SUNDAY 14TH APRIL 2024

In Groundbreaking Report, Goldman Sachs Predicts Nigeria to Become 5th World's Largest Economy by 2075

Forecast puts country ahead of Egypt, Brazil, Germany, UK, Japan, Russia, France, South Africa, others

A leading global investment bank, Goldman Sachs, has predicted that Nigeria will emerge as the world’s fifth

largest economy by 2075, in a groundbreaking report where it identified the 25 largest economies. The report also projected the country to rank as the world's 15th-largest economy by 2050. The top global investment banker further predicted the

Tensions as Iran Launches Drone Attacks on Israel…

Ahead of NEC Meeting, PDP Governors Move against Atiku, Wike over Control of Party’s Structures

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Amid the battle for the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between the camps of former

Vice President Atiku Abubukar and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, there are indications that the governors elected on the party’s

platform are actually warming up to seize control of the party’s structures, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

The party has scheduled its

National Executive Committee meeting for Thursday, April 18. THISDAY gathered that the governors, who are the major financiers of the party are spoiling

for a showdown with the two party’s chieftains. A source close to the PDP Governors’ Forum, who is privy to the development, told THISDAY

that the governors believe that they deserve to control the party due to their enormous contributions

At 10th Anniversary, CAN Demands Release of Remaining Chibok School Girls

Says incident can’t be swept under the carpet

Borno gov’t pledges to rescue

89 remaining school girls

Culture of impunity shielded abductors from facing justice, says Muhammed-Oyebode

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Wale Igbintade in Lagos

As Nigeria marks the 10th anniversary of the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, today, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the federal government to intensify

efforts and take decisive action to rescue the remaining Chibok girls still held hostage by the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists.

However, the parents of the remaining 89 schoolgirls still in the hands of the Boko Haram terrorists have been assured of the Borno State

Continued on page 5

I’ll Liberate Rivers People from Oppression, Says Fubara... Page 6

LONG LIVE THE KING…

L-R: Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu; Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II; and the Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Olufemi Peters, during the installation of the monarch as the Chancellor of the university in Abuja…yesterday

James Emejo in Abuja

Tensions as Iran Launches Drone Attacks on Israel

We will stand with the people of Israel, says White House

Following a deadly air strike on its Damascus Consulate on April 1, which killed 16 people, including two Iranian

generals, Iran yesterday launched retaliatory drones’ attacks at Israel directly from its territory, the Israeli army said.

The move has marked a major escalation of the long-running covert war between the regional foes.

But the United States government quickly declared support for Israel, saying it will stand with the people of Israel.

AT 10TH ANNIVERSARY, CAN DEMANDS RELEASE OF REMAINING CHIBOK SCHOOL GIRLS

Government’s commitment to bring the abductees home.

This is coming as the Chief Executive Officer of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), Mrs. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, has lamented what she described as the pervasive culture of impunity that shielded the abductors of the Chibok schoolgirls from facing justice.

CAN’s National Director for Education, Youth and Women Development, Reverend Ozumba Nicodemus, who made this call yesterday, insisted that it was the duty of the nation to ensure their safe return and bring an end to the anguish and suffering endured by the innocent young girls and their families.

It expressed the solidarity of its directorate with the families and loved ones of the abducted Chibok girls, who have endured 10 long years of captivity following their abduction on April 14, 2014.

“The case of the Chibok girls is one that cannot be swept under the carpet, as it represents a horrific tragedy that has left an indelible mark on the nation’s conscience. The trauma experienced by the 276 abducted girls from Nigeria is unimaginable.

“The pain and anguish felt by their parents, who have endured sleepless nights filled with hopelessness, are deeply felt by CAN. We cannot remain silent while their children remain in captivity, yearning for freedom and reunion with their families.

“CAN hereby reiterate its unwavering demand for the government to intensify efforts and take decisive action to rescue the remaining children still held hostage.

“It is our duty as a nation to ensure their safe return and to bring an end to the anguish and suffering endured by these innocent young girls and their families,” he stated.

CAN further call on the government to mobilise all available resources, engage relevant security agencies, and collaborate with international partners to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls without delay.

“This is not only a matter of national importance but also a test of our commitment to upholding the rights and safety of our citizens, particularly the most vulnerable among us.

“Furthermore, we implore the international community, humanitarian organisations, and well-meaning individuals to join hands with CAN in advocating for the release of the Chibok girls.

“Together, we can amplify our voices and exert greater pressure on the abductors to bring an end to this prolonged ordeal. CAN remains resolute in its commitment to seeking justice and ensuring the safe return of the Chibok girls,” Nicodemus said.

The apex Christian body further pledged to continue engaging with relevant stakeholders and utilise all available avenues to shed light on the plights of the abductees with the bid to secure their release.

The association further urged all Nigerians to stand united, lend their voices, and demand immediate action from the government; and also show unwavering support for the families of the Chibok girls and demonstrate collective determination to bring them back home to reunite with their families.

“May our prayers, actions, and unwavering advocacy bring hope and hasten the day when the Chibok girls will be reunited with their families, free from the chains of captivity,” CAN added.

Borno Govt Pledges to Rescue 98 Remaining Chibok Girls

Meanwhile, the parents of the 98 remaining girls still in the hands of the Boko Haram terrorists have been assured of the Borno State Government’s commitment to bring the abductees home, 10 years after their abduction.

The state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof Usman Tar, gave the assurance yesterday, stressing that the government would not rest on its oars until the last of its innocent girls are back home with their families.

Tar gave the assurance at a press briefing on the abduction and rescue of Chibok girls, held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Maiduguri.

The commissioner who recalled that the Boko Haram insurgents criminally abducted 276 innocent girls in their hostels at Government Girls Secondary School Chibok 10 years ago, said the painful date is engrained in the people’s collective memory.

“We shall not rest on our oars until the last of our innocent girls are back home with their families.

On this auspicious occasion of the 10th anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok Girls, the Borno State Government identifies and sympathises with all those who are affected by the abduction.

“The Government wishes to inform the public that we shall continue to struggle to salvage our abducted girls on behalf of the parents and relatives of the Chibok girls who are still in captivity.

“The Borno State Government is committed to rescuing and reuniting the remaining Chibok girls and reuniting them with their families. We understand the pain and anguish that the families of those still in captivity are going through, this is our sorrow!

“We also wish to use this occasion

to take stock of the rescued girls and provide an update on how the girls are coming to terms with adjusting to normal life after captivity, and the efforts of the Borno State Government to sustain the momentum on the rescue of the remaining girls,” Tar said.

He noted that so far, 187 out of the 276 abducted Chibok Girls have been rescued and reunited with their families, while adding that most of the rescued girls have, over the years, been enrolled in different schools or graduated under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

Abductors are Shielded from Facing Justice, Says Muhammed-Oyebode

On her part, the Chief Executive Officer of the MMF, Mrs. Muhammed-Oyebode, has lamented the pervasive culture of impunity that shielded the abductors from facing justice.

In a statement issued yesterday, she noted that the culture of impunity has allowed subsequent abductions to occur, and continues to fuel the cycle of violence and fear that grips the nation.

She stated that the abduction of Chibok girls did not just expose the barbarity of the perpetrators but also laid bare the systemic failures of those entrusted with protecting our most vulnerable.

According to her, Nigerians must demand accountability, not just from the perpetrators of the heinous crimes but also from those who turned a blind eye and chose silence over justice.

She stressed the need for legal reforms and a zero-tolerance policy, to ensure that those responsible for such atrocities are brought to justice, no matter how powerful or well-connected they may be.

"It was April 14, 2014, when 276 innocent schoolgirls were snatched

from their school under the cover of darkness, their dreams shattered in an instant. Little did they know that their abduction would not only plunge their families into despair but also unveil a deeper societal wound—a wound festering with neglect, impunity, and indifference.

"A decade later, with 91 girls still yet to return, and as we reflect on that fateful day, it is impossible to ignore the haunting reality that similar abductions of school children, involving hundreds of victims, have persisted. The Chibok nightmare was supposed to serve as a clarion call for change, a rallying cry for justice. Yet, the echoes of that tragedy have reverberated through the years, largely unaddressed and often overlooked.

"The Chibok abduction did not just expose the barbarity of the perpetrators; it laid bare the systemic failures of those entrusted with protecting our most vulnerable. The pervasive culture of impunity that shielded the abductors of the Chibok girls from facing justice continues to fuel the cycle of violence and fear that grips our nation.

“It is a cycle that has allowed subsequent abductions to occur, each one serving as a damning indictment of our collective failure to confront the root causes of such atrocities," she explained.

She stated that "recent revelations, such as the report by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, detailing the birth of 34 infants from the captivity of the abducted Chibok girls, served as chilling reminders of the depths of depravity to which the perpetrators descended.

"As we pause to remember the 10th anniversary of the Chibok abductions, let us recommit ourselves to the pursuit of justice, accountability, and a future where such atrocities are relegated to the annals of history. It is a future where every child can pursue their dreams without fear, and where every victim receives the support, they deserve,” she added.

AHEAD OF NEC MEETING, PDP GOVERNORS MOVE AGAINST ATIKU, WIKE OVER CONTROL OF PARTY’S STRUCTURES

to the running of the party. "What is Wike and Atiku contributing to the day-to-day running of the party?" he queried.

The source added: "You watch out what will happen on the day of the NEC meeting; he who pays the piper will dictate the tune of the music that day," he added.

THISDAY gathered that the governors are holding a series of meetings ahead of the NEC meeting to decide the fate of the party.

Another source close to the PDP Governors’ Forum said: "The governors have their own plans, and will not allow Atiku or Wike to control the party. The PDP governors would be holding their meetings from Tuesday and Wednesday and thereafter come up with their own position.

"We are a party in opposition; the governors are our collegiate leaders, unlike when PDP was in power and the President is the leader of the party. So, no single person can control the party," the source stated

THISDAY gathered that the first meeting of the governors comes up on Wednesday.

"No matter the position or alignment of the National Working Committee (NWC), it would be difficult for them to execute any plan without the full cooperation

of the governors because they fund the day- to- day running of the party.

"The governors maintain and service the party structures in the states as the leaders of the party. It would be absolutely difficult for them to remain on the sidelines and allow Atiku and Wike to control the party structures at the states and at the centre.

"These governors are politicians and have interests to protect.

"For instance, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Bala Moammed has presidential ambition and this is common knowledge; therefore, he is not expected to fold his hands and allow Wike and Atiku to determine his fate

"There are other governors who will be concluding their second term in office as governors; they have other political interests and therefore it cannot be said that Atiku and Wike would be alwed to control the structures.

“Look at what is happening in Rivers State; do you think that Governor Simi Fubara will just look and Wike to control the party in the state?

"Already, what is happening in the state will happen at the national level. So, it is not fair to say that Wike and Atiku will have

Tehran had vowed to avenge the April 1 strike. The attack will escalate the tension in the Middle East amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which has recorded high casualty.

The United States had earlier warned that Iran could launch a major attack on Israel with more than 100 drones and dozens of missiles aimed at military targets inside the country.

The US State Department has issued a travel advisory to Americans in Israel not to move outside major cities in order to be protected by the Dome missile defence system.

While addressing the nation, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the country is ready for the attack and will respond accordingly.

“Citizens of Israel, in recent

years, and even more so in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for the possibility of a direct attack from Iran,” Netanyahu said.

“Our defence systems are deployed, and we are prepared for any scenario, both in defence and offence. The State of Israel is strong, the IDF is strong, the public is strong.”

The US President, Joe Biden, on Friday, said the country would defend Israel in the event of an attack from Iran.

“We will support Israel; we will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,” Biden said.

Earlier yesterday Israel had warned that Iran would suffer the “consequences for choosing to escalate the situation any further” as fears grew of wider conflict more than six months into Israel’s war against Hamas militants in Gaza.

IN GROUNDBREAKING REPORT, GOLDMAN SACHS PREDICTS NIGERIA TO BECOME 5TH WORLD'S LARGEST ECONOMY BY 2075

Product (GDP) to reach $13.1 trillion by 2075, further solidifying its position as Africa’s largest economy.

According to the Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research (2022) report, which revealed the "25 Largest Economies in the World by 2075", the projection puts Nigeria ahead of Pakistan at 6th position, Egypt (7th), Brazil (8th), Germany (9th), UK (10th) Mexico (11th), Japan (12th), Russia (13th), Philippines (14th), and France (15th).

Other countries trailing Nigeria in the forecast included Bangladesh, which is projected to emerge as the 16th world's largest economy by 2075, Ethiopia (17th), Saudi Arabia (18th), Canada (19th), Turkey (20th), Australia (21st), Italy (22nd), Malaysia (23rd), South Korea (24th), and South Africa, which occupied the 25th position.

China is projected to overtake the United States as the world's largest economy by 2050 up till 2075, while India is expected to emerge as the world's secondlargest economy by 2075.

the control of the party," the source explained.

Meanwhile, a new twist has emerged in the race to replace the suspended National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as his planned replacement may be an exercise in futility unless the suspended national chairman voluntarily resigns or withdraws the appeal he instituted in the courts.

Lawyers in the PDP told THISDAY that it is a common knowledge that no action can be taken on any action pending at any of the courts, be it appeal or at the Supreme Court.

Court Adjourns to April 16 on Motions to Stop Secondus, Omehia

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed April 16 for the hearing of a suit seeking to stop former National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, from participating in the party’s NEC meeting.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a short ruling, also fixed the same date in a separate suit filed to bar former Rivers State Governor, Celestine Omehia, from attending the PDP’s NEC meeting pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

The third and fourth positions, according to the report, will go to the United States and Indonesia, respectively.

Nigeria’s growth is expected to be driven by its large and young population, potential in agriculture and energy sectors, and emerging technology sector.

The report, however, pointed out that political instability, infrastructure deficits, and diversifying the economy beyond crude oil could pose constraints to the growth projections.

The report stated that the weight of global GDP will shift substantially towards Asia over the next several decades.

Goldman Sachs further explained that the assessment was based on extensive data analysis and economic modeling, which offered a fascinating glimpse into the future, highlighting shifts in economic power and the emergence of new players on the global stage.

The projection further painted a picture of a world where Asia's economic clout is markedly pronounced, with China and India leading the charge. The list also reflected the significant growth of economies in Africa, the Middle East, and

Latin America, indicating a more diversified global economic landscape.

Essentially, the report incorporates factors, including GDP growth rates, population dynamics, productivity improvements, and technological innovation in its assessment, noting however, that such long-term forecasts are inherently speculative and subject to change based on unforeseen global events and trends.

The report said Indonesia, which has the world's fourth largest population at 277 million could grow its GDP from $1.3 trillion in 2022 to nearly $14 trillion by 2075, while Japan's GDP is expected to grow by less than one per cent annually for the next several decades, pushing it out of the top 10 by 2075.

Although China's population is beginning to shrink, its GDP could climb to $57 trillion by 2075, keeping ahead of India at $52.5 trillion and the United States at $51.5 trillion.

Also, Egypt is tipped to become the world’s seventh largest economy by 2075 with an estimated GDP of $10.4 trillion, driven largely by the country’s strategic location, growing service sector, and government reforms in infrastructure and energy.

Nigeria’s economic rival, South Africa with a projected GDP of $3.3 trillion is expected to emerge as the world's 25th economy by 2075, banking on its rich natural resources, developed financial and legal systems, and regional influence.

Reacting to the report, Founding Chief Executive, of Praefinium Partners, Alpesh Patel, said the projection for 2075 highlighted a world where economic power is more evenly distributed globally, with emerging economies playing increasingly prominent roles.

He said: “This shift underscores the importance of economic reforms, technological advancement, and demographic factors in shaping the future global economic landscape.

“The rise of countries like India, Indonesia, and Nigeria, alongside the sustained economic influence of nations like the US, China, and Germany, paints a diverse and dynamic picture of the world economy in the latter half of the 21st century.”

FOCUS ON INDUSTRIALISATION…

L-R: Chief Financial Officer, Bank of Industry, Mr. Taiwo Kolawole; GM/Divisional Head of Strategic Communications and

Three Feared Killed as Security Operatives Clash With Yoruba Nation Agitators at Oyo Govt Secretariat

Igboho disowns invaders, demands probe

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

No fewer than three people suspected to be part of the Yoruba Nation agitators, who invaded the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, were feared killed yesterday in a clash with security operatives. It was also learnt that 20 of the agitators were also arrested.

Some suspected Yoruba Nation agitators who were masked yesterday invaded the state government secretariat, stationing themselves at different locations within the area.

This situation, according to eyewitnesses, sent panic to the

residents and road users.

Business owners and residents around Bodija, Ikolaba, and Awolowo Road, quickly locked their shops and doors while others who were about to open for the day’s business returned home to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

It was gathered that the security operatives on duty at the Secretariat were overwhelmed and unable to disperse the agitators until the arrival of policemen from the state command and other agencies, including the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army.

Operatives of the state security network codenamed Amotekun

were also on the ground.

Road users en route to the secretariat were diverted along Customs Junction as the SecretariatQueen Elizabeth Road was cut off to traffic.

Efforts of the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd), to calm the situation were resisted by the agitators, who insisted on hoisting their flag within the secretariat.

But the state police command who confirmed the incident in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Adewale Osifeso, said 20 suspects were arrested.

He disclosed that those arrested were found in possession of three pump action guns; 291 life cartridges; two expended cartridges; 67 cutlasses; five bullet-proof vests; six pair of boots; 10 megaphone public address system; three O’odua Styles beret caps; seven belts; 11 Oodua Nation Army camouflage uniforms; one unregistered Nissan Urban Caravan bus and three TVS motorcycles.

According to him, the state police command, in concert with some members of its sister agencies, successfully thwarted the attempt by the ‘‘Yoruba Nation Agitation Group’’, who he said were driven

I’ll Liberate Rivers People from Oppression, Says Fubara

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, has promised the people of the state that his administration will do everything to liberate them from bad governance and oppression. Fubara revealed this yesterday at a thanksgiving rally organised by the SIMplified Movement at Ibaka in Okirika Local Government Area of the state. The SIMplified Movement, a pro-Fubara group, organised the event to mark the governor’s successful election and victory at the Supreme Court.

According to the Rivers governor, represented by Awajinombek Abiante, the member representing, Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, the state shall be freed from mind slavery. He said: “A reggae artiste named Lucky Dube once sang about the imprisonment of the mind. That song mirrors our pathetic situation in Rivers State today. Few days ago, a report revealed that many schools in the state lacked teachers, and are dilapidated.

“This reported decay and shortage of teachers did not happen in the last 10 months of my administration, it is an accumulation of neglect.

“They decided not to build schools because they want to imprison the minds of our people, to make us blind in loyalty and unable to ask questions.”

Fubara noted that his government had already started activities to revitalise the education sector by renovating schools and recruiting more teachers.

He said the decay in school system was as a result of accumulation of neglect from

the past government.

“It is for this sake that this government has come to guarantee liberty and break the chains that have held us bound,” he added.

On Thursday, a former governor of the state, Dr. Peter Odili, commended Fubara for his programmes so far, assuring him that the people are solidly behind him.

Odili told him that he (Fubara) that is the political leader of the state, amid the lingering tussle between him and the immediate past governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

APC Clears 16 Aspirants for Ondo Governorship Primary

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared all 16 aspirants for the Ondo State governorship primary scheduled for April 20.

The seven-man Senator Joshua Lidani-led screening committee gave all the aspirants the nod to contest the primary.

The exercise took place after inauguration of the Screening Committee and the Screening Appeal Committees by the Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru on behalf of the National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje at the

National Secretariat, Abuja.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa led the pack of aspirants that appeared before the committee in the exercise that started around 11 am and was rounded off with the appearance of Omo Oba Okunjimi Odimayo around 6:30 pm.

The clearance of all the aspirants was contained in a report submitted to the party by the chairman of the committee yesterday to the Directorate of Organisation of the party. After over seven hours of interaction and scrutiny of documents submitted by the aspirants, the

committee declared all 16 aspirants meet the basic requirements to contest the election.

Those cleared include Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa; former National Vice Chairman (South-west) Isaac Kekemeke; Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo, a former member of the House of Assembly; Hon. Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema and business magnate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.

Others are: Mrs. Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo; Hon. Akinfolarin Mayo Samuel; former Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Adewale Olumuyiwa Akinterinwa;

legal luminary, Chief Olusola Alexander Oke (SAN); Ohunyeye Olamide Felix and Morayo Lebi. Also cleared for the shadow election were Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan; Prof. Francis Adebayo Faduyile and Mrs. Judith Folakemi Omogoroye, President UNILAG Alumni (Worldwide); Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele and Hon. Omo’Oba Okunjimi Odimayo John.

The clearing of the aspirants to participate in the shadow election was aimed at ensuring a level playing field to promote democratic ideals and enhance the electoral process.

by a separatist agenda to forcefully takeover the state government secretariat.

Osifeso stated that the suspects, who were in military camouflage, came heavily armed in an unregistered Silver-coloured Nissan Urban Caravan Bus containing cutlasses, pump action rifles, cartridges, assorted charms, and an O'odua Nation agitation flag, adding that they were overpowered and completely suppressed by officers and men of the command in concert with sister security agencies who acted in swift response to intelligence gathered following Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to the situation. He maintained that the command viewed the act as criminal, unpatriotic, and a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism that would attract adequate sanctions under the laws of the land, assuring the residents of the state that the command remains unwavering in the protection of lives and property.

Osifeso stated further that the Commissioner of Police has detailed a highly powered investigation team

led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to demystify circumstances surrounding the incident and as well expand the network of arrests through painstaking intelligencedriven investigation.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Yoruba Nation agitators, Chief Sunday Adeyemo who is popularly known as Sunday Igboho has dissociated himself from the invasion of the Oyo State Government secretariat.

Igboho said he did not have a hand in the invasion, and charged Governor Makinde to institute a proper investigation to fish out the people behind the attack and their sponsors.

He further urged the governor to ascertain the motive behind the invasion, adding that the people behind it should be unveiled, arrested, and prosecuted.

Igboho further reiterated his commitment to the peace and security of the Yorubaland, noting that he would never be part of anything whatsoever that could disturb the peace of the region.

WHO: Nigeria Has Become First to Introduce New Vaccine against Meningitis

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out a new vaccine – Men5CV – recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), to protect people against meningitis. The world health body, in a statement at the weekend, said that the vaccine would protect people against five strains of meningococcus bacteria, and described Nigeria’s feat as historic.

It said that health workers would begin an immunisation campaign aimed at reaching one million people.

The statement said that the vaccine and emergency vaccination activities are funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which funds the global meningitis vaccine stockpile and supports lower-income countries with routine vaccination against meningitis.

According to the WHO, Nigeria is one of the 26 meningitis hyperendemic countries of Africa, situated in the area known as the African

Meningitis Belt.

It noted that in 2023, there was a 50 per cent jump in annual meningitis cases reported across Africa.

“In Nigeria, an outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) serogroup C outbreak, led to 1,742 suspected meningitis cases, including 101 confirmed cases and 153 deaths in seven of 36 Nigerian states, between October 2023 and March 2024.

The states are Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe, Zamfara states.

“To quell the deadly outbreak, a vaccination campaign was undertaken on 25–28 March 2024 to initially reach more than one million people aged 1-29 years,” it said.

The statement noted that meningitis was a serious infection that leads to the inflammation of the membranes (meninges), that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.

“There are multiple causes of meningitis, including viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens.

External Affairs, Mrs. Dayo Aderugbo; Ekiti State Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management, Mr. Niyi Adebayo; Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State; MD/CEO of Bank of Industry, Dr. Olasupo Olusi; and Ekiti State Commissioner for Investment, Trade, and Industry, Omotayo Adeola, during the governor's visit to the BOI headquarters in Lagos...recently.

AFFORDABLE HEALTH FOR THE PEOPLE…

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara (left), and former governor of the state, Dr. Peter Odili, during the governor’s inauguration of the Primary Healthcare Centre donated by the former governor to his country home, Ndoni in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state...recently

Gov Mutfwang Condemns Attacks as Gunmen Kill 10 in Plateau Communities

IG redeploys police commissioner

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has condemned the renewed attacks that claimed 10 lives and property in Kopnanle community in Mangu and Mandar Shar village of Bokkos Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.

This is as the Inspector General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, yesterday announced the redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet.

The attacks, which occurred on Friday night, also left some members of the affected communities injured.

A member of the community, Mr.

Georgieva to Serve Second Term as IMF Managing Director

Festus Akanbi with agency report

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has selected Kristalina Georgieva to serve as its Managing Director for a second five-year term starting on October 1, 2024.

In a statement issued by the IMF Press Centre yesterday, it said that the board’s decision was taken by consensus.

The statement said in line with the selection process it had established on March 13, 2024, the board held several discussions, including with Georgieva, the sole candidate nominated for the position, before making its decision.

It said in a follow-up of the meeting held, the Coordinators of the Executive Board, Mr. Afonso Bevilaqua, and Mr. Abdullah BinZarah, made the following statement:

“In taking this decision, the Board commended Ms. Georgieva’s strong and agile leadership during her term, navigating a series of major global shocks.

“Ms. Georgieva led the IMF’s unprecedented response to these shocks, including the approval of more than 360 billion dollars in new financing since the start of the pandemic for 97 countries.

“Also, debt service relief to the fund’s poorest, most vulnerable members, and a historic Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation equivalent to $650 billion”.

The coordinators said under Georgieva’s leadership, the fund introduced innovative new financing facilities, including the Resilience and Sustainability Facility and the Food Shock Window.

“It replenished the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, with the capacity to mobilise concessional loans to its poorest members, and co-created the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable.

“It also secured a 50 per cent

quota increase to bolster the fund’s permanent resources and agreed to add a third Sub-Saharan African chair to the IMF Board.

“Looking ahead, the board welcomes Ms. Georgieva’s ongoing emphasis on issues of macroeconomic and financial stability, while also ensuring that the fund continues to adapt and evolve to meet the needs of its entire membership.

‘It recognises her focus on strengthening the fund’s support to its members through effective policy advice, capacity development, and financing.

“The board looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Managing Director.”

In her response issued in a statement, Georgiana said she was deeply grateful for the trust and support of the fund’s Executive Board, representing the fund’s 190 members.

She added that she was honoured to continue to lead the IMF as Managing Director for a second five-year term.

“In recent years, the IMF has helped our member countries to navigate successive shocks, including the pandemic, war and conflicts, and a cost-of-living crisis.

“We also stepped up our work on climate change, fragility, and conflict, and the digital transition, in line with their increased significance for macroeconomic and financial stability, growth and employment”.

Georgieva said the IMF’s financial support, policy advice, and capacity development work delivered by its exceptional staff had contributed to countries’ capacity to deal with high uncertainty and abrupt shifts in economic conditions.

“We are and will remain a transmission line of good policies for our members.

“We will also continue to strive to be a more effective, incisive, and welcoming place for countries to come together to tackle global challenges.

Farmasum Fuddang in a statement in his capacity as Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard said: “Last night, April 12, our community in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State faced a horrific attack resulting in the senseless slaughter of at least ten of our members.

“Despite the presence of security forces, including the DSS, army, and Police, the perpetrators were allowed to carry out their heinous acts with impunity.

“Under the cover of darkness, more than 50 armed terrorists descended upon the villages of Mandung-Mushu and Kopnanle, targeting innocent, unarmed, and peaceful residents as they slept.

“The assailants set fire to homes and a place of worship, mercilessly gunning down fleeing civilians while nearby soldiers failed to intervene effectively.

“This brazen attack, which predominantly targeted children, appears to be part of a calculated

effort to instill fear and perpetrate further displacement within our communities.

“We condemn this act of terror, which we believe is aligned with a broader agenda to impose sharia law and seize control of our lands.

“Just hours before this tragedy unfolded, BCDC Vanguard submitted a petition to the Department of State Services (DSS), challenging a leaked memo that falsely accused our people of planning violence against Fulani residents.

“We unequivocally stated that the intelligence behind the memo was fabricated and defamatory.

“Despite our efforts to rectify these falsehoods, the security apparatus failed to protect our community from the very threats we highlighted.

“The DSS ignored these warnings and instead chose to implicate the victims.”

Condemning the attacks, Governor Mufwang, who charged security forces in the state to redouble efforts against criminal elements, described the development

as unfortunate and unacceptable, especially at a time when the government is diligently working to restore peace and security; and to facilitate the return of displaced persons to their homes.

The governor, in a statement by his spokesman, Gyang Bere, warned perpetrators of these dastardly acts to desist forthwith as the government is determined to fish them out to face justice.

While appreciating the intervention of security agencies in the protection of lives and property, Mutfwang urged them to redouble efforts in discharging their constitutional responsibility of protecting innocent communities.

He expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved families and the affected communities and prayed for quick healing of those who sustained gunshot injuries.

The governor called on community stakeholders across the state to activate dispute resolution mechanisms in tackling issues of disagreement and report without

delay, early warning signs to constituted authorities for prompt intervention.

He urged for vigilance and fostering of inter-community relations by residents, particularly now that the rainy season is gearing up to ensure safer and successful farming periods.

Since the massacre of over 200 persons in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Mangu LGAs on December 24, 2023, Bokkos has continued to suffer violent attacks and killings.

Meanwhile, less than 24 hours after gunmen attacked two communities in the state, the Inspector General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, announced the redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet.

Even though no reason was given for the removal of Yabanet, who was deployed to the state barely one month ago, in a statement issued in Jos yesterday, the IG announced Emmanuel Adesina as the new CP for the state.

Magodo Estate: We Lack Power to Review Our Judgment, Supreme Court Tells Lagos Govt

Wale Igbintade

The Supreme Court has told the Lagos State Government that it lacks the power to review its own judgment.

The apex court further advised the state government and the Shangisha Landlords Association to resolve their Magodo land dispute amicably.

The five-man panel of the court led by Justice Inyang Okoro advised counsel to the parties to carefully study the decision of the court and come to an agreement as to the proper terms of settlement and thereafter invite all parties to arrive at an amicable resolution of the matter.

During the proceedings at the Supreme Court, Adenrele Adegborioye and Abdulateef Afolabi of BA LAW LLP appeared for the Judgment Creditors/ Applicants (Shangisha Landlords Association); Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) appeared for the Judgment Debtors/Applicants (Lagos State Government), while Olumide Sofowora (SAN) appeared with Deji Fasusi for the respondents. The court in declining to hear

any of the applications, observed that the judgment, having been delivered, the application of the Lagos State Government is tantamount to asking the court to review its own judgment, which it does not have the power to do.

Consequently, the court asked the counsel to go home and study the decision of the court and come to an agreement as to the proper terms of settlement and thereafter invite all parties to arrive at an amicable resolution of the matter.

The court noted that if after that, some persons are still aggrieved, then they should head to the high court and file their suits.

Taking the hint from the court, Akinboro withdrew the Judgment Debtor’s application, while Adegborioye did the same for the application filed by the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords Association). The applications were consequently struck out.

Recall that a Lagos High Court had on December 31, 1993, delivered judgment in favour of the Shangisha Landlords Association against the Lagos State Government, which was also affirmed by the Court of Appeal, and later by the Supreme

Court upon an appeal filed by Lagos State Government. The lower court had in its judgment held that "members of Shangisha Landlords Association whose lands and buildings at Shangisha Village were demolished by the Lagos State Government and/or its servants or agents during the period of June, 1984 to May 1985 are entitled to the first-choice preferential treatment by the Lagos State Government (before any other persons) in the allocation or re-allocation of plots in Shangisha village."

The court also granted an Order of Mandatory Injunction, directing the Lagos State government to allocate 549 plots to the plaintiffs in the said Shangisha Village Scheme in the Shangisha village.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, the Lagos State government took the matter to the Appeal Court where the lower court’s judgment was upheld.

The matter eventually proceeded to the Supreme Court where the judgment was upheld again, thereby compelling the state government to allocate 549 plots of land to the aggrieved landlords

in the area.

Pursuant to the judgment of the Supreme Court and the advice given by the court, the association began negotiation with the Lagos State Government with a view to ensuring an amicable settlement of the reallocation of land at the Magodo Scheme.

In order to give corporate entity and statutory backing to the name of the association (Judgment Creditors) decided to formally register the name of the Association with the Corporate Affairs Commission, with the name, “Shangisha Landlords Association” with registration number 171512.

However, in view of the disagreement as to how to allocate the 549 plots of land, the subject matter of the judgment, the Lagos State government approached the Supreme Court, seeking direction as to how to enforce the Supreme Court judgment.

However the Supreme Court encouraged counsel to the respondents to advise their clients properly to give the Lagos State Government their maximum cooperation in the execution of this judgment.

GOOD TO SEE YOU BOSS…

Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (left) in a handshake with his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, during the 60t h birthday thanksgiving Mass of Chief Patrick Ukah at the St Michael Catholic Church, Okpanam, Delta State…recently

Matawalle Tackles Northern Elders over Comments against

Kingsley Nweze in Abuja

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has described the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) as a “political paperweight” whose comments should not be taken seriously.

The minister said this in reaction to a comment by NEF’s spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, who said the north made a mistake by voting for President Bola Tinubu in 2023.

The NEF recently said it regretted supporting President Tinubu in the 2023 general election.

But reacting to the comment in a press statement yesterday, the Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle, described NEF as a political burden on the North.

Tinubu, Calls Group Political Paperweight

Matawalle stressed that members of NEF lack the authority to speak for the entire region, noting that they have become a political burden to Northerners. He said: “My attention has been drawn to the threats issued by the Northern Elders Forum against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is ‘reprehensible and naive’. It is preposterous for a group of people seeking political relevance to overburden the system and create political disunity among Nigerians. “The so-called NEF is more or less a political paperweight trying to embark on a destructive journey that will bring the North to disrepute for the group’s personal and selfish gains.

“This NEF is more of a political

burden to northerners. The group is seeking to erode other people’s rights in order to be recognised or made relevant in the scheme of things despite the failure of their sponsored candidates in the 2023 general election.

“In as much as many have overlooked them in respect of their utterances, it is pertinent to underscore their overbearing attitude on issues that affect political unity and cohesion. They cannot offer any positive idea or thought about the future of Northern Nigeria or, indeed, of Nigeria and its unity and togetherness,” he explained.

He noted that the NEF is in no position to undermine nor threaten to unseat the president.

The statement added, “We all

know President Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the February 2023 presidential election convincingly. So, who is the NEF to want to undermine the president’s victory and even threaten to unseat him?

“This same group of people have intentionally shied away from their responsibility of engendering unity in the North by appreciating the incremental development being brought to the North by ministers appointed by President Tinubu from the North, especially the North-west. “The NEF has not deemed it fit to seek an audience with Mr President to discuss issues affecting the Northern region, despite the numerous challenges facing the North as rightly highlighted by the President and being addressed

Abductors of Ortom’s Former Chief of Staff's Wife, Maid, Demand N100m Ransom

George Okoh in Makurdi and John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed an attack on Terwase Orbunde, the former Chief of Staff to the immediate-past Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, by armed men, who took away his wife and cook.

by him.

“The group has yet to visit any of the ministers dealing with issues of security, agriculture, water resources, police affairs, education, health, budget, foreign affairs, or any head of security agencies in the country so far for first-hand knowledge of government programmes and actions.

“The majority of them are more

interested in faulting the government so as to be recognised or accorded some relevance. Our region, the North, is united, disciplined and politically driven enough not to listen and accept being teleguided by any group of elites who had fed fat in the past on the North’s resources and opportunities which had retarded development in the region and nation due to their selfishness.

NDIC Backs CBN’s Planned Recapitalisation of Banks

James Emejo

in Abuja

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has thrown its weight behind the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its move to recapitalise banks, saying the apex bank’s decision will achieve economic resilience in the country.

ranks of $1 trillion base economies.

“This will not only strengthen the banking system but would also enhance the sector’s ability to withstand financial shocks,” he said.

According to the PPRO, Orbunde was also wounded in the attack. A source close to the family said the attack took place close to the Genocide Cemetery along Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in Makurdi, the state capital on Friday, at about 6pm.

The source explained that the former Chief of Staff to Governor Ortom escaped with a gunshot wound on his right arm while the attackers whisked away his wife, Kashimana Orbunde, and

A close ally of Orbunde, Tahav Argezua, also disclosed in a statement yesterday that the abductors have demanded N100 million ransom. The state’s Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene, said the command got a report on Friday evening from the former Chief of Staff that he was attacked on his farm in the evening and his wife and housemaid were whisked away by the armed men to an unknown destination.

her house help, Patience Ogute.

The source explained that Orbunde, his wife and maid, had gone to inspect the weeding of his farm.

Meanwhile, a close ally of Orbunde, Tahav Argezua, has disclosed that the abductors have demanded N100 million ransom.

Argezua said: “The abductors of the wife and cook of former Chief of Staff to the Benue State Governor, Terwase Orbunde, yesterday evening have demanded N100 million ransom for their release.”

He added that Orbunde, who is being treated for gunshot injuries in an undisclosed hospital in Makurdi,

said the abductors spoke to him at about 8:30 am yesterday through the captives.

Argezua added that the former Chief of Staff said his wife and cook were very calm when they spoke with him.

“He revealed that during the attack, which took place at about 6 pm yesterday, the gunmen spoke Fulani among themselves and communicated with him in Hausa, saying they would contact him on the phone. “The former Chief of Staff said they told him that he should be prepared to send money to them and that if he failed to do that, they would kill his wife and cook.”

We’ll Sustain Military Onslaught against Bandits in Zamfara, Tinubu Tells Gov Lawal

Segun James

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to end banditry in Zamfara State.

The president has consequently ordered the deployment of troops and a sustained military onslaught against bandits in the State.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Zamfara State governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, yesterday said President Tinubu disclosed this to Governor Lawal when received some state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly at his Lagos residence. According to the statement, the delegation, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, paid a Sallah homage to President Tinubu on Friday.

“During a conversation with Governor Dauda Lawal, President Tinubu asked about the security situation in Zamfara State.

“Governor Lawal informed the president of the progress made and the ongoing military operations against bandits in the state.

The Managing Director of NDIC, Bello Hassan, made the commendation at the weekend during the NDIC Special Day at the ongoing 35th Enugu International Trade Fair.

The fair, which began on April 5, is themed: ‘Promoting made-in-Nigeria products for global competitiveness’.

Hassan pledged that the NDIC would continue to collaborate with the central bank to ensure a seamless transition while safeguarding depositors’ interests.

According to him, in light of the ongoing global economic dynamics, the CBN has stepped up regulatory efforts to ensure the resilience and stability of the Nigerian banking sector.

Hassan said that a significant stride in this direction remained the recent revision and pegging of higher minimum capital requirements for banks operating in Nigeria.

Hassan revealed that since the CBN revoked the licences of 179 Microfinance Banks and four Primary Mortgage Banks in 2023, the NDIC had continued to efficiently disburse insured sums to verified depositors of these closed institutions.

He noted that depositors, who had undergone verification and had provided alternative account details, had received their payments seamlessly within a record period of five working days.

“While it is worth noting that depositors with amounts exceeding the insured limit will receive liquidation dividends once debts are recovered and assets of the closed banks are disposed of.

“Moreover, the NDIC strongly encourages depositors of the affected banks to come forward with their Bank Verification Number (BVN), proof of account ownership, proper identification, and/or alternative account details.

“Various channels are available for claims, including visiting the nearest NDIC offices in person, using the NDIC App online, or accessing the Claims Page on the NDIC website.

“President Tinubu assured the governor that he is committed to ending the menace of banditry in the state, adding that he had ordered a sustained military onslaught and deployment of more troops to Zamfara State.

“Under this proposal, commercial banks would be required to maintain minimum capital levels of N500 billion, N200 billion, and N50 billion for international, national, and regional institutions.

“He requested regular updates from Governor Lawal regarding the state’s security situation for effective collaboration in the fight against banditry,” the statement said.

“As well as N50 billion for merchant banks, while national and regional non-interest banks are required to maintain N20 billion and N10 billion respectively.

“This strategic recapitalisation initiative is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s administration plan to grow Nigeria’s economy to the

“Additionally, they can reach out through our Toll-Free Help Desk Line at 0800 634 424 357 for further inquiries as we remain steadfast in fulfilling our mandate and prioritising the safety of depositors' funds,” he said.

Earlier, President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Odeiga Jideonwo, said that NDIC had given Nigerians the confidence that their deposit is safe.

The solemnisation of the holy matrimony between the son of the former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Omobayonle Mimiko, and his heartthrob, Anjolaoluwa Adesanya, took place penultimate saturday at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, GRA, lkeja, Lagos. The reception, held in Victoria Island, was witnessed by personalities from different places. Here are the faces of some of the people who attended the ceremony.

PHOTOS: ABIODUN AJALA

The couple, Omobayonle and Anjolaoluwa Mimiko cutting cake under the supervision of Mrs Ibukun Awosika

R-L: Groom’s parents, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and wife Olukemi

R-L: Dr. and Mrs Biodun Shobanjo

L-R: Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi; Arc Folu Bademosi; and Otunba Reuben Famuyibo

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi

L-R: Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi; and former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

R-L: Mr and Mrs Olorunimbe Mamora

R-L: Bride’s parents, Prince Bambo Adesanya, SAN, and wife, Sinmidele

R-L: Prof. and Mrs Bamitale Omole

L-R: Otunba Bimbo Ashiru and wife, Kemi

L-R: Mr. Tokunbo Talabi; and Dr. Adeyemi Onabowale

L-R: Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi; Chief Sena Anthony and a guest

L-R: Dr. Sonny Kuku; Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke

L-R: Arc. Titi Adeleye; ACP Titus Ayodeji; and Titus VeronicaFormer Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi

L-R: Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo with the couple, Omobayonle and Anjolaoluwa Mimiko

L-R: Former Commissioners under Mimiko’s tenure, Mrs Yinka Alabi and Chief Yele Ogundipe

L-R: Mimiko’s former aide, Mr. Isaac Olorunfemi; former Commissioner, Hon. Kayode Akinmade; former Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ogundeji Iroju; and Hon. Femi Bosede

Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Ondo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami Mrs. Tesa Ikimi

PROMOTING GAS AS VEHICULAR FUEL…

L-R: Project Engineer, NIPCO Gas Limited, Victor Achile; Managing Director, NIPCO Gas Limited, Nagendra

FG: N1 Trillion Saved from Electricity Subsidy will Improve Power Supply, Social Services

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna

The federal government has said that the over N1 trillion that would be saved from the withdrawal of electricity subsidy

will be reinvested in improving power supply and the provision of social services in the country.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance yesterday in Kaduna as a guest of the Hausa

UTME: Police, JAMB Warn Candidates against Patronising Fake Websites

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the police have warned candidates preparing for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) against patronising fake websites.

They gave the warning at a joint news conference in Abuja yesterday.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said there were several fake websites created by unscrupulous individuals with the intention of misleading candidates.

He urged candidates to be wary of their tactics, saying the fake websites were designed to deceive innocent candidates into providing personal details such

as registration numbers, email addresses, and phone numbers.

“Both JAMB and the Nigeria Police Force condemn these fraudulent activities and hereby reiterate the readiness to safeguard the interests of candidates and maintain the integrity of the examination process.

“We urge parents, guardians, and all stakeholders to ensure that candidates print their UTME Notification Slips only from the Board’s approved website:www. jamb.gov.ng.

“Candidates can print their slips from the comfort of their homes or visit any of the over 700 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide,” he said.

Police Order Trial of Officer Threatening Residents with Gun in Viral Video

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Edo State, Mr. Funsho Adegboye, has ordered an orderly room trial of Police Constable Prince Chima for allegedly threatening some people with a gun at their residence.

The video of where Chima was caught in the act went viral on Sunday on the X social media platform.

In a statement issued yesterday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the CP had called for a discreet investigation into the matter, leading to the arrest of the officer.

“Sequel to a viral video sighted on X handle on the

7th of April 2024 where a young man that wore a blue T-shirt, black joggers’ trousers, and blue palm slippers was seen alone threatening with violence some persons in their residence with an AK-47 rifle.

“Immediately, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Funsho Adegboye, mni called for a discreet investigation into the matter.

“During the investigation, the police operatives, while using technical intelligence, arrested the young man, and he was identified as a Police Constable attached to the Department of Operatives (DOP).

audience participatory programme of Radio Nigeria Kaduna, “Hannu Da Yawa.”

Idris said the disproportionate amount of electricity subsidy, approximately 40 per cent, was benefiting only about 15 per cent of the electricity consumers, comprising affluent individuals and industrial clusters, who enjoyed about 20 hours of electricity.

“It is essential to emphasise that the funds to be saved from the withdrawal of electricity subsidy will be reinvested in enhancing power supply across the country and improving other vital social services such as health and education,” he said.

The minister noted that 85 per cent of the population that fall under the different categorisations of the new electricity supply regime still enjoys subsidy.

He said that the new Electricity Act, signed by President Bola Tinubu, has strengthened the governance structure of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and empowers the commission to place severe sanctions on electricity distribution companies for infractions relating to billings and supply of electricity to consumers.

Regarding post-fuel subsidy intervention programmes, Idris

said the supply of N100 billion worth of CNG buses was still on track as the specification of the buses was not bought off the shelf.

He stated that the government would soon launch CNG conversion centres across the country to encourage Nigerians to convert their vehicles from fuel consumption to CNG to reduce the cost of transportation.

He said the committee set up by the president to review the operational mechanism of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) has submitted its report to facilitate the resumption of the programmes, which will be providing N25,000 Conditional

Cash Transfers to 15 million poor and vulnerable households for three months among other interventions.

He dispelled the notion that the Tinubu administration was out to shortchange the northern part of the country, stressing that the federal government would continue to invest funds in the development of projects in the north.

On agriculture, the Minister said the federal government has expanded the cultivation of wheat, rice, cassava, and maize, under the dry season farming Initiative on about 500,000 hectares of farmland.

FG Nominates Obaseki to Lead Nigerian Delegation to 60th International Art Exhibition in Italy

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-City

The federal government has nominated Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to lead the Nigerian delegation to the 60th International Art Exhibition organised by La Biennale di Venezia and taking place in the Veneto region of Italy from April 16 to 18, 2024. Obaseki was nominated due to the state’s landmark successes in promoting the rich culture, arts, and heritage and advanc-

ing the economic potential of tourism in Edo State.

According to the state government, the governor will be the Commissioner of the Nigerian Pavilion at the exhibition.

“Edo State and its capital city, Benin City, have been a main heritage and cultural artistic hub in Nigeria for centuries and Governor Godwin Obaseki has a strong desire to support arts and culture.”

“The government of Edo

State is planning to develop a cultural district in the centre of Benin City. The cultural hub is intended to span a large expanse of land that will bring in new structures and also accommodate existing ones such as the National Museum Benin City. The development of the cultural district is intended to expand the cultural and creative industries to attract tourists to the country, the federal government noted in its letters to the organisers to nominate

Governor Obaseki.

The Board of the Museum of West African Arts alongside the President of the Veneto region, will receive the delegation and guide Governor Obaseki and his team on a tour of the Nigerian Pavilion and Art Exhibition.

“This is the very first time a sub-national is leading the Nigerian delegation to such an event. The Veneto region is the wealthiest and most productive region in Italy with one of the highest gatherings of people of African descent.

Redeemed Church Partners Military on Medicals of Fallen Heroes’ Widows, Children

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has disclosed plans to offer regular free healthcare to officers and men of the nation’s military, especially families of the country’s fallen heroes.

The church made the disclosure yesterday when it took its Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) outreach programme to the Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja, where free healthcare, as well

as food items, were delivered to women and children.

Speaking at the occasion, Pastor in Charge of the City of David (RCCG), Abuja, Gbolade Okenla, said the gesture was in line with the vision and mandate of the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. Okenla, who observed that the Nigerian military has been doing a lot to secure the country, stated that it has become imminent to support them, especially the

families of those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

“We are in Mogadishu barracks on behalf of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and in line with our General Overseer’s vision, Pastor E. A.Adeboye, who has mandated us to reach out to our communities.

“We are reaching out to the Nigerian Armed Forces today, not that they need it but because we felt we are neighbours, and they have done a lot and they are still doing a lot in maintaining the

territorial integrity of our nation and the least we can do in line with the vision of our general overseer is to reach out to them through our Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) programme,” he said.

While stating that it is part of the church’s responsibility to look after their neighbours, Okenla assured that the church will make the gesture a regular one and extend to other barracks in the country.

Verma, and Assistant General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NIPCO Plc, Lawal Taofeek, displaying Compressed Natural Gas Conversion Kits for automobiles in Lagos . . .recently

NUPRC Confirms Nigeria’s Oil Production Decline by 2.8 Million Barrels in March

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) a++t the weekend confirmed the data from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which showed a dip in Nigeria’s oil production for the second consecutive month this year.

Information on crude drilling operations for March from the NUPRC indicated that production fell from 1.42 million barrels

per day in January to 1.32 million bpd in February, before slipping to 1.23 million bpd in March.

According to a THISDAY computation of the data, cumulatively, Nigeria may have lost as much as 2.8 million barrels in the entire month of March, that is roughly 90,000 bpd during the period under review.

The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, last Friday acknowledged the country’s declining crude oil

MBN Project Brings

Made By Nigerians Fair to Kaduna Food Festival

The Made by Nigerians Project (MBN), dedicated to promoting and empowering homegrown brands, has continued to make waves at the ongoing Kaduna Food Festival.

The festival which started on Friday ends today at Murtala Mohammed Square, Kaduna. This three-day celebration of Northern Nigeria’s rich heritage and cuisine showcased an immersive experience for thousands of attendees.

MBN’s Chief Product Officer,

Ms. Chidimma Okoli, expressed her excitement about the collaborative effort with the Kaduna Food Festival, emphasising its potential to elevate Arewa brands. In her words, “This partnership with the Kaduna Food Festival perfectly embodies MBN’s mission. Together, we’ll create an unforgettable experience showcasing the best local businesses and a delicious culinary adventure. This collaboration follows the recent launch of the MBN Marketplace.”

production after an initial rise in recent months.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Nneamaka Okafor, the minister assured that measures were being taken to address the situation, not only to restore production to previous levels but to increase it sustainably.

Lokpobiri stated that the slump was primarily due to issues encountered on the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), coupled with maintenance activities carried out by some

oil companies operating in Nigeria during the period.

However, the NUPRC data showed that aside from crude oil which experienced a decline, condensate, which is usually outside OPEC’s quota calculation, also fell in March.

Overall, when condensate production was added to oil output for the month, Nigeria steadily declined from 1.64 million bpd in January to 1.53 million bpd in February and further to 1.43 mill ion bpd in March.

Apart from the reasons mentioned by the minister as being responsible for the two-month repeated decrease in production, oil theft and waning investments remain Nigeria’s biggest constraints to achieving its OPEC quota.

Last year, OPEC reviewed Nigeria’s production quota from over 1.7 million bpd to 1.5 million bpd for 2024, citing the country’s inability to consistently meet its allocated production targets.

Meanwhile, crude oil prices at the weekend jumped to the highest price since October as Israel

braced for a possible attack from Iran, a development that would threaten major disruptions in a region that accounts for a third of the world’s crude output.

Nigeria’s lesser-than-expected production, it also means that it may miss this second wave of unusually high oil prices due to its inability to raise output considerably.

But an assault is expected to come as soon as this week from Iran’s axis, which would mark a significant widening of the conflict that started when Hamas attacked Israel in October.

FG Unilaterally Decided Where VP’s Residence is Located, Says Wike

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the decision on where the official residence of the Vice President is to be located was made by the federal government.

He affirmed this yesterday during an inspection of the ongoing construction of the building awarded by the FCT Administration to Julius Berger at the cost of N15 billion.

Wike said the federal government chose the land where the massive house is being built along

Constitution Avenue in the Three Arms Zone.

He noted that the FCT Administration only invited the Office of the National Security Adviser for its advice, adding that the office had also looked at the location and made inputs.

On the possibility of the location of the house causing traffic snarl in the area, the minister said that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and Julius Berger were making the needed amendments where necessary.

“So, on the issue of traffic,

I don’t think it is a problem,” he assured.

The minister said his visit was to evaluate if the residence would be ready for inauguration in May and to ensure that security features and other concerns were adequately taken care of.

He assured that work was ongoing and everything was being put together to make the residence the best in terms of quality, security, and accessibility.

The minister said many projects would be inaugurated on May 29 in the FCT to mark the first anniversary in office of President Bola Tinubu.

He said the projects will further strengthen citizen’s trust in the government.

“Let the residents know that the renewed hope agenda is a reality because if you don’t tell people this has been done nobody will know that things have been done.

“Let people know that yes, this is the promise we made, and within one year in office, this is what we have been able to achieve, as far as FCT is concerned.

“Not just the infrastructure, changing the structure of FCT is another achievement,” Wike said.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

France Supports Nigeria’s Health Sector with €3 Million

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of France to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Jean Francois Hasperue, has disclosed that France supported Nigeria’s health sector with €3 million in 2023.

This according to him, goes to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to improve healthcare delivery in the country.

He noted that France has on a yearly basis supported the Nigeria’s health sector as part of her collaboration towards assisting in the wellness of Nigerians.

France in addition to the support of €3 million through the bilateral arrangement that includes the NGOs contributing to healthcare in Nigeria and the rest of the world through the multilateral arrangement of global funds to health, it is the second highest donor.

Speaking at the weekend

during a breakfast debate in Abuja hosted by the French Embassy in Nigeria to mark the World Health Day, Hasperue said France sees health as one of the fundamental rights of human being and must be enjoyed by all without discrimination and in that light contribute massively towards the Global Health Fund.

He said: “We are already working with Nigerian government on health issues. Firstly, France is the second country in the world with the most contribution to the Global Fund on Health, it gives you an indication how we care about health across the globe.

“In Nigeria for example, France spends €3 million in healthcare in Nigeria last year, we are working with Nigerian government on different aspects, on humanitarian aspect and infrastructure as well.

“At present we have a project on building and renovation of hospitals in Oyo State, and we

are planning to multiply this kind of project with government towards development of network of health infrastructure. Not only that, we have private companies investing in health. We have a French company in a joint venture to produce medication in this country as well. We try to mobilise our collaboration with the government and private companies towards improving health care in Nigeria.”

He noted that Nigerian government is not unaware of the importance of investing in the health sector as it is one of the sector it gives priority to

The envoy said: “The government of Nigeria is surely interested in the health and well being of its citizens for they have asked us to partner with them in this sector. I believe health should be at the centre of the plan of a nation. It should be the topmost on government plan for it is basic need.”

Edo Guber: Akpata Fingers Edo Govt as Mastermind of Attack on Him in UNIBEN

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Mr. Olumide Akpata, yesterday accused an unnamed senior official of the Edo State Government of masterminding an attack on him at the University of Benin on Friday afternoon.

But in a swift response, the Edo State Government has condemned in the strongest terms, the violent attack on Akpata during his visit to the University of Benin on Friday

In a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, the state government noted that claims and counterclaims have been

made by Akpata and the Student Union Government (SUG) of the University adding that an active investigation is ongoing on the issue. It warned that it would not tolerate violence or this sort of irresponsible behaviour which was associated with the visit of Akpata to the institution.

Akpata was a guest at an interactive session organised by the University of Benin Senior Staff Club, which was violently interrupted, causing pandemonium within the school premises.

This is as SUG of the University of Benin in a statement titled: ‘Update on Security Threats and Institutional Disregard’, which was signed by its President, King

Lemuel, and Secretary, Comrade Eriamiatoe Miracle, also kicked against using students for the campaign at the staff club, noting that the President of UNIBEN Senior Staff Club is also being questioned by the appropriate authority.

The SUG alleged that the union was never informed about the interactive session involving the Labour Party’s candidate, adding that the school security was not aware of any authorisation of such a meeting.

Akpata in a viral video released yesterday said a senior lecturer who sustained injury as a result of the attack is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Benin.

Tinubu Installs Oba of Benin Chancellor of NOUN

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

President Bola Tinubu has appointed the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, as the Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), with a mandate to improve the fortunes of the university towards achieving the core mandate of the institution.

Tinubu, who is Visitor to the university, was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, who decorated the monarch at the 13th of Convocation/investiture ceremony of the university yesterday in Abuja.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, in a statement, made available to journalists in Benin City, said the royal father was also conferred with Honoris Causa, Doctor in Public Administration of the National Open University of Nigeria.

In Oba Ewuare’s acceptance speech after subscribing to the university’s oath led by the President, he formally constituted the convocation for the award of first degrees, postgraduate degrees, and other categories of awards/ certificates.

The chancellor also called on the federal government to consider

robust funding for the university and implored the government to be cautious of establishing universities with dual roles to ensure that standards are upheld.

Oba Ewuare II who promised to carry out his responsibility diligently, also appealed to the government to include NOUN graduates in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme by amending the Act that established the university.

The traditional ruler advised the graduands of the university to be exemplary as NOUN Alumni and explore entrepreneurship.

Ohanaeze Mourns Ogbonnaya Onu, Describes Him Moral Edifice, Astute Politician

Tony Icheku in Owerri

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has mourned the passing of the former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who died on Thursday , describing him as “Igbo titan, a path-finder, visionary, erudite scholar, astute politician and gentleman par excellence.”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo stated it received the news of the death of the first civilian

governor of Abia State “with a rude shock”.

According to the statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, the President-General of the highest Igbo group was heartbroken by the loss, recounting the recent deaths of high-profile Igbo dignitaries.

The statement read: “The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel

Iwuanyanwu, was heart-broken on hearing the sad news.

“The Igbo leader lamented the death of high-profile Igbo dignitaries in a close sequence: Prof George Obiozor, Prof Joe Irukwu, Dr. UK Kalu, Prof Ben Nwabueze, Dr. Sylvanus Ebigwei, Prof Chike Edozien, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and today, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; most of whom were members of the Presidential Advisory Council of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

Understanding Foreign Airlines’ Price War with Air Peace

Two things happened in the last few weeks: the naira started rapid appreciation over major events have prompted foreign airlines to review their airfares downwards, but industry

Chinedu Eze

Foreign airlines have exposed how they exploited Nigerians in the last six years with the Before the naira depreciated million for a one-way Business Class ticket airfares were still very high, prompting the airlines to open the low inventory of their million, while the other two airlines on direct

But last week, all the airlines crashed

egy is that by reducing the cost of the tickets temporarily, the foreign airlines tickets, incur losses, and close its opthe airlines would doubly increase prices and continue the exploitation of Nigerians, which they have been

To avert this, some Nigerians in response to the advertised low fares have responded that even if the other

they know the foreign carriers are

who pleaded anonymity said: “Well in truth, you cannot go wrong supfares and a simple analysis is just

The only three airlines here in direct competition because of the Bilateral

He also noted: “The others are basing their competition on price, which although good, six hours tops, others would do a minimum they need to stay a night meaning a transit

‘The longer you’re in the air the more liable directly instead of worrying about the next

operators to that destination would not al-

their currency to pay for maintenance and

which is cumbersome and exposes one to

everyone? The concept of a fare war is also do we care about the consumer? -

war doesn’t exist, the fares we see are the result of long travel dates, promotions, and

do, they’ll both be breaking the law, and we wait a while and see how the service

Fight them by bundling your services get the aviation fuel sold to you on credit

No one will see a cheap flight and ignore what Nigerian airlines did not have: capacBritish carriers are getting a match in a direct service should just carve out its slice

Foreign-Airlines

Air-Peace-aircraft

SILENT NO MORE OF AIR PEACE, NATIONALISM AND THE REST OF US

Air Peace is not only ours, it offers good services,

writes FOLORUNSO FATAI ADISA

“That boy calls you father. Do not bear a hand in his death.”

Flying with Air Peace from London to Lagos on April 8th, 2024, was more than just a journey; it was a poignant reminder of the power of supporting homegrown initiatives. When Air Peace coined the pay-off “your peace, our goal,” they meant every word in that statement on all fronts. To fly Air Peace is to feel peaceful in the skies.

Aside from being an unrepentant Nigerian, I am a fan of homegrown organizations. My love for the aforementioned was further strengthened by how Scottish people, whom I live amongst, have always adored anything Scottish. I recall an old woman who was crying because someone mishandled a tartan—a Scottish symbol. I started flying on airplanes late; however, I had flown a handful. For African Airlines, I have flown Egyptian Air, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian, which happens to be my most beloved. I flew Ethiopian to the United Kingdom—my first international journey. Since I got to the UK, I have flown Easyjet, Ryan Air, and Wizz Air. I had once done British Airways from Glasgow to London too. By the time I would be visiting Nigeria for Sallah, Air Peace had launched its Lagos-London route. Thus, instinctively, I had to fly the airline.

As I settled into my seat, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride knowing that I was contributing to Nigeria’s economy by choosing a Nigerian airline. With each mile traveled, I felt a profound sense of belonging and ownership, as if I was not just a passenger, but a steward of my nation’s prosperity. In that moment, I realized that our choices as individuals hold immense power.

Flying with Air Peace has erased my experiences with other airlines I had flown. From the hitch-free check-in to the inflight experience laden with relatable dishes and courteous and amiable staffers, Air Peace’s service is unparalleled. Air Peace staffers are amiable in a disarming way—especially Simeon, who would later become the darling of almost everyone onboard. The first spotlight on Air Peace’s service was on the cheap ticket it offered its customers, which first opened the eyes of Nigerians to how we had been cruelly milked by BA, Virgin Atlantic, and so on. If I had not flown the aforementioned in a longer distance, I had flown Ethiopian, and I can confidently submit that Air Peace offers better service at lesser charges. Should that be the case, it simply means all these international airlines have been cruelly cashing out on Nigerians.

This speaks to the benefits that are inherent in indigenous organizations and how massively such organizations need our support to prosper. It is only when we have things that belong to us and patronize them that we can grow economically and liberate ourselves from undue extortion and embarrassment. The incursion of Air Peace into the LON-LOS route created a disruption that forced other airlines to review their prices. It’s even more heartening that Air Peace would patronize homegrown companies such as Dangote for fuel, Aquadana for bottled water, and Nigerian caterers for inflight foods. That is a beautiful synergy where our actions ripple beyond ourselves, creating opportunities and livelihoods for countless others— a remittance of funds into the system.

It is only an ingrate child who doesn’t want their home to prosper while foreign countries reap them blind.

Should Nigerians want to be respected in the aviation sector, it is high time we supported and patronized Air Peace while encouraging other wealthy Nigerians to explore the same path for us to have more airlines plying different routes around the globe at reasonable and affordable prices. I encountered four middle-aged females on their way to Nigeria to celebrate their friend’s mom’s funeral. They narrated that it would have been impossible for them to achieve such a feat if not for Air Peace’s affordable prices. At a point in time, they made videos and prayed for Nigeria’s prosperity. I was not only moved, I almost shed tears as it ministered to me that numerous Nigerians truly and heartily love Nigeria; they are only looking for a means to express it. Even though Air Peace is a one-man operation, it represents Nigeria in the world of international aviation. There have been several unsuccessful attempts by Nigerian Airlines to operate the London-Lagos route. Failures included Bellview, ARIK, Medview, and so forth. The federal government may support Air Peace by providing it with the necessary backing, based on the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, through the Ministries of Trade and Investment, Aviation, and so forth. This would encourage more Nigerian investors into the aviation sector, which would boost our economy and make travel abroad easier without foreign airlines taking advantage of Nigerians.

Above all, Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” emerges as a timeless masterpiece, resonating across generations with its profound impact. With sales surpassing 15 to 20 million copies and translations into over 60 languages, the novel’s universal appeal captivates readers worldwide. For many, it serves as a captivating window into Igbo culture, offering rich insights into traditions and values. Yet, for those of Igbo descent, the novel holds deeper significance, instilling pride in their heritage and validating their identity on a global stage. Through Achebe’s masterful storytelling, “Things Fall Apart” not only celebrates the resilience and complexities of the Igbo people but also underscores the enduring legacy of Achebe’s literary genius. AIR PEACE shares similarities with “Things Fall Apart” but represents Nigeria more. Consequently, I am borrowing my opening quote from Chinua Achebe’s classic where I would rephrase, “Air Peace calls you brother/sister. Do not bear a hand in its death.” Don’t be carried away by the current underpricing by BA, Virgin Atlantic, and all who are trying to force Air Peace out of the market and later return to their previous pathetic pricing.

Adisa, a Media and Communication specialists, writes via folorunsofatai03@ gmail.com

There are challenges, but there are also things we can crow about in Nigeria, argues SEUN AWOGBENLE

Recently, while I was watching BBC Breakfast, one of the popular morning news programme in England, they showed the promotion for a documentary soon to be aired about a certain British journalist who had recently visited Nigeria and would be sharing his experience. In the less-thana-minute promotion, I noticed that more than 20 seconds were dedicated to images, which I suppose are from Makoko, a coastal settlement in Lagos, dubbed Nigeria’s biggest slum, with minimal highlights from the urban and more cosmopolitan parts of Nigeria.

Immediately, I saw the highlights from Makoko, I sighed not because I was expecting much from a news media that was potentially looking to reinforce its perception about Nigeria, but because for every one thing that is not working in Nigeria today, there is at least one other thing you can point to that is working or in the process of reform. And I have always held the belief that the obsession of foreign media with branding Nigeria as the symbol of global underdevelopment is both unkind and uncharitable.

One of the things that takes me aback more frequently is when non-Nigerians ask me questions like whether or not we have a functional banking system, if we have functional schools, or if there are holiday destinations in Nigeria. A friend who works with one of the big communication networks recently told me that his manager once expressed shock that he could speak English fluently. One of my mentors also recently shared how someone had asked several years ago if there were modern houses in Nigeria, and he responded in sarcasm that everyone lives on trees. From my experience, I sometimes feel like non-Nigerians, especially those from the Global North, think that most Nigerians probably live in a cave. But I am hardly offended when such vexatious questions come up. I have simply taken it as the result of the ceaseless demarketing of Nigeria by foreign media, enabled in part by Nigerians, who cannot stand up for the country when it matters.

Recently, an English woman was telling me about her intention to visit Nigeria later in the year but was unsure about her safety. With the news of abduction and kidnappings everywhere, I had to spend another 30 minutes explaining to her that kidnappings in Nigeria are not the norm. I went ahead to show her videos that I personally recorded in August last year, during the visit of John Cleverly, the United Kingdom Home Secretary to Nigeria. I reassured her that Nigeria was a safe place to visit and that she was assured of her safe return.

Today, I know that pessimism and cynicism are the new order; to put Nigeria down is considered more sensational than to admit its progress. However, it is unfortunate because this is a trend that I have found more among Nigerians than with people from other parts of

the world, especially those from countries that are also plagued by the same challenges. You are not likely to find someone from South America, Eastern Europe, or even other parts of Africa who puts down their country like most Nigerians gleefully do, especially those who have just migrated.Make no mistake about it. I admit that Nigeria has multifaceted challenges of hunger, poverty, malnutrition, unemployment, and out-of-school children, among other key challenges, but there are also a number of things that are working, like our highly subsidised education, communication services, banking services, technology services, creative and digital economy, capital market, improved rail and road infrastructure, emergency response system in Lagos State, and a number of other key developments.

The work of nation-building is an eternal endeavour. Sometimes I am also frustrated by our slow pace of development, but the reality is that, however incremental, Nigeria is turning the corner. Some of the countries we benchmark with Nigeria have existed for far more years, and I know some would ask, What about the countries that came just after us? The peculiarities of Nigeria in size and population especially pose a special kind of challenge. By the way, I have never been the one to excuse the failure of our political leaders. I have always believed that Nigeria could be far better with more purposeful leadership, but that does not take away from the progress we have recorded.

One of the most recent speeches by President Bola Tinubu immediately comes to mind. The speech is even more appreciated, seeing that he delivered it extempore, and I think the message conveyed is timeless. Tinubu said, “Do not condemn your own nation,” and went on to say, “Yes, this leader is bad, fine. Wait until the next election to change him, but do not condemn your country. Do not curse Nigeria. This is a beautiful land.” I don’t think it could have been said any better. We can knock our leaders without putting down our country; we can criticise the country and also emphasise the things that work.

For emphasis, the point I am trying to make is that if we must change the way the world sees Nigeria, we must be fair in our assessment of the country. We can admit our challenges as a nation and also acknowledge our progress.

The job of reimagining our country must start from within, and it must start with every Nigerian seeing themselves as brand ambassadors of this country. If we must change our image problem, then the change must begin with us.

EDITORIAL

CHIBOK GIRLS: ON THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY…

We cannot afford to give up on the girls still in captivity. The authorities must do more and bring them, and others in similar circumstances, home

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the violent abduction of 276 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram insurgents. While 57 of the girls escaped from their captors in the following days, 16 were later rescued and 107 have at different times been released through negotiations. With 96 of the girls still unaccounted for, the federal government is constantly reminded of its obligation to their traumatised parents and the larger society. Sadly, the fact that thousands of students (mostly female) have since been abducted in several other attacks on schools seems to have normalised this most heinous crime.

As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Chibok abductions that reverberated across the world a decade ago, concerns by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) over growing attacks on schoolchildren in Nigeria should be taken seriously. On a day such as this, critical stakeholders must understand what incessant attacks on innocent school children portend for the future of our country. In recent years, these repeated attacks have created fear in many vulnerable students and their parents, especially in some sections of the country, and is affecting the attitude to education. This bodes ill for the country. When a school is under attack and students become targets, according to Manuel are their lives shattered, but the future of the nation is also stolen.”

daughters’ lives,” said former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, then United Nations Special Envoy on Education at the launch of the Safe Schools Initiative in Abuja. Even President Bola Tinubu, then an opposition politician and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, carried a BBOG placard for the social media campaign in aid of the Chibok girls.

In a democracy, freedom remains the most fundamental right. That freedom is diminished for as long as there is a citizen held in captivity

Now that he is president, Tinubu must be reminded that giving up on the remaining Chibok girls and hundreds of others in captivity cannot be an option for any self-respecting society. In a vibrant country such as ours, the issue of citizens in distress should always be on the front burner of public discourse. Nigerians also need the assurance that the federal government has the capacity to defend them as they go about their lawful pursuits within the country. In a democracy, freedom remains the most fundamental right. That freedom is diminished for as long as there is a citizen held in captivity. Besides, the value of every life is the ultimate measure of a nation’s sovereign integrity and democratic credentials. The global solidarity demonstrated in the wake of the abductions of Chibok girls 10 years ago was ample evidence of our shared humanity. That explains why we cannot as a country afford to give up on the remaining Chibok girls. Today is therefore another reminder that the authorities that has made the country unsafe for many people.

When the mass abduction occurred on 14th April 2014, there was global outrage with a series of protests under the hashtag, Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) launched in Abuja before spreading to other cities. Demand for the rescue of the girls resonated in a manner never seen activists, renowned journalists, international organisations, and the ordinary people, joined stand by and see schools shut down, girls cut off from their education and parents in fear of their

first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

For sure, the political landscape of the country has changed since the Chibok abductions. But that is cold comfort for the parents of the girls who continue to keep hope alive that their children would be rescued from wherever they are and be brought back home alive. That the Chibok girls have been away for such a long time is not an excuse to abandon them. The authorities must locate their whereabouts and rescue them. And they must work to rescue several other Nigerians that are held captive by insurgents, bandits and other criminal cartels.

THE NORTH UKELLE ROAD PROJECT

The last is yet to be heard of the age- long story of the deplorable state of the YaheWanokom – Wanikade – Benue border road, as this road has over the years enjoyed mention by members of parliament representing constituencies covering the area on the assemblies.

Unfortunately, even when budgetary allocations are made for the construction of the road and ground- breakings ceremonies performed as photo ops to feed the media with the needed inputs for propaganda; this is all the road has enjoyed in decades.

Recently, the anxieties of the people of North Ukelle and indeed the entire Ukelle nation was heightened when the road got media attention. This time, the road we were gleefully informed was listed and approved for execution in the 2023 supplementary

appropriation act, with a whopping sum of over N10.7billion which was passed by the senate and assented to by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu. It was achieved courtesy of the dogged efforts of the senator representing Cross River North senatorial zone, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe. I doff my hat for this legislative feat achieved by the senator within so Short a time in the red chambers.

Curiously however, in proposing the bill for the construction of the North Ukelle road, unlike in the past where the title of the budget item used to be: Yahe-Ebo-WanokomWanikade-Oju road, the title this time rather read: Oju-Adum-Wanikade-Wanokom -Yahe Road. Not that this inversion of title raises curiosity on what effect this may have in bringing to fruition this long-awaited

project which has suffered decades of neglect by subsequent regimes both at the state and national, and have been the bane of the development of the North Ukelle people.

I have also attempted to rationalize the title change to the fact that since the earlier ones which begin with names of towns in Cross River State may have been over used for far too long in appropriation and budgeting, the question could have arisen and suspicions triggered. It can only be safe to let sleeping dogs lie. Just a wild imagination. It could also be that the law makers representing the Oju area of Benue State and their opposite colleagues in Cross River State believe if constructed will be of tremendous mutual That said, there are a few more concerns for all to ponder upon; When the 2023 supplementary bill was passed into law and

assented to by the President, it had a life span of three months or thereabouts. It was to lapse by 31st March, 2024. It has however been extended to June 30th, 2024. Before the extension, we have not seen enough activity to indicate to us that a road construction worth the sum we are talking about is in progress. Usually when projects of such magnitude are approved, there are ware housed under their designated Ministries, in this case, the Federal Ministry of Works; the supervising Ministry and a contractor who may have gone through the due process of bidding is selected. Such contractor is expected to show obvious presence at the site. We haven’t seen one yet, we are even yet to see the sign posts suggesting the name of the contractor and the supervising entity executing a road construction worth N10.7billion.

Michael Ikpa Igbang, ulakomm@gmail.com

Deepening Rivalry between Municipal, and International, Law: The Israelo-Mexican Saga

The conduct and management of international affairs clearly show increasing nationalism at the level of the Member States of the international community. The observation is not different at the level of regional politics. The most recent example is the disagreement between some Francophone West African countries, on the one hand, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on the other.

The ECOWAS has a policy of zero-tolerance for unconstitutional change of government in the West African region. Consequently, the ECOWAS frowned at the coups d’état in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic. While efforts were being made to address the cases of Mali and Burkina Faso, another coup occurred in Niger and the ECOWAS decided to take the bad end of the stick in handling the matter with the Tchiani junta in Niamey. In fact, the ECOWAS did not hesitate to give a 7-day ultimatum to the military junta to release the detained elected president of Niger Mohammed Bazoum and return power to civilian rule or face military intervention. This threat seriously angered Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali as sovereign states. The misunderstanding led to the decision of the three countries to give notice of the withdrawal of their membership from the ECOWAS.

Even though the three countries are founding Members of the ECOWAS and they voluntarily conceded part of their national sovereignty to the ECOWAS to make it a supranational authority, the recent decision to withdraw from the ECOWAS is an expression of protest against the supranational authority of the ECOWAS, which is an embodiment, or a depository of the many agreements negotiated, signed, and ratified by the Member States.

At the global level, disregard for supranational obligations created by treaties is also increasing. Israel is a leader in this regard. It hides under the international principle of legitimate self-defence by bombing the consular and diplomatic premises of the Embassy of Iran in Damascus Syria. Mexico consciously break into the Embassy of Ecuador in Mexico to kidnap the Mexican Vice President seeking political asylum in Ecuador. How do we explain the rising municipal law to the detriment of International law?

The Israelo-Mexican Saga

The Israeli bombing of the diplomatic premises of Iran in Damascus, Syria, and the Mexican engagement in terroristic kidnapping in the Embassy of Ecuador in Quito, Mexico, are not simply about violation of international diplomatic law, but also an expression of strategic miscalculations with potential deleterious consequences for which the whole world is least or not even prepared. They are additional pointers to another World War in the making.

True enough, the Western leadership of the world has been under increasing threats in recent times. Discontent with the Breton Woods institutions prompted the growing interest in the BRICS. The policy of duplicity of the West in the management of the Israelo-Palestinian conflict, in which case the sermons of peace are preached and, at the same time, arms and weapons are made and supplied to Israel to engage in genocidal crimes, is a case in point. It is ridiculous that the great powers preach democratisation, particularly from the time of the La Baule Franco-African Summit of 1990, on the one hand, and, at the same time, refuse democratisation of the whole United Nations system, on the other. And perhaps most disturbingly, the Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), who are also referred to as the nuclear weapons states, have constituted themselves into an informal nuclear club, preserving the right of exclusiveness in the conduct and management of nuclear politics. They do not want any other state to have access to nuclear power status, but secretly aid and abet their allies to acquire same. This is partly why global efforts are difficult to succeed in the maintaining international peace and security. The gospel of ‘do what I say, but not what I do,’ cannot be helpful to the maintenance of orderliness,

and to the removal of the growing discontent with the mania of global governance as it is today.

Without any jot of doubt, Israeli attacks on Iranian interests cannot be said to be new. The attacks, stricto sensu, fall under the doctrine of pre-emptive self-defence in international security relations. It should not be forgotten that Iran was suspected to have aided the deadly 1994 bombing of the Jewish Centre in Argentine. As reported on April 12, 2024 by Lucila Sigal and Lucinda Elliot of the Reuters, there was a new ruling by the highest criminal court in Buenos Aires that has ‘blamed Iran for a fatal 1994 attack against the AMIA Jewish community in Buenos Aires.’

More notably, Sigal and Elliot noted further that ‘the judges ruled that the bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) – the deadliest of its kind in the country’s history, with 85 people killed and hundreds wounded – was carried out by Hezbollah militants responding to “a political and strategic design” by Iran.’ It took the highest criminal court 30 years of investigation and trial. Iran denied any form of involvement but refused to hand over any of its suspected citizens to the court for possible trial. The point here is that, in the eyes of Israel, there is no way Iran would not be listed as a security threat, and therefore as a target for future attack.

Rivalry between municipal and international law should not be simply seen in terms of legal provisions. The rivalry is most visible and disturbing at the level of national protectionism of many powerful countries. The combined efforts of many international airlines to prevent Nigeria’s Air Peace from flying to their countries is not only a case in point, but also a reflection of conscious threat to the maintenance of global peace. For instance, the British Airways’ 6-hour flight from London to Lagos is costlier than its 9-hour flight from London to South Africa. Besides, British Airways has more than 20 flights a week to Nigeria while Britain finds it difficult to allow the Air Peace to fly to London. True, national protectionism is letting other people die to enable one’s selfpreservation. This approach can never sustain peace and security in the world. In fact, the British Airways has reportedly reduced drastically the cost of London-Lagos flight by more than 50% in an attempt to frustrate the Air Peace out of business. Many Nigerians believe it is consistent with the trending Euro-American teaching that Africa, particularly Nigeria, must not be allowed to thrive if Europe and America are also to survive. Thus, who and what should survive first: respecting international law and die or seek survival to the detriment of international law?

Apart from this, two years earlier, in 1992, the Argentinian court recalled that the same Iranian-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah attacked the Israeli embassy in Argentina. 22 people died in the attack, meaning that, in the two attacks reportedly sponsored by Iran, 22 plus 85 (107) people were killed. While internationally condemning the Israeli violation of international diplomatic law, by bombing Iranian Consulate in Damascus, it should therefore not be quickly forgotten that there was an Iranian precedent.

Aljazeera reported on December 28, 2023 that ‘since its formation in 1982, Iran-backed Hezbollah has grown into powerful “State within a State” in Lebanon, and has also backed Hamas in Gaza. Of course the biggest threat so far has been from the Iranianbacked group Hezbollah in Lebanon that has been firing every single day. This is just showing that despite Israel’s continued war in Gaza, these attacks are going to continue.’ How do we reconcile this prescription with the declared Israeli policy decision to wipe out Hamas and Gaza? Does it not imply that even in the absence of Gazans, the friends of Gazans will still remain to be contended with? Does it not also mean that decisions taken at the municipal level, legal or illegal, will continue to disregard the provisions of relevant international law?

As regards Ecuadorian relations with Mexico, Mexican Foreign Minister, Alicia Barcena, called, on April 11, 2024, for Ecuador to be suspended from the United Nations until Ecuador tenders a public apology for its raid on Mexico’s embassy in Quito, in Mexico City, Mexico. And true enough, Ecuador’s policemen forced their way into the Embassy of Mexico in order to arrest Ecuador’s former Vice President, Jorge Glas, who was at the embassy to seek political asylum. He had been an asylee in the Mexican embassy since December 2023 and was only waiting for final approval from the Mexican government back home to be flown to Mexico. This was what the Ecuadorian government wanted to prevent by raiding the embassy contrary to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which provides for the grant of permission of the Ambassador before the agents of the receiving State can enter the embassy.

According to the Associated Press (AP), the Mexican President, Andrés Manuel Lôpez Obrador, has filed a complaint at the International Court of Justice. He said ‘the court, in accordance with the UN Charter, should approve the expulsion, and there should be no veto’ from the United Nations Security Council? The Mexican prayer is quite interesting from its unwanted application of the right of veto by the five Permanent Members of the UNSC. True, veto has been more used in protection of the national interest than in the maintenance of international peace and security. This is a major problem.

The Associated Press noted further that the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, Gabriela Sommerfeld, said her country would defend its actions and that an apology ‘is not something that is under discussion at this moment.’ The alleged offences of the former Ecuadorian Vice President are not political but criminal, and as such, Mexico should not have considered Mr Glas for possible political asylum. In this regard, while the distinction between political and criminal offences is tenable, the point by Mr. Luis Almagro, the Secretary-General to the Organisation of American States (OAS), that ‘the use of force, the illegal incursion into a diplomatic mission, nor the detention of an asylee are not the peaceful way toward resolution of this situation,’ could not have more correct. Mr. Almagro is right by suggesting that Ecuador’s actions should not be allowed to become a precedent.

Without doubt, before the raid by Ecuador’s policemen, the Mexican plenipotentiary to Ecuador had been declared persona non grata, meaning that there had been strained ties before Ecuador’s state terrorism which has compelled Mexico to also break off diplomatic relations with Ecuador. Ecuador has argued that ‘Ecuador is a sovereign nation,’ and will not be prepared ‘to allow any criminal to stay free.’ The Mexican leader responded that the detention of Mr. Glas was an ‘authoritarian act and a flagrant violation of international law and the sovereignty of Mexico,’ especially in light of the fact that several Mexican diplomats were injured. These arguments have raised many other questions about the relationship between municipal and international law. First is that Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, was an asylee at the Embassy of Ecuador in London for 7 years but the UK government never violated the embassy. Why has Ecuador therefore forgotten that it played host to a fugitive who was seen as a political offender and a criminal depending on whose side one wants to be?

Secondly, Ecuador raised the argument and right of sovereignty, but forgets that the Embassy of Mexico is also an ‘exterritorial’ of Mexico in international law and relations, implying that the Ecuadorian invasion of the Mexican embassy is also a violation of the sovereignty of Mexico. In other words, the exercise of sovereign right of one country must not be detrimental to that of other sovereign states. Thirdly, the mere fact that the main argument of Ecuador is predicated on its right of sovereignty, this means preference is for municipal law. How should the international community address this growing national protectionism which has been to the detriment of international law? Fourthly, and perhaps most importantly, Ecuador violated international law but achieved its objective. Quo vadis for international law?

President of Mexico, Obrador

Joel ‘Kachi Benson

Making A Moving Movie on Missing Chibok Girls

As Nigerians mark the 10th anniversary of the abduction of the 276 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, Joel ‘Kachi Benson, tells Vanessa Obioha what inspires him about the mothers, whose daughters are yet to return from captivity

The tragedy will always be part of their lives, but not all of their lives

In 2019, Joel ‘Kachi Benson, set out to capture the story of the missing Chibok girls – the infamous event that rocked the nation in 2014 – in virtual reality format.

The technology was relatively new and Benson was among those early birds in Nigeria who experimented with the immersive storytelling style.

Benson arrived in the conflictridden town of Chibok, in Borno State, with a clear plan in mind. However, upon sitting with the women and hearing their stories firsthand, he realised that his approach needed to diverge from the conventional narratives often depicted in the media. The result of that adventure was ‘Daughters of Chibok,’ which fetched Benson an award at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival, making him the first African to receive the festival’s Virtual Reality award.

‘Daughters of Chibok’ revolves around one of the mothers of the missing girls, Yana Galang, who still hopes that her daughter will return someday. The film received accolades for the way Benson captured their story, reminding the world not to forget these mothers still awaiting the return of their daughters.

‘Today marks the 10th anniversary of the abduction of 276 girls from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok. With many of the girls still missing,’ Benson wondered if the world still remembers the women of Chibok.

“What is the value of human life in Nigeria?’’ he pondered on a recent Tuesday afternoon in his studio in Yaba. It is a constant question that he asks. From the economic challenges impacting the cost of living to the plight of citizens at the bottom of the ladder, these issues dominate his thoughts and discussions. Even as we discussed, our conversation often drifted to the country’s economic woes.

“I wonder how the poorest amongst us are surviving. If those that are “comfortable” are “feeling it”, how much more are the poor?” he mused.

In his view, Benson, who recently co-directed ‘Madu,’ a Disney original production that revolves around the viral Nigerian ballet dancer Anthony Madu, the country’s system is structured in a way that does not benefit the poor.

To be sure, Benson is a patriotic Nigerian who strongly believes that Nigeria could be one of the best countries in the world, despite all the odds stacked against it. But the country can only boast of such status if it creates an enabling environment for its people.

Given his humble background, Benson could relate to the daily struggles of the ones at the bottom of the ladder. Raised by a single mother after his parents’ separation, he experienced firsthand the challenges of making ends meet in Nigeria. He lived in a oneroom apartment with his siblings and often went to cybercafes to explore opportunities on the internet. While his peers were drawn to cybercrime, Benson was fascinated by the world of documentary filmmaking. He scoured the internet for insights into renowned

filmmakers, emerging technologies and prestigious film schools.

However, his mother’s sudden death halted his aspirations, forcing him to forgo university due to financial constraints. Undeterred, Benson, his younger brother and some friends turned to music to make ends meet. Providence smiled on them when a benefactor offered an opportunity for the singing group to tour the United Kingdom. In London, Benson rediscovered his passion for film, enrolling at the Central Film School, London. Today he runs his own multimedia company, JB Multimedia Studios, in Lagos, Nigeria.

Comparing the economic realities between his earlier years and the present day, Benson shared that present conditions are more severe, noting that surviving under the current minimum wage is nearimpossible. The implications of these tough times, according to him, is that they take people to a level of desperation where it’s all about survival. And for those who have the means, escape is the best alternative, illustrated by the thousands of Nigerians who leave the country daily in search of greener pastures. But even though it seems he has the means, Benson has not left. For now. Could it be because he’s comfortable where he is, or is it because of a lingering hope?

“It’s a tough question and one I often ask myself. I don’t know. Storytelling is at the core of my work as a filmmaker, and my stories are here. They are not in the U.K. or America. I couldn’t have made ‘Daughters of Chibok’ if I was living

of pride is that a documentary film like ‘Madu’ which was backed by a mega studio like Disney was done by a Nigerian filmmaker, based in Nigeria. And I hope it inspires other documentary filmmakers that we can still tell stories from here that can travel and gain global acceptance and recognition.”

Benson is passionate about amplifying unheard voices and finding hope in challenging situations.

currently working on, which will be a sequel to the award-winning 2019 VR doc, ‘Daughters of Chibok.’

In this new film, Benson returns to the community of Chibok to spend time with the mothers of the missing girls. “We think we know them from the stories we’ve heard, and what has been shown to us in the last nine years. But there is a side to them that we haven’t been presented with and that was the side I was very interested in and curious about. What makes these women tick? What keeps hope alive?” he said.

The women in a way reminded Benson of his late mother and her sheer determination to care for her children. “Even though she had little, she would endeavour to make it work for us. It is a demonstration of how far a mother would go for her child,” he said. “I am fascinated by the strength, courage and resilience of the Chibok women. How they hold each other up, support and encourage each other; how one person’s grief is everybody’s grief, and one person’s joy is everybody’s joy. And when one girl returns from captivity, it is a collective joy and hope that more will return. I experienced those emotions genuinely with them. They gave me so much access to their lives and I will forever be grateful for that.”

Benson hopes that his new film will help reshape the narrative surrounding the Chibok kidnappings, offering a fresh perspective on the story. “It’s easy to regurgitate images of sadness and grief. But I want this to be a narrative of hope. The tragedy will always be part of their lives, but it is not all of their lives,” he said.

For him, the Chibok tragedy represents more than just a story to be told—it’s a call to action, reminding the world that the misfortune of Chibok is not just a chapter in history but an ongoing struggle for justice and healing. But more importantly, to remind all that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.

Benson and Yana

Photo by TY Bello

Julian and Oghogho Osula: Lifestyle King and Queen Celebrate Three Decades in Marriage

In a world where marriages often dissolve as quickly as they’re made, the union of Julian and Oghogho Osula stands as a beacon of enduring love and steadfast partnership. Celebrating three decades of matrimonial bliss, their journey together exemplifies the beauty of a match made in heaven and sustained on earth.

Lady Oghogho, often described as an amazon, embodies strength and resilience. Her illustrious career, marked by achievements and accolades, reflects her unwavering determination and commitment to excellence. From her early days at Citibank to her recent recognition as the Best Graduating Student at Lagos Business School, Lady Oghogho has consistently risen to the top of her field. At a little over 50 years old, she continues to inspire as a trailblazer and leader, setting new standards of success with each endeavour.

On the other hand, Julian’s journey is a testament to perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit. Born into royalty, he carved his path in the business world, starting with Manla Enterprises and later venturing into luxury goods with StipleGate and Julian’s Luxury. His drive for success and keen business acumen have propelled him to the forefront of Nigeria’s luxury market, earning him the title of the “unrivalled king of Nigerian luxury.”

Despite their individual successes, Julian and Oghogho’s greatest achievement lies in their enduring partnership. Through the highs and lows of life, they have remained each other’s pillars of strength, supporting and uplifting one another every step of the way. Their marriage, blessed with three children, epitomises the true essence of love, commitment, and mutual respect.

As they mark three decades of marital bliss, Julian and Oghogho Osula serve as an inspiration to couples everywhere, proving that with love, dedication, and unwavering support, anything is possible. Theirs is a love story for the ages, a tribute to the power of enduring love and the beauty of a lifelong partnership.

S’West Governors’ Forum: Who Will Replace Late Akeredolu?

In the wake of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s untimely passing, a palpable vacuum has emerged within the Southwest Governors Forum, leaving a void that remains unfilled even after months. As the chairmanship seat of the forum lies vacant, speculations run rife about who will step into the formidable shoes left behind by the legal luminary affectionately called “Aketi.”

Akeredolu’s tenure as the chairman of the forum was characterised by bold and decisive leadership, earning him accolades for his unwavering commitment to the interests of the South-west region. His role in spearheading the formation of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), popularly known as Amotekun, stands as a testament to his fearless advocacy for the security and welfare of the people.

Yet, with Akeredolu’s passing, the forum finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the challenge of identifying a worthy successor to uphold his legacy. The task is daunting, for Akeredolu’s shoes are not easily filled; his vocal and daring stance on

regional issues set a high bar for his potential successors.

Among the contenders for the chairmanship seat, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State emerges as a frontrunner, his steady leadership and diplomatic finesse positioning him as a formidable candidate. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State are also potential candidates.

Amidst the speculation and behind-thescenes manoeuvring, one thing remains clear: the South-west Governors Forum stands at a pivotal moment in its history. The task of filling the void left by Akeredolu’s absence is not merely about selecting a new leader; it is about preserving his legacy of bold and visionary leadership, ensuring that the forum continues to champion the interests of the South-west region.

As the governors deliberate on the crucial decision ahead, one can only hope that they choose a leader who embodies the spirit of unity, progress, and resilience that defined Akeredolu’s tenure.

A Grand Celebration as Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Daughter Ties the Knot

Oladele, in holy matrimony.

The wedding, a culmination of love and tradition, was a sight to behold - a grand affair befitting the stature of the esteemed families involved. Held at Cathedral Church of Christ in Marina, the Anglican Bishop of Lagos, Rt. Revd. Ifedola Okupevi led the ceremony.

Amidst the opulent setting of the Cathedral, adorned with flowers and resplendent with music, Modupeorelouwa and Oladele exchanged vows, sealing their commitment to each other.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu proudly walked his daughter, Modupeorelouwa, down the aisle to unite her with her beloved,

But what truly elevated the occasion to new heights was the presence of distinguished guests, lending their grace and prestige to the celebration. Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, graced the event with her presence, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to the proceedings.

Joining her were an array of governors from across the nation, each paying homage

Funke Opeke: Corporate Amazon Moves Again

Where there is a will, there is a way. Funke Opeke, renowned for her visionary leadership in Africa’s telecommunications sector, has once again showcased her commitment to driving digital transformation with MainOne’s latest venture in Akwa Ibom. In this respect, she is making ways where nothing existed previously.

In her latest endeavour, Opeke partnered with the Akwa Ibom State government to revolutionise high-speed connectivity within the South-south region of Nigeria. This groundbreaking collaboration entails the construction of approximately 140 kilometres of metro fibre infrastructure, aimed at unlocking the region’s full digital potential.

By leveraging MainOne’s expertise and infrastructure, this initiative promises to catalyse a comprehensive digital transformation, empowering communities and driving economic development in the region. The strategic significance of MainOne’s partnership with Akwa Ibom cannot be overstated, as it represents a significant milestone in the quest to

bridge the digital divide in Nigeria and beyond.

MainOne’s establishment around 2008 marked a turning point in Africa’s digital evolution, with Opeke’s pioneering efforts culminating in the creation of the region’s first privately owned undersea high-capacity cable submarine. This submarine stretches from Portugal to West Africa and lands in key cities such as Accra, Dakar, Abidjan, and Lagos.

Since its creation, this infrastructure has been instrumental in bridging the digital divide and fostering economic growth across the continent. Moreover, Opeke’s relentless pursuit of innovation and her unwavering commitment to her home country have cemented MainOne’s reputation as a leader in communication services and network solutions.

Today, through her venture with the AkwaIbom government, Opeke continues to uphold her commitment to leveraging technology for social impact, empowering individuals and businesses to thrive in the digital age. As MainOne expands its footprint and continues to

to the bond of love between Modupeorelouwa and Oladele. From Godwin Obaseki of Edo to Hope Uzodimma of Imo, the gathering of political figures demonstrated the significance of the occasion on both a personal and societal level.

Former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, also made a notable appearance, symbolising the continuity of leadership and the enduring bonds of friendship and camaraderie that transcend the corridors of power.

As the festivities unfolded and the air filled with laughter and merriment, it was evident that this was more than just a wedding—it was a testament to love, family, and the enduring spirit of unity that binds us all together. And at the heart of it all stood Governor Sanwo-Olu and his wife, beaming with pride and joy as they witnessed their daughter embark on a new chapter of her life, surrounded by the love and blessings of those who hold them dear.

Opeke

push the boundaries of innovation, Opeke’s legacy as a trailblazer in Africa’s telecommunications sector only grows stronger, inspiring future generations to harness the power of connectivity for positive change.

Tokunbo Wahab, ‘Agent’ of Change, is Making Lagos Cleaner

It was Sun Tzu who said that in chaos, there is also opportunity. In the bustling metropolis of Lagos, where chaos and order often dance a precarious tango, one man stands out as a beacon of change: Tokunbo Wahab.

Wahab, a name synonymous with transformation, has once again stepped into the spotlight, this time as the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources. His journey from the corridors of education to the helm of environmental stewardship is a testament to his unwavering commitment to service and his innate ability to turn challenges into opportunities.

Wahab’s ascent to prominence began in 2019 when he was appointed as the Special

Assistant on Education to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. In this role, he demonstrated remarkable leadership and vision, earning accolades as the government official of the year for his exceptional contributions to the education sector. Despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Wahab’s proactive approach ensured the continuity of learning in Lagos schools through innovative online platforms.

Now, as the man in charge of Environment and Water Resources, Wahab has embarked on a mission to make Lagos cleaner and safer for its residents. His strategic initiatives have led

to the closure of noise-polluting establishments and the demolition of unauthorised structures, signalling a clear message that the era of impunity is over.

In many ways, Wahab’s tireless efforts to uplift Lagos and improve the lives of its citizens serve as a reminder that true leadership is not about seeking popularity but about making tough decisions for the greater good.

Even as Governor Sanwo-Olu proudly looks on, Wahab continues to leave an indelible mark on the landscape of Lagos, inspiring hope and driving change for generations to come.

With his keen intellect, strategic acumen, and commitment to excellence, Wahab is poised to lead Lagos into a future of prosperity and sustainability. Give him a bit more time, and Lagos will be cleaner than it has ever been.

Akeredolu

Wahab

Julian Osula (left) and his wife, Oghogho

Oladele and Modupeoreoluwa

Tinuade Sanda: In the Intersections of Career and Personal Life

prestigious position as the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has cast a spotlight not only on her career but also on her personal life.

For Sanda, the abrupt end to her tenure at EKEDC represents more than just a professional setback; it marks a profound moment of introspection and reckoning. Sources close to her reveal that the most daunting aspect of her dismissal is not the loss of her esteemed position but the stark realisation of her isolation and lack of support on the home front. Having chosen to prioritise her career over her marriage, Sanda reportedly finds herself navigating the stormy seas of professional adversity without the anchor of emotional stability.

Reports suggest that Sanda’s marriage unravelled at the seams long before her professional downfall, with whispers of infidelity and neglect echoing through the

Eyes on the Ball … Billionaire Businessman Eyes Ownership of Football Club

Tony Elumelu, the visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist, is not one to let an opportunity slip through his fingers. With the fervour of a champion and the foresight of a strategist, he sets his sights on a new frontier: Nigerian football.

As chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa (UBA), Elumelu is a maestro of the business world, orchestrating symphonies of prosperity and growth. Yet, even amidst the towering skyscrapers of corporate achievement, reports have it that he has heard the call of the football field, beckoning him to make his mark in a different arena.

Driven by a passion for excellence and a thirst for new challenges, Elumelu’s gaze falls upon the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) like a spotlight illuminating the path to greatness. Inspired by discussions with Sports Minister John Owan Enoh, it is believed that he has seen an opportunity not just to own a club,

but to ignite a revolution.

Elumelu is not alone in this journey. He follows in the footsteps of Nigerian business titans who dared to dream big on the global stage. Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man, once pondered the acquisition of English football club Arsenal FC. Now, as Elumelu considers his own venture into football ownership, the stage is set for a new chapter in Nigerian sports history.

As the discussions unfold and anticipation mounts, one thing is certain: Elumelu’s entry into football ownership is not just about the game—it’s about the promise of transformation. With his proven track record of turning dreams into reality and his unwavering commitment to social impact, he embodies the spirit of possibility. Like a master craftsman sculpting a masterpiece from raw stone, he stands poised to reshape the landscape of Nigerian football, uniting fans and players in a shared journey towards greatness.

corridors of rumour and speculation. It is said that she brazenly severed ties with her husband, Sola Sanda, and abandoned their matrimonial home in pursuit of her career ambitions, leaving behind a trail of broken promises and shattered dreams.

Now, amidst the wreckage of her personal and professional life, lies a profound lesson in humility and accountability. Sanda’s fall from grace serves as a cautionary tale against the perils of arrogance and hubris, reminding us all that true success is measured not by the heights we reach but by the integrity with which we conduct ourselves along the way.

As Sanda grapples with the consequences of her alleged choices, the time has come for her and others in her position to confront the harsh reality that vanity and self-indulgence are poor substitutes for genuine human connection and empathy.

Oba Saheed Elegushi: A Well-connected Monarch at 48

extensive social connections for the betterment of his people. As he marks his 48th birthday, Oba Elegushi stands tall, not just in stature but also in the breadth of his social connections and affiliations with the high and mighty.

Drawing from his rich background as a trusted aide to former governors of Lagos State, including President Bola Tinubu, Oba Elegushi seamlessly blends traditional leadership with modern governance practices. His close ties with President Tinubu have been instrumental in shaping his vision for progress and development, as he continues to leverage his esteemed affiliations for the benefit of his kingdom and beyond.

has also leveraged his

Despite the passage of time, Oba Elegushi remains a youthful spirit at heart, his vigour and vitality undiminished by age. As he celebrates his 48th year, he embodies the timeless adage that age is but a number, radiating the energy and enthusiasm of a man half his age.

Obinna Iyiegbu: A Businessman on the Move at 49

Albert Schweitzer is credited with saying that success is not the key to happiness; happiness is the key to success. If a person loves what they do, they will be successful. With these words echoing through the corridors of achievement, the image of Chief (Dr.) Obinna Iyiegbu, rises up in the heart, clearing out doubts and hesitations.

As he clocks 49, Iyiegbu, affectionately known as Obi Cubana, stands as a beacon of entrepreneurial prowess and philanthropic commitment in Nigeria. With a multifaceted empire spanning entertainment, hospitality, real estate, and beyond, he epitomises the spirit of innovation and resilience in the business world.

Obi Cubana’s journey to success is marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a keen eye for emerging opportunities. As the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of the Cubana group, he has spearheaded investments in critical sectors of the economy, including manufacturing and technology, leaving an indelible mark on Nigeria’s business landscape.

A recipient of numerous awards and accolades, Obi Cubana’s contributions to society extend far beyond the boardroom. His philanthropic endeavours, focused on youth empowerment and education, reflect a deepseated commitment to social upliftment and community development. From building houses to supporting educational initiatives, his charitable gestures have touched countless lives across Nigeria.

With a formidable social capital amassed through years of dedicated work, Obi Cubana commands a vast audience across various media platforms, leveraging his influence to drive positive change and inspire others to pursue their dreams.

The Cubana group’s net capital base, valued at over N100 billion, underscores its position as a powerhouse in Nigeria’s business ecosystem. With a diverse portfolio of investments and strategic partnerships, Obi Cubana continues to expand his influence and shape the trajectory of the nation’s economy.

One of his notable achievements is the

Not Better Times for Betta Edu

The saga surrounding Dr. Betta Edu, once a prominent figure as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, seems to have taken on a life of its own. As the dust settles on allegations of financial malfeasance, many of her supporters had hoped for a swift conclusion, perhaps even a hasty burial of the case. However, the resilience of the Nigerian people in demanding accountability knows no bounds.

Education forms the cornerstone of Oba Elegushi’s illustrious journey, with degrees in economics and public administration from esteemed institutions both at home and abroad. Armed with knowledge and wisdom, he navigates the complexities of leadership with poise and foresight, earning accolades and honours from institutions across the nation.

Beyond the pomp and prestige of his royal status, Oba Elegushi cherishes his personal life and family dearly. With a large and loving family by his side, he epitomises the values of unity and kinship that define his reign. And so, as he embarks on another year of leadership and service, Oba Elegushi stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration, his connections weaving a tapestry of prosperity and progress for all who dwell within his kingdom.

establishment of Odogwu Bitters, a globally recognized alcoholic beverage brand that has captured the hearts of consumers worldwide. Through strategic partnerships with renowned brands like Laurent-Perrier and Sageitude Wines, he has cemented his reputation as a visionary leader with an eye for innovation and excellence.

Reports from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) paint a vivid picture of ongoing investigations, revealing a tangled web of suspicious transactions and questionable dealings. The revelation that over N30 billion has been recovered by the federal government sends shockwaves through the corridors of power, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

Amidst calls for patience and trust in the investigative process, the EFCC’s assertion that the probe extends to over 50 bank accounts only adds fuel to the fire. The sheer magnitude of the case leaves no room for complacency, and Nigerians, with a keen eye for justice, are not prepared to let this slide.

The irony of a minister tasked with alleviating poverty allegedly enriching herself at the expense of the very people she swore to serve is not lost on anyone. The notion that such actions could go unnoticed or be conveniently swept under the rug is met with disdain and disbelief.

As the EFCC delves deeper into the labyrinthine depths of financial impropriety, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on Edu and her alleged misdeeds. The clamour for accountability reverberates across the nation, echoing the sentiments of a populace unwilling to be silenced or placated by empty promises.

In the court of public opinion, Edu stands accused, not just of financial wrongdoing, but of betraying the trust of a nation. The journey towards justice may be fraught with obstacles, but the Nigerian people have shown time and again that they will not rest until truth and accountability prevail.

Sanda

In everyday life, the threads of personal and professional endeavours often intertwine, weaving a complex narrative of triumphs and tribulations. Such is the case of Dr. Tinuade Sanda, whose recent dismissal from her

Elumelu

Iyiegbu,

Elegushi Among Nigeria’s top monarchs, Oba Saheed Elegushi, Kusenla III, stands out as a lamp of connectivity and progress. Born into a lineage steeped in tradition and leadership, Oba Elegushi has not only upheld the legacy of his forebears but

Edu

PAUL ONWUANIBE – A FIGHT WITHOUT ‘TOMATOES’

I swear nothing beats education and when you add debonair intelligence, then you are looking at Paul Onwuanibe. The man woke up one morning to see a clear instruction that he should vacate his $200million facility in seven days. Kai, in a retort that I have seen, he reportedly said: “I cannot even vacate my bedroom in seven days.”

Well, my own is to look at how he has responded with class and dignity, unlike his “tomatoes” kinsman who has recorded his name in the book of international infamy by the way he has gone after his “reviewer.” I hear Amnesty International has once again asked that he pull back. He has been profiled by CNN, Daily Mail and other such international media outlets and his dogged pursuit of this case has put him in a place where he is “using his own hands to destroy all he has worked for.”

In contrast, see how Paul has fought his case with class. Using facts and figures, he has thrown public support his way. In videos, interviews and strategic use of modern-day PR moves, he has thrown the job losses, the amount invested, the number of firms tied to the space and the years

And the Pope Died…

It started like a rumour on Wednesday, then it was denied. But in the early hours of Thursday, it was confirmed to be shockingly true. By this time we got more clarity on this sad occurrence. Mr. Junior Pope is or was a very influential member of the Nollywood crowd. He shot a video while on a rickety canoe to a supposed film shoot. In the video, the handsome man was crying out to the “captain” to “slow down this thing o,” that he had three sons and he must see them grow. As the canoe continued its journey into the darkness and with bumps from the waves, he shouted, “Abeg o, na only me dem born o-” alluding to his being an only child and then concluded with “You guys see the risk we take to entertain Nigerians.”

This is the only fact that I am very sure of as I write. After that, it went balloo balloo – confusion, madness, illiteracy and all took over. Different stories, different clips,

it took them to reach this point as savoury weapons to push back the bulldozers.

The one that really got me was alluding to the fact that his facility was the main destination point of the world renowned “Detty December” end-of-year entertainment spree that has turned Lagos into one of the hottest spots in the world every December. This, my people, is a fact and if you see the figures in terms of international human traffic into Lagos and its attendant inflow of forex, you will bow.

Then he slams it in an interview with Rotus of ARISE TV, “We receive 20,000 visitors daily and at N2,500 per person, do the maths.”

You see that his strategy is not combative or aggressive. He is not staring at the bull in the face and waving a red flag, he is gradually and surely calming the bull and moving it towards a negotiation table. He is acknowledging the bull’s power superiority but also saying, if you kill me, it will affect the manure you sef need to remain healthy. Thankfully, I hear his strategy is working as the government reportedly is open to discussions.

disparaging commentary, swearing, abuses, calls for arrests and all that have greeted this very sad and tragic story that one can only just sit still in anger and wonder – who do us like this?Ok, wait let me try and piece together what I have heard and read before I pass my commentary. The cast and crew were going for a film shoot and had to take a boat ride. They jumped on the boat without any clue as to the safety guidelines- no life jackets and even shooting a video on the risky ride. The boat capsized and they fell into the river. The bodies were retrieved and rushed straight to the morgue where they were rejected especially that of Pope who was said to still be alive and then three trips to three different hospitals with no oxygen as reported, and no attempt at CPR or anything of the sort, the body is rushed

Now compare him with the “tomatoes” villain - I will die instead of leaving this girl. This girl cannot come and scatter everything I have worked for, my enemies sent this girl. Police lock her up and throw the keys into the River Niger. Nigerians my tomatoes are sweet o, I swear check it, there is no sugar. If this girl wins this case, I will run naked from River Niger to the Mambilla plateau. You see as my head big like this, it is suffering, so this girl cannot come and break palm kernel on it. This baba needs to attend my Masterclass in strategic thinking. Wait, I cannot have him as a student with that kind of temper before I say something now and the next thing, I will see myself inside plane in the middle of the night heading towards a dingy cell in Abuja.

Fidelis Anosike and Nick Okoye, come and carry your brother o before he “carry” tomato paste rub all over him body.

ATIKU VS TINUBU: A ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

Baba has come back and Nigeria must shake. E be say like daddy will just go and relax in the

back to the riverfront for “rituals to bring am back” and from there you can imagine what would have happened.

My people, the stupidity of it all is quite amazing. The wondrous buffoonery of all involved from the film producers to the cast who jumped on such a canoe, to the crowd that carried them on the worthless journey, and finally to the buffoons who rushed them in their car even while filming on the riverside, and finally the chief priest who tried to “bring him back to life.”

God! What is this, please? What is all of this madness? This boy didn’t have to die. The madness of the people killed him. We are all quick to blame the government for our misfortunes but the government clearly had no role in this, rather the sheer savagery of the mob.

Kai, this boy just died like that. Sad and very painful. Really, really sad. Kai.

beautiful dunes of Dubai and when he is bored, he will fly down and start rustling things. The man is obviously in retirement but will not let us rest. As far as he is concerned, we are now his playthings - those things that retirees use to stave off old-age boredom.

While his mates are busy in nursing homes playing Scrabble and other such board games, baddy is shuttling between Dubai and Abuja in an expensive game that is no longer funny.

But do we even blame him when these ones are behaving as if they bought all 200 million of us from a slave market in Timbuktu? This Lagos-Calabar road ehn, the things we have heard are just making us shake our heads. If some of these things we are hearing are true, then Tinubu should kuku just put us in chains and change our dress code to those things dem Kunta Kinte used to wear in that film ‘Roots’ and send all of us to boot camp as slaves. E come be like say we are mumu sha. First, we heard it was PP, then it turned to government funding. Then they chose one company with no open bidding, then the figures began to look like the calculator could not carry it all. When Atiku people asked

Pope

about the figures, Mr. Umahi said we should wait for him to come to Lagos three days before he releases the figure since Atiku did not pass maths in whatever exam he did to gain employment in the customs. My people, I think they should just declare us a country of “dumb slaves” and save us the expense and stress of this pretentious democracy. It is just a bloody waste of time. Let us just all agree that we are in one big barracks and have all been turned into zombies, I swear. This Lagos-Calabar Road? Na real “Ebu” wonder, I swear. What is Ebu Wonder, you ask? Please go to Ebu in Delta State that is where we have Ebu Wonder. Go and ask them abeg and leave me here o. I am looking for who will buy me since we are all now slaves. Na wa.

ADEBAYO ADELABU: A FUNNY KIND OF MINISTER

This is one Minister that I used to sha ignore. He will be wearing a cap like one going to one huge Owambe at the famous Island Club with chubby fine boy cheeks that shows that this one na “aje butter.” He showed his aje butter status the other day when he was explaining to us how to save power costs in these trying times. He sat behind plenty microphones and was gesticulating on how we should “off our freezers.” His solution to this wahala is for us to be “offing our freezers” and to show that he had done his research very well. “Some of you, when you go to work, you will leave the freezers on and the thing will be chopping light,” – my words. Then the clip I saw concluded with the admonition, “Some of you go abroad abi…”

If not that the man looks like one man that used to like to spray my late wife Mena at owambe parties, I would have really yabbed him. But since I like him and the fact that the man that he looks like used to really spray Mena to the point that we used to get our house rent, just by my wife dancing to KSA’s “ma fo wo ko be yen,” I will only advise him and not yab him. A minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a member of the Federal Executive Council in trying to justify the humongous increase in tariffs should not be bothering himself with freezers, fridges and condoms- yes o, if we allow it, they will soon tell us that the heat that condoms generate during action is also “chopping light.”

But instead, he should tell us about the cost of infrastructural deficit, the effect of Forex on components, the cost of distribution since we hear that generation is not the problem, and also very importantly the huge public and private sector debts being owed to the industry and its crippling effects.

Even though we will not agree, it is still more ministerial to toe that path instead of coming down to the kitchen and telling the Duchess to regulate the use of blenders and other such appliances.

By the way, Hon Minister, what of security lights nko? What should we do with that one, and also let me just tell you very clearly that the AC in the maid’s room must also be permanently switched on. Don’t worry we will pay. Not a problem.

BETTA EDU: BETTER NOT DO

Today it seems like PR is the overriding theme. This very beautiful former minister seems to be riding very strong PR strategies

on her way back into reckoning. Not sure if she is the one orchestrating it or if it is her people or just Nigerians who love her. Intermittently, you will see write-ups or fixtures saying she has been cleared, she has done nothing wrong and that she is being considered for a recall. These write-ups come out like clockwork immediately the EFCC gives an update on the investigations. From what we have been told, about

N50 billion have been recovered and another 50 accounts are being investigated. EFCC also asked for our patience while they conclude the investigations and submit their reports.

Immediately after this report was released, another one came out of Betta being cleared and sources are not very sure if she will get a recall but that it is likely that she may get an appointment as a DG of a parastatal.

FOR PETER OBI, I RECOMMEND ‘VIAGRA’

By Viagra, I mean staying power in the race, not that other one ooo. I know that Mudi will now open his ear as he reads Viagra, thinking it’s the other room things I am writing about.

Seeing the video of Peter Obi cutting the tape at one rickety water pump somewhere in the North triggered this article. For some time now, I have been mulling about writing to him directly and asking him to calm down. I know he would have been advised to keep the momentum running and this is why he is everywhere, donating money, talking, playing critic and all that and this is what is making me concerned about his staying power in the room.

For those of us above 50, we know what it means when you jam a perky one in the other room and you last only five minutes, and then you will stand up and start blaming Tinubu for fuel scarcity and forex crises and as such your mind is wondering, hence the “indomie” performance.

Obi wants to take political Viagra and maintain a tempo for four years. Even if he is Bill Gates, I think it will not work. I think he will burn himself out and when the elections come through, Atiku will fly in from Dubai and pick the mandate again and we will now be faced with another Tinubu/ Atiku anywhere bele face wahala again.

The picture of that “tap” and the big rubber tank with Peter Obi scribbled in white paint just confirmed my assertion.

Mr. Obi, take a well-desired rest. Go into hibernation. Go back to school or something. Go to Wigwe University and take a teaching position, join the army, contribute to society much more meaningfully, build a hospital and run it or just basically “disappear” for a bit to regain composure, try to invigorate and get yourself ready for the next round. That “thing” you donated in the North shows you are exhausted, my brother just go take a welldeserved rest. Thank you.

We had better not do it. The woman has run into turbulence, she should from there just fly into oblivion. For me, it doesn’t matter if she is cleared or not. It is for this administration to seize this opportunity to send a very strong signal of zero tolerance to any form of abuse of office - that is if they will even have the power to do it.

Please let Betta just go, I beg. Thank you.

PROPHET ODUMEJE: LONDON IN TROUBLE

‘I am the liquid metal, I have powers, I have not released some, I have “abushaker,” I come to London with only six of my powers, the rest are in CBN vaults guarding the dollar so it doesn’t run mad again. I am he, I am the one that will impregnate your mothers, I have come to London, I am Odumeje, I am the Lion, the cat and the mice, I am the Flavour, I wrote Flavour’s songs, come and give me your pounds, I am here. My favourite pastor has arrived in London, exactly one month before me. It was billed to be the battle of the madmen- The Duke and the Prophet. Me for my play ‘Awo’ and he for only God knows what, then he panicked and rushed there first.

I love this man. I am crazy about him. The confidence with which he spews his bul… and the way he convinces his followers including me remains not only mysterious but amazing. A comical fixture in our national pastime, at least, he is not claiming to be eating with God in heaven or being shown his house in heaven or even drinking tea in his room with God, all he is just saying is that he has “powers.” Yes o, abi don’t you see the way he used to carry his members on his shoulders and slam them on the floor like American wrestlers, and then jump into an Ikemba dance and the music will gall him to wonderful dance steps.

Prophet is my Lord, and I really hate the fact that I have missed him in London. I once met him at Ikeja Airport and rushed to hug him. He looked me straight in the eye and said “Duke, don’t touch me.” Wow! I was excited and immediately knelt to his feet and said, “Lord bless me with just one power,” and he looked up at me and said, “My son, which power do you want and I said, the power to let me go seven rounds. If he was shocked, the Prophet did not show it. He simply said, “My son, oh, there is no such wisdom in the whole of Akwa Ibom and for your humility I will not only give you Abushaker which is the power to go seven rounds but will also give you – tambolosher which is the power to do twelve maidens at the same time and for as long as you want.”

Oh prophet, you are the best and I tell you London is in trouble.

MUDI AND BOLANLE AUSTEN

PETERS, ACCEPT MY HUMBLE CONDOLENCES

These two recently lost their beautiful mothers. While Mudi has finally laid to rest his dear mother, Bolanle is still preparing for the last rites of her sweet mother.

If you read me regularly, you will know that I do not joke with these two and this is why I am sending my heartfelt condolences and do wish them the strength to keep standing tall through this. God bless you guys.

Maureen Tamuno’s Well-deserved Appointment

When she was appointed as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, Dr. Maureen Tamuno, cut a different portrait; diligent, suave, and gracious to the bones. She was the perfect embodiment of panache and progressive diplomacy.

During her three-year tenure as a diplomat, Tamuno displayed diligence and understanding of her office, handling her roles with confidence. She was proactive and continually put the country on a global stage. She was always in the news for positive reasons and gradually established herself as a thoroughbred diplomat, while at the same time rewriting the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Jamaica.

Tamuno created and recreated a lot of projects that have strengthened the relationships between the two countries. So, it is not surprising that she won several awards and laurels for her efforts. Little wonder she received a rousing and heroic welcome after her tenure as an ambassador.

Many of her admirers commended her appointment last week as the Group Managing Director of Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL) by the Minister to the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. She was mentioned in glowing terms as an experienced public officer, entrepreneur, and diplomat, and was the Nigerian High Commissioner to Jamaica, Belize, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

With her wide international connections and rich pedigree, she is poised to reshape the agency and bring about sterling results for the Tinubu administration.

Reacting to the news of her appointment, Tamuno disclosed her readiness to hit the ground running and also work in line with the mandate of Mr. President in bringing ‘Renewed Hope’, especially to the Federal Capital Territory. She promised to swing into full action and work with all critical stakeholders to bring renewed Hope to the people of Abuja.

In her speech to the staff and management of AICL during her official assumption of office, she vowed to operate an open-door policy and urged everyone to uphold the highest standards of transparency, accountability and ethical business practices, while at the same time seeking their cooperation and support which would foster sustainable value and growth.

Commendations for Tunde Folawiyo at 64

In the oil and gas industry, Tunde Folawiyo’s name evokes a mixture of admiration, awe and respect. The highly revered businessman and heir to the late billionaire businessman, Iyanda Folawiyo, is head and shoulders above several competitors in the industry. Folawiyo’s recognition transcends Nigerian shores, earning him respect on the global stage.

His life is a challenge to those born with the silver spoon, who out of sheer indiscipline and lack of focus have abused the privilege. His life is also an inspiration for people from humble backgrounds, teaching them never to entomb their dreams, even in the face of adversity.

As a young man, Folawiyo displayed traits of greatness. He aspired to be one of the greatest businessmen in the world.

Many arguably believe that his paths had been already laced with roses because of his background. But what they do not know is

that Folawiyo acquired his enviable reputation and continued his father’s legacy through determination, hard work and discipline.

With his ingenuity, he turned around his late father’s businesses into profitability and prominence and became one of the richest on the African continent.

Folawiyo has remained a strong advocate for the exploration of Nigeria’s lucrative crude oil. To expand the Yinka Folawiyo Group, he founded the Folawiyo Energy Limited in 1989. This singular effort, in 2004, led to the construction of a world-class storage facility, which can contain approximately 30 per cent of the total premium motor spirit of the country.

For a man who has left his footprints on the sands of time, commendations and tributes were poured on him by those who encountered him when he celebrated his 64th birthday last Friday.

Nigerian Tech Visionary, Leo Stan Ekeh on a Mission

Nigerian tech visionary, Leo Stan Ekeh’s mantra has always been to empower generations. For him, any country that would want to thrive and develop should leave a lasting legacy for its future generations.

Last week, as gathered by Society Watch, Ekeh, the Forbes Best of Africa leading Tech Icon, philanthropist and Chairman of Zinox Group, Africa’s largest ICT conglomerate, as part of his mission to empower future generations, donated a state-of-the-art training centre to Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri and St. Augustine University Epe, Lagos State.

Both centres, named the Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation (LSEF) Centre, were unveiled at a grand ceremony, held at the respective institutions. The two events were graced by their respective Vice Chancellors, DVCs, Senate and Council Members and very esteemed academics of the respective institutions.

Adron Boss, Adetola EmmanuelKing, Celebrates New Age

If you describe the real estate magnate, Aare Adetola Emmanuel-King as a social entrepreneur extraordinaire, you will definitely not be faulted.

As the Chairman and CEO of Adron Homes and Properties, his ingenuity and innovations have set him far apart from his contemporaries. He has brought some finesse to the business of estate acquisition. And when it comes to affordable real estate in Nigeria, he has set a precedent that would take others in the sector several years to meet.

The real estate merchant has taken his job as a mission and an act of philanthropy to impact the lives of millions of people by building new cities where they can get affordable homes. This, he has been doing for over a decade now.

Emmanuel-King believes that his achievements thus far are divinely ordained and he remains eternally grateful to his creator. He is convinced that his best is yet to come.

Recently, when he celebrated his new age, he rededicated himself to taking that mission to a new height.

On Tuesday 2 April, while hosting a birthday thanksgiving session at his Ilisan, Ogun State Country home, with family members, friends, associates and staff converging to thank God on his behalf, Emmanuel-King expressed his commitment to expand his conglomerate and to use his Godgiven wealth to uplift the downtrodden.

The tycoon feels his birthday is mainly geared towards giving. In the spirit of Ramadan and Easter celebration, Emmanuel-King who shunned loud revelry, reached out to many lessprivileged with edible items to celebrate his big day.

Before his birthday, Emmanuel-King pleaded with most of his well-to-do friends to honour him by donating to orphanages and schools for children with special needs among others who may be feeling the current economic hardship.

Reward for Love of Unity as Adokiye

The Managing Director and CEO of Chairborne Global Services Limited, Adokiye Ikpoki has the paint of a rainbow in his heart. On several occasions, he has displayed his detribalised nature and love for fellow human beings irrespective of their ethnicity. The entrepreneur and investor with over 25 years of experience in real estate and marine logistics considers every Nigerian as one. He holds the unity of the country paramount to his heart. This, we gathered, has been one of the things working for him and his rising profile.

Society Watch gathered that for his detribalised nature, he is about to be turbaned as the Sodangin Dutse, in Jigawa State. The turbaning ceremony, according to a source, will take place on Thursday, April 18, 2024. It’s expected to be an assemblage of topmost and

The LSEF Centre at Imo State University is poised to offer a range of training programmes tailored to meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce. These programmes include the Finishing School, Entrepreneurship Boost Training, and specialised courses in Technology and Artificial Intelligence Viability. By equipping students with these essential skills, the centre aims to prepare them for success in their chosen fields and foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Vice Chancellor of IMSU Prof. U. U. Chukwumaeze (SAN), praised Ekeh for executing the futuristic knowledge centre. He also talked about Dr. Ekeh’s intervention during their times of need, including his generous donation of computers for the institution to scale accreditation.

Also, at the St. Augustine University centre, Epe in Lagos, it was a great display of the power of technology equipped with topof-the-range All-in-One Zinox Computers, Tablets, Smart Boards etc.

significant bigwigs across the nation.

According to the letter written by the chief of staff to the Emir of Dutse, and sent to the golf-loving dandy, the traditional title will be bestowed on him by the Emir of Dutse, His Highness Muhammad Sanusi, CFR The graduate of the University of Port Harcourt and Lagos Business School is an Executive with extensive experience in highly engineered systems and processes, and a deep understanding of critical business drivers in multiple markets and industries.

Ikpoki who currently serves as a Member of the Board of Trustees of Ogoni Trust Fund, is also an active member of the Institute of Directors (IOD), Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), and Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN).

Folawiyo

Ekeh

Tamuno

Emmanuel-King

ARTS & REVIEW ARTS & REVIEW

Junkman and the Metaphor of Pre-owned Items

Another exhibition of the Junkman’s installations of repurposed discarded objects in Lagos continues the theme song of his Junkyard Museum of Awkward Things. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke writes

Memories of a previous exhibition by the Junkman of Afrika, which held barely two years at the Alliance Française, Mike Adenuga Centre in the leafy, upmarket Lagos neighbourhood of Ikoyi, are yet to fade, yet the one-of-a-kind artist returns

Talking about the latest exhibition, which opened on Saturday, April 6, and is titled announces that it is “an exhibition of art

Indeed, the exhibition’s subtitle should has heard about the artist and his legendary Junkyard Museum of Awkward Things still needs to be reminded about his repurposing

The artist’ who is easily recognisable in art circles by his lush dreadlocks and sometimes goes by the pseudonym Dilomprizulike—a contraction of his civil name, Okwudili Humphrey Umezulike—hopes

marketplaces from Western countries with in a statement, have morphed into fronts for the identities of the local consumers as individuals and members of the community, even though he acknowledges their potential him, Nigerians’ social fabric is shaped by

Still using the metaphor of rags, he argues that there is a nexus between people’s personas and their thinking patterns and methods that I use to present this idea are varied in texture and context, but they speak the same language, trying to explain or expose—expatiate on the placement of or help in creating the awareness that this

In an intriguing parallel, his perspective on secondhand goods resonates with the observations made centuries ago by the French writer Hippolyte Taine during astutely remarked on the mishmash of attire among ‘low’ individuals, detecting vestiges of trendy London’s West End fashion in Taine, who is recognised as the main thinker behind French naturalism, had the opinion that used clothes are always -

depth by hinting at his contemporary take

Of course, it is known that the idea behind the Junk Yard Museum of Awkward Things—one that cannot be separated from the identity of its founder—revolves around interrogating society’s detritus and not just beyond a museum’s concept of preserving creative items and showcasing them as cul-

tural treasures within their originating

It is little wonder the US-based professor of art history, Sylvester Ogbechie, increasingly sophisticated response to the obverse of globalisation’s allure, its ever-expanding legacy of industrial

Professor Ogbechie further speculates artists, the Junkman appears to forecast that social order is at risk not from some massive technological accident (such as a nuclear mushroom cloud), but rather organism dies when it can no longer Junkman confronts polite society with

Indeed, right from the onset, when the Junkman established his museum in Lagos in the year 2000, he has never stopped railing against this consumerist

in a repurposed lock-up store within a bustling mall by the Lekki Expressway, dark and dank interior, misshapen forms seemed to loom in great numbers from at the bewildered guest standing atop a makeshift walkway, whose imagination begins to conjure illusions as a haunt-

they human, animal, or fantastically their origin from discarded rusty metal, tattered fabrics, decaying timber, soda and beer cans, and shreds of worn-out the array of repurposed odds and ends

The unattractive objects, even as unappealing as they seemed, would obviously have delighted environnon-biodegradable waste and thus

Years later, in 2009 precisely, the museum moved with the Junkman, his German-born wife, and their mixedidea, for, as he puts it, the snail drags the globe in pursuit of possibilities for professional development and to elevate this project concept to the level of a world-class museum in terms of I had to take this vision along with me 2018, I just pitched back onto the Lagos

Thus, the Junkyard Museum as a concept returned, revitalised, and energised to a scene it had left behind in 2009,

the year reincarnated at the Oriel Mostyn time, the Junkman, who is widely exhibited on the global stage, was acknowledged by the UK-based newspaper The Independent

So, for visibility sake, the exhibition, The Washerman’s Dream, which ends on April 27, continues to preach the message of the

Junkman before one of his installations

Junkman with some of his guests at the exhibition opening

One of the works at the exhibition

For Next of Kin Series 6, the Winner Is … Jessicah Yakno-Abasi

JGlowing Tributes for Charles Osezua’s ‘Rise of Gas’

NBOOK LAUNCH

Chike Felix Uzoka and His Creative Odyssey

Yinka Olatunbosun

Ernie Onwumere

Yakno-Abasi at work

Uzoka

Yinka Olatunbosun

IN THE ARENA

As Palliatives Become Death Traps

From food bags to body bags, four tragic incidents of stampede that claimed lives during food distributions have raised concerns about the organisers’ preparedness, Wale Igbintade writes

Just when many Nigerians thought that lessons had been learnt from previous tragedies during the distribution of palliatives, nine individuals tragically lost their lives in a stampede at the residence of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, representing Sokoto North, during the distribution of Sallah palliatives.

Sources said as soon as news went around the city that Sallah palliatives would be distributed to people at Wamakko’s residence in the Gawon Nama area, a huge crowd surged, resulting in a stampede that killed nine people and left 30 others injured.

First to rebuke the senator who is also a former governor of the state was the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which called on security agencies in the state to probe the incident.

According to a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, the party expressed sympathy over the lives lost. “We wish to express deep sadness over the incident and extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families of the no fewer than 10 people, who passed away while praying for the recovery of victims who sustained injuries at the scene of the regrettable occurrence.”

While the party said the incident was not the first that happened at the same place, it attributed it to “poor arrangements, without regard to the safety of human lives,” and called on security agencies to launch a thorough investigation into the matter, to forestall the ugly incident in the future.

“Our party believes that the people deserve genuine dividends of democracy that will take them out of poverty, rather than the occasional spraying of cash on the street and dehumanising exercise of sharing cheap items at the cost of their safety,” the statement stated.

Since the removal of petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira by President Bola Tinubu upon his assumption of office on May 29, 2023, poverty has become a scourge threatening the survival of many Nigerians.

The effects of these include the sporadic protests and looting of food items in many states of the federation.

As the economic hardship continues to linger, many Nigerians who have been pushed to the wall by the skyrocketing prices of commodities, are left with no option but to throng the palliative distribution centres put in place by government officials or other stakeholders.

One of the ways the federal and state governments as well as organisations and well-meaning Nigerians thought they could address the situation and calm frayed nerves is the distribution of free food items and other palliatives.

Unfortunately, this policy, not well-thought out, has been bogged down in many cities by a lack of efficient organisa-

tion which has led to stampedes in the distribution venues and loss of lives.

For instance, on February 23, 2024, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) embarked on the distribution of 25kg bags of foreign parboiled rice to indigent Nigerians at its zonal headquarters at Harvey Road, Yaba, Lagos. The bags of rice, seized from smugglers, initially sold for N10,000, a sharp discount from its market price of N35,000.

But when the service observed that even at the discounted rate, people could not afford the bags of rice, it decided to distribute them free. This made people troop out en masse and force their way into the customs facility and those who fell in the process were trampled, while others fainted.

On March 20 in Nasarawa State, two undergraduates of the state university in Keffi died and 17 others, mostly females, were injured while scrambling to collect 7.5 kilogramme bags of rice during food distribution by the state government.

Accompanying the 7.5 kilogramme bags of rice was

POLITICAL NOTES

the sum of N5,000 for each student. For students to die in the process showed the level of poverty and hardship inflicted on Nigerians by the country’s ruling political class.

In a similar tragedy, at least seven persons died in a stampede at the annual Zakat distribution organised by AYM Shafa Foundation in Bauchi on Friday, March 24.

The victims were mostly women and children who came out en masse to the Shafa Holdings head office located along Bauchi-Jos Road to collect N10,000 as Zakat from the foundation.

The exercise turned tragic after the crowd became uncontrollable as the scramble to get the token before it ran out became fierce. Amid the confusion, the police operatives who were stationed at the venue to provide security and control the crowd, fired tear gas canisters, sparking panic and pandemonium at the venue. In the end, seven females, with ages ranging from eight to 53, were trampled to death, while others sustained injuries.

Dr. Ibrahim Disina, one of the leaders of the AYM Shafa Foundation, said the incident was an act ordained by the Almighty, not a deliberate attempt to endanger the lives of the poor. He, however, admitted that the exercise would be reviewed to forestall future similar occurrences.

In May 2022, at least 31 persons had died in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital following a stampede at the venue of ‘Shop for Free’, a programme organised by a church, The King’s Assembly. There was a large crowd at the venue of the event, which was expected to offer free food items to attendees. The crowd pushed through the barricade in defiance of the organisers, which resulted in a stampede.

Many Nigerians are appalled that people are dying repeatedly from avoidable incidents like these.

While Nigerians need to learn the wisdom of patience and orderliness, they do not have to lose their lives due to palliatives. This is why others who want to embark on such an exercise should learn from previous incidents and put measures in place to avoid any sad outcomes in the place of distributing goodies.

Observers have advocated that organisations that wish to engage in such distribution of charity should collaborate with other organisations trained specifically in such things, like the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and their state arms. Even private security guards and local authorities should be incorporated into the process since they have the respect of the people.

They also demand that security agents should also be equipped and well-trained in crowd control. Most times, the ill-handling of crowds leads to things getting out of hand.

It is improper to attribute organisational ineptitude to the will of God. Those whose negligence leads to avoidable deaths should be made to face the law.

Who Set Aper Aku’s Residence Ablaze?

What was the motive of those who sent hoodlums to set ablaze the residence of the first civilian Governor of Benue State, the late Chief Aper Aku, in the Gboko area of the state?This is the question investigatorsshouldberackingtheirbrainstounravel. The worsening state of insecurity in the country, especially in Benue State assumed a dangerous dimension on Monday when hoodlums stormed the residence of the former governor without any provocation and razed it to ashes in broad daylight.

Thattheincidenthappenedwithoutthepresence of policemen to stop the arsonists, showed how security agents have become overwhelmed by the insecurity in the country.

HasNigeriabecomesounsafethathoodlumscan mobilise unprovoked and set ablaze the residence

of a former governor while policemen watch helplessly?

The late governor’s daughter, Deborah Aku, told journalists in Makurdi, the state capital, that trouble began last month after a man came to the house with a cutlass and threatened to deal with the occupants if his goat died again.

The man claimed that he was told that his goat died after drinking water from their house.

Thelategovernor’sdaughtersaidhermotherreported theincidenttothePoliceDivisioninGboko,whichcharged it to court.

She, however, added that the fresh attack took place between7amand8amlastMondaywhenthehoodlums, numbering about 30 besieged the house and trapped all six occupants.

“When we noticed that their visit was not friendly, we

locked all the doors and called the Police.

“Before the police could arrive, they started destroying the house, killed our dog, broke into the pig house and carted away all the pigs. They also destroyed our mother’s car.

“The police arrived and were able to rescue us out of the house. We left with the police with only what we were putting on. While we were on our way with the police the house was burnt with everything inside.The police came in two trucks but the boys were many and even attacked them too.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident to journalists on Tuesday in Makurdi.

If the residence of such a political leader could be razed in broad daylight in such a brazen manner without any resistance by security agencies, the common man is in deeper trouble that can be imagined.

Tinubu

Alia

BRIEFING NOTES

Can Yusuf Put Ganduje on a Criminal Trial?

With the previous experience where governors failed to put their predecessors who were backed by the federal government on trial for corruption, Ejiofor Alike writes that the ongoing effort by Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State to prosecute former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, may be futile in view of Ganduje’s strong backing by the federal authorities due to his influential position as the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress

The Kano State High Court has fixed April 17, 2024 for the arraignment of the immediate-past governor of the state and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, on bribery charges.

According to the court documents, Ganduje will be arraigned alongside his wife, Hafsat, who is a professor; his son, Umar; and five others before Justice Usman Na’aba, on eight counts, bordering on $413,000 and N1.38 billion bribery.

The state government said it had assembled 15 witnesses to testify against them.

Governor Abba Yusuf had on assumption of office accused Ganduje of misappropriating public funds and allocating plots of land to some members of his immediate family.

The APC national chairman and his family are not new to allegations of corruption.

As governor of Kano State, a video clip allegedly showing Ganduje stuffing his pockets with bales of dollars suspected to be kickback from contractors, was released to the public in October 2018 by the Publisher of Daily Nigerian, Mr. Ja’afar Ja’afar.

While the hands of the suspected contractor giving the person, claimed to be Ganduje the kickback, was clearly visible in the video, his face was carefully hidden.

His critics had thought that the video would deny him a second term in office but surprisingly, President Muhammadu Buhari on January 31, 2019 endorsed him for a second term, despite the weighty allegation.

However, Ganduje had denied being the person in the video, claiming through his Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, that if such video existed, it was at best cloned.

He later dragged Ja’afar Ja’afar and Penlight Media Limited to court for defamation of character and demanded the sum of N3 billion as damages.

But in a curious twist, Ganduje filed an application dated June 28, 2021 seeking to discontinue the court case.

Ja’afar Ja’afar and Penlight Media Limited did not object to the application to discontinue the case but demanded the sum of N400 million as part of terms to discontinue the suit, which was granted by the Presiding Judge, Justice Suleiman Na-mallam.

Another Kano State High Court had also ruled that the state House of Assembly lacked power to investigate Ganduje over

the allegation.

The presiding judge, Ahmad Badamasi said the lawmakers had no capacity to probe the bribery allegation because it was a criminal offence.

Badamasi stated that collecting bribes from contractors is a criminal offence, according to sections 115 and 116 of Penal Code, and should be left for agencies under executive arms such as the police and the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to investigate.

But the EFCC said its hands were tied because the governor enjoyed constitutional immunity from criminal proceedings.

Ganduje’s family later faced another corruption allegation in July 2021, following the petition filed against the governor’s wife, Hafsat, by her first son, Abdulzeez Ganduje.

Abdulzeez had dragged his mother to the commission over a property, which he claimed the mother used her access to power to acquire.

The governor’s wife was grilled for over five hours in October 2021 by the EFCC over the allegation.

However, the state government had

promptly denied the arrest of the governor’s wife by the EFCC, describing it as mere rumour peddled by mischief makers.

With Ganduje’s election as the National Chairman of the APC, the various corruption cases died a natural death.

But last Monday, Governor Yusuf urged the EFCC to release the result of its probe into the alleged dollar bribery video. Yusuf, in a statement by his spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, also urged Ganduje to prepare to face his criminal trial instead of talking about non-existent failure in the current administration.

In one of the charges, Ganduje was accused by the state government of demanding and receiving $200,000 bribes from one of the contractors around January 10, 2016 or thereabouts.

In the second count, he was accused of collecting $213,000 as kick-back from contractors on February 10, 2017.

Ganduje had, in a reaction to the scheduled arraignment, accused Yusuf of using diversionary tactics to cover up for his failure to deliver to the people of the state.

The APC national chairman, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu,

NOTES FOR FILE

said the antics of the governor was a sorry attempt at shifting public glare from the fact that there was really nothing on the ground in the state to justify the sharp increase in statutory allocations to the state since the inception of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration on May 29, 2023.

Ganduje said: “In their desperate attempt to malign me and my family, they either forgot or probably cannot conduct themselves by the dictates of the law.

“They failed to take judicial notice of the recent pronouncement of the Federal High Court in Kano, which ruled that the so-called offence I am being accused of is a federal offence that can only be prosecuted by the Attorney General of the Federation and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” Ganduje added.

Ganduje’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment, Chief Oliver Okpala, had also reportedly insisted that the matter was in the jurisdiction of the federal government, citing the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano.

As the National Chairman of the ruling party, many believe that neither the EFCC nor any other agency of the federal government would likely subject Ganduje to any criminal trial and that may have accounted for his confidence in insisting that his alleged offence can only be prosecuted by the justice minister or the EFCC.

Also given the previous experience where governors failed to prosecute their predecessors, many also believe that Governor Yusuf’s effort will be futile, given the strong federal backing enjoyed by Ganduje.

In June 2022, the Rivers State Government, under former Governor Nyesom Wike filed criminal charges against former Governor Rotimi Amaechi who was the Minister of Transportation, over the alleged misuse of N96 billion, which allegedly accrued from the sales of state’s assets.

The Supreme Court had in May 2022, dismissed an application by Amaechi, challenging his probe by Wike’s administration.

But in October 2022, the state government withdrew the criminal charges against Amaechi, and six others.

Experience has shown that except in cases where the federal authorities move against a former governor, his successor cannot successfully put him on a criminal trial.

Events of April 17 and beyond will reveal if Governor Yusuf can successfully prosecute Ganduje for criminal offences, in view of his strong backing by the federal government.

Wadume Can Only Live in Nigeria

Like most things happening in Nigeria that make the heart bleeds, the people of Ibbi in Taraba State last week trooped out in the large numbers to publicly celebrate the return of an ex-convict, Hamisu Bala, popularly known as Wadume who was released from the Kuje prison in Abuja.

Wadume was arrested in 2019, a few weeks after soldiers attacked a police team that arrested him in Ibbi, on its way back to Abuja.

The soldiers, attached to Battalion 93 of the Nigerian Army and led by Captain Tijjani Balarabe, were at a checkpoint on the IbbiTakum road when the police team arrived. They set Wadume free after killing some of the police officers who had arrested him on August 6, 2019.

Three police officers and two civilians were killed during the incident, while five

other police officers were injured. Wadume was rearrested in Kaduna and sentenced to seven years in prison by a Federal High Court in Abuja for escaping from lawful custody and unlawfully dealing in prohibited firearms.

Unconfirmed reports alleged that the prosecution deliberately failed to prove the charges of kidnapping against him because they did not want the kingpin to implicate others, especially military officers, who were highly connected. It was further alleged that there were no proper and timely investigations to bring out evidence to prove the offence of kidnapping.

Upon his release penultimate Friday, his people trooped to the streets to give him a heroic welcome.

Not only was this action despicable

and condemnable, it was also totally uncalled for. It is unfortunate that some Nigerians still celebrate questionable characters and those who are a menace to the society just because of their philanthropic activities. It means that the people value wealth so much and do not bother about why he went to prison or how the wealth is acquired.

From what was at play, it was clear that Wadume’s people were anxiously waiting for him to come back to continue to distribute his wealth, which is believed to have been acquired through questionable activities.

While some Nigerians continue to blame the government for the security challenges confronting the country, they celebrate criminals whose activities fuel insecurity.

What they do not understand is that people like Wadume and his likes need to be isolated so that they turn a new leaf and refrain from influencing more people, especially the youths, negatively.

YusufGanduje

Egbetokun

Jimoh Ibrahim is the Best for Ondo, Says Odere

Femi Odere is the Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President on Stakeholders’ Engagement and Mobilisation. Before his present portfolio, he was the Senior Special Assistant to the former Governor Kayode Fayemi on Diaspora Affairs. As a stakeholder in the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State and an Akure indigene, he sheds light in this interview with Segun James, on the politics of the state in respect of the party and its aspirants in the coming April 20 primary. Excerpts:

The Ondo State governorship election is already knocking on the door with the APC primary slated for April 20th. What’s your own take?

Well, my take is, and has always been articulated based on two major pedestals. And these pedestals are from the point of view of the party and the aspirant that has the best chance of securing victory for the party. From the party’s standpoint, the APC must take a critical interest in its primary in Ondo State, as well as the election proper in November of this year because, first and foremost, elections in Ondo, and Ekiti, her sister state, are almost always peculiar and unusually challenging.

The governor has also thrown his hat into the ring. Shouldn’t other aspirants simply rally round him since he is the leader of the party in the state?

That’s only in theory and not in practice, especially against the backdrop that the governor has not acted as the father of the party in the state. The party is seriously factionalised as we speak, no thanks to the governor with the past war of attrition between him and the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu that has left many collateral damages in its wake. Governor Aiyedatiwa should not have contested for this election. That should have been his best and wisest decision in the overall interest of the party. So, by being in the race, he’s going to make it difficult for the party to win the November governorship election in the unlikely event that he wins the primary because I don’t foresee the other faction voting for him as the party’s candidate. This is one of the dangers of his being in the race. The party needs unity and cohesion going into the election. Unity and cohesion are sine qua non for any political party in an electoral contest to even have a fighting chance of winning an election.

What other dangers do you foresee for the governor or the APC?

Well, the factionalisation of which he was the major cause I had mentioned is huge enough for the party to come to grief in the main election. Aside this, not a few people are saying that his academic credentials are not nothing to write home about. This is a red flag, it seems to me. We definitely, as a party, don’t want the opposition party to simply wait in the wings and use this against us in the courts of law. The case of Bayelsa State should be fresh in our memories.

Who should the party send to the election battlefield then if you’re saying that the governor should have recused himself from this contest?

The party should simply send Senator Jimoh Ibrahim from among the pack of aspirants because he stands out on several fronts. Let’s first look at his aspiration from the point of view of the party. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim it was, with the late Governor Akeredolu, who stood behind the then presidential candidate Tinubu like a Rock of Gibraltar in Ondo State and secured the state for him when most others played both sides of the fence. His loyalty to the party and the president is without question. Don’t also forget the fact that no APC senator has ever won the South Senatorial district since the beginning of this political dispensation in 1999. Senator Jimoh

Ibrahim was the first APC senator ever to emerge from that district, widely regarded as PDP base. That’s a huge plus for the party and it should be seen as such. Now, from the point of Jimoh Ibrahim as an individual, Ondo State must change the narrative by putting a sound mind in the saddle of governance. Governance in the state over the years has been pedestrian, lackadaisical and uninspiring. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim is aware of what the developmental issues of governance are. He’s extremely brilliant. He’s someone who can think on his feet and get the desired results. He’s deep in his thinking. I believe it was the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo who said that it takes the deep to call to the deep. The state and its good people would be better for it, developmentally speaking, when a sound leader is in the saddle because he would only attract other sound minds instead of the pedestrian mindsets that presently prevail. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim is a tremendous asset to the party and the good people of Ondo State in several unprecedented ways.

What does Senator Jimoh Ibrahim have for the people in terms of his programmes?

There’s actually a basket full of programmes that have already been articulated by the aspirant himself. And I will mention a few here because of space. As a business guru and captain of various industries, it goes without saying that the socioeconomic development of the state is the strongest suit of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim. It’s important to note here that no Ondo State senator since the begin-

ning of this dispensation in 1999 saw it fit to use the instrumentality of legislation to harness the natural resource endowments of the state for development purposes until Senator Jimoh Ibrahim became a senator of the 10th National Assembly.

The bitumen bill, which the senator sponsored has gone through the second reading in the Senate and it’s now waiting for the third reading after which it would be signed into law by President Tinubu. Ondo State has the largest bitumen deposit, perhaps, in the world. This singular act by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim will undoubtedly transform the economic and infrastructural fortunes of the state and her people. The senator has talked about education. As someone with seven degrees and two PhDs whose university in his senatorial district is under construction, it also goes without saying that Senator Jimoh Ibrahim is very big on education. He has articulated the strategy with which he will transform the state’s education sector. Reducing medical tourism to a considerable extent by Nigerians is also one of issues that the senator has touched on. I can go on and on.

What are the major developmental challenges facing Ondo State?

Well, it’s unfortunate that Ondo State is still found wanting in those developmental indices despite being

an oil-producing state with its 13 per cent derivation. Ondo State truly has no reason to be poor. But it is relatively poor because we have always been unlucky to have pedestrian and uninspiring Chiefs of State. We have had leaders who were threatened by the power of ideas. The state is still behind the eight ball of infrastructural development majorly and this is what Senator Jimoh Ibrahim will tackle head-on when he mount the saddle. Akure, the state capital, doesn’t look like a state capital as such.

It seems as if Governor Aiyedatiwa has a lot of momentum going for him most especially in the Central Senatorial district, particularly among the Akure people. They see him as their shortest route for their son or daughter to become a governor. This is because Aiyedatiwa can only spend one term if he wins the primary and the subsequent governorship election. What’s your take on this?

It will be quite unfortunate if Akure progressive political leaders should have embarked on this dead calculation in supporting the governor. It will mean that they have been sold a lemon that they cannot even make lemonade out of. Granted that the governor can only do one term in the unlikely event that he wins the election, what makes them think that the people of the South Senatorial district would not insist that they too must spend eight years just like the governors from other senatorial districts. Who’s to say that somebody else would not emerge to complete the district’s eight years? It’s better to have an aspirant from the south without any of these encumbrances to do a straight eight years in order to avoid future political rancours. And this is more of the reasons Senator Jimoh Ibrahim is uniquely placed to represent the south in particular and gift the people of the state a superlative performance as a governor. In any case, the people of the central senatorial district, particularly Akure, where I am from, will have a better deal under a Jimoh Ibrahim administration.

There’s a group that calls itself the APC Aborigines whose members have collectively endorsed Governor Aiyedatiwa for the party ticket. What are your thoughts about this?

The so-called APC Aborigines are actually strange political bedfellows. How can they call themselves the Aborigines when most of them are like migratory politicians who just happen to perch on the APC rope for now? You see, Nigerian politics sometimes baffles me. Here you have some people who actually worked against the party in the recent past still shamelessly waxing lyrical that they can dictate to the rest of us who should clinch the party’s ticket. It is odious and patently incongruous to call themselves elders of the party while they have declared their support for a particular aspirant. They are not helping matters in bringing unity and cohesion into the party with this crass and unfortunate move. And this is one of the reasons why I have been shouting from the rooftop that the party hierarchy should rein in these different centrifugal political forces so that we don’t snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by the actions and inactions of some elements in the party who may not want the best for the party. I strongly believe that this thoughtless move is already dead on arrival.

Ibrahim

How Deputy Governors Have Been Sacked in 25 Years

Last Monday’s impeachment of the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu has further demonstrated how intolerant state governors have become in the management of the affairs of their states in a democracy, Chuks Okocha writes

Nigeria’s democracy was again put to test last Monday with the impeachment of the former deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu.

Shaibu, who had since fallen out with Governor Godwin Obaseki irreconcilably over his ambition to contest for the governorship seat, was accused of misconduct, perjury, leaking of government secrets and anti-party activities.

While the former deputy governor had approached a Federal High Court in Abuja with a suit to prevent the impeachment plot against him, the state lawmakers had insisted that the court had no powers to stop it or interfere in the performance of its constitutional duties. The result of this was his eventual removal from office.

As soon as the Shaibu was impeached, a 38-year-old Omobayo Marvellous Godwins was sworn in as a replacement.

The 1999 Constitution creates the office of deputy governor. Specifically, Section 186 states: “There shall be for each state of the federation a deputy governor.”

Section 187(1) stipulates that no one can be a valid governorship candidate without a running mate. If both succeed at the election, they are deemed to be elected together.

Ironically, as important as the position of the deputy governor is before the elections, the moment they come to power, the occupant of the office not only becomes irrelevant, and is regarded as a spare tyre. The Supreme Court had ruled that a governor or a president cannot remove his deputy since both were elected on a joint ticket.

But his stay in office has remained at the mercy of the governor with absolute loyalty required from him while his steps and body language are closely monitored.

This is because with the state lawmakers in the governors’ pockets, they can easily use them to do the dirty job and impeach their deputies. Since the return to civil rule in 1999,

many deputy governors have been impeached. Where a deputy governor does not want to be humiliated with impeachment, he quickly resigns.

However, some governors who are determined to humiliate their deputies ensure that their registration letters are rejected so that they face impeachment. In some cases, a governor could simply strip his deputy of all responsibilities, rendering him redundant.

The constitution did not help the deputy governors. For instance, Section 176 of the Constitution says a state governor “shall be the chief executive of that state”, and Section 193 says the governor “may, in his discretion”, assign responsibilities to his deputy. Conversely, a governor “may, in his discretion”, refuse to do so and render his deputy idle, as some have done.

But Shaibu is not alone on the list of deputy governors that have faced the axe since Nigeria’s return to a democratic government in 1999. No fewer than 16 others, cutting across the six geopolitical zones, have also been forced out of office by their governors.

OYO

In 2022, the Oyo State House of Assembly sacked Rauf Olaniyan as the deputy governor of the state.

The relationship between Olaniyan and Governor Seyi Makinde who were both elected into office in 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had deteriorated over time. Their differences virtually became irreconcilable in 2022 when the deputy governor dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Allegations of gross misconduct were levelled against him and he was removed from office.

ZAMFARA

The former Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, was sacked from office simply because he chose to have an independent political opinion from that of the governor. Governor Bello Matawalle who came into office by happenstance of the crisis in the Zamfara State chapter of the APC became the

first PDP candidate to be elected governor in that state. However, for whatever reasons, Matawalle chose to go to the APC and coerced almost the entire PDP structure to go along with him. Gusau, his deputy, however, chose to remain in the PDP. For his decision the House of Assembly brought him to trial and within a week, he was removed from office.

KANO

In 2018, the then Deputy Governor of Kano State, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, resigned from office following allegation that he was loyal to Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, who was at loggerheads with the then Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Abubakar, in his resignation letter dated August 5, 2018, said the decision was taken due to ‘irreconcilable differences’ on matters relating to governance and government operations.

BAUCHI

Alhaji Garba Gadi had occupied the position of Deputy Governor of Bauchi State till August 2009 when the relationship between him and then Governor Isa Yuguda broke down completely. Gadi’s offence was that he refused to toe the line of his boss who had defected to the PDP from the ANPP that brought them to power. The state House of Assembly quickly constituted a panel on the orders of the governor to start impeachment proceedings. He was subsequently impeached. But a High Court in Bauchi reinstated him a year later (June 2010) and ordered that his entitlements be paid.

JIGAWA

After 30 months of estranged relationship with former Governor Saminu Turaki, the then Jigawa State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Kwatalo, in 2001 resigned from office. Kwatalo, at a news conference in Dutse, said he no longer had the moral rights to continue in office.

ABIA

Enyinnaya Abaribe was the deputy to former

Governor Orji Uzor Kalu in Abia State. He soon fell out with his boss. Despite having resigned from office seven days earlier, Kalu still got a vote of 18 out of 24 members of the state House of Assembly to impeach him over allegations of gross misconduct.

After he left office, two other deputy governors were removed from office still under Kalu.

OSUN

Chief Iyiola Omisore, the former deputy governor of Osun State under Governor Bisi Akande became the first deputy governor to be impeached after the end of military rule in 1999. The state House of Assembly found him guilty of breach of oath of office and conflict of interest. The lawmakers claimed it was wrong of him to sue the government over a contract of $1.5million. They also accused him of divulging official secrets.

AKWA IBOM

The not-so-cordial relationship between the then Governor Victor Attah and his deputy, Chris Ekpenyong worsened and this led to his impeachment by the state House of Assembly on June 23, 2005 on the grounds of sundry allegations. But in less than seven days, he was allowed to resign from office instead.

Ekpenyong’s alleged offence was that he voted for the incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo at the PDP presidential primary in January 2003. Akwa Ibom delegates allegedly had Attah’s instructions to support Obasanjo’s challenger, the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme. Attah also allegedly wanted his deputy removed from office to pave the way for his son-in-law, Udoma Ekarika, to succeed him as governor in 2007.

Another deputy governor in Akwa Ibom, Nsima Ekere, was almost impeached during the Godswill Akpabio’s administration. He had to hurriedly resign from office before the House of Assembly began the impeachment proceedings.

Shaibu Pedro

Agbaso Danladi Ebebi

EKITI

Abiodun Aluko was Ekiti State deputy governor until September 2005. Governor Ayo Fayose was alleged to have instigated the removal of his deputy in his first stint as governor of the state. The state House of Assembly impeached Aluko after finding him guilty of 16 offences. The lawmakers claimed all the offences were grounds for impeachment.

In October 2006, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi who succeeded Aluko as deputy governor was a victim of the war between President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Fayose.

Governor Fayose had got on the wrong side of President Obasanjo and the Ekiti State House of Assembly came under pressure to impeach the governor and his deputy. Twenty-four out of the 26 members of the state House of Assembly found both of them guilty of several crimes.

SOKOTO

In March 2006, Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, who had been locked in a running battle with Governor Attahiru Bafarawa resigned moments before the state House of Assembly could commence impeachment proceedings against him.

Also in November 2018, following the defection of Governor Aminu Tambuwal from APC to PDP, the state Deputy Governor, Ahmad Aliyu, resigned from his position. His resignation letter to the state House of Assembly cited alleged threats of impeachment for his refusal to follow Tambuwal to the PDP.

LAGOS

President Bola Tinubu as governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, was one of the earliest governors who removed their deputies. He allegedly forced out two during his eight years in power.

Though she still claims she was never impeached and that she resigned, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2003, Senator Koforowola Bucknor-Akerele was believed to have left office at the sight of an impeachment notice. She said her disagreement with the then Governor Tinubu started when he informed her that they should take over their party, Alliance for Democracy (AD),

from the elders, who were the founders of the party and she refused. Bucknor-Akerele’s successor, Femi Pedro, was also impeached because he allegedly refused to accept Tinubu’s decision on the choice of next governor of the state. Pedro had defected to the Labour Party (LP) to contest the governorship election against Tinubu’s anointed successor, Babatunde Fashola. However, in December 2015, the Lagos State House of Assembly at plenary, invalidated Pedro’s impeachment, following the adoption of the recommendation of the eight- member Ad Hoc Committee constituted on July 2, 2015 to review the circumstances that led to impeachment of Pedro. The House, which passed a vote of confidence on Pedro, and also pardoned him, said that the allegations of his impeachment were not connected to criminal charges.

BAYELSA

Until his relationship with Governor Timipre Sylva went awry, the impeached Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Peremobowei Ebebi, had been seen as a power broker in the oil-rich state. As the Speaker of the state’s legislature, he had provided the platform for the impeachment of the then Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. As compensation, he was made deputy to Alamieyeseigha’s successor, Governor Goodluck Jonathan. Ebebi completed the term with Jonathan and was inherited by Governor Timipre Sylva who could not tolerate his growing influence and popularity in the state. Sylva got the required two-thirds of members of the House of Assembly to impeach Ebebi as deputy governor. However, about eight months later, an Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt nullified the impeachment and ordered his reinstatement.

TARABA

Sani Abubakar was deputy governor

of Taraba State until October 2012 when he was impeached by the House of Assembly. After his impeachment, Alhaji Garba Umar took over as the deputy governor of the state.

However, following the involvement of Governor Danbaba Suntai in an air accident that left him incapacitated, Umar took over as the Acting Governor of the state, a position he occupied until November 2014, when the Supreme Court sacked him from office and ordered the reinstatement of Abubakar.

IMO

Jude Agbaso was deputy governor of Imo State till March 2013. He dared to challenge Governor Rochas Okorocha’s right to seek a second tenure, citing an agreement that stipulated that Okorocha would rule Imo State for only four years. All but one of the 26 lawmakers in the state House of Assembly voted to impeach him. The court had since declared his sack from office illegal, null and void.

Eze Madumere who became Okorocha’s choice after Agbaso’s exit also fell out with him. THISDAY gathered that until they fell out, the expectation of Imo people was that Okorocha would naturally anoint his deputy as his successor, given the political history of the state. Madumere is from Owerri zone that had only produced governors for Imo State for less than two years compared to Okigwe and Orlu zones that had produced governors for eight and 16 years, respectively. But Okorocha disappointed the Owerri zone and chose to support his Chief of Staff and son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, as his successor.

With the support of his people, Madumere threw his hat to the ring, jettisoning the proposal by his boss to contest the Owerri senatorial seat instead. To Okorocha, the ‘betrayal’ by Madumere was not what he could bear and so it was not unexpected when he ensured that Madumere was promptly impeached. However, the state High Court has since nullified the impeachment.

ONDO

Alhaji Ali Olanusi was until April 2015 the Ondo State deputy governor. A few days before the presidential election in 2015, Olanusi defected to the APC. This enraged his boss, Olusegun Mimiko,

who had defected to the PDP from the LP and expected his deputy to follow his path. So, the House of Assembly impeached Olanusi despite a subsisting court ruling halting proceedings. Two years later in March 2017, a court declared the impeachment illegal and restored Olanusi to his office. But it was too late for him as his tenure with Mimiko had already elapsed.

In 2020, an attempt by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and state House of Assembly to get rid of the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, failed because nine of the 26-member of the state House of Assembly dissociated themselves from the planned impeachment. He was however not on the joint ticket for Akeredolu’s re-election.

ENUGU

Former Enugu State Deputy Governor, Sunday Onyebuchi was impeached in August 2014 by then Governor Sullivan Chime-controlled House of Assembly. His offence was that after his office was made redundant, he decided to rear chicken within his Government House residence.

Onyebuchi’s impeachment was particularly ironic. About a year earlier, when Governor Chime was away from the country on health grounds, there were alleged moves by the political class in Enugu to use the doctrine of necessity to remove Chime and make Onyebuchi governor. However, the deputy governor was said to have allegedly rebuffed the overtures. But on recovering and returning to power, Chime humiliated his deputy out of office.

KOGI

Another classic example of a deputy governor being booted out was the case of the erstwhile deputy governor of Kogi State, Simon Achuba who was sacked after he fell out with the then governor Yahaya Bello. Despite the fact there was no reasonable grounds for removing Achuba from office, the state House of Assembly on October 18, 2019, still went ahead to remove him from office, a decision the state High Court sitting in Lokoja on February 27, 2020 declared as illegal, null, void and of no effect.

Omisore

Onyebuchi

Ekpenyong

Madumere

Olujinmi

Olaniyan

Bucknor-Akerele

Olanusi Aluko Achuba

Late Gadi Gusau

A Tax on Darkness

On the technical matters of electricity supply and consumption rates, I am just a layman. I fare even worse when it comes to engaging professional technocrats and technicians on the arithmetic of pricing public goods and services. On goods that ought to be available to all of us at least cost to make life better and more livable, I do not break my head over the minutiae of megawatts and kilowatts. I just do not know how they calculate power supply, consumption, pricing and the like. But I know a few things that matter about electricity and public goods and social services in general. I know how long it takes for the ambulance to arrive in an emergency. I know how long it takes to beg and pour libations for the police response squad to show up when people are in distress.

When I arrive a country, within the first day I make up my mind whether the power system works or not. If hotel power goes off and on every other hour, I nod with familiarity. If I enter a room and flip the switch, I know when there is electricity supply. When driving through a neighborhood, I know when everywhere is in pitch darkness. I prepare psychologically for the evils that hide in the dark. When I get home at the end of the day’s grind, it is no longer a surprise if the house is on generator or in pitch darkness. Whether under politicians in mufti or the ones in army fatigue, Nigerians have come to know our public electricity system as a metaphor for all the ailed promises of our lives since after 1960. Children learn to cope with disappointment each time they are playing or watching television and darkness descends everywhere; they shout in a mixture of suppressed disappointment and predictable certainty.

In dealing with our governments over the last few decades, I have also come to master the antics of political tricksters and the fraud that often goes in the name of government services in these parts. The grandiose promises. The ceremonial tapes cut to inaugurate phantom projects and programmes that were designed to fail from day one. The mathematics of fraudulent reforms and the bare faced robbery of those who insist that nothing in a republic was meant to be free of charge in the first place. The massive gifts of betrayal in return for votes cast in defiance of rain and sun!

It has become more frequent in recent times. To greet Nigerians for the sacrifice of Lent and the rugged self -denial of the Ramadan weeks of passion, the Tinubu government casually announced a stratospheric increase in electricity tariffs. There was no dress rehearsal. No previous warning. No enlightenment to psychologically prepare the populace for yet another unplanned tax. The electricity tariff increase was announced in typical military ambush fashion. The new tax on electricity would seem to have come from the same package as the earlier petroleum subsidy removal and currency devaluation. Just a casual bloodless announcement by a government that speaks as though it operates from outer space. No feelings. No compassion. No regard for the sensitivities of those whom their policies have left stranded and wounded. So much hurt on the same people in only one year or less.

Since the tariff increase, the Nigerian Elec- tricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and other government bull horns have dominated the air waves with senseless propaganda. A cacophony of confusing statistics, disarticulated figures and mangled arguments have been advanced to justify what is clearly a tax on our disgraceful electricity supply system or the prolonged darkness that it has foisted on our people for endless years. By their revelation, only a miserable 13 million Nigerians out of our estimated 230 million have access to electricity. Of this number, less than 2 million consumers enjoy up to 20 hours of power supply in a day. In the entire nation, only a consistent less than 4,500 Megawatts of electricity is available from hydro, gas and thermal stations whenever they work. Compared to other nations of equivalent rank, Nigerian’s

total electricity supply figures have remained almost static with a national grip that collapses nearly once every week. South Africa produces 58,095 Megawatts. Egypt produces 16,900 Megawatts, Ghana reached 23,963 Megawatts in 2023. In comparison, Nigeria lives in virtual darkness as far as electricity supply is concerned. Yet it is this perpetual darkness that is now being taxed to high heavens. The logic of the new tariff increases is even more atrocious. Under the new regime, Nigerian electricity consumers have now been grouped into Bands. Those on Band A are consumers who have been accused of enjoying up to 20 hours or more of electricity per day. This class of privileged consumers is estimated to be only a miserable 1.5 million consumers.They have had their tariffs increased by 300%. By this curious logic, consumers on other bands would with time have their tariffs increased by a graduated scale in due course. But for now, only 1.5 million consumers will bear the burden of the tariff increases and therefore pay for the maintenance of power installations, fund the cost of new investment and keep the national power sector alive. It is this stratospheric increase that will make the electricity sector attractive for new investors, pay for supply to consumers in other consumer bands, extend electricity supply to the rural areas, maintain the various gas and hydro electric facilities etc.

Part of the so called strategic calculation of the government thinkers is that those under Band A are too comfy and rich to disturb the peace of government through protests, loud complaints and acts of civil disobedience. For now the more troublesome masses in Bands C, D, E etc are temporarily insulated from any tariff increases. Their rich compatriots will pay for them. By

Regime trumpets are too busy singing the praise of the reforming zeal of Mr. Tinubu to own up to the crass thoughtlessness of these so called reforms. Even worse is the lawlessness of the reforms like the electricity tariff increases.

My brother and friend, Femi Falana, has screamed in disbelief that this electricity tariff gambit is mostly illegal. In the applicable NERC law, there is provision for an early warning, a mass public enlightenment campaign, public hearings across the nation, as well as National Assembly debates and ratification of the proposed tariff regime that would precede a consensual increase in electricity tariffs if any. None of these requirements was met or adhered to. Just a casual insensitive announcement.

What makes the electricity tariff increase problematic is the long standing reputation of our electricity system. Among the populace especially the urban and rural poor, our public electricity system has become synonymous with perennial darkness.Where there is power supply for a few hours, there are hardly any meters to measure what is being consumed. This has led to the fraud called ‘estimated bills’ under which officials of distribution companies inflict whatever draconian bills they decide on hapless consumers and negotiate payments into their pockets or the coffers of the vastly incompetent distribution companies with their armies of corrupt officials and dubious owners.

the crude propaganda of the NERC and the government megaphones, once the new tariff comes into effect, there will be constant electricity, no more load shedding, no further national grid collapses etc.

In terms of implementation, the entire thing was smuggled in quickly under cover of Easter and Sallah celebrations. Its immediate victims were carefully my friends who live in Band A areas enjoying nearly 20 hours of power daily tell me they used to spend an average of N10,000 daily on electricity. Since after the draconian increase, they tell me they now spend between N35,000 and N40,000 daily on electricity. Much of what they get as power supply is half current. They are still visited with unannounced periodic power outages and load shedding at the discretion of the local distribution companies who are accountable to no one in particular. This Band A palaver does not end with the individual elite consumers. If the parameter is the number of hours of electricity enjoyed by a consumer, then bigger trouble is in the pipeline. Major hospitals (public and private) whose life support equipment are hooked onto electricity are in this band. Major hotels, factories, malls, airports and other public places may find themselves in this band. They now need to increase their service charges in order to pay for the new tariff. Even the National Assembly is under Band A and its spoilt occupants cannot spend a minute in session except in air conditioned comfort!

Official response to the untold hardship of the new tariffs has displayed the trade mark insensitivity of the Tinubu government. The Minister of Power has in fact accused Nigerians of being irresponsible in their power consumption habits. People leave their light bulbs on for indefinite hours. Others leave their refrigerators and air conditioners on indefinitely. The minister has reportedly apologized for the insult but has never disowned the insulting utterances. Like the currency flotation and gasoline tax, the government has not been honest enough to own up that these policies and so called reforms are largely plagiarized prescriptions of the IMF and World Bank.

While affected consumers struggle to pay the new tariffs through every part of their body to keep their homes lit and their businesses in session, the tariff increase has raised too many questions about the nation’s electricity sector. How will the 300% tariff hike on a small segment of consumers (1.5 million) create the pool of resources needed to develop the power sector into a viable national sector? How does this tariff increase inflicted on a minority elite alleviate the hardship of a whole nation? What happens to electricity consumers in the other bands no yet covered by the progressive tariff increases?

There are more serious issues of accountability and basic responsibility of government that have remained lingering over these years. Estimates of expenditure on the power sector between 1999 and 2010 indicates an expenditure of over N4.7 trillion. Countless projects have been initiated and abandoned by all manner of foreign and local investors. Politicians have made many impressive speeches about their intention to end the reign of darkness if only to deepen the crisis. Some states have even tried to initiate power projects on their own only to auction off the infrastructure because they did no homework on the implications. In spite of this huge expenditure, vast areas of the country have no experience of what is called electricity. Our rural, suburban and inner cities are without electricity sometimes for upwards of 6-8 months in a year. In spite of the speeches and succession of regimes, Nigeria is still stuck with less than 5,000 Megawatts of electricity on a year-on-year basis. Our legacy after the huge expenditures is endless darkness.

All manner of solutions have been implemented. Separate generation, transmission and distribution companies have been created and rolled out. Power distribution licenses have been issued to companies in different locations of the country. In most cases, these licenses were issued to companies owned and run by political crooks and virtual illiterates and sometimes outrightly bankrupt individuals who have resorted to massive bank loans to sustain their rickety operations. The end result is the current state of scandalous inefficiency in the delivery of a service that ought to be the lifeblood of the nation.

It is part of the fraudulent devaluation of language in the politics of the present day to refer to a heartless increase of tariffs on electricity as ‘reform’ of the power sector. Imposition of a huge tax on the nation’s long dark night is perhaps the best name for the present politics of insensitivity and lack of compassion.

Minister of Power, Adelabu

Empowering Nigeria’s Digital Future Through Wema Bank’s Empowerment Programme

Samuel Adeyinka

In a world where digital prowess is paramount, Nigeria stands poised on the precipice of a digital revolution. Spearheading this transformative journey is Wema Bank, in collaboration with the federal government, through the groundbreaking FGN/ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme. Launched with a resounding call to bridge the digital divide and empower Nigerian youth and MSMEs, this initiative heralds a new era of digital empowerment and economic prosperity.

The FGN/ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme, unveiled on September 29, 2023, emerged from a shared vision to propel Nigeria’s digital future. With an ambitious goal to train one million Nigerian youths and one million MSMEs, the program seeks to equip participants with a diverse range of digital skills.

Since its inception, the program has garnered significant traction, attracting over 300,000 participants virtually across all 36 states. This overwhelming response underscores the pressing need for digital capacity development and highlights the program’s relevance in addressing critical skill gaps in Nigeria’s workforce.

Central to the FGN/ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme’s mission is the delivery of comprehensive virtual training and online courses. By leveraging cuttingedge technology and innovative pedagogical approaches, the program offers a diverse array of courses tailored to meet the evolving needs of Nigerian youth and MSMEs, enabling participants from all corners of the country to access world-class learning experiences from the comfort of their homes.

Through virtual training sessions conducted via digital platforms, participants engage in interactive lectures, hands-on exercises, and collaborative projects under the guidance of expert instructors. The virtual format not only facilitates flexible learning but also fosters inclusivity, allowing individuals from remote areas to participate and contribute to the digital economy.

At the core of the program’s virtual training initiative are its online courses, meticulously curated to cater to the diverse skill sets and aspirations of participants. These courses cover a wide range of topics, including software engineering, product management, business analysis, cloud computing, digital marketing, and more.

Delivered through user-friendly learning management systems, the online courses offer a blend of multimedia content, interactive modules, and assessments to engage learners and reinforce key concepts. Participants have the flexibility to learn at their own pace, accessing course materials anytime, anywhere, and on any device with an internet connection.

For working professionals looking to enhance their skills and advance their careers, the program offers specialized tracks in areas such as digital marketing, project management, data analytics, and cybersecurity. These courses equip participants with the knowledge and expertise needed to thrive in today’s competitive job market and drive organizational success.

Job seekers benefit from targeted courses focused on resume writing, interview preparation, and job search strategies, providing them with the tools and confidence to secure employment opportunities in their desired field. These courses not only enhance participants’ employability but also empower them to navigate the job market with ease and professionalism.

Entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners have access to a wealth of resources and courses aimed at fostering innovation, creativity, and business acumen. From business plan development and financial management to marketing strategy and customer acquisition,

these courses provide participants with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to launch and grow successful ventures.

Through practical case studies, real-world simulations, and mentorship opportunities, participants gain insights into the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship, learning from seasoned professionals and industry experts. Whether they are looking to start a small-scale venture or scale up an existing business, the program equips participants with the tools and strategies to succeed in the competitive business landscape.

Another standout aspect of the program is the FGN/ALAT Digital Hubs, strategically located across Nigeria. These state-of-the-art facilities serve as incubators for innovation, providing participants with access to cutting-edge technology, collaborative spaces, and expert guidance.

Within these hubs, participants engage in immersive experiential learning, collaborating on projects, refining their business models, and honing their skills under the mentorship of seasoned professionals. The hubs not only foster individual growth but also serve as vibrant ecosystems where ideas flourish, connections are forged, and innovation thrives.

But the impact of the FGN/ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme extends far beyond individual participants—it is a catalyst for national progress and economic transformation. By equipping Nigerian youth and MSMEs with digital skills and entrepreneurial acumen, the program fuels job creation, stimulates innovation, and catalyzes economic growth.

Through strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives, the program unlocks access to markets, connects participants with investors, and accelerates the growth of budding

startups. As participants graduate and enter the workforce or launch their ventures, they become agents of change, driving Nigeria’s digital agenda forward and shaping the future of its economy.

Furthermore, the FGN/ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme is committed to empowering participants holistically by providing access to funding, grants, and loans to catalyse entrepreneurial growth, foster innovation, and drive socioeconomic impact. Through strategic partnerships and collaboration, the program aims to equip entrepreneurs, job seekers, business owners, and aspiring business owners with the financial resources they need to unleash their full potential and make a meaningful difference in their communities and beyond.

By offering funding opportunities, including angel investment, venture capital, and seed funding, participants can accelerate the growth and expansion of their ventures, validate business models, and attract additional investors. Grants provide non-dilutive funding to support innovative projects and initiatives, enabling participants to address pressing societal challenges and drive positive change. Additionally, loans offer participants the flexibility to invest in strategic opportunities, overcome temporary cash flow challenges, and pursue personal and professional growth objectives, empowering them to seize opportunities for advancement and achieve their long-term financial goals.

The success of the program is not measured solely in numbers but in the stories of transformation and empowerment witnessed across the nation. One of the participants, Idris Sani Muhammad, an aspiring business owner, reflects on his experience in the program with a sense of confidence and determination. He attests, “The FGN/ ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme allows me to stand out in the crowd with all confidence, both in business and personal life. The knowledge and skills I learned in the program increased my drive towards a progressive life using ICT.”

David Garba, an ICT developer, and

participant, shares his gratitude for the program’s impact on his journey toward self-sufficiency. He expresses, “This program has helped me so much to equip myself with more knowledge of computer use and ICT at large. Assuming I am financially strong, I can open a business like a cyber cafe that can contribute to the Nigerian economy.”

Another participant, Nnenna Okoro, an aspiring business owner, emphasizes the importance of soft skills in her entrepreneurial journey. She shares, “The comprehensive curriculum covering work ethics, corporate culture, personal branding, and effectiveness has profoundly equipped me to thrive in both the corporate and entrepreneurial spheres.”

Chizaram Grace, a participant in product management training, reflects on her enriching learning experience in the program. She remarks, “It has been a wonderful and educative experience so far... Getting to learn and upgrade my skills through the different courses dished out for me for the past few months.”

Through the voices of participants like Idris Sani Muhammad, David Garba, Nnenna Okoro, and Chizaram Grace, we catch a glimpse of the profound impact of the FGN/ ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme on individuals and communities alike. From aspiring entrepreneurs to seasoned professionals, the program empowers individuals to unlock their full potential, pursue their passions, and make a tangible difference in their communities. By providing access to education, mentorship, and financial resources, the program not only equips participants with the skills they need to succeed but also nurtures a culture of innovation, growth, and collaboration.

As Nigeria’s digital landscape continues to evolve, the FGN/ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme stands as a guiding light, empowering individuals to thrive in the digital age and shaping a brighter future for generations to come.

Oseni

Matawalle to NEF

“The so-called NEF is more or less a political paperweight trying to embark on a destructive journey that will bring the North to disrepute for the group’s personal and selfish gains – Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, describing the Northern Elders’ Forum as a political paperweight whose comments and views should not be taken seriously.

SIMON KOLAWOLE

SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

Cybercrime and Punishment

There’s a new trend in our land which many are complaining about but which I doubt they are doing much to address. It is the use of the Cybercrimes Act to file criminal charges for alleged defamation where the civil laws should ordinarily suffice. First, what is defamation of character? I will adopt this definition by AllLaw. com: “Defamation is typically defined as a false statement someone makes about you, which they publish as a statement of fact, and which harms your personal and/or professional reputation or causes you other damages, including financial loss and emotional distress.” This is obviously to protect innocent people from reckless and malicious statements and publications.

In the Cybercrimes Act, passed under the Jonathan administration in 2015, defamation is what is classified as “cyberstalking” under section 24 (1)(b) which says it is a crime for “any person to knowingly or intentionally send a message or other matter by means of computer systems or networks that: (b) he knows to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another or causes such a message to be sent.” The punishment is a fine or maximum three years in jail, or both. The key phrase is “knowingly or intentionally”, unlike libel where intention is irrelevant.

Essentially, with the Cybercrimes Act, you can go to jail for posting a defamatory statement online, whereas it is libel if you write the same thing in a newspaper and slander if you say it on TV/ radio. That means for a defamatory online post, you could be arrested, detained and charged to court by the police and jailed by a judge. Yet, the only difference is that one is printed (libel) or said (slander) while the other is online (cyberstalking). That is, while you can be sued for billions of naira in a defamation suit because it is civil, you can go to jail for cyberstalking — and it doesn’t matter if the offensive words are the same! You would agree with me that there is something inconsistent in this.

Today, I am joining the campaign for the decriminalisation of libel. I propose that defamation should be treated as defamation, whether it is analogue or digital. The UN Human Rights Committee has been campaigning for the decriminalisation of libel for over two decades. Ironically, a country like Canada still has laws on criminal and blasphemous libel, even if hardly enforced. The UNESCO recently reported that more than 160 countries still criminalise libel. It is dead as a federal law in the US but some states still retain it. Many countries have, however, abolished it while it has become obsolete in a country like the UK which has not prosecuted any criminal libel case since the 1970s.

I must necessarily accept here that sections of my primary constituency — the media — do not paint themselves in glory in matters of defamation, but that has nothing to do with my position. For one, journalists are not above the law. Nobody has the right to defame people without evidence. The only absolute defence in cases of defamation is truth. If what you have published is the truth and you have the evidence to defend yourself in a court of law, you are good. May I also say here that since newspapers and broadcast outfits have online presence, they are liable under the Cybercrimes Act as well. That is why we just have to take our professional responsibilities as seriously as they demand. Because of the legal gulf between the seriousness with which the courts treat libel and cyberstalking cases in Nigeria, people would rather go through the Cybercrimes Act than pursue a civil suit. There is frustration with the agonisingly slow pace of libel cases in the courts. The satisfaction that comes with the Cybercrimes Act is that the offending party will, at least, be swiftly arrested and detained. Apologies and retractions may follow and the offended party

Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi could get some relief. Libel cases, on the other hand, can sleep in a court for 20 years with no head or tail. It is said that justice delayed is justice denied. The slow pace of libel cases incentivises miscreants to keep defaming people.

I, therefore, understand why aggrieved Nigerians would prefer the Cybercrimes Act. Recently, one of those who tried to defame Nathaniel Bassey, the gospel music minister, apologised and retracted his accusation when the police confronted him with the Cybercrimes Act. If it was a civil case, the apology might still be hanging somewhere. The social media easily accommodates mischief makers — some are even paid to defame people. They are especially cruel because they think they are unreachable, unlike a conventional newspaper that has a physical address, phone numbers and known names. That is why some people think the Cybercrimes Act serves the mischief makers right.

Before I proceed, let me state clearly — as clearly as I can — that my support for the decriminalisation of defamation is not an endorsement of anyone hiding behind freedom of speech and a smart phone to defame people. Cyberthugs and mobsters think they can hide behind avatars to say whatever they like without repercussions. People’s lives and businesses are being sadistically ruined by malicious posts. They think they can get away with anything. When they are called upon to answer their father’s name, they start blabbing about free speech. Tell me one country in the world where you can defame people without facing the consequences because of “freedom of speech”.

And, yes, I am a victim too. I am regularly savaged with lies on social media. It reached a climax with the dirty politics around the 2023 polls. The pick of the pack of lies was that President Tinubu gave me N500 million. It was circulated by a journalist I had known since 1994. I was his desk editor at THISDAY in 1998. He didn’t know my colleague was in one of the WhatsApp groups where he shared it. I usually laugh at these lies and attacks but this was someone I called a friend. I decided to ask him why he did it and he cheekily replied: “Can’t you take a joke?” If I had decided to keep him busy with the Cybercrimes Act, he would have been crying and alleging ethnic or political persecution.

Regardless, I still consider matters of this nature as purely civil and not criminal. Actually, I have no problems with the Cybercrimes Act itself. It was natural and necessary: society was evolving and

we needed to modernise our laws in line with the realities of tech-enabled crimes. The Cybercrimes Act was well conceived. It covers a comprehensive list of criminal online activities: hacking, denial-ofservice attacks, phishing, malware, identity theft, electronic theft, distribution, sale or offering for sale of hardware, software or other tools used to commit cybercrime, etc. My only objection is the criminalisation of defamation and I believe it should be expunged. I will now defend my stand.

One — as I have already pointed out — I think defamation should be defamation, no matter the platform used to perpetrate it. What is civil in print or broadcast should not become criminal on the internet. I am proposing commonsense here. There is the need for consistency in punishing defamation. If you killed someone unlawfully, it shouldn’t matter if you used a hunter’s rifle or an AK47 for the crime — it would still be regarded and punished as murder or manslaughter, depending on the circumstances: whether the homicide was premeditated or provoked. After all, armed robbery is a capital offence even if it is an ordinary pen, and not a pistol, that was used in the act.

Two, if we keep saying Nigeria is under-policed, maybe we should stop engaging the police in matters that are not core to their duties. It is not the job of the police to protect the reputation of an individual, as the Cybercrimes Act currently makes it. Their job is to protect lives and property. Nigeria is battling with security issues in every region and every geo-political zone today, but many of our police men and women are busy with duties such as VIP protection, settling disputes between mechanics and car owners, and arresting a tailor because what a customer ordered is different from what she got. Meanwhile, robbers, kidnappers and terrorists are making life miserable for Nigerians.

Three, there are more serious cybercrimes — compared to the defamation of an individual — that the police should be made to tackle. People spreading ethnic and religious bile online are a threat to the peace. They can set the society on fire. This cannot fall under free speech. We cannot hope to live in a peaceful and orderly society when miscreants are using falsehood and conjectures to demonise some Nigerians simply because of their region or religion. If someone issues a death threat online, that is also worth pursuing under the Cybercrimes Act. It is about life and death, and the Nigerian state has the responsibility to protect the lives of its citizens. But defamation? Oh, please! What shall we do then? Shall we continue in defamation that free speech may abound? God forbid. I would propose two things. One, advocacy should be focused on decriminalising defamation by expunging section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, and other provisions on “criminal libel” (which government officials use to protect themselves from public scrutiny). Let us retain defamation as a purely civil matter. Two — and this is a critical judicial reform Nigeria needs — the courts have to start treating defamation cases as important. Cases shouldn’t go on endlessly. The judiciary must help sanitise our society by protecting people’s reputations from being unfairly maligned.

All said and done, I would like to appeal to social media users to think about their incendiary and hurtful words before posting. There is a mad race to the bottom on the internet — who can say the vilest words and plant the most outrageous rumours in order to get engagement? — but they should put themselves in the position of their victims. As Rotarians would say, is it fair to all concerned? How on earth would you say a couple’s son was fathered by another man without proof? It is all a game to you, right? Some are obviously hustling for Elon Musk’s dollars by spreading falsehood and mischief. Nevertheless, I maintain that defamation should be treated as a civil offence in our laws.

And Four Other Things…

DIRGE FOR DEPUTIES

Is deputy governorship a poisoned chalice? Someone would call that “JAMB question”. Comrade Philip Shaibu has, expectedly, been removed as the deputy governor of Edo state after a protracted fall-out between him and Mr Godwin Obaseki, the governor. According to the boffins at Daily Trust, that is the 17th deputy governor to be removed since the fourth republic birthed in 1999. That is quite some turnover. Given that only three governors have been legally removed during the same period, that is alarming. We need to study the trend and work out a solution. Maybe we don’t need deputy governors? Maybe we should make it more difficult for them to be removed? Questions.

VISA TIPS

Mr Larry Madowo, the CNN correspondent, took to X (how long are we going to keep saying ‘formerly known as Twitter’?) to complain about the cost of getting a Nigerian visa and paying for biometrics each time. He wondered why a Kenyan needs a visa to visit Nigeria when he doesn’t need one for Ghana. First, I would advise Madowo to apply for a multiple entry visa next time. For as long as he opts for single entry, he will pay each time. Biometrics are captured each time you apply for a visa and you will need to pay for it too. He can ask the US embassy in Nairobi. Well, Ghanaians don’t need a Nigerian visa because of a treaty. Nigeria and Kenya do not have that treaty yet. Reciprocity.

RISK AND ‘REWARD’

So, Idris Okuneye, the transgender celebrity better known as Bobrisky, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine for “abusing” the naira. Bobsrisky, who finally identified as “male” before a court of law, had pleaded guilty to the charge and being a first time offender, the social media sensation would ordinarily be expected to get a lenient punishment. That the maximum punishment was applied makes me wonder if Bobrisky was being punished for something else — you know it, you know the elephant in the room. The debate now should be if the law on naira abuse is really necessary or if imprisonment should be a punishment at all. Brutal.

NO COMMENT

When the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved the tripling of tariff for “Band A” consumers under the pretext that they are already enjoying a minimum of 20 hours of power daily, we knew it was just cruise. It would only make sense if the new tariff were applied only on days Band A consumers enjoy 20 hours. Well, this is the truth: the sector badly needs massive infrastructural investment before we can enjoy steady power — but where is the capital? The DisCos are now playing a different tune. The new lyrics: “We are suffering system outage/That is why there’s power shortage/Apologies to our customers/ We’ve got a problem with the feeders.” Wonderful.