SUNDAY 16TH APRIL 2023

Nigeria’s Economic Direction, Debt Sustainability Depend on Incoming Govt’s Policies, Says IMF

Obinna Chima, Nume Ekeghe and Ugo Aliogo in Washington DC The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stressed that the future trajectory of the Nigerian economy as well as the country’s debt sustainability would depend on the reforms and choice of policies

of the incoming administration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu. The IMF Director, African

Department, Abebe Aemro Selassie, said this during a media briefing to unveil the regional economic Continued on page 5

Africa

PDP Lawmakers Rally Opposition Senators-elect for Senate Presidency

Favour South-east, North-central for Senate president, deputy PDP House leader says joint task coalition won't weaken opposition

Sunday Aborisade and Udora

Orizu in Abuja

The race for the Senate Presidency

in the 10th National Assembly has taken an interesting dimension with the 29 senators-elect on the platform of the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP), forming a formidable coalition with other opposition political parties, who had already secured 12 seats, THISDAY has

learnt. The lawmakers, it was learnt, plan to back a credible South-east lawmaker on the platform of the

All Progressives Congress (APC) for the position of the Senate President and an opposition lawmaker from the North-central for the deputy

Senate president. Other minority parties that

Continued on page 5

Fintiri Maintains Lead as INEC Suspends Collation of Adamawa’s Governorship Election Results

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos, Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano, Daji Sani in Yola, Okon Bassey in Uyo, and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

Adamawa State Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Fintiri, yesterday maintained his lead in the supplementary polls held in the state, ahead of his main rival, Aishatu ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ruling APC also maintained its lead in the 2023 National Assembly elections as it won more seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives in the supplementary polls held in Plateau, Kano, Oyo and Yobe states.

However, no fewer than six persons were feared killed as violence erupted during the conduct of the supplementary elections held in the Ikono/Ini and Abak federal constituencies of Akwa Ibom State.

Following the violence, INEC has cancelled the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency rerun election.

The Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr.

Cyril Omorogbe, who announced the cancellation, described the rerun as abysmal.

Omorogbe said the cancellation of the elections in all the 17 polling units that participated in the rerun was due to the incidences of snatching of electoral materials and the Bi-Modal Voters Accreditation Machine System (BIVAS).

The supplementary polls in Edo, Ekiti, Adamawa, Rivers and Anambra states were characterised by voter apathy, vote-buying and late arrival of election materials.

Many people were also feared killed when thugs invaded the Utai and Achika districts of the Wudil Local Government Area of Kano State to disrupt the elections.

Also, a yet-to-be-identified man was shot by soldiers while attempting to snatch a ballot box at Bajida Polling Unit 001, Fakai Local Government Area in Kebbi State just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it arrested 12 persons for alleged vote-buying during yesterday’s

WELCOME TO GATEWAY STATE…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun (right), welcoming renowned global aviation investor, Mr. Adebayo Ogunlesi, to the Gateway Agro Cargo International Airport, Ilishan-Iperu Road in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state…weekend

APC wins more N’Assembly seats in Plateau, Oyo, Kano, Yobe Six feared killed as violence mars elections in Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, Kano EFCC arrests 12 in Kano, Katsina for vote-buying

FINTIRI MAINTAINS LEAD AS INEC SUSPENDS COLLATION OF ADAMAWA’S GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION RESULTS

supplementary polls in Kano and Katsina states.

INEC held supplementary elections in many polling units in 24 states to conclude all outstanding governorship, national, and state assembly polls.

In earlier elections held on February 25 and March 18, the commission declared winners for the Presidency, 26 governorship, 104 senatorial, 329 House members, and 935 state assembly seats.

While the commission declared several polls inconclusive, it cancelled others due to irregularities and violence in the affected states.

Before INEC suspended the coalition of the governorship elections in Adamawa State till 10 am today, Fintiri was leading Binani by over 1,000 votes in the results collated from about 11 local government areas.

THISDAY gathered that tension heightened after the officials of the INEC barred journalists from accessing the collation centre for the supplementary elections in the state.

Journalists who were already accredited during the presidential and governorship elections were shocked when they were turned back by stern-looking policemen who said they were given orders from above not to allow any journalist access to the collation centre.

News had filtered in that there were moves to undermine the electoral process.

This led to a series of protests by the campaign office of the PDP, which vowed to resist any attempt to undermine or doctor the governorship results.

In the result declared on March 11, incumbent Governor Fintiri polled 421,524 votes, while his main rival,

Binani scored 390,275.

Fintiri defeated Binani with a margin of over 30,000 votes. The governor also won the election in 13 of Adamawa’s 21 local government areas while Binani won in the remaining eight.

But the state’s Collation Officer, Prof. Mohammed Mele announced the cancellation of elections in 69 polling units in Fufore LGA, which affected no fewer than 37,016 potential voters with PVCs in those units.

Though the final results showed that Fintiri scored the highest votes, INEC said the cancelled votes were more than the margin of victory between him and the runner-up, Binani.

It, therefore, declared the governorship election in Adamawa State inconclusive.

The 37,016 potential voters in Fufore were expected to determine the fate of Fintiri and Binani yesterday.

In the supplementary polls held yesterday, the results collated by INEC from 11 LGAs showed that Fintiri got 5, 282 votes while Binani scored 3,692.

The collation was however, suspended till today.

In Demsa Borong Ward, APC scored 43 votes while the PDP got 124 votes.

In Yola South, APC got 797 votes, while the PDP scored 678 votes.

APC got 368 votes in Yola North, while the PDP scored 357 votes.

Others declared are: Lamurde LGA, while, APC got 285, PDP scored 580; Jada LGA, APC 145, PDP 271; Shelleng LGA, APC 223, PDP 299; Hong LGA, APC 361, PDP 1,056; Gante LGA, APC 176, PDP 309; Muhia LGA, APC 172,

PDP 271; Song LGA, APC 558, PDP 309; and Michika LGA, APC 562, PDP 1028.

In Kebbi State, the governorship election results announced after the March 18 polls showed that the candidate of the ruling APC, Dr. Nasir Idris scored 388,358, while Mohammed Bande of the PDP scored 342,980.

However, there was cancellation of results in some local government areas of Kebbi State, cutting across many Registration Areas in different polling units.

The cancelled votes were more than the margin of victory between Idris and Bande.

The collation of results was ongoing last night amid tension.

APC Wins More N’Assembly Seats in Plateau, Oyo, Kano, Yobe

Though supplementary polls were scheduled in five senatorial districts, 31 federal and 58 state assembly constituencies, only two senatorial and four House of Representatives results were declared as of press time.

Out of the results of the National Assembly elections declared last night by INEC, the ruling party won one senatorial seat each in Plateau and Yobe states, as well as one House of Representatives seat each in Oyo and Kano states.

On their part, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) won one House of Representatives seat each in Oyo and Kano states, respectively.

In Plateau State, the senatorial

NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC DIRECTION, DEBT SUSTAINABILITY DEPEND ON INCOMING GOVT’S POLICIES, SAYS IMF

(SSA) titled: “The Big Funding Squeeze,” at the ongoing IMF/ World Bank meeting in Washington DC recently.

This was just as the DirectorGeneral of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has called for the diversification of global supply chains, stating that global value chains make up to 45 to 65 per cent of world trade.

Okonjo-Iweala, who disclosed this in Washington D.C, the United States of America (USA), on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Spring meetings, said global value chains are the backbone of trade.

Nigeria is presently facing high inflation rate, at 21.91 per cent as at February 2023, revenue squeeze, high level of poverty, oil theft and wastes trillions of naira on a controversial fuel subsidy policy.

Selassie explained: “For a country like Nigeria, the future trajectory of its economy is going to depend on a whole host of variables; the reforms that the government decides to pursue, how effectively it uses the resources it has, and the oil price trajectory. It is a combination of those factors that will determine the sustainability of Nigeria’s debt.

“Right now, Nigeria’s debt looks manageable, but it is really also important, of course, and contingent on what policies will be pursued in the coming months and years.”

Commenting on the sustainability of Nigeria’s debt, Selassie said: “Whether debt is sustainable or not, is not dependent on just one number, one threshold, rather, you have to look at a lot of indicators to assess the trajectory, whether debt will be sustainable in the coming years or not.

“When we make an assessment and we classify countries as being a moderate risk or a high risk, or we talk about vulnerabilities being elevated, it takes into account what we think of the kind of policies that the government is going to pursue and, of course, certain assumptions about the global environment.

“The last several years have

been full of shocks, so it has made countries’ ability to bring debt under a sustainable trajectory more difficult but, they have been compensating for that also with stronger economic policies.

He, however, acknowledged that the Nigerian government had implemented policies targeted at diversifying the economy. These, according to him, would help the incoming administration enhance its economic diversification plan.

He added: “Over the last several years, there has been a trade regime, foreign exchange regime and they have all been very challenging and have not allowed Nigeria to have robust growth the country needs desperately.

“Also, I think it’s appropriate that you look at policies in terms of their effectiveness. So, the question that we have to ask is the policies that have been pursued over the last three, or four years, have they helped achieve the diversification that it was intended to achieve?

“The new administration will see what they can do. We will be supportive of measures, policies and responses that are effective, in terms of addressing the diversification objective Nigeria has and also addressing the near-term challenges that the country is facing from revenue mobilisation to ensuring that there are sufficient resources to spend on health, education, infrastructure.”

Selassie added: “As always, the extent to which monetary policy will help address inflation is going to be dependent on a whole range of factors. I think if you have largely negative real interest rates, I'm not sure that that is conducive to the kind of signaling effect that you want to have, either in terms of supporting the exchange rate or the credit channel.

“When you have multiple exchange rates, that also becomes a lot more complicated, right? So, all those things must be factored in. Again, we're not dogmatic that it always must be about interest rates increases. So that will work through the credits channel, as you said, for a large sum, thereby mobilising a bit more savings.

candidate of the APC, Mr. Plang Diket was declared the winner in the election, having polled 131,129 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr. Yakubu Gortom of the PDP, who polled 127,023 votes in the election.

Declaring the results, the Returning Officer, Dr. Jimam Lar, said that the number of registered voters was 784,764, while only 313,051 voters were accredited. He said that the total votes cast was 308,762, with 304,940 votes being valid, and 3,822 votes rejected.

Reacting to the outcome of the supplementary elections, Gortom said the result declared was “illegal and cannot be accepted anywhere for the simple reason that the figures were concocted, making 95 per cent of the agents refuse to sign.”

He said the initial Returning Officer was intimidated to withdraw from the job, adding that “INEC, rather than investigate to know the reasons for his withdrawal, simply replaced him in less than 24 hours with someone that only came to cook a fictitious result and declared it.”

Diket, a former member of the state House of Assembly who represented Pankshin North, will now join Simon Mwadkwon (Plateau

North) and Napoleon Bali (Plateau South) in the 10th National Assembly.

In Yobe State, INEC also declared Ibrahim Bomai of the APC the winner of the Yobe South senatorial election.

The Returning Officer of the election, Abatcha Melemi, while announcing the result yesterday at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Potiskum, disclosed that Bomai garnered 69,596 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Halilu Mazagane of the PDP, who polled 68,885 votes.

INEC had earlier declared the election in the district inconclusive following over-voting at the Manawachi polling unit in the Fika Local Government Area of the state.

With yesterday’s polls, the number of APC Senators-elect has increased from 57 to 59, while PDP and NNPP remain 29 and two, respectively.

For the House of Representatives seat, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhasan Ado Doguwa, has been declared the winner of Doguwa and Tudunwada Federal Constituency.

The Returning Officer, Professor Sani Ibrahim, who announced

the result at the just concluded supplementary elections held across eight wards in Tudunwada LGA, said Doguwa scored the highest number of votes cast 41,573.

His closest rival, Yushau Salisu of the NNPP polled 34,831 votes. The February 25 election was declared inconclusive in the constituency due to violence and over-voting.

Also, the Returning Officer for the election on February 25, Ibrahim Adamu Yakasai, had reported that he announced the result under duress. Yakasai had initially declared Doguwa the winner but INEC subsequently voided the process. Doguwa, who is now going to the green chamber for the fifth term is believed to be among the top contenders for the position of speaker.

INEC has also declared Tolulope Akande-Sadipe of the APC, as the winner of the election for the Oluyole Federal Constituency in Oyo State.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Jacob Olaniyi, announced Akande-Sadipe as the winner in Ibadan, at the end of the supplementary election held in Continued on page 8

PDP LAWMAKERS RALLY OPPOSITION SENATORS-ELECT FOR SENATE PRESIDENCY

produced senators are the Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); and the Young Progressive Party (YPP).

Before yesterday’s supplementary elections across the country, APC had won 57 seats, PDP had 29; LP, six; NNPP, two; SDP, two; APGA, one; and YPP, one.

President," he said. The senator-elect said the coalition started meeting since penultimate week and would wrap up their deal as soon as the leadership of the party announced the zoning arrangements for the presiding officers’ positions in the 10th National Assembly.

and Deputy Speaker seats, doesn't mean that they are letting down their guards.

“But there are also cases where we support management, managing liquidity, even other cases where the financial markets are even more rudimentary. So, outright monetary targeting, explicit money targeting is what will work. I think it depends on a combination of those factors. I think you are very nuanced policymakers in Nigeria.”

Speaking further, he pointed out that Nigeria and SSA were facing a financing crash as a result of reduced inflows from multilateral institutions and lenders causing, “a big funding squeeze for the region.”

According to him, SSA countries should adopt four policies to help the country navigate out of the current turmoil.

He said consolidating public finances and strengthening public financial management, containing inflation, allowing exchange rates to adjust, mitigating the adverse effects on the economy, and ensuring important efforts to tackle climate change do not crowd out financing for basic needs like health and education, should be vigorously pursued.

He noted that amid a global slowdown, growth in SSA was expected to decelerate to 3.6 per cent before rebounding to 4.2 per cent in 2024, in line with global recovery, subsiding inflation, and a winding down in monetary policy tightening, citing the latest IMF regional economic outlook for sub-Saharan Africa.

The IMF official added: “Our latest regional outlook finds that this big funding squeeze is hitting countries hard, and many countries are facing tough decisions when it comes to investing in crucial areas like health, education, infrastructure. This will not only impact them now but also in the years to come.

“By 2040 or so, a third of the new entrance, a new labor market entrance will be from SSA. Skilled educated workers will be vital to the health and stability of the global economy, but today’s funding squeeze may impact the

Continued on page 10

Investigation by THISDAY revealed that the coalition being planned by the opposition senatorselect would support a strong APC Senator-elect from the southern part of the country as Senate President and a North-central senator from one of the opposition parties as the deputy.

A senator-elect from the Northeast geopolitical zone confided in THISDAY that their decision was based on equity, fairness, justice, and the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria.

According to him, only an insensitive leader would notice the obvious tension in the land and would choose to ignore it for his selfish interest.

The senator-elect, who is returning to the red chamber for a second term, said the mood of the nation is that a Christian from the southern part of the country should be the Senate President in the 10th National Assembly.

Eleven senators-elect, including Senator Sani Musa (North-central); Jibrin Barau (North-west); Orji Kalu (South-east); Godswill Akpabio (South-south); Osita Izunaso (Southeast); Peter Ndubueze (South-east); Abdul’Aziz Yari (North-west); Ahmad Lawan (North-east); Ali Ndume (North-east); David Umahi (South-east) and Adams Oshiomhole (South-south), are believed to be in the race for the Senate presidency.

The North-east Senator-elect further told THISDAY on conditions of anonymity that members of the minority caucus across political party lines have agreed to ensure good governance and would not allow the incoming administration to give any excuse for non-performance.

He said: "We are not going to rock the boat by producing the presiding officers from the minority caucus. We would abide by the global legislative convention by supporting the best aspirant from the majority bloc.

"We have also agreed that the best aspirant from the South-east geopolitical zone with the best credentials will be supported to become the Senate President.

"We have equally agreed that we would ensure the emergence of a North-central Senator with outstanding records of good performance, as the Deputy Senate

Contacted yesterday, a ranking Senator currently representing Osun East, who had been reelected, Francis Fadahunsi, confirmed the meeting of the opposition senators.

Fadahunsi, a retired deputy comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said the PDP senators-elect are united in their resolve to contribute their quota to good governance in the incoming administration.

Fadahunsi said: "The meeting of the minority caucus has started and it is not meant to frustrate the APC leadership move on zoning.

"We are prepared to support the best aspirant from the geopolitical zone where the presiding officers’ positions would be zoned to."

Asked what would happen if the APC decided to look away from the South by zoning the positions to the North, Fadahunsi said, "When we get to the bridge, we shall cross it."

He however, said, "We expect the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC and the President-elect to feel the mood of the nation before taking such a delicate decision."

Meanwhile, another senator-elect, a member of the PDP from the North-central geopolitical zone, who preferred anonymity, said the minority coalition might support a Southern Christian aspirant if APC zones the Senate Presidency position to the North.

He said: "The APC narrowly won the presidential election because of the same-faith ticket. I don't expect them to make another fundamental mistake this time around.

"We all know that the Southeast is marginalised and the Christians are seriously agitating for inclusiveness.

"If the APC failed to reason with the current mood of the nation. We will help them to do the right thing on the day of the inauguration. We will support a Christian Southern aspirant among the current APC contestants," he added.

The zoning arrangements would be announced as soon as the President-elect, Tinubu returns to the country this week.

Meanwhile, the leader of the PDP in the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (Rivers) has promised that the PDP and other minority parties despite agreeing to respect the decision of the ruling party APC, on zoning of the Speaker

The returning majority, minority lawmakers and new members-elect from all political parties that won seats in the parliament had last week vowed to respect the decision of the majority party on zoning of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker seats and as well decision of opposition parties on minority leadership of the House in line with parliamentary best practices.

The lawmakers comprising of 283 members-elect from the APC, PDP, the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP), formed an alliance known as the "Joint Task–10th Assembly".

In a statement signed by the group Chairman Hon. Usman Bello Kumo (APC, Gombe) and Co-Chairman Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), the lawmakers said the main focus of the coalition is to promote the independence of the Legislature; the inter-dependence of the Legislature and other Arms of Government to legislate for good governance and grassroots impact.

Speaking to THISDAY on if the alliance will weaken the opposition's strength in the parliament, Chinda said that it won't, as the alliance only means that after zoning members will make their choices from among candidates from the zone.

His words, "APC is agreed to conduct the zoning as the majority party in parliament. Of course my party PDP could not have been asked to come up with zoning the presiding officer position. This does not erode the position of opposition parties at all. It also does not mean that we are letting down our guards as opposition. After zoning members will make their choices from among candidates from the zone."

The lawmaker also speaking on whether the emanating trend of alliances in the green chamber by the minority caucus signifies disunity, said, "Issues of leadership of the House Minorities or majority) are for the Minority or majority Caucuses not an agenda of the Joint task. The spirit of the joint task is douse tension and reduce rancour in the House over Presiding Officers position (Speaker and Deputy Speaker). That we intend to achieve by putting together members across parties to consider federal character and inclusive governance for purposes of national cohesion and in line with Section 14(3) of the Constitution."

WE WERE CHEATED…

Nigeria’s Inflation Hits 22.04% as Food Prices Rise

James Emejo in Abuja

The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and commodities sustained its upward trajectory to 22.04 per cent in March compared to 21.91 per cent in the preceding month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said yesterday.

The NBS in its CPI report for March attributed the 0.13 percentage point increase in the headline index to the rise in the prices of food and commodities. Year-on-year, the inflation rate was 6.13 per cent higher compared to 15.92 per cent in March 2022.

The report showed that food inflation rose to 24.45 per cent year-on-year, which was 7.25 per cent higher than the 17.20 per cent recorded in March 2022.

The food inflation was attributed to increases in prices of oil and fat, bread and cereals, potatoes, yam and other tubers, fish, fruits, meat, vegetables, and spirits.

On a month-on-month basis,

the food index increased to 2.07 per cent, which was 0.16per cent higher compared to 1.90 per cent in February.

The average annual rate of food inflation for the 12 months ending March 2023 over the previous 12 months’ average was 22.72 per cent, which was a 3.50 per cent increase from the 19.21 per cent average annual rate of change recorded in March 2022.

On the other hand, core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce, increased to 19.86 per cent year-on-year, up by 5.94 per cent when compared to the 13.91 per cent recorded in March 2022.

According to the statistical agency, the highest increases were recorded in prices of gas, passenger transport by air, liquid fuel, fuels, and lubricants for personal transport equipment, vehicles spare parts, maintenance, and repair of personal transport equipment, medical services, passenger transport by road, among others.

Makarfi Heads PDP Committee for Kogi Governorship Primary Today

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, has been appointed by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to conduct the Kogi State governorship primary election slated for today.

NWC constituted a special committee to conduct the primary election for aspirants ahead of the November governorship election in Kogi State.

While the seven-member committee chaired by Makarfi, Lauretta Ogwuche would serve as secretary.

Other members of the committee are, Erelu Mark, Ikechukwu Nwosu, Deolu Harrison, Usman Ibrahim and Anthony Onwuka.

The National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Umar

Bature, made the disclosure in a statement issued yesterday.

He said the primary election is scheduled for today at Lokoja, the state capital.

Bature urged members of the committee to work, according to the guidelines of the party’s constitution.

“In carrying out this assignment, you are expected to be guided strictly by the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended), the Electoral Guidelines for Party Primary Elections and the 2022 Electoral Act,” he said.

It is expected that the primary election would feature former senator, Dino Melaye, a former deputy governor of the state, Yomi Awoniyi, another former senator, Attai Aidoko, Kebiru Usman and Abdullahi Haruna.

Others are: Zakaria Alfa, Musa Wada, Bolu Femi, and Idoko Idah.

Month-on-month basis, core inflation rose to 1.84 per cent up by 0.78 per cent from 1.06 per cent in February.

The average 12 monthly annual inflation rate was 17.41 per cent for the 12 months ending March 2023, which was 3.85 per cent higher than the 13.56 per cent recorded in March 2022.

Urban inflation’s year-onyear increased to 23.07 per cent, which was 6.63 per cent higher compared to the 16.44 per cent recorded in March 2022 while month-on-month, the urban

inflation rate was 2 per cent in March, representing a 0.15 per cent increase compared to 1.85 per cent in February.

Similarly, the rural inflation rate year-on-year rose to 21.09 per cent, which was 5.67 per cent higher than the 15.42 per cent recorded in March 2022 while on a month-on-month basis, the rural index was 1.72 per cent, up by 0.14 per cent, compared to 1.58 per cent in February.

On the state level, however, general inflation year-on-year was highest in Ondo (25.38

per cent), Bayelsa (24.80 per cent), Lagos (24.66 per cent), while Borno (19.18 per cent), Cross River/Sokoto (19.24 per cent) and Benue (20.01 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in headline inflation.

On a month-on-month basis, the highest increases in were recorded in Bayelsa (2.58 per cent); Nasarawa (2.54 per cent); Lagos (2.41 per cent); while Anambra (1.03 per cent); Ebonyi (1.14 per cent); and Zamfara (1.27 per cent) recorded the slowest rise.

On the other hand, food

inflation year-on-year was highest in Kwara, (28.84 per cent); Ondo (28.22 per cent); and Lagos (27.92 per cent); while Sokoto (18.99 per cent); Zamfara (20.57 per cent); and Plateau (21.38 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in the food index.

On month-on-month, food inflation was highest in Bayelsa (3.11 per cent), Rivers (3.00 per cent), and Ondo (2.98 per cent), while Bauchi (1.03 per cent), Zamfara (1.08 per cent); and Ogun (1.13 per cent) recorded the slowest rise.

Chinese Miners Funding Militant Groups in Nigeria, Says Report

Segun James with agency report

The Times, a British national daily, has reported that Chinese nationals in the mining sector are funding terrorist groups in parts of Nigeria to secure access to the country’s mineral reserves. In an exclusive report published yesterday, the newspaper said through bribes and illegal transactions, “Beijing could be indirectly funding terror in Africa’s largest economy”.

The report revealed that some Chinese nationals who have worked informally as miners in Zamfara serve as runners for some militant groups in the state and other North-western parts of the country.

“Chinese companies working

in parts of Nigeria where attacks are frequent have been striking security deals with insurgents, The Times has learnt. Attacks on Chinese citizens, of whom there are said to be between 100,000 and 200,000 in Nigeria, have become regular occurrences in recent years amid the country’s many conflicts,” the report said.

“Research shared with The Times from SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based analytical group, has revealed videos on social media and WhatsApp of militant leaders boasting that they are so powerful that Chinese workers wishing to operate in their areas must pay them ‘rent’. They have taken over swathes of northwest Nigeria, turning the region into the country’s bloodiest conflict zone.

“In one pocket of Zamfara, researchers found, interaction with militants runs so deep that some serve as runners for Chinese miners who have spread throughout Nigeria, controlling digs for gold. The country has some of the largest gold reserves in the world.

“Often operating informally in small groups as contractors registered to clearing-house companies, they speak local languages and can stay for years at a time living in remote areas that western companies consider off-limits.

The Times, according to TheCable, also reported that Chinese mining contractors, who often pay a pittance to locals working on their fields, often smuggle minerals out of the country illegally and are

sometimes arrested.

“Chinese mining contractors, who local communities have accused of abuses and paying pitiful wages, often smuggle minerals out of the country illegally and are sometimes arrested.

“In 2020, 27 miners, including 17 said to be Chinese, were arrested in Osun State. Last October a Chinese citizen, Gang Deng, 29, was jailed for five years after being found with 25 tonnes of a mineral thought to be lepidolite, containing lithium, which is used in batteries.

“SBM also found Chinese workers involved in the Boko Haram conflict in Nigeria’s North-east, with a case of a Chinese smuggler being paid to help a jihadist group move metal ore out of the country.”

Boko Haram Terrorists Kill 10 Villagers in Buni’s Hometown

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have killed no fewer than 10 persons in Buni Gari village, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Buni Gari is the hometown of the State governor, Mr. Mai Mala Buni.

One of the residents, who spoke after the attack, said the suspected terrorists stormed the town to kidnap a resident, Mallam Shati Gawi, who was later killed.

Another resident said that, “I want to tell you that we lost more than 10 people here because we have seen the security personnel, including soldiers and policemen going to the area for response. I spoke with one of my friends there; he confirmed to me that about 15 persons have been killed by suspected Boko Haram.”

However, a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Dungus

Abdulkareem, confirmed the attack, but noted that only nine persons lost their lives.

According to the statement, the youths were ambushed and killed when they went to the bush to search for Mallam Shati Gawi, who was abducted and later killed by the suspected terrorists.

He added that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the town, DSP Idriss Haruna, has released the bodies of the deceased to

their families after he visited the scene.

Haruna also urged the people of the Buni Gari to support the Police with reliable and credible information in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram, kidnapping and cattle rustling in the area.

The PPRO said reliable and credible information on the movement of suspected criminals in the society would help to crush those terrorising innocent residents in the area

L-R: Governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State, Mr. Akubu Ajaka; Prof. Stephen Ocheni; Senator Smart Adeyemi; and Prince Shuiabu Abubakar Audu, during a press conference to protest the outcome of the primary in Abuja…yesterday

THE POLICY MAKERS…

INEC, EFCC Appoint Two SANs, 16

Others to Prosecute Electoral Offences

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have appointed

18 lawyers, including two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to prosecute electoral offenders. The 18 lawyers – all legal officers of both INEC and the EFCC – will prosecute electoral offences relating

to financial crimes arising from the 2023 general election.

THISDAY learnt that the first SAN on the list, Abdulaziz Sani, is from the electoral umpire, while the other SAN, Rotimi Oyedepo, is

from the anti-graft agency. The other lawyers from both commissions include: Nasara H. Auta, Odinaka Ikoroha, Adeyemi Olufemi, Mahmud Tafarki, Ahmed Mohammed, Amaka Okwuaka,

Sylva, Ododo Win APC Governorship Primaries in Bayelsa, Kogi

Adeyemi, other aspirants reject Kogi election results

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Former Governor of Bayelsa State and immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Timipre Sylva, has emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 11 election in the state.

In Kogi State, a former AuditorGeneral of the state, Mr. Usman Ahmed Ododo has also been confirmed as the governorship candidate of the party for the November election.

However, the other governorship aspirants - Senator Smart Adeyemi; former Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Professor Stephen Ocheni; son of the late ex-Governor Abubakar Audu, Shuiabu; and a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, have rejected the results of the primary election of the party held in the state.

Sylva defeated the former candidate of the party in the last gubernatorial election, Mr. David Lyon and four other aspirants to emerge winner of contest, which took place across the 106 wards in the eight local government areas (LGAs) of the state.

Sylva polled a total of 52,061 votes from the 55,141 accredited delegates.

While Lyon came a distant third with 1,872 votes, Joshua MacIver came second with 2,078 votes.

Lyon had won the majority votes in the last gubernatorial election and was declared governor-elect in the state, before he was removed by the Supreme Court on the eve of his inauguration.

Announcing the results of the primary election at the party secretariat in Yenagoa, the chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Jibrin (rtd), said declared Sylva emerged as the winner, having scored the highest number of votes.

Jibrin, who had earlier assured party members of a free, transparent and peaceful primary, commended the peaceful conducts of the election.

Meanwhile, the candidature of Ododo as the governorship candidate of the party in Kogi State was yesterday ratified by a Special Congress of the party, as stipulated in the guidelines for the primary election, which was held on Friday.

The special congress, presided over by the Chairman of the Kogi APC Primary Election Committee, Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, was held yesterday at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, in Lokoja, the state capital.

The ratification followed the emergence of Ododo, a former Auditor-General for Local Governments in the state, as the APC governorship candidate at the party’s direct governorship primary election held across all the 239 wards of the state.

Announcing the results for

ratification, the Secretary to the committee, who represented the Zamfara Governor, Patrick Obahiagbon, said: “After the carefully conducted primaries, devoid of rancour and with no violence recorded anywhere in the state, and having scored 78,704 votes, Alhaji Usman Ododo has been returned as the governorship candidate that will fly the party’s flag in the November 11 Governorship Election in the state.”

However, some governorship aspirants of the APC in the state have rejected the results of the primary election.

The aspirants include Senator Adeyemi, Professor Ocheni, Shuiabu Abubakar Audu, and Ajaka.

Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved aspirants at a press conference in Abuja, Senator Adeyemi alleged that no election took place to have warranted the declaration of Ododo as the governorship candidate of the APC for the state.

Enoch M. Akafa, and Temple Ukaegbu.

The others are: Samuel Daji, Adaka Mainforce Ekwu, Soare Adebayo Benedict, Arumemi Moses, Abubakar Aliyu, Ikhamaede Ramai, Andrew Akojn, and Khalid Sanusi Sabo.

It was learnt that over 200 persons are on the INEC prosecution list for various electoral offences during the just concluded general election.

On March 14, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had stated that the commission would set up a legal team to deal with cases of electoral offenders during the February 25 presidential and National Assembly polls.

A day earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, directed commissioners of police in charge of state commands to ensure the investigation of all cases of violation of the Electoral Act during the February 25, 2023, presidential and National Assembly polls.

The IG directed them to swiftly conclude the investigation and forward the case files to INEC for prosecution.

Similarly, the EFCC in March revealed that it arrested no fewer than 65 persons on 18 March 2023 across the 28 states where governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections were conducted, for alleged voter inducement.

But it did not state the number of arrests made during the presidential election.

The statement, issued by EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson

FINTIRI MAINTAINS LEAD AS INEC SUSPENDS COLLATION OF ADAMAWA’S GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION RESULTS

two polling units in the constituency. According to him, AkandeSadipe scored 14, 891 to defeat her closest rival, Mr Abdul-Mojeed Mogbonjubola of PDP, who scored 13,073.

Akande-Sadipe is currently representing the Oluyole Federal Constituency at the House.

The electoral body had declared the election held on February 25 inconclusive following the malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and cases of over-voting in the affected two polling units.

This made the commission conduct a supplementary election in the two polling units on Saturday.

Similarly, INEC has also declared the PDP House of Representatives candidate, Hon. Abass Agboworin, as the winner of the re-run election in Ibadan South-East/North-East Federal Constituency of Oyo State.

Agboworin, a current occupant of the seat, was declared elected

after he polled 28,111 votes to win the supplementary election.

The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Benjamin Olley of the University of Ibadan, announced Agboworin as the winner at the ancient Mapo Hall Collation Centre in Ibadan.

Agboworin won the election ahead of his closest contender, Adedapo Lam-Adesina, son of the late former Governor, Lam Adesina.

Lam-Adesina of the APC, polled 27, 338 votes.

In Kano State, MB Shehu of the NNPP was declared the winner of the Fagge Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Shehu defeated the incumbent House of Representatives member for the constituency, Aminu Sulaiman Goro of the APC, who is serving his third term in the Green Chamber.

Announcing the results, the Returning Officer, Professor Ibrahim Tajo Suraj, said Shehu polled 19,

024 votes of the total votes cast, followed by the candidate of the Labour Party, Shuaibu Abubakar who polled 12, 789 votes.

According to the result, Aminu Sulaiman Goro of APC came third with 8, 669 votes.

Six Feared Killed as Violence Mar Elections in Akwa Ibom, Kebbi

Meanwhile, six persons were feared killed as violence reportedly erupted during the conduct of the supplementary elections held in the Ikono/Ini and Abak federal constituencies of Akwa Ibom State.

Among those shot and hospitalised was an NYSC member who had served as Ad-hoc staff in the election.

The supplementary election in Ikono/Ini federal constituency was between incumbent House of Representatives member, Mr. Emmanuel Ukpong Udo who

defected from the PDP to the Young Peoples Party (YPP), and former Commissioner in the state, Dr. Glory Edet of the PDP.

Udo was said to be leading Edet with a margin of 4,161; while in the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, Clement Jimbo of the APC leads incumbent lawmaker, Aniekan Umanah of the PDP with a 2,962 votes margin.

The vote margin was said to have raised tension and violence allegedly caused by thugs, who reportedly resort to the hijacking of ballot materials and random shooting of some officials of INEC and supporters of opposition parties.

Out of the 17 units the polls were re-conducted in Ikono/Ini, and materials in seven units were reportedly hijacked by gunmen, which led to the cancellation of the supplementary polls by INEC.

Casualties were also reported in Etim Ekpo LGA Ward 7 at Ibio Nnung Achat community and Etok

Uruk Eshiet Ward 3, where thugs disrupted the elections with violence and hijacking of ballot materials after the polls.

Reacting to the shooting of the corps member and others across the seven units of Ikono Ward 11, the INEC official in charge of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr. Osaro Aisien, as well as the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said the full details of the cases were still being expected, assuring that no stone would be left unturned in bringing perpetrators to justice.

EFCC Arrests 12 in Kano, Katsina for Vote-buying

In a related development, the EFCC said it arrested 12 persons for alleged vote-buying during the supplementary polls in Kano and Katsina states.

The EFCC Kano Zonal Commander, Faruk Dogondaji, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Uwujaren, reads in part, “Twenty of the suspects were arrested by operatives from the Ilorin Zonal Command while 13 suspects were nabbed by operatives on election monitoring duty at the Kaduna Zonal Command.

“The teams monitoring the polls in the Port Harcourt Zone arrested a total of 12 people for various offences bordering on inducing voters with money to vote their preferred candidates, while the Uyo Zonal Command made 4 arrests in Calabar. The remaining suspects were arrested in Gombe, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Niger states.

“Those arrested in Kaduna consist of 10 males and 3 females. They were apprehended by operatives working on intelligence or chanced upon them during the monitoring exercise. A suspect allegedly involved in vote buying was nabbed at School Road, Unguwan Rimi Kaduna. The suspect who initially resisted arrest, is however in custody, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“Also in Kaduna, the Team led by ACE II Esmond Garba arrested one Buhari Muhammed in PU 002 Dogara Yaro Dagari area. He was arrested with Voter Coupons, which he confessed would be used to trace and pay those who voted for his party.”

He said the team monitoring the voting exercise around LEA Kabala Doki, Kaduna led by CSE Wakilu Omokide also arrested two individuals suspected of vote buying.

in an interview that the suspects were arrested with N1.5 million cash in Kano and Katsina states. According to him, 10 were arrested in Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State and two in Kankiya LGA of Katsina State.

Dogondaji said the suspects were arrested while attempting to induce eligible voters with cash at some polling units.

He said the 10 suspects were apprehended with N1,357,500 in Doguwa LGA, while the two suspects were arrested with N242,000 in Kankia LGA.

“We will also be physically present at all the collation centres to prevent a change of results,” he said.

He said the presence of the personnel in the electoral process would add credibility to the exercise. The EFCC commander said the suspects would be charged in court after the investigation.

L-R: Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Ben Akabueze; Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, CBN, Mr. Kingsley Obiora, and Special Adviser to the CBN Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Ukeje, exchanging views at the spring meetings of the IMF-World Bank in Washington DC, USA

STRATEGIC ECONOMIC MEETING…

L-R: Ekiti State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode; Governor Biodun Oyebanji; and Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Holdings, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, during a meeting of the bank’s management with the state officials at the governor's office, Ado-Ekiti… recently

PDP Awaits Court Decision on Ayu Before NEC Meeting

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will wait for tomorrow’s decision by a Benue State High Court presided over by Justice WI Kpochi on the fate of its suspended National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, before scheduling a meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC), THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

THISDAY also learnt that the supplementary polls that took place yesterday also contributed to the delay in fixing the NEC meeting of the party.

Two influential PDP governors, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State had their second term ambition and senatorial bid, respectively, decided in yesterday’s polls.

THISDAY gathered that the restraining order against Ayu is expected to be decided tomorrow to determine whether or not the embattled national chairman can go back to his office.

A party source told THISDAY at the weekend that if Ayu fails to convince the court to vacate the order, a NEC meeting would be summoned to decide on a substantive national chairman, pointing out that PDP affairs cannot be in the hands of an acting chairman in perpetuity.

He also noted that with the emergence of the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the governorship candidate of the party in the November 11, 2023 governorship candidate in Imo State, he is

expected to resign 150 days before the election.

According to one of the members of the PDP NWC, the party leaders had resolved that the affairs of the party should not be run by the acting national chairman and acting national secretary, hence the need for a NEC meeting.

He said that after yesterday’s supplementary elections and

tomorrow’s court decision, a NEC meeting could be considered.

He explained that the running of the affairs of the party was also affected by the support given the G-5 governors by its Deputy National Chairman, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja and the Vice National Chairman for the South-south, Dan Orbih.

He said the officers’ support to

G-5 polarised the NWC as they stopped participating in the affairs of the NWC of the party, thus making an NEC meeting inevitable. The source said: “For some time now since last year, and for reasons known to them, they stopped attending the leadership meeting of the party. So, for us, once the coast is clear with the injunction lifted or not, and with the conclusion of

the supplementary election, a NEC would be summoned to address issues, including vacant positions that have emerged."

He said with the imminent resignation of Anyanwu who is now the governorship candidate of the party in Imo State, an acting secretary is expected to emerge from the South-west.

A Benue High Court had

last month restrained Ayu from parading himself as the national chairman of the party.

Ayu had in obedience to the order stepped aside, while the Deputy National Chairman, Ambassador Illya Damagum, stepped in as Acting National Chairman, pending the outcome of the case of an anti-party suit against Ayu.

CPJ Condemns Conviction of Two Journalists in Kwara, Seeks Judicial Reforms

Hammid Shittu in Ilorin

An independent, non-profit organisation that promotes press freedom worldwide, Committee to Protect Journalists (CJR), has condemned the conviction of two journalists, Gidado Yushau and Alfred Olufemi, in Kwara State on conspiracy and defamation charges.

A Magistrate’s Court sitting in the state had on February 7, 2023, convicted the duo over a false publication about an agro-allied company based in the state.

The publication, “Inside a Kwara factory where Indian Hemp is legalised,” was published in the News Digest publication in the 2018 edition.

The convicted journalists who worked for News Digest, an online publication, were found guilty of criminal conspiracy and defamation by the court.

CPJ described the conviction as “a chilling message to the Nigerian press.”

It also highlighted the urgent

need for authorities to reform the country’s laws and ensure journalism is not criminalised.

According to the CPJ’s Africa programme coordinator, Angela Quintal, the duo should not have been charged, let alone convicted.

“Nigerian journalists - Gidado Yushau and Alfred Olufemi should never have been charged, let alone convicted, for publishing an investigative report about a factory.

“The telecom surveillance used to bring the journalists into custody, followed by a more than three-year-long trial, demonstrates the lengths Nigerian authorities will go to arrest and prosecute the press,” she said.

Before charges were filed, CPJ disclosed that the police leveraged Yushau and Alfred’s access to call data and briefly detained a News Digest web developer and at least two other journalists in their efforts to locate Yushau and Olufemi.

CPJ added that “The telecom surveillance, along with two similar cases in 2017 and

2018, prompted an ongoing lawsuit against the Nigerian Communications Commission over regulations granting warrantless access to telecom subscribers’ information.”

Earlier, while delivering judgment on the matter after about five years of legal battle, the magistrate, Mr. A.S Muhammad said, “I have carefully considered the evidence of PW1 (Shakirat Yusuf) on the character of the convicts as well as considered the Allocutus made by learned counsel to the convicts and I have equally reflected on the provisions of sections 316 and 417 of the Kwara State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2018. In compliance with the provisions under S.417 (2) (d) of the Kwara State ACJL, 2018, I shall not pass a maximum sentence on the convicts.

“Premised on the forgoing for the offence of conspiracy, I sentence the 1st and 2nd defendants to a fine of N40,000 only each or 2 months imprisonment in default

of payment.

“On defamation, the 1st and 2nd convicts are sentenced to a fine of N60,000.00 only each or 3 months imprisonment in default of payment.

“For clarity, each of the convicts is to pay a fine of N100,000.00 only for the offences of conspiracy and defamation, respectively, having been convicted in default of payment, the sentence shall run concurrently.

“Rights of Appeal exist within 30 days,” he added.

Reacting, the counsel to the journalists, AS Ibraheem Gambari insisted that the journalists have the right to appeal and that efforts are on top gear towards exercising that constitutional right.

Gambari stated that they were still studying the judgment and would do the needful soonest.

They noted that if not for some administrative delays in obtaining the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment from the court’s registry, “the notice of appeal would have been filed by now.”

IMF: NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC DIRECTION, DEBT SUSTAINABILITY DEPEND ON INCOMING GOVT’S POLICIES

region’s ability to provide them.

“I’ve always said that this is the African century, but if measures are not taken to address this funding squeeze now, the region may be held back from developing its potential. Here at the IMF, we’re playing our part. As of last month, we had 21 lending arrangements with countries in the region, and we still have more programs under request and under discussion; and between 2020 and 2022, we will provide more than $50 billion through programs, emergency financing, and special drawing rights allocation. We also, of course, continue to provide capacity development, technical assistant, and training to our members, and will continue to

do so in the coming months.

“In terms of policy priorities, we are flagging that there’s a need to first consolidate public finances and strengthen public finance management. This needs to rely on continued revenue mobilisation that are management of fiscal risks and more proactive debt management.

“In countries where debt levels are elevated and debt is clearly unsustainable, restructuring is going to be unavoidable, and a well-functioning debt resolution framework will be vital to create the required fiscal space.

“A second priority is to contain inflation. The inflation rates are varied across the region but remain elevated much more so than we’ve

seen it for many years now; and monetary policy needs to focus on keeping inflation firmly on a downward trajectory and make sure that it pertains to the Central Bank’s target range.

“Third, I think, is a need to allow, in those countries where exchange rates are flexible, the exchange rates to adjust while mitigating adverse effects on the economy. And then, finally, climate change is, of course, increasingly, something that is weighing on policy makers in the region, on our people; and tackling this, including with support from the international community, will be very, very important.”

Okonjo-Iweala Calls

for Diversification of Global Supply Chains

Meanwhile, Okonjo-Iweala has called for the diversification of global supply chains, stating that global value chains make up to 45 to 65 per cent of world trade. She also revealed that financial inclusion has spread over several countries and this had led to job creation, increased incomes, adding that studies had been done to show that where you have global value chain spreading, income score per capita goes up.

She further stated that when global supply chains are trying to build resilience, by not being too concentrated in one country or the other, there is need to see this

as an opportunity to encourage them to spread to more developing countries, because this can be used as a force for inclusion and to bring even Small Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and women into the value chains.

“During the pandemic, when we had to deal with vaccines, we had these meetings with the CEOs of the vaccine manufacturers Pfizer, and Moderna, and others. What they said about the mRNA vaccine, especially Pfizer, is that it one has a spread over 19 countries, and the supply chain is over 90 countries, and manufacturing in 86 sites.

“So, it's incredible, you know, and it is the first campaign for creating jobs and employment,”

The counsel revealed that “there was evidence before the trial court that the police report, which purportedly indicted our clients came into existence even before they were invited by the police. In other words, the police had already found them culpable long before they were invited to state their side of the story.

“Also, an ex-employee of the company testified before the court that he was not only a witness to how smoking of Indian hemp pervaded the site but equally, it was the persistent smoking of the Indian hemp that informed his decision to sever his employment with the company. What’s more, to establish the verisimilitude of his assertion, the same witness tendered his bank statement evidencing the receipt of his monthly salaries from the company during the period when smoking was prevalent. It, therefore, remains a conundrum how the court found them guilty in the face of this empirical evidence among others.”

she stated.

She remarked that governments of nations and development partners cannot be talking about China Plus One strategy and also thinking about of diversification of supply chains.

China Plus One, also known simply as Plus One or C+1, is the business strategy to avoid investing only in China and diversify business into other countries.

“Let's talk about China Plus Morocco, China Plus Egypt, China Plus Nigeria, China Plus Bangladesh, China Plus Brazil, Costa Rica. And with this kind of approach, global value chains can really be a force for inclusion,” she added.

REWARDING LOYALTY AND COMMITMENT…

Osunbor: Nigerian Constitution Doesn’t Prescribe 25% Win in FCT to Be Declared President

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A Professor of Law and former Governor of Edo State, Senator Oserheimen Osunbor, has declared that no section in Nigeria’s Constitution provides that a presidential candidate must score 25 per cent of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before she or he can become president.

Osunbor, in a statement at the weekend, declared that there was no controversy at all as “the Constitution does not require a win in any particular place, the FCT inclusive.”

He explained that: “There is no section in our constitution that requires a presidential candidate to score 25 per cent of the FCT. Some people are simply reading

into the constitution what is not there.

“What the constitution states clearly in section 133 is that to be declared winner, the candidate must score at least 25 per cent in two – thirds of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

“It did not say 25 per cent in the FCT, which is how the legal draftsman would have rendered it if that was the intention.”

Osunbor, a two-term member of the Senate, said: “In fact, the Constitution does not require a win in any particular place, the FCT inclusive.

“Ask any secondary school student who understands English comprehension the question, ‘where does section 133 of the Constitution require a candidate

Lagos CP Removes DPO over Extortion

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, has ordered the immediate removal of the Divisional Police Officer of Okokomaiko, SP Emmanuel Edebagha, for the lack of supervision of his men.

The CP also ordered immediate disciplinary action against Edebagha and all officers involved in the act.

This was disclosed by the state spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin via his Twitter account, on Saturday.

“CP Idowu Owohunwa has ordered the immediate removal of DPO Okokomaiko for his lack of supervision of his men. CP Owohunwa has also ordered the commencement of disciplinary action against him and all his indicted officers (who are already in the state headquarters),” Hundeyin tweeted.

Officers of the division were said to have falsely labelled a Lagos-based phone dealer as a fraudster and extorted N100,000 from him.

LivingTrust Mortgage Bank’s Profit Crosses N1bn Mark in 2022

LivingTrust Mortgage Bank Plc has declared a profit before tax of N1.005 billion in its full-year audited results for 2022, representing a 33 per cent increase from N768.209 million declared in the preceding year.

According to the figures made available at the weekend, the bank’s total income for the year under review was N2.043 billion as against N681.425 million posted in 2021; while its net profit amounted to N831.678 million, an improvement over N506.961 million recorded in 2021.

In the report, the bank’s total

operating expenses climbed to N943.789 million as against the figure of 2021 which was: N681.425 million.

Another interesting feature of the result was the significant increase in the bank’s gross earnings in the fourth quarter of 2022 which moved from N1.627 billion in 2021 to N2.538 billion in 2022.

The report shows that the growth in pre-tax profits was due to the increase in interest income boosted by loans and advances to customers and credit-related fees and commissions.

to score 25 per cent.

“The only correct answer would be in two-thirds of the states of the federation and the FCT.

“I have read and listened to some lawyers dwell on the rule of interpretation of statutes and the use of the word “and”.

“The first rule of interpretation

is that where the language of the statute is clear (as in this case), you do not need to belabour the issue of interpretation. 25 per cent of two-thirds of the states and the FCT is clear enough. You do not need to go on a voyage of discovery to find what is not missing.”

Osunbor maintained that “the language of the section is simple and straightforward.

“It is a known fact that during National Sports Festivals, the medals table shows the 36 states and the FCT. When the INEC chairman invites Resident Electoral Commissioners for a

meeting, the REC from the States and the FCT attend. The same thing happens when the Inspector General of Police meets with Commissioners of Police from the states and the FCT.

“Simply put, the 36 states and the FCT go together. It is disingenuous to argue otherwise.”

Off-grid Programme: Renewables to Cut N3.5tn Post-harvest Losses

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigeria Off-grid Market Acceleration Programme (NOMAP), a donor-funded scheme, focused on accelerating off-grid energy access in the country, has said it is accelerating its renewables solutions to cut the country’s N3.5 trillion post-harvest losses.

The conveners of the group made the disclosure in Abuja at a high-level stakeholders event to discuss how to finance off-grid renewable energy solutions targeted at productive use for rural

communities and marginalised groups.

The event brought together relevant government agencies, donor partners, development finance institutions, commercial banks, off-grid energy companies among others.

“Mini-grids in Nigeria continue to struggle with capacity utilisation and commercial viability constraints. Incidentally, most mini-grids operate in agrarian communities where post-harvest losses are significantly high because of limited options for storage and processing.

“Post-harvest losses currently cost the country N3.5 trillion ($8 billion) annually. While efforts are being made to stimulate demand for electricity in communities powered by mini-grids, developers are beginning to identify opportunities where electricity can be used for value addition especially in the agro value chain,” an update on the programme indicated.

In his welcome remarks, the Programme Director, NOMAP, Adedotun Eyinade, said the stakeholders’ event was inspired by the need to

build on the collective progress made in the sector and to foster learning and collaboration.

“We are grateful to be complimenting the work of the government, donor organisations, mini-grid developers, solar home system companies and many other stakeholders too numerous to mention.

“As a market accelerator, we pay a great deal of attention to engaging all our stakeholders as a strategy to deepening our understanding of issues and how that can help design human centred solutions to challenges facing the sector,” he said.

APC Group Calls for Lukman’s Sack over Zoning of N’Assembly Leadership to South

The Indigenous Group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Northern Stalwarts has called for the sack of the National Vice Chairman (North) of the party, Salihu Lukman, from the National Working Committee (NWC).

The group in a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, signed by Alhaji Mustapha Yaro, said it has become expedient to re-echo earlier calls by other patriotic groups from the zone that Lukman’s incessant opposition to the zone’s

interest especially on the issue of the Senate Presidency had become embarrassing and should be condemned by all.

“The group has noticed the disturbing utterances of Salihu Lukman and his incessant rabble-rousing that negates the interests of the Northwest which is unbecoming of a National Vice-Chairman (North).

“For a top party officer to be seen engaging in acts inimical to the interest of a strategic portion of the North that he or

she represents is not acceptable and must not be tolerated.

“It is strange that in the presidential election, our party (APC) lost critical states like Katsina, Kano and Kaduna while also losing Zamfara and Kano in the governorship elections and all that did not worry Lukman, the supposed National Vice-Chairman overseeing the zone, nor did the fact that the President- elect lost Kaduna State, APC lost the three senatorial seats and several House of Representa-

tives seats in Kaduna State, the home state of Salihu Lukman worry him. Rather, what worries Lukman is working against the interest of his zone in favour of South-south or South-east zones,” the statement added

“Since Salihu Lukman is more interested in the interest of a different geo-political zone than the North -west on behalf of which he sits on the National Working Committee, we hereby demand his immediate resignation or sack if he decides not to tow the path of honour.”

Gang of Lagos: Runsewe Begs Lagos Govt, Lagosians to Forgive Infractions

Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, has said that the uproar created by the production of a new film, ‘Gang Of Lagos’ calls for strategic rethinking on cultural related narratives by film makers in Nigeria in order to avoid public resentments

and reactions.

Runsewe pleaded with the Lagos State Government and the good people of the state, to forgive the infractions contained in the flick, assuring to arrest such cultural insensitivity headlong.

According to him, Gang of Lagos had depicted the iconic Eyo masquerade as enabler of

violence, drawing angry reactions from cultural groups in Lagos Island and from the state government which described it a misrepresentation of cultural ethos of Eyo masquerade and insulting to the tradition and history of Lagosians.

Runsewe, who doubles as President, World Craft Council, Africa Region, noted that Eyo

masquerade is one of the key cultural tourism products, associated w ith the history of Lagos nay Nigerian culture, and advised film makers, to be well guided when producing for public consumption, films on Nigerian cultural history so as not to provoke tension and irritations across the country.

L-R: Manager, Systems Engineering, PPC Limited, Mr. Abiodun Pariola; Head of Building Services Engineering, PPC, Mr. Anand Kumar; Business Development Manager (WECA), Mobius, Mr. Adeniyi Ajayi; Head of Systems Engineering, PPC Limited, Mr. Tola Ibitola; Managing Director, PPC Limited, Mr. Ayo Grillo; and Head of Marketing and Communications, PPC, Mr. Tolu Koyejo, at the 2022 Systems Integrator Excellence Award presentation in Lagos…recently

W’Bank Grant: As Opposition to Social Intervention Template Mounts

Festus Akanbi

of previous social intervention programmes of the outgoing administration

There are indications that the outgoing administration’s Nigerians ahead of the planned removal of subthe organised labour and other trade associations lead the opposition against $800million World Bank largesse, insisting that Nigerians social intervention programmes of this administration.

Despite the assurance given by the outgostill believe there is a reason for Nigeriansproaching the issue of subsidy removal. They argued that aside from the hardship already live beyond the poverty line, the government has done almost nothing to removal.

This is besides indications that the $800 million World Bank facility, aimed at cushdebt stock of $171 billion by a further 0.47 per cent.

servicing of the debt stock from 29 per cent scheduled in the 2023 appropriation act, petrol may rise by as much as 401 per cent if marketers are importing and 297 per cent before June 2023.

maintained that the impression given by thetion seeking to lessen the pains associated the $ 800 million grant from the multilateral institution is being targeted at the poor segment of society, using the template of its come under serious criticism in the past.

Targeting Vulnerable Nigerians

Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed had, recently announced that Nigeria secured an $800 million grant from the World Bank as part of its subsidy palliatives measures ahead of the removal of a costly fuel subsidy by June.

give cash transfers to the most vulnerable in in a national social register,” Ahmed said. According to the minister, the palliatives Nigerians or 10 million households. Ahmed Council (PTC) and the incoming administration to drive the palliative programme, various considerations.

Mistrust of Past Interventions

the World Bank’s largesse because of the

and the people, especially as it is feared interventions, modalities for the selection transparent.

Analysts pointed out that the federal interest-rate loans and grants from the World Bank through the International Development Association(IDA) and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), saying the method of the deployment of such is responsible for the current level of mistrust.

The questions being raised by the government’s critics also border on the sincerity of an outgoing administration that has been accused of frittering similar opportunities in the past.

Critics recalled that of the $104 million released to Nigeria’s social investment programme in the August-September 2018 and September-October 2019 payment cycle,velopment Association (IDA) credit.

School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), and Trader Moni programme.

And given the ripples generated by the analysts said one cannot be surprised that

In July 2022, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) described the $ 1 billion annual allocation for the National Social Investment Programme of the federal government as “the single biggest fraud in Africa.”

“The National Social Investment ProProgramme, is the perhaps, the biggest fraud said.

In January, the Director-General of the

DMO, Patience Oniha, said that Nigeria’s total debt stock rose to N44.06 trillion as of there are fears that the next administration may inherit a total public debt stock of about N77 trillion.

All-Encompassing Plans than relying on handouts to the poorest of a medium to the long-term plan. This is the for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr. Muda Yusuf in his response to THISDAY

programmes especially as Nigeria prepares that there must be palliatives that should be segmented into immediate, short term and medium-term deliverables.

According to him, “Immediate and shortservice, electronic cash transfers to the vulnerable groups in our society, designation of at deregulated prices for a transition period of one year. Others include the introduction of subsidised public transportation schemes across the country and a reduction in import duties on intermediate products for food-related production to moderate food

Just like the arguments advanced by the labour, the CPPE chief raised the need to as a precursor to the total removal of fuel subsidy.

He said: “In the medium to long term, investments; accelerated investments in rail transportation by the government to ease logistics of fuel distribution across the country

Nigeria-World Bank Deal

geria and the International Development Association (IDA), a part of the World Bank The amount is part of a sum considered to According to the United States Agency for International Development, concessional loans, or soft loans, have more generous terms than market loans. They include to make debt payments for several years, grace periods.

aims to provide cash transfers to poor and vulnerable people in both rural and urban areas in Nigeria, in response to economic delivery system of the safety net programme, through the use of digital technologies, expansion of coverage, and improvement -

-

Counting the Gains of Subsidy Removalment’s pronouncement signalling the end of fuel subsidy, the CPPE CEO believed the instead of dissipating energy on arguments He explained that fuel subsidy removal has According to Yusuf, “First, there is the about N7 trillion into the federation account. ultimately ease the burden of mounting debt. sector because of the unsustainable subsidythe distortions and stimulate investment. in petroleum refineries, petrochemicals, and fertiliser plants. Post subsidy regimelines, storage facilities, transportation, export of refined petroleum products petrochemicals and fertiliser as private capital comes into the space. Quality

“There is a foreign exchange effect. substitution as petroleum products importation progressively decline. This boost our ext ernal reserves,” he said. Yusuf is optimistic that the increase in adding that the smuggling of petroleum

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with some school children under the School feeding programme

Rafsanjani: Incoming Government Must Ensure Sustainability of Economic Plans

Unsustainable Debts

HOSPITALITY

DUPE OLUSOLA :

Rising Energy Costs Still a Big Deal in Hospitality Business

Managing Director, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Dupe Olusola, in this interview with Festus Akanbi speaks on sundry issues including the rising energy costs in the hospitality business; how the changing needs of guests are putting hotel managements on their toes, and the urgent need for the in-coming administration to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria

Forthehospitalityindustrytogrow,what

Generally, our country needs an enabling environment to ensure economic growth. Security, the right policies that improve the ease of doing business, infrastructural development, and encouraging private sector investment, among others, are critical factors for growth. I expect the incoming administration to focus on these things, as they will help our economy blossom and all industries, including hospitality, thrive.

Today’s guests know what they want and they expect brands to satisfy their expectations. Yet, these expectations change from time to time and brands need to keep up. Changing customer preferences ensures that we continue to innovate. Constantly understanding the varying needs of our guests keep us on our toes to always deliver exceptional services, and exploits every tool that allows us to satisfy our guests, including the adoption of new technologies. Thus, we are always innovating and adapting to satisfy and surpass the expectations of our guests. This has ensured we remain competitive, achieving great results and breaking records.

successful results in 2022, including diversifying our segments from our international business travel and leisure businesses. Also, our commitment to innovation and exceptional guest experience has been instrumental to our growth. Guided by our core values of excellence, execution, and enterprise, we strive to always satisfy the dynamic preferences of 2022, despite adverse economic conditions, is due to the our unswerving commitment to delivering value to our stakeholders, especially our guests.

Leading on from the pandemic, we introduced some initiatives to improve our attraction to guests, at a time people were avoiding public spaces like hotels. We introduced our drive-through cinema, as well as leisure activities at the hotel, opening up to a new category of guests, especially with our predominant International Business Travel business dwindling, as people favoured virtual meetings to curtail the spread of the virus. Our CleanStay programme was the assurance our guests needed to come to our property; the program ensured that the highest level of cleanliness and safety is maintained across our property. constantly promise and deliver to our guests. To ensure invest in employee training and development, while also leveraging technology to enhance customer experience, make good use of data to understand our guests better room variants, wellness services, etc. Today, we have a spa at Transcorp Hilton Abuja in response to the growing

We are developing a 5,000-capacity conference centre at Transcorp Hilton Abuja to cater to big events that we have previously missed due to the size of our current main event venue. Guests prefer to stay at Transcorp Hilton, but they even like it better when their events also hold here. This will be the case starting from Q1 2024.

To continue our growth trajectory, we are focusing on expanding our footprint. Since launching Aura by Transcorp Hotels, our online platform for booking homes, hotels, and experiences, we have been able to extend our services to about 30 states in Nigeria, holding over 5,000 rooms in ownership and management, across hotels and homes listed on Aura by Transcorp Hotels. We are also working Transcorp Hilton, Ikoyi Lagos will compete favourably with some of the best hotels in the world. Our commitment to exceptional customer service and focus on sustainability and social responsibility sets us apart from other hospitality sweet spot between business and leisure to become a top destination for leisure travellers, while still maintaining our position as Africa’s best luxury business hotel, is to achieve.

HowhasTranscorpHotelsadaptedtothechanging

Our investment in technology, commitment to inus adapt well to the changing landscape of the industry. hospitalityindustry,andwheredoyouseeitheading

The current state of the hospitality industry is characterised by changing customer preferences, and the impact of technology on the sector. The COVID-19 pandemic there are opportunities for growth in areas such as sustainability, personalised customer experiences, and technology adoption. In the next few years, I expect the industry to continue to evolve and adapt to meet changing customer needs and preferences. Only brands that do this very well will remain relevant.

Can you speak to any challenges

Transcorp Hotels

Rising costs, especially energy costs have been a very big challenge for our business, in addition to the supply chain, which continues to be a challenge. I must stress that these challenges are not peculiar to our business, Nigeria as a whole needs to address rising energy costs. Therefore, we prioritised cost management strategies. We are also constantly looking inwards to see how we can address most of our supply needs locally without comprising our standards. Now, more than ever, we are enhancing our marketing strategy, and focusing on optimising operational

WhatstepshasTranscorpHotelstakentoensureaposi-

You would recall my stance on delivering value to our stakeholders. Our communities are very important stakeholders that we do not take for granted. Hence, as part of our ESG program, we take great care of our environment and communities. By implementing environmentallywater conservation measures, supporting local suppliers and vendors, and investing in community development initiatives such as education and healthcare, we have made a lot of positive impacts. However, it is good to mention a few of the activities we are engaged in. Every year, we join the rest of the world to celebrate Earth Hour, the biggest hour for the earth when non-essential lights are turned energy conservation. We train women in the fashion business as part of our Business Empowerment Programme for Women, every year. Our Soap for Hope project also sees us donate soap to communities as we promote personal hygiene, prevent avoidable diseases, and create awareness for recycling and repurposing soap waste. Used soaps are coloured, and moulded into new exotic soap bars which are wrapped and distributed to pupils and students of primary/secondary schools and to indigenes of rural communities where soap is a luxury. Since its inception, the Soap for Hope project has distributed over 3,200

In 2022, Transcorp Hotels recycled 15,271kg of recyclable donated a portion of waste collected at its property towards Chanja Datti’s Bottles for Books Initiative, helping the NGO to support two full-time waste collectors and two out-of-school children.

These are some of the ways we are making a positive impact on our environment and communities.

Howdoyouensurethatyouareconstantlylearning

As a leader, I believe it is crucial to always exploit opportunities to learn and grow and cultivate a learning culture. I expose myself to learning, beyond my day-to-day activities, taking learning points from every experience and absorbing myself in reading.

What has your journey been like rising to the top

Overall, my journey has been really exciting, with lots of learning and growth along the way. Each experience has stretched me to achieve things I never thought I could achieve and beyond targets anyone has set for me, helping me to deliver great results.

Delivering optimum results and adding value has always been my priority, so I always look forward to challenges and tasks that will help me grow.

Overall, life must be enjoyed! I embrace life and all that we create, and the impact that we bring. I take pride in creating a culture of excellence and empowering my team to achieve their full potential. Seeing my team succeed and grow is incredibly rewarding and motivating.

Olusola

A Tale of Two Transitions

It is almost impossible to believe that in less than 7 weeks, there would be a change of baton as the present administration would be handing over to an incoming government, the outcome of the ongoing court process challenging the outcome of the elections permitting. It is almost difficult to feel that we are in a transition period, compared to the corresponding period in 2015 where there was so much in the air concerning the content of the transition notes. With the slogan ‘anyone but Jonathan’ still very thick in the atmosphere, the scenario being painted was that we were about to enter a state of Eldorado where everything would suddenly start to work perfectly under our new found messiah.

The outgoing administration of President Goodluck had been weighed on the scale of its campaign promises and was adjudged to be a failure. It was said to have failed to deliver on its promises to fix the power problem, resolve the fuel subsidies, fix the refineries, send Boko Haram packing, deal with the menace of corruption, and inaugurate the 2nd Niger Bridge. It was as if we could not find anything good about the administration.

Premium Times did however highlight some of the achievements of the administration.

“…Though still far from being at par with services around the world, President Jonathan resuscitated the comatose railway sector.”

“Previously abandoned routes especially between the Southern Nigeria and the North were revived and made pliable though at a less than desirable speed and comfort. His administration also started to build new railways lines like the one linking Kaduna to Abuja”.

“Road construction and rehabilitation should rank among the top five of his achievements in office. During his administration more than 50 road project were either completed or at various stages of completion”.

“The government rebuilt the notoriously defective Benin-Ore road, and worked a significant part of the Abuja-Lokoja road, amongst many other roads”.

Electoral reform was perhaps the best of President Jonathan’s delivered promises. Though elections in the country remains far from ideal, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not enjoy the kind of independence it enjoyed under the Jonathan administration in the entire 16 years of democratic rule of the Fourth Republic.

With the signing of his Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) early in his administration, Mr. Jonathan indicated he was ready to run a transparent government. However, he did not do enough to make government agencies and parastatal buy into the spirit of the FOIA as they repeatedly turned down FOIA requests except in few cases.

President Jonathan provided vital support to sections of the business and the entertainment community, including his grant for the Nollywood. Access to such facilities remained problematic though’.

Yet not much good was credited to the outgoing administration. Even the incoming government of Buhari had raised doubts on the ability of the outgoing administration to midwife an authentic transition programme by insisting that it would bring in independent consultants to work along with the transition team set up by the Jonathan administration.

The level of distrust was so much that as President Jonathan later revealed in his memoirs, My Transition Hours, launched in 2018 that he was afraid that the incoming government would witch hunt him and his team.

“My concern was whether the incoming administration would go on a persecution spree of those who supported me or focus on nation building.

“Initially, the concern was not necessarily on the incoming president because having been a governor and a president, I was very much aware that many unfortunate tendencies and measures come from different camps, especially those with strong connections to the corridors of power.

“Sometimes, the intentions of people around you are unclear and they take advantage of certain situations. I tried to have several discussions on this very subject directly with President-elect Buhari in our various meetings.”, Jonathan was quoted to have said in the book.

The fears of President Jonathan turned out to be founded as the incoming administration spent close to four years spewing out Juicy “revelations” about the preceding administration

Interestingly though there are as much serious issues to talk about in this transition period, there have not been much intellectual engagements on them. There is the issue of removal subsidies which has been passed from

one government to another without any resolution. The country is yet to recover from the chaos and confusion caused by the badly implemented Naira design project but no one is talking about it. Kidnappings and campaigns from Boko Haram are very much in the air yet we move on as if nothing is happening.

What is the content of the transition notes being put together by the outgoing administration? How does it want to ease in the removal of fuel subsidies without heating up the system especially with the organised labour threatening a show down? How does it plan to administer the $800million loan palliatives for the expected hardship from the removal of subsidies? Questions and more questions but fewer and fewer answers.

I decided to pick the mind of a senior friend who is close to the transition process on what he thinks are the differences between the ongoing transition process and the one in 2015 and what to possibly expect. Enjoy the conversation please.

What is your own reading of the transition project thus far?

Not much information is in the public domain but I believe the project has started. The President-Elect is not new to governance. Given his training, background and experience, he knows the enormity of the assignment and he must have done sufficient work through his core team

I understand some of them even attended the on-going World Bank/IMF Spring Meeting in Washington DC Comparing this period with the corresponding period in 2015 what could be responsible for the silence?

No basis for comparison. In 2015, the cabinet was not formed until 6 months after the inauguration. Besides, the APC as a party structure was relatively new with no ideological footprint. The Principal himself had been out of Government for about 30 years ( except when he briefly served as PTF Executive Chairman). The expectation was not much on the economy. The only hope was that he would rein-in corruption and address security crises, given his background as a no-nonsense retired General and a well respected honest elder statesman, acclaimed for his integrity

The incoming President is well known as a more market-friendly reformer and adept politician

I disagree slightly. The slogan then was: ‘ANYONE BUT JONATHAN’. With the ferocity of the campaign against incumbent administration , one would think that the opposition party was ready to hit the ground running on critical areas of economy , security and corruption but the new government spent almost four years on. ‘REVELATIONS’’ on the outgoing administration, including the Dasukigate.

No! The electorates said ‘anybody but Jonathan’ but APC being an amalgam of ACN, CPC, ANPP and Okorocha’s faction of APGA had no coherent Governance program. They won election on the goodwill of PMB and post election; couldn’t come up with a sound governance program because of clash in ideologies. We had NPDP - Saraki and co that joined and ‘snatched’ the Senate Presidency and Deputy Senate Presidency from them. The conservatives in CPC couldn’t agree with the progressives from ACN on major programs

There are so many burning issues on the burner but no one is discussing any!: staggering debts stock, subsidy removal; worsening insecurity… why are we not focusing on these?

Staggering debt is within the competence of the new team who parade experts in economics, banking and finance. Asiwaju’s area of strength is Public Finance and he will definitely come up with creative ways of raising Government Revenue through tax reform and enforcement etc. He will also adopt Public-Private Sector Partnership (PPP) model to finance key public infrastructure that have capacity for wealth creation.

He has been upfront on subsidy removal and kept no one in doubt that he will do that immediately on assumption of office. He will however cushion the pain by coming up with creative pro-poor initiatives including mass transit, cash transfers etc

Asiwaju is very courageous. He has robust plans to address insecurity but the details will certainly not be in the public domain. Excessive Kinetic options will give way to the use of technology and other intelligence based methods

Including the $800m WB loan!?

Sounds funny government will be borrowing money to distribute as pallative. Some say this is a parting gift for the boys

I don’t know about the economic policy of the outgoing administration but I am more upbeat about the incoming Asiwaju Administration. He will definitely perform above expectations. He will hire COMPETENT hands to do the difficult jobs. He has done it before; he will do it again! You kept talking about the new team with a note of certainty . But you are aware the opposition parties are in court challenging the result of the election . Are you ruling out anything could happen?

I am not God, neither do I have a crystal ball. All I am saying is SUBJECT TO Asiwaju being confirmed by the Supreme Court as being validly elected ( I know as of fact that the case will travel all the way to the Supreme Court

Fair enough

Come to think of it, no one is even talking of Meffy and his naira design?! Just like that!

No one will talk about him because he is burnt out. You wait and see what will happen, post May 29

But let us talk about it. Does it mean the policy has been reversed, indirectly?

No. The policy was given additional lifeline to smoothen the implementation

Nobody will reverse the naira redesign. The old currencies have enough time to wear out in December

But it appears no one is pushing it any longer!

It has assumed a life of its own. It no longer needs any pushing. You cannot continue to give a 3 year old baby breast milk

Just curious: why did this outgoing government push the implementation of sensitive policies such as subsidy removal , population census, naira design to the tail end of its tenure?

Just to escape people’s back-clash . The subsidy removal

is unpopular. Naira redesign is aimed at check-mating Asiwaju ( we were told that some elements close to the Villa are against the Asiwaju Presidency. Census is neither here nor there but you need to know that a Northern Dominated Government usually prefers to arrange population census for obvious reasons

Don’t you think the subsidy matter could destabilize the incoming government if not properly handled ?

It certainly can. The incoming Government knows the risk in not handling it properly. It is a form of banana pill; but I am confident; Asiwaju led administration will implement it with minimal resistance

It is about proper communication and looking at the counter factual. What options do we have? To continue to pile up debt and incur additional N6 trillion plus in subsidies? If the people understand that unnecessary subsidies account for why the roads are bad, the schools and hospitals are dilapidated etc, they will appreciate the need for its removal

And the big and sensitive one: some insist that until the restructuring issue is addressed no government can move the Nigeria project forward regardless of the soundness of policies. What sayest thou? Do you see the incoming government being able to tackle this headlong ?

I agree that we shall make the biggest mileage as a country post restructuring. This is because of our history. We actually started with a well structured Regional arrangement that produced the best of us pre 1960 - the groundnut pyramid in the north, the cocoa and rubber in the west as well as the Palm oil etc in the east. The present structure is a pseudo-unitary system where power is concentrated at the center.

The political struggle to play at the center is because of the way we are structured. We should restructure along the geopolitical line.

Unfortunately, not much of that can be done even by the new government UNTIL the constitution is amended. This of course has to be negotiated because constitution amendment requires two-thirds majority in the bica…

The incoming administration cannot do it alone. They do not even have absolute majority at the House of Representatives, talk less of the super-majority required for that to happen. But the serious conversation should begin and we can build consensus across party line to deliver that

Of course you are aware of the new CBN policy adjusting the tenure of bank chiefs . What is your take on this?

I have no issues with that. I am 100% in support of the term limits for the executives. We however need to take a second look at the owner chairmen. I don’t think it is fair to send someone away at 70 just because he has overstayed on a board of a bank established by him

What would you suggest then, concerning the chairmen?

If they are the owners of the company, they can have extended stay till a maximum of age 75

Buhari Jonathan Tinubu

www.thisdaylive.com

Tinubu deployed the weapon of identity politics to worm his way into power, contends IKE OKONTA

BOLA TINUBU AND THE DANGER OF IDENTITY POLITICS

See Page 20

DOUSING POLITICAL TENSION IN THE LAND

The

If you want to know the secret of Bola Tinubu’s long and continuing grip on the politics of Lagos State, examine closely the utterances of two of his key lieutenants – Bayo Onanuga and M.C. Oluomo. Bayo

The News magazine and latterly Head of Media of the Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council. M.C. Oluomo is a Tinubu’s right hand man in everything political in Lagos since the advent of the Fourth Republic in May 1999.

Some commentators have written that Igbo residents of Lagos began following Peter Obi’s defeat of Bola Tinubu in Lagos State during the presidential election of February 25th. But this is wrong. Onanuga’s diatribe against the Igbo began as soon as he was appointed head of media by Tinubu’s presidential campaign council. Onanuga’s tactic was to zero in on the Obidient Movement and characterize them as a bunch of young Igbo rascals. Not done, Onanuga went on to blame Igbo youth for turning the mayhem that followed after the peaceful End Sars protests into a deliberate Igbo bid to destroy the infrastructure of Lagos State.

See Page 20

EDITORIAL CHIBOK GIRLS: NINE YEARS AFTER…

Not to be outdone in this campaign of calumny against an ethnic group, M.C. Oluomo went public a few days before the March 18 governorship election in Lagos and declared that anyone who did not intend to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) should not bother to come out on election day. This of course was a barely concealed dart lobbed at the Igbo in Lagos.

Since 2007 after he stepped down as two-term governor of Lagos State, Bola ethnicity and religion to achieve his political ends. Realising that he had milked his membership of NADECO and for all it was worth during his two terms in political weapon in Lagos State. He cleverly transformed the then Action Congress into a political party representing the interests of the Yoruba people and began to subtly depict the Peoples Democratic Party as the party of the Igbo and other ‘outsiders.’ Jimi Agbaje ran into this formidable obstacle when he ran as candidate of the PDP against the AC twice. Agbaje was told to his face that he was an ‘Igbo hireling’ and not a true Yoruba son.

See Page 21

No attempt was made to examine the policies and programmes Agbaje had to

offer. He was tarred with the ‘Igbo’ brush and this was enough to scupper his bid to become governor.

Bola Tinubu turned to the dangerous weapon of identity politics again when he ran for president last February. Northern Christians expected him to choose one of their own as his running mate as this would make for religious balancing, Tinubu being a Muslim himself. It is not only that northern Christians have long complained that they have been politically and economically marginalized in northern Nigeria for long, it is also the fact that their Muslim counterparts do not consider them as ‘real’ northerners when it comes to sharing out rewards in the polity. Bola Tinubu ignored these facts and chose a Muslim from the northeast political zone as his running mate.

This is identity politics at its lowest. Bola Tinubu’s calculation was simple. He was sure to garner the southwest vote. To make assurance double sure that he would also perform well votewise in the northwest and northeast, he would pair with a Muslim in the area, assuring its political heavyweights that he was not only one of them, he would have a Muslim vice president by his side to look after their interests in Aso Rock Villa. This gambit worked very well, at least going by the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, the danger of identity politics is that it elbows out of the political

arena such vital issues as policies and programmes. Even as the countdown to the May 29 handover date began following the declaration of the presidential election results by INEC on March 1, nobody knows precisely what Bola Tinubu promised to do for Nigerians in terms of policies and programmes. They however remember that up north a vast swathe of the population who identify as Christians feel shortchanged and marginalized and are not looking forward to a Bola Tinubu presidency in which they will play second

Identity politics – the sort Bola Tinubu has been practicing since 2007 has a way of dividing the country into ethnic and religious silos, all at each other’s throat and ignoring the common ground. We have been there, once upon a time. The First Republic collapsed in January 1966 because politicians from the three major ethnic groups – the Hausa-Fulani, the Yoruba and the Igbo looked after the interest of their ethnic blocs and were willing to take the country to the brink and even beyond to achieve these ends. Politics is primarily about negotiation and consensus building. When ethnic and religious hegemons dig in and refuse to give way come what may, then chaos and bloodshed are the end result.

The beauty of democratic elections is politicians who did not perform well. There is overwhelming consensus that Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC these past eight years is a study in disaster. Ordinarily therefore, Bola Tinubu and the APC should not have been returned to power. The powerful antiAPC current running through the length and breadth of the country presently is results of the 2023 presidential election as announced by INEC runs against the grain of what ordinary Nigerian voters expected. What actually happened was that Bola Tinubu simply deployed the weapon of identity politics to worm his way into power when ordinarily the APC should have been shown the doorway.

Nigerians are sharply divided and the nation on a tinderbox presently. This is what Bola Tinubu’s brand of identity politics has done to the country. We can only pray that Nigerians will somehow find a way to overcome this latest danger.

Dr Okonta was until recently Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in the Department of Politics, University of Oxford. He now lives in Abuja.

THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION AUSTIN OKERE argues how the country can go around the abyss in the 2023 Presidential Election

government should bring to book those involved in electoral offences and ethnic profiling to signal that bad behaviour has consequences, writes JIDEOFOR ADIBE

AUSTIN OKERE argues how the country can go around the abyss in the 2023 Presidential Election

THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION

who all share the party’s goal of actualising a mandate which they believe has been denied them by a flawed electoral process through legal means. It is unfair to single out the Igbo people in this regard.

Two, the Labour Party includes people who are not Igbo, just as there are Igbo individuals in other parties besides the Labour Party. Die-hard Igbo supporters can be found in the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, and other parties, just as die-hard supporters of other tribes can be found in the Labour Party. The leadership of the Labour Party cuts across the diverse tribes in Nigeria.

DOUSING POLITICAL TENSION IN THE LAND

Reading about the post-2023 Presidential election discourse in Nigeria is exasperating. The politicians have successfully steered the discourse away from logical discussions about our country’s development to emotional and divisive topics such as tribalism and religion. This tactic has been used to maintain the status quo by dividing the population. People are willing to overlook the truth and blindly follow their tribal or religious affiliations. We have all been manipulated and will continue to be until we can break free from this narrowminded way of viewing national issues.

History has taught us that following the paths of ethnic and religious bigotry leads us to no viable destination. The Rwandan Genocide serves as an example of the tragic outcome of such paths. The genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, also known as the Rwandan genocide, occurred during the Rwandan Civil War between April 7 and July 15, 1994. Over the course of about 100 days, armed Hutu militias killed members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutu and Twa. The most widely accepted scholarly estimates put the number of Tutsi deaths between 500,000 to 662,000.

The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a rebel group mainly composed of Tutsi refugees, invaded northern Rwanda from Uganda in 1990, sparking the Rwandan Civil War. The conflict continued for three years without either side gaining a decisive advantage. In an attempt to end the war peacefully, Hutu President Juvénal Habyarimana signed the Arusha Accords with the RPF on August 4, 1993. However, Habyarimana’s assassination on April 6, 1994, created a power vacuum and ended the peace accords. Genocidal killings began the following day, initiated by majority Hutu soldiers, police, and militia who murdered key Tutsi and moderate Hutu military and political leaders. Despite the worldwide shock caused by the scale and brutality of the genocide, no country intervened to forcefully stop the killings.

I cite this example because of my belief that if we continue down the path of ratcheting up the caustic rhetoric that have pervaded the polity in the recent weeks, a similar outcome may not be far-fetched.

On the occasion of the one-year anniversary in office of Prof. Charles Soludo, Anambra State Governor, on March 19, 2023, former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo condemned the antiIgbo sentiments in Nigeria, which he called “Igbophobia”. In this context, it is important to recognize that the following constructs should not be viewed as interchangeable: Peter Obi, the Labour Party, the Obidient Movement, and the Igbo.

It seems that some individuals are mistakenly perceiving them to be one and the same, but this cannot be further from the truth. Here are the reasons why:

One, although Peter Obi is the presidential candidate of the Labour single individual. It is a diverse party with members from different tribes such as Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, and others

Three, the Obidient Movement includes individuals who are not necessarily associated with the Labour Party, such as Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, a PDP Stalwart, Aisha Yusufu, the renowned activist, and many others. This movement represents the desire for change in Nigeria and a departure from the status quo that has led the country to this point. The majority of the youth population identifies with this movement, and it includes people from all tribes. During the #EndSARS protests, they spoke out for better governance and were urged to become more engaged in the political process, which they have done.

Four, the Igbo people are an integral part of Nigeria, just like the Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani and other tribes. They transcend Peter Obi, the Labour Party, and the Obidient Movement. Failing to recognize these distinctions could lead to a dangerous blanket hatred against the Igbo people.

There are good and bad people in every tribe. Removing all Igbo individuals from Nigeria would not solve the country’s problems, just as removing individuals from any other tribe would not either. The current atmosphere of suspicion and fear between tribes is concerning. According to Saint Thomas Aquinas “Fear is such a powerful emotion for humans that when we allow it to take over us, it drives compassion right out of our hearts.”

It is not uncommon for election results to be disputed if there is a perception that the process was unfair. In such cases, the electoral laws provide for aggrieved parties to seek redress through the electoral tribunals and the courts.

We can draw valuable lessons from the examples of Kenya and Ghana. In Kenya, the Supreme Court nullified the results of the presidential election, while in Ghana, the Supreme Court upheld the results. These two cases demonstrate how electoral disputes can be resolved through legal means, and how important it is to have independent and impartial courts that can provide oversight and ensure the integrity of the electoral process. It is important for all parties to respect the rule of law and abide by the decisions of the courts, regardless of whether they agree with the outcome.

On September 1, 2017, the BBC news site reported that the Supreme Court of Kenya cancelled the country’s presidential election held on August 8, 2017, citing irregularities, and ordered a new election to be held within 60 days.

The incumbent president, Uhuru Kenyatta, was declared the winner by a margin of 1.4 million votes by the election commission. However, the opposition leader, Raila Odinga, accused the commission of corruption and demanded resignations and prosecutions. President Kenyatta respected the court’s decision but called the judges “crooks.” The annulment of an African presidential election as a result of an opposition court challenge appeared to be unprecedented.

Elections everywhere tend to be divisive. This is because mobilization of support hinges on a successful creation of a simplistic binary of ‘we-versus-them’ dichotomy, which is then nourished by all manner of scaremongering. This is why political campaigns are often likened to wars without weapons. In Africa, it is even more so where politicians seem to have taken literally the exultations by Kwame Nkrumah, a pioneering pan-Africanist and Ghana’s independence leader (1957-1966), to seek else would be added unto them. exceeding high. Apart from being perhaps the quickest means to personal material accumulation, there is a pervasive fear that the group that captures state power could use it to privilege its in-group and disadvantage others. For these, electoral competitions tend to be especially anarchic, deepening existing fault lines and even creating new ones. In countries like ours where the basis of nationhood remains highly contested, and where several groups have institutionalized memories of hurt, electoral contests often re-open old wounds that raise doubts about the basis of togetherness. This therefore makes it imperative that the task of healing and reconciliation is prioritised after each election.

After a very shambolically organized presidential election that, on the positive side, witnessed some upsets across several states of the federation, the Governors, who reign like emperors in their respective states, seemed to have quickly returned to the drawing board. By the time the Governorship and State Assembly elections were held on 18 March 2023, they had regained the initiative. It quickly dawned on many people that we were too quick in ascribing a game changer status to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). In several states across the country, there were snatching of ballot boxes the polling units, voter suppression and intimidation and the weaponization of ethnicity, especially in Lagos State, the home base of the Presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who lost the state to the Labour party candidate, Peter Obi, to the chagrin of his supporters.

and even physical attacks on Igbos and the torching of markets where they dominate in Lagos, came a video purported to be a phone conversation between the Presidential candidate of the Labour party, Peter Obi and Bishop Oyedepo, founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, in which Obi was heard repeatedly calling the Pastor ‘Daddy’ and claiming that the election was going to be a “religious war”. Though Peter Obi has denied the authenticity of the audio clip, and some have raised questions about what it portends for our privacy laws, the Tinubu camp, like any political party would do, decided to reap political capital out of it.

Amid the tensions came the allegations from the Tinubu camp that some people were plotting to foist an interim government on the country. Surprisingly, the DSS chose to amplify this by corroborating what was apparently a mere political grandstanding. Lost in the politics of it all, is that even if people actually canvassed for an interim government it would be an expression of opinion which is not a crime under our laws. It was the American jurist Wendell Holmes who declared in a famous judgement, (Gitlow v New York, 1925) that “Every idea is an incitement... The only difference between the expression of an opinion and an incitement in the narrower sense is the

speaker’s enthusiasm for the results”. In essence you cannot criminalize an opinion because an opinion becomes an incitement only when urgent steps are taken to actualize what was opined. For interim government, not only is it not in our constitution, such a contraption cannot happen without the active connivance of the President and the National legislature. So what was the basis of trying to frame some people for allegedly ‘plotting’ to install an interim government?

To further escalate the tension, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed travelled to New York to accuse Peter Obi and his running mate, Dr Datti Baba Ahmed of committing treason by allegedly inciting people to violence over the outcome of the on which action of the two constituted an incitement or treasonable felony. In that posturing he conveniently forgot that the APC had threatened to form a parallel government in exile if the 2015 presidential election was rigged or that as a candidate Buhari made worse remarks than he was accusing Obi and his running mate of doing. Lai Mohammed’s US trip only added to the prevailing tension as it led to a more aggressive pushback by supporters of Peter Obi and his running mate.

Recently, Nigeria’s two most renowned living writers – Professor Wole Soyinka and Ngozi Chimamanda Adichie - got into the fray, apparently on opposite sides of the divide. While Chimamanda wrote an open letter to President Joe Biden urging him not to congratulate Tinubu who was declared the President elect by INEC as that would confer legitimacy on an election she thought was rigged, the Nobel Laureate picked on both the Obidient Movement and Dr Datti Baba Ahmed, describing them as ‘fascists’. With the involvement of Soyinka and Chimamanda whose voices re-echo powerfully on the international arena, we will shape the responses from the international community.

It is obvious that many people are getting fatigued by the elections and their aftermaths and would like the country to think it would be wise to just move on – as we are won’t to do in situations like this. I feel that we must seek to understand what happened, give justice to victims of what happened and punish those who helped to sabotage the processes.

I would recommend the following steps to douse the tension in the short term:

The government should bring to book those involved in electoral offences and ethnic profiling to signal that bad behaviour has consequences, writes JIDEOFOR ADIBE

Okere is a thought leader, and business mentor. Currently an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Columbia Business School, New York

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

CHIBOK GIRLS: NINE YEARS AFTER…

The nation is awaiting the return of the remaining schoolgirls

Last Friday marked the ninth anniversary of the violent abduction of 276 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram insurgents. While 57 of the girls were able to escape from their captors, 16 were later rescued and 107 have at different times been released through negotiations. With 96 of the girls still unaccounted for, Amnesty International has reminded the federal government of its obligation to their traumatised parents.

As we have repeatedly pointed out on this page, giving up on the remaining Chibok girls cannot be an option for any self-respecting society. While they may have been away for so long, it can never be too late to bring them back home. 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.

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. Demand for the rescue of the girls resonated in a manner never seen before. World journalists, international organisations, and the ordinary people, joined the global advocacy for their rescue. The Safe Schools Initiative was also launched in Abuja to build community security groups that would promote safe zones for education, consisting of teachers, parents, police, and community leaders. “We cannot stand by and see schools shut down, girls cut off from their education and parents in fear of their daughters’ lives,” said former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, then UN Special Envoy on Education at the launch.

Unfortunately, the idea has since been abandoned despite the billions of Naira initially invested in it. And in the last nine years, options in the effort to

rescue the remaining Chibok girls have ranged from outright military action to negotiations. It was not until January 2017 when there was a breakthrough Four months later, another set comprising 82 of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls were released following a collaboration between the Department of State Services (DSS) and the military, as well as the Swiss government and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The fact that thousands of students (mostly female) have since been abducted in several other attacks on schools by gunmen seems to have normalized this most heinous crime.

As we therefore remember the remaining Chibok girls, concerns by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) over growing attacks on schoolchildren in Nigeria should be taken seriously by the authorities. In recent years, repeated attacks on schools 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 Fotaine, shattered, but the future of the nation is also stolen.” 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 nine years ago is ample evidence of our shared humanity. That explains why we cannot as a country afford to give up on the remaining girls. For sure, the political landscape of the country has changed since their abduction. But that is cold comfort for their parents who continue to keep hope alive that their children would be rescued from wherever they are and be brought back home alive. The remaining 96 Chibok girls have been away for such a long time. The authorities must locate their whereabouts and rescue them.

Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief(150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer

THE POWER OF THE YOUTH TOWARDS A DIGITAL FUTURE

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, boasts a youthful population. According to the National Population Commission, about 64 per cent of Nigeria’s population is below the age of 25. This presents an opportunity for the country to harness the energy and creativity of its youth towards building a digital and innovative future.

The world is currently experiencing a rapid shift towards digitalization, and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind. To move the country forward, there is a need to focus on new technologies, social media, digital marketing, agriculture, fintech, and other emerging industries.

We must proactively explore ways for Nigeria to harness the power of its youth to achieve this goal.

Nigeria has a growing tech industry that is already making waves on the global stage. The country’s tech ecosystem is home to several startups and tech hubs, including Andela, Flutterwave, and Paystack. To ensure that Nigeria continues to innovate, there is a need

to invest in science and technology education at all levels. This investment will help to equip the youth with the skills they need to develop cutting-edge technologies that can solve the country’s challenges.

Social media has become a vital tool for businesses to connect with customers and grow their brands. Nigeria’s youth are digital natives who are familiar with the various social media platforms. This presents an opportunity for them to leverage social media and digital marketing skills to create new businesses and grow existing ones. The government can support this effort by providing training and funding opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

Agriculture is one of Nigeria’s most important sectors, accounting for a significant portion of the country’s GDP. However, the sector is still largely dominated by subsistence farming, which limits its potential. Nigeria’s youth can play a vital role in transforming the agriculture sector by leveraging technology to increase productivity and efficiency. The government can support

this effort by providing funding opportunities for young farmers and investing in agricultural research and development.

Fintech is another industry that is rapidly growing in Nigeria. The country’s fintech startups are already disrupting the traditional banking sector by providing innovative solutions that are accessible to more Nigerians. Nigeria’s youth can contribute to this growth by services that can address the country’s unique support this effort by providing a regulatory environment that is conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship. The truth is that preparing Nigerian youths for the digital future requires a multi-faceted approach that encompasses both education and practical experience. Here are some suggestions to help prepare Nigerian youths for the digital future: Encourage STEM Education. Nigerian youths should be encouraged to take courses in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

STEM courses provide the foundational skills needed to work in the digital field.

Increase Access to Technology: The Nigerian government and private sector can provide more access to technology in schools and communities, such as computer labs and internet connectivity. This can help young people gain hands-on experience with technology.

Promote Digital Literacy: Digital literacy is the ability to use and understand digital technologies. Nigerian youths should be taught the basics of using computers, the internet, and other digital tools. This can be done through practical workshops, seminars, and online resources.

Provide Mentorship Programs: Mentorship programs can help Nigerian youths gain practical experience and guidance from experienced professionals in the digital field. These programs can provide opportunities for young people to learn from industry leaders and receive advice on how to succeed in the digital sector.

Elvis Eromosele, Lagos

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

Paris Olympics 2024: Preparations and Francophone Africa’s New Anti-French Sentiments

In the Social Sciences, action and reaction are hardly equal and opposite as propounded by Isaac Newton in Physics.The rule of reciprocity has shown in international relations that an action, like the unprovoked attack by the Japanese on US Pearl Harbour during World War II, and the US reaction to the attack with the detonation of the atomic Little or Small Man on Hiroshima on August 6 and the Fat Man dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, has no equal impact or opposite character. The truth was that, when the atomic bombs were dropped, people had to run helter-skelter. Even the Executive meeting being held under the Emperor when the bombs were being dropped was quickly discontinued.

This theory of action and reaction is quite relevant to the discussion of the successfully-tested new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by North Korea on Thursday morning, 13th April, 2023 for the first time. In the words of Kim Jong-un, the new weapon would ‘greatly reorganise our strategic deterrence and reinforce effectiveness of our nuclear counterattack. We will strike with deadly force and respond aggressively until the enemy gives up its idle strategy and foolish behaviour and so that it will suffer in endless fear.’This is a North Korean thinking. The missile test caused much panic in Japan. Again, many people say that great minds think alike though fools seldom differ.True, France is a country of great minds and philosophers. And true also, North Korea has great minds of repute. However, France and North Korea have different great minds that are not thinking alike at all. North Korea is much preoccupied with national defence and security, especially how to undermine Japano-American entente with South Korea in order to weaken North Korea. If you want peace, Von Clausewitz has argued, prepare for war.This is the mind of North Korea while France’s mind is how to use sports, particularly the Olympics 2024, as an instrument to promote international solidarity in an unprecedented manner.

As the French have it,‘les Jeux Olympiques de Paris 2024 seront le plus grand événement jamais organisé en France. Ils se tiendront du 26 juillet au 11 août 2024, durant 16 jours hors du temps pendant lesquels Paris 2024 sera le Coeur du Monde... Les jeux sont un rendez-vous unique pour lequel Paris 2024 travaille depuis la phase de candidature. En décrochant l’organisation des Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques le 13 septembre 2017, Paris 2024 s’est lancé dans l’aventure avec une ambition: proposer des jeux révolutionnaires.’ Explained differently, the Olympic Games of 2024 to be held in Paris will be a great event never organised in France. It will be held from 24 July to 11 August, 2024. During the 16 days out of time, Paris 2024 will be the Heart of the World. The games are an appointment for which Paris 2024 have been working since the time France presented her candidature to host the event. By inaugurating the Olympic and Paralympic Games on 13 September 2017, Paris 2024 took off with one ambition: offer revolutionary games. Thus, the French thinking cannot but be quite different. Great minds can think alike or differently.

Paris 2024 Preparations

When the Americans first detonated the little man on Hiroshima, the Japanese never believed that the United States could have the capacity and capability to produce such atomic bombs. It was when the fat man was detonated on August 9 that, at 2 a.m. on August 10, 1945 the Japanese Prime Minister, Admiral Baron Kantaro Suzuki, was compelled to beg His Imperial Majesty Hirohito to quickly take a decision on the way forward that Hirohito had to respond as follows: ‘I do not desire any further destruction of cultures, nor any additional misfortune for the peoples of the world. On this occasion, we have to bear the unbearable.’Hirohito’s surrender speaks volumes.The Japanese promptly recognised that the Americans and the Japanese were not at the same level and that water must always find its level.

In other words, France is currently giving active support to the Ukrainians in their struggle against the Russian invasion, meaning that France is also directly opposed to the Russians. In terms of strategic calculations, France can be a target of Russian attack. The Russians are currently an arch enemy of the Americans, and particularly the US-led NATO countries. In the same vein, China is another arch enemy of the Americans, meaning that, in the event of nuclear power rivalry and assaults, there may be the United States, the United Kingdom and France, on the one hand, fighting Russia, North Korea, and China, on the other hand. They are all nuclear stakeholders even if North Korea

is yet to be so recognised.

With the current situational reality of the Russo-Ukrainian war, and particularly with the uncertainty surrounding the scenarios of the outcome, what does the picture of Paris 2024 look like? Will the Ukrainian saga have been thrown into the dustbin of history by 2024? Can the misunderstanding between the two Koreas impact negatively on Paris 2024? The United States, Japan and South Korea are having joint military drills and are all allies of France. Can North Korea vex its anger against them using the Paris 2024 platform?

Recall the Munich massacre of September 22, 1972 when the Palestinian militant organisation, Black September, infiltrated the Olympic Village and killed two members of the Israeli team and took nine others hostage during the Summer Olympics. More important, the NATO countries appear to have adopted the strategy of attrition warfare vis-à-vis Russia. Can Russia be really grinded down by 2024 in such a way as to be able to make Paris 2024 very secure? Without iota of doubt, social protests are quite common and sophisticated in France, apparently because of liberté, égalité and fratenité which are the foundational principles of political governance. Every jot of grievance is immediately met with organised, and sometimes spontaneous, protests. How the ruling of the French Constitutional Council on the retirement age can affect Paris 2024 is another kettle of fish entirely.

Without any shadow of doubt, what I saw last week in Paris, suggests that France is really prepared to tell the world and show something new in the use of sports to promote international cultures. Paris 2024 is designed to be revolutionary and the great minds of France appear to have also taken‘medicine against steel.’First, I went to France to have a better understanding of the new environmental conditionings in France. This understanding is necessary in explicating France’s new policy attitude towards Nigeria in my second book on Franco-Nigerian Relations. The first book, also on Franco-Nigerian relations, covered the period from 1960 to 1995. The second one in preparation covers the period 1995 to 2020.

And true, the research environment in France has completely changed for the better: the new National Library was planned in 1989 by President François Mitterrand and inaugurated on 30th March,

Can this Russo-Malian and Russo-Burkinabe ties be sustained for long on the basis of disagreement with France? When France succeeded in testing her atomic bombs in the late 1950s and particularly in January, April and December 1960, the entire French community rejoiced with France, looking at the feat as a common feat and security umbrella to protect everyone. Will there be expression of support from Francophone Africa for Paris 2024? Will the Francophone Africans be more united or disunited in the matter of Paris 2024? Whatever is the case, Paris 2024 is a unique opportunity for France to seek a better rapprochement with her former friends by particularly apologising for promoting neocolonialism and not giving much regard to the sovereignty of the former colonies. Not doing so can sustain Russian presence to the detriment of France. Modern-day Africa is opposed to arrogant display of neo-colonialism. And true enough, many African leaders outside of the Francophone setting are happier to play the Russo-Chinese cards than accepting to be shabbily treated by the big powers. Consequently, in the preparations for Paris 2024, President Macron should make haste slowly in evolving better ties in the conduct and management of Franco-African relations. The opportunity of the Paris 2024 is a good opportunity to normalise the cold ties

1995. In 1998, the old National Library in 58 Rue Richelieu, Paris 2, took six months to pack its more than ten million books to the new site, leaving behind manuscripts, estampes and photographs. There were 2000 places for researchers in 14 rooms, meaning that each room can contain about 140 people. In the words of Mitterrand, the library is‘être à la disposition de tous’(to be open to all), have the most modern technologies and be‘une arme dans le combat de la liberté’ (be a weapon in the struggle for liberty). The audio-visual section has 120,000 hours of numerical archival materials. On December 20, 1996, the reading room had capacity for 1600 people. It is open to the public. What is noteworthy about research libraries from the perspectives of President Mitterrand is the functional purpose of a library: an instrument of struggle. In other words, reading is having new knowledge, knowledge is information giving, information is power and power is essentially influence and weapon of self-defence. Indeed, possession of knowledge does not allow for explicit cheating and abuse. Knowledge is an antidote to people’s arrogance and abuse of power by elected officials. Reading is education that is self-liberating.

Another area of interesting development is the improvement of the Métro lines and services. The improvement is clearly an expression of good governance. In Nigeria, development of infrastructure is more influenced by political whims and caprices. If the President of Nigeria or the Governor of a state is visiting any community, particularly the remote areas of any given state, the roads that the President is expected to pass through will be quickly repaired. Official houses and offices will be quickly refurbished. In fact, impression is often given that the ‘area is quiet and normal’to borrow from the Police. The ideal thing is to allow the president to go through the bad roads, and then use the experience to make a case for repairs and development funds. Probably because funds normally set aside for such development might have been diverted, a host of the President must avoid giving bad impression. In France, road infrastructural development is always programmatic.

Before I left France in 1984, Metroline One, covered Pont de Neuilly and…Thelineopenedat5.21amandclosedat12.39am.WhenIreturned to the country about five years after, the line had been extended from Pont de Neuilly to La Défense. More interesting is line 4, covering Porte de Clignancourt and Porte d’Orléans.The line has been extended from Porte d’Orléans to Bagneux Lucie Aurac. Mairie de Montrouge and Barbara station have been provided in between. Before now, the metro line used to have tyre-driven wagons with first class coaches. Today, the idea of several coaches is no more. All the coaches have been connected together in such a way that one can trek from the front to the last. In fact, there is nothing like first class anymore. The whole length of the Métro has been digitised. Is this in preparation for Paris 2024? We cannot tell. What we know for certain is that the organisation of Paris 2024 is expected to be unprecedented. France wants to surprise the whole world.

True, several of the Olympic events are being planned to hold on the River Seine at the heart of Paris. Different infrastructural projects have been initiated not only in the Paris region, but also in different regions. There is the LinkTower project for the construction of a two-mixed-use building towers in Paris-la Défense in the district of Michelet. It was started in Q3 of 2021 and scheduled for completion in Q2 of 2025. The project was initiated in response to demands for office space and leisure facilities. There is also the Paris Tour Triangle High Rise Building project. It is a 42-storey triangular office building on 80,000m2 being built at the Porte de Versailles in the 15th District of Paris at a cost of $755m. Construction work began in Q3 of 2021 and is scheduled to be completed in Q2, 2025

Outside of the Paris region, there is the MarseilleTramway extension, covering 10.6 km, begun in Q3, 2021 and expected to be completed in Q4 of 2025.There is also the LaTronche Athanor Incineration Plant being built at a cost of $226m in the La Tronche Commune. It is scheduled to be completed in Q4, 2024.The construction work began in Q3 of 2021. Whether all these infrastructural development efforts are aimed at advancing the purposes of Paris 2024 may be difficult to tell. However it is against these developments that the new attitudinal hostility by some Francophone African countries towards France should be investigated in order to seek a better understanding of the future prospects.

New anti-French Sentiments in Africa

With the growing anti-French sentiments in Francophone Africa, France’s role is gradually declining for many rationales. First is France’s double standard approach to democratic governance in Francophone Africa. The Malian Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Diop, explained the hypocrisy thus: ‘France applauds coups d’état when they are in its interests, and condemns them when they are not in its interests.’The observation is substantiated by the empirical cases of Mali and Chad. The coup in Mali, even though it enjoyed popular support, is seen by France as illegitimate. The coup plotters were condemned while the unconstitutional transition of power in Chad was actively supported. In other words, because of the support being given by the Chadian government to the military struggle for political stability and regional security,Francesimplyturnedhereyesawayfromdemocraticprocedures. A second reason is renewed and strengthening of neo-colonialism by President Emmanuel Macron. He is on record to have invited the leaders of the G-5 Sahel (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger) to Pau in France in early 2020. At the meeting, Macron reportedly told his guests that there was the need for a ‘clear and committed public declarations of support for Operation Barkhane’ by African leaders. In fact, the Malian Prime Minister, Choguel Maïga, accused France of engaging in‘political, media, and diplomatic terrorism against Mali.

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Macron

It’s Don Jazzy Again as Introducing the Kujus Sequel Premieres

Stories by Vanessa Obioha

Music producer and record label owner Don Jazzy is joining the cast of ‘Introducing The Kujus’ for its sequel. The TMPL Motion Pictures production will mark the first-ever feature film appearance of the Mavin Records CEO who is popular on social media for his skits. He plays the character Don, offering a charismatic personality and adding a new twist to the drama.

Titled ‘The Kujus Again,’ the sequel reaffirms the bond of family, showcasing the unbreakable connection between siblings who may not always agree but will do anything for each other when it matters most.

“The Kujus franchise does something very significant for Nigerian cinema, it reawakens a family bond by offering something for everyone, regardless. What’s more, with Don Jazzy in the mix, it gets more interesting and I am absolutely sure that fans will enjoy the sequel as well,” said the film producer, Winifred Okpapi.

The star-studded cast of ‘Introducing The Kujus’ reprise their roles, including Bisola Aiyeola, Femi Jacobs, Bimbo Ademoye, MC Lively, Kunle Remi, Timini Egbuson, Mimi Onalaja, Chris Iheuwa, and Ronke Odusanya.

‘The Kujus Again’ will be directed by award-winning filmmaker Biodun Stephen and will go to cinemas on April 21.

Mr Eazi to Release New Music after Choplife Launch

Following his recent feat at the Latin Grammy Awards, Nigerian musician Mr Eazi is set to release new music later this year. He made this known through a press statement to announce the launch of his new pan-African music group Choplife Soundsystem.

According to the renowned entrepreneur, the new music group will redefine the African music landscape, and showcase the continent’s diverse musical talents.

Choplife Soundsystem features a talented crew of DJs, artists, and producers from across the continent, including UK-based, Kenyan-born afrobeats selector DJ Edu who will serve as its resident DJ.

The music group derives its name from the popular West African pidgin slang phrase “chop life,” meaning to enjoy life to the fullest, and the traditional Jamaican soundsystems, which are mobile crews of DJs and MCs who present music together at public events. Mr Eazi, who will be the primary vocalist on Choplife Soundsystem recordings and also serve as its MC, is putting his own spin on soundsystem culture, incorporating the latest genres like amapiano and afrobeats to create a modern African party experience.

“I’m going back to where I started from, hosting the biggest parties at university,” said Eazi. “That’s how I started singing. I am looking forward to this new and fun ride, and I can’t wait for all the music to start dropping and the accompanying live experience.”

Choplife Soundsystem has already made its presence felt in Cotonou, Benin, Stockholm, Sweden, and Kigali, Rwanda since 2022.

With this new invention, Mr Eazi said he is geared up for more partnerships as well as creating new music this spring.

King Perryy Hits One Million Streams with ‘Tight Condition’

Nigerian music sensation King Perryy has achieved a remarkable feat as his song ‘Tight Condition,’ featuring Victony, surpassed one million Spotify streams. The track is part of his 2023 EP called ‘Continental Playlist,’ which is available on MusicSplit on the ArtSplit platform, enabling fans to invest and profit from streaming royalties.

King Perryy has had a series of successful hits, including the 2018 collaboration with Timaya, ‘Man On Duty,’ with over 2.9 million plays on Spotify alone, and ‘On God,’ the lead single from his recent EP.

In a recent interview, he expressed his satisfaction with the achievement and the therapeutic effect of releasing ‘Continental Playlist.’

“The whole process of releasing the Continental EP has been therapeutic for me, as well as my decision to become independent and take ownership of my career,” Perryy said. “I’ve resolved to totally embrace my imagination and gamble on myself.”

The collaboration between ArtSplit, MAD Solutions, and Engage Partnership made it possible for ‘Continental Playlist’ to be the first EP on MusicSplit on the ArtSplit platform. The initiative allows fans to invest in the project and share in the profits generated from streaming royalties.

New Documentary Demystifies Dyslexia

Following its outing at last month’s iREP International Documentary Film Festival, a new documentary on dyslexia ‘Genius in Disguise: Demystifying Dyslexia’ held its private screening recently at the Ebonylife Place, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Dyslexia, a neurological disorder that affects an individual’s ability to read, write, and spell, is a common learning disability that affects the academic, social, and emotional development of millions of Nigerian children and adults, and often goes undiagnosed throughout their lives.

Directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker James Amuta, the documentary sheds light on this issue and raises awareness about the challenges faced by dyslexic individuals and their families. It features interviews with dyslexic persons, parents, teachers, and experts, who share their experiences and insights on this often-overlooked topic.

“This is a film that I learnt a lot from. It’s one of the most responsible films I’ve made,” Amuta said. “40 million Nigerians have dyslexia, and 98 per cent of them don’t even know that they have it. The number is a lot, but the information about dyslexia is so small.”

Centring on Doyin, Jaden, and Biodun, the trio, in great detail, journeys the audience through the difficult twists and turns in the Nigerian educational system where there is little or no knowledge of dyslexia by professionals at all levels, making it difficult for schools to simulate an enabling environment for learning for people with the condition.

The documentary further cautions that the condition is not a reflection of intelligence or a lack of effort by affected individuals and that symptoms of dyslexia occur in a spectrum. It explains that dyslexic people can have strengths in other areas, such as creativity, problem-solving, and visualspatial reasoning.

“With tailored support and intervention, dyslexic people can learn to read and write effectively” Amuta opined. This ideology has spurred him to begin conscientising teachers and parents through various future advocacy programs that will be led by stakeholders of various institutions.

“’Genius in Disguise’ will change the entire educational system; we plan on educating parents, teachers, and as well as students on the basics of what they need to understand. See, parents have been dealing with children that they don’t understand. ‘Why is this child always coming back home with poor grades?’ They are frustrated. Teachers, on the other hand, will keep wondering why these children aren’t learning like their peers.”

Amuta believes that with the new documentary, “It is not too late to begin educating people on dyslexia.”

Teen Africa TV, uLesson Team up to Boost Education Access Across Africa

Teenagers across Africa will soon have access to high-quality educational content following a partnership between Teen Africa TV and ed-tech company uLesson.

Starting from April 2023, uLesson’s animated videos, quizzes, and live classes covering STEM curriculum subjects will be broadcasted every weekday on TATV Channel 394 on DStv.

According to the Founder/CEO of Teen Africa TV, Charles Novia, “We are pleased to

partner with uLesson in broadcasting some of their educational content on TATV. This is a first-of-its-kind partnership on a dedicated niche channel for teens in Africa. The brand values of TATV which encompasses entertainment, lifestyle, and educational content, are further enhanced by this content partnership with uLesson “

This collaboration aims to tackle the growing demand for quality educational resources in Africa, where students struggle with access to quality education due to financial constraints, lack of digital devices, and other challenges.

King Perryy

Iyke Bede

Mr Eazi

Don Jazzy

Artwork of Genius in Disguise documentary

HIGH EXPECTATIONS TO CONTEND WITH ALEX OTTI

The third time they say is the charm. This rings true for the banker cum politician, Alex Otti, who emerged as the Governor-elect of Abia State after two failed attempts. His victory proves that perseverance pays off and brought the much-needed relief to the people of Abia who had longed for a leader to rescue them from the clutches of inept governance, Wale Igbintade writes

We are Hopeful that the New Government Would Alleviate Our Pains

The air that Wednesday evening in March was filled with suspense as the people of Abia State awaited the results of the March 18 governorship elections. It was a critical moment that would determine the future of the state that has been riddled with inept governance since the new democratic rule. And then, suddenly, the suspense was shattered by the sound of jubilant cheers and the beat of drums.

From every corner of Umuahia and Aba, the two major towns of the state, people poured out into the streets, their faces alight with joy and excitement. Dr. Alex Otti of the Labour Party had been declared the winner of the governorship election by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the people were beside themselves with happiness.

Residents danced to the rhythm of music and made bonfires to light up the night sky. Fireworks exploded in a colourful display, adding to the festive atmosphere. Tricycle operators joined the celebrations, driving wildly through the streets in honour of the Labour Party’s triumph. People freely offered drinks to one another, spreading joy and camaraderie. Even the hometowns of the governor-elect and his deputy, Arochukwu and Ohafia, were not left out of the revelry. There, the people chanted songs of praise and thanked God for ending 24 years of PDP’s “misrule.”

For many years, the people of the state had been yearning for good governance, but none came their way. Therefore, Otti’s victory was a moment of profound significance. It represented a turning point, a chance to break free from the chains of bad governance that had held them captive for so long. It was the beginning of a new dawn for the majority of the people.

The state Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Dr Charles Chinekezi, said that he was happy that the votes of Abia people could count in the election. He added that Otti’s government would change the narrative and put an end to the era of non-payment of workers’ salaries, multiple taxation and unfulfilled promises.

“With Otti’s record of achievement, Abia people are sure to have a new lease on life,” he said.

In his reaction, a businessman in Aba, Mr. Michael Mba, said that he was very happy because Abia would witness sustainable development with Otti on the saddle.

Another resident of the state, Mrs Nneka Onyegbula, said that the achievements of Otti’s government would surpass the performance of the outgoing administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. She urged the citizenry “to join hands with the new government to deliver the expected result.”

Another resident of the state, Mrs. Sandra

Okechi said that her joy was informed by her belief that Otti’s administration would enthrone an all-round development in infrastructure, social amenities, health, education and regular payment of salaries to the civil servants. She said that she was eager to see how a new party in power in Abia would impact the lives of the people.

“This is why I am excited about Otti and the Labour Party’s victory,” Okechi said.

On her part, Mrs. Nkiruka Godwin, who was seen dancing in the market alongside other women when the news of Otti’s victory broke out, said she was hopeful that the new government would alleviate “the pain inflicted on us in the last 24 years.”

Godwin added that she believed Otti would run a people-oriented government that would end traders’ exploitation in Aba.

Of all the governorship elections conducted across the country, that of Abia State stood out, not only because of Otti’s perseverance but because of what the people stand to benefit from in the new dawn.

To show that they were completely fed up and frustrated with the level of bad governance, many also resorted to holding church services and night vigils in supplication to God for releasing them from bondage.

Not a few were taken aback when Otti in 2014, resigned from his plumb job as the Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, to venture into politics. The fears in some quarters were that the Abia State-born gentleman was too polished for the murky waters of Nigerian politics. But rather than entomb his living dream, he pursued them all with unimaginable vigour. As fate would have it, he was able to worm himself into the hearts of his people in the state. He proved to all that it was a well-thought-out plan; he campaigned far and wide, courting those who matter in the state. He was overjoyed when he emerged as the governorship candidate of his party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). After the April 2015 governorship election, Otti was coasting to victory when the power brokers in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who had held the state hostage for many years manipulated the figures against him to favour Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

After the poll, it took him a long time to get over the shock. Although he petitioned the Election Tribunal citing irregularities in the polls, he lost at the tribunal. But the Appeal Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, nullified the election and declared Otti the winner. However, his victory did not last long as the Supreme Court eventually quashed the judgment and upheld Ikpeazu’s election as the governor.

In 2019, he, again, contested for the same position. But like in 2015, he was also defeated by the incumbent, Ikpeazu. To put it mildly, that period was one of the worst

of his life. He didn’t only feel desolate but shattered. While some of his friends advised him to quit politics, the exbanker followed the quote of the late 16th President of the United States Abraham Lincoln, he stood firm to his belief and braced up for another time.

Like the phoenix, the brilliant man rose and refused to be shaken by the temporary setback in a surprising manner. He came back in 2023, wiser and more experienced. This time, he went to the fight like a gladiator and fought like a warrior. It was a long and tortuous journey. But he came out of the battle with the trophy of success.

According to the results announced by the Returning Officer, Prof. Nnenna Oti, the Governor-elect polled a total of 175,466 to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the PDP, Mr Okey Ahiwe, who scored 88,526.

For a moment, it felt like his victory would be snatched away again. Rehashing the 2015 episode, armed security personnel and thugs invaded the Obingwa INEC Collation Centre, held the Returning Officer hostage for over 36 hours and compelled him to falsify the figures.

They also brutalised the Labour Party LG collation agent, Dr. George Alozie. And in their desperate plot to replicate the 2015 puerile victory that brought Ikpeazu to power, they began to joggle figures, indiscriminately alloting votes to PDP in order to close up LP’s margin of lead, totalling more than 97,000 votes.

So, from a paltry 27,000 accredited voters, the election riggers generated, first, over 80,000 votes, and later escalated it to over 108,000 votes. All that was rubbished by Oti, who prevented the marauding thieves from truncating the wishes of the masses. Oti swore not to be part of any covert and evil conspiracy to undermine the validity of the people’s mandate, which they massively handed to Otti, the Governor-elect on Saturday, March 18.

Born on February 18, 1965, Otti hails from the Isiala-Ngwa South Local Government Area. He had his secondary school education at Ngwa High School, Aba and Secondary Technical School, Okpuala Ngwa in Abia State. After his secondary school education, he graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Economics in 1988 from the University of Port Harcourt. He also earned an MBA degree from the University of Lagos in 1994.

In his acceptance speech which he delivered as soon as the results were declared, Otti said the “siege is over” and that the people’s votes have “broken the gates of hell.” He also reaffirmed his implicit commitment to implementing his lofty manifesto, designed to transform Abia and make life more meaningful for its people.

“I want to assure you that your ideas and dreams are consistent with building a virile Abia State shall come to fruition under my watch. I therefore, invite all of you to join hands with our administration in order to serve Abians who have been victims of several years of maladministration and state capture,” he assured.

The high point of Otti’s victory was when Governor Ikpeazu congratulated him and commended him for his resilience and doggedness, saying he fought a long battle. He urged the governorship candidates of other political parties in the state not to distract the governor-elect, with court cases.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka, Ikpeazu called on members of other parties to give Otti an enabling environment to run the affairs of the state from May 29. He added that having spent about three and half years in different courts, he knows the distraction such cases can cause a leader.

“I appeal to every candidate in this election not to distract the incoming administration with court cases, so that they will settle down and deal with the very demanding business of governance. Let us break this negative trend of subjecting our governors to endless litigations and allow them to concentrate on providing good governance. “Since we have come to the logical end of this battle, it is appropriate to congratulate the winner, Dr Alex Otti on his hard-fought victory,” Ikpeazu.

In the end, it was a victory that had been a long time coming for Otti. After two failed attempts, he finally triumphed, winning the trust and support of the people of the state. Although there are challenges ahead, and much work to be done, Otti is ready for the task. With a clear vision, a steadfast commitment to service, and the unwavering support of the people, he is determined to lead the state to a brighter future, one step at a time.

For a man that is driven by the passion to serve his people and deliver them from hardship and poverty, there is no time for unrestrained celebrations. The journey ahead is rough and the road, rocky. While the Abia electorate and indeed, the entire South-east erupted in jubilation over his announcement by INEC, as the winner of the March 18 governorship election, I rather empathized with him. He has enormous expectations to contend with.

Interestingly, while receiving his Certificate of Return from INEC in Abuja, Otti acknowledged that the expectations from the people have put huge responsibility on him and declared; “I won’t fail Abians who have waited for opportunity like this for a new dawn”.

For the people of the state, those are nice words that they want to hear from a leader and hold him accountable for. It is believed that he will always recollect these promises and focus his mind on them.

Indigenes of the state jubilating over Otti’s victory

HighLife

Who is Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi?

Yemi Osinbajo’s Stride: Defining Moments of an Innovative Leader

Stories are curious little things. Given enough time, the tale of an event might gradually grow weightier than the event itself. However, there are some events and individuals that defy such narratives, and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is one such person. His life and accomplishments are so remarkable that they surpass any story that could be told about them, regardless of who tells it.

Truth be told, it does look like Osinbajo has struck a new variant of fortune with very intelligent individuals. The gist is that exactly 25 different journalists and writers have taken it upon themselves to construct a narrative about the life and strides of the VP. Titled “Osinbajo Strides: Defining Moments of an Innovative Leader,” this book is set to be launched virtually on April 28, 2023.

include Richard Akinnola, Azu Ishiekwene, Garba Mohammed, Etim Etim, Donu Kogbara, Sadiq Abdullateef, Fatima Mamman-Daura, James Akpandem, Mustapha Ogunsakin, Dayo Akintobi, Dr. Wale Adeduro, Columba Ogah, Haruna Abdullahi, Temilade Okesanjo, Arukaino Umukoro, Olaolu Beckley, Ore Ogunbiyi, Jude Zoho, Vitalis Obidiaghaa, Seun Bisuga, Seyi Gesinde, Faith Dafe-Joseph, Muritala Ayinla, Abimbola Olaniyan, and Ibrahim Bature.

Moreover, Jahman Anikulapo served as the Editorial Consultant for the book. Even more interesting is that former Head of State, General Abudulsalami Abubakar (rtd) has generously written the foreword.

Transformational leadership is the trending leadership character used for campaigns. However, no more than a handful of Nigerian leaders can claim to have a true understanding and application of this approach. But Yusuf Gagdi, the lawmaker representing Pankshin/Kanam/ Kanke Constituency of Plateau State in the 9th National Assembly has flipped over the table, demonstrating how a committed heart and a willing mind can grind out the dividends of transformational leadership.

It has been a while since a member of the National Assembly rattled the imagination with a flowing stream of accomplishments. But this is exactly what Gagdi is doing daily. Even so, outsiders are having trouble grasping how a first-term lawmaker has been able to embody the true character of the legislative office. After all, the legislature is a craft fraught with innumerable enticements and cajolery.

For those learning about Gagdi for the first time, his reputation is more golden than any other active member of the National Assembly. Currently, he has sponsored seven different bills, all of which he developed himself. Among these bills, six have been accented to by President Muhammadu Buhari on account of how sound and practical they are. Although the 7th Gadi-sponsored bill is yet to be accented to, he is on record as the only member of the legislative arm of government to have so many approved bills while in his first term of federal lawmaking.

Gagdi’s bills say something about him. Four of them have to do with the founding of tertiary institutions: two Federal Universities in Plateau and Delta states; one Federal Polytechnic and one Federal College of Education, in different areas in Plateau. Another Gagdi-sponsored bill is related to fixing up some of the gaps in the Police Act, thereby making it more equitable, inclusive, and collaborative. Another bill is related to our ports and waterways, resulting in the establishment of the National Hydrographic Agency to accurately chart these waterways. The last bill helped to establish the Maritime Security Trust Fund, effectively granting a special fund held in trust for the Nigerian Navy.

By all indications, Gagdi’s bills are both extensive and inclusive, touching areas seldom considered paramount. Moreover, the lawmaker’s emphasis on the establishment of tertiary institutions indicates the premium he places on formal education. In this respect, he shares a similar attitude to American educational reformer and politician, Horace Mann, who said that education is the great equaliser of the conditions of men and the balance wheel of the social machinery.

Beyond bills, Gagdi has made significant contributions to infrastructural development, especially in his constituency. For example, it is on record that he built 28 units of classroom blocks in 28 different locations, 14 modern primary health care units, three decent police posts, 2,100 units of solar street lights, 264 hand pumps and motorised boreholes, six town halls and skill acquisition centres, and 23 roads, to name a few. He has also erected 24 palaces and corresponding offices for traditional officials with each costing an estimated N100 million.

Given Osinbajo’s charisma and accomplishments, it’s not surprising that writers would want to honour him with a book. What is distinctive about this book is the quality of its authors. These

From what little information has been released, the book covers Osinbajo’s life from his time as Special Adviser to the Attorney-General of the Federation in 1988. There’s certainly a buzz surrounding the virtual launch, with many people eager to get their hands on a copy and learn from Osinbajo’s innovative leadership.

Celebration Time as Three Governors Storm Barcelona

But for other people, such as Nigerian politicians who could not make anything of themselves in the just-concluded election, things cannot be worse. And so when Dr. Yemi Onabowale opened the floor for distinguished Nigerians to come and celebrate his daughter’s wedding with him in Barcelona, only the winners honoured the invite.

of Onabowale’s daughter in Barcelona. These were Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governors of Lagos, Ogun, and Kwara states respectively. Shortly before the wedding, these three trounced their opponents in the just-concluded gubernatorial elections across the country, so it was not altogether surprising that they had the time to attend Onabowale’s event.

These are both happy and sad times. For the individuals who appear to be on the right side of history, happiness is the handmaid they have fallen in love with.

A gracious and magnanimous person knows how to take victories and losses. Many Nigerian politicians are not included in this definition, as the wedding ceremony of Onabowale’s daughter has shown. Despite inviting a lot of the bigwigs in the country, only a handful decided to make it a date. Of course, for those that attended the wedding ceremony in Barcelona, it was something of a celebratory event for their recent victories.

According to reports, three Ni gerian governors participated in the wedding ceremony

But Onabowale is no small person. He is the founder of the Reddington Hospital, the hospital that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo deemed to be on the same level with abroad medical institutions a few months ago. Furthermore, Onabowale is an accomplished medical doctor and a super entrepreneur, as demonstrated by his many successful businesses. As a result of all these, he has what it takes to have three sitting governors and A-list individuals like Davido and Teni The Entertainer as guests at his daughter’s wedding.

Chidinma Lawanson: With Every Wave of Hand, a Newly Employed Youth

Nigerians will always be renowned for a kind of passion that is rarely seen in people from other nations. Perhaps it is the sun on our heads that has heated our hearts and lets them burn with a strange fire of innovation and vision. Chidinma Lawanson, the financial expert currently in charge of Mastercard Foundation, is proudly Nigerian in this respect. She is doing amazing things for Nigerian youths, leaving good seeds for the country’s growth and development.

Philanthropy is something that is native to Africans. The idea that my neighbour’s child is my responsibility is an ideal that all Africans share but may not be able to implement. But some individuals, such as Lawanson, have built a reputation that lets them put this ideal into practice. Thus, she has climbed

from being a simple expert in numbers and accounts to someone worthy of national recognition.

From a distance, Lawanson is the country head for Mastercard Foundation, the arm of the financial services multinational that deals specifically with individual and community empowerment across the globe. For Lawanson, the foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy is just the right tool to equip young Nigerians to harmonise with the demands of society, breaking out of the limits of their backgrounds to make something of their lives.

With Lawanson’s help, many young experts are rising out of the shadows to contribute to the growth and development of the nation. Even though the foundation’s target is 2030, Lawanson’s involvement has quickened the wheels of progress, engendering much hope in informed Nigerians regarding the employment s ituation in the country.

Jokes Apart, Basketmouth and AY Fights Get Messier

social media, AY and Basketmouth hate each other’s guts. The gist is as follows: there was a time that AY performed as a replacement for Basketmouth, but the latter attempted to dupe him and eventually refused to pay the pittance of N30,000 for the exercise. This is the narrative from AY’s perspective and why he wants nothing to do with Basketmouth.

Basketmouth

Laughter, merriment, and fun are three components that can replace the light of the sun in a place. However, what happens when these components are replaced by fury, malice, and fighting? This is what is currently happening with two popular laughter merchants in Nigeria,

However, Basketmouth has stated that he does not remember the incident. Furthermore, he has disclosed that he and AY were never friends. As for the event in question, Basketmouth explained that he does not owe AY and has never reached out to the latter. Furthermore, he knows that AY is lying about everything and is using this as an avenue to sell tickets for his shows.

Needless to say, both of these comedians are no longer joking. But how this would affect their future endeavours is something that is yet to be seen.

Gadgi

Lawanson

Osinbajo

Governors Sanwo-Olu (left), Abiodun (right) and others in Barcelona

namely, Basketmouth (real name Bright Okpocha) and AY (real name Ayo Makun). According to the most recent reports, the feud between these comedians has gotten messier, reaching the point of their followers throwing dirt across the fence. From the reports on

Amazing Wealth of Fejiro Agbodje … Now the Richest Lad in Lagos

To the individual who wants to be rich, there are many opportunities out there in the world. Why else are billionaires popping up everywhere? For Nigerians, especially, the best prospects are in tech. This is why nothing is stopping Fejiro Agbodje and his peers from reaching a new level of wealth, despite being so young.

Agbodje with his tech company, Patricia, has already started making something mighty of himself. Furthermore, even though he has only spent comparatively little time building his enterprise, the harvest is greater than some people have seen in all their lives. But whose fault is it that Agbodje zoomed in on what he can do and that just happened to be what attracts affluence in the new world?

Those that are aware of the prospects of Agbodje’s company, Patricia Technologies, are not surprised that the young man has

already become so rich. In Africa, many such companies are cropping up. The trick is in the fact that these companies are providing solutions to real-world problems. As a consequence, their proponents are not doing badly in the way of wealth acquisition.

For Agbodje, the recent launch of a digital workspace for innovative minds, known as Patricia Innovation Hub, has added some extra zeros to his already tall tower of wealth. According to reports, this Hub is likely to put Africa on the tech map across the globe, letting interested, passionate, and visionary Africans participate in the digital economy.

Given enough time, Agbodje’s latest innovation will let Nigerian tech dreams see the new light of day. All the while, more revenue will flow towards Agbodje’s bank accounts, establishing his place as one of the wealthiest young people in the country and the African continent. Currently, it is difficult

Ibikunle Amosun’s Multibillion Naira Mansion Still Most-talked-about in Abeokuta

to find a true peer of his in Lagos. Perhaps, this will be the case across Nigeria once his new Hub begins to bear expected fruits.

With Dolapo Fasawe, the Environment is Getting Better

All over the world, cries have been raised regarding the environment. However, people whose eyes have been peeled with tears over the condition of the environment are hopeful because of the commitment of passionate individuals like Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, the person in charge of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA). Even as she commits more and more of herself, improvements are easily identified in Lagos’ immediate environment.

One can control many things in life, but the natural environment is too big an element to be controlled by any one person. As a result, the contributions of people like Fasawe cannot be underestimated. This is the case in a place like Lagos where all sorts of economic activities are always underway. Thus, the fact that the natural environment in Lagos is still something to boast about can be attributed to the dedicated work that Fasawe and her

people are putting in.

With LASEPA at her side, Fasawe has managed to make environmental sustainability the business of both the government and the people. It used to be that only the government cared about the conditions of the environment. However, through the contributions of Fasawe, many individuals, businesses, and communities have decided to take up the duty of environmental care and help ensure that their surroundings are kept clean and clear of ruinous components.

It is not the biggest surprise that Fasawe is capable of pulling together the efforts of individuals and corporate bodies. With her credentials as a public health professional, her passion cannot be feigned. As a consequence, those that she reaches out to are touched by her explanations and quickly commit to helping as well.

Good things sometimes come in twos or threes, at least that is the idea. The same is true for bad things. Nevertheless, to someone prepared to handle either, neither good nor bad news can shake them off their rockers. This is the case for Senator Ibikunle Amosun, former Ogun State Governor, who appears to have prepared for defeat seven years ahead of time. Thus, even as Dapo Abiodun returns as Ogun State Governor against the pleasure of Amosun, the latter has his multi-billion Naira mansion to admire and admire and admire some more, until the wounds of his loss to Abiodun heal up.

There is no debating what the mosttalked-about mansion in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, is. Amosun’s multi-billion Naira mansion located at First Avenue, Ibara Housing Estate holds this title. Since completing the mansion almost seven years ago, Amosun has turned into something of a tourist manager as many of his peers and other up-coming bigwigs have taken turns to visit the mansion and be inspired by it. But what’s not to admire?

Amosun’s mansion is reportedly so grandiose that it can easily accommodate 350 people, as well as 50 cars in its underground park. With bulletproof materials allegedly integrated into some of the building components, presidential figures might be able to hide away in the mansion with rival powers peppering them with oral missiles.

Excellence is like a divine flame that cannot be hidden for too long. When this characteristic is kept inside for too long, chances are that the heart containing it would burst apart, leaving nothing but regrets in its place. Knowing this, Arunma Oteh has decided to give the limelight another chance, once again attempting to shine radiance on the Nigerian economy.

Oteh, the former Director General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is most likely to flip the seemingly declining luck of the Nigerian economy on its head.

According to the latest reports from Abia State, the Governor-elect, Alex Otti, has selected several individuals to take charge of the May 29 transition in his state. Oteh is one of these people. Otti’s decision to include her in the transition council has reminded others of her great accomplishments before she seemingly decided on a hiatus.

After a Long Hiatus … Arunma Oteh Makes Strong Comeback

Of course, those familiar with her know that Oteh did not completely disappear from the thick of things in Nigeria after completing her work at SEC in 2015. She joined the World Bank in the same year as the Treasurer and then Vice President, and remained there until 2018. In 2022, she joined the Board of Directors of FSD Africa, another renowned institution with interests in financial markets. All this time, Oteh had remained a silent contributor to the country’s prestige.

But things are back to how they were. Recently, she participated in the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme organised by Seplat in conjunction with Conversation for Change (C4C). There, she supplied the kind of counsel that overturns fortune and brings much development to a willing nation.

Oteh is back from her hiatus. Her peers can only stand in line to be outshone by her. Oteh

Will Hadiza Bala Usman Get an Appointment after Her Dedication during Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign?

farmer knows to endure. Now that the harvest for the 2023 presidential campaigns and the election is here, the people who participated in the difficult cultivation exercise are ready to gather the fruit of their labour. But how much can individuals like Hadiza Bala Usman get out of this harvest?

contributed a great deal to the strategizing work that helped Tinubu trounce his rivals.

It is no secret that Amosun actively opposed Abiodun’s second term as Ogun governor, but it did not work out. A few analysts would have Nigerians believe that Amosun did not shed too many tears after losing out due to the results of the election. Instead, he reminded himself that he has a big mansion at First Avenue, Ibara Housing Estate, and immediately recovered from depression.

Whatever the case, Amosun’s mansion remains the most-talked-about edifice in Abeokuta.

The planting season is usually the most difficult time for farmers. However, with the leading motivation for their work being the harvest to come, even the most foolhardy

Things are starting to heat up in the camp of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to reports, many of his best hands have started to eye several positions that will undoubtedly become vacant once Tinubu is fully dressed as the Executive President of Nigeria. However, for individuals like Usman, struggling for one position or another is nothing—knowing that Tinubu will give what Tinubu will give. Despite knowing this, political analysts would rather engage in a bit of gambling to determine what position Usman would get in the days to come. After all, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)

As many would remember, Usman used to be one of the brightest stars of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. She was so popular that newspapers across the country recognised her as the Queen of the Maritime. Moreover, with her achievements, she really did demonstrate a noble mastery of the industry. However, things happened and she was suspended from her NPA role. But that in itself was not a bad thing as it let her concentrate on helping Tinubu take over from Buhari.

As things stand now, Usman is one of the biggest contributors to Tinubu’s rise from presidential candidate to president-elect. There is no question that she will get a top-tier position in the coming administration but the particular position, no one knows yet.

Agbodje

Bala-Usman

Fasawe

Amosun

I was just thinking the other day. Their President-elect has a herculean task of getting popular support with the way the election was conducted. His men, Alake and Onanuga are making it worse by the day, with their approach to various issues surrounding their principal and with so many court cases accusing him of so many things, including ‘lack of sleep’, the prospect of having a very rapturous and generally accepted inauguration seems a very dim prospect.

But as I thought deeply, especially with the rumours that this ‘baba’ is really taking this his pronouncement of government of national competence very seriously, Mr. Chike-Obi came to mind.

For me, Baba can puncture very seriously the walls of Jericho

surrounding his election with the kinds of people he pulls into his government. I have been hearing some very credible names and highlighted two last week.

Mustafa Chike-Obi is a very credible and brilliant Nigerian whose appointment would go a long way to soothe nerves and show the seriousness required by the administration to tackle the malaise that has beset our economy, especially the lack of confidence in our economic management by strategic int ernational bodies and governments. The economy has gone beyond ‘being on its knees’, it is virtually dead. We would need well respected individuals, with impeccable ethics, sharp intellect, and crucially, access to influential networks and a positive

reputation. Mr. Obi appears to possess the requisite credentials, with his background as a former colleague of the British Prime Minister at Goldman Sachs and another prominent institution, in addition to his international renown and ability to promote diversity. His involvement would not only enhance public approval of the administration but also immediately open doors to the crucial corridors of global financial power. But what do I know? They will say, this one don collect money, see the rubbish e dey talk. Wetin concern me, my own na to talk my own waka. I don talk wetin my mind dey think and the energy expended don make hungry . Guess what I am going to eat now.

PROF ANYA O. ANYA, GOD BLESS YOU SIR

Last Sunday, as the highly celebrated stage play, ‘Zik’, was coming to an end, one gentleman in white jacket jumped and walked towards me. As I saw him coming, I ran. He had earlier at the beginning of the show gone to sit beside the great Obi of Onitsha and I moved him. I didn’t like his white jacket because it looked like those things waiter dey wear inside Federal Palace Hotel Casino. I didn’t want the jacket to spoil the pictures wey pressmen go take. So, seeing him walking towards me, with that Igbo ‘nzogbu nzogbu, enyiba enyi’ stance, I just ran. But the gentleman was really determined. He finally got me as I was greeting Prof. Uche Azikiwe. There was no escape as he held my arms and said, “Duke.” I gave him my Shomolu look and sized him up. He looked like he was in his 70s and his grip was not really firm, so I relaxed because if it came to fight, one head butt and the man would be on his way to St. Nicholas Hospital for a head transplant.

Anyways, I should not have bothered. “Duke, I read you regularl,” he started. “I like the way you use humour to tell the stories without losing the kernel of your message.”

I relaxed more — who no like massaging compliments. I said “Thank you so, so much sir.”

But who are you o Mr. White jacket man, and he said, “My name is Professor Anya.”

OMG!!! The world-renowned biologist and former GMD of Diamond Bank, I fell on my knees and started genuflecting.

Lord, how have you been? Have you eaten? Hope the bouncers didn’t disturb you because of this your white jacket, did you enjoy the play, please do I send one of the female ushers to escort you to your car.

He smiled and continued: “This was a marvellous play, well-done Duke, you are doing well.”

I stood up and said, “can I hug you sir and thank you so much for coming without paying gate fee, it’s ok cos if you had paid, I would have refunded it to you.”

Thanks so much for the compliments, I really do appreciate it. Those are the things that keep me going as creditors chase me. The compliments from some of the most credible Nigerians and they don’t come any ‘credibler’ than from distinguished individuals like Prof. Anya. Kai.

NONNY UGBOMAH: NOT A CEREBRAL BIRTHDAY

My brother Osa used to vex anytime I call someone cerebral. He will just be ranting all over the Duke Summit, distracting conversations – “anybody

that gives Edgar afang or buys a ticket to watch his play, he will call cerebral,” he would say. Why the thing dey pain Osa is what I don’t know o. I will rather call Tinubu cerebral with all his gaffes than call Osa cerebral o. Come and beat me o. You no cerebral anything.

That was how I hailed the cerebral Nonny Ugbomah on her birthday and Osa die. “Wetin make Nonny cerebral?” he railed. My brother, Nonny is currently finishing off her doctoral at the University College London after a meritorious time at the MTN Foundation where as Executive Secretary she crafted their Arts and Culture policy which saw the foundation breathing life into every facet of Nigeria’s cultural milieu. Nonny has presented so many seminal papers globally on development issues and is known globally as an expert in the field. She has commented and contributed to developmental issues in a rabid fashion that you can almost feel her pain when she talks about the continued debilitating effect of our non-starting in these areas and its concomitant results in our developmental indices.

These and many more are why I have awarded her with the title, the cerebral Nonny Ugboma which is making Osa not bath. This my title is my own Nobel Prize as I only have awarded it

to very distinguished members of the Duke Summit. People like Ken, Diran Olojo, Usman Imanah and Sam Aiboni. Sam is not too cerebral, but na humanitarian criteria I use give am because of the way he cried when Banky W, ‘a common musician’ defeated him in the polls. So, I pity am give am the award. Osa is vexed that since he came into the group before all these people, I should award him and I said, “My brother, if you are not happy, go to court.” Na INEC Chairman teach me that one.

WOLE SOYINKA VS CHIMAMANDA: A SWEET WAR OF WORDS

You notice dem Keyamo, Dino, Alake, Wike and Onanuga cannot enter this one. The people who really own the English language are fighting and the weapon of choice is pure unadulterated English. Distilled and well served with well horned diction and deliberate delivery.

Soyinka called Datti fascist and used so many very colourful language in describing that one and ended up challenging him to a debate. That one panicked and rightly so. Who will come and stand in front of a Nobel Laureate to debate in English when the person is not drunk? A man who writes in a language that even confuses the Queen of England

Soyinka

Ugbomah

Melaye

Chimamanda:

Chike-Obi

when she was alive. They say when she wants to read Soyinka, she used to call am interpreter. Na that one Datti will now be debating with. When it is not to be shouting – obedient and we no go gree.

On the other side, Chimamanda is simpler in her usage of the language but even more lethal. You know if you add woman rudeness to her delivery, you will really not want to be at the receiving end of her volley.

Kai, you see when she said that she enjoyed seeing ‘non juveniles, play and talk like juveniles’ or something like that. I jumped from the toilet where I was purging after eating Yoruba stew at Obalende. Kai, this ‘girl’ don finish them Keyamo oooo. She just picture am dey play for sand like nursery school pikin wey dey purge.

The ‘Obidients’ think Soyinka is OBJ that they will be using twitter to abuse after each letter. Prof is a real prof o. Not all that Prof from private university wey full Benin-Ore Expressway. Prof is a god and once he drops bomb, he has dropped o. Everybody will scamper and look for a dictionary o. His own bomb is not like that Bini man, I don forget him name that will be dropping bombastic meaningless English with a big mouth. No wonder he lost the election.

That was how one ‘mumu’ professor in Canada come join the matter. Write over 1,000 words to the Canadian Prime Minister abusing Chimamanda. When I read the letter, all the typos and ‘oriki’ he added to the letter just made the Canadian Prime Minister’s secretary just use the letter pack the ‘guguru’ she was eating at the time.

If I were Asiwaju and they confirmed his May 29th date, I will invite Chimamanda to come and read the letter at my inauguration. That letter was a breeze, eloquently written with deliberate and intemperate musings. A powerful flow of prose with beautifully couched sting bombs designed to blow the ‘bula balu’ out of our consciousness. Kai. I just love this woman. Is she married?

DINO PALAVER VS WICKED WIKE –BATTLE OF THE BOTTLE

Shebi I just finished writing about Soyinka and Chimamanda, now I have entered Dino and Wike. Now we are in roforofo zone. These ones don’t have time for English. Their own is very simple and straightforward. Their language is as crass and ugly as the speakers. Brutish and drink-fuelled. Real ‘bolekaja’ language tinged with the ‘crassness’ only the semi-illiterate can muster.

“Dino dey craze. His mama is a drunk, God will punish him. Idiot and a very foolish man.” Those are the kinds of words you will expect from the creeks of Port Harcourt. While from the plains of Kogi West you will hear things like, “na this my god go forever punish Wike for that rubbish he is saying about me. Wike, that was begging for VP. He called me over 19 times in two minutes, almost scatter my phone.”

You see what I am talking about. Can you compare these ones with Soyinka and Chimamanda and you will be asking why I love this country so much. The colours, the versatility you will never get anywhere else in the world.

Those ones are fighting with pristine English and at the same time, these ones are throwing jungle barbs and you say, this is not the best time to be a Nigerian.

Mbok, let’s continue. Wike would say, “are we joking? Dino Governor? And you think I will support? The man has craw craw in his yansh and his bald head is as a result of his mother pouring hot oil on him when he went to steal akara.”

Dino would reply, “useless drunk fool. A man who will be drinking ‘otapiapia’ early in the morning for VP? God forbid.”

Then, Dino would jump up and go into song and pull his eyes down and

bring out his tongue as he is yabbing Wike, and then Wike will reply with his ever-present orchestra – “as he dey pain am he dey sweet me ooooo,” complete with his cockroach dance step. I just love this country. I love Nigeria. Kai.

SINATU OJIKUTU: FEAR NOT THE REPUBLIC OF BULA BALU

This former Deputy Governor of

Lagos, called a press conference to state her fear once their President-elect is inaugurated. She was reported to have expressed real fear for her life with the emergence of Bola Tinubu as confirmed President of Nigeria. Well, if you ask me, I don’t think she has anything to worry about. Abi, will the man leave trillions in debt, 20% unemployment, the huge decision to remove petrol subsidy, the insecurity

FEMI OTEDOLA : A ‘SEXY’ ACQUISITION

If you have not heard that my egbon, the ever so sexy Femi Otedola is about to or has acquired about 5% of Transcorp, then maybe you have been under a hole. The great news was broken by my brother Ugo’s Nairametric last night as I was about to go to bed and was discussed extensively on the Duke’s Summit. With all that designer clothes Tony Elumelu has been wearing on Instagram and be posing, me don dey suspect that some money don enter o. Those ‘baffs’ have really improved so some excess money must have dropped from somewhere. Seriously, Mr. Otedola has shown very clearly that he is an investment guru of global proportions. His clear understanding of the economy, its touch points and strategic positioning has clearly thrown him up as someone that should be studied.

He recently listed his Geregu

and came out of that transaction with over N200 billion as I heard. His positioning in First Bank Group has not died down and now Transcorp. The next thing now, you will see him licking ice cream in Italy in a well-deserved reward. For me, his fervent belief in the country and its economy is my main joy. With the funny economic indices, the uncertainty with the court cases surrounding the incoming administration and all the headwinds that usually would make discerning investors press the ‘hold’ button, did not deter Mr. Otedola from making such an aggressive incursion into the economy. His listing of Geregu, positioning in First Bank and now this with Transcorp is nothing but what I would call, ‘Patriotic investments’ and for that I will say well-done sir. God bless you for our continued belief in this country. I hail you.

in Benue and other parts and the court cases that will follow him both locally and internationally to be pursuing an old woman that has not made love for 70 years.

I don’t think he will be that petty. So, mummy please concentrate in your grandmotherly duties and do not attempt to distract us for this real fight abi haven’t you heard that Obi was stripped and searched at Heathrow with one yeye British immigration man, putting his hands up the ass of our leader looking for drugs because there are now two Peter Obi in the world. Mummy, if you still dey fear after reading this my article, come let me take you to Oworonshoki to get disappearing juju. Na me give Bode George. When Tinubu people are coming, you just swallow the thing, you will disappear and appear in Uyo, simple.

The only problem is that if na Remi dem send, the juju cannot work o. That one you are on your own. But after all these years looking for trouble, you should also have your own personal juju or can someone be looking for this kind trouble without having your own personal ‘ajesara’. Abeg leave me o, I never pay school fees. Fear ko.

SHEHU

SANNI, YOU ARE VERY APT

You know this man, the last time he came to see my play ‘Sardauna’, he did not pay gate fee and he did not greet me on top. I just look am and pity am, because he just lost the election and did not want to add to him problem. But this his statement that, if we remove the noise of the ‘obidients’ on social media, we would be left with the incoming tyranny really captured our situation in this country right now. Kai, the ‘obidients’ on twitter are mad o. They can finish someone o. I pity Prof Wole Soyinka ooo. They have finished the man. Come and see yabis, even posters of baba begging for bags of rice. Me, I am wondering why the Pyrates confraternity cannot enter the matter. The yabis of their Capone is just too much. They have dragged daddy all over the mud o.

On the other side, the fear of tyranny is real. The ‘attack’ on LP head office, the travails of Obi, the call for the arrest of Obi and Datti and all the headless machinations including the vituperations of Citizen Onanuga is beginning to show that we may be in for a rough ride. Shebi MC Oluomo has shouted since, ‘if you don’t vote for us, stay in your house ooo!!! Anybody that has sense should take that MC Oluomo cry very seriously ooooo. It’s the dawn of turbulence.

My Senator, thanks so much for this. God bless you.

MR. BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU: ANOTHER COLLAPSE?

The Lagos State officials who approved that press release on the collapsed seven-storey building in Banana Island should not only be sacked but flogged on his bare buttocks. How can you start a release like that with the word ‘unapproved’, is that not indicting? An unapproved project in Banana Island staring at all of you in the face and you allowed it? Only for it to collapse and you now came out to say unapproved? In Lagos where if you dig a gutter an inch more than approved, you will get the gutter sealed and a whole seven-storey building in Banana Island where you all live is standing there till the thing decided to collapse on its own?

Mr. Governor, please do not go there as is usual of you to go and help carry out dead bodies without first sacking your whole ministry or those in charge of regulations. It is just crazy. Crazy Government, crazy builders and crazy citizens for accepting this. Another set of hapless and poor labourers have just lost their lives to the corruption that is part of our national ethos. Sad.

Otedola

Grass to Grace Story of Obiora Chukwuka

‘Looking at the king’s mouth, you’ll think he never sucked at his mother’s breast’ - Chinua Achebe

This wise proverb mirrors the inspiring journey of Dr. Obiora Anthony Chukwuka from humble beginnings to a renowned businessman.

Despite not being a random rabblerouser, the Chairman of Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited, Dr. Obiora Anthony Chukwuka belongs to the notable class of great achievers in Nigeria of today. Having managed his business empire efficiently and effectively for four decades, it is evidently clear that the achievement is no free-served course meal for a fiddle-minded entrepreneur.

Just a few weeks ago, on March 4, 2023, precisely, the Anambra-born businessman celebrated 40 years in business alongside the firm’s establishment. Within this period, he has built a chain of businesses that have created numerous job opportunities for Nigerians, establishing him as a team player, capacity builder, and builder of men.

Dr. Chukwuka’s grass-to-grace story is a compelling and inspiring one. He started his entrepreneurial journey with his cousin, the late Chief Leonard Emeka Uzoezi, with a shoestring budget at Balogun Market. Through his entrepreneurial skills and providence, he turned the small business into a multimillion-dollar investment and a worldclass brand.

As gathered, from Leton Pharmacy to Caleb Pharmacy, and now Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited, Dr. Chukwuka’s business interests have expanded to over 11 subsidiary companies across various industries. Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited is now a household name with highquality therapeutic brands across Nigeria and beyond.

The man has also dedicated his life to uplifting people through his humanitarian service. He is a generous giver and a human capacity developer, never deterred by his challenging childhood stories and background. He has established the Eze-Afakaego Foundation to support his philanthropic activities.

Today, Dr. Chukwuka is a pharmacist and an honorary member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN). He is also a patron of the Association of Community Pharmacists and was recently nominated for the chieftaincy title of Aare Baasegun of Ikireland, demonstrating his detribalized nature.

Toyin Saraki Pens Emotional Tribute for Late Brother

“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure,’’ so says a popular quote.

For Toyin Saraki, the memory of her brother, ‘Gbegi Ojora, who passed away 12 years ago, is a treasure she will always hold dear.

In a touching tribute shared on her Instagram page, the former Kwara State First Lady reflected on the promise of the resurrection of Christ, finding solace in the renewal of faith and the certainty of everlasting life.

She wrote: “You heard Me say, ‘I am going away, and l am coming back to you. If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I- John 14:28. “As we mark the 12th memorial of Gbegi’s departure from temporal life, the promise of the resurrection of Christ brings forth the solace of renewed faith and certainly of everlasting life.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You

believe in God; believe in me as well.

“In My Father’s house, there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I amJohn 14:2.

Greatly Beloved, Adegboyega ‘Gbegi Ojora, 29.09.1960 ~ 11.04.2011.”

Many will remember the shock and sadness that spread through Lagos when news of Ojora’s passing broke. A jovial man who never showed any signs of ill health, his death was a loss felt deeply by many, from high-flying business tycoons to politicians who valued his company.

Though he may be gone, the memories of Gbegi Ojora live on, cherished by those who knew and loved him.

Sandra Tinuade: Enviable Height of a Brilliant Amazon

Like the phrase, courage is the most important of all virtues, without it you can’t practise any virtue. You definitely cannot do anything consistently without courage.

This aptly explains the reason why this enterprising and very formidable amazon, Dr. Tinuade Sanda, the MD/CEO of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), stands tall.

Since the upwardly mobile Tinuade took over the topmost position at EKEDC, she has been breaking grounds with innovations and re-invention in the organisation, just as she is not relenting in her unwavering effort to take EKEDC to an enviable height. She symbolises purposeful, passionate and peerless leadership. Her one-year record in the saddle as MD/CEO has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Dr. Tinuade Sanda’s passion has not only been limited to pure corporate performance and service delivery but, it has also been significantly displayed in social impact. As a firm believer in structured social intervention, she has always advocated for corporate organisations to prioritise the communities in

Celebrating Princess Rosemary Osula

Mku-Atu,

The Amazon of Worth

Last Wednesday, April 12, Princess Rosemary Osula Mku-Atu added a year, and her friends and admirers rose in unison to celebrate her.

An epitome of beauty and brain, Princess Mku-Atu has variously been described as an accomplished business mogul, a role model extraordinaire, an educationist par excellence, and an invaluable African doting mother, whose life has become, in our times, the true definition of a mother’s sacrifices.

Right from an impressionable age, Princess Mku-Atu has distinguished herself as a multitalented star whose ascendency to the topmost strata of the society was unstoppable by any terrestrial forces, largely for her abiding faith in God.

Interestingly, those intrinsic core values acquired over the years, during her formative trajectory in life, and up till this moment, account for why Princess Mku-Atu is a constant

reminder that we can all be good by our acts of philanthropy. This successful businesswoman stands out as a woman who is giving meaning to life via her untiring benevolence. Her story is replete with evidence of perseverance, courage, ingenuity, vision and achievements in her quest to realise humanity’s noblest and vital aspirations.

Princess Mku-Atu has demonstrated this through her life and dedication to uplifting the lives of others. She is the founder and president of Rosula Foundation, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that has become the harbinger of hope for thousands - struggling with socio-economic challenges around the world. Her social interventions have received accolades both within and outside Nigeria and Africa at large, particularly in local communities where living has become almost unbearable.

Princess Mku-Atu is an epitome of beauty and brain who, in spite of those sterling and

which they operate, making sure their policies and activities do not exist at the communities’ expense, but work to elevate them instead.

As a female professional who has built a long and established career in corporate finance and administration, many were eager to see what the reputed change-maker would do at the helm of a big energy company in a very challenging industry. It is undoubtedly a huge responsibility, a big job. On the evidence of her one-year record, it is now abundantly clear that she has provided an adequate response to all curious minds.

In just some months under her leadership, EKEDC recorded its highest levels of power distribution to its customers, its highest collection ever, and its lowest ever ATC&C losses. EKEDC also recorded a substantial reduction in work-related accidents and a marked increase in staff retention. It distributed over 46,000 meters to its customers through its Mobile MAP Initiative, while also taking delivery of 150 brand new transformers meant

repository of knowledge or wisdom.

Little wonder, therefore, that she is always in the spirit of consultation with all and sundry in order to achieve the desired results. This wonderful trait is manifestly evident in the numerous successes and breakthroughs she has garnered in her diverse spheres of human endeavours.

Ogun Commissioner Jagunmolu Omoniyi’s Ingenuity

But he has refused to allow ambition to cloud his sense of reasoning. He has proven to be a gentleman that eschews political bitterness.

The Ogun State Honourable Commissioner for Housing sees politics as a call to serve and not a do-or-die affair. It is for that reason that he’s always dropped his ambition to represent the people of Yewa North/Imeko Afon federal constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly when the party leadership prevailed on him. He is one person who believes so much in the will of Almighty God, party supremacy and consensus opinion.

When he made this sacrifice, little did he know he would later reap bountifully. So when he was made commissioner by Governor Dapo Abiodun in 2020, it was applauded by many.

in his former capacity as an SA.

He also served as a member of the Board of Directors, Gateway Mortgage Bank in November 2019 and a member, Ogun State Project Review Committee that scrutinised the state’s projects awards, implementation and documentation from 2012 – 2019. The trained chartered accountant, it was gathered, wormed his way into the heart of the governor by showcasing his intelligence and brilliance since he became commissioner in the cabinet. Today, he is one of the popular aides of the governor in the administration.

No doubt, Jagunmolu Omoniyi dreams to represent his people at the National Assembly.

A few months later, he served as a Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing. This, Society Watch gathered, was not compensation but a seeming reward for his great performance

For the Yewa-born politician, life in government administration has been like putting a fish in a river. He has thrived excellently well in the history of the ministry, recording unprecedented success. We also gathered that he carried all critical stakeholders in the sector along as a good and excellent team player who never disregarded anybody’s ideas.

Chukwuka

Tinuade

Omoniyi

Saraki

ARTS & REVIEW ARTS & REVIEW

Meeting Kagho Idhebor, Next-rated Cinematic Legend

Africa

currently working

Perhaps the earliest encounter with his work for the Lagos audience was at the 2019 iREP Documentary Film Festival, where his well-researched music documentary, titled My Father’s Book, was screened. Undoubtedly, his attention to details as a

the prestigious German-funded institute, One producers has led to various award-winning Amultiple award-winning director and two-time Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) nominee in the Best Cinematography category, streaming on the platform.

At the 2023 Festival Panafricain du Cinema de Ouagadougou (FESPACO), his photo essay

this societal ill and the complicated world of the “Every day on the internet or in the news, you hear cases of innocent children being molested randomly, but there’s never a publicised punishclose family members or close family friends to the happened, leaving the victims to carry the hate other innocent children, and the story continues.

someone close to me (now eight) reports her uncle for touching her private parts. According to her, she resisted and told him, ‘Mummy and Daddy said no one should touch her private part’.” Without proof and a confession, the matter

grateful that she dared to speak up early enough before the molestation got to another level,” he for a long time because the act happened around of family sentiment.”

victims to be courageous enough to speak up when sad situations like this happen, and also taking action against perpetrators of such acts.

From his research, out of every 10 girls in our society, four to seven are victims of molestation, and a large percentage of them are still living

2022, where it picked up the Audience Choice

February 2023.

about my age came and sat close to me and whispered to my ear that this incident happened to her when she was a little girl, and she has never mentioned it to anybody, including her parents. not talk about it. She gave me a long hug and

genre, demanded a long process of communica-

ingly, the lead character is a skilled painter and location.

sculptor Ben Enwonwu as a model for the main showed Brutus pictures of Ben Enwonwu at work pleaded with him to keep his beard for as long as we would be ready to shoot, and he kept to that promise for almost 6–8 months without a monetary price attached. He was very committed.

painting Ogolo 1992. During script adjustment, began to feel like it was moving.

mask collections and helped to install the artwork by herself.”

speakers, where she makes a profound stateindigenous art and culture.

a woman is still won by a man.”

Burkina Babes, screened at the Film Africa festival in London and FESPACO in Ouagadougou, was a product of his 2018 visit to Burkina Faso. there were more bikes than cars on the streets, and the majority of the bike riders were women. women drive motorcycles of such magnitude

those pictures throughout my stay in Burkina Faso.”

about each of the photographs and named it Burkina Babes.

festival ended.

A few months later, in late February 2023, Burkina Babes was selected to screen at thesion Festival of Ouagadougou, FESPACO, a challenges of street photography.

was set free. You see, a clear conscience does not fear accusations. My pictures are mainly for documentation and fun.

in the real sense, it’s the preservation of treasures because the only way we can tell people how the world was is through photographs, and the older these photographs get, the more valuable they are.

a breakthrough.

has brought a lot of development to our industry. All that is left now is for us, the players, to take good advantage of the platform and realise that our

supported me with her camera gear for two days, as did my ever-supportive actors and crew, who

From making short films, the multiple award-winning director and two-time

Magic Viewers’ Choice Award nominee in the Best Cinematography category, Kagho Idhebor, is

on a feature film project, he tells Yinka Olatunbosun

A location shot for the short film, Broken Mask

Kagho Idhebor

A scene from the short film, Broken Mask

ARTS & REVIEW\ \POT POURRI

Abolore Sobayo: Savouring New Paintings on Identities

Amultidisciplinary artist famed for his public artwork—the headless sculpture of Fela in Lagos—is charting a new route for the latest body of works in the Jelosimi series. Sobayo, who is currently an artist-in-residence at the University for Creative Arts, Rochester, England, and midway through his artistic interrogation at the residency programme, narrates the expeexhibition at the institution, titled Midway.

Having left the Lagos audience spellbound in 2021 with some of his culture-centric paintings and installations in the Jelosimi series, Sobayo continues his interrogation of cultural motifs in this new body of works. Between his time at the dedicated studio space and the time he spends organising workshops for further education students, he created these pieces to engage the university community and show the progress of work midway through the residency.

“The exhibition is titled ‘Midway’ and it aims to show an extension of my Jelosimi series, which began in Lagos," Sobayo revealed. “It is the curation of head ties (gele) and caps of the Yoruba culture and using the aso oke patterns on acrylic on paper to create the faces of the portraits. I try to explore the question of identity using the indigenous fabric. I try to assess the level of usage and how much it has been used in the past.”

Spurred by the positive feed-

EXHIBITION

back from the audience, his works deepen the conversation on the beauty of a diverse culture.

“Many wanted to see things from the other side. A lot of them were intrigued by the subject matter and the skill in rendering it. One of the people who came for the exhibition actually appealed to me that she would have preferred the touch. Moving forward, I am looking at the possibility of installation. For me, it is about cultural education.”

Expectedly, the works provoked curiosity in the viewers, who asked more questions about the Yoruba culture. Sobayo, who had enjoyed access to research materials at the university to draw cultural parallels with the works.

“Apart from the Yoruba culture, I also looked at other similar cultures. I was able to explore the narrative around other cultural fabrics and the subject of identity. Often times, there has been a lot of misinformation about Ankara— that it is an African fabric. People tend to forget that they are Dutch wax with African prints. They are not

Garlands for Onobrakpeya, Nike Okundaye, at NGA Awards

The National Gallery of Arts (NGA) will on Tuesday, April 18 in Abuja, honour artists who have contributed immensely to the growth and development of visual arts subsector in particular and the arts sector in general. Legendary artist, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya will be bestowed with Lifetime Achievement award. The artist who will be 91 years old in August, is a renowned master printmaker worldwide and acknowledged for his mentorship to a generation of artists. Coincidentally, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, on April 6, was honored with the key to Georgia at The High Museum, Atlanta, by Representatives of Georgia State Assembly, United States of America,

And on April 13, the modernist artist, was equally bestowed with the Honorary Georgia Citizen of Georgia by the State of Georgia for his exemplary career as artist, role model, father and teacher of many generations of Nigerian artists.

On her part, Chief (Mrs) Nike Okundayo will receive the Outstanding Visual Arts Personality of the Year Award

Y

necessarily African fabrics. I am trying to correct that point of view by letting the people know that we have the aso-oke which is really African and we also have the adire. That is why we explore these fabrics as symbols for our identity so that we didn’t distort the history and misinform the people. for me, beyond creating works that have aesthetic value, it is important to archive history and generate some level of discuss in the works; and use the works to document history for generations to come.” The show, which opened on March 27 and runs till April 28 at the Zandra Rhodes Gallery, UCA Rochester. “We are six exhibiting artists. I am the only painter, only male and the only person of colour,” he added. “There are others who are ceramists, photographers, someone works with leather. We have already created a family bond among ourselves.’’

Besides her known craft of adire and bead making, she has transformed to a modern artist, mentor and exceptional entrepreneur. Her gallery, Nike Art Gallery, located in Lekki, Lagos, is the biggest in Nigeria today and recently opened another gigantic gallery in Abuja. Distinguished Visual Arts Award goes to Muhammad Sulaiman, current President of Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA). The multi-dimensional artist His driving force is the improvement of the lots of visual artists in Nigeria.

The deputy editor of The Guardian newspapers, Gregory Nwakunor, will equally bag the Arts Journalist of the Year award for his outstanding contribution to the promotion and propagation of arts and culture in Nigeria. Combining his grinding task as deputy editor, he painstakingly writes on arts and edits the arts pages with seamless ease. Only passion for the arts makes that kind of commitment possible.

Other awardees are: Thought Pyramid, Gallery of the year; Mrs Patience Nkwocha, Curator of the Year, Comrade Ojo Agbor Idabi, ; Helen Ogochukwu Nzete and Izuchukwu Cliford Agba, Inspiring Young Artists of the Year

the National Gallery of Art (NGA) as an annual event to Reward Excellence in Creativity in the Visual Arts sub-sector and arts sector generally. It is a day set aside to recognize and honour outstanding personalities for their contributions to the growth and development of visual arts sub-sector in Nigeria. It will be a festive atmosphere of glamour, colour and razzmatazz.

For World Theatre Day, LCAC Stages ‘The King Must Die’

Yinka Olatunbosun

Aplay built with the theme of power struggle, titled ‘The King Must Die’, was staged on March 28 by performers drawn from the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture at the Lagos Theatre, Igando. The play was one of the set activities to mark this year’s edition of World Theatre Day. called Ilu Odo, the play opens with the eulogies of the people for Atobatele, a popular choice of candidate for military regent. Loved by all, Atobatele soon became the envy of other political aspirants.

Despite being the people’s choice, Atobatele is denied the right to rule. He is imprisoned while successive military regents overthrow one after another. From authoritative to egotistic leadership, Ilu Odo was drowning in political crises. The little ray of hope came with the interim government headed by

DRAMA

Omolade. This was meant to last for a month and then was cut short by Fijabi, the Abobaku. Staged on the heels of postelection discourse, the play is a metaphor on the Nigerian political climate and how the threats to democracy. However, the death of Atobatele is a warning if not a threat to any aggrieved candidate who insists on justice. The end of the play leaves a disturbing after-taste. Every society that seeks to the civil rights of its citizens. Atobatele is poisoned in the play and his legal and moral right to being questioned in the resoluUsing crisp choreography and urban-type of music laced with rap and Afrobeats fusion, the scenario painted in the drama is reminiscent of the June 12 struggles where the people’s choice, MKO Abiola was imprisoned after declaring himself

A scene from the play

as President. One of his wives was assassinated in the struggle against the annulment of the June 12 elections. In the play, Atobatele’s wife was killed too while he was poisoned after the Sadly, ‘The King Must Die’

evokes a traumatic past at a delicate time in Nigeria’s political history. The last Presidential election, unlike June 12, was characterised by voter intimidation and suppression and pockets of violence. Meanwhile, June 12 was deemed one of the

freest and fairest elections ever held in Africa. How then do the audience reconcile the parallel being drawn between Atobatele and Abiola?

But for what it is worth, rekindling live theatre at purposebuilt venues is indeed a great

way to boost the cultural life in Lagos at the grassroots level. Hopefully, the under-utilised venues will serve its purpose, provide job opportunities for young creatives and boost the local economy of the host communities.

Yinka Olatunbosun

Sobayo

Visitors at the exhibition

Pension Package for Public Holders as Conduit Pipe

As the country prepares for the May 29, 2023 handing over to new administrations, no fewer than 17 state governors are set to retire and enjoy generous retirement and pension benefits for their ‘services’ to their states.

These outgoing governors include: Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, Ben Ayade of Cross River, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and David Umahi of Ebonyi. Other outgoing governors who will enjoy generous benefits are Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, Abubakar Bello of Niger State, Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Aminu Masari of Katsina State and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

Since 1999, political office holders have been receiving mouth-watering benefits, thus draining public resources. Though the exact amount of severance allowances received by ministers and other members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) remains shrouded in secrecy, it was reported in May last year that the members of the ninth National Assembly allegedly received N35 billion as severance package.

Some outgoing governors not only award extravagant severance allowances to themselves but also inflate their pensions. Undisputed media reports in 2019 had estimated that the pensions paid by 21 states to 47 former governors in the previous four years exceeded N37 billion. These generous entitlements to former governors, which were first introduced in Lagos State, had since spread to nearly all the states. Almost all former governors, except perhaps, the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, who reportedly declined the offer, had enacted laws to enable them enjoy what many described as opulent lifestyles even after leaving office.

Some of these former governors were even said to have enacted laws to enjoy extravagant funerals when they pass on to glory.

In some states, these laws also provide for the construction of lavish mansions for the former governors, and the provision of a befitting palace for them in their state capitals or Abuja, the

nation’s capital. Each of the former deputy governors are also entitled to an accommodation allowance, which in some cases, equal to 300 per cent of their annual basic salary.

Also in some cases, these laws stipulate that former governors and their spouses are entitled to free medical services anywhere, with costs ranging from N100 million to N200 million per annum, while the deputy governor is entitled to N50 million annually for the same purpose.

Governors and their deputies in some of the states are also entitled to their current salary for life. In addition, they are entitled to furniture allowances and brand-new cars every four years at the taxpayers’ expense. Their cooks, chauffeurs and security personnel are also generously paid for.

Sadly, some of these former state chief executives not only awarded huge contracts to themselves unchallenged while in office, but also to their cronies where they took huge percentage as kickback for four or eight years they were in power.

To now see these the same set people who have accumulated enough resources to last for them and their children throughout their lifetime, still enjoy lifetime benefits for ruling their states when many pensioners who served the country and their states meritoriously for 30 to 35 years being denied their meagre entitlements, is unbelievable.

Even when many of these former governors are serving as senators, ministers, or holding other high public offices where they receive

substantial remunerations, they still enjoy pensions - a blatant misuse of public funds.

This defeats the argument that providing pensions for the former governors would ensure they have enough to sustain themselves after leaving office and potentially reduce corruption.

However, it is public knowledge that some former governors have been convicted for embezzling state funds despite being entitled to lifetime allowances.

Mounting pressure on several states, including the Appeal Court’s decision to halt the payment of exorbitant amounts to their former leaders has failed to stop the drain.

President Muhammadu Buhari had during his campaign for the 2015 presidential election pledged to use moral influence to persuade governors to modify the provisions of pension laws because they were unsustainable. However, after nearly eight years in office, there has been no public statement on the matter.

Also, despite the 2019 Court of Appeal judgment declaring the payment of severance allowances to elected or appointed public office holders as morally wrong, state governors have disregarded the judgment on the ground that their various states made valid laws that support the payment of pensions and severance allowances.

The Court of Appeal made the ruling in response to an appeal (marked: CA/A/810/2017) filed by the Kogi State Government in a dispute between it and some former members of the

POLITICAL NOTES

Kogi State Local Government Service Commission (KGSLGSC), who had served for four years from February 2013 to February 2017.

The former council officials had sued the Kogi State governor, Secretary to the State Government, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, and Kogi State Local Government Service Commission in a case heard at the National Industrial Court in Abuja.

The claimants had asserted that they were entitled to a total of N55.4 million, which represented the accumulated arrears of their salaries for 17 months, four years’ worth of leave bonuses, and severance payment upon the expiration of their tenure.

When the presiding judge of the court, Justice R. B. Hastrup, in his decision, reportedly ordered parties to file more pleadings, Kogi State government approached the Court of Appeal.

In their judgement, the three-man panel of the court faulted the payment of severance allowance, pension or gratuity to political office holders and political appointees, insisting that the practice was morally wrong.

In the lead judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the court held that it was wrong for political appointees and elected public office holders, who do not work as long and as hard as the career civil servants to quickly get paid huge severance allowances upon leaving office in addition to the huge wealth they acquired while holding such offices and without having been subjected to any contributory pension schemes.

“It is also common knowledge that many of them after an office tenure of between three to eight years become stupendously wealthy, exhibiting mind-blowing opulence and splendour. Yet, these officeholders insist on being paid severance allowance for holding such offices.

“Meanwhile, career civil servants, who have served this country or their states or local governments, all their life, can hardly collect their pensions and gratuity, when retired. They are now being subjected to contributory pension schemes in which they contribute part of their monthly meagre salaries that are always paid in arrears while in service, to be able to earn pension and gratuity upon retirement,” Agim held.

With the failure of President Buhari and the court’s decision to halt the payment of extravagant pensions to former governors, retired career public servants and the common man will continue to suffer.

Lagos Playing Politics with ‘Okada’ Riders

A policeman was last week killed at Cele Bus Stop along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos during a confrontation with commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as ‘Okada’ riders. The irate Okada riders also reportedly carted away three rifles allegedly seized from police operatives.

Shortly after the officer was murdered, the Okada riders, numbering about 100, ran towards the Mile 2 end. They were seen brandishing cutlasses, daggers, big sticks and other weapons, and charging at passersby and motorists.

Many took to their heels to avoid being attacked by the weapon-wielding motorcyclists.

Thepolicereinforcedtocombattherioters,who were chased towards Mile 2 in about six vehicles.

This death and many previous ones could be

avoided if the Lagos State government stops playing politics with the operations of these commercial motorcycle operators.

The state government had in the build-up to the general election turned a deaf ear to the activities of Okada riders in the city, thereby allowing them to run riot all because of the anticipated votes from these operators who posed as a threat to boththepeopleandthelawenforcementagencies.

But after the elections, the state government last week said their ban in 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 15 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the metropolis was still in force. Special Adviser to the Governor onTransportation,SolaGiwa,saidboththeridersandpassengers are liable to three years in prison if found guilty, with their motorcycles impounded and crushed.

Last week’s incident was not the first or second time Okada riders killed policemen in Lagos. Now that they have killed another policeman, will the state government stop playing politics with them and do the needful?

To convince Lagosians that it is committed to their safety, the state government should enforce its own laws. Many state governments have since banned Okada in their states, especially the capitals. The lack of seriousness of the state government has emboldened all manner of persons from the other states where okada had been banned, including the neighbouring countries, to flood the state with motorcycles. To many residents, the influx of dare-devil commercial motorcyclists has eroded the city’s claim to megacity status.

Sanwu-olu

Some out-going governors

With President Muhammadu Buhari’s inability to use moral persuasion, as promised ahead of the 2015 elections, to convince governors to amend pension laws, outrageous package for public office holders has remained a conduit pipe to siphon state funds, Segun James writes

BRIEFING NOTES

INEC’s Dramatic U-turn on Electronic Transmission of Election Results

Ejiofor Alike reports that INEC’s sudden U-turn may erode whatever is left of its credibility and engender an unprecedented voter apathy in future elections

Amajor achievement of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the 2023 general election was its capacity to secure the confidence of Nigerians and the international community in its ability and readiness to conduct credible elections.

With its two major technological innovations – the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Results Viewing Portal (IReV) – which it consistently vowed to deploy during the elections to end the era of election rigging in Nigeria, the commission was able to secure the confidence of the various political parties and their candidates, the media, civil society organisations (CSOs), security agencies and the international community.

Before the signing of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC had consistently told Nigerians that the use of its technology to conduct the 2023 elections would be predicated on the signing of the bill.

It was a sigh of relief for various stakeholders when President Muhammadu Buhari signed the bill, which empowered the commission to use its technological innovations in the conduct of the elections.

To allay the fears expressed in some quarters that it planned to jettison BVAS and IReV during the elections to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), INEC spent literally one year preceding the elections in confidence-building and sensitising the various stakeholders on its determination not to renege on his avowed commitment.

Just on February 7, 2023, few weeks to the presidential election, the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu stated in the commission’s official media handle, @inecnigeria, that “let me once again reassure Nigerians that there is no going back on deployment of BVAS for voter accreditation.

“There is no going back on the transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real-time on Election Day.”

Yakubu further pledged that “the commission will also upload Polling Unit level results (Form EC8A) and the accreditation data to the INEC Result Viewing Portal. This is also a mandatory provision of sections 50,60, and 64 of the Electoral Act 2022.”

But the rude shock came when the commission disappointed Nigerians in the February 25 elections when it failed to fulfill its promises on the use of these technologies.

In a weak attempt to justify what the opposition parties believed was a premeditated strategy to compromise the results of the elections, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy of Nigeria, Isa Ali Pantami had told Nigerians that

the INEC server recorded more than 12 million attacks on February 25.

Even after the INEC had explained to Nigerians that the challenges it faced on February 25 were not due to intrusion or sabotage of its systems, insisting that the IReV was well-secured, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed also attempted unsuccessfully to sell this tissue of lies to his international audience.

The minister told the international media in Washington DC recently that INEC delayed the uploading of the results to its portal due to suspected cyber-attack during the presidential poll.

“What happened on the 25th of February was that INEC observed that the results of the presidential elections were not being viewed. INEC, suspecting a cyber-attack, withheld the uploading of the results to preserve the integrity of the data,” the minister reportedly said.

But when the implications of his false claim dawned on him a few hours later, the minister who

is notorious for abusing a section of the media and social media users, denied making the claim.

In his characteristic style of shutting down the voices of dissent, Mohammed described the report as “irresponsible and reckless journalism.”

“What I said was that, during the election, there was a technical glitch and as a result of this and for INEC to protect the data, it suspended uploading of the results,” Mohammed recanted.

INEC had in its face-saving effort blamed technical hitches with its IReV for its failure. It admitted that IReV was slow and unsteady.

INEC Chairman, Yakubu also admitted that the challenges of logistics, election technology, the behaviour of some election personnel, among others, added to the extremely challenging environment in the elections.

Yakubu explained that the commission was determined to ensure that the glitches experienced with uploading results were rectified before the governorship elections.

NOTES FOR FILE

But Nigerians wondered why technical glitches did not affect the uploading of the results of the National Assembly elections held simultaneously with the presidential poll.

However, with the filing of petitions by aggrieved political parties and their candidates at the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC), the commission has suddenly made a strange U-turn, declaring that the electronic transmission of the results was not mandatory.

This claim, even if it passes the test of scrutiny at the court, may adversely erode whatever is left of the commission’s credibility and the confidence of Nigerians in the country’s electoral system.

The commission in its first legal response to accusations that it failed to follow the Electoral Act 2022 and also failed to abide by its own guidelines, claimed that it was not mandatory for it to upload the results electronically, after it had made strong commitments to Nigerians and the international community.

INEC’s position was in response to a petition by the Action Peoples Party (APP) before the PEPC in Abuja.

APP is challenging the victory of the Presidentelect, Bola Tinubu.

But in a reply to the APP’s suit, INEC reportedly cited paragraphs 50 to 55 of the regulations and guidelines for the conduct of the 2023 presidential election.

“There was no collation system of the 3rd respondent (INEC) to which polling unit results were required to be transmitted by the presiding officers…the prescribed mode of collation was manual collation of the various forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D and EC8E in the presidential election,” the electoral umpire stated in its defence.

INEC further admitted that the presidential results were not immediately uploaded because its IReV became erratic at the point of collation.

Curiously, INEC admitted that the result sheets were being successfully uploaded through the etransmission system to the IRev portal in respect of the National Assembly elections.

By declaring that electronic transmission of the results was not mandatory after all its promises and assurances, INEC may have unwittingly told Nigerians that it was not obligated to abide by its own words or fulfill its promises.

Without prejudice to the matter before the court, the commission has simply told Nigerians not to take its promises and statements seriously in future elections because its words are not its bonds.

INEC may have unwittingly sounded its own death knell as many Nigerians may no longer waste their time to register as voters or cast their votes in future elections.

Has Eko Bridge Been Closed Permanently?

Will the Eko Bridge ever be opened? This is one question Lagosians have been asking the federal government since the bridge, which is a major route to Lagos Island and Mainland was shut down over a year ago.

When the federal government announced the closure of the bridge for repairs following a fire outbreak at the Apongbon end of the bridge, many Lagosians had thought it would only last for one or two months, considering the strategic importance of the bridge.

Acting Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Forosola Oloyede had announced the closure.

Now the shut down of the entire Eko Bridge from Ijora Olopa due to another fire incident beneath the bridge has made commuting in the city a serious

problem.

Though the state government provided alternative routes like the Carter Bridge and Third Mainland Bridge, the continued closure of the bridge has become a nightmare for motorists and commuters that are making their way into the island and out on a daily basis.

WhenTHISDAY visited the sections of the bridge that were affected by the inferno at Apongbon and Ijora Olopa, the contractors were not even seen on site.

What excuse will the federal government give for delaying the completion of the bridge?

Not only is the non-completion of the bridge putting serious pressure on the Third Mainland Bridge, it is also affecting the health of many

Lagosians who daily go through serious stress to get to the Island and back through the alternative routes.

Throughout the entire presidential and governorship campaigns, road users in Lagos passed through hell on the roads in the state.

Unfortunately, the Minister of Works, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who interestingly, was a former governor of the state has remained silent.

It is even shocking that the Lagos State government, which knows the importance of the bridge to the people of the state, and the implications of its closure both on the health of the people and the economy has remained completely silent.

The question is: Has the federal government closed the bridge permanently?

After failing to transmit the 2023 presidential election results in real-time despite its repeated assurances that it would apply its technological innovations in the conduct of the elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission has declared that electronic transmission of the results was not mandatory.

Yakubu

Fashola

NBC: CSOs Fight for Broadcast Stations

Following the incessant fines imposed on broadcast stations by the National Broadcasting Commission, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development have taken up the gauntlet on behalf of the media houses to challenge the constitutional implications of the commission’s action, questioning the conflicting roles of the commission as the complainant, prosecutor and judge in its own cases, Alex Enumah reports

For many in the media industry, it was something that was long overdue. Can an organisation be the complainant, prosecutor and judge in its own case? This is simply the reason why two civil society organisations - the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) - have filed a suit against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for slamming a N5 million fine on Channels Television.

Also joined in suit number FHC/L/ CS/616/2023 filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, as defendants are the President and the Minister of Information and Culture.

The NBC had recently slammed a fine of N5 million on Channels Television for what it described as breaking the broadcasting law in a programme with the Labour Party’s vice presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.

In a letter dated March 27, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the television station titled ‘Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction,’ the commission’s Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah, wrote that: “The NBC monitored the broadcast of a live interview of the running mate of the Labour Party Vice presidential candidate, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, by the anchor of Politics Today, Seun Okinbaloye, on Wednesday, March 22.

“Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities.”

In the letter, the NBC boss claimed that the broadcast was volatile and capable of inciting public disorder, violating some sections of the broadcasting code.

He threatened that any further infraction by the television station would attract higher sanctions.

“Consequently, on the following infractions, Channels Television is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N5,000,000 only in the first instance. You are advised to pay within two weeks from the day of receipt of this letter or the penalty will be graduated,” the NBC director-general added.

The commission had in February imposed a N2,000,000 sanction on ARISE NEWS and Continental Broadcasting Service Limited (TVC) each. Ilelah also announced the punishment in separate letters he wrote to the management of the affected organisations on February 3, 2023

NBC said the fines should be paid within two weeks of the receipt of the letters or the sanction would be graduated.

In the letter to ARISE NEWS, the commission cited the broadcast of the presidential campaign rally of PDP in Delta, interview with former APC Campaign Director, Na’jaatu Muhammed, and broadcast of the PDP presidential campaign rally in Sokoto.

The NBC had also reportedly sanctioned 25 broadcast stations and also issued what it called ‘final warnings’ to 16 others for allegedly violating provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code during the February 25, 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections.

In protest against the sanctions, SERAP filed suit number: FHC/L/CS/469/2023 against President, NBC and the minister at the Federal High Court in Lagos over what it termed “arbitrary” use of the NBC Act and broadcasting code to sanction and threaten to revoke the licence of broadcast stations in the country and shut them down over their legitimate coverage of the 2023 general election.

Clearly, press freedom is the bedrock of

democracy and free society. In constitutional democracy, the media provides warring groups mechanisms for mediation, representation and voice to settle their differences peacefully.

The media can also help build peace and social consensus, without which democracy is threatened, as this system of government requires the active participation of citizens.

Most importantly, it holds the government and its agencies to account. Unfortunately, free press can be endangered by the state’s interference when it perceives that its ‘dictatorial’ grip is being threatened in a democracy. This scenario captures the unfolding controversial development where the NBC, which serves as the regulator for the broadcast industry in Nigeria, persistently imposes fines on broadcast stations as it did recently when it slammed a fine of N5million on Channels Television.

A curious dimension to the current controversy is that NBC acted at the instance of a petition written by the Director of Media and Publicity for the ruling All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC), Bayo Onanuga.

This is why SERAP and CJID are asking the court to determine whether the broadcasting code used by NBC to sanction some broadcast stations and threaten to shut down others is not inconsistent and incompatible with freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom.

In the suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Ms Adelanke Aremo, and Ms Valentina Adegoke, the group is asking the court for “a declaration that the sanctioning of some broadcast stations and threat by the NBC to revoke the licences and shut down other stations

for their lawful coverage of the general election is unconstitutional and unlawful, as it violates freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom.”

SERAP is seeking an order of interim injunction restraining President Muhammadu Buhari, NBC and Mr Lai Mohammed from threatening and sanctioning broadcast stations in the country simply for carrying out their constitutional duties, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously in this suit.

In the suit, SERAP argues: “It is a travesty of justice to punish and threaten broadcast stations seeking to promote election integrity and citizens’ engagement and participation while allowing perpetrators of electoral violence and grave human rights violations escape accountability for their alleged crimes.

“Rather than promptly investigating allegations of election-related viol ence and other infractions of the Electoral Act and the Nigerian Constitution, and going after suspected perpetrators, the Nigerian government is scapegoating the media by targeting and punishing broadcast stations.

“The use of NBC Act and Code, in this case, would open the door to arbitrariness and fundamentally restrict freedom of expression that is an integral part of the public order protected by the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.”

SERAP and CJID argued that the regulation of broadcasting must aspire to promote and expand the scope of the right to freedom of expression, not restrict it, adding that under the Nigerian

Constitution and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party, freedom and diversity must be guiding principles in the regulation of broadcasting. It noted that the fine of N5million imposed on Channels TV is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with these principles.

The CSOs argued that while Article 19 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights establishes the right to freedom of opinion without interference, Article 19(2) establishes Nigeria’s obligations to respect ‘the right to freedom of expression,’ which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information, regardless of frontiers. It further said under article 19(3), restrictions on the right to freedom of expression must be ‘provided by law’, and necessary ‘for respect of the rights or reputations of others’ or ‘for the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health and morals.’”

They maintained that the use of NBC Act and Code in this case would inadmissibly open the door to arbitrariness and would fundamentally restrict the freedom of expression that is an integral part of the public order protected by the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.

“Article 19 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights establishes the right to freedom of opinion without interference. Article 19(2) establishes Nigeria’s obligations to respect ‘the right to freedom of expression,’ which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information, regardless of frontiers.”

“Under article 19(3), restrictions on the right to freedom of expression must be ‘provided by law’, and necessary ‘for respect of the rights or reputations of others’ or ‘for the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health and morals.

“Although article 19(3) recognises ‘national security’ as a legitimate aim, the Human Rights Committee has stressed ‘the need to ensure that the invocation of national security is not used unjustifiably or arbitrarily to restrict freedom of expression and media freedom.”

“Arbitrarily imposing fines on media houses simply for carrying out their constitutional duties would both seriously undermine the rights of millions of Nigerians to express their thoughts, and their right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, in any medium they choose.

“Freedom of expression includes the public’s right to receive, and the right of those who express themselves through a medium of communication, to impart the greatest possible diversity of information and ideas.”

“The right to freedom of expression is based on the right to establish or use a media outlet to exercise freedom of expression and on society’s right to have access to a free, independent, and pluralistic media that allows for the most diverse information. The exercise of the right to freedom of expression through the media is a guarantee that is fundamental for advancing the collective deliberative process on public and democratic issues.”

Although no date has been fixed yet for the hearing of the case, many have commended SERAP and CJID for taking up the gauntlet on behalf of the media houses to challenge the NBC. It would really be interesting to see how the matter would be resolved by the court without fear or favour.

Ariwoola

Exposure of Medical Doctors to Criminal Liability

Intent to commit a crime is a common element of a criminal offence. But can the prosecution secure conviction, even if a court finds that the defendant had no intention to commit the alleged offence?

This is what the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division is set to unravel in the appeal filed by Dr. Ferdinand Ejike Orji against the State of Lagos, writes Wale Igbintade

In most- if not all- legal systems across the world, the doctrine of mens rea (an intent to commit crime) is captured in the criminal law principle of “no liability without fault.”

According to this principle, no one should be convicted of a crime unless some measure of subjective fault is attributable to him. Therefore, to secure conviction, the prosecution must prove that the defendant acted with the intent to achieve a specific goal, as well as the intent to commit the illegal acts.

On January 20, 2023, Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the Lagos High Court in Charge No: LD/8963C/2019 convicted one Dr. Ferdinand Ejike Orji on four counts out of six counts of offences he was charged with by the Lagos State Government, and sentenced him to one year imprisonment on each of the four counts. The sentences, however, are to run concurrently.

Specifically, Justice Akintoye found Dr. Orji not guilty of Count one of causing grievous harm but found him guilty of endangering human life through reckless and negligent acts, as well as endangering human life through reckless and dangerous acts contrary to sections 245, 251 (1) (e) 209,211 and 251(1}(e) respectively of the Criminal Law Chapter 17 volume 3 Laws of Lagos State 2015.

Dissatisfied, the appellant (Dr. Orji) in his Notice of Appeal filed by his team of lawyers, led by senior counsel, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, appealed against the judgments and prayed the court to discharge the appellant from Counts 2, 3, 4 and 6 and set aside the sentences passed on him by the lower court.

The appellant in his grounds of appeal argued that the trial Judge having found that the he (appellant) did not have the mens rea or intention to commit the offence in Count 1, (causing grievous harm to his patient- a minor, by unlawfully and without his parents’ consent applied a fibreglass cast very tightly and directly on his left leg from his upper thigh down to the toes) erred in law when she failed to considered the existence of mens rea and intention of the appellant with regards committing the offences in Counts 2, 3, 4, and 6.

He submitted that Counts 2, 3, 4, and 6 relate to the same events as in Count 1 of the Charge, contending that if the trial judge found that there is no intention and or mens rea in Count 1, there cannot be intention and or mens rea in Counts 2, 3, 4, and 6.

The appellant stated that the ingredients of the elements of a crime and offences charged must co-exist and must be proved beyond reasonable doubt before a defendant (appellant) can be convicted of the offence.

It is the argument of the appellant that since the trial judge failed to consider the existence of mens rea and or intention as an essential ingredient of the offences charged against the appellant in Counts 2, 3, 4, and 6, the mentioned essential ingredients of Sections 209, 211, and 251 (1) (e) of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2015 relied on by the trial judge in her judgement lacked ingredients of the intention of the appellant to commit the offence.

He argued that the ingredients of the elements of a crime and offence charged must co-exist and must be proved beyond reasonable doubt before a defendant (appellant) can be convicted of the offence.

On the trial judge’s reliance on the evidence of members of the Medical and Dental Council Investigative Panel dated the 6th day of November 2020 and Report of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel dated March 15, 2021, the appellant submitted that the Medical and Dental Council Investigative Panel is not a Court or Tribunal, but merely an investigative panel of inquiries or an inquest for recommendation to its council.

The appellant stated that the Medical and

Dental Council Investigative Panel did not make a verdict or final decision, but mere opinions and discussions as medical colleagues with the appellant and other parties who participated in the care of PW10, hence its opinions, reports, and findings are not binding on the lower court.

Besides, the appellant stated that the trial judge erred in law when she held that the appellant’s acts were negligent and reckless and that his reckless and negligent act did cause great harm and endangered the life of PW10 (patient) by using untrained personnel to manipulate PW10’s leg thereby aggravating a simple fracture of the said left leg.

The appellant submitted that the trial Judge failed to consider the evidence of DW2 (appellant) on October 28, 2022, where he stated that PW1 and PW2 (unskilled persons) assisted him under his full supervision in the presence of his medical doctor, nurse and other staff in his hospital.

He argued further that the trial judge failed to consider the evidence of DW1 on October 7, 2022 that a doctor can rely on the assistance of non-doctors to convey the patient in treatment rooms and even hold down a patient, especially during an emergency.

The appellant stated that there was no evidence from the prosecution to establish that the defendant had intention to cause harm or hurt PW10 by using PW1 and PW2 (untrained personnel) to manipulate PW10’s left leg thereby aggravating a simple fracture of the said left leg.

On the issue that the appellant was negligent and reckless by applying a fibreglass cast tightly on PW10’s left leg and causing severe pain and refusing to remove same when requested to do so, the appellant contended that the trial judge failed to avert her mind that the appellant upon the complaint made on July 27, 2018 by PW10 and PW3, of pain and discomfort at the left knee region, opened a rectangular window at the popliteal fossa aspect of the knee, over the area where the patient complained of, and this relieved the patient.

He stated that when PW10 was taken back to his hospital following a complaint that “water was oozing out from the popliteal aspect of the knee where the window was cut,” the cast was halved and subsequently converted to a back slab to support the knee during the patient’s journey to the United States, adding that the patient and

his mother (PW3 and PW10) slept in the appellant’s hospital till July 28, 2018 without further complaints of excruciating pain or discomfort.

The appellant submitted that the trial judge failed to avert her mind and consider the evidence of PW7, the first orthopaedic doctor who saw PW10 and his evidence of March 18, 2022 where he stated that “he saw a half cast and could not ascertain how tight the cast was before removing the entire cast.” Thus, the cast was not tight or tightness doubtful.

On the issue that the appellant undertook to administer surgical treatments by carrying out a complex Orthopaedic procedure without requisite skill or supervision of an orthopaedic surgeon and without an x-ray first done to ascertain the nature of the fracture, before applying the fibreglass cast on the left leg of PW10, the appellant stated that he has been a medical doctor/surgeon for about 40 years, stressing that fracture treatment/application of cast is not an operation or surgical treatment.

He argued that prosecution witnesses, (PW4, PW6 and PW7) in their testimonies had told the court that even Medical Students can apply a cast, thus the appellant is adequately qualified to apply a cast to stabilise a fractured leg.

On the decision of the lower court that the appellant committed a breach of his professional duty as a medical practitioner, when he willfully refused to promptly remove the tight fibreglass cast on PW10’s left leg despite complaints of severe pain which thereby resulted in compartment syndrome, the appellant submitted that compartment syndrome is a process and attributed to time of when it sets in.

The appellant stated further that it has been the argument of the appellant and that of the prosecution witnesses that compartment syndrome sets in within 4-6 hours, and it is that of an emergency situation which cannot be ignored but treated immediately.

Analysing a series of events as they occurred, the appellant submitted: “The patient (PW10) left the appellant’s Hospital on July 28, 2018 with no complaints or diagnosis of compartment syndrome. Upon presentation of PW10 on July 29, 2018 before PW7’s Kamorass Hospital where the back slab and remaining cast was removed, there was no diagnosis of compartment syndrome by PW7 an orthopaedic doctor.

‘’Upon presentation of PW10 on the 30th day of July 2019 before PW6 at Reddington Hospital, there was no diagnosis of compartment syndrome by PW6 (an orthopaedic foctor). In fact, Exhibit M - Reddington Clinical Case Notes which is the case notes of PW6 stated that he did not identify compartment syndrome until the 2nd day of August 2018 - 4 days after PW10 was presented to Reddington Hospital, and a fasciotomy was done on August 2nd 2018 by PW4 and PW7 at Reddington. ’Exhibit N - Reddington Medical Report dated October 4, 2018 is evidence before the court to corroborate PW4 and PW7 evidence on the day PW10 was operated to treat compartment syndrome.’’

He contended that ‘’Compartment syndrome set in PW10’s left leg on the 4th day of admission at Reddington Hospital, and seven days after the cast was applied and subsequently halved into back slab within 24 hours by the appellant.’’

Consequently, the appellant submitted that the evidence given as to when PW10 was diagnosed of compartment syndrome contradicts the prosecution’s allegation that the appellant’s application of a tight fibreglass cast, or refusal to promptly remove it caused the onset of compartment syndrome on PW10’s left leg.

He stated that the lower court failed to evaluate the evidence of the series of events vis-à-vis the facts of the case and thereby concluded that the appellant’s willful refusal to promptly remove the tight fibreglass cast on PW10’s left leg despite complaints of severe pain resulted in compartment syndrome.

Consequently, the appellant prayed the court to pronounce him not guilty of Counts 2, 3, 4 and 6 of the amended charges dated February 2, 2022, and also set aside part of the judgment delivered on January 20, 2023 by Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

Undoubtedly, the outcome of this case is of great concern to medical professionals in Nigeria and the general public. The question begging for an answer is whether doctors stand the risk of conviction where there is no finding of criminal intent on their part.

Furthermore, in all cases of alleged medical negligence, can the court infer criminal liability when there is no mens rea

? The decision of the Court of Appeal is surely being eagerly awaited on it.

South-south and Clamour for Senate Presidency

The stability of congressional leadership is a crucial feature of advanced democracies the world over, particularly the United States of America (USA) from which Nigeria cloned the basic template of her presidential democracy - after dumping the Westminster model.

Though in the US, considerations like religion and ethnicity are alien or extremely distant factors in composing the canvass of its legislative leadership, in Nigeria, these represent the core algorithm for the customary horse-trading and positioning the principal officers of the federal legislative assembly.

As it were, the 10th National Assembly, barring any unforeseen twists, will be inaugurated on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 - two days after the lifespan of the current ninth National Assembly would have lapsed on Sunday, June 11.

The current ninth National Assembly was inaugurated on June 11, 2019. Its lifespan will terminate on June 11, 2023, which is Sunday, a non-working day while the next day, June 12, is a public holiday, being Democracy Day.

Not surprisingly, some senators-elect have begun overt and covert lobby for the Senate presidency. But given its preeminent status in the bicameral federal legislature, who emerges the 10th Senate president also becomes the chair of the national parliament. This is appropriately dominating current national discourse.

The 10th Senate will be populated by lawmakers from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Young Progressive Party (YPP).

Senators-elect who have declared their ambitions to lead the 10th National Assembly include: Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano Central); Sani Musa (Niger East); Orji Kalu (Abia North); Godswill Obot Akpabio (AkwaIbom North-West); Osita Izunaso (Imo West); Peter Ndubueze (Imo North); Abdul’Aziz Yari (Zamfara West); Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North); and Ali Ndume (Borno South).

Although the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes competence should be prioritised over religious and ethnic considerations, many Nigerians, including members of his party believe there is a “religious debt” to be repaid by him and the ruling party - given the Muslim-Muslim slant of his party’s presidential ticket. And the first test in this regard for him is the constitution of the National Assembly leadership positions, particularly the Senate President who is number three man in the country.

While these leadership positions are by convention supposed to be decided by the federal lawmakers themselves, the party with the majority number of seats has a role, as regards zoning and balance of power.

The APC already has the majority in the Senate with 57 senators from the 102 alreadydeclared constituencies. Expectedly, all eyes will be on the ruling party, bearing in mind its inability to ensure geographical spread since 2015 during which the South-east and South-south were not represented among Nigeria’s top four citizens: President, Vice President, Senate President and Speaker. The highest position the regions have produced

is Deputy Senate President.

Significantly, since the Second Republic to date, the South-south region has produced only one senate president in the person of late Joseph Wayas from Cross River State, while the South-east has produced five in the current Fourth Republic - Evan Enwerem, Chuba Okadigbo, Anyim Pius Anyim, Adolphus Wabara and Ken Nnamani.

Today, many believe that it’s politically deserving to allow the South-south geo-political zone produce the 10th Senate President in this new democratic dispensation. The zone has not been given the opportunity since the return of democratic rule in 1999.

According to Prince Kazeem Afegbua, former Edo State Commissioner for Information, “You need to balance all the power algorithms to ensure you instill confidence in the system and promote a culture of participation and inclusiveness. Geopolitical zones must necessarily be patronised in the spirit of national unity so that their own aspirations would be accommodated in the larger overall interest of the country.

“The ruling party must be conscious of those geopolitical interests and balancing to build stability in the system and ensure that the people are ready for the leadership of the party and the country. Power sharing is as complex as the power acquisition process.

“I am also very interested in the South-south having the position of the Senate Presidency following the support the zone gave to the Tinubu presidential aspiration from the pre-primary stage to the post-primary and general election.”

The emerging elite consensus is that conceding the position to the South-south will also drastically reduce the usual acrimony that characterises such struggle for power among the geo-political zones, cut out distractions for the peaceful and smooth take-off of the new governance dispensation.

Many believe that while the South-east is another deserving region, a significant segment of opinions insist that this needs to be balanced with what the region contributed to Tinubus’s victory and even the wider history of the region’s occupation of that preeminent federal legislative position.

This sentiment then does not serve the best interest of Senators Orji Kalu (Abia North); Osita Izunaso (Imo West); and Peter Ndubueze (Imo North) who have thrown their caps into the ring.

Analysts have cut to the heart of the dilemma of the South-east region’s claim to the position. For instance, Waziri Adamu words: “The South-east went on holiday during the presidential election and literally abandoned the presidential candidate but faced their own individual election. They were feasting in Obi’s party in show of ethnic solidarity. Senator Orji for example, got huge votes to be returned as Senator, but left the presidential candidate abandoned in the cold.

“While he got over 40,000 votes, his presidential candidate got very ridiculous votes in the region of 6,000 votes across the state. Not even 5%. In the entire South-east states, APC couldn’t score 10% in any of the states…. Akpabio delivered over 120,000 votes in Akwa Ibom, knowing that it is the state of the Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council.”

Another related fact is that in conceding the position of senate president to the Southsouth region, Senator Godswill Akpabio is the only ranking senator from the region and based on Senate standing rules, only ranking members of the upper legislative chamber are eligible to contest for the positions of the President and Deputy President of the Senate, respectively.

Another key point often pushed and accurately captured by observer is that the electoral contribution of the South-south also greatly helped the ruling party to clinch the presidency in the 2023 presidential election. Hence, perhaps not surprisingly, an emerging consensus points to the necessity of the ruling party moving to consolidate its electoral success by zoning the Senate Presidency to the South-south.

Going forward from there, from all relevant metrics in picking the next president of the senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, is widely seen to tick all the significant boxes.

At a testy period in the nation’s political history, the national parliament undoubtedly needs a humble, level headed leader

to guide its affairs. Many certainly have not forgotten that Akpabio is a dedicated realist and reformer who bridged all gulfs and levelled much of the development hurdles that challenged his state as exemplified by his selfless stewardship to the people of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015 as its first citizen.

As former Senate Minority Leader, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Akpabio, is a very experienced and qualified candidate for the job. His unique qualities and exceptional leadership skills have earned him the praise of many groups, including Northern groups, who see him as the best candidate to lead the Senate at this time.

Many may have forgotten that he was the first presidential aspirant to step down and throw his support behind Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now president-elect, a situation that measurably reduced tension at the APC presidential primaries. He is an uncommon leader who always stands for the people, irrespective of their ethnic and religious affiliations.

In his first senatorial outing as Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West District, Akpabio quietly became very influential. Though a rookie legislator then, he was instrumental to the emergence of the APC leadership of the Senate. This was no mean feat.

As then Senate Minority Leader, he was at the head of the intervention to put the Calabar-Lagos railway project in the budget. Even the then Senior Special Assistant to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Ita Enang, confirmed and praised him for it.

As governor, he transformed Akwa Ibom State from a typical rural community to an urban community with gigantic infrastructure across the state. As Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, he completed the 30-year-old, abandoned NDDC Headquarters started by Chief Horsfall in 1993, within two years and relocated the NDDC there.

He was able to construct roads, built Police Barracks, provide several other critical infrastructure. He carried out a forensic audit of the NDDC and firmly insisted that the right things must be done. Today, Akpabio has certainly morphed into a respected national figure ready for higher political responsibility.

Today, the stakes are extremely high and Nigerians are mindful that failure to transition to a new political governance cycle headed by the new democratically elected president, complemented by a level headed leader of the 10th National Parliament, thereby sustaining critical democratic stability may imperil the country’s future as a coherent state.

As it were, only tested pathfinders with demonstrable vision, knowledge and courage can provide the critical leadership to ensure both legislative stability and national progression. And this is Akpabio’s proven forte.

Another senator that would have been considered for the position would be been for Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, were he not a first-time senator. As a former National Chairman of the APC, Oshiomhole is quite formidable for the position.

The position of Senate President carries considerable weight, especially in charting the course of bold engagement with the critical elements in the democratic mix and especially so when the occupant enjoys the total confidence of his party as Akpabio undoubtedly does.

Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, several Senators-elect have begun lobbying for presidency of the Senate. Louis Achi examines the associated political algorithm that would guide the ruling party’s choice

Oshiohmole Akpabio

OBIdients’ and the Gangster Conspiracy

Of all the cards that I carry around with me, none is a political party membership card. I have never and do not belong to any political party in Nigeria. Nor have I ever belonged to one or aspired to belong to any. My attitude to political party membership is pretty much the same as that towards organized religion. I am a Christian of the Anglican variety by birth and baptism. I however respect and admire those who go to either mosque or church every week. My liberal attitude to organized everything has nothing to do with either my estimation of those who join and lead political parties or subscribe to organized religion.

My option is more a product of education and general humanistic orientation. I was trained to think freely and roam the forest of global culture and history for ideas and currents that can enhance my humanity and help me contribute to the society in which I live. By instinct therefore, I have come to respect the choices that different people make for themselves in the context of a free society. My friends and associates around the world therefore range from devout Moslems to committed Christians, Hindus, atheists and Himalayan Budhist monks. From each of the belief systems of those I interact with, I find something of benefit through a compulsively liberal attitude and mindset.

In the current Nigerian post election climate, something unfortunate has happened. A group of citizens are being branded, vilified, spat upon by all manner of tyrannical political spokespersons. They have been joined by public opinion autocrats and disguised entrepreneurs. Suddenly, it is now fashionable to abuse, condemn and generally vitiate the Obidients. All it has taken to initiate this shift in attitude is for INEC to announce the result of the last presidential elections in favour of Mr. Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress. Both APC official jackals and those who want to ingratiate themselves with the winning squad have since been falling over each other to win the trophy of ‘Obidient bashers or killers’.

Tragically, even otherwise respectable citizens with previous records of sanity and respectability have joined the fray of frying the Obidients. Someone has described them as the most despicable group ever to come to earth. Another has described them as a mob of miscreants. Yet more desperate people have quickly said that the Obidients are the political arm of IPOB while Mr. Peter Obi is a patron of and sponsor rolled into one.

An informed source told me that one of the more conspicuous latter day Obidient bashers had actually written two different congratulatory messages while waiting for the outcome of the presidential elections of 25th February. One letter profusely congratulated Peter Obi for upturn in the long standing political behemoth of old Nigeria and ushering in a new world led by the youth. The other letter was a subdued congratulation to Bola Tinubu, his tribesman, for a victory much deserved and a pledge to do whatever is necessary to ensure that his imminent reign was successful and free from distractions.

Rewind to the just ended campaign season. Literally out of the political blues, Mr. Peter Obi emerged onto the political scene. In the campaign season that followed, he laid out his vision for a new Nigeria free from the familiar blights of what has come to be accepted as normal Nigerian politics. His message, largely addressed to the youth and all those left behind and locked out by the old order, caught on like wild fire. Obi’s adherents voluntarily and informally assumed the broad name of “Obidients”. Trust the creativity of Nigerians in all such situations.

The name caught on in the public imagination. It tallied with the broad perspective of Mr. Obi as the carrier of an unusual third force message in an ossified bipartisan political architecture. The name became the mantra of a movement that grew first in the social media and became a reflection of the lived experience and conviction of many. At first, Obi’s growing mass followership was dismissed as a creation of the social media. Someone

Obi

in the APC insisted that the viral following g of the Obidients was merely the work of less than six social media hands locked up in some basement and spreading the news on all available social media platforms. Undeterred, Mr. Obi and the Obidient movement surged ahead. In city after city where Obi went with his message, throngs of followers and believers in the new message followed through street matches and spontaneous gatherings. Spontaneity was the secret of the new movement. Advocates grew into armies of adherents. Believers grew into a mass movement. A lone man in black attire with a different message delivered in a hoarse shy voice became a pop star figure in every public space. Mass gatherings became a political force. It latched onto the political platform of a minority Labour Party. The rest is history as they say.

The strengths and weaknesses of the Obidient movement can only be understood by those who understand the difference between a movement and a party. A party has a prescribe structure. A movement is amorphous, held together by the beliefs around which people gather spontaneously. It is an invisible meeting of minds, at once spontaneous and organic. It develops its own code of conduct from its loose understanding of the emission of its inspiration figure. A movement is in a hurry to capture power and overturn the status quo which as locked so many people out of the power nexus. Therefore, those who were expecting the Labour Party and Obidients to come forward with a structure as in conventional parties were disappointed. It is therefore unfair for any sensible commentator after the even to expect that Peter Obi as the inspiration of the Obidient movement could have also been a head master figure, handing down a code of behaviour for a movement of spontaneous citizen followership.

The throngs of Obidients out there defied order in the conventional sense. They were incensed with the idea of ‘taking back our country’. They saw themselves as the alternative government and Peter Obi as the next president. They would settle for nothing less. No one could blame them. They only needed the electorate to prove them right or wrong. Even after the elections, the conviction has

lingered among them that their party won but was edged out by the gangster state and its stranglehold on all agencies of state including INEC. It now remains for the judiciary to prove them either right or wrong. Even at that, their deep suspicion of the state extends to the judiciary.

The present and triumphalist critics of the Obidient movement need to go to school on the dynamics of recent popular uprisings and mass movements either in support of popular causes or the conservative backlash. They are driven by the social media. They are largely uncontrollable. They obey only their major drivers and inspiration figures. These movements take on a life of their own. Those who have tried to quell them by force have either failed or been thrown out of power or remained there tenuously with neither legitimacy nor credibility except by sheer force of arms. The confrontation between popular movements and unpopular states has mostly bred instability or authoritarianism and endless instability. The most that the authoritarian state has achieved in recent times has been to usurp the spirit of the popular movement and convert it to their own to foster further autocracy. Examples: Jaiye

Bolsanario in Brazil, Recep Erdogan in Turkey, Vladimir Putin in Russia, Victor Orban in Hungary, Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, Jaroslaw Kazynzki in Poland.

In the places where autocrats have failed to usurp the power of the mass movement, they have triumphed and brought down autocratic regimes. The Arab Spring led to a serial collapse of Middle East dictatorships including those of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and Muammar Gaddafi in Libya.

In the post election climate in Nigeria, a president-elect duly returned by INEC and so declared is still locked in a credibility war with a man and a movement that came a distant third in the contest. This raises so many questions. There is an instant puzzle. How come the

Obidients suddenly became a Fascist force after the election and Tinubu’s declaration?

Yet questions abound for those who understand the geo-architecture of the Nigerian power conspiracy. How come Mr. Atiku and his PDP who scored second position in INEC’s ranking have suddenly become so docile and quiet? How come Obi suddenly became part of IPOB and a sponsor of ESN only after a successful election outing?

The truth is that the emergence of Obi and the Obidients is the first credible threat to the power base of Nigeria’s long standing decrepit gangster state and its support cast of open and disguised defenders and trumpeters. If the threat were Obi alone, it would be easy for the gangster state to isolate and eliminate him.

But in the massive crowd of the Obidients movement, many Peter Obis have germinated. They are the unemployed youth, the teenagers leaving school with no hope or prospects but armed only with their PVCs. They are the artisans long without a voice, the many Nigerians in the diaspora hungry for a country they will be proud to call home. It used to be easy for the state to wipe off and eliminate individual threats and adversaries. Not any more. The adversaries are our own citizens in multitudes with an awakened consciousness. They wrote their prologue in the #ENDSARS protests and now have shown their power in the 2023 elections.

Peter Obi merely activated this latent force. They have seen themselves as the owners of a new Nigeria. In their quest for hope, they met a simple man in black speaking a new political language free from tribe, religion and elite arrogance. They saw a genuine window of opportunity to take back their country. They saw the prospect of a new kind of leadership shorn of the pompous ceremony of state, freed of the massive corruption of the deep state and entitlement syndrome of power hegemonists. These are the real threats of the Obidients. The outcome of the 2023 elections ignited a fright in the system. Power was going to slip from the bloody claws of the criminal network of politicians, moguls and their noisy apologists. That is the real threat that is powering the present climate of harassment of Peter Obi and the Obidients.

The election revealed the vulnerability of the criminal state. They had thought the OBIdients were a mere social media hoax. But they ended up winning real votes, real legislative seats and real states. They did not just win real votes in strategic places, they penetrated the fortresses of gangster chieftains, smashed the myths of tribe, faith, geography and violent thuggery. Twelve states for each of the INEC winner candidates, 12 states for the Obidients and their Labour Party! A real seat at the table of power. That is the real threat of the moment.

For the advocates of Fascism and other name calling schemes, a few home questions: what name do we give to the criminal gangs of Lagos? What should we call those who have used touts and dangerous thugs to convert our democracy into ‘Agberocracy’? What name do we give to the entrepreneurs of organized political crime who used ethnic blackmail to suppress votes in Lagos during the governorship elections? What do we call those who have industrialized ethnic bigotry and now seek to reduce the cosmopolitan beauty of our Lagos to the autocracy of tribal hamlets and their chieftains?

Once so threatened, the gangster state will try to find a way to neutralize the adversary: bribe, cajole, incorporate or destroy. That is the present stage of the battle for the political soul of Nigeria. All the name calling, blackmail, fake arrests in London, campaigns of revisionist lies etc, are all part of the same recalcitrant and crude retaliatory assault. It may intensify after the 29th May swearing in and the formal handover of power to Mr. Tinubu.

The road against the Obidients as the only credible opposition for the future will lead in one of two either directions. It could be time after the inauguration to begin genuine national reconciliation through populist programmes. At the other extreme, the new administration could begin a clampdown on Obi and the Obidients thereby inaugurating a season of authoritarianism by an elected government.

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Iheanacho Labour in Vain as City Narrow Arsenal’s Lead to Three Points

Duro

Ikhazuagbe

Nigerian Kelechiinternational, Iheanacho, laboured in vain yesterday as his consolation goal in Manchester City’s 3-1 drubbing of Leicester City failed to yield dividend for the relegation threatened Foxes in the Premier League side.

The Super Eagles forward who cut at the Etihad stadium, made his 24th appearance with four goals and four assists this season.

The Saturday comfortable 3-1 victory over Leicester Cityleaves the defending champions trailing the league leaders by just three points.

It was City’s John Stone who set the ball rolling when he got the curtain raiser in the 5th minutes. Erling Haaland followed up in the 13th minute to make it two goals up for the Cityzens in 13 minutes. The Norwegian history maker, however

took the game beyond the reach of Iheanacho and his Super Eagles teammate in the 25th minute.

Now Haaland looks like breaking the landmarks set by former England strikers Alan Shearer and Andy Cole, who both netted 34 goals in a single season. He now have 47 goals from 40 games in all competition.

The Nigerian forward however scored his consolation goal deep in the 75th. Leicester are sitting 19th in the relegation zone.

City are to now face a pivotal three games which could make or break their season as they aim to complete a Treble of trophies.

They will travel to Bayern Munich with a healthy 3-0 advantage after the -

Pep Guardiola’s side should prog- ress from both of those ties, but their next league game is a potential title decider against Mikel Arteta’s men, at home on Wednesday, 26 April at Etihad Stadium.

Federation Cup National Draw Holds on Wednesday

“Like I said in the previous press conference, it is to win win win,” said Guardiola.

“They (Arsenal) have had an incred- ible run so far this season, I don’t think they will drop many points and we have to be in there.

“It is important for us to arrive at the match by winning today and (it Premier League game.”

Arsenal can re-establish their sixpoint advantage when they face West Ham on Sunday and the gap could be nine points by the time they meet City as they play an extra league game against bottom club Southampton next Friday.

Guardiola said about facing Arsenal. “If we lose this game it will be almost over.

“We have to arrive in this position having the chance to be close to Arsenal. We want this opportunity before that we have a Champions FA Cup.”

Osimhen Fires Blank on Return from Injury

Leaders Napoli were held to a goalless home draw by relegation-threatened Hellas Verona in Serie A on Saturday as for the third time in their last four games in all competitions.

Napoli, who on Wednesday were beaten their advantage over second-placed Lazio narrow to 13 points after Maurizio Sarri’s men grabbed a comfortable 3-0 win at lowly Spezia on Friday.

Stanislav Lobotka, winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and defender Mario Rui from the starting line-up with Tuesday’s return leg in mind, but both Lobotka and Kvaratskhelia were called on in the second half.

Serie A’s top scorer Victor Osimhen, who

returned to Napoli’s match squad after being sidelined with a thigh strain but was expected to be back in action only for the European clash, also came on from the bench.

Napoli thought they had opened the scoring in the 20th minute but Matteo after Verona goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo position.

The visitors had a chance to take a surprise lead just before the half-hour mark but striker Kevin Lasagna, who ended a solo run with a powerful shot from a distance, was denied by Napoli keeper Alex Meret.

Although Napoli enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, reaching 81% in the second half, they appeared toothless against Verona’s solid defence and managed only

Sideline

three shots in the opening 45 minutes, none of them on target.

Hosts came close to taking the lead again in the 56th minute through a Giovanni Di Lorenzo header which, however, went narrowly wide of the right post.

Amid a growing sense of frustration, substitute Osimhen then wasted a promising chance in the closing stages when he hit the bar in the 82nd minute.

Verona could have turned the hosts’ moods from bad to worse by sealing a by winger Cyril Ngonge who, one-on-one with Meret, struck well wide of the target Verona, who are winless in seven out of their last eight games, are 18th on 23 points, three points from safety. They remain the only Serie A side yet to win an away league match this campaign,

The Draw Ceremony for the national competition of this year’s It will hold at the Conference Room of the NFF/FIFA Goal Project, inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. A total of eight matches will be played on Tuesday, 18th April

Wednesday, 26th April.

The Round of 32 matches have been scheduled for Wednesday, 3rd May, with the Round of 16 slated for Wednesday, 10th May

Novia FC (Adamawa) Vs Ashana FC (Taraba) – Pantami Stadium, Gombe

Memorial Stadium, Sokoto

Smart City Feeders (Lagos) Vs Bendel Insurance Feeders (Edo) – Ilorin Township Stadium

Bello Stadium, Kaduna

Mbappe Becomes PSG’s All-time Leading Scorer

Kylian Mbappe became Paris St-Germain’s all-time leading points clear at the top of the table.

Mbappe, who netted his 139th goal in his 169th league match, surpassed Edinson Cavani’s tally.

Lionel Messi and Vitinha also scored for PSG before Lens’ Przemyslaw Frankowski scored a penalty.

Second-placed Lens created numerous chances despite trailing 3-0 at half-time but were unable to add to Frankowski’s spot-kick as PSG edged closer to an 11th league title.

Kelechi Iheanacho was on target as Manchester City drub Leicester City 3-1 yesterday evening

Kylian Mbappe...now PSG’s all-time top scorer

Melaye to Wike

“Wike has probably mistaken me for His Excellency Atiku Abubakar. He needs to appreciate that now that he has touched the tiger’s tail and murdered sleep, the discomfort of a bird perched on a rope has now become his portion” – PDP governorship aspirant in Kogi State, Senator Dino Melaye, warning the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to leave him alone.

SIMON KOLAWOLE

Why is Nobody Talking about Atiku?

There are endless peculiarities, I must here admit, about the 2023 presidential election, the least not being the outing of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). With the post-election brouhaha and hullaballoo, a cursory observer would be forgiven for thinking the February 25 poll was a two-way contest between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP). Atiku came second with 6,984,520 votes. Therefore, whether it is Tinubu that won, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), or Obi, as proclaimed by his supporters, Atiku is still ranked as second best.

I am certainly aware that Atiku also claimed to have won — and that he has filed an election petition to that effect. And this is part of the mystery: why is his claim to victory not gaining as much traction as Obi’s? In Nigerian politics, Atiku is definitely not a small man. This year marks the 30th anniversary of his presidential quest. He first aspired in 1993, along with Bashorun MKO Abiola and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe. In 1999, he was elected vice-president and re-elected in 2003. He was a presidential candidate in 2007 and 2019 and a presidential aspirant in 2011 and 2015. He was elected governor of Adamawa in 1999 but gave it up to become PDP’s vice-presidential candidate.

Atiku’s political résumé is nothing but intimidating. In 2019, Atiku gave President Muhammadu Buhari a good run. He got 11.26 million votes — or 41.2 percent — and won in 17 states, including the entire south-east and south-south, as well as the FCT. For comparison, Buhari got 15.19 million votes and won in 19 states. The cold calculations this time around were that Atiku would sweep northern votes and get just about enough in the south to win the race. Although there were shouts for power rotation by southerners who made a strong claim that it was the turn of the south after eight years of Buhari/ north, Atiku clearly did not see the clamour as an overwhelming obstacle.

I must allow myself to speculate herein that there was much confidence in Atiku’s camp ahead of the election. It all looked like the presidency was his for the taking. Some of the optimism could be justified. Afterall, he had the name recognition, a national reach, a political structure with vast experience in the ground game, and, if I may say this again, an intimidating résumé. What’s more: 2023 was an open race, with no incumbent to contend with. He was also clearly the strongest northerner in the race. This was probably his best-ever opening. But things still did not turn out in his favour, contrary to his calculations. There now has to be an inquest as to why he failed yet again.

Before the election, many people sought my prediction. Since some people cannot distinguish between preferences and predictions — because of their emotions — I often struggle to answer such questions. But I made three basic predictions. One, I said Obi’s candidature would hurt Atiku and help Tinubu. In fact, I often said if Tinubu won the election, it would be with an “assist” from Obi. Two, I said the battle up north would be principally between APC and PDP rather than between a northerner (represented by Atiku) and a southerner (Tinubu). That meant Tinubu would get plenty votes there. Three, I said Atiku’s major backers were not strong enough to help him win the race.

While it is true that Obi’s candidature hurt Atiku, I must now regret that I underestimated its impact, particularly in the south-east, south-south and Christian north, plus Lagos. I must also regret that I underestimated the damage Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), could do. By the official results, the gap between Tinubu and Atiku was 1.8

And Four Other Things…

and Benue states governed by three G5 members. I used to rate Atiku as a master strategist but I was amazed that he would prefer to keep Dr Iyorchia Ayu as PDP chairman rather than make peace with the G5, led by Chief Nyesom Wike whom he had defeated in the presidential primary. Atiku was part of the rebellion in the PDP that led to the ouster of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. He experienced the role of governors in a presidential election. Yet, he did not quench the G5 fire.

Wike played a major role in demarketing Atiku. It appears his major grouse was the northern gang-up against him at the PDP presidential primary, where Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state, withdrew for Atiku. Wike had heavily backed Tambuwal against Atiku in the 2019 presidential primary. He obviously felt betrayed. Also, Ayu was caught on video embracing Tambuwal and describing him as the “hero of the convention” after Atiku won the PDP ticket in May 2022. That was below the belt. And then, Wike claimed that Atiku, on his own, promised to make him running mate only to go ahead to denigrate him after opting for Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of Delta state.

Atiku

million votes. Most of the 1.96 million votes Obi got in the south-east would have gone to Atiku on a good day. Kwankwaso’s 997,000 in Kano looked like PDP’s votes in disguise. Most of Obi’s 582,000 votes in Lagos would have gone to Atiku — given the pattern of voting in recent presidential elections.

As things turned out, the assists Tinubu got were not from Obi alone. Kwankwaso might not be a Kevin de Bruyne, but he was not far from being a Leandro Trossard (pardon me if you don’t follow the English premier league). Every vote for Obi in Lagos was a vote for Tinubu, as it were, because Atiku would most likely have been the beneficiary. Every vote for Kwankwaso in Kano was also a vote for Tinubu because it could have been Atiku’s. Tinubu got 517,000 votes in Kano — more than double the 225,000 home-advantage margin Atiku enjoyed in Adamawa. Although Tinubu lost Lagos, his 572,000 votes there still completely wiped off all of Atiku’s gains in Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe.

When Atiku is reviewing his performance (except the results are legally overturned), he has to answer some questions. How could he not keep hold of the south-east, which had been voting PDP since 1999? How did he allow himself to be held hostage by lightweight politicians, mostly from the north, who did not have the leverage to swing things his way? How did he allow choosing a running mate become so messy that it blew up in his face? Why did he refuse to make the necessary concessions to the G5 governors so that he could unite his party and face the APC as a united force in the February 25 poll? Finally, why is he lagging miles behind Obi in the post-election media blitz?

As to why he could not hold down the southeast, I will be satisfied admitting that nobody saw Hurricane Obi coming. It was not until Obi pulled out of the PDP in May 2022 and joined the LP that his electoral value went through the roof. He became a phenomenon. The best Atiku could have offered him was the VP slot and he was not even inclined to do that, from what I heard, because their pairing in 2019 did not really go well. I would, therefore, not blame Atiku for losing the south-east. The loss was inevitable with Hurricane Obi. In Obi, the south-east had a candidate with a realistic chance of being elected president and their support for him was incredibly spectacular.

Atiku could still have done better but for the PDP crisis. His face-off with the five PDP governors, called G5, was a fatal error. With a united front, he could have performed far better in Oyo, Rivers

Why did Atiku not heal those wounds? I propose three possibilities. One, he maybe did his math and believed he could win without the G5. His primary target, I suppose, was northern votes. I further suppose that he believed Obi would be in his corner in the event of a run-off between him and Tinubu. Two, Atiku possibly believed encouraging Ayu to resign was not going to resolve the crisis — maybe it would only open him up to more demands. Three, he probably wanted to yield to the G5 demand but some hardliners in his circle prevailed on him to ignore them. These hardliners were mostly northerners and at some point began to play the regional and religious cards against the G5.

It might as well have been a combination of these three probabilities, but Atiku clearly misjudged the strength of Tinubu in the north. His underground “naka sai naka” campaign, roughly translated as “your own is your own”, might have won him millions of northern votes but they did not eclipse the “two Muslims are better than one” countercampaign by Tinubu’s supporters — leveraging on the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Unfortunately for Atiku, too, Obi’s candidature deprived him of many northern Christian votes which used to go to the PDP. Obi actually got more votes than Atiku in most Christian-dominated areas. Obi’s battle cry of “Christians, take back your country” looked effective.

Atiku was surrounded by northern politicians such as Mallam Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa, Dr Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, PDP chieftain in Yobe, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, former governor of Kebbi, Gen Aliyu Gusau, former national security adviser from Zamfara, and Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state. These PDP heavyweights could not deliver the north in large numbers. Nonetheless, Atiku deserves some credit for winning nine of the 19 states in the north, despite the PDP controlling only four of them before the general election. Ultimately, Atiku’s slim victory margins in the northern states let him down.

If indeed Atiku was strategising on the north making him president, it was a miscalculation. The PDP heavyweights could not overwhelm Tinubu, despite the harsh effects of the naira recolouring policy which many APC sympathisers insisted were targeted at him. In fact, Tinubu got 5.3 million votes in the north compared to Atiku’s 4.8 million, according to the official data. Except the courts eventually upturn Tinubu’s victory and declare Atiku as president-elect, I am left with no other choice than to conclude that his presidential quest has effectively ended. In moments of introspection, he must necessarily admit that he punched blow his weight this time around, mostly of his own fault.

TRICKS AND POLITICS

There has been intense jostling for leadership positions in the next national assembly, which I think is normal. What I find alarming is the notion that some people are considering making a Muslim the next senate president. Will this not be the height of insensitivity? Having Muslims as No 1 and No 2 has already inflamed passions amidst unending claims and speculations about an Islamisation agenda. We may want to continue to deceive ourselves that these things don’t matter and blindly refuse to link certain crises in the land to ethnic and religious sentiments, but I want to believe that reason will prevail in the end. National interest must trump personal ambitions. Commonsensical.

SUBSIDY SONG

I think most of us have finally agreed that we cannot continue to pump trillions of naira into subsidising the consumption of a single petroleum product, but there is always a problem of strategic communication by the government with the supposed ultimate beneficiaries — the poor. Since I have been hearing about “removal of petrol subsidy” in the days of Gen Ibrahim Babangida, the messaging has always been the same: the poor people would benefit. Only Gen Sani Abacha effectively communicated with the people. He did not say much. He simply transferred the benefits to Nigerians via road construction, provision of drugs and renovation of schools. Effective.

ON OBI’S DETENTION

The social media was aflame last week with the reported “detention” and “harassment” of Mr Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, at the Heathrow Airport, London, on Good Friday. The details are still as provided by the media unit of his campaign team. Neither the UK government nor Obi himself has provided us with more information. The politics of it aside, it is not unusual for the UK Border Force to stop visitors who have been flagged on the system. To be able to legally keep them waiting, an official must serve a detention order and ask them to sit in a waiting area. The official then goes to clear with a supervisor. If there is no issue, the visitor is stamped in. Procedural.

RIP EBIEDE

Recently, I saw the picture of a sickly Emmanuel Ebiede, former youth international, on social media. He looked old and distressed. It was unbelievable that a footballer who had plied his trade outside the country and probably made a fortune could be in that state. Ebiede, 45, died on Friday night at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) from an enlarged liver. Ebiede was in the 1995 set of Flying Eagles managed by Fanny Amun. Some of his teammates, as I recall, were Karibe Ojigwe, Blessing Anyanwu, Olumide Harris and Duke Udi. I used to visit them at their Ibadan camp and one lasting memory was the lively Ebiede always cracking jokes. May God comfort his family. Adieu.