated by the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Denzel-Armani infuses afrojuju, rock, jazz, R&B, neo-soul and hip hop to deliver a unique musical style.

Denzel-Armani evinced his passion for music at the young age of six, and his musical influences include Marvin Gaye, Boney M, Abba, Barry White, Bob Marley, Fela, and Lagbaja among others. He formally started his music career in 2020 and so far has several music tracks to his credit including the hits, ‘Comot Der’ and ‘Jonza’ and his recently released single ‘Neme.’

Von Blake

For Blake Dilinna Ezeofor aka Von Blake, music is a passion which caught up with him as a pupil. Growing up with music-loving parents as role models, Blake found the allure of music irresistible.

“As kids, my siblings and I formed dance routines to songs we composed ourselves. It gave us great joy because we didn’t like lessons or doing chores.”

A singer, songwriter composer and a graduate of Civil Engineering, Blake’s love for music blossomed throughout his academic pursuit. In secondary school, for example, he teamed up with like minds in his class to form the musical group, INVICTUS.

The budding music sensation has hit tracks to his credit, including ‘Vibration,’ ‘Tom Tom Waist’ and ‘Fine Fine Caro.’

Blake is inching towards international stardom as the young artist and INVICTUS came third in the Spanish/ Nigeria musical competition last year

In line with its commitment to reaching underserved communities, iREP 2024 will continue its Inner City Screening (ICS) project, which began last year. The project was conceived to spread documentary film ideas and content to communities that are not usually captured in the screening and consumption of media content. This year, selected films will be showcased in four communities: Bariga, Ikorodu, Ajegunle, and Ejigbo.

Kanwulia Turns Up the Heat this Easter

organized by the Spanish Embassy in Nigeria which featured 200 Nigerian artists.

Silver Omah

Ekene Silver who goes by the stage name Silver Omah was greatly impacted by her mother who is a singer and a studio owner. It was therefore not surprising that she eventually graduated from the Department of Music, at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

During her undergraduate days, Omah joined a music band named Ichoku led by Gerald Eze whose main focus was on exploring folk music and adapting popular songs to the Igbo traditional instruments such as the Uboaka and Oja.

In 2021, she met Kaycee Oguejiofor while attending a music seminar hosted by himself and Gerald Eze where they educated musicians and music lovers about the music industry.

Oguejiofor took a liking to Omah’s sound and decided to sponsor her recordings which aided her career growth. The young female music star started recording her music professionally in 2021.

A singer, songwriter and composer, Omah revealed that her fledgling music career had a turning point when she met Arch. Tobenna Ezeofor (Zeofest), the manager of Zeof Records in August 2023. He took an instant liking to her sound and introduced her to Ezeofor.

“He too fell in love with my sound and had me record two songs, one of which I released on February 9, 2024, as my first single named “Price Of Your Heart” in collaboration with Zeof Records.”

Iyke Bede

With the official release of ‘Amerikana,’ NigerianAmerican singer Kanwulia is set to tour Lagos this Easter with her ‘Who’s that Girl?’ city tour that is poised to shake up the Lagos music scene with her powerhouse performances.

Kanwulia brings a unique blend of musical experiences shaped by influences in both Nigeria and the United States, creating a dynamic fusion of sounds that captivates audiences worldwide.

The release of ‘Amerikana’ is strategically timed to treat fans to anthemic songs of dancefloor flavours that will have music lovers grooving. To ensure she captures the essence of impacting a dynamic audience, Kanwulia will also hit the streets of Lagos for the tour, from intimate lounge performances to electrifying club shows.

“Lagos holds a special place in my heart, and I can’t wait to feel the city’s energy pulsating through me as I perform. I’m thrilled to be performing in Lagos, one of the top global entertainment destinations in the world, and I owe it all to God and my incredible management and agency,” an excited Kanwulia exclaimed.

Packaged by Volkano, and Inspiro Productions, she asserted that she is on a mission to break barriers and shatter stereotypes with the tour. Through her music and her journey, she hopes to inspire a new generation of artists to dream big and fearlessly pursue their passions.

Madu to premiere at iREP

Kanwulia

Denzel-Armani

Femi Odugbemi

Righting the Future and Wole Soyinka’s Legacy

Can the parameters of conversations about the past be about shaping the future, instead of relitigating? This provocative question forms the core of the upcoming 14th edition of the i-Represent International Documentary Film Festival (iREP). Co-founder and executive director, Femi Odugbemi, sheds light on the need to steer these talks toward future prospects, and the festival’s decision to honour Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s enduring legacy, Vanessa Obioha writes

EDITED BY: VANESSA OBIOHA/vanessa.obioha@thisdaylive.com.

History is Only Important to the Extent that It Guides the Future

During the 2023 general election, a plethora of political conversations ensued, most of them vitriolic in nature. Arguments about ethnic divides, generational gaps in governance and leadership, and the pervasive spread of corruption, among other contentious topics dominated public discourse. These discussions continue to reverberate today as the nation contends with the harsh realities of economic hardship.

Despite delving into the mistakes of the past, these chatters often lacked a forward-thinking, progressive nature, as expressed by co-founder and executive director of i-Represent International Documentary Film Festival (iREP), Femi Odugbemi during a recent interview at his office in Lekki. According to him, these discussions tend to echo sentiments of selfvictimisation and a tendency to allocate blame without providing clear direction on how to navigate towards a better future.

“History is only important to the extent that it guides the future,” he said. “Right now, there are many merchants of doom and gloom who find it their pastime to simply keep talking about why we will never make it and it’s important to note that you cannot prosper from a space that you detest. There is something about the national energy and national vibe that we need to somehow develop, and it has to be grown among the intellectual capital and the young people of our country. The young people of our country have to understand that every generation actually has a responsibility.”

It is against this backdrop that Odugbemi, a prominent filmmaker and film scholar alongside his partners, Makin Soyinka and Jahman Anikulapo are focusing the theme of the upcoming 14th edition of iREP on ‘Righting the Future,’ a clever play on words that highlight the importance of both writing and making the course of the future right.

“The past is done. We can’t do much about the past, but we can take vital information from the past to reshape the future. Everything we’ve done wrong in the past, we can right them going forward. And that’s really why it’s so critical for us to have a conversation that says, can the parameters of conversations about our past be about shaping the future, not about relitigating the past?”

In his view, constantly revisiting the past in a regressive manner will only result in a sense of despair and pessimism, and further show the lack of imagination engineering. He illustrated this point by contrasting Nigeria’s economic trajectory with that of Singapore. Despite Nigeria’s

abundant resources and similar economic indicators to Singapore in the 1960s, Odugbemi pointed out that the nation struggled to overcome its economic challenges due to a lack of visionary leadership.

“The resources were merely used to placate the past. We were used to redistributing wealth to create an advantage for a particular section, using the resources to fight for positions and the whole country did not quite create a vision and a Nigerian narrative that we could all buy into. Absence of imagination engineering brought us to a place where when resources are no longer available in the quantity that we used to have, we discover that we are absent of ideas.”

Therefore, he considered ‘Righting the Future’ as a conscious approach to problem solving.

“It is prioritising the future and a Nigerian story. It is imagination engineering about how to bring all of us into a space where we are all stakeholders, where we agree on how we write the future by ameliorating the pains of the past.”

iREP serves as fertile ground for these crucial conversations to take root and flourish. Over the years, the documentary film festival has earned an enviable reputation as a distinguished forum for intellectual discourse on arts and socio-political issues. Here, intellect reigns supreme as the realms of arts and academia converge to deliberate and champion a brighter future for the African continent. iREP stands as the most prominent documentary film festival in West Africa, showcasing films from across the continent and beyond. Additionally, it facilitates engaging discussions among scholars and offers training programmes for young creatives.

The vaunted status of iREP is a testament to the dedication and hard work of Odugbemi, Soyinka, and Anikulapo. Their shared passion for the arts, coupled with their appreciation for fine wine (and whiskey), has transformed the festival into an intellectual hub, attracting film producers, directors, actors, artists, and scholars alike, all seeking meaningful avenues through which the arts can make a tangible impact on society.

For the upcoming edition scheduled from March 21 to 24, iREP will present a diverse selection of over 45 films in both long and short formats. These screenings will take place at two venues: Freedom Park, in Lagos Island, and Alliance Française, Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi. The films have been meticulously curated from 25 countries, including Brazil,

Afghanistan, and Nigeria, and include the opening film ‘Loot and the Lost Kingdom’ by Gbemi Shasore, as well as the Nigerian premiere of ‘Madu,’ Disney’s first Nigerian original documentary co-directed by Nigerian filmmaker Joel Benson.

These films, according to Odugbemi, were thoughtfully selected to reflect the theme.

“There are fascinating films that surround innovation, education, investment in the creative economies, and how we harness the talents of our young people as pathways to righting the future.” There are also films depicting historical events, as noted by Odugbemi, which demonstrate how our diversity can serve as a source of strength. However, he expressed a particular passion for documentaries that advocate for production and imagination engineering as a pathway to the future.

Odugbemi, a cerebral filmmaker boasting multiple awards and membership in prestigious international film and TV academies such as the Academy Awards (the Oscars), perceives documentary filmmaking as a powerful instrumentality of truth.

“Truth is about healing, about bringing everyone together, taking all our capacities and marshalling them in a place where we are all headed in the same direction. Truth is not about politics. Politics is important as a place of ideas but righting the future is more than politics. It is about a national energy that aggregates towards a vision.”

Beyond this, Odugbemi underscored the potential of documentaries to spark debates and discussions, likening them to the original social media space. However, he stressed that within this space, there are rules of engagement.

“The first thing to understand about documentaries is that history is important, opinion is free, but facts are sacred. Whatever your point of view in an argument, superior logic and commitment should supersede things like personal opinion, uncouth language, and tribal sentiments. All these things have crawled into our public discourse through social media, and they are making our capacity to write our future an impossible task.”

iREP 2024 holds significant importance as it commemorates the legacy of the revered literary icon and activist, Prof. Wole

Soyinka, as he enters the nonagenarian cycle.

“We think he is a symbol that the young people need to emulate. The capacity to question authority must come pari passu with a personal commitment to the future of that entity called Nigeria,” said Odugbemi.

“Prof. Soyinka is accomplished in his own right. He is the first Nobel Prize winner of literature in Nigeria and he has been a lecturer and professor across the world. If he never uttered a word about Nigeria, he would have lived a fulfilled life. He has prospered in his individual capacity, he is celebrated across the world. He could live in any country that he wishes and he will be adored wherever he goes, but he understands something about his responsibility to the land of his birth.”

He continued: “He understands the office of Citizen and I feel there are many things to learn from him. He has taken to arms before to force change. He has contributed as the founding director of the Road Safety Corps. He has been an interventionist in politics, he has confronted dictatorships like the late Gen. Sani Abacha but one of the things I find constantly fascinating about him is that he has understood that there is a personal price to pay. He spent three years in solitary confinement, pushing, confronting the government of the day, questioning, trying to open the space for democracy, for fundamental rights to be a part of the body politics of Nigeria. And to imagine that the democracy that allows us today for our voices to be heard, whether it’s on social media, or whatever, was fought for.

“Some people died because of it. They were not hiding behind the keyboards. They were not just people who had English to speak. They were sent into exile. They were pursued. People paid a price and for me, how we engage our public discourse, how we converse, how we talk about the future, has to be in a dialogue, a language, a tone and in a perspective that recognises the sacrifices that have been previously made. So whether you’re right or wrong, whether your opinions are strong or soft, there has to be respect. Part of that is addressing the toxicity of our public discourse.”

Two days have been set aside to honour Soyinka at Alliance Française with screenings and conversations celebrating his lasting legacy.

By bringing up these conversations at iREP, Odugbemi believes that the Nigerian narrative can be written with the right vision for the future.

Prof. Soyinka and Odugbemi

Odugbemi

HighLife

As Yemisi

Edun Throws High-Octane 60th Shindig

Standing apart from others is not the same as being outstanding. Consider a corporate amazon like Yemisi Edun, the delectable and brainy MD/CEO of First City Monument Bank (FCMB). Despite being so impressive at her job as the leader of a rising institution, Edun is warm enough to draw people close. At her recent 60th birthday party, this became very obvious.

Many things about Edun distinguish her from her peers. First, despite being 60, she could be mistaken for a 40-somethingyear-old lady. And she did not have to travel to India to meet some beauty guru. Her beauty is natural, inside and outside, reinforcing her charm and magnetic presence.

Secondly, Edun’s mind is special. Nothing has made this more obvious than the level of finesse she currently wields as she pilots FCMB to greatness. Since taking over the bank’s leadership as MD/CEO in 2021, industry breakthroughs have become as every day as dinner, earning her cheers from board members and staff, customers and onlookers.

Together, these two points lend Edun her magnetic personality, one that she wielded when she recently invited Nigerians to her 60th birthday celebration. Even though it was a high-octane shindig, the guests were warm and the hostess was warmer, sharing glass clinks and short, funny stories with her happy invitees.

Looking at Edun’s smiling face, one struggles to believe that she is 60 or that she climbed the corporate ladder through sheer grit. This now-seeming soft woman is the same that started an arduous career in 1987, intent on riding on the back of corporate finance and succeeding due to diligence and well-timed choices.

Edun remains a bright star in a sky full of twinkling lights. It is no coincidence that her birthday almost matches International Women’s Day. She is an exceptional industry leader, one who accompanied the emergence of an era of graceful leadership in Nigeria’s banking sector.

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous Will Folorunsho Alakija and Her Husband Settle for the Sake of Their Children and Business?

Life is a string of decisions whose implications are never really clear until much later. The rumours of separation and impending divorce have started to fly around the Alakijas again. This time, news bearers are pulling evidence out of thin air, arguing that Lady Folorunsho Alakija, Nigeria’s wealthiest woman and founder of FAMFA Oil Limited, has long chased her husband Modupe out of their home in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Allegedly, Modupe had to move out to let sprout some seeds of peace. Even so, so stiff and severe is the alleged split that it threatens their business interests, not to mention the emotional states of their four children and the many business interests between the pair.

From what tale-bearers report, the Alakijas have not exactly had it good for a while. Despite being married for more than 30 years, Folorunsho and Modupe had reportedly faced one challenge

after another, pushing them further and further apart. Now, many years after the first rumour of separation, the reports are more widely spread this time.

Readers would recall that the Alakijas hosted the wedding of one of their sons just last year. Even though the ceremony was more hush-hush than usual, it still made the news. At that time, some social commentators alleged that Folorunsho and Modupe did not want a big wedding to keep the cracks in their marital union from showing in public. With the divorce rumours getting a new life, that may no longer be an issue.

To have all that influence and affluence and lose the most precious thing, what a loss to both of them. Undoubtedly, their union is one reason they inspire many Nigerians, especially young people. Assuming the rumours are true, what will become of these? And what about their children?

Power, despite the impressions it gives of pressure and explosiveness, is a

Adelabu: How to Turn Ministry of Power to Ministry of Blackouts

catalyst. It sets the ball of change rolling, which is exactly how folks have started to describe the work of Nigeria’s able Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu. However, because blackouts are so frequent these days, the irony is lost in the darkness.

No federal minister currently serving under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gets swarmed with ridicule more than Adelabu. Maybe it is because of the delicateness of his ministry. Maybe it is because of the seeming ridiculousness of his alleged choice to focus on minor matters.

Since coming into office, Adelabu has not been able to bring about a turnaround in the power sector. Not to mention the near-constant collapses of the national grid, the formerly epileptic condition of electricity in the country appears to have deteriorated. In some places in the country, electric bulbs

may have been returned to their packs, especially with everything becoming so expensive.

According to commentators, Adelabu is partly to blame for the state of affairs in the power sector. Yes, he has ideas, tonnes of them. But he has not managed to fix anything. Instead, he seems to have a folder of excuses, conveniently retrieving them to throw at the faces of Nigerians.

The worst report yet is that Adelabu is unable to focus on his work because of his preoccupation with the Oyo State governorship seat. His detractors have called him out for this, accusing him of burning a forest of trees for a single wooden table far away. And even though Adelabu has decried this charge, the power supply is not regular enough to watch him defend himself.

Who will defend him? Better yet, when will Adelabu change the narrative in the power sector?

Where the Heck is Roland Ewubare?

About this time four years ago, Roland Ewubare walked away from one of the highest profile jobs in Nigeria as Chief Operating Officer at NNPC. His abrupt and shocking resignation during the COVID pandemic sent many tongues wagging. There were speculations that he had fallen out with Mele Kyari and further speculations that he resigned on health grounds. In the end he issued a statement that he was stepping down to relocate to the US to be with his family because of the uncertainty wrought by the pandemic. And just like that, the man ended his public service in Nigeria and disappeared.

But a person of his calibre is not easily forgotten, so reports about him still fill the airwaves. During his peak days, Ewubare wielded considerable influence at NNPC as GGM NAPIMS and later as Chief Operating Officer. It was said about him that he possessed an impressive corporate career portfolio from working with different institutions across a diverse range of industries. His work ethics and robust intellect earned him tremendous respect across the industry especially with the international oil companies.

Many smart public officers build themselves in Nigeria to excel abroad. Ewubare reversed this trend by starting strong at Schlumberger, an oilfield services company in its New York office as Global Corporate Counsel shortly after graduation from Harvard Law School. He later served as General Counsel of a subsidiary of Schlumberger in Silicon Valley using that as a launch pad to return to Nigeria as the company’s Executive

Director 21 years ago.

All these positions provided Ewubare with sufficient corporate experience and exposure to make significant contributions to the oil and gas space in Nigeria. He was described as the ultimate inside outsider and outside insider. He combined knowledge of NNPC’s processes with a broader knowledge of global business practices and as such he wasn’t consumed by the incestuous shenanigans of the insiders but earned their respect all the same.

It is therefore easy to understand why industry operatives and watchers constantly circulate rumours involving Ewubare and a return to the industry. Fortunately or unfortunately, that opportunity appears to have evaporated as all the positions in the industry in Nigeria are occupied by tenured appointees.

Beyond the sporadic and occasional appearance on the Lagos social scene from time to time, it is evident that Ewubare is back living his life in a shell in America away from the Nigerian environment. Whether an opportunity will ever come is a matter for speculation. Will he be called and will he respond if called? The odds in Nigeria are always on the side of anything can happen and nobody ever knows.

Before going to press, we managed to reach Mr Ewubare for comments on a possible return to public service. He responded with a cryptic message; “I’ve done hard labour for Nigeria and I now picture myself in a different situation. I’m a company director with two kids and a wife. I just want to breathe.”

Ewubare

Alakija

Edun

Adelabu

Access Bank MD, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Back in the Limelight

with death is not an option for Access Bank MD, Roosevelt Ogbonna, now that his boss, Herbert Wigwe, is gone. Instead, the corporate man needs to step into the shadows and show himself as wielding the reigns of the institution he has contributed much to.

The passing of Wigwe was too sudden. Perhaps if it was through the doors of sickness that he walked away, the Access Holdings boss’ death would be easier to bear. But a helicopter crash is a sudden mode of exit, and it left too many things in a messy state, including the leadership of his legacy institution, Access Bank.

For many Nigerians, Wigwe’s passing returned Ogbonna to the limelight as Access Bank MD. Even though the latter has always worked under Wigwe, he did that under seemingly quiet conditions, satisfied to let Wigwe’s strong and imposing corporate image overshadow everything.

Ogbonna is now one of Access Bank’s

pillars, one helping the institution remain on its feet. Careful scrutinisation reveals that certain rumours have begun to creep in that threaten to reduce the institution’s prestigious and stainless corporate image. The onus is on Ogbonna and a few others, making it clearer that the MD can no longer keep a maintained profile.

Ogbonna emerged as Access Bank’s MD/CEO in 2022, having previously served as the institution’s Deputy Managing Director since 2017. Before then, he was an Executive Director for four years and experienced the ups and downs of the banking industry from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) before joining Access Bank in 2002.

Ogbonna’s 20-plus years of banking experience is sure to help him better manage Access Bank’s affairs in the coming days. With Wigwe’s absence, the time has come for him to step into the light.

Senator Michael Bamidele: History Won’t Forget You … As

Where there is truth, falsehood hides itself beneath the shadows. Some of what is considered the truth is gradually emerging in Nigeria’s top administrative circles. The Senate is the latest to bear the weight of this emergence, and people like the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Michael Bamidele, are doing their best to amplify it.

The Senate is currently undergoing one rowdy session after another, thanks to the allegations made by Senator Abdul Ningi. Ningi, after accusing the Senate and Presidency of budget padding, has been suspended for three months. But the farseeing Senator Bamidele wants the Senate to stamp out the possibility of such things repeating themselves.

According to Bamidele, something like what Senator Ningi has done can be captured within the framework of an ethno-political attack. Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, explained that Ningi is out to suppress Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, leaning on his background as a

L-R: Governor Eno, and his predecessor, Emmanuel

Different kinds of people exist in this world, making it a very interesting place. Within Nigeria’s predecessor-must-go system of politics, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State is proving himself to be a jewel of a person. But that is only because his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, is an

senator from Northern Nigeria. Bamidele also stressed the importance of peace, noting that all conflict should have ended after the elections. Using this as a launching pad, the Senator Majority Leader advised his peers to be more visionary and less narrow-minded, working for the good of Nigerians.

Senator Ningi set off sparks of controversy after claiming that the federal government was running with two different versions of the 2024 budget. He also claimed that the reportedly public-reviewed budget of N28.7 trillion does not objectively represent the interests of all Nigerians as it is skewed against the North.

Ningi’s claims have set tongues wagging as fingers point at the senators, describing them as vultures and thieves. This is why Senator Bamidele’s comments are timely and notably crucial for the restoration of order. If followers think of their leaders as thieves and robbers, who will ride on the wagon of progress?

He Spoke His Mind

Why Emmanuel Didn’t Stalk Eno … How He Maintains Low Profile Lifestyle

excellent mentor and father figure to Eno.

Akwa Ibom continues to enjoy great peace and progress relative to its sisters. Since the emergence of Governor Eno in 2023, the state’s prospects have been reinforced by focused governance and informed strategies for sustainable all-round growth and development. Economists may try to take the glory, but much of this is due to the former governor’s wisdom, evidenced by his quiet presence in the state.

Eno has explained many times that Emmanuel is one of the main reasons for his current success as governor. Not only has the former governor not pressurized him in any way, but he has also provided means through which Eno would govern the state without the distractions of having to persecute his predecessor.

In reality, Emmanuel is doing more than Eno is giving him credit for. Understanding that two king tigers cannot remain on the

same mountain, Emmanuel has tried to reduce his visibility to the barest minimum, becoming a hermit since leaving office in May 2023.

Unlike a certain former governor in North-central who is rumoured to still be in the government house while his successor, the incumbent governor, lives outside, Emmanuel respects Eno. Even now, there is not one mention of Eno setting up the former governor for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is almost a rite of passage now for every former governor in Nigeria.

Both Emmanuel and Eno are model political figures. With respect in their hearts for others, it is not surprising that they are well-liked in Akwa Ibom and outside. And since Emmanuel does not stalk Eno, Akwa Ibom is more likely to grow into its motto as the Land of Promise during the latter’s tenure.

Boroffice, Ekungba, Other APC Elders Rally Support for Governor

Physicists and philosophers tell us that change is inevitable and that entropy and chaos are the true destinations of things left unsupervised. Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has sought counsel from the elders to make sure that his governorship ambition does not fall into disarray but it remains a matter of certainty.

Things are moving really fast in Ondo ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in November 2024. Recognising the possibility of failure, Governor Aiyedatiwa is making strong moves to keep the leadership mantle of the Sunshine State, the most recent move involving the elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Aiyedatiwa met with these stakeholders on Tuesday, March 13, 2024, officially declaring his interest in the governorship seat. He received the APC stakeholders from all 18 local government areas

of Ondo, engaging them at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade ground in Akure.

Having expressed his desires to them and his confidence in the power of their support, Aiyedatiwa openly welcomed the ready support of these APC elders. The governor knows that the influence of several of these elders is significant, especially former Deputy Senate Leader, Prof. Robert Boroffice; Acting Chairman of the APC Elders Caucus, Chief Jamiu Ekungba; former ambassador to Togo, Chief Olushola Iji; and prestigious director on the board of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Chief Segun Ojo.

According to these stakeholders, Aiyedatiwa has done well to let them know of his intentions to run. Furthermore, by seeking them out despite being in a strong position presently, he is demonstrating regard for them and humility. Commentators believe that Aiyedatiwa is making arrangements to counter the growing

influence of rivals like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim who are absorbing the others under their wings. With the APC elders from all 18 LGAs of Ondo with him, perhaps Aiyedatiwa stands a chance against the other aspirants.

All Eyes on Dr. Dayo Mobereola

Change is always the wheel bearing the weight for progress. President Bola Tinubu, recognising the need for this wheel to go on rolling, has secured the assistance of Dr. Dayo Mobereola, placing the latter over the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as its Director-General (DG). With Mobereola’s appearance on the scene, the agency is expected to make solid advancements and contributions in the coming years.

It has been a while since President Tinubu appointed an individual into a position as high as NIMASA’s DG seat. Mobereola’s emergence is thus considered a matter of celebration since Tinubu’s decision to get him involved in the agency’s matters implies a high level of trust in the man’s capabilities.

Tinubu appointed Mobereola after the former DG, Bashir Jamoh, completed his tenure. Coming in with colourful educational certifications, the president likely anticipates significant transformation in the agency within the next four years, the kind to make more robust contributions to the Nigerian economy.

From all indications, Mobereola is qualified for the position. Since coming into the limelight, he has carried himself with care, exhibiting vision and diligence. With his MSc and PhD in Transport Economics from the University of Wales, United Kingdom, Mobereola has worked with several notable agencies in Nigeria and outside. WS Atkins, a global engineering consultancy with its headquarters in the UK, is where it all started for him.

Mobereola has left many strong imprints in the Nigerian corporate world, having occupied different leadership roles. Examples of these include the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) where he served as MD from 2003 to 2015 and the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation where he served as the Commissioner from 2015 to 2016.

With his emergence at NIMASA, Mobereola has gotten the attention of many informed and expectant Nigerians. All eyes are on him now, so he needs to perform brilliantly to meet these high expectations.

Ogbonna

Mobereola

Bamidele

Ekungba

Godswill Akpabio’s Paddy Paddy Senate

They say as a fellow Akwa Ibom man, I should stop talking, so I have kinda kept quiet for a bit but the rumbling train wreck that is our oga in the Senate keeps hurtling on. From one misstep to the other. From the imbroglio at Herbert’s burial straight to the paddy paddy scandal rocking the Senate, it has been one big wobbly and turbulent era for this oga.

More than ever before, Nigerians are beginning to question the relevance of the structure. They are asking if exactly the cost of running the National Assembly, especially at these harsh economic times, duly justifies its existence. Some have even gone as far as to ask for a parliamentary system or

even a unicameral structure.

When I watch the Senate proceedings, I see the whole thing like a town hall meeting, not very far from a session at the local beer parlour here in Shomolu. Submissions are opaque, and not clearly thought out, hierarchy is not based on merit but seniority, and resolutions are not taken seriously by other arms of the government or even the citizenry.

Today, the Senate has lost its respect and rightly so. The Senate President in his submission during the Senator Ningi’s wahala stated as much. He is quoted to have said that Nigerians now query the

integrity of the Senate as a result of this “Ningigate.”

My brother, it is not today that we have started looking at this your Senate with one kind eye. This particular Senate has gone on with so much insensitivity that one would not be queried if one thought that it was populated by citizens from the Niger Republic.

Mr. Akpabio can you please sit up?

Can you please just sit up and give us a much more deserving Senate?

Kai, this one no be am at all. This is not what we voted for and certainly not what we are paying for, this na “Bolekaja” Senate. Kai! Heaven help us.

NINGI: A PRODIGAL IN THE SENATE

I watched him very closely as he spoke and was surprised when I heard that he apologised at some point. He spoke very confidently, falling back on his experience as a ranking Senator and even went as far as throwing up his leadership quotient by saying “Do not hold the members of the Northern Senators Forum responsible, hold me responsible. I speak for myself…” He had claimed that we were running two budgets and that the North was at a disadvantage as a result. He further asserted that a whopping N3 trillion had been padded with no concurrent projects tied to it.

This was a very strong allegation that went straight to the ethnic faultiness of the country. This kind of assertion should have been released with so much responsibility as it could ignite the country and finally bring it to its knees. Kai! He even reaffirmed it a second time, so hearing that he apologised before he was suspended really riled me. What manner of irresponsibility is this? What manner of people are we voting into that chamber? Do we put in another system where after people have been voted for they

will still go through a certain type of scrutiny before being sworn in? The system of democracy that we now run is a “money for hand, vote for box” type which throws up people like this into very powerful and influential positions.

As I watched him walk out of the chambers after his suspension was announced, I could only just shake my head at a system that allows such buffoonery in places of power. Na wa.

SEYI LAW, WHAT’S THE MATTER?

This person has been angry for a bit now. Since he stated his strong support for President Tinubu, he has been the butt of jokes, insults and abuse on social media. This has in turn made him a very angry man.

The other day, he threatened to “beat Noble Igwe, if he as much as touches the helm of my garment”. He made this assertion during an interview and for emphasis, put his finger on his tongue the way illiterate people do to “swear.”

Just as that one was dying down; he came out again but this time his rants were aimed at Rhodes Vivour, the PDP candidate in the last Lagos governorship elections. He reportedly called that one son of

“returned slaves” and as expected the internet went after him again. I think Mr. Seyi has done enough damage to his already ailing career as I do not see any fanbase there anymore. You see, politics is a very dangerous game especially when you mix it with a career that was at best very tepid. Mr. Law in the first instance wasn’t a triple-A comedian in the first place, he only just used to “jomo” during big shows and repeat stale jokes to get the minimal laughs that allowed him to make a living.

He now went to put to flames even this one by pulling in politics to his branding. To say that he is very much disliked right now in his core demographic is stating the obvious and this is why I am calling on the leading lights of the political movement that he has sacrificed his career for to “find something for the bobo” before hungry enter o. Sad.

ALEX OTTI DESERVES MY APOLOGY

Bad bele is not good o. As I saw the accolades pouring in for this gentleman, I had an irresistible urge to compare him to my governor in Akwa Ibom, who apart from the Happy Hour and the squabble

in Ibeno, we have not really seen anything noteworthy.

As the acclaim mounted, my jealousy rose. Kai, why is this man doing so much in Abia over such a short time? I queried. That was how I went to the Duke summit and fired. He is just nine months old in the saddle and this project has seen three Governors and almost collapsed a bank such that AMCON had to come in to salvage it. So why is he now collecting accolades?

A man from Agenebode abi na Ishan, you know these people with their sharp mouths - na dem full police - just said to me, “Edgar abeg shut up, na so you go dey open mouth dey talk rubbish when you no get facts.”

I responded quickly, “No vex o Pa Imoudu. Wetin be the facts?” and he went on to educate me. He told me that Otti as Executive Director at First Bank, was part of the funding team and continued in this role up to when he became the Managing Director at the then Diamond Bank and it’s only just befitting that the project now came alive during his term as governor.

I opened my mouth to apologise, the Ishan man told me to shut up and listen. That the place they call

Akpabio

El-Rufai

AbdulRahman

ringfence now has 24-hour power and as such is beginning to attract commercial and industrial attention, and that I should concentrate on my happy hour instead of spilling crap at something so historic and wonderful.

In humility and shame, I thanked him and promised to be more circumspect in my analysis going forward.

So Governor Otti, I send my unreserved apology to you and your team, and also to the Geometric Power people who must have gone through hell in seeing the completion of this project.

Make una no vex, I don go Uyo go do happy hour with lantern. Thank you so much.

BELLO: A FATHER’S SON

This one really does not come at you with so much depth. He fires from the hips without as much as a thought before the words come out. I have read some of his posts on X and have marvelled at such outrageous thoughts, wondering from what kind of fecund mind these words were coming out. Shockingly, I have just found out that he is an “honourable” member of the House of Representatives.

Ohhh my God, this one, that is so one-minded? He is so shallow in thought and almost an extremist with an avowed dislike – I don’t want to use the word hatred just yetfor a full section of the country.

Then I stumbled on an interview he granted Seun Akinbaloye on that one’s podcast and opened my mouth in amazement at such profanity. Eyes blazing in an almost malnourished face, words spewing out with venom and gesticulating like one with arthritis, he tried very hard to destroy the fabric that holds us together as a nation.

People like this should be treated the way they treat Nazi war criminals. They should not be given the platform to spread their bile. They should be limited in their exposure to the public because they can cause insurrection. Why all the hate especially for one that has been so entitled and privileged? What would he now want the rest of us who have seen the worst of Nigeria to do? He has seen and tasted the very best that Nigeria can offer and yet he is still this hateful?

After watching the full interview in disgust, I concluded that this was a health case, sadly being left alone to roam in the hallowed chambers of the federal legislature.

ABDULRAZAQ ABDULRAHMAN: READY FOR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP

He is presently the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and also the Executive Governor of Kwara State. I strongly believe that he is ready for national positioning. I have watched very meticulously his public positioning for over four years. His calm mien, simplicity and very importantly, his approach to governance especially as it concerns public good I must say remains highly commendable. His leadership of the governors’ forum has now given him the national platform to test his readiness for national leadership and from what is being said about

his leadership, it is very clear that Nigeria would be needing him more on a larger rostrum. I really find it difficult to write this kind of essay because as you all know, I am a well-known critic but if the truth is to be told this one time, I really must give myself a waiver. The way he has corralled the Governors forum, walking a tightrope being a member of the ruling party that is “messing” up

but having in his membership opposition governors, and still being able to build a bridge of consensus to the point that the forum is now more than ever before a very strong tool for advocacy. I watched how he steered the forum away from being confrontational when governors were thrown under the bus by the government during the forex crises. Governors were made scapegoats as they were

Tunde Ayeni: What’s Love Got to Do With It?

I must confess, I’m a bit biased on this matter. As a man who has gone through a similar situation, I can only pity this Chairman. You meet a beautiful lass; you make the fatal mistake of going down and your life will never be the same again. What kind of world is this, why are some of our women folk so shameless in their pursuit of life? As a result of the strengthened state of womanhood, we now have very weakened men who fear the raging bullying that is Nigerian womanhood, and as such stand down and watch our fellow men being dragged by the venom of a scorned woman.

Even when the truth is glaring, many choose to stay silent for fear of the raving stark madness that is womanhood in today’s Nigeria. Mbok, where is the pride of womanhood? If this were my sister, I know exactly how I would handle her. Where is the dignity of womanhood? Where is the pride of self?

Like I stated earlier, I have personally gone through this in the past and I must say that it is not the

easiest of places to be. Nobody wants to listen to you, even as you try to explain, you see the doubts in their eyes and the woman takes the advantage to fire more missiles.

I really do not know this lady but her likes abound. They can be found all over the nooks and crannies of elite Nigeria. Using all they have to climb the social ladder, and once they succeed in latching on to a victim, they suck until everything is gotten from the host. It seems, however, that this time around this person may have stuck on the wrong bamboo tree. A tree that has decided to fight with all it has to cut off the scavenger determined to bear root.

For me, I stand with the Chairman, something in my guts tells me that he is right. Men have gone through hell at the hands of these kind of women all because they made the morbid mistake of not being very discerning in choosing where they perch.

Enough already, this is thoroughly very embarrassing. Enough, please. Thanks.

pilloried for collecting FAAC and rushing to the mallams, thereby being consigned to the dustbin as major causative factors of the economic mess we find ourselves in. A hot-headed chairman would have “attacked” and we would have lost the much-needed consensus needed by all parties to resolve this matter. But Alhaji calmly diffused the issue with constructive engagement, consensus building and reaching out to strategic portions of the media with fact-based explanations as to how governors could not have been the main cause of the problem. I say kudos to Alhaji and do wish that he would consider an elective office at the centre. I tell you.

FESTUS KEYAMO AS AEROPLANE SALESMAN

We now have a new kind of street hawker in the country. He is none other than our esteemed Minister of Aviation, the Honourable Festus Keyamo SAN.

In a recently released footage, Nigerians were bewildered to see our great minister and ex-social crusader attempting to take the jobs of the marketing team of that firm in France.

In a dark-hued caftan, he started reading out the numbers on the carcass of the models of aircraft. With so much gusto, he told us things about the carcasses that we didn’t even know.

The way he was going at it, you would think he invented the aeroplane. He showed us the toilets, where you flush after dumping; he showed us the windows, taking time to explain how you can open the window mid-flight and touch the clouds.

I was so educated that after watching, even me sef can fly a plane, I tell you.

As he walked towards the planes, his cameraman followed him, egging him on and hoping that he would not fall into any hole there while trying so hard to send a message to Nigerians that he was the most hardworking minister of the Federal Republic.

Very oblivious of the contradiction he was throwing out there, he tried so much to do a Richard Quest on us by walking around the place, arms outstretched, big white eyes staring at the camera as he beckoned on Nigerians to join him on this quest to only God knows whe

Be like say oga did not do orientation exercise before he resumed as Minister of Aviation or HR did not properly brief him. Marketing specific versions of an aircraft cannot be part of the Minister of Aviation’s j

But even as me sef no know, don’t let me talk too much before I embarrass myself, for all you know, someone may have smuggled it inside o.

Remember that oga is a very brilliant interlocutor or have you all forgotten his explanation as to why one big Oga did not do WAEC.

So let’s all keep quiet and enjoy the show because you never can tell, maybe oga is auditioning for an internship with ARISE TV.

Wonders can never end.

Fashion Designer, Bashy Kuti, Hits Diamond Age

The name Bashy Kuti is synonymous with fashion and style. This is no exaggeration, as the Managing Director of BKK has been faithful to his first lovefashion design, for many years with several laudable awards to his credit.

Over the years, this respected fashion designer, who launched his outfit over two decades ago, has won the confidence of the elite who, in turn, have rewarded him with impressive patronage owing to his creativity. And on his part, he keeps blazing a trail and setting the pace for his competitors to follow.

Apart from being a fashion designer, he has also made a name for himself as a wardrobe consultant to many socialites as well as politicians. Little wonder his Ibadan office is always as busy as a beehive, almost like a Mecca of sorts to celebrities, top politicians and captains of industry.

The very creative mind has opened and expanded the branches of his business beyond the shores of Ibadan. He has spread his tentacles to Abuja, Port Harcourt and the UK, as part of a concerted strategy to satisfy the yearning of his farflung clientele.

Even as he loves to express the dynamism in African cultures through his experimental designs, his greatest impetus is innovation at all times.

Last Tuesday, the virtuoso hit the diamond age. While many expected him to roll out the drums to celebrate the milestone, the socialite shocked his friends as he opted for a simple birthday fête. However, that didn’t stop the avalanche of encomiums from his families, relatives, friends, loyalists as well as wellwishers.

Taiwo Afolabi Set to Expand Coast

Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances - Sun Tzu

The Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, is known as a strategist whose business acumen is indubitable. Many stories about his success abound such that his worst critics acknowledge the abundance of God’s grace and wisdom in him. His resilience and audacity have made him a role model to many aspiring entrepreneurs.

Afolabi evinced his entrepreneurial spirit as a young man when he started his business on a shoestring budget. The mustard seed that was sown deep into the soil alongside his friends back then germinated and grew into an Iroko that not only gives shade to millions of people but also feeds many millions spread across the world.

In the shipping sector, he is a familiar name, notably for his brilliance. Apart from shipping, the Ogun State-

born business mogul has his hands in various sectors of the economy, including maritime, hospitality, freight, oil and gas among others.

Many are still in awe at his Marriott Hotel in GRA Ikeja and for many years to come, history will be kind to him for spending more than N10 billion to put Nigeria on the map of Africa’s best and most luxurious hotels and accommodations. The hotel, since it was opened three years ago, has redefined the hospitality industry in Nigeria.

This time around, the man known for his business ingenuity is at it again! Society Watch gathered that Afolabi is set to expand his coast once again. A source revealed to us that the world-class businessman would soon join the long list of aviation owners in the country.

According to the source, he has concluded plans with his partners abroad for the take-off of an aviation business that would not only set a new standard but redefine the sector.

Family Prepares for Gen Diya’s Remembrance

The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot- Proverbs 10:7.

How time flies!

Last year, 2023, the household of the Diyas was thrown into mourning when the grim reaper visited, bore its vicious pangs and wickedly led their patriarch, retired Gen. Oladipo Diya, away from their sight eternally.

The retired army general lived a fulfilled life, rising to the pinnacle of his military career. He was Chief of General Staff to the late Sani Abacha between 1993 and 1997 and he was regarded as one of the finest military officers the country has produced. This beautiful legacy has been the consolation his family has held onto since he left them

To show that his memory eternally lingers on in their minds, the family has concluded plans to hold a memorial service in honour of the Ogun State-born top military brass.

When Zaynab Otiti-Obanor Pulled Out All the Stops For Father’s Burial

It was a day of glamour, tributes, music, vivacity and camaraderie. The ambience was cool and the guests’ list was impressive.

That was the ambience penultimate week when the highflying businesswoman and philanthropist Zaynab Otiti-Obanor buried her late father

The truism in the popular quote of William Shakespeare “When beggars die there are no comets seen; the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes,” was openly on display.

Signs that something extraordinary was happening were noticed from the heavy human and vehicular movement in Benin City. The ancient city was literally shut down for the big day

Otiti-Obanor pulled out all the stops to ensure she made the ceremony a memorable one that will be talked about for a long time to come.

The colourful event was another concrete proof that the beautiful woman’s preeminence in society is not a fluke, given the array of guests who honoured her invitation. This further proves the love people have for her.

She demonstrated her sense of

hospitality, which is indisputably topnotch, as the gaily dressed were well taken care of.

The light-skinned lady showcased her most cherished hobby, the act of giving. Society Watch gathered that she used the opportunity of visiting her hometown to reach out to the less privileged.

The stylish and equally gorgeous woman believes that regardless of where you are in life, there is something that you can offer, and that you mustn’t wait to be rich to be able to save the world.

For her, the act of generosity must first start from our willingness to develop a kind spirit. This is where she derived the inspiration to start her foundation, Queen Zaynab Foundation. The Foundation, since its inception a few years ago, has recorded tremendous success. She has tried in her own little way to set women in rural communities up in small businesses. The Foundation has also given scholarships to kids from elementary levels to the university, giving aid to urgent needs of families, and rendered free medical care to a few communities in need.

Society Watch gathered that a series of events have been lined up for this purpose, commencing from Tuesday, March 26, 2024, exactly a year after his passing. The event is expected to take place at Tanimowo Villa, Oladipo Diya Road Oke-Mosan Odogbolu, Ogun State, while his posthumous birthday ceremony will be held at his Ikeja GRA residence on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Top dignitaries have been invited to these events.

In a tribute, Diya’s eldest son, Barrister Oyesinminlola Diya honoured him, describing him as an incredible father.

“Your legacy is our “pride and the good name you gave us is a testament to the incredible father you were,” he wrote.

Oyesinminlola also noted that the “wisdom, the discipline, the love and everything you taught us will walk with us through our lifetime and we will always carry the name Diya with dignity.”

Otiti-Obanor

Late Diya

ARTS & REVIEW ARTS & REVIEW

Don Barber and the Art of Embracing New Trends

Initially wary of digital photography, a prominent Nigerian photographer now organises a cell phone photography competition. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

Surprising—isn’t it?—that Don Barber, the photography legend, who, besides being as seasoned as they come, is also deeply rooted in analogue ways, has now taken to organising a mobile phone photography competition, despite his previous aversion to digital techniques! And to think that digital photography—once a subject hardly worthy of his attention, let alone his interest—has suddenly become the focal point around which an informal discussion that sultry afternoon is swirling! Indeed, his ongoing mobile phone photography competition, which is precisely the topic of the conversation with his host, is a new project that is obviously at odds with his traditional views. Now, isn’t it a delightful irony that the once-dismissed technology is now becoming the headstone of his evolving creative journey?

Of course, it’s not as though people have not been known to change along with their opinions! Yet, the man, who used to run the iconic Don Barber Studios along an arterial thoroughfare in the Lagos mainland neighbourhood of Surulere, had his reasons for remaining sceptical about going digital for a very long time. One of the reasons, he tells his interlocutor, was “because when the digital types started coming out, a 35 mm slide scanned at a high resolution at that time, which was shot with the lowest and cheapest film camera, was giving you about 5000 MB of imagery, whereas the digital cameras that were coming out at that time had two mega pixels.”

In his previous firm resolve to preserve the essence of art in its purest form, he has adamantly resisted change, even if it meant risking becoming stuck in his own established ways. Perhaps, it is a consolation that he finds solace in the company of individuals like Akinbode Akinbiyi, who, residing in Germany, comfortably shuns current trends owing to his privileged access to funding.

Still, his willingness to adapt didn’t sprout overnight; it was a gradual process influenced by his frequent journeys to the UK, where he delved into the realm of photography. It was here that he confronted the reality that esteemed professionals he admired—individuals who were in their sixties while he was in his forties—were gradually transitioning to digital photography. Notable among them was David Bailey, the renowned British photographer celebrated for his captivating images of celebrities and musicians, notably the Rolling Stones, during the vibrant eras of the 1960s and 1970s.

Back to the mobile phone photography competition, whose theme this year revolves around the world of football. It is titled the Mobile Phone Photography and EDITOR

Arts Competition Awards and is fondly known by its abbreviation, MPPACA. Held bimonthly, it offers a dazzling array of rewards, including cash prizes exceeding N1 million and trendy mobile phones for the winners. This creative extravaganza, which embraces a wide spectrum of football-themed snapshots, aims for innovation and expects submissions to capture anything under the sun that is related to football—be it a roadside stall flaunting football gear or a commercial motorcycle rider donning a Ronaldo jersey. As the competition drums up excitement, participants are nudged to defy conventions. The call to action? “Think out of the box!”

According to the seasoned sixtysomething-year-old, the essence of this competition is to ignite the creative spark within participants by championing the power of visuals and aesthetics across Nigeria. “Our goal,” he says, “is to inspire people to let their imaginations run wild through imagery.” The event, initially launched in the pre-COVID era, faced a four-year hiatus before making a comeback. However, navigating the regulatory waters, including complying with the Nigerian Lottery Regulatory Commission’s stipulations, became a necessary twist due to the competition’s apparent lottery-like qualities.

At a pivotal moment, Barber has glimpsed the dawn of photography’s future inside the crystal ball of mobile phone technology—a realm he can no longer dismiss. “They’ve evolved into such versatile tools, some even capturing documentaries,” he muses in a nod to their revolutionary impact on his profession.

This is one reason why he passionately encourages youths, those flying the flags of Gen-Z and millennials, to rethink their cell phones as cool tools for making money rather than squandering precious data on frivolities.

Meanwhile, the ongoing competition, clearly inspired by similar UK newspaper competitions, is on the lookout for partners. Presently, it’s a joint effort with Dayo Adedayo, a fellow photographer.

Naturally, Barber hasn’t completely abandoned analogue practices; he recognises their enduring value in our contemporary landscape. In fact, he envisions a future where analogue techniques coexist harmoniously with digital innovations. Despite this, the majority of his artistic endeavours remain firmly rooted in the analogue realm. While he still welcomes commissions, his recent focus has shifted towards transforming his photographic works into compelling paintings. This entails employing AI to translate a photograph into a distinctive style reminiscent of Ben Enwonwu’s iconic paintings, leading to the creation and sale of unique and captivating art pieces.

Barber

A photograph of physically-challenged footballers

A photograph of football accessories

Adieu, Christianah Ibironke Oshuntola, Classic Iyaniwura

Tunde Olusunle

EExcept you have the luxury of a precursor from your family, or you previously cultivated concrete amities, residential accommodation for a new employee deployed to work in Lagos can be a palpable challenge. I was recruited by the primordial Daily Times of Nigeria Plc in 1990 when Yemi Ogunbiyi, the charismatic, visionary and stamina-imbued former university scholar was chief executive of the organisation. My letter of employment was dated April 1990 but didn’t get to me until four months later. Even at that I had every cause to be thankful that it finally came. What if it got missing in the hands of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) as was very plausible under the organisation’s virtual monopoly of mail distribution and courier services those days? I couldn’t wait to disengage from the services of the Kwara State government under which I had served in the four preceding years as a graduate teacher. So, Lagos, here I come!

I was a quasi-nomad during the first few months of resumption at the Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos complex of the erstwhile Daily Times. I stayed with a cousin in Idi-Araba and subsequently with Gbenga Ayeni my classmate and brother from our first day in the university who was already settled in the Daily Times. He was in the Lagos bureau of the Londonbased West Africa magazine which was owned by the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc. Such was the foresight of the iconic Babatunde Jose, first indigenous chief executive of the Daily Times octopus. I remember asking Ayeni during one of our exchanges whether the organisation was not bothered about the welfare of its personnel. Cruelly but matter-of-factly, he told me that so long as I diligently filed your copies, it wouldn’t matter to the newspaper behemoth whether I slept beneath Lagos bridges!

I reached out to my father in Ilorin who once told me he had a friend and former colleague in Lagos. My father had worked with Livestock Feeds Ltd which was a subsidiary of Pfizer Nigeria Ltd, from the late 1960s to the late 1970s. He was variously manager at the Kaduna and Benin City plants. Within the period, he had met Pastor Femi Oshuntola and both men developed a close relationship. They had both retired and settled variously in Ilorin and Lagos. I couldn’t continue living in Lagos like a “Fulani” herdsman so my father graciously gave me a note to his friend in Lagos and asked me to locate his friend.

I traced Baba Oshuntola’s place in IfakoIjaiye one of those evenings. Fortuitously, I met him. I introduced myself and handed over the note from my father to him. He pored through the correspondence and shook hands with me. He immediately called out to Mama Oshuntola his wife, introduced me and handed me over to her. The “handing over ceremony” had barely been completed when Mama called Jide and Bankole the two boys in the family. “He is your elder brother,” Mama told them. “He is the son of one of your father’s very close friends and works with the Daily Times. He will stay in your room for as long as he is with us so please tidy up the place and make it available.” And that was how I was taken in and integrated into the Oshuntola family. I participated in the daily family morning devotions and attended the Foursquare Gospel Church which was the family’s denomination.

As media practitioners our official schedules can be unpredictable.

Technology was not as advanced those days as different from the pampering it has availed us in today’s world where we can do almost everything with our handheld devices. As a reporter or writer, you had to physically go after the story, interview your subjects and attend events from which you could derive your reports or essays. You wrote in longhand, secretaries in the newsrooms typed your copies, you proofread them, and in some instances you planned the pages as part of the newspaper production process. The openended process ensured you couldn’t place your hands on a specific closing time from work. As a young man, I also sat out with friends from time to time to have a few drinks and also take in some culinary ancillaries. The Oshuntolas understood my situation very well and never for once did they chastise me or lock me out. Rather, Mama’s worry would be about if I had had a meal all day or not.

My wife, Funmi and I were still in courtship and she worked with “CSS Bookshop Press” in Lagos. I introduced her to the Oshuntolas and she was wholly and totally embraced. She was accredited to Mama Oshuntola’s kitchen and she took turns with the ladies in the family at the time, Yemisi, Bunmi and Opeyemi to prepare meals for the family. A trained and retired nurse like my own mother, Mama Oshuntola operated the “Golden Mother Clinic and Maternity Centre” within the complex of the family house which was established in 1985. It remains the go-to medical facility in the Ifako-Ijaiye district on account of its uncompromising professionalism. To be

sure, the very first child with which my family was blessed, was born into Mama Oshuntola’s arms! I was out there chasing what to write about when my wife fell into labour. By this time we had secured an apartment a whistling distance from the Oshuntolas. Once they got to know that my wife was feeling the pangs of birth, Baba Oshuntola quickly drove to our home to pick up my wife. Such unparalleled affection by the Oshuntola clan.

The good news was conveyed to me via land telephone which was the vogue those days while I was attending a meeting of the editorial board in Daily Times. I promptly obtained permission to go see my folks. I went straight to Mama Oshuntola’s office on arrival to thank her for her motherly kindness. She referred me straightaway to the private ward my wife and newborn were. “Go to that room,” she ordered, “Greet your wife and kiss her, take the baby in your arms and pray together as a blessed family.” If that was touching, then wait for the next. After complying with her guidance I returned to her office to ask for our bill. “You have no bill to settle,” she shocked me. “But quickly get across to your mother in Ilorin and your mother-in-law in Ibadan. Mother and child remain under my watch until I see one of the grandmas.” That was how conscientiously motherly, how generous in spirit she was.

On one of my cross-country tours prospecting for business opportunities, I experienced more bowel movements than normal. My driver had to pull over from the road on many occasions. I had

a message to deliver to the Oshuntolas as I got into Lagos on that occasion so their residence was my first port of call and I planned to proceed to the hotel thereafter. I was welcomed by Mama Oshuntola who promptly took me to her office. “You look dehydrated, pale and fatigued,” she said as she checked my vitals. I told her my experience on the trip. Unknown to me, I was suffering from food poisoning. She summoned one of the senior hospital staff and I was taken to a VIP ward. My wrist watch and telephone were taken and handed over to Bankole as a drip was set up for me. I was monitored all through the night. That is the classic Mama Oshuntola.

Christianah Ibironke Oshuntola (nee Odeneye) was born on new year’s day, January 1, 1946 in Ijebu-Awa, Ijebu-Igbo local government area of Ogun State. She had her foundational education in primary and secondary schools in her home community. She was briefly a teacher in Aperin near Ibadan before crossing over to the Catholic Hospital, Oke-Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo as an auxiliary nurse in 1963. Committed to the pursuit of her dream nursing career, she attended the Nursing School in Eleiyele, Ibadan and completed her practical training at the Ijebu-Igbo General Hospital. Upon qualifying as a nurse and duly certificated, she worked at the Ikeja General Hospital, Lagos, between 1969 and 1970. She proceeded to the Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos for her midwifery training from 1970 to 1971.

She obtained a one-year “out-station” experience at the Ejirin Health Centre, Epe and returned to the General Hospital, Ikeja in 1972 and stayed on till 1979. Mama Oshuntola desired to impact her community with her knowledge and experience in healthcare provision. The Ifako-Ijaiye area was just developing and the visionary Mama Oshuntola reckoned that residents of the emergent district could do with proximal medical facilities as against more distant ones. For six years beginning from 1979 therefore, she garnered requisite insights in managing a private health concern by working at County Hospital, Ogba, Ikeja. In March 1985, her dream for a self-owned clinic came to fruition with the setting up of “Golden Mother Clinic and Maternity.” That name is the authentication of who she truly was, a mother with a heart of gold. The outfit will be 40 years in 2025.

Mama got wedded to Pastor Olufemi Oshuntola in 1966 and the union has been blessed with five children and many grandchildren, biological and adopted. Baba Oshuntola passed in 2013 and was interred in Oyo his hometown in Oyo State. Mama Oshuntola was as diligent in service to God as she was in her profession as a lifesaver. She was well-known at the local, zonal and district levels of the Foursquare Gospel Church. She was President of the Foursquare Women International, (FWI) for six years and was ordained a “Deaconess” for her good works. She was further promoted to the rank of “Elder” as she ascended higher leadership levels in the mission. Within her local community, Mama Oshuntola was President of the “Ifako Progressive Union,” (IPU) for 10 years.

Mama turned 78 on Monday January 1, 2024 and passed on a few weeks later. Her rites of passage have been scheduled for Thursday March 21 and Friday March 22, 2024 in Lagos. She was an incredibly generous, affectionate and inspirational matriarch. We will all miss her warmth, candour and earthiness. May her soul rest in the bosom of the Lord.

Oshuntola

Editor: Ejiofor Alike

SMS: 08066066268 email:ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com

IN THE ARENA

Ningi: Lawmakers or Lawbreakers?

Juliet Akoje writes that the recent suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi for three months by the Senate not only violates Senate’s Rules but is also in breach of various court judgments in the previous cases involving Senators

Ali Ndume and Ovie Omo-Agege, as well as Dino Melaye and 10 other members of the House of Representatives, where the courts ruled that the National Assembly has no power to suspend a member for more than 14 days

For claiming that the 2024 budget was padded to the tune of over N3 trillion, the Senate last Tuesday suspended Senator Abdul Ningi.

Ningi, from Bauchi Central Senatorial District, and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population was suspended for three months after a long stormy session in the red chamber.

A member of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, first moved the motion for Ningi’s suspension for 12 months.

However, other lawmakers like Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong moved for the amendment of the motion by Ibrahim.

Ekpenyong, who is from Cross River South Senatorial District, prayed for the reduction of the suspension.

Another senator, Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South), however, made further amendment, asking that Ningi be suspended for three months. Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the statement credited to Ningi in the media had damaged their integrity and subjected them to ridicule as Nigerians bashed the parliament.

After putting the amended motion to a voice vote, Akpabio ruled that, “Senator Ningi is hereby suspended from the Senate for three months.”

Many observers have criticised Ningi’s suspension, claiming that it was a ploy to subdue him not to expose the upper legislative chamber to further ridicule. They wondered why a committee was not set up to investigate the allegations instead of resorting to suspension?

The suspension of the Bauchi senator was not the first time the upper legislative chamber would suspend its members.

Though the National Assembly had severally argued that it is part of its rules to suspend any of its erring members, does it have the legal powers to do so?

Suspension, whether in the Senate, House of Representatives or state Houses of Assembly, means that the lawmaker (s) will not be allowed to attend the plenary and will be prohibited from attending committee meetings and participating in oversight functions.

His salary, allowances and other entitlements will not be paid, while his constituency is also denied representation during the period of his suspension.

He will not have access to his office and he is expected not to be seen within the premises of the complex, until the suspension is lifted.

However, Order 67 (4) of the Senate Rules states that an erring legislator can be suspended for only 14 days.

So where did the Senate derive the power to suspend Ningi for three months?

When the Senate on March 30, 2017, suspended Senator Ali Ndume for 90 legislative days for not “conducting due diligence” before filing a petition against the then Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Justice Babatunde Quadri of the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified his suspension, declaring the action illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

The court declared: “The suspension of Ndume for 90 legislative days (six months) from the service of the senate as a senator in the

Senate with effect from March 29, 2017, as contained in the letter of March 30, 2017, is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional as it was done in violation of Sections 68 and 69 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Article 13(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act CAP A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

The judge consequently ordered the Senate to pay the plaintiff his outstanding salaries and allowances.

But later on April 13, 2018, the Senate suspended Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who then was representing Delta Central Senatorial District, for 90 legislative days over his comment that the National Assembly’s process of amending the Electoral Act 2010 seeking the re-ordering of the 2019 general elections was targeted at the then President Muhammadu Buhari.

His suspension had prompted him to file a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the action.

In his judgement, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba nullified the suspension, saying that while the National Assembly has the power to discipline its erring members, a legislator could not be suspended for more than 14 days.

He ordered that all the entitlements and allowances due to the lawmaker be paid to him.

A similar situation had earlier occurred in 2010 when the House of Representatives suspended Dino Melaye and 10 others who submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging criminal diversion of funds by the Dimeji Bankole-led leadership of the House.

Consequent to a suit they filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja through their lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), the court held that

POLITICAL NOTES

under the rules of the House, it cannot suspend a member for more than 14 days.

The court wondered under what law the House suspended these 11 members indefinitely and declared the action illegal.

Also in 2020, an Ondo State High Court annulled the indefinite suspension of a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Tomide Akinribido, by the house’s leadership.

In the build-up to the 2020 Ondo State governorship election, the state assembly suspended four lawmakers: Akinribido; the Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji; Favour Tomomowo, and Wale Williams. The assembly leadership had accused them of misconduct and acts capable of bringing the assembly to disrepute.

Akinribido was specifically sanctioned for his tirade against the leadership on social media.

However, the entire suspension brouhaha was closely linked to their refusal to consent to the impeachment of the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi who was planning to contest the governorship election against his principal, the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, after dumping the All Progressives Congress (APC) under which he was elected deputy governor in 2016.

In protest, the lawmakers through their lawyer, Banjo Ayenakin, had sought the protection of the court against their unlawful suspension from the House.

In his judgment, Justice Ademola Bola ruled that the Ondo State House of Assembly acted arbitrarily by exceeding its power and could only suspend a member for just one legislative day.

The court noted that the assembly could regulate the actions of its members and mete out disciplinary actions on members, adding however, that the suspension of any member cannot be more than one legislative day or a plenary sitting.

The judge held that Akinribido’s indefinite suspension was ultravires of the powers of the assembly and hence null and void.

He, however, noted that the lawmaker violated house rules through the WhatsApp altercation, ruling also that the house could discipline him for it.

The court said despite the powers to sanction, the suspension could not be more than one legislative day and that the House of Assembly lacked the power to suspend a member indefinitely.

In an earlier judgement given by the court , the suspension of Ogundeji, Williams and Towomowo was also quashed.

Justice Bola described the suspension as “illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”

The judge said the suspension violated sections 90, 91, 106 and 117 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. He held that the lawmakers must be reinstated into their positions with immediate effect, and awarded N5 million each as compensation for the treatment meted to them by the assembly.

From the above cases, it is clear that the National Assembly does not have the powers to suspend any of its lawmakers beyond 14 days.

That the National Assembly always ignores court judgments and its own rules and suspends its members beyond the stipulated days only shows the amount of respect or disrespect those who make the laws have for the laws they make.

Beyond Politics of Third Mainland Bridge Repairs

The ongoing but deserving resurfacing of the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, is a commendable feat worthy of the current pains being persevered by the people of the state for an otherwise enduring gain. It is public knowledge that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, in spite of its many inadequacies, paid very good attention to the repairs of the bridge, an otherwise critical national asset.

Away from the familiar superficial repairs of infrastructure, especially roads, the former administration under the direct supervision of Mr.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, then Minister of Works and Housing, undertook critical substructural repairs of the bridge. From replacing the pile caps to fixing the expansion joints and the bearings – the core of which were done right in the lagoon – what is being done today is nothing compared to what had prepared the bridge for the resurfacing.

Thus, what is visible is what is being driven on, while what could actually kill is what no one could see, but which the Buhari government had fixed for the bridge to be certified

usable beyond its smooth surface run.

Therefore, beyond the attempt to demonise the former administration as if the ongoing resurfacing is all that the bridge represents, is the need to situate the politics in context, without throwing away the reality that government is a continuum.

In other words, the resurfacing of the Third Mainland Bridge by the Bola Tinubu administration would not have been possible without the substructural repairs done by the Buhari government, not forgetting also that the resurfacing leg of the repairs had also been awarded by Buhari before the current government, decided to change the contractors, for whatever reasons.

Akpabio

Umahi

Killing of Rivers Cult Leader and Another Lost Opportunity

By killing another notorious leader of a dreaded cult group, Gift David Okpara Okpolowu, a.k.a 2-Baba, in a shootout, the Rivers State Police Command has lost another opportunity to unmask the alleged powerful politicians sponsoring violent crimes in the state. Ejiofor Alike writes that two other cult leaders, Johnson Igwedibia, better known as Don Waney, and Honest Digbara, also known as Bobosky, were killed under suspicious circumstances without having the opportunity to expose their alleged powerful sponsors

The Rivers State Police Command recently recorded a major victory against the criminal elements terrorising the state with the killing of a notorious cult leader, David Gift Okpara, also known as 2-Baba.

The late kidnap kingpin was the prime suspect in the murder of a former Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, SP Bako Angbashim in September 2023.

Okpara was said to have led the Icelanders, one of the most violent criminal gangs in the state that beheaded the gallant police officer in Odiemudie community in the LGA.

Angbashim was ambushed and captured by the gang, who dismembered his body and recorded the video with impunity and confidence, fuelling the speculations that they had powerful backers.

After the embarrassing incident, the police declared them wanted and also carried out constant land and air bombardments in the various hideouts of the Iceland cult leader, even as some of his lieutenants were also gunned down in shootouts.

But citing intelligence reports, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement issued last month revealed that the wanted cult kingpin was killed in a joint security raid in the Idu-Ekpeye community, Ahoada East LGA

The police imagemaker said 2-Baba was killed on February 17 when the police raided his camp following their attack on Okogbe town and Odiokwu community in AhoadaWest LGA, where they destroyed pipelines earlier in the day.

Irinke-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, also said a human skull, assorted rifles, explosives, and various charms, among others, were recovered during the last raid in his new hideout, which culminated in his death.

The statement listed other items recovered from the camp to include one AK-47 rifle, one G3 rifle, one scorpion rifle, one double-barrel locally-made gun, and two locally-made pistols.

Others are one cut-to-size double barrel gun, one bullet proof vest, 13 pieces of dynamite, five rounds of .9mm live ammunition, 10 Army camouflage, 11 assorted charms, one human skull and one jack-knife.”

“Efforts are in progress to retrieve the body of the infamous killer, while investigations into the Iceland cult’s activities in the region continue,” the statement added.

However, a few days later on February 23, the operatives of the Tactical Units of the state police

command recovered his decomposing remains in a shallow grave at Ebrass community of Ahoada-West LGA.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, who was represented by the PPRO, Iringe-Koko, expressed gratitude to everyone who played a part in the operation and also promised that the police would continue operations to apprehend other members of 2-baba’s gang and dismantle any remaining criminal networks.

Before his death, he kept terrorising communities and companies in the Ahoada axis of the state and demanding various sums of money from households.

The state police command had earlier recovered four 20KVA power-generating sets he seized from a company.

He seized the four 20KVA generators from a company for not paying him N20 million ‘matching ground’ fee, an illegal levy imposed on persons or organisations by cultists in the state.

But the police, in their operation, had recovered the property and other valuables from 2-Baba’s hideout earlier before the operation that led to his death.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Opera-

tions, Olubenga Adepoju, while handing over the four 20KVA generators, said 2-Baba was demanding N5 million for each of the equipment.

While the police were being celebrated for their gallantry, security analysts were also concerned that all the wanted cult leaders in the state were killed under circumstances that robbed the Force of the opportunity to unmask the powerful politicians behind these dangerous groups.

Though the killing of 2-Baba might not appear suspicious, given the circumstances surrounding it, the previous killing of two other wanted cult leaders were believed to have been carried out to prevent them from exposing the powerful political leaders sponsoring them.

The state government had offered a N200 million bounty for the arrest of the kidnap kingpin and cultist, Don Waney, who was linked with the killing of 23 people in Omoku area of the state on January 1, 2018.

Waney, whose real name was Johnson Igwedibia, was later killed at a hideout in Enugu by the military without having the opportunity to expose his powerful backers.

NOTES FOR FILE

In August 2019, the then Governor Nyesom Wike had promised a N30 million reward for any useful information that would lead to the arrest of another kidnap kingpin and cultist, Honest Digbara, a.ka. Bobosky.

But Bobosky, who was the leader of a notorious criminal gang in Gokana LGA of the state, later died under suspicious circumstances that fuelled allegations of cover-up of his sponsors, having been denied the opportunity to spill the beans.

The then state Commissioner of Police (CP), Joseph Mukan, had announced that Bobosky was arrested in an operation with the assistance of vigilantes in the Ogoni neighbourhood.

After the shootout and subsequent arrest, he was paraded at the headquarters of the Command on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

But in a strange twist, he was later declared dead by the police who said he succumbed to the multiple gunshot injuries sustained during the shootout.

Bobosky died in police custody without naming his sponsors.

Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Rivers State has been breeding deadly cultists who enjoy the strong backing of politicians.

Security reports suggest that some of these cultists also masquerade as fighters for the emancipation of the oil-producing region and engage in oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other forms of criminalities.

But their primary assignment is to intimidate and kill political opponents and perpetrate electoral violence during elections to ensure the victory of their sponsors.

Records have shown that the state government only declares the leaders of these gangs wanted when they commit heinous crimes that embarrass the state and the country.

The killing of Waney and other gang leaders in similar circumstances without extracting useful information that could help in arresting their powerful sponsors have fuelled the suspicion that they might have been silenced to prevent them from spilling the beans.

A former Commissioner of Police in the state, Emeka Nwonyi, had also confirmed what had always been known that prominent politicians were behind the deadly criminal gangs terrorising the state.

The then commissioner had vowed that such politicians must be identified and prosecuted

The question is: When will the Rivers State Police Command unmask the powerful politicians that turned the state into a breeding ground for deadly criminal gangs?

The London Jamboree by OAGF, Finance Commissioners

The recent workshop for the 36 state commissioners for finance organised by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) in London, has questioned the sincerity of the President Bola Tinubu’s government in the ongoing plan to cut the cost of governance.

The workshop, themed: ‘Public Financial Management and IPSASWorkshop for State Commissioners of Finance and Officials of OAGF,’ was held at the Hilton Kensington in London from March 4–9, 2024.

According to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), commissioners are entitled to $600 estacode for each night spent on a foreign trip. If the 36 commissioners of finance were present at the event for at least five days, it means a total of $108,000, equivalent

to N162,000,000 (at the rate of N1,500 per dollar), was spent on estacode. This did not include the outrageous cost of flights; other expenses for the commissioners and estacodes for officials of the OAGF and others.

The Director of Press at the AccountantGeneral’s office, Bawa Mokwa, who confirmed the workshop, clarified that the OAGF members attending the meeting are sub-committees of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), with the implementation committee comprising the commissioners of finance of the 36 states.

Mokwa mentioned that the choice of the UK as the venue for the event is due to the residency of the facilitators in the country, who ensures the implementation

of the workshop’s objectives meticulously.

What this means invariably is that an entire country was put in aircraft to meet the facilitators when indeed Nigeria could have paid for them to come to the country.

The decision to hold the conference in the UK clearly contradicts the claim by this present administration that it targets to cut the cost of governance.

In a move to minimise government expenses in the face of a persistent economic crisis, President Tinubu in January reduced the official delegation for local and foreign trips by 60 per cent. He had also approved the implementation of the Oronsaye report, which is aimed at reducing government spending by merging and scrapping some ministries, departments, and agencies.

However, the London jamboree has questioned the sincerity of the government in its claim that it wants to cut costs.

IG, Kayode Egbetokun

Edun

Edo APC in Dire Need of Unity

Since the episode of one primary election that produced three governorship candidates, peace seems to have eluded the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, prompting political observers to query if the party will actually unite behind a candidate in the September 21 governorship poll, writes Adibe Emenyonu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State appears to be in a state of confusion since the conclusion of its primary election to choose a candidate for the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the state.

From the time of the first ballot, which produced a member of the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa as candidate and two other claimants, to the second that gave victory to Senator Monday Okpebholo as candidate, the political atmosphere in the state as it concerns the party has remained in crisis.

The party is sharply divided between the group loyal to the senator, representing Edo North in the upper chamber of the National Assembly and former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole; and the other faction backed by a two-time governorship candidate in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and other leaders of the party in the state.

The crisis started before the primaries as namedropping began to fly among party leaders and followers, who were claiming that President Bola Tinubu preferred the member, representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives as candidate of the party because, according to them, he had twice beaten the daughter of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion to emerge elected member of the National Assembly.

Again, he was also said to be the only aspirant who won his ward, local government and federal constituency in the 2023 general election.

However, in what looks like a countermeasure, it was also claimed that the president had endorsed rotation in favour of Edo Central district for equity, justice and fair play because the zone is yet to have a governor of the state since 1999 except the 18 months short-lived tenure of Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor.

Armed with these two conflicting messages, the party members went to the field more confused.

However, since it was a contest, a winner eventually emerged.

Therefore, in the February 17 primary, Idahosa was declared winner in a rancorous exercise. Journalists were beaten; their working tools destroyed, while Lush Vill Hotel, the collation centre for the primary, had some of their property damaged when political thugs invaded the venue reminiscing the Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Commando” film.

There was protest but amidst this confusion, the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, congratulated Idahosa, declaring the live broadcast of results of the primary election as

unknown to the party.

However, the same National Working Committee (NWC) of the party headed by Ganduje later bowed to pressure and declared the exercise that produced Idahosa inconclusive.

Since the primary was declared inconclusive, rather than continue where they stopped, the party went for a fresh exercise.

In the second ballot, the table turned against Idahosa, and in favour of Senator Okpebholo who represents Edo Central in the Senate.

The same Ganduje and others felicitated with him on his victory.

A Certificate of Return was issued immediately, signalling his acceptance as the party’s candidate for the governorship poll.

Now, his victory is being threatened as the man he defeated has asked the party NWC to declare him the party’s candidate, having been pronounced so in the first botched primaries or risk legal action.

In a letter to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by his lawyers, Wole Olanipekun & Co and dated March 4, which was sighted by THISDAY, Idahosa maintained that the primary conducted by the party and duly monitored by the commission, remained the authentic primary of the party.

He described the other primary conducted on February 22 where he was allotted 6,541 votes as a charade and urged INEC to disregard the same. According to the attached documents to the letter, Idahosa said: “The record of INEC/the commission will show that, under your leadership, the commission monitored the Edo State APC primary election for the nomination of the governorship candidate of the APC pursuant to the prior notification that the primary election will specifically hold on 17th of February, 2024.

“The primary election was indeed held, and I garnered 40,453 votes, a copy of the result certified by INEC is attached herein with this letter.

“INEC’s report of monitoring the election confirms that, at the end of the process, I was returned as the duly elected candidate of the APC, a copy of the INEC report as certified by the commission is attached.

“The APC primary election committee that conducted the election also confirmed that i won the election as evidenced by a report signed by all members of the committee (without a single instance of dissent).

“The APC subsequently confirmed to INEC that the primary election held as scheduled on 17th

February, 2024; however, without giving any reason, indicated that the election was inconclusive and will be completed on 22nd February, 2024 and invited INEC to monitor the completion exercise,” he stated.

Idahosa asked the commission to take cognisance of the February 17 primary in accepting and publishing the party’s nominated candidate for the Edo State governorship poll slated for September.

“The commission will also appreciate that there are pending reliefs for injunction and is urged not to take steps that will either preempt the court of prejudice of ongoing judicial process,” he explained.

Idahosa may not be alone in the quest to return him as the party candidate. His move is alleged to have the backing of Oshiomhole who apparently spoke through one of the governorship aspirants and former Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua who described the sudden emergence of Okpebholo as candidate of the party as a charade and rape on democracy.

Afegbua alleged that the said primary that produced Okpebholo never took place as it was a mere selection and gang up by the national leadership of the party to undo Oshiomhole. To him, during the rescheduled primary, Okpebholo who was declared winner ahead of eleven other aspirants with 12,433 votes was not even present on that day of primary yet, he was declared winner.

In the light of the above, Afegbua vowed that he may not even work for Okpebholo, adding that since the party at the national level has foisted him on the people, they should be ready to deliver him while some of the party leaders in the state will watch how they would succeed.

But in his reaction, Goodwill Inegb, who is the Director of Publicity for Monday Okpebholo Campaign Organisation, said the party’s NWC is the organ that is bequeathed with the constitutional powers and authority to conduct governorship primary election, adding that if in their wisdom, they decided to cancel the first primary because of the controversy that trailed it and reschedule a fresh one which produced Okpebholo, other party members should kindly support the outcome so as to ensure victory come September 21.

According to him, “In fidelity with the relevant provisions in the Constitution and Electoral Act, the NWC conducted a fair, transparent and credible governorship primary election in Edo State, which led to the emergence of Senator Monday Okpebholo (aka) Akpakomiza, as the flag-bearer of APC in the forthcoming off-cycle governorship election in Edo State.

“We must now join hands to ensure we deliver for the party and our candidate, because in this lies the redemption of Edo people.

“Senator Monday Okpebholo is the man Edo needs now to steer the ship of the state from the rudderlessness of the last eight years. We cannot afford to miss this chance his candidacy affords. He has shown he’s a team player who works in silence, achieving results. He’s not a braggart, neither is he slothful. He is focused on reclaiming Edo for Edo people. We must join him to make this happen.

“Senator Monday Okpebholo has clearly shown that he is a focused, detribalized and disciplined leader, whose humility is second to none and whose drive and passion for Edo renaissance trump any primordial consideration.

“We cannot allow the continuation of arrogance in government, failed promises, belligerence against our people, use-and-dump, repatriation of our collective wealth to other climes and outsourcing of our jobs to Lagos.

In spite of these pleadings, the APC in the state has remained polarised.

The division has assumed ethnic colouration between Edo South/Central districts versus Edo North. While the northern elements of the party have backed Oshiomhole, Edo South and Edo Central have thrown their weights behind Ize-Iyamu and his group, making reconciliation very difficult to attain.

As a sign that Okpebholo has moved on as the party’s governorship candidate, last week, it was reported that leaders of the party had endorsed Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a former member of the House of Representatives as his running mate.

The leaders gave the endorsement at a meeting attended in Abuja by top former governorship aspirants and other critical stakeholders from Edo South. Among those present at the meeting were Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), Lucky Imasuen, and Senator Matthew Urhoghide, among others.

Ogbeide-Ihama, a formidable politician from Edo South, until recently was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The popular Edo politician, who controls the structure of Dan Orbih-led faction of the PDP in Edo South, is moving into the APC with thousands of supporters and PDP party leaders from the senatorial zone.

It was also gathered that his movement to the party and his endorsement by leaders from the largest senatorial district in Edo State, may earn the APC the needed victory from Edo South during the polls.

Oshiomhole

Dennis Idahosa

Monday Okpebholo

The Diplomacy and Management of Official Corruption in Nigeria: Budget Padding as a Tip of the Iceberg

On May 10, 2016, the then British Prime Minister, David Cameron, discussed the issue of anti-corruption summit holding in the United Kingdom then with the late Queen Elisabeth II during a tête-à-tête at the Buckingham Palace, London, at an event organised to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday anniversary. Mr. Cameron told the Queen that ‘we’ve got some leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries coming to Britain… Nigeria and Afghanistan, possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world.’ President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) expressed ‘shock’ and ‘embarrassment,’ while it was not a big deal for most Nigerians that were used to Nigeria’s systemic corruption. Why should PMB be shocked or embarrassed when it was a truism that in 2015, both Nigeria and Afghanistan were ranked 136th and 167th in the Transparency International’s 2015 Corruption Index?

Without any whiff of gainsaying, corruption in Nigeria is systemic and also dates back to 1967. Professor J.S. Cookey noted in his Political Bureau’s Report in 1987 that societal corruption and indiscipline dated back to 20 years ago, that is, in 1967. Since 1967, Nigerians have been grappling with this societal indiscipline to no avail. Even when this social ill was recognized by PMB in 2016 and he promised to fight tooth and nail the ills, media reports have it that many PMB’s Ministers are now secretly refunding under compulsion their ill-gotten funds to Government. Secret refunding is an element of the conduct and management of official corruption in Nigeria. Embezzlement of public funds is done in the open, but the trial and investigation is officiously done. The report of whatever outcome is always thrown into garbage of history, hence, corruption and societal indiscipline remains recidivist.

In Nigeria, there is never a thief or a robber. There can be one if the ‘thief’ decides to be selfish with the loot. When the loot is for all the stakeholders, there is no thief and there will never be any person found guilty. This is where the exegesis of the diplomacy and management of corruption is quite challenging.

NAVC and Corruption-fighting in Lagos

Based on what PMB stated in 2016, following his election as President of Nigeria, and considering the appointment of Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, OFR, as the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), I joyfully accepted my unanimous election as Coordinator of the National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corps (NAVC), Lagos State Chapter. The NAVC, though established in 2008, only functioned until 2014 when the then Chairman of the ICPC, Ekpo Nta, ordered the suspension of all the NAVC activities nationwide. As noted in a published public notice, some of the state Coordinators of the NAVC ‘had become high-handed in their activities while some were consumed by the same ill they were supposed to fight… Some state Coordinators even resorted to arrest and interrogation of citizens, while some even set up detention centres… It got so bad that the Commission arraigned some Coordinators and members to court for corrupt practices.’

The implications of this quotation cannot be far-fetched: corruption was not only at the governmental level, but also existed at the level of the people. Those who were to contain corruption took advantage of their anti-corruption position of volunteerism to deepen the societal ill. In other words, how do we prevent corrupt and indecent people from gaining access to public offices? This was the first immediate challenge that cannot but require special management. Besides, does the system of recruitment in Nigeria reckon with the known attitudinal disposition of people before their engagement into the civil and public service? Do people bother much about the corrupt or criminal antecedents of candidates for election?

Whatever is the case, the NAVC could not function as from 2014, as a result of the suspension of activities, until 2019 when a new NAVC was put in place. I was unanimously elected and

Bola A. Akinterinwa

officially inaugurated as the new Lagos State Coordinator on 30 July, 2019 at the Lecture Theatre of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was Superior Evangelist Michael Olubajo of the Celestial Church of Christ, National Headquarters, Makoko, Yaba that suggested my name to the NAVC members, arguing my case of integrity and honesty of purpose.

The ICPC, under the leadership of a new Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, OFR, was only prepared to renew the activities of the NAVC on the condition of availability of any reliable man of integrity, not only acceptable to all other NAVC members, but particularly also acceptable to the Management of the ICPC. When my name was mentioned by Superior Evangelist Olubajo to both the NAVC members and the ICPC, I was unconditionally accepted by the ICPC. It was on this basis that some NAVC members, led by Superior Evangelist Olubajo, came to plead with me to accept the leadership of the Corps.

True enough, I knew well Professor Owasanoye as an academic colleague and as another man of dint of hard work and integrity. I therefore strongly believed he should be assisted in his official mandate to fight corruption and societal indiscipline, by especially looking at what the best approach should be. I adopted a bottom-top methodology as the necessary strategy in fighting corruption. And with due respect to Superior Evangelist Olubajo

Another management style is to first deepen corruption and then come back to pretend that it is being fought. When a Governor is travelling officially to any part of his state or the President is visiting a State, all access roads that had been neglected are urgently repaired. When potholes are still within manageable sizes, they are not repaired. It is when they become terrible and requiring contractors’ attention, prices are hiked, government officials then run helter-skelter, seeking to officially commission what ought to have been routinely done. This is management of corruption by corruption. What about the attitude to election? The practice is to seek to win election by all means legal and illegal and then allow the losers to go to the court. The National Assembly also protects fraud. Hearings are commendably organized, but the moment critical questions are asked from the official being investigated, he stylishly suddenly slumps and would be quickly taken out of the chamber. That ends the matter. No one is told about developments thereafter. Again, how can a snake swallow millions of naira and everyone keeps quiet? Padding of the budget is a tip of the iceberg. Nigeria is more than fantastically corrupt. Nigerian politicians should therefore remember what Jerry Rawlings did to their Ghanaian counterparts in light of the current people-instigated coups in West Africa. Nigeria may not be an exception

and Professor Owasanoye, I took up the challenge of leadership of the NAVC, Lagos State with much enthusiasm and unflinching commitment. I considered that, while the ICPC was fighting corruption at the top level, though selectively, the NAVC under my watch, should begin the anti-corruption campaigns at the grass root level, by educating, enlightening the people, especially the market men and women, road transport unions, etc. on the destructive disadvantages of engaging in sharp practices.

And true enough, the NAVC started well, writing letters to well-placed people and organisations to support our anticorruption campaigns in Lagos State. Even the Chairman of the Lagos Mainland Local Government, Mr. Kayode Omiyale, offered to fund the first outing ceremony of the NAVC. Letters were written to some automobile companies requesting for donation of buses for campaign and training. And perhaps more interestingly, an NAVC Governing Board, comprising very seasoned retired Permanent Secretaries, security officers, senior civil and public servants, and chaired by Honourable Erewa Abike-Dabiri, was not only set up unprecedentedly, but also rented a 3-bedroom flat as an office at 59 Queen Street, Alagomeji Yaba. The ICPC also graciously commissioned the office, which was well equipped and joyfully appreciated by the ICPC Chairman’s representative from Abuja and by ICPC Lagos delegation.

The flat was, and still is, owned by Mr. Sola Akinsanya, a barrister at law and a correct and well-understanding gentleman. The yearly rental cost was N1.5 million. For the first two and a half years, nothing was paid to the landlord, and yet, he showed good understanding in the strong belief that we were truly prepared to fight corruption in all its facets. All these steps were taken following the official inauguration of the new NAVC executives by the ICPC at the NIIA. Indeed, some corruption complaints from the general public were sent to us and they were redirected appropriately to the ICPC Head or Commissioner in Lagos.

Most unfortunately, however, it was precisely at the point of holding the first anti-corruption lectures and workshops that an order came from the Chairman of the ICPC in Abuja, Professor Owasanoye, that all the various chapters of the NAVC nationwide should discontinue all their activities. The official reason given was that there were some Coordinators and leaders of the NAVC using the name of the ICPC and that of the NAVC to engage in criminal activities and by so doing, seriously tainting the good name of the ICPC. This simply meant that there was a return to the status quo ante. Neither Professor Owasanoye nor any other ICPC official was interested in the continuation of NAVC activities. The main dilemma for the ICPC headquarters in Abuja was not simply the bad manners of some coordinators but the fact that the Lagos State chapter of the NAVC had its head above board. The Lagos chapter was commended everywhere and the ICPC challenge remained how to lump the accused with the innocent. The Lagos State was not part of the chapters in trouble. The final decision was to make the suspension of activities temporary. The suspension and its character of temporariness never implied non-payment of rents due to Mr. Akinsanya.

Believing in the purpose of the NAVC, I kept on pleading with Mr. Sola Akinsanya to exercise patience that the NAVC would soon begin to operate and generate funds to pay its rent. Even though we were told that some amount would be given to us, we never relied on it. We only waited for directives lifting the suspension of activities to enable the continuity of activities. We never knew that Government was most unserious about corruption fighting. Mr. Akinsanya was much interested in the payment of his rents and not in the giving of excuses. I, as guarantor and who rented the flat for the NAVC, as well as Superior Evangelist Michael Olubajo, assumed responsibility to offset the thirty months’ rent (N3.75m). This amount did not include the costs of equipping and maintaining the NAVC office. I was compelled to pay the lion share being the one directly held responsible by the landlord. I coughed out not less than N2.5m while Superior Evangelist Olubajo coughed out about one million naira. The Central district, and of course the only district, contributed about N60K, All other financial promises, individually or by the districts, were not honored, and so, corruption could not be fought. It was corruption that was waging war on us. But how is corruption managed?

Diplomacy and Management of Corruption

From my foregoing experience as Coordinator of the NAVC for three years, I am not left in any doubt that PMB’s policy of anti-corruption was, at best, a smokescreen. It was selective in design, very dishonest in application, and very discouraging for the true patriots who are committed to the anti-corruption struggle. PMB’s management style of fighting corruption is to openly condemn every alleged act of corruption, but adopting a laisser-faire attitude at the level of implementation of the policy. What is an act of corruption in this case?

In the eyes of the ICPC, corruption is about bribery, graft, misuse of office, gratification, false pretence, and dealings, etc. When people also live above their means, an act of corruption can be alleged. Stiff punishment is provided under the 2000 ICPC Act.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

Tinubu

THEY MAKE THEIR WORLD SO HARD (II)

outs in the last decade. It is not pretty.

Nigeria is not the only country in the world (in case we don’t know). Investors have options. Those behind the EEL idea project that Nigeria will rake $13.39 billion from it. Let me even concede some ground by saying that maybe this revenue motive tempted the government to approve the levy, but is the $13.39 billion revenue even guaranteed? You want to “discourage” expatriates and at the same time raise $13.39 billion from “discouraging” them! You impose $15,000 levy to stop them from coming here and still expect to raise $13.39 billion from the same people who have stayed away? That is why I said I would like to be a fly on the wall when these daft policies are being considered.

Nevertheless, my position is not a blanket endorsement of the practices by some companies who abuse our immigration system by flooding Nigeria with low-skilled workers under the pretext of “expatriates”. The right thing to do is crack down on them by developing a robust system of checks. The problem is the collusion by immigration officials, but our ingenious way of addressing this is to place a $15,000 levy — or a levy of any kind — on ALL expatriates. In a battered economy that wants to attract the best of brains and the biggest of investments! I recall the Yoruba proverb about blocking your nose to patronise a dirty pap seller — only for him to start charging premium prices.

The fact that the Tinubu administration suspended the EEL after consulting with the critical stakeholders in commerce and industry confirms yet again another

NAILING NINGI

The senate on Tuesday suspended Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) for alleging that the 2024 budget was padded by N3.7 trillion — although he tried to clarify by saying he was only questioning the details. I knew he was not going to get away with the allegation as his colleagues would viciously go after him — not when he too couldn’t prove his claim. However, I do not, for the life of me, believe that the whole fiasco is about accountability. When legislators fight like this, it is usually about money — who got and who didn’t get. Those who understand the shenanigans and intrigues in the corridors of power will not applaud either Ningi or his colleagues. Sameness.

malaise with public policy process in Nigeria: lack of proper homework and prior consultation. Those behind the EEL had been peddling the idea for years. It was resisted by the Buhari administration. But they found willing tools in the Tinubu administration who helped them fast-track it and then unleashed it on the economy. Thank God the damage had not been done before Tinubu suspended it, unlike in the cases of petrol subsidy and exchange rate when the government only started asking questions after hastily firing its guns.

The EEL apart, we generally live with many contradictions. We want the economy to grow, to tackle poverty, and to reduce crimes by creating jobs. We want businesses to boom. Yet, we subject them to the harshest environment with all kinds of levies and using thugs in uniform to extract taxes from them — as if it is not bad enough that they are buying diesel at N1,600/litre to power their offices and factories. We chase street vendors off the road without providing an alternative, like an organised location for them to do business and feed themselves and their families. We treat them as mosquitoes and cockroaches. We destroy shanties and provide no accommodation for the homeless.

In my previous article, I focused on the hardship the government has been inflicting on Nigerians since 2010 over biometric captures for SIM registration, BVN and NIN. My conclusion was that some of the stress Nigerians are routinely subjected to — in the name of “linking” BVN to bank accounts or NIN to phone lines — could have been better managed

through the use of smart phones or portals on the websites of banks and telcos. But there seems to be this almost sadistic satisfaction some people in government enjoy from seeing Nigerians queueing up in the sun and under the rain and getting extorted as a result of directives and policies that are clearly not well thought through.

In the past, I wrote a series of articles on the traumatic processes Nigerians go through in trying to get a passport. I am glad that the stress is being reduced, although there is a lot of exaggeration and social media buzz on how easy it is to apply for a passport from your laptop. In reality, it is still hellish, just that if you know how to play the game, you will experience less pains. For the passport officials, the worst crime you can commit is to pay online. You will be properly humiliated at their offices. My niece who committed the offence said all who paid online were asked step aside at the Ikeja office for trying to be “wise”; only those who came with cash were attended to, and promptly.

I have a friend who has been trying to change one data error in her passport. It was not her fault that the wrong name was inputted, but she was ready to make amends all the same. After paying the official rate of N67,000 online without seeing result, she was asked to pay an additional N250,000 to get the correction done. In addition, she will have to travel to Abuja, even though on social media, the official line is that you can correct passport data from the comfort of your kitchen. Another official of the passport office said he can

And Four Other Things…

DIE ANOTHER DAY

There are moves to de-criminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria. It is currently punishable by one-year imprisonment. Hon Francis Waive, a member of the house of reps, is sponsoring a bill that will remove the imprisonment. On the good side, he wants therapy. On the bad side, he prescribes compulsory community service for at least six months. Even if we know nothing about mental health issues such as depression and panic attacks, do we think any human being, under normal circumstances, would want to commit suicide? I hope mental health practitioners and campaigners will not miss this. It speaks again to the way we make laws and policies in this country. Antithetical.

THE LARGER ISSUES IN THE NINGI SAGA

In principle, at least, there is also nothing wrong with legislators looking out for the interests of their constituencies in the budget. This however is not an excuse for the largely personal and mind-blowing abuse that has become the norm. We shall return to this later. The place where there is a grey area is whether the parliament can unilaterally include in the budget items not proposed by the executive. This was an issue before the Supreme Court at a point, but it was later withdrawn and settled politically. This grey area needs to be resolved not just in a normative way but with unambiguous ruling by the constitutional court. The parties with the locus should seek constitutional interpretation on this.

Ahead of that, we need to note that the passed appropriation bill doesn’t become an act or operational until its signed by the president. The executive is not meant to be a rubberstamp too. It should meticulously study the passed budget, raise and document its objections, and ask for reconsideration by the parliament before presidential assent. This is done for normal bills, and there is no reason why this should not be a tradition with the budget. The executive can also propose an amendment to the signed budget, either through virement or supplementary budget(s). The fact is the executive has opportunities and a right to push back. If the executive does not do this, it is either it is in agreement (or it is complicit) or it is strategically picking its battles. But the major hurdle for the executive is usually time, especially since the return to the January-December budget cycle, and because the executive usually submits the budget proposal late.

The budget is too important to be rushed. This is the more reason why the budgeting process should start on time. There is no reason the budget circular to the MDAs should not go out before or by April. Also, there is no excuse for the president not to present the appropriation bill to the legislature before or by end of June. Doing this will give a window of six months for parliament to work on the budget and for the executive to review and possibly send it back for further work before assent.

We have a Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) that sets out broad outlines of expected revenues, the sharing and allocations, and the

proposed expenditure for three years. The MTEF can be amended as the assumptions or priorities change. So, picking up speed on the budgeting process should not be as difficult as we make it. On 11 March 2024, President Joe Biden of the US presented his 2025 budget proposal of $7.3 trillion to the US Congress. The first critical work we need to undertake is to allocate enough time to the budgeting process so that it can be handled with better rigour. Haste provides the cover for all sorts.

The last preliminary issue I want to raise is that the claim by Senator Ningi’s that the 2024 budget was padded by N3.7 trillion for projects that do not exist is totally inaccurate. In various interviews, the senator representing Bauchi Central senatorial zone claimed that the budget passed by the National Assembly was N25 trillion but that the budget signed and being implemented by the executive was N28.7 trillion. In arriving at his claim about no-existent projects, Senator Ningi apparently forgot to add the budget of the 62 Government Owned Entities (GOEs) amounting to N3.767 trillion. This is contained in a 282-page document that is publicly available on the website of the Budget Office of the Federation (and made publicly available, commendably, for the first time since 1999).

The N3.7 trillion budget for the GOEs was where Senator Ningi’s number for padded and non-existent projects came from. In a Senate session broadcast live on television, the senator said he was misquoted or quoted out of context, then he went on to make some other allegations. On the missing/padded N3.7 trillion figure, it is either the senator did not understand the data presented to him or he was playing politics. The senator is a very experienced legislator. He has been in the National Assembly for a total of 17 years and has occupied important positions such as the House Majority Leader and the Senate Deputy Majority Leader. It is quite unfortunate for such a high-ranking legislator to make such a misleading claim and to further layer it with divisive and sectional rhetoric. However, this doesn’t mean his other claims should not be looked into or that there are no other issues with the budget.

Now to what I consider the larger issues. The first is the issue with the suspension of legislators.

TECHNICAL KNOCK-OUT

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was jailed for 12 years in 2019 over allegations of fraud amounting to N7.1 billion when he was governor of Abia state between 1999 and 2007. After spending some nights in prison, he walked free as his conviction was nullified by the Supreme Court on technical grounds — that the trial judge had been elevated to Court of Appeal before he delivered the judgment. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tried to start the trial afresh, but the Court of Appeal has blocked the move — again on technical grounds, saying the record was not “properly” transmitted in line with court rules, and that it was not stamped or “properly” signed. Nigeria!

On Tuesday, Senator Ningi was suspended for three months and was swiftly led out of the red chamber. He cannot perform any legislative function for the period and will also derive no benefit while under suspension. I am sure Senator Ningi will be fine. He won’t be the first legislator to be suspended, and he is not likely to be the last. The issue for me is not that legislators cannot punish erring members based on their rules and procedures. My concern is how and the need to separate the legislator from the people that he/she is representing. As currently operated, punishing a legislator amounts to punishing his or her constituency. For the period when the parliamentarian is under punishment, the constituency is denied the right to representation, despite having done nothing wrong. Something is definitely not right there.

The second larger issue for me is that we need a frank conversation on, and a comprehensive reform of, the idea of constituency projects. As said earlier, legislators are elected to look out for their constituencies. But allocating projects to all legislators and allowing them to even nominate contractors makes a mockery of the idea of separation of powers. Legislators should restrict themselves to lawmaking and oversight while the executive should remain in charge of policy/project design and implementation. But allowing legislators who have powers of legislation and oversight to get into determining and executing projects amounts to mindlessly expanding powers and removing all controls. This can only end one way: in wanton abuse. Tracka, others civic groups and the media have documented a litany of non-executed or substandard projects, inflated contracts, lack of due process, and disproportionate allocations to committee chairpersons and the principal officers of the parliament.

And such abuses cannot be contained. Legislators interested in concrete things to show their constituents, outside of the constitutionally prescribed legislation, representation and oversight functions, should either seek executive offices or should use the budgets for their constituency office or savings from their other allocations to implement such. And in fact, we have seen legislators that organise remedial classes for students, job-preparedness

help her get it done in Lagos but blamed her for paying online. “The money has gone into TSA,” he told her, while asking for N200,000 to start all over again.

Having reflected extensively on our oppressive system and how it is impacting negatively on Nigeria and Nigerians, I am forced to conclude that we don’t know what we are doing — even though we speak highfalutin jargons, wear designer attires and play the part. There is no sincerity of purpose in many policies and actions by the government — and this is not just at the federal level, as we are wont to lament. There is no genuine intention to solve problems in many cases. There is no rigour in the policy process in several instances. A lot of public policies are motivated by what Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the former youth and sports minister, calls “carica-chop” — a caricature of caricature.

I will close today by throwing this challenge at our policymakers at all levels: take time to think through what you conceive as policies. There may be hidden costs — financial and human — to which you are blindsided. Consult widely to know the impact on the stakeholders, the economy and, most importantly, the people. Research and run the numbers. Test the ideas. Get yourselves organised to avoid duplications. Government needs money, no doubt about that, but do the benefits outweigh the costs? Should the people’s misery be aggravated all the time? Must they make our world so hard that every day we have to keep on struggling and fighting and panting to survive?

NO COMMENT

Maybe I should start something called “Oronsaye Watch” to keep Nigerians updated with the drama surrounding the inevitably doomed reform. Since the directive by President Bola Tinubu that the report — which proposes streamlining dozens of governmental bodies through mergers — should be implemented, I have lost count of the number of new agencies being considered to be established by the National Assembly. On Wednesday, I read that there is a bill to set up a mining bank. The following day, there was another one to set up maritime bank. We play too much in this country. What next? A bill to set up a rat commission and another to establish Isi-ewu Bank? Wonderful.

training for jobseekers and micro-credits for women, buy books for schools, and construct boreholes, classrooms, computer/community centres from allocations to their offices. It is important also to educate the voting public to have fair and better understanding of the job of legislators and use the proper metric to assess them.

The third and last issue I want to raise today is an omnibus one: it is around our understanding of the meaning and the use of power in public office. As well captured by Richard Joseph and others, public office is mostly seen by officials and even the public as a prebend, a position that you seek and get to help yourself and those proximate to you. This remains the organising logic of our politics. So many people in public office and outside of it do not see anything fundamentally wrong in taking advantage of their positions. This mindset is so normalised that we even have sayings like where the goat is tethered is where it eats from. So, the legislators do not see it as a flagrant abuse of position to use their office to corner projects, contracts and jobs for themselves, their relatives, friends and communities or to be extracting other rents in the name of oversight.

But this mindset is not peculiar to the parliamentarians. It is very alive on the executive side, and probably worse there, including but not limited to the revenue collection and revenue generating agencies. (I have done a series on the super agencies some of which control allocations bigger than the budgets of states and assign billions to some spurious one-line items.) The other tiers of government are not different, and things are probably worse at the subnational level because the mechanism for restraints and accountability is weaker there.

This warped interpretation of the purpose of public office benefits those in the immediate vicinity of power but undermines our collective progress. It is the most binding constraint to our development. So, beyond the episodic outrage about the mere manifestations of a dysfunctional but deeply engrained and pervasive mindset about public office, the real work is to start the process of systematically rethinking and reshaping the value systems, the cultural narratives and deep-seated attitudes that underpin our relationship to public resources.

Forget State Police; Perhaps a National Guard Instead

Nigeria’s now perennial insecurity has been damaged by political laziness. Every two- penny politician has developed a habit of weaponizinginsecurityaspoliticallanguage.Intheprocess,very little effort or rigour is devoted to the reality of what we are dealing with. Even those who are paid to keep us safe tend to resort to simplistic solutions to what is clearly a complex problem.Everyoneseemstobemimickingpoliticians, talkingfrequentlyaboutinsecurityasiftheproblem will go away the more we talk about it.

National insecurity as we have come to know it has grown in dimension and scope over the last twelveyearsorso.Whenfactionsofjihadistterrorists invade local governments in parts of Borno or Yobe state, we are dealing with threats to Nigeria’s sovereignty by an adversary that may indeed be ‘external’ with inputs from ignorant local zealots. They take and hold territory, convert citizens into dissidents and collect taxes and levies and in the processextractloyaltiesthatordinarilybelongtoa sovereignauthority.Thislevelofnationalinsecurity belongs in the realm of external aggression by a concerted foreign adversary. It does not matter whether it recruits and arms our citizens to do its bidding or draws inspiration from an external multinational ideology such as fanatical Islamist fundamentalism.We must call it its real name and design and deploy containment instruments and strategies that befit an external aggression.

With the onset of the Boko Haram insurgency in parts of the North-east, Nigeria can be said to have been involved in a counter insurgency war for the better part of the past twelve years. In the process,BokoHaramhassometimesbeendegraded, reinforced, splintered or been acquired by ISWAP and other franchises born and bred in the Middle East and nurtured in the turbulent Sahel. Have we beenwinningorlosingthatwar?Yesandno.Wehave atleastretakenmostofthelocalgovernmentsthat the terrorists initially acquired as part of an evil caliphate in the hot days of Al Queda and ISIS. But the fact that twelve years after the inauguration of Boko Haram, factions of this movement are still taking huge numbers of hostages and razing buildings is an indictment of whatever effort we have exerted so far.

In the immediate neighbouring precincts of the insurgency war- Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara- hybrid formsofinsurgentinsecurityhavetakenshape.Banditry,quantumabductionsandkidnappingforransom are now recognized forms of national insecurity. Initially, these hybrid forms acted as retail arms of the larger jihadist insurgency.They used to supply them with hostages, sha ransoms and collected revenue and hide under their ideological umbrella for greater political relevance. Over time, however, the bandits and other downstream criminal gangs havecomeuntotheirown.Theymostlynowoperate as independent criminal enterprises with a purely commercial purpose. This form of insecurity has graduatedintoacriminalenterprise.Theycarryout daringraids,collecthugeransomswhichisreinvested in more arms for further raids.The industry grows.

Inthisform,agentsofinsecurityhavesometimes reached for recognition by state governments and agencies of national security. Some local bandit squadshaveintherecentpastreachedunderstandings with individual state governments and even posed for photo opportunities with them after these meetings. Implicit in such unholy alliances isacertainillicitpowersharingarrangement.Under thesearrangements,embattledstategovernments are known to have ceded parts of their territory to bandit squads, allowing them to collect revenue from locals and to wield authority over some local governments literally unchallenged.

This form of national insecurity is inherently dangerous because it cedes parts of the national sovereign space and authority to non -state actors andintheprocessaccordsthemspaceandscopeto disturb the peace, make lots of money and whittle down the capacity of security agencies to exercise total control over the national sovereign space. More dangerously, illicit non -state actors partake ofnationalresourcestomakethenationevenmore ungovernable while also compromising segments and aspects of national security structures and personnel.

The atmosphere of insecurity created by the proliferation and free reign of bandit squads and roving armed cartels has led to a spread in the supply of small to medium scale arms. Retail editions of trouble makers like armed robbers, small time kidnappers and urban cults have found an atmo-

Tinubu

sphere of general insecurity that is both lucrative and in vogue. An industry of sorts has been born. Herdsmen that were originally engaged in herding andthelivestocktradehavesincefoundkidnapping, armedrobberyandabductionsmorelucrativethan escorting scraggy herds around the nation.

We cannot fail to add to this picture the thriving politicalindustryanditsinherentcriminaloffshoots. Politicalthugs,licensedstatemilitiasandallmanner of private armies have in the last twenty four years ofdemocracy comeintobeing.Politicalsupremacy inmostpartsofthecountryhascomewiththehelp ofarmedthugsgenerouslysuppliedwithweapons, narcoticsandotherdangeroussubstances.Inpost election periods, these political agents of violence tend to find work for their hands and use for their weapons in sundry criminal undertakings. In an atmospherewhereemploymentisscarceandeasy money quickly runs dry, the political industry has perhapsinadvertentlybeenfuelingtheatmosphere of national insecurity which the same politicians return to convert into campaign issues in the next election cycle.

Thefiercecompetitionforpoliticalvantageplacement has also led to the growth of ethnic, regional and other separatist movements.They generally startoutbyshoutingforrecognitionandrelevance inanationalspacethatdeliberatelyignoresextant disquiet. When no one seems to be listening, the rhetoricofseparatistagitatorsassumesanincendiary tone. Soon enough, the more determined ones set up armed militias since the authorities tend to listenmorewhentheirmonopolyofviolenceischallengedbyanequallyfiercecontenderforpowerand politicalspace.Armedseparatistmovementshave in the last ten years therefore added their voice and muscle to the spread of violence as a means of political expression in the country. IPOB, ESN and thevariousNigerDeltamilitiasbelonginthissphere.

This is the effective backdrop to the current situation in which governments at nearly every levelseemtohavebeenheldtoransombyallthese forms of insecurity all over the country.The sheer expanse of the insecurity landscape is more vast than the entire security asset base of the country can deal with. Therefore, bandits and all sorts of criminalsarefairlycertainthatthesecurityagencies cannot easily interrupt their operations let alone effectively trail or arrest them.

There is no lack of response from government.

tion in matters of police or military command and national security control. On the contrary, what our situation requires is a serious interrogation of the overall internal security situation in the country to determinewhytheexistingstructurehasnotquite served us well enough.

We are under policed. The police has been overwhelmed for years in terms of personnel and equipment.Equipmentandrecruitmentinthepolice has not matched our population growth and the rate of sophistication of the criminal enterprise. Similarly, the military has in the post civil war era found itself in roles that have degraded its operational capability and professional advancement. Theinvolvementofthemilitaryandentiregamutof nationalsecurityapparatusininternalsecurityhas militatedagainstrealprofessionaldevelopmentof the various services. Our military is today involved in civil security operations in all of our 36 states and Abuja.

As indicated earlier, the profile of our internal securitychallengespresentsacomplexpicturethat may not have fully dawned on the present state. At the end of the civil war, the enemy was either an external aggressor or internal criminals. The civil populacewantedtobeatpeaceafterthetraumaof war.While a war -tested military was adequate for theformerrole,thepolicewasmorethanadequate forthelattertaskofkeepingthepeace. Themilitary isdefinedinitsrole.Itsrulesofengagementareself -defining: defend or be conquered. The police is a civilforcewithrulesofengagementcircumscribed by democracy and the civil rights of free citizens.

Endless meetings have taken place between politicians and service chiefs. The two chambers oftheNationalAssemblyhavemetseverallywiththe servicechief.Stategovernorshavemetrepeatedly with the president with the matter of insecurity topping the agenda of every meeting.The Federal government has gone to considerable length to acquireweaponsofwar fromallcornersoftheglobe tocombatwhathasbecomeasystemicinsecurity. It has become systemic because it has become self- regenerating, having become an economic sub sector which requires self sustainability to drive itself as a series of economic activities.

Last month, however, an emergency meeting of thepresidentandstategovernorswaspromptedby an increase in incidents of insecurity in and around the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. The most consequential decision of that meeting was a decision to begin the implementation of the long canvassed introduction of State Police as a silver bullet to end insecurity in the country.

OneofthestrongestargumentsadvancedbyadvocatesofaStatePolicesystemislocalknowledge andproximitytothecommunityoriginsofcriminality around the country.This argument is not new. Nor arewejustbeingintroducedtoperspectivesabout how to solve insecurity in the country.

Giventhepictureofthemultidimensionalnature of our insecurity, no single item agenda can deal withtheproblem.StatePoliceisfraughtwithmany weaknesses. It is likely to be commandeered by ambitious state governors into private political weapons. The operatives could become terror squadswhousetheirnewfoundpoweranduniforms totormentinnocentpeople.StatePolicecanfurther divide the country, terrorize the people they are supposedtoprotectandreducetheeffectiveness of the existing national police force. Misuse of the powers of the State Police can further divide the country. After all, before the civil war, we had regional police formations. They became part of the divisive forces that had to be neutralized to reunify the country in 1970.

It is undeniable that one of the benefits of over four decades of military rule and the civil war is the emergenceofaunifiedpoliceandmilitarycommand. That benefit cannot be wiped away by the present anxietyoverinsecurity.Nothinghassofarhappened in our national security situation that invalidates or overrides the advantages of national integra-

Towards the end of the Babangida regime, a differentinternalsecuritypicturebegantoemerge.A differenttypeofcivilunrestbecamemoremanifest. Inter communal violence began to feature among groups that had coexisted for years. Between the Jukunandtheirneighbours,intheZangoKatafarea ofSouthernKaduna,inpartsoftheNigerDeltaetc. Sectionsofthecountrybegantowitnessproblems ofethnonationalintegration.Evenwithinthenewly created states, issues of inter communal co -existence began to show up. There was a perception then than the task of nation building was largely uncompleted and still needed to be fine -tuned. A different type of trouble maker was emerging. Armed militants intent on challenging the federal might were in the horizon.

The new forms of violent self -assertion were more than the police could deal with but a little less ferociousthanwhatafullmilitaryengagementwas required to deal with. The necessity was therefore for an intermediate force; something not as tame and civil as the police and also not as ferocious and terminal as the military.Thus was born the idea of the National Guard. Unfortunately, this idea came too late in Babangida’s troubled political transition programme. Opposition to the possibility of a Babangida self- perpetuation ploy also became part of the opposition to the idea of a National Guard. For the political class, no good or disinterested idea could come from the beleaguered military administration. Both were thrown away with the same birth water.

Here we are once again with an insecurity challengethatliterallyre-writesthechallengethatwas envisioned by the authors of the National Guard over 30 years ago. The idea of the National Guard was to have a uniform national organization but with substantial state government control on deployment. It should be a mid intensity force that is civil enough to realize that the criminals and troublemakersineachstatearefirstandforemost Nigerians with full civic rights. It however needs to be taken more seriously than the police at the local governmentofficewhoseparatesdomesticfights and settles quarrels among siblings.

TheNationalGuardshouldbeundertheultimate control of the president as commander-in-chief without whose endorsement no state governor has the power to deploy the National Guard. But theNationalGuardneedstobecomposedofstate contingents who are familiar with the local terrain.

In the United States, the National Guard is an offshoot of the army. It is made up of army reservists who are called up for specific tours of duty for specificlengthsoftimeannually.Intimesofnational emergency above the call of the police but less intense than requiring the military, the army can advise the president to call in the National Guard. The desirable Nigerian National Guard should be a variant of this format.

On no account must we establish and equip a separate state police force and place it under the controlofouremergentcropofimperialgovernors. That would be an invitation to quick anarchy.

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Peter

They Make Their World So Hard (II)

For decades, the Nigerian government has regularly rolled out obnoxious policies to make life difficult for individuals and businesses. The expatriates employment levy (EEL) must rank among the top five. It is as silly as silly gets. Although it has now been suspended by the same Bola Tinubu administration that launched the ghastly policy, it should still not escape intense scrutiny because it was deceptively packaged as a patriotic policy to save Nigerian jobs, whereas it was all about money, money and more money. While the government definitely needs as much money as it can get in this dire situation, we seem hell-bent on shooting ourselves in the foot because of narrow thinking.

Everything about the EEL is absurd — the concept, the levy, the timing, everything. It was sugar-coated with a claim of “discouraging” companies from hiring expatriates for jobs Nigerians “can do”. It is a fee of between $10,000 and $15,000 per head. If you really want to protect Nigerian jobs, the right thing to do, in my opinion, is to place visa restrictions on certain jobs or sectors. In countries like Canada, the UK, and the US, jobs in which locals have competence and there is no shortage of workers are not eligible for work visas. We are just being half clever by the “job protection” claim. I reckon that restrictions can be subverted,

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo but at least we should be clear in our minds what we want.

If our interest is to “discourage” companies from

WAZIRI ADIO

POSTSCRIPT

hiring expatriates for jobs Nigerians “can do”, why is there no exception to the EEL? Why is the levy to be applied on all expatriates, including those doing the jobs Nigerians cannot do? In a society where there is rigour in public policy process, that is a question that would have been asked, dissected and answered before the fanfare of the launch. The EEL contractor is a company owned by foreigners who, you won’t believe this, are also trying to do the job Nigerians can do. We may be deficient in many things, but it is not too much for us to build an IT system. In fact, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has the IT infrastructure in place.

But you know what? The contractors are charging us $95 million to “build” the IT infrastructure in a country that has captured the similar data multiple times through BVN, NIN, driving licence, population census, passport processing, visa applications, work permit issuance, etc. There is hardly information needed on expatriates in Nigeria that is not already in the custody of NIS: biometrics, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, name of employer, office address, home address, etc. Trust me, the NIS system will be core to this “new” thing. But trust some smart guys to think up another scheme for yet another company to collect similar data once again — for a fee of $95 million.

The most tragic aspect of the EEL is that at a

time we are desperately crying for foreign investors to flood Nigeria with dollars to help save the naira and create jobs, we are telling them there will be a levy of $15,000 on every expatriate they bring. Imagine a Dutch investor coming to Nigeria to set up a dairy factory that will employ 2,000 Nigerians, but we are telling him that in addition to all his expenses on diesel, bitumen, water treatment, equipment, police, and so on, he will have to fork out an additional $1.5 million for bringing 100 expatriates, whereas he will not incur such costs going to Ghana, Benin or Rwanda. This is aside the $2,000 level per dependent that we are already charging.

I think there is a bit of arrogance that goes into policy making in this country. I can easily claim that the government is deliberately making life hard for individuals and businesses. I can also easily claim that the policy making process is devoid of rigour. But the truth is that we also have this arrogance about us: that Nigeria is the biggest market in Africa, that investors would always rush down here no matter how sickening our policies are. Apparently, our policymakers do not take stock of how our tragic policies have either been chasing away investors or discouraging them from coming here. We need to get the data and take a critical look at the ins and

The Larger Issues in the Ningi Saga

The seamy allegations by Senator Abdul Ningi and his subsequent ‘trial’ and suspension by his fellow senators will continue to generate echoes beyond the red chamber of the Nigerian Senate. The senators will be mistaken if they think they have conclusively dispensed with the issue. No, the matter has taken a life of its own. Citizens, civic groups, politicians and the commentariat will continue to wade in, from different perspectives and with different motivations. The question mark on the 2024 Budget is not likely to disappear and the grave but false allegation of a budget padded by a whopping N3.7 trillion will most likely linger. Clearly, the interests and passion aroused by the Ningi saga are justified. The budget is a very important document. The budget was famously and aptly described as ‘the skeleton of the state’. It is the most visible manifestation of the power of the state to authoritatively allocate collective but scarce resources. It is the most concrete expression of the priorities and the vision of the government, and of government’s approach to development and of its sense of distributive justice. But the budget is also a sacred document, more sacred than government’s strategies, plans and policies: it is a law of the land. The document and the process should not be treated with levity and without utmost ethical care. The budget is thus too important for the rest

of the society to abandon to the executive and legislative arms of government or to the experts on financial and economic matters.

A positive that we can all take out of this Ningi matter is that we are discussing the details and the propriety of such an important and sacred document. But beyond the momentary interests, and the claims and counter-claims, we need to have a proper look at our budgeting process and use this event to start the journey of fixing a clearly broken governance ethos. That, for me, is the work. But to be able to do this work properly, we need to cut through the maze of politics and emotions of the moment, and focus on the real issues. Otherwise, we get sidetracked into the usual work avoidance.

My intervention here will be based on my admittedly limited experience working in both the legislative and the executive arms of government and my familiarity/involvement with the budgeting process. For 15 months, I was a special adviser to the Senate President, a position which granted me the opportunity to take more than a passing interest in the role and the workings of the parliament. I also had the chance to closely interact with and observe lawmakers. For five years, I was the head of a federal executive agency. I had the responsibility to coordinate the preparation of the budget for the agency, to defend the proposed budget before the supervising ministry of the agency, before the

ministry and the agency responsible for budgeting, and before the relevant committees of the two houses of the National Assembly, and then the duty to lead the implementation of the passed budget.

Drawing from my experience, I intend to address a few preliminary and substantive issues from the Ningi episode. The first preliminary point is that the legislative arm is constitutionally imbued with the ‘power of the purse’. Yes, it is the executive arm that designs and executes programmes, policies and projects. But no money can, and should, be spent without the approval of the parliament. As part of the separation of powers and the checks and balances of the presidential system, the executive prepares and implements the budget, but the parliament approves and processes the bill which when signed by the president becomes a law. This is why the budget goes to the National Assembly as an appropriation bill from the executive then transforms into an appropriation act after parliamentary approval and presidential assent. Important also to stress that the executive cannot re-allocate money appropriated in the signed budget without returning to the parliament with a request for virement. Spending money without virement is both a criminal offence and an impeachable offence.

of the parliament come together: legislation, representation and oversight. The budget is a law, as stated earlier, and it is treated as a special law because other legislative matters take the backseat when the budget is being considered; the budgeting process is the most viable channel for legislators to ensure that the interests of their individual and peculiar constituencies are not overlooked (while the president represents the whole country, the legislators represent their smaller constituencies—as such this is where the national intersects with the local); the process of passing the budget provides the legislators an opportunity not only to understand, question and make inputs into the proposed budget but also to review the performance of the previous budget.

The point here is that processing the budget is one of the most important duties of the parliament. It should be attended to with all seriousness and with the utmost sense of physical and ethical responsibility. The role of the parliament is not conceived as that of a rubberstamp. It can pass the budget as presented but it can also adjust the budget, including changing the revenue assumptions, reducing or increasing amounts allocated to different budget heads and budget lines and refusing to approve some proposed items.

It is equally crucial to note that the budgeting process is where the three responsibilities/functions Continued on page 37